Ten in 10: You Mean That Wasn't You?

I've lost my focus.

When I started the Ten in 10 Challenge, I was motivated to take the necessary steps to gain weight in a healthy manner. For the first few days, I felt like I was moving toward my goal and I had even moved up a pants size. Then life got in the way and I couldn't concentrate on building on the progress I thought I was making. (It turns out, the need for a larger pair of pants had nothing to do with actual weight gain. It was water weight, and the pants that I bought are now too big.) I've been frustrated and upset and, finally, reached the point of just plain indifference.

Breadbox Cafe Menu

(Photo courtesy of OurLIC)

Breadbox Cafe
47-11 11th Street
Long Island City, NY 11101 | Map
P. (718) 389-9700
F. (718) 361-3074
Hours: 6AM to 6PM

A new cafe recently opened in Long Island City -- a cafe conveniently located near my apartment. In addition to coffee, tea, and bagels, the Breadbox Cafe also offers breakfast specials, baked goods such as homemade muffins and cookies, quiche, salads, and sandwiches. Since their website is still under construction, I thought I'd post their menu online in case you wanted to check out their selection of food before making the trip.

Bagels

Hand-Rolled Bagels: Plain, Poppy, Sesame, Salt, Seven Grain, Onion, Whole Wheat, Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, Pumpernickel - $0.80 each

Mini Bagels - $0.60 each

Bagel Sandwiches

• Cream Cheese or Light Cream Cheese - $1.95
• Tofu Cream Cheese - $2.25
• Scallion, Vegetable, or Olive Cream Cheese - $2.95
• Raisin Walnut Cream Cheese - $2.95
• Tuna Salad - $4.95
• Cream Cheese with Chopped Smoked Salmon - $3.25
• Breadbox White Fish Salad - $4.75
• Sliced Lox, Tomato, and Onion - $6.75
• Egg Salad -$4.00
• Chicken Salad - $4.95
• Guacamole, Tomato, and Radish - $3.25

Breakfast Bagels

Bagel with Two Eggs - $2.25

• Add Melted Black Diamond Cheddar/American/Provolone Cheese for additional $0.25
• Add Bacon for additional $0.50

BLT - Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, and Mayo - $3.25

Breakfast Specials
(starts at 7 AM)

• Organic Greek Yogurt, Granola, and Seasonal Fresh Fruit - $2.75
  
  
• Homemade Oatmeal with Organic Honey - $3.95
  
  
• Breadbox Breakfast - $8.95
  Two scrambled eggs, cucumber, vine-ripe tomatoes, olive oil, a bagel of your choice, and a small coffee.
  
  
• Breakfast for Two - $14.75
  Four eggs scrambled for two, sliced cucumber, vine-ripe tomatoes, three spreads (avocado, smoked salmon cream cheese, raisin walnut cream cheese), and a bagel basket.
  
  
• American Breakfast - $8.95
  Two eggs scrambled, melted English cheddar, crispy bacon, side chive whipped butter, bagel of your choice, and a small coffee.

Housebaked

• Homemade Muffins - $1.95
• Brownie - $1.95
• Homemade Cookies - $1.25
• Scones - $2.25
• Danish - $2.25
• Croissant - $2.25

Soups - $4.75
Served with a Bagel Stick

• Vegetarian Vegetable Soup
• Soup-of-the-Day

Quiche
Served with a Side Garden Veggie Salad

• Individual Vegetarian Quiche - $8.95

Breadbox Salads
Served with a Mini Bagel

• Classic Caesar - $5.50
  Romaine lettuce, garlic croutons, shaved Parmesan cheese, anchovy dressing. (With grilled chicken - $8.50)
  
  
• Mediterranean Grilled Artichoke & Greek Feta Cheese - $7.95
  Romaine lettuce, sliced Bermuda onions, roasted croutons, shaved fennel, cherry tomatoes, and lemon dijon dressing
  
  
• Southern Panko-Crusted Chicken - $8.95
  Heart lettuce, celery stalks, sliced carrot, tomatoes, boiled egg, and creamy herb dressing
  
  
• Asian Sesame Noodle Salad - $8.95
  Stir-fried broccoli and toasted peanuts
  
  
• Vegetarian Penne - $9.50
  Heart lettuce, celery stalks, sliced carrot, tomatoes, boiled egg, and cream herb dressing
  
