Gateway Market has redeemed themselves!
Ben and I sprinted into the market’s cafe between rain drops and got right to ordering. I was going to get my standard Vegetarian Pad Thai, but I thought – you know what, this is a free meal so I’m going to get crazy and order something I normally wouldn’t. Thus, I chose the Veggie Burger. I know…total rebel. 
We paid, found a nice little table and prepared to wait. Last time it took nearly 35 minutes to get a simple salad and sandwich, mind you!
We were pleasantly surprised though, when in the middle of the bustling Friday afternoon lunch crowd, our food arrived hot and fresh a mere 10 minutes later! This is what cafe dining should be!
Ok, it doesn’t look like much – but I’m telling you – this was sensational! (ps I forgot my camera, so my crackberry played substitute)
My veggie burger was house-made with tofu, cheddar cheese and mushrooms, topped with lightly battered and fried onion strings, and drizzled with a chipotle sauce. WOW – what a combo!
The chipotle sauce was smoky and spicy. The onion rings were crispy and flavorful. The veggie burger was char grilled with a nice crust on the outside.
AND THE BUN! A big, fluffy, locally made ciabatta bun that I could not stop raving about!
This was a BIG burger, and, I ate it all. It’s true. It was that good. WTG Gateway!
Ben got the KC Style BBQ Tips Sandwich with Fries. The sandwich was so-so – we wished the meat was a little more tender – but the seasoned fries were BOMB! I had my fair share. 
omg, we walked around the market before leaving…look what we found – Frog Legs! Ben asked if I would make them for him sometime…I politely declined.
After my afternoon at work completely zipped by (love those types of days!) I came home and, not 3 minutes later, headed right back out the door for a 3 mile run! It was humid, which I love, and the big, fat, grey rain clouds in the sky kept me cool. It’s been raining off and on for about a week now, so my trail was super fresh, green, and lush. Paradise, if you will.
Afterwards, I downloaded a 20 minute yoga sesh – Power Vinyasa Flow #2 – from YogaDownloads.com. Oooo, this class had me trying some new poses that I really liked! Eagle, anyone? I’d like to point out that the instructors do such a great job of guiding you through the sessions. You really feel yourself "click" into each pose, due to their super clear directions on how you should feel and what each part of your body should be doing. Really helpful.
Even after all that exercise, I was still full from my carby lunch. I find that starchy/doughy carbs (potatoes, breads, fried foods) leave me so much fuller, longer, than sugary/natural carbs (candy, fruits). I’m not saying this is a good thing, because it’s more of an uncomfortable full, rather than a satisfied full. At any rate, I wanted something light for dinner. Enter, an awesome blossom.
![blossom[2]](http://iowagirleats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/blossom2.jpg "blossom[2]")
Wrong awesome blossom! A Pink Lady Apple + Almond Butter awesome blossom!
I am not exaggerating when I say this might be the best apple I’ve ever had.
It was sweet, yet sour, and tasted like a Jolly Rancher! WOW.
I just love apples and almond butter.
Well, I have been eagerly awaiting tonight’s festivities for several days – Ben and I are finally watching Avatar!!
![avatar_movie_34full[1]](http://iowagirleats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/avatar_movie_34full1.jpg "avatar_movie_34full[1]"){kind=avatar}
We never saw it in the theaters, so I’m hoping a blue ray player and big screen television will do the at-home version justice!
Did you see Avatar? What’d you think?
With that – I’m off. It’s early to bed for this one tonight, as I’ve got an eagerly awaited outing in the a.m.!
Goodnight!
~~~~~
What’s the most exotic thing you’ve ever eaten?
I did see avatar, but honestly I don’t think it’s going to be half as good not in 3D in an iMax
I liked avatar a lot, but I’m with Evan. 3-D made the movie.
gahhh I was so emotionally traumatized by Avatar!!! I got so sucked in (darn realistic 3D), cried all night and was literally upset for days! I blame it on being a geography grad student taking a political ecology seminar and learning allllll about the displacement and marginalization of indigenous people that happens ALL. THE. TIME. Even with conservation initiatives and nature reserves, they just kick the people out. To this day. Worst of all, we didn’t even realize that indigenous people do not, in fact, harm the environment but are usually good for it until the 1970s and 80s. So Avatar really hit home for me, it’s not just a Pocahontas story! On a positive side, the special effects and sets are GORGEOUS
It’s a lot to sit through! Probably alot easier at home, though:)
Ewww, frog legs! Haha, good thing you saw those after you finished that burger, or else it may not have tasted as good as you described!
Have fun tonight. Hope you enjoy the movie.
I did see Avatar. My husband had to drag me to the movie so I wasn’t expecting much. But, I must say, it was so much better than I thought it would be.
