Welcome to another Ultimate Coffee Date! We’re already at the second-last coffee (or as usual for me, tea) date of the year! There’s been a lotttt going on (as per usual) so why don’t we jump right in!?
Ultimate Coffee Date: November 2018
If we were having coffee/tea today, I’d…tell you that I went back to California for one of my interviews earlier last month. I rarely ever eat fast food but I make an exception for In N Out!
My usual order is a hamburger with extra lettuce/tomatoes and grilled onions along with fries with a side of spread. :]
For some reason, the “standard” car that I rented to drive around socal was this ginormous pickup. Not gonna lie–I felt pretty powerful. But also confused (how is this a “standard” size?!). It was also hard to park this in tiny parking lots. :[
My interview day was pretty awesome–everyone was super super nice, and I also got to see Rachel again! :]! We got to grab a quick lunch before I had to race off to the airport again–she gave me brownies and a protein bar from her family to keep me alive on my flight back! <3 (I can’t wait to see them all later this month! <3!)
If we were having coffee/tea today, I’d…tell you that I kinda feel like I’ve gone to a lot of concerts this year (which I guess I have…). I saw Kina Grannis, Lindsey Stirling and Evanescence back in August and I went to see Mandy Harvey at the NJ State Theater last week! (One of my patients told me about it a couple weeks ago! :] )
For those of you who are wondering, Mandy Harvey is a deaf singer + songwriter who also plays the ukulele + guitar (and now piano)! She was previously on America’s Got Talent and is currently touring around the country. Her concert was amazing and she seems so sweet and genuine; I was so awed by her talent. <3
If we were having coffee/tea today, I’d…tell you that I recently went to a media mixer event at Lefke’s, a new restaurant that opened up in Englewood Cliffs (NJ)!
Driving there wasn’t quite so fun (I dislike driving in New Jersey in general, haha) and I missed the restaurant completely at first because I didn’t realize the parking lot was valet services only (I am not that fancy of a person).
The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous and has a very well-stocked bar. Rocky, our bartender, gave us “winter in a glass” (champagne with a bit of simple syrup and cinnamon; pictured at the top!) If you know me though, you…know that I can’t drink alcohol, so that was unfortunately lost on me. :[ Everyone else seemed to enjoy it though!
We got to try a number of different appetizers. Everything I tried was delicious, but if I had to pick favorites, it’d probably be the moussaka, which I’d never had up until this point. It’s a potato/eggplant/mushroom-based dish that’s usually prepared more like a lasagna, but the chef here baked them and fried em’ into croquette balls. *-* I also really liked the sushi (duh).
There was a really tasty swordfish appetizer (pictured above with the orange slice!) and also a portobello mushroom dish with pesto and Greek cheese (pictured below). There’s a patio for outdoor seating that’ll be really nice when it’s warmer out again, and they have an upstairs area that can accommodate private parties of up to 50-60-ish people!
Service was amazing, and I got to meet another blogger who covers events up in northern NJ! We were both stuffed full by the end of the event, and had a lot of fun. I hope we get to do more of these in the future! :]
See past ultimate coffee dates here!
(Link-up with Coco @ Got 2 Run 4 Me & Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner!)
- What’s been going on in your life lately?
- What’s the last concert you went to?
- Any awesome restaurant discoveries lately?
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Honestly I think you did you’re quick trip right by stopping at In’n’Out. Here’s to hoping that interview went well!
I think I’ve been burning the candle at both ends lately. Work is just a non stop flurry, even as we go into the “calm” months. But I’ve also been trying to get caught up on things I missed when I was younger. Oddly enough, concerts are one of those things!
In February I saw Queens of the Stone Age during their Villains tour. In April I went to the Sabroso Taco/Punk/beer festival and saw two of my favorite bands (among others) who were Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies as well as The Offspring. In July I freakin saw The Pillows during their little North American tour and got to hear Last Dinosaur live! September I took my friend to see the Foo Fighters because he had never been to a real concert in his entire life (so why not the Foos?). And then in early October I saw the Foos again at Cal Jam 18 alongside Iggy Pop and Post Pop Depression, Garbage, Tenacious D, and they even reunited the remaining members of Nirvana and had Joan Jett join them on stage to play some gosh darn Nirvana songs! It was siiiiiiick.
haha, I like to think so too! It’s a nice CA tradition to have. :] I hope the interview went well too!
I hope things get sliiightly less hectic for you soon! I’m glad that you’re getting to catch up on stuff that you missed earlier on–I feel like concerts are one of those things for me too, haha. There was definitely a huge gap of not going to any throughout grad school/med school for me (I went to one total in that time, hehe).
That’s awesome that you got to see a couple of your favorite bands! :] I need to make it out to a music festival someday!
Are you interviewing for sports medicine fellowships? You know we have Dr Phillip Skiba at Advocate Medical Group (where I work)? He is the physician who was on site for the Chasing 2 experiment with Kipchoge, where the marathoners tried to break the 2 hour mark. It’s a fascinating documentary on YouTube. I don’t know how we have Dr Skiba on our medical staff but it’s pretty cool.
I am indeed! :] That’s so awesome! (I can’t even imagine breaking a half marathon in 2 hours, haha. That’s amazing!! I’m definitely gonna have to check out that documentary!) I’m on nights right now, so fingers crossed for white cloud status! :P
Sounds like a fun trip. I’ve never been to In ‘N’ Out, but I’ve heard lots of people rave about their burgers. Everything looks yummy in your pictures from the other restaurant!