  
• Breadbox Chicken Cobb Salad - $10.95
  Avocado, crispy bacon, olives, tomatoes, sliced radish, crumbled blue cheese, hard-boiled egg, aged red wine vinaigrette

Breadbox Sandwiches
Served with homemade chips or organic carrot salad

• Classic Turkey Club - $7.50
  Applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on ciabatta pocket
  
  
• Braised Short Ribs - $12.50
  Charred onions, chopped salad, side of grated horseradish cream on ciabatta pocket
  
  
• Vegan Veggie - $6.95
  Avocado, cooked shitake mushrooms, sprouts, tomato, spicy cucumber and piquillo pepper relish on French baguette
  
  
• French Ham & Melted Gruyere Cheese - $7.75
  Dijon mustard, pickle, and tomato on French baguette
  
  
• Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Breast - $7.95
  Eggplant, tomato, black aioli on ciabatta pocket
  
  
• BBQ Pulled Chicken & Boston Bib on Brioche Roll - $7.95
  
  
• Fresh Organic Turkey Cutlet - $7.95
  Sliced tomato, basil leaves, melted provolone cheese, and sun-dried tomato aioli on ciabatta pocket
  
  
• Steakhouse Chopped Short Rib Burger - $9.75
  Caramelized onions, heart lettuce on brioche roll. (Add double blue/provolone/gruyere cheese - $0.50)
  
  
• Chicken Burger on Brioche Roll - $8.50
  Garlic mashed potatoes, sliced pickle, mushroom gravy

Beverages

Hot Drinks

• Espresso - $1.75 (S), $2.25 (L)
• Espresso Macchiato - $2.00 (S), $2.50 (L)
• Cappuccino - $2.50 (S), $3.00 (L)
• Latte - $2.50 (S), $3.00 (L)
• Macchiato Americano - $2.00 (S), $2.50 (L)
• Breadbox Coffee - $1.25 (S), $2.00 (L)
• Hot Chocolate - $3.00 (S), $3.50 (L)
• Brewed Coffee - $1.25 (S), $2.00 (L)
• Cafe au Lait - $1.50 (S), $2.25 (L)
• Mighty Leaf Tea - $1.75
• Lipton Tea - $1.00

Cold Drinks

• Ginger Lemonade - $1.75
• Apricot Iced Tea - $1.75
• Assorted Soft Drinks
• Assorted Fresh Juices
  

UPDATE: While Breadbox Cafe accepts credit/debit cards, they have recently posted signs at the registers indicating a $5 minimum purchase. Updated April 26, 2010

Simple Home Fries

If your weekdays are anything like mine, then you want to be able to enjoy your weekends and to relax as much as possible. The weekend is the ideal time to avoid setting the alarm before going to sleep and to treat yourself to something more than just a cup of coffee for breakfast when you finally do get out of bed. Thankfully, a delicious weekend brunch does not have to be a complicated affair.

How They Found My Blog: Week 9

I love reviewing the analytics for Taste As You Go. Every Tuesday, I will publish a "How They Found My Blog" post highlighting some of the more unique or most unexpected keyword searches that led visitors here. You'll see the exact keyword search and a link to the corresponding landing page.

Enjoy!

The Flat Turtle Cookies

After I announced my goals for the Ten in 10 Challenge, I received a very thoughtful message from Laurent Lanneau from The Flat Turtle via Foodbuzz, asking whether I'd like to receive a sample of their "delicious gourmet cookies for the adult palette." (Laurent felt the cookies could help me gain a little bit of weight.) Intrigued, I wrote back saying that I was grateful for the message and that I'd love to try the cookies.

Ten in 10: A Very Slight Improvement

Since I had the day off from work, I allowed myself to go shopping on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A coworker had given me a tip on some sales at Gap and Ann Taylor LOFT, so I bundled up and headed into Manhattan to try and find a good deal on work-appropriate clothes. Unfortunately I struck out big time at Gap. The XS sweaters that I tried on were way too big, sagging off my body as if someone draped a brightly colored potato sack on me. I didn't even bother trying on other items of clothes that were an XS and left pretty disappointed.

