A not-horrible experience at a barbecue joint

Last weekend my grandma wanted her birthday dinner at Famous Dave’s in Tacoma, a veritable temple of barbecued meat.

I was pretty prepared to order like a baked potato and find that for some reason the restaurant only had pre-buttered potatoes in their kitchen (I don’t even know if that’s a thing).

So I came in still full from the brunch I had at about 1 p.m. that day (the Five Point was crowded and having a slow time of it).

And you know what? I wish I hadn’t come there full.

Brunch in my belly

Brunch is probably the best thing ever invented. A few times a month, Mike and I try to make it out to The Dish or Five-Point Cafe for brunch, or I like to meet a girlfriend somewhere.

As I’ve said before, weekday breakfast is a challenge for this sleepyhead. I can’t muster effort to do anything in the morning. Often I give up on trying to do my hair.

But on weekends or days off when I’m not out brunching or running around, I’ve taken to my own eat-in brunch. It’s nice. I’m cleaning out my fridge, I’m brewing up some coffee and there is no rush. And then there are leftovers, meaning I have a treat to take with me to work and get a good start to my day. (Boom.)

Everyday Happy Herbivore cheesy cauliflower hash and a tofu scramble. Top with hot sauce.

The nooch gospel

My boyfriend, Mike, is a fairly picky eater.

Since going full-time veggie, he stopped wanting to eat the meals I make, which made me sad because I love to share my cooking. He’s also sad that I no longer make him beef stew or turkey chili (though I did teach him how to make his own turkey chili, so there’s that).

He’s a guy who honestly doesn’t see the point in eating something without meat and/or cheese.

One thing we do share is a love of salad. Sometimes we hit up a salad bar together at Ballard Market in his hood or Metropolitan Market in my hood. Since I’ve been overloaded on CSA goods, we just hit up the salad bar for toppings I don’t have (cheese and ham in his case) and mix them in with my copious quantities of greens.

Anyway. Outside salad, we have little in common anymore when it comes to food.

But last week, my friends, Mikey discovered nooch.

Out to the ballgame

Last weekend, I went to my first Mariners game of the year. (In August?! What?! What took me so long???)

My previous game was about a year earlier, when I was phasing into veganism but basically in a vegetarian stage, so I think I had a caesar salad or something.

But this year, I did my research and found a Field Roast dog. With my favorite fixins.

Spicy mustard, relish, kraut. Done.

Find vegan options at sports stadiums, national parks and convenience stores near you at Veggie Happy. Clutch.

Mariners lost that night in extra innings. I blame my boyfriend, who causes the Mariners to lose with his mere presence at the stadium.