Foodblogging: The Brothers Deli

I had lunch at The Brothers Deli today. It nicely complimented what I was really craving, which was a giant sticky bun. Gods help me, I almost walked to overpriced, mediocre Keys Cafe. Pregnancy does awful, crazy things to your mind.

Anyway, Brothers. I've been curious about this place for a long time, having seen it from across the hallway at Chipotle many times. The place is always hopping, and that's a good sign in the Skyway. I got there early -- around 11:15 -- and it was empty, which suited me fine.

I ordered the sweet & sour cabbage borscht, which came with a popover, and got a chocolate chip cookie. The borscht was very sweet, but it was just sour enough to cut it. It was full of cabbage that was pleasantly crisp-tender and not at all slippery or overcooked. The broth had bits of tomato in there too. It was delicious.

Now, I come from northern Minnesota, and I know popovers. These guys do popovers right. The outside is crisp but not overdone, with a delightfully messy flaky crumb that gets all over your hands. Crack that open to reveal a moist and tender, almost custardy, airy interior. It's served with honey butter. That's all you need. Don't even think of sullying it with jam.

The cookie was large and moist and had the right ratio of cookie to chocolate chip: 50:50. A great way to cap off my sugar feast.

If I ever decide to eat meat again I'll be sure to try the bulgogi sandwich. Can a deli do bulgogi right? I might have to have my husband try it and do a full report.

The salads in the deli case are gigantic and tempting and they have more than a few vegetarian breakfast and lunch options. I will be back after I'm not pregnant to try the lox bagel for breakfast.

Despite the signs proclaiming authenticity, there is bacon on the menu. Just so you know.

Feeling slightly deceased

This whole pregnancy thing has really sucked the life out of me. I'm so tired all the time that it's hard to do the things that I enjoy doing, like exercising and cooking and eating. Plus my new super smell+ nausea powers make it all but impossible to do any quality cooking, much less blog about it. Lately the previous Oreo entry is about as gourmet as I've been able to muster.

I do have a restaurant review to offer shortly.

Something so wrong, something so right

Step 1: untwist Oreo cookie
Step 2: insert peanut butter
Step 3: reassemble

Thank me later.

OMG

Stop the presses, hold the phone, wait, woah. They are making a live-action Akira movie.

I repeat: THEY ARE MAKING A LIVE-ACTION AKIRA MOVIE.

Exhaling

- Half the office is out on a boat today so it's reeeeeaaalllllyyyy quiet around here.

- I have been craving nothing but junk food lately. This baby is going to come out with a candy-colored chocolate shell.

- Took my prenatal before bed last night instead of first thing in the morning and the nausea seems to be way more tolorable. I wish I could say for sure that I have found the solution to that problem but my nausea has been operating on an every-other-day schedule and today is an off day.

- Speaking of nausea, it was so bad last Friday that I was unable to go to the MOA as planned and re-live my childhood by seeing NKOTB. That's OK because my sister-in-law went and reported that they were an hour late and only did three songs. Laaaame.

- My first big pregnancy appointment with the midwife is tomorrow. No idea if there is an ultrasound involved. Hopefully there is! Husband is coming with just in case.

- I'm on a pregnancy message board and am horrified -- HORRIFIED that there are people who would defend expectant mothers who smoke. It is beyond comprehension to me.

- Every little thing seems to be setting me off lately. Like, how can I in good conscience bring a child into a world so full of utter stupidity? People in Atlanta wondering where all these Russian tanks are that the news keeps on about. Insipid, intelligence-insulting political ads. Kids being handed diplomas when they can't read at a 3rd grade level. George W. Bush.

- I'm tired all the time.

- I have to re-do the fence around the garden and I'm too tired to do it when I get home from work.

- Husband was awesome last night and did laundry, put away the dishes, and started cleaning the kitchen.

- If someone goes in for a belly touch once I start showing they're going to lose a hand, or a minimum of two fingers. I'm going to write "NO TOUCHY" on my belly band.

- I'm super sad that I missed the first half of the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics. I started getting all teary-eyed when they showed that little kid next to Yao Ming.

- Saw me some women's beach volleyball last night. Hell yeah, bikinis. Yee-haw!

I dare you to look away

It's a clock! It's bizarre jazz music! It's bizarre Japanese dancing!

Your awwwwww of the day

Twin Baby Moose and Sprinkler - Video

Carrotmob: please please watch this

Carrotmob Makes It Rain

I submitted my name to be an organizer in the Twin Cities. We'll see what happens. Please take some time to watch this. Get signed up on the mailing list. Get involved. We can make a difference!

We're not all bad.

The Website Is Down

Bun, oven, and me

Sooooooo........ I went in to the doctor on Friday because of some strange happenings as far as Aunt Flo is concerned. I had the whole yearly physical workup and gave some blood and peed in a cup and all that. Towards the end when I was waiting for some quick test results to come back the doctor came back into the room. "Whoops," she said, "I forgot to grab the results of the pregnancy test." She disappeared for a while. It seemed like forever. I wasn't expecting anything. I was actually expecting her to come back and tell me I was barren or something. So when she returned and announced that it was positive, I was in shock. And then I was making odd high pitched squealy happy noises and crying. Really? Me, pregnant?

We've been officially trying since the beginning of April. And since I'm about eight weeks pregnant right now, our plumbing is potent.

This weekend was a blur. We were originally going to wait until after the first ultrasound because we're all gun-shy since we know two people who have miscarried in the first trimester in the last six months. But in the end we decided to stay positive. We both suck at keeping secrets like this anyway. I think if I would have tried to keep it in, the fetus would have burst out Alien-style and started waving flags. Our entire family officially knows now, as well as friends. We had fun telling Husband's dad last night at his birthday party. Everyone else was clued in and when we sang Happy Birthday we all sang "happy birthday dear grandpa." The look on his face was priceless. I wish I could bottle that.

I made Husband drive me to Ridgedale on Friday because the Calhoun Barnes & Noble didn't have the What To Expect When You're Expecting pregnancy journal. We sat at Applebee's (because we're a couple of classy kids like that) and started filling in the birth plan section.

My pants are already tight. No morning sickness, though! My dad said that my mom never got it either. ROCK.