I had a great post planned for today about a very cool boutique gym I had the opportunity to try out. I was there on Sunday and again on Wednesday. But I can’t review it yet because . . . I am going back again on Tuesday! That’s because one of my two sessions on Wednesday was canceled and rescheduled. So by late next week I should have a review that I am really looking forward to writing so I can share the information with you, especially the New Yorkers!
I hope to finish In Defense of Food this weekend so I can have a review for you next week as well. I tried to buy a book recommended by Michelle called Real Food: What to Eat and Why by Nina Planck, but Barnes & Noble by work didn’t have it. This weekend I will go to Barnes & Noble by home and pick up a copy. I highly recommend you all reading Michelle’s review here. And rest assured — I plan on reviewing it after I read it too!
Speaking of food, the boy and I ate at Josie’s last night (same owners as Citrus, which I love). We’ve ordered from there since it is so close but I have never eaten in the restaurant before. I wanted a Food, Inc influenced dinner.
According to the website, “Organic grains, beans and flour, free-range meats, poultry, eggs, eco-friendly seafood along with triple filtered water merge naturally and create an impeccable menu that pleases all palates.”
You guys, this menu! First of all, the cocktail menu was so extensive and full of organic vodkas I have never even heard of! One was an organic honey-mango vodka — WHAT! I was very tempted to get a drink using one of these, but I was also tempted by the sangria — made with fresh fruit juice. And by fresh, I mean they have a juicer there and you can order green juice, fruit juice, etc.
Organic red wine or white wine, fresh juices, & a touch of brandy and triple sec
I decided to go for the red sangria this time — but next time it will be a vodka night!
It was delicious. Someone came around offering three types of bread — 7 grain, corn and foccacia. I passed on the bread but LOVED the spread that came with it. It tasted like a sweet carrot mush and I couldn’t get enough! My kind of texture. And taste!
For an appetizer the boy and I shared the Thai Chili Seared Wild Shrimp: baked flour tortillas, guacamole, mango salsa & organic mesclun greens. Each huge succulent shrimp came on a guacamole topped tiny tortilla. There were chunks of tiny mango along the plate. It was amazing. You have to get this if you ever go to Josie’s!
For my main course, I couldn’t decide between a salmon and a couple of chicken entrees. After seeing Food, Inc, I will not be eating chicken from most restaurants. Josie’s is one of the restaurants I do feel that I can eat it. It will probably be where I go when I want chicken, don’t want to cook (always) and is close by (I rarely go far). While the decision was a difficult one, I decided to go with the salmon (even though I had salmon the night before!):
Ancho Rubbed Grilled Shelter Island Salmon: pecan mashed sweet potato, grilled asparagus & mango-roasted pepper salsa
The pecan mashed sweet potato was calling my name. And it was so worth it! I LOVE sweet potato at Thanksgiving and this was just as good as any I’ve had!
 By the way, I can’t eat brown rice but if I could I would definitely want this:
Shrump “Un-Fried” Organic Brown Rice:wok sautéed Thai marinated wild shrimp, tamari, garlic & ginger organic brown rice studded with peas, onions, shiitake mushrooms, Asian greens, baby bok choy & free range egg (vegetarian preparation available).
Also wanted you to see this gem:
Grilled Citrus Marinated Natural Chicken Breast Fajita:organic pinto beans, chipotle salsa, guacamole & steamed whole wheat flour tortillas
Uhhh yeah. Next time, perhaps! They also had a natural chicken teriyaki. This place is amazing. The boy got a veggie burger which he enjoyed as well. He knows I need to come back here more often and I hope anyone in New York decides to try it out too!
When we got home, the boy picked up some Twizzlers to snack on. I used to always take a couple from him — how could I resist! But last night I read the ingredients. The very first ingredient was Corn Syrup. I was not tempted to even have a single taste of a Twizzler.
I am so happy I now understand more about the way we have been eating and should be eating to achieve our best health – and I now know why corn is in Twizzlers. I am excited to continue being aware of labels and what I put into my body.
I have more to say on this but want to wait until I finish In Defense of Food. Until then….
Have a great weekend! Have anything fun planned? I plan on laying outside by the water, reading, working out and relaxing! Oh — click here to enter to win a year’s subscription to Health magazine from my favorite Prior Fat Girl.
Jen, a priorfatgirl
July 17, 2009 at 5:43 pm (15 years ago)ok, I have to admit something. I have this habit of reading the title of a blog first, then scrolling through and looking at the pictures before I actually read the post. Today, I thought your Food, Inc inspired meal was a bag of twizzlers and laughed out loud. HA!!!
Anyways, so glad you found a restaurant you felt comfortable eating at! Was it more expensive then normal places you eat at? I never even considered the thougth of organic vodka or wine. Obvious it would be available but just never even considered! I will have to look for some organic wine to try! (After Aug 1st of course!)
Anne K.
July 17, 2009 at 7:47 pm (15 years ago)I’m going to see Food Inc this weekend, and I can’t wait. I’m sure it’s going to be really eye-opening and change the way I eat. I’m glad you found a good restaurant!
mrs v
July 17, 2009 at 11:40 pm (15 years ago)i read in defense of food recently and loved it! at the same time, i honestly believe a treat every now and again is fine. i compare it to reading, which is my favorite pastime. i try to read “real” book, intellectual things (like in defense of food), but i read my us weekly each week as a treat and have no shame! 🙂
Maggie
July 18, 2009 at 2:10 am (15 years ago)I love how the movie has changed your thought process before you decide to eat something. I just read Natalia Rose’s Raw Food Detox Diet book and that combined with Food Inc have both had major impacts on me this week!
I have to teach the SAT tomorrow. Sucks. But on Sunday I’m meeting up with Jenna from Eat Live Run for a wine tasting!
Gena
July 20, 2009 at 9:17 am (15 years ago)Eeks. Not a Nina fan! But OMNIVORE’S DILEMMA is quite good.
Diana (Soap & Chocolate)
July 20, 2009 at 11:21 am (15 years ago)Way to go finding a place that meets your standards. Those menu items sound great! I agree with Gena, you should also pick up Omnivore’s Dilemma.
Michelle @ Find Your Balance
July 21, 2009 at 8:51 am (15 years ago)Hey, good for you getting curious about where food comes from and what you’re actually eating. I find that every book I read has a convincing argument so I try to read many different books with different viewpoints. No one person has ALL the answers- that’s just common sense, right? 🙂
By the way, I love Josie’s! Service can be slow though… I’m actually planning dinner there next weekend when I’m in New York 🙂