Hello Summer

It has been a great semester, and this is unfortunately my last post. Well, my last post that will be graded, at least. If you haven’t read some of my previous posts, this blog started as a class assignment for a communications class.

I will be graduating in just a few weeks, but I don’t think I’m ready to give this blog up just yet. This summer I will be traveling to Japan to visit my sister and in July I will be moving to New Zealand for a year. I think it will be a great opportunity for the chance to taste food from other parts of the word and can’t wait to share it with you.

This blog was a fun experience for me and, even though it might a little quieter around here, I still plan to update this page with my food adventures.

Homemade Quinoa Salad Recipe

Some people think that becoming a vegetarian would be too difficult for them. One of my good friends, Lexie, has been a vegetarian for most of her life and says that finding unique recipes to try is one of her favorite parts of being a vegetarian. With so many different recipe blogs and sites like Pinterest, it’s actually really easy and fun to explore different foods and add some variety to your diet.

I love watching her cook because I can tell how much she enjoys it. You can watch Lexie making one of her favorite recipes she’s found on Pinterest and learn more about being a vegetarian here.

Summer Events In Lafayette

Even though the semester is coming to an end, if you’re staying in the Lafayette area this summer there’s actually a lot of events going on that could be worth checking out.

1. Mosey Down Main Street: May 10, June 14, July 12, August 9 & August 30

Even though it is mainly a music and arts event, Mosey Down Main Street also offers food and drink vendors. It is “a series of street celebrations brought to you by the local artistic community. Volunteers, downtown business owners, artists and musicians come together once a month from May through September to offer a free family friendly event that takes place right down the center of Main Street. That means if you miss the event one month, there’s still other opportunities to attend.

2. Taste of Tippecanoe: June 21, 4 pm-Midnight

This food festival has multiple stages of live music, food booths by local restaurants, fireworks, and beer and wine gardens. Basically, a food lovers dream. The event also raises funds for the Tippecanoe Arts Federation.

3. OUTfest

OUTfest is Lafayette’s gay pride celebration. In addition to increasing awareness of the LGBTA community, OUTfest has live bands and DJs, food trucks, a beer garden, dancing and a drag show. There is an entry fee, but the festival is a fundraiser for Pride Lafayette, which is the only LGBTA Community Center in Indiana. You can follow them on Twitter, @OUTfestLafIN for news.

4. Beers Across the Wabash: August 23, 1-5 pm; $35

Party on the John. T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge while tasting an assortment of ales and Lagers from over 30 Indiana breweries. You can purchase a VIP ticket to get early admission to the festival as well as complimentary food and beer pairings. Obviously, no one under 21 is permitted inside the festival.

In Honor of Grand Prix

If you haven’t noticed, there’s a new Mexican food truck outside of Harry’s. While I typically go for a burrito or pizza after a night of fun, apparently people from other countries do it differently. I thought this was video was pretty funny, especially since, after Breakfast Club, the line for Chipotle was out the door and around the corner.

 

Let Me Tell You About Wonuts

There’s nothing better than a great food mash-up. First there was the cronut and now you can now get a wonut (a waffle/donut) at Waffles Cafe in Chicago.

It’s made with a waffle batter that’s a little thicker than normal cooked on a waffle iron.

The wonuts, which are now crispy like a waffle but also fluffy like a donut, are then moved to the deep fryer.

Then comes the best part, the glaze.

And finally, icing and toppings like sprinkles or nuts are added.

They have different flavors of batter and glaze, and feature a variety of wonuts like Mexican chocolate, whole wheat with candied fruit, green tea and birthday cake flavored. Personally, I think this red velvet wonut looks divine.

I think might need to make a trip to Chicago soon.

El Rodeo: Less About The Food, More About The Experience

El Rodeo is a small authentic Mexican restaurant in Levee area that is one of my favorite places on campus. While it’s not the cleanest restaurant in the world, nor does it have the best food I’ve ever tasted, there’s a certain appeal that keeps so many Purdue students going back again and again. I think that appeal has a lot to do with the fun atmosphere of the place. Where else is it acceptable to go and order a 32 ounce margarita for lunch? Especially now, during Grand Prix week, when a lot of students are having their last days of classes, it’s the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the few weeks we have left of school. The great thing about the restaurant is that it’s a short walk from campus so you don’t have to worry about anyone driving when they shouldn’t be.

Overall, I think it’s the laid back feeling that makes El Rodeo one of my favorite places to go for a fun lunch or dinner. Every time I’ve gone there it’s always been with a bigger group and I’ve never had to wait for a table. In fact, we go there so much the waiters usually recognize at least half the group. Another great part is that they have no problem separating the checks for a big group, which can be a nightmare otherwise.

The food on the menu is pretty good, not fine dining but obviously good enough to keep going back for. I usually eat too many of the complimentary chips and salsa to eat all the food I order anyways. For some unknown reason, the prices on the menu never add up to what you actually end up paying or aren’t listed at all, so getting the check is like a fun game of figuring out who paid the most for some variation of a tortilla with meat, beans and melted cheese. I had a friend get the same thing she got the last time she was there, yet it ended up being a different price. This can either mean that we’re all really bad at math or a side of sour cream costs $5.00, though we’ve usually had too many margaritas to care all that much.

