That Thing

You know that thing where you’re really busy and you forget to eat?

Me neither. That’s ridiculous.

Sometimes, though, I do get that thing where I’m really busy and I don’t have time to eat.

Luckily, sandwiches can be quick.

Tall Grass Prairie in The Forks Market has some wicked pre-made sandwiches to take on the go.

Like, wicked wicked.

If you get that thing where you’re really busy, make time to eat.

“Duh.”

No, seriously. Set aside some time to recharge and refuel.

Your slimy brain isn’t going to be any use without some grub in your tum.

Here’s what I had at Tall Grass Prairie:

Turkey Sandwich: turkey, tomato, lettuce.

Impression: Cool, refreshing tomatoes were sweet against the lightly salted chicken. The homemade bread didn’t lose any of its depth in the refrigerator.

What made it: Convenience.

DIY

DIY.

Do it yourself.

Way to go. Power to the people. Rock on. Stick it to the man. Do it yourself.

I was feeling strapped for cash so I made my own sandwich for this week’s blog. I thought I’d look in the old refrigerator, take whatever it could give me, and throw together a delicious sammy.

I did. I made a tuna sandwich, with some chopped celery and red pepper. I put it on some toasted rye with melted white cheddar cheese then smothered it all in Sriracha.

I did it myself.

It was okay. It wasn’t fantastic. I haven’t decided to pursue a prestigious career as a sandwich artist. I didn’t do any cartwheels after the first spicy bite. It was just ok. Not bad, though.

So, do it yourself, except not all the time.

You have to understand your weaknesses. I know that I’m not the best sandwich maker. I know that it’s okay to ask for help some times.

But, you also have to know your strengths.

I am one of the best sandwich eaters I have ever met.

Do it myself?

I will eat any sandwich. All by myself.

 

Was this a murky metaphor for coming to terms with my abilities and lack thereof? Does this post signify a new-found appreciation for who I am as a person?

Not sure. Metaphors aren’t really one of my strengths.

 

 

 

Scandalway

SANDWICHES IN THE NEWS PART 4

On February 7th, reports that the Food Babe had beaten subway surfaced online.

Wait, what?

The Food Babe is a blog (riddled with grammatical errors) run by Vani, a.k.a. the Food Babe. After some investigation, she started an online petition asking Subway to remove a chemical from their bread – a chemical also found in yoga mats.

Azodicarbonamide.

Neat.

The petition was posted on February 4th. By the 7th, it had received 78,000 signatures.

According to LA Weekly, Subway has already begun removing the chemical from their bread – but not because the Food Babe told them to.

From LA Weekly:

“We are already in the process of removing azodicarbonamide from our bread as part of our bread improvement process,” Subway said on Facebook on Wednesday. “While the ingredient is approved by the USDA and FDA, it will be removed from all our breads soon.”

Woohoo! Power to the people!

Or, maybe not.

I don’t know.

I have no idea what azodicarbonamide is.

Here’s what I had at Subway:

Chicken Bacon & Ranch Melt: Chicken, Bacon, cheese, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, pickles, cucumbers, jalapenos, ranch & buffalo sauce.

It did not taste like a yoga mat. It did not taste all that great, either.

Reading

Friday, September 20 marked the beginning of Winnipeg’s International Writers Festival, Thin Air.

Throughout the 8 days of Thin Air, writers from Canada and elsewhere come to read, lecture on, and talk about their books.  I’ve had the pleasure of hearing from three presenters.

1.  Shawna Dempsey & Lorri Millan.  Their stories of lesbian pirates and not-so-lonely lone rangers were exciting and emotional.  The pair shared their experiences working together; someone in the audience asked if ‘white-livered’ meant lesbian.

2.  Michel Cormier.  The CBC news correspondent spoke about writing his book, The Legacy of Tienanmen Square, while stationed in Beijing China.

3.  Jim Nason.  His latest book, I Thought I Would Be Happy, explores perspective through the view of an ophthalmologist, his lover/film noir expert, and an artist named Mya.

Wait…What does this have to do with Sandwiches?

Naturally, all this talk about reading and writing got me hungry.  So I set out to find the perfect Thin Air sandwich.

Prairie Ink is a cozy little restaurant inside McNally Robinson Booksellers, one venue for Thin Air events.  It’s also got some sandwiches worth reading about.  

Here’s what I got at Prairie Ink Restaurant and Bakery:

The Italian: Genoa, calabrese, prosciutto, fontina cheese, tomatoes, shaved red onions, lettuce, house ciabatta bun, garlic aioli.  $10.00

Impression: (Ultra-literary style) The thick ciabatta bun was soft and seductive.  It stood tall and proud, anxious to show what it held within.  The sensual threesome of Italian meats lay protected inside the bun’s embrace.  Their salt-slicked bodies slid against one another, wrapping around the pure cheese.  The smooth slice of fontina cheese was quivered as the meat held tight to it’s porcelain frame.  The tomatoes and onions lay just above the cheese, giving themselves to the crisp piece of lettuce.

What made it? Garlic Aioli.

Grab a sandwich at Prairie Ink this weekend and check out these speakers at McNally:

Afternoon Book Chats: Lauren Carter & Lucie Wilk
Friday, September 26 – 2:30 p.m.

“In thse striking debut novels, Lauren Carter sweeps us into a frightening near future of environmental collapse, and Lucie Wilk immerses us in a gritty hospital in Malawi.
Click here for details.”
– Thin Air

Here & There: Story Time – Marie-Louise Gay
Saturday, September 28 – 10:30 a.m.

“A new Stella and Sam book by Marie-Louise Gay is always a cause for celebration, and Read Me a Story, Stella has her signature wit and respect for a child’s imagination. Young book-lovers (and their families) are invited to join this internationally-beloved writer for a special story time.  Click here for details”
-Thin Air