My quick weekend away was just a little more than 48 hours of time yet in those hours were lots of good foods.
Let’s start with the flight down to Florida on Friday.
I brought my own salad from home to eat on the plane.
Roasted sweet potato wedges on top of a simple salad with plum tomatoes, asparagus and a scoop of chickpea/avocado mash.
I also sliced an apple with peanut butter on the plane using a plastic knife but didn’t get a picture because I was too busy making sure pieces of the apple didn’t go flying like one of the tomatoes from my salad did. Don’t even ask.
I brought a few packets of Justin’s Peanut Butter just in case of emergency.
Yes, I know they make almond butter but no, I haven’t tried it because I am allergic to almonds.
I already told you that I had my favorite salad from The Cheesecake Factory in Palm Beach Gardens but let’s look at the salad again because the onion strings were piled up nice and high just how I like it.
We didn’t have dessert at The Cheesecake Factory because we opted for Menchie’s yogurt instead. I didn’t get a picture but since it wasn’t a Red Mango parfait, you aren’t missing anything.
Each morning I made myself oatmeal using my homemade oatmeal packets which I brought from home. I added in fresh blueberries, banana and of course, peanut butter.
Saturday morning Bar Mitzvah services can be fairly long but totally worth sitting through in order to get to the Kiddush Luncheon afterwards.
You can always count on us Jews in the food department. You will never go hungry.
You had to figure that the picture I snapped of the luncheon would be from the dessert side instead of the bagels and lox end of the table.
I ate way more than what is on this plate. In fact, I think I reached my fruit quota for both you and me for the year.
My friend took home whatever was leftover from the Kiddush and since I was staying with her, I had access to all of the remaining fruit. I polished it off within 24 hours.
Big slices of fresh fruit is just irresistible to me, especially the pineapple. I don’t think I drank as much water as I normally do but I barely noticed because fruit can be super hydrating.
I am realizing that I missed a photo from Saturday night’s dinner (Chinese food) now that I am putting this post together but I more than make up for it with the photos from the Bar Mitzvah party on Sunday…
Let’s start with the cocktail hour:
There were tons of hors d’oeuvres being passed around but I hung by the incredible roasted vegetables display.
Like really. These roasted vegetables might be the best I have ever had.
The roasted sweet potatoes were so good that everyone, including the carnivores, were raving about them and going back for more.
I had several servings of this plate. Several. Trust me. And, if you want to know the truth, after several plates I just started going up to the table and taking vegetable by vegetable with my fingers. No shame I tell you, none.
I was still full on fruit from the day before but I couldn’t resist picking a piece or two from this display.
The one thing I always say I miss as a vegetarian are the little hot dogs that are passed around at events so instead of eating one I stopped the server to take a picture for us.
After the cocktail hour and we were seated, the salad was served.
My friend Danielle, the hostess of the affair, was just way too thoughtful and made sure that a vegetarian plate was made for me as my meal.
A beautiful quinoa with roasted vegetables.
I am so not fussy at events and certainly would have ordered the salmon option if I had to, or at the very least, eaten the side dishes available on any of the main dish plates but it was really nice (and delicious) of her to respect my palate.
As for me, I had no respect for the kids in attendance because I totally snagged the onion rings from their section of the party.
And, as usual, I was one of the first on line when the Viennese Table (fancy term for dessert buffet) was ready for attacking.
I skipped the line by the ice cream bar and went straight for the cakes. And cookies.
This chocolate fudge cake completes me.
This cake was nice too. Like pie with oreo qualities.
So I started with this plate.
I may not have taken the ice cream but I totally added a scoop of whipped cream to my plate.
The chocolate fudge cake was seriously incredible. The right ratio of fudge to cake and then back to fudge.
Yes, those are both of my plates and yes, they count as dessert round two.
I had some of the Bar Mitzvah cake because it was chocolate-filled but the chocolate fudge cake won my heart and I honestly couldn’t help myself from having another slice.
I didn’t even debate it. It’s not often that one encounters the perfect fudge cake.
Okay so I might have had trouble polishing this slice off and I might have felt a little bit sick after a few bites and it might not have been such a great idea to overload the stomach before getting on an airplane but you know what? It was so worth it.
Overall I think we can say I did my usual balancing of the healthy stuff with my sweet tooth.
I truly believe that a healthy lifestyle is all about a strong focus on the nutrient dense stuff without losing sight of the foods you love.
My muscles crave the sweet potatoes, plant-based proteins and complex carbs but my soul will forever run on chocolate fudge cake.
I still have slightly over two years before my son’s Bar Mitzvah (November 12, 2016!) but you can be sure that I am already reviewing the menu and have added this specific chocolate fudge cake which may need to be flown in from Florida, to the list.
Be sure to check out what everyone else is eating today!
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Favorite hors devours? I don’t have one now that I don’t eat the little hot dogs!
Are you currently planning your event? Wedding, Sweet 16, Bar Mitzvah?
Which do you gravitate towards on a dessert table – the chocolate cakes or the fruity pies?
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