In a nutshell, El Rodeo is the perfect place to go and spend time with a group of friends where you can be loud, eat, drink and have a good time without getting stares from other people in the restaurant. Needless to say I’m glad El Rodeo is back open after being closed for awhile last year and can’t wait to eat there a couple more times before I graduate and it’s no longer acceptable to have a 32 ounce margarita on a Tuesday afternoon.

Survive Easter Brunch This Year

The holidays can be a stressful time, especially if you’re hosting family. I love reading articles that offer different tips and tricks and I found one on Yahoo! Food that offers you some ideas for how to make hosting Easter a breeze.

• Start later in the day; around noon
• Dress in something comfortable and colorful
• CHAMPAGNE
• Try a frittata if you have a big group

• Serve prosciutto or pre-cooked ham instead of baking a ham
• Top all your dishes off with chopped herbs
• Bake treats ahead of time for your guests to take home with them

Read the whole list with full details on Yahoo!’s page and be sure to check out their Easter section for more ideas to make your holiday special.

Preview: Lafayette Farmer’s Market

With the weather getting nicer and the month of May fast approaching, it’s finally nice enough to spend time outdoors and discover all that Lafayette has to offer. One of my favorite things is to visit the historic Lafayette Farmer’s Market. It has been around for over 165 years with an interesting history and is just a short distance from campus. Visiting a farmer’s market is the perfect way to get the freshest produce and support the local community.

On Saturdays, from early May through late October, the air in downtown Lafayette is filled with the smell of fresh garden flowers, baked goods, vegetables, fruits, plus honey, jams and jellies.

What: Lafayette Farmer’s Market

Where: 5th Street, between Main & Columbia Street

When: Saturdays, 7:30 am to 12:30 pm

There is also a smaller farmer’s market that takes place on the Memorial Mall every Thursday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. It is the perfect place to stop for lunch on campus and support the local vendors. There is different produce offered throughout the summer; you can view the calendar here.

Restaurants You Didn’t Know Had A Secret Menu

It’s no secret that Starbuck’s has a “secret-menu”. But a lot of restaurants are able to whip up different dishes that aren’t offered on their regular menu. I found a site called Hack The Menu that gives you access to everything on these less known menus, some you might not have been aware of. A lot of the restaurants can be found here in Lafayette.

1. Chick-fil-A

The Chik-fil-A secret menu includes the fried chicken sandwich (pictured), the buffalo chicken sandwich, a chicken quesadilla and a blueberry cheesecake milkshake. If you want a free soft serve cone, simply order a kid’s meal and ask for ice cream instead of a toy– at no extra cost to you.

2. Chipotle

At Chipotle you can order a concoction known as the quesarito (pictured), which is any burrito wrapped in a cheese quesadilla. You can get a burritodilla, which is a burrito grilled up like a quesadilla.

3. Dairy Queen

At Dairy Queen you can get a coffee Blizzard like the one pictured, or a banana split Blizzard, frozen hot chocolate or you can add marshmallow topping to any ice cream.

4. Five Guys

A patty melt, cheese fries, a double-grilled cheeseburger and asking for your fries to be well-done are all items you might not have known you could get from Five Guys

5. McDonald’s

Have you ever wanted a Big Mac, Filet-O-Fish and McChicken but couldn’t decide which one to get? Well, with McDonald’s Land, Sea and Air burger, you can get all three. You can also get a McChicken sandwiched inside two McGriddles (the Chicken McGriddle), fries with Big Mac sauce, a Big Mac with chicken patties instead of buns (the Big McChicken), a hotcake filled with a yogurt parfait (the McCrepe), and did you know how many sauces they have? EIGHT

 

Hack The Menu is worth checking out if you’re looking for a way to switch up your restaurant experience or wow your friends with obscure information. Happy eating.

Preview: Sunday Brunch At Three Sisters Cafe

I, like many people I know, don’t really care for Sundays. I guess it’s more of a love/hate relationship. It’s still technically the weekend but the impending doom of Monday looms like a dark cloud. However, there is one thing that makes Sunday wonderful. That something is the Sunday brunch. Brunch is a magical combination of breakfast and lunch that allows you to sleep in but also eat bacon and eggs for lunch and drink mimosas at noon.

There are brunch places popping up everywhere, but tomorrow I’m planning on brunching at 3 Sisters Cafe in Broadripple. It’s a bit of a drive from Lafayette but is the perfect way to end a weekend. Three Sisters describes itself as having Indianapolis’ finest breakfast and vegetarian meals for over 15 years, is located right in historic downtown Broadripple and has a homey and eclectic feel to it.

The restaurant was featured on The Food Network and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. On Sundays they offer a variety of brunch specials that are worth checking out, especially if you are an avid bruncher. I highly recommend the build your own omelette.

If you do plan on venturing to Three Sisters, it’s important to get there early and get your name in. It’s quite a popular spot and fills up quickly. If you are in the mood to brunch but don’t want to leave campus, Lafayette also has some great brunch spots.