3-Day Detox

Every Christmas, I get an issue of Martha Stewart's Living Magazine in my stocking from Tom's mom. This last time I decided to get a subscription to Living and Whole Living (it was a 2-for-1 deal). I don't think it's any secret that I want to be the Asian Martha Stewart. Almost 95% of the things I see, I say to myself "I can make/cook/repair/do that". Like once I brought in boots to get repaired; unfortunately a few months too late as the guy laughed at me and said it would cost $45. "But that's how much the boots cost in the first place!"... cut to, me on google finding out how to mend shoes... cut to me buying the most potent-smelling tube of "Shoe Goo" on Amazon and stinking up the entire apartment with this epoxy-like-stuff that for the record did the job of filling in the cracks of the boot soles, thankyouverymuch. But onto the main subject here, Detoxing!

The latest issue of Whole Living is all about Spring Cleaning- whether it be the clutter in the apartment, life, or body. They included a 3-Day Detox that involved 3 vegan and gluten-free meals 6 snacks- 2 of which you choose a day to eat in-between meals. They list the recipes as a big batch so you can make them all the first day and add little things to them when you're ready to eat.

Always up for a challenge, (and seeing how out-of-shape I've become), I decided to take on this 3-day detox and rejuvenate my life and soul. If anything, I'll make lost a couple of pounds and feel better about this half-marathon I signed up for IN A less than a MONTH!! (I've done ZERO training so far. I'm dead.)

I thought I'd track my progress in case anyone else wants to give it a go. If you're anything like me who usually has a meat, whether it be chicken, fish or beef for dinner 5 days out of the week, you'll probably be a little apprehensive. Tom made no hesitations about declining the offer to do this detox together after repeated requests, so it's just me!

I may have jumped the gun since I made plans to go out with a friend tonight, but maybe I'll ease into it and start it seriously tomorrow.

So far, I have made the breakfast smoothie which consists of grapefruit, strawberries (i used frozen mixed berries- the antioxidant blend), sweet apple, ginger and water.

It was very gingery and tart but the apple and berries made it a bit sweeter. I finished a serving about 30 minutes ago and I am starving. Maybe I'll have one of the snacks... an apple with tahini (which I did not get), or banana "ice cream" (just pureed frozen banana- which I did not freeze). Like I said, I jumped the gun by only having like 90% of the ingredients I need. Good start already, eh?

The Publican

So keeping a blog is really harder than it sounds. I always say I'll write/post pictures but never do. Now that I am unemployed, there is no excuse!

While there are months to catch up on, I would like to dedicate this one to The Publican. It is the middle child of the Paul Kahan trifecta (the higher end being Blackbird, and the other end being Avec). It is peppered with James Beard Award nominations every year (The Oscars of the food world) and anything Paul Kahan-related is Anthony Bourdain-approved. While I missed dinner at Blackbird (got a stomach virus my last day in Chicago!), I would have to agree as The Publican stands as one of the top 10 meals of all time. I actually can't rate what is #1, but Petrossian, Peter Luger, Aliseo, Convivium Osteria, Sushi Nozawa are all up there.

Anyway, if you haven't heard this story, Tom found crazy cheap tickets to Chicago via Spirit Airlines. They have a $9 fare club, but we actually found tickets for $5.05 EACH WAY. With taxes, it was $43 Roundtrip per person. You can't beat that! Trust me, I've looked since with no success. The only drawback was that it was in the middle of the week of February. We booked them in December so we had no idea what the weather would be like. We actually lucked out the first day. It was unseasonably warm and a beautiful day for walking around Lake View and Lincoln Square.

So the first night we were there, we made reservations for The Publican, also approved by our friend Mark who had just moved to Chicago. Tom and I got there a little early so I ordered 1/2 dozen Oysters- Chef's Choice. My friend Kristen (who actually lives a neighborhood over from me in Brooklyn but I never see) was visiting her parents who just moved there had coincidentally also made reservations there 30 minutes before ours.

We got seated in one of the booths arranged around the perimeter of the restaurant that is enclosed by a big wooden door. Much better than the alternative which is community-style seating in the middle of the dining room. The next was all uphill from there. Unfortunately it was too dark to take pictures and the menu changes daily so I don't have the exact meals listed but

We ordered:
blood sausage
pork belly
shaved brussel sprouts with ricotta
ahi tuna
scallops
waffle for dessert
tart for dessert

Obviously all to share. I keep dreaming of going back. Paul Kahan, come to New York City!!