Well hello!
I keep thinking it’s Sunday night because Kyle and I just got back from an overnight stay in San Juan Capistrano. We randomly decided to skip town after Kyle’s classes on Wednesday…he only has class one day a week and I didn’t have to be back at the hospital ‘til Friday, so why not?
Kyle’s parents were happy to see us and took us to dinner at a new Thai place that just opened near their house.
If you think the name is cheesy, you should see the menu! Thai Juan On is very pun-y.
We started with an order of Handroll Salad (Salad Mouan) for the table. The rolls were stuffed with lettuce, bean sprouts and tofu and topped with peanut sauce, avocado and roasted shallot.
The sauce and avo were great, but I could have used more tofu inside.
It was hard to decide on a main course because the menu was BEYOND overwhelming. It just went on and on…so I went with the oh-so-standard noodle dish…
Phat Thai with tofu. I think the portion grew as I ate it because the noodles and peanuts went on forever. It was delicious, but I definitely had leftovers.
Kyle got the dish I was considering as my second choice, which looked like a winner too.
Golden Thread (Ba Mee Phat) with tofu, egg noodles, onion, green onion, cabbage, celery, broccoli, mushroom, carrots, baby corn, bamboo shoots and bean sprouts.
The next day we met up with Kyle’s brother for a round of golf (9 holes) in Laguna Beach.
Eat your heart out East Coast, this is how we do January in So Cal. Holler!
I played on the horrible side, except for one fabulous put. In my defense, I haven’t even touched my clubs more than twice in the past few years. Rather than get down on myself for sucking, I just celebrated how much I improved over the course of the day.
After golf we headed back to Santa Monica. Starving.
Enter Veggie Grill. We chatted with T.K. while we waited for our food and he told us they just opened a new restaurant in Oregon. Hear that Beaverton? You guys can now enjoy this beauty.
All Hail Kale salad with blackened tempeh. This dish is simply perfection. I also got a side of mac ‘n cheese to go. [planning ahead for my upcoming 3 shifts in a row]
Kyle got the Bayou Chickin’ sandwich with a side of mac ‘n cheese, too.
And that’s my mid-week vacay (by iPhone).
When was the last time you ditched your normal weekly routine for a getaway?
Ahhh I love golfing! I never play anymore because I’m rarely home (where we belong to a club) when it’s warm enough. I was on golf team in high school!
I just got into golfing this winter when I went to Florida! Wishing I had your SoCal temps here so I could practice in Colorado.
But I might be wishing moreso that we had Veggie Grills out here…..
You’re an adorable golfer. And that Thai looks fantastic! I am jetting out of town, so have a fun weekend and week next week! Wanted to come by and say I love yoU!
I am absolutely dying at the picture of you golfing in shorts and a t-shirt in January. I am looking out the window at a flipping snow storm right now. I haven’t had a little mini vacation in a while, I think I need to pack up and come live with you for a while.
Sounds like a heavenly vacay, I could totally use a schedule ditch! The tempeh salad looks perfect.
Food looks good, Elise you look good. But you’re in a t-shirt and a pair of shorts while I’m here bundled up until you can barely see my face 😛 I’m so jealous.
Oh man, I heard you loud and clear. I live about 30 minutes away from Beaverton so I have a feeling the Veggie Grill will be getting some new regulars coming their way really soon. Thanks for letting me know! It’s about time we got some good vegetarian restaurants around here. It’s funny because people would assume that Oregonians would be all about organic and vegan food, but those type of restaurants are really few and far between. At least outside of Portland. I would be in veggie heaven if I lived up there. By the way, so jealous you’re wearing shorts in January. My hairy legs haven’t been exposed to the elements in well over 6 months. THat’s how we do it up here in the O-regon.
What cute golfers you guys are! I wish I enjoyed golf…but frankly, every time I’ve played I’ve been bored to tears. Maybe it’s time I give it another chance!
And the All Hail Kale with Blackened Tempeh is what I ALWAYS order from Veggie Grill. Seriously. It’s truly is perfection.
I’m glad they’re expanding! <3
yumm, love vegetarian thai dishes! the more tofu the better. it’s been a while since I’ve skipped town. need to go traveling soon! headed to the beach in 1 week! (to run a marathon – I guess that’s still a vacation LOL)
How fun! Hope you had a nice mid-week trip!
hehe golfing-babe ahoy! You need some obnoxiously loud check shorts of something!
Looks like an awesome mini-getaway… my favourite place to take off to is Byron Bay, it’s only about a 2 hour drive from us… beautiful beaches, lots of crazy hippie cafes and funky bars – haven’t been in a while though, you’ve inspired me 🙂
I’m thinking this year is a freak accident weather wise! I live in Nashville and typically this time of year it’s around 20 degrees and everything’s frozen.
It’s 65 right now. Sunny, warm and insanely confusing!
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