i'd rather have the gun

It occurred to me the other day that I haven't ever eaten cannoli. Why, you ask? Because it's as if I could picture how it would taste and it never really appealed to my tongue.

Going along the lines of "go big or go home", the only place to go is Macri's, the local Italian bakery. It also occurred to me that I never took a picture of the front entrance, though I'd have to look through the blog archives to be sure.

Not only did they offer the regular sized cannoli, but there were miniature versions as well. I didn't (read: forgot) to ask what the filling consisted of so I'll have to assume it was a traditional ricotta filling. I couldn't pass up the chocolate coated cannolo because it looked like a Chaco Taco!

So. Was the cannoli different than my expectations? A little. I was pleased that it wasn't exactly as I thought, though on the other hand I didn't think it was anything too spectacular. The filling reminded me of a less dense cheesecake filling that wasn't airy, yet not so dense you could patch a wall with it.

The dough is what made it err on the side of "meh". It was crispy, but in a crumbly way, and rather dense than what I would have expected, sort of like when you eat a pie and the crust seems like it was made with oil, or something.

Concluding this post, I realize that I need to try more cannoli in order to reach a more conclusive opinion on whether or not I need to get in touch with my Italian side. Isn't there a Little Italy in Chicago?

quality control: McDonald's iced mochas

Yesterday, McDonald's gave away free 7 oz. samplings of their iced mocha, in which we partook. Four times. No, we did not mooch, we were testing for quality control. Are all McDonald's associates at various locations equally enthusiastic on "mixology"? Will the comfort of seeing chain restaurants everywhere with the knowledge that no matter where we are, we will be able to get the same exact item prove to be true?

First Micky D's we hit up was the 4711 Miami St, South Bend, IN location. The drink comes in a miniature version of their regular size, which I think is cute. I also think I'm going to order a "short" at SBUX whenever I get a flavored beverage from now on. First sip resulted in a note of edge from the espresso, followed by a chocolaty sweetness that blended together as it should. The drink was chilled enough to make the flavors stand out properly, as well. Nice job.

Next stop was the 416 N Michigan St, South Bend, IN location, two from the hospital and the closest to Notre Dame, not to mention where anyone downtown would go if they wanted their fast food fix. After which they could proceed to the hospital. I actually got out to get mine this time, and they were not prepared to place our order. What I mean is that if you are having a free giveaway, you should be set up, but they had to search for cups and other ingredients. Fail.
Back in the car, after a picture, it became clear that the punk hadn't any clue how to follow instructions. Way too sweet, and the chocolate tasted powdery. Here is where we got into a banter over how our iced mochas tasted, me saying it was too sweet and didn't have any espresso taste, her saying it didn't have any sweetness and just tasted of espresso, me saying that she's wrong, it's too sweet. Then we switched cups and realized that these were not made the same. Fail again. Fail representation of the impeccable McDonald's standards.

Third stop was at 52665 State Road 933, South Bend, IN, another place out of towners might stop at. The landscape at this location was lovely. Again, though, for being almost empty, they were not prepared to mix these up and had to go on a search for cups, and they were out of the cups for the iced version.

There could not have been a worse iced mocha than the last one, and luckily this wasn't. But it wasn't iced enough so it was like drinking a lukewarm hot mocha latte. Seriously, this is getting troubling.

On the plus side, this was the only location where we were asked whether or not we wanted whole or nonfat milk. This did not, however, make up for the wait, but it was interesting to note.

Final stop on our research took us to the 5704 Grape Rd, Mishawaka, IN location. I think. Anyway, the lady who asked us what we wanted kind of gave us a face when she realized we weren't actually ordering anything. Hahah. This one didn't quite have enough chocolate sweetness, but it was the closest to the first iced mocha.

So there you go, not all iced mochas are made equal. You'll be lucky if you get something drinkable the next time you pull up to a McDonald's with a craving, and this will probably, hopefully, be in the back of your mind.

Hand model

Busy, Busy

I have a backlog of posts I meant to post, as well as pictures to accompany them, but I've been busty and have either been too tired or ... busy! So, most of the posts coming up will be from the past.

Workouts Update:

Week 2 is almost at a close! I'm very excited, but also nervous because I don't want a repeat of May. The walks have been pleasant and (because I have to keep a note of time and distance -- not always the best to do) I'm covering a little more than 2 miles in 30 minutes. (I once walked 3 miles in 30 minutes. For real. I don't think I'd ever want to do that again.) The weather is nice and today it's especially nice. I have three more walks, including today, until I'm finished.

Oh, later today I'm going to South Bend's Art Beat and will be fooding at Chicory Café, tasting their beignets and gelato. Therefore, my next post will be about that and the posts after from the past. Do I confuse you!? [insert sly tone, with look of pleasure - I like confusion!!! No, I don't.]