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Thanks! I’m all about finding good places to eat whenever I travel! :P!
You’re definitely a busy person! I’m glad the interview in California went well and you got to see a friend. That event in NJ sounds like tons of fun!
-Lauren
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Thanks! It definitely was! :] And yeah, haha. I feel like I don’t do idle moments too well so I’m constantly trying to do everything!
I have still never been to an IN an Out burger spot but we did go to Gott’s it was amazing. Loved California. Thanks for stopping in for coffee!
I haven’t been to Gott’s yet but I’ll have to check it out sometime! I’m glad you had a good time in California! :]
How random was your “standard” rental – I’d be intimidated! Though I’d probably expect it in Louisiana 😜
Life lately has just been crazy busy with work but I can’t complain about that!
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haha, right? I was kinda intimidated, but it was nice in the sense that no one wanted to mess with me on the road? :P
Hang in there! <3
Oooh! Those appetizers look absolutely delicious. And too pretty to eat! I have to confess…I’ve never visited an In n Out. Have to try it the next time we go out west!
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I hope you like it! :D!
I hope your interviews turn out the way you want! I was wondering about that champagne. :-) That drink sounds worth tasting though. LOL on the pick-up. Maybe that’s all that was left on the rental lot. Thanks for joining us for tea!
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Thank you! I hope so too!
Right?! I figured I’d clear things up, ahaha. :P The friend I made there said it tasted really good!
That’s probably it! It was kinda late in the evening! :P
That is a pretty funny “standard” car!! I have a bigger SUV and it is such a pain to park sometimes so I feel ya!
Glad your interview went well!
hahaha, right? Parking definitely wasn’t fun, but yay for no one wanting to mess with me on the road! :P
My friend’s daughter had a sports medicine fellowship in Upstate NY.
I haven’t been to a concert in a while but I hope to see Billy Joel in NYC in Dec. Finger crossed.
I am still savoring the memories of all the good food I ate in France. Nothing here compares. :(
That’s awesome! :]
I hope you get to see him then too!
haha, that’s what I’m worried about if I ever get to go to Japan–the sushi here won’t compare anymore! :'(!
In N Out is so yummy! I’ve only been to California once and I made sure to try it while I was there, lol
hehehe, it’s pretty much become a tradition for me! :P
I’d be terrified driving that beast of a truck! Parking it would be even worse….
hehehe, I definitely had a world of trouble parking it! Driving it thankfully wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be!
Looks like a great trip to California! That burger and fries look sooooo good! I keep hearing about how great In n Out is. I’m sure one day I’ll get to try it for myself! :)
It definitely hit the spot! :] I hope you get to try it sometime!
I think my last concert was Jason Mraz, which was an incredible show. I would love to see evanescence, though.
We went to an incredible upscale BBQ restaurant for our anniversary. They had a full bourbon bar but we were both tired and stuck with the wine. It was an incredible meal and i can’t wait to go back to eat more things.
That’s awesome! I’d love to see Jason Mraz someday! :] I hope you get to see Evanescence at some point! She sang a lot of my favorites at that concert!
Ooo, that sounds awesome! I haven’t had good BBQ in a while!
Those appetizers all look so good!
They really were! I wish I had more right now! :P
Hmm I can’t even think of the last concert I’ve been do, I think it was a music festival before I got married! Hope the interview went well! BTW, I’ve never been to or seen an In-and-Out burger (I live in GA).
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I need to go to a music festival sometime!
Thanks! :] I hope so too! And yeah, I think In & Out is only limited to the west coast-ish right now. I wonder if they’ll ever expand past that! :O
I have yet to try In-n-Out Burger! It looks so good though!! My next trip to Cali, I’ll have to hit one up :-)
I hope you get to sometime! :D!
Driving in NJ is the absolute worst. I so feel you on that but that champagne drink sounds awesome and the restaurant looks and sounds great.
In & Out is definitely a must. I had it way back in 2008 before I was a vegetarian and it was amazing. I think they have a veggie burger too now. When Jeff and I drove to Utah from VA a couple years ago we knew we’re officially close to the west coast when we spotted an In & Out near Salt Lake City.
And yeah that truck is definitely not a standard size. So weird. I know what you mean about feeling powerful though. I drive Jeff’s Xterra sometimes and feel so big- I’m super short and drive a civic so it’s nice to be able to see over other cars for once.
So very much agreed. :'( Last week, someone actually thanked me for the first time ever after I let them into my lane (tis the first time it’s happened since I started living here, hahaha)!
It’s so good! I love that they’re cool with customizations and such! :]!
Agreed! It was definitely a nice feeling in that respect–not so much with the gas though, ahha.
Looks like you have been having a lot of fun and eating some tasty food. I have always wanted to try in n out and move to California … or at least visit. I have seen I think eight concerts this year. It’s my favorite thing to do.
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I hope you get to go visit there sometime (or move! I’m going for either at the moment too, hehe)!
Nice! I just found out an artist I really like will be having a concert pretty close to me this Friday, so I’m gonna be going to that! :P
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That’s a crazy standard — had similar once but luckily it was only a Rav4
I don’t get IN & Out. Need to try it again — hope interviews go well
Parking wasn’t so fun but it was nice that no one wanted to mess with me! :P
Thanks! I hope they did/do too! :]