Blog Away Hunger - Help Haiti

Despite the hardships in my life - losing my mother to cancer, jumping off my career path in academia unexpectedly and being unsure of my next move, being laid off and spending four months unemployed in one of the most expensive cities in the country - I have always had a roof over my head and food on my table. I truly believe that experiencing those hardships and living to tell about them has made me appreciate life's basic necessities even more, and I will never take them for granted.

Orange Whole Wheat Challah French Toast

When it comes to brunch, I don't normally order French toast. I generally gravitate toward eggs, potatoes, and a breakfast meat (ie. BACON) and leave all of the French toast ordering to my boyfriend Stephen. It's actually amusing to watch him debate with himself over whether he should have the French toast or the pancakes. Very rarely do we both order eggs.

How They Found My Blog: Week 8

I love reviewing the analytics for Taste As You Go. Every Tuesday, I will publish a "How They Found My Blog" post highlighting some of the more unique keyword searches that led visitors here. You'll see the exact keyword search and a link to the corresponding landing page.

Enjoy!

E&I Deli & Grocery Menu

In December, I posted, by the request of a Taste As You Go reader, the Lunch Special menu for Sushi Siam in Long Island City. Last week, another reader emailed me and requested the menu for E&I Deli, one of my favorite spots in my neighborhood. (They saw my tweet via Foursquare about being at the deli.) A quick Google search led me to conclude that the menu was not already available online, so, without further ado, here's the menu!*

Ten in 10: Don't Be Too Proud to Accept Leftovers

When I initially announced my goal to gain weight for the Ten in 10 Challenge, some of the reactions I received were negative. But the support I have received from family, friends, and fellow bloggers since then has been staggering. What has really surprised me, though, has been care and concern of my boss and a handful of my coworkers, especially since I've only been working with them for a few weeks.

Brunch at Philip Marie Restaurant

Philip Marie Restaurant
569 Hudson Street
New York, NY
(212) 242-6200 | Map

It's no secret that one of my favorite weekend activities, especially in New York, is going out for brunch. To celebrate the beginning of a new year, Stephen and I met up with some of my friends in the West Village for brunch at Philip Marie Restaurant, a restaurant recommended on several occasions to me by my friend Mary Catherine. For $16.95, you get your choice of entrees from the Brunch Menu and unlimited mimosas (Saturday) or unlimited Bloody Marys (Sunday).

How They Found My Blog: Week 7

I love reviewing the analytics for Taste As You Go. Every Tuesday, I will publish a "How They Found My Blog" post highlighting some of the more unique keyword searches that led visitors here. You'll see the exact keyword search and a link to the corresponding landing page.

Enjoy!

Ten in 10: Stocking the Kitchen Pantry

It's been a week since I announced my goals for the Ten in 10 Challenge, and I'm making baby steps toward achieving my main goal of gaining weight. After paying a stack of bills this weekend, I took a look at my budget and decided that I could afford to stock my pantry before the arrival of my first paycheck on January 15th. I would have liked to have kept the money in the bank longer, but my body just can't take one more bare-bones meal of rice and butter. (I'm exaggerating... slightly...)

How They Found My Blog: Week 6

I love reviewing the analytics for Taste As You Go. Every Tuesday, I will publish a "How They Found My Blog" post highlighting some of the more unique keyword searches that led visitors here. You'll see the exact keyword search and a link to the corresponding landing page.

Enjoy!

Ten in 10: Making Changes for the Better

The Ten in 10 Challenge kicked off yesterday and, while I'm excited to start making the necessary changes in my life that will help me achieve my goal, I'm nervous at the same time. After looking at the list of participants and reading through their respective goals, I discovered that I'm among the relatively small number of people whose goal is to gain weight over the course of the Challenge. A recent discussion with my doctor made me realize that I am underweight, despite being petite. There's nothing urgent about my situation, but my weight is not something I want to mess around with. Given my current eating habits, active lifestyle, and naturally high metabolism, I know that seeing any true lasting changes with regard to my weight is more than likely going to take longer than ten weeks.

Hard-Boiled Eggs Florentine

I'm laughing as I write this. Despite giving myself plenty of time to choose, prepare, and photograph my January submission for Gourmet, unbound, I still managed to miss the deadline for publishing. And this comes just two weeks after I publicly made my vow to be a better blogger! My excuse is a noble one, though -- I was spending quality time with my boyfriend while he was in New York celebrating the New Year with me. Sometimes, other things just have to come first.