Frog legs? Gross!!!
Your sandwich looked good, even though I’m not a veggie burger kind of gal. At all.
Haven’t seen Avatar and don’t really have any desire to, really. I know, I’m a lone crazy person. The Blind Side is on my “must rent” list though!!
I’m assuming you’re heading out for the fun-filled May 1 activity on Court tomorrow? (LOL, don’t want to ruin the surprise for everyone!) Have fun!!
Your apple was soo pretty. By the way, I found a wonderful salmon maranade online with brown sugar, soy sauce, vinager, etc. So yummy – if you are interested will be happy to send to youi.
I have not seen Avatar either, are we the only two people (3 including your hubby) who have not seen it?
I am going to watch It’s Complicated, a film by Nancy Meyer, who is my favorite writer/director. I know, I am old compared to you, but she is more my style!
I will watch Avatar soon as well as all the New Moons! 10 year old (soon to be 11) at home.
Okay, bye, I just wrote my own blog, which I am considering, but I am such a terrible photgrapher and time is sooooo precious!
oh.. strangest thing.. maybe alagator at a festival, but I have had escargo and Uni, which IMHO is the GA-Rossest!
I saw Avatar, and I loved it! I think you will too
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Hi there!!
FYI…I live in Omaha and it was announced a couple days ago that Trader Joe’s will be opening up a store here this year!!! Good news!!
My husband and I LOVED Avatar, but we saw it 3D and are curious what people will think of it on DVD. You’ll have to let us know!
Avatar is pretty good. But the storyline is trite. One of the better movies I’ve seen this year, but by no means amazing.
That food looks amazing! I hope you like Avatar! I sure did! It was like a more violent version of Fern Gully.
mmm i LOVE apples. pink ladies are the best
and almond butter of course is deeeelish. the most exotic fruit i ate was a granadilla when i was volunteering in Ecuador!
I love Gateway Market! Have you had their double chocolate cookies – they are SOOO good and I’m a bit of a cookie snob
Hope you have a great weekend!
I’ve had frog legs. They’re ok, but I don’t crave them. As for most exotic…hmmm, I’ve had ferns in Borneo and other native fresh fruits, but at Wok in Motion, one night my husband and I ate at the sushi bar, and they gave us as a free appetizer, pickled baby octopus. It was…chewy…
How the heck do you cut your apples so neatly!!?? Crikey!
I’ve never seen Avatar…it’s too long and I have the bladder of an old lady
My husband & I haven’t seen Avatar either…He’s waiting till the price drops before he’ll buy it (he’s got a weird aversion to renting movies–I don’t get it). I wasn’t that interested in it when it was in the theater, and I’ll probably putter about if/when he ever buys it & decides to watch it.
As for the most exotic things I’ve ever eaten…I’d have to say that would be plantains, yucca and calamari. Out of the 3, I liked the plantains the best.
Pink lady apples are my favorite right after the honeycrisp. But can’t get any honeycrisp at the moment!
That burger sounds SO GOOD!!! I love a good bun like that, yum
Frog legs? Hahahahaha!
That burguer looked amazing, though…
Have a great weekend, Kristin!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
will be interested to hear your take on Avatar! I personally think the script is “been there done that” Pocahontas meets Fern Gully kinda deal. Though predictable, its still enjoyable! The 3D and all the effects are amazing. You shoulda seen it in the theater lady! But in any case, I hope you enjoy it!!
I think the most exotic things I’ve ever eaten was crocodile/alligator in Florida. I’d eaten frogs legs before and don’t mind them, I eat tons of seafood and ‘weird’ foods, but the crocodile was definitely different and something I probably won’t have the chance of eating again!
I didn’t watch Avatar and probably won’t, let me know how it is!
Mmm that veggie burger looks mighty tasty, I love the fried onion strips on top!
Every time I see pictures of your apples sliced up, I forget to ask you how you cut them into such thin slices? Do you do that yourself or do you have an apple slicer? The only apple slicers I’ve seen have really thick slices and want to find another way to cut thinner ones! I know..that’s random
Ha! Funny you should mention Blossom…She was on What Not Wear the other day! She looked like H-E-Double L! But of course Clinton & Stacy spiffed her right up…and she was SO nice! She told them she would pay the 5 grand herself so they could use the money on someone else. How Nice!! On a seperate note…you should try Maple Grove Farms fat free rasberry vinegarette salad dressing. It’s my favorite. I buy it at Fareway and I hear Wal Mart has it also. I’m not much of an exotic eater, but it would probably be domestic rabbit. Tasted like chicken. Ha! Actually it was very good & really did taste alot like chx! And I’ve had wild turkey, deer, elk & moose. No frog legs!