Keeping your stomach (and wallet) full while traveling

I'm taking a short hiatus from the Boston scene to dedicate this post to eating on a budget while traveling. I'm currently in Los Angeles, CA until tomorrow for the CAPPS Conference for my full-time job at Effective Student Marketing in Andover. My coworker and I are staying at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza - one high class hotel! So high class, that their three restaurants make visitors pay 18 bucks for an ordinary tuna sandwich. When I say ordinary, the only "fancy" thing about this overpriced dish is that the tuna is served on ciabatta bread. Although my co-worker and I are here on business, our company is small, and it's a gosh darn recession - we don't feel right eating $18 mediocre sandwiches for three days. Apparently, our fellow exhibitors at the conference agree, and willingly gave us tips on cheaper eats within walking distance from the wallet-emptying hotel. Last night, after we did our networking duties at CAPPS, we walked over to one such recommendation: The Pink Taco. Located in LA's Westfield outdoor mall, The Pink Taco was a rock 'n' roll, tattoo shop-inspired Mexican joint, crowded with hungry (and thirsty) twenty-somethings. Their food menu was limited and simple, and their margarita offerings were also slim, yet innovative. My coworker ordered the pumpkin spice margarita, which was suprisingly delicious, and tasted just like pumpkin pie, but with tequila. Can I get an amen? To make the bill even smaller, we split an appetizer of mini tacos with steak and avocado,  as well as an entree of a stuffed poblano pepper. While neither dish was outstanding, they were fairly tasty, spicy, and filling...not to mention affordable. Splitting a few entrees for dinner and having a margarita each ended up costing us less than the two sandwiches we had at the Hyatt for lunch.

What corners do you cut when traveling on a budget?

Breakin' in the crock pot with vegetarian chili

My other half is a vegetarian, so I made the most of my day off yesterday by making some vegetarian chili. I rarely use my crock pot, so this winter, I plan to use it a lot more often – and today I broke it in for the season. My apartment was fragrant with the smells of chili powder, smoky cumin, onions, and tomatoes bubbling away in the pot on the counter. And putting it all together took less than 20 minutes! Another bonus: this recipe is cheaper than most of the other chili recipes in my repertoire, thanks to the fact that I didn’t have to buy any meat. Below is my recipe for this chunky, spicy, lacto ovo-friendly chili. Dig in!

Easy & Spicy Vegetarian Chili

Yields: 4-5 servings

-16 oz. can of kidney beans, drained
-2 28 oz. cans crushed tomatoes
-1 medium yellow onion, chopped
-1 red pepper, cut into chunks (for thicker, chunkier chili)
-1 jalapeno, with seeds, diced
-1 tbsp. minced garlic
-1/4 tsp. cilantro
-1/2 tsp. cumin
-1 tsp. chili powder
-1/2-1 tsp. crushed red pepper (for extra heat)
-6-7 splashes of Tabasco sauce
-1 tsp. each of salt and pepper

Pour all ingredients into medium/large crock pot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Spoon into bowl and sprinkle with cheese (I prefer Heluva Good! Monterey Jack with Jalapeno). Serve with multigrain tortilla chips and enjoy!

*Tip: use an extra can of beans or some scambled meatless hamburger to make this chili even chunkier. It was a little runny and could have used the extra "sponge" to soak up the excess liquid from the tomatoes.

Buffalo: it's what's for dinner

I recently tried the buffalo burger ($9.50) at Bison County BBQ in Waltham, and was pleasantly surprised at how moist and flavorful the meat was. The menu boasts that buffalo has less cholesterol than chicken or turkey (my go-to meat for homemade burgers, usually), and my sister always makes her chili with buffalo meat because it tends to be cheaper than beef at the supermarket. Although I have yet to cook with buffalo in my own kitchen, I was more than happy to give the lesser-used chow a try at this establishment that is known for their meat. I was also happy to discover that the buffalo was a lot less greasy than beef would be, avoiding the dreaded grease waterfall that tends to pour out with every bite of a regular hamburger. The joint was casual and crowded on the Friday night that I visited, and their French fries were exceptionally crispy and full of real potato flavor. My friends ordered Bison County's Boneless Fire Wings ($7.95), that were supposed to be their spiciest, yet, unfortunately, lacked a lot of heat. I left satisfied, however, being able to wash down my burger with a few ice cold drafts of Shipyard's Pumpkinhead Ale, in the company of good friends.

Have you cooked with buffalo meat before? What are some successful ways you've prepared it, in addition to burgers and chili?

