OMG FOOD

I'm back from the States and can I just say, what a food trip! Literally! All I did was eat and eat and EAT. And I am less than proud to say that I never once opted for the "healthier option" on the menu. Haha.

I think I must have gained 10 lbs. from my trip but I really don't regret it. That's how much I enjoy eating. And it might take a while but I'll lose it once I get back to my regular exercise schedule.

The food highlights of my trip have got to be:

1. Spinach salad from Yaffa Cafe at St. Marks - This was AMAZING. And it's pretty healthy except for the bacon strips! They served us a huge bowl of spinach with onions, fresh mushrooms, croutons and bacon with their homemade carrot dressing. It was the bacon and the salad dressing that made this one a winner! I had never heard of carrot dressing before I got there. It was kind of a really savory and chunky carrot puree with herbs and a hint of balsamic vinegar. YUM! I would definitely go back to New York just to eat there again.
2. Shake Stack from Shake Shack (in Madison Square) - Yes, I have finally eaten at the legendary Shake Shack and it did not disappoint! Everyone I was with opted for the Shack Burger. I went straight for the Shack Stack which is a single cheeseburger with a crisp-friend portobello mushroom filled with molten cheese. I died with that first bite. It was heavenly! And the best thing about it is that the serving size isn't too big that you feel disgustingly full afterward. It's just right! I was tempted to go back for seconds but by that time, the line was way too long for my liking. Now I kinda wish I had waited the 30 minutes in line though. Haha.
3. Chocolate Sable from Miette (San Francisco Ferry Building) - This was my go to shopping snack. It has a rich chocolate flavor without being overwhelming and overly sweet! It's crunchy and creamy at the same time. I can't even begin to find the words to describe this. All I can say is WOW! Even the Miette cupcakes are amazing. I believe one flavor ranked #5 out of all the cupcakes in the USA!
4. Texas Size Combo of Ribs and Steak from Texas Roadhouse - Their ribs here are so tender the meat literally falls of the bone when you pick it up. Perfectly cooked and marinated ribs plus steak? Have you heard of a lovelier meal? I haven't! I wasn't too sure how their steak would be but I went for it anyway and this little girl has no regrets. I'm such a carnivore so you can imagine how happy this dinner made me. Add a fully loaded baked potate and say hello to the yummiest heart attack on a plate EVER.
5. Everything at Naan -N- Curry (San Francisco) - They are by far the best Indian restaurant I have ever visited. Don't be fooled by their website. This place is seriously a hole-in-the-wall joint with rickety tables and chairs. But the food is well worth it! We had prawn karahi, chicken and lamb tikka masala, tandoori chicken, palak paneer (homemade cheese with fresh spinach, spices and seasoning), bengun bharta (roasted eggplant sauteed with peas, garlic, onion and tomato), biryani rice and garlic naan. WOW. Major food coma after dinner but I'd do it all over again.
6. Wild Mushroom Dumplings with Black Truffle Oild from Sino (Santana Row) - This Asian fusion restaurant and lounge has amazing food and alcohol to go with its fancy interiors. It honestly felt like a scene out of Sex and the City when I stepped inside. Wow. Usually places like that depend on aesthetics to keep business flowing but not Sino. They food was great! I especially liked their dumplings. I love mushrooms and truffle oil so there's no way this could have let me down but they added this sweet syrupy sauce to it that just made everything come together perfectly. I'm in love with this dumpling! A must-try if you're ever in the area.
7. A Double-Double Animal Style with Chopped Chilis from In-N-Out - For those who aren't familiar with In-N-Out linggo, that means 2 mustard cooked burger patties with 2 slices of cheese, grilled onions, pickles, extra sauce and jalapeno. My full meal consisted of that, animal style fries (french fries topped with grilled onions, loads of cheese and the In-N-Out sauce) and a chocolate milkshake. This was the ONLY major fastfood chain that I let myself eat at because they still hold the #1 spot for burgers in my heart. Awesomely unhealthy but it just makes me SO happy.

There are two more things I want to write about but those deserve a separate entry. I had the best breakfasts of my life on this trip and I will post pictures when I get to write about them.

I hope I didn't make you too hungry with this. I, myself, am starving right now after remembering all that delicious food. Off I go to munch on a Reese's mini White Chocolate Peanutbutter Cup.

Til next time!