I'm looking forward to the gelato because the last I had tasted like foamy straw. And the waitress said it was low-lat. Which is why we eat so much of it. I prefer Chicory Café's description:

"What's gelato?

True Italian ice cream. It has no added air whipped in, so it weighs twice as much as most ice creams. Because of the density, it is amazingly creamy. It's made with true, raw ingredients...nothing artificial"

Sweet stuff, right there! They also have sorbetto!

Thai Food

Great title, I know... At least it's to the point. At least.

Yesterday, I ate at a little restaurant in downtown South Bend called . I've been there once before and (sadly, I'll add) haven't been there since, though not because it wasn't good.

You walk into Siam Thai and you're met with a little partition, behind which you wait to be seated. Unless you're shorter than the partition, in which case step to the side (as I did, though my dad is taller, but there wasn't anyone sitting in the table right behind the partition and it helped them notice us). Personally, or not, as my dad thought so too, they could do without two or three of the tables. It's a little compact but without the claustrophobic-inducing feeling (I don't know how that is), though the problem is the noise. Once the majority of the customers start talking, the only way to hear the conversations you have with your friends/parents/siblings/hobbits is to raise your own voice. (Another option is either to just sit silently and stare at each other or become mimes, the latter which has the potential to get you kicked out for frightening everyone else.) The atmosphere makes up for any shortcomings. Each table has it's own table lamp, which emits a lovely golden glow once it gets dark outside (there is wall-to-floor glass windows at the front of the restaurant), and the lightening the restaurant has is soft. It's enough light to analyze your food with -- I hate eating in the dark.

Firstly, we ordered a pot of the regular green tea, which had a nice, light flavor without being over-powering. Secondly, for an appetizer we ordered the fried stuffed mushroom that came with what seemed like an MSG-less sweet-and-sour dipping sauce. It didn't have that sickish fully red hue and it wasn't gloppy. Glop-glop. The mushrooms were good, though I prefer portobellos because regular mushroom just taste watery to me. The filling was good, a somewhat moist pork filling? I forgot. And the outtards (the fried part) was neither greasy nor too thick. It all came together and was a perfect with the sauce. I can also recommend the satay because last time I got it, it was good, and the peanutty sauce was excellent.

Dad ordered beef with broccoli and mushrooms in some sort of a sauce that... It was #17. It was good. I don't remember much of it besides the beef not being dry (!!), the sauce being flavored perfectly, and that I really like broccoli in saucy dishes because it acts like an edible sponge, emitting a flavorful burst of saucy goodness. I ordered #15, the chicken with carrots, green cabbage, green onions, mushrooms, and red onions in a ginger sauce. I was apprehensive about ordering chicken because most chicken is overcooked but I needn't have worried. The chicken was thin and moist, sopping up the sauce, the vegetables were between raw and too limp (i.e., you bit into them is it was firm, giving a nice chew, without being like crudites and not being mushy), and the sauce? Stellar, it was amazing. This light ginger sauce, not over-powering but the perfect amount of flavor, which was enhanced when you bit into a piece of ginger, but it still wasn't over-powering (you know how too much garlic stays with you for days? This didn't have that effect). Each entree, unless it's a noddle-y entree, comes with jasmine rice to aid in sopping up every last bit of their perfectly seasoned sauces. The portions were generous without being gluttonous, leaving you room to eat more, if you so desired. Interspersed throughout the bites were my dad and I taking turns saying things like, "Wow, this is so good!" "Amazing, absolutely perfect!" "I don't know what dessert I'd want to eat after this."

Which leads me to the desserts. There are two cheesecakes offered but we both thought that it would be horrid after such a meal. Cheesecake is a meal unto itself. There's a dessert wine, Japanese plum-something, but I don't drink. The truffles I had next door at That Cheesecake Place (where they also get... the cheesecake from) and I didn't like them. I won't get into that right now. The only dessert that intrigues me is the fried bananas (it might be like banana wontons, or it's fried in a tempura batter, I don't know) with... a sauce. With vanilla ice cream. Sprinkled with sesame seeds. My memory just failed me. But we didn't want anything because we enjoyed the taste of the entrees so much, we didn't want something else to take it away. I think they should have a lemongrass sorbet, or any sorbet, something light. All the desserts seemed a little heavy and wrong to follow the sort of food they serve. They do have chocolate-covered mint sticks accompanying the bill. (Cheapo *cough*. No, I'm kidding!)

The appetizers are around $5, the entrees are $8 to $15, and a pot of tea starts at $3.99. You can dress either casually or you can dress up. A reservations is required for large groups but you can't get one otherwise. And it closes at 9 pm.

For now, Siam Thai remains my favorite foodie restaurant in South Bend.

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Siam Thai

211 N Main St
South Bend, IN 46601

(574) 232-4445

(574) 233-2233