What did Guy Fieri eat?

I'm interviewing Food Network's bleached blond star Guy Fieri next week, to advance his upcoming appearance at Lowell Memorial Auditorium in November. This milestone interview (for a foodie like myself) got me thinking: where did Guy eat/what meals did he prepare when he was on a budget? The California native has only been a "star" for almost three years, and started his career at the age of ten selling soft pretzels from a bicycle cart entitled "The Awesome Pretzel." Fieri washed dishes and sold pretzels until he had enough money to study abroad in France, where he learned to appreciate international cuisine - and the rest is history.


So how did he save all that money at such a young age? What do you think he cooked, and where do you think he ate before becoming a Food Network star? 

Organic and inexpensive pub grub at Piccadilly

I just had lunch at the Piccadilly Pub in North Reading. I went in skeptical, and left brutally beaten with the fact that I'd been proven wrong. Piccadilly is one local chain that offers the whole package: cheap grub, quality food, solid customer service. I wouldn't recommend bringing someone here on a first date (or any date in the first few months of courting), but the casual atmosphere makes you just want to sip a brew, gorge on some simple American food, and revel in light conversation. Since I was on my lunch break, I opted for lemon water - not beer - and ordered the Organic Malibu Garden Burger ($7.99) with a side of mixed veggies. The vegetables obviously came out of a can, but were flavored so well, I ate every last bite - and wished I had more. The veggie burger was also one of the best I've had in a while, chocked full of organic broccoli, corn, carrots, peppers, water chestnuts and onions, covered in melted Swiss cheese, and sandwiched between moist-and-cheesy focaccia bread. The burger also had fresh tomato and lettuce for a garnish. Downright delicious. Personally, I believe the word "organic" means nothing but "expensive," but when it's inexpensive, I jump on the chance to eat anything organic. Piccadilly offered me that chance today.

What's your favorite restaurant that offers simple, delicious pub grub?

Gourmet's demise results in delicious baked Brie

With today's unfortunate fold of Gourmet magazine, a comforting dinner and some wine was in order - without overdoing it. My roommate and I decided to make some homemade pizza with store bought crust (with the sauce included!) and leftover fresh mozzarella and broccoli. For an appetizer, we made homemade baked Brie with apple slices on the side. Hello, comfort food! We fell in love with baked Brie at the British Beer Company in Framingham last year, but now that we know how to make it at home, this could be dangerous. Below is the recipe for this inexpensive, warm treat, right in time for the colder weather.

Baked Brie
Yields: 4 servings (or more...or less)

-1 Hannaford (or store brand) frozen pie crust, defrosted
-1 Presidente cut & wrap Brie wedge
-1 apple (optional)

Cut the brie into 1-inch thick pieces, and cover half of the pie crust with the cheese. Fold over empty half of pie crust to cover the cheese, and pinch ends of pie crust together to hold closed. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and cheese is starting to bubble. Enjoy with apple slices (and wine).

What's your favorite comfort food this time of year?

Darwin's sandwiches are worth the weekend splurge

There is nothing better than going out for breakfast on the weekends, but on a rainy day like today, there's nothing better than sleeping in and cooking a delicious breakfast for two. In an effort to save some money, I've been making a lot more meals at home, but normally I love going to Darwin's in Cambridge on the weekends for their amazing sandwiches and strong iced coffees. Darwin's is known for their sandwiches, and has plenty of options for vegetarians and omnivores alike. Plus, everything I've ever eaten there (which is a lot) is always full of fresh ingredients, and their iced coffee is probably the best I've had to date. A lot of the times I order one of their pre-made sandwiches of the day (like their black bean veggie burger with avocado, sprouts, and tomato on focaccia bread), but one of my favorite made-to-order sandwiches is The Hovey ($6.85). The Hovey is made with eggs cooked over medium and topped with bacon, avocado, and cheddar cheese, on your choice of bread (I usually go for the focaccia or ciabatta). In addition to sandwiches, Darwin's also has amazing, freshly made baked goods like homemade cookies, muffins, and pastries. The small cafe is always packed on a late weekend morning, but the staff is usually friendly and organized, so you're not waiting for 30 minutes for just one sandwich. Their prices are also pretty reasonable, although a little more expensive for breakfast-on-the-go. I usually spend between $7 and $10 for a sandwich and large iced coffee, but sometimes, quality food is worth the extra dollar (especially on the weekends).

What's your favorite place to splurge on a weekend breakfast?