On the Run: fitness made simple

I did a juice cleanse! Running a fitness blog has its perks...

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:03:49 -0700

I did a juice cleanse!

Running a fitness blog has its perks like getting samples of healthy foods! Recently, I’ve tried a one-day raw, organic juice cleanse from Urban Remedy, a small business from San Rafael, CA. Although I love making green smoothies (my favorite combines avocado, grapes, pears, broccoli, and spinach), I’ve never thought about undertaking a liquid cleanse. But, hey, if a trendy brand wants to give me a full-day’s supply of meals and snacks, I may as well try it. If worse comes to worst, I’ll just supplement with solid food. I decided on Urban Remedy’s Signature Cleanse for a single day. This consisted of six individually packaged juices which are suggested to be spaced two hours apart. Urban Remedy prefers cleansing with just their juices, but suggests eating raw vegetables and drinking water if you feel hungry. How did it go? Would I do it again? Keep on reading to find out!

Why did I do it?

I was curious. It sounded like a challenge. Also, I wanted to form an opinion about the popular trend backed by personal experience. A lot of my readers ask about cleanses and I’d feel more empowered to talk about the subject if I had some experience. Also, the juices sounded delicious!

Did I have any doubts?

Yes! I was scared that I’d get hungry and have trouble focusing. I oftentimes get “hangry,” meaning hungry and angry. I thought I might lose my patience, fail to exercise, or binge on solid food after the cleanse. I also didn’t want to haul around jars of perishable juice all day.

What did I drink?

All six drinks were tasty and fresh.

Brainiac: Celery, cucumber, parsley, spinach, and lemon
Time Machine: Acai, lemon juice, cayenne, water and stevia
Flush: Cucumber, ginger, lemon and mint juice apple
After Party: Beet root, carrot, ginger, apple and lemon
Warrior: Chia seeds, raspberries, and stevia
Relax: Cashew milk with vanilla and cinnamon

These are pressed drinks with no added sugar. Stevia is a natural calorie-free sweetener. All six totaled to about 1100 calories, which is under the lowest calorie recommendation for people aiming to lose weight (1200 for women, 1400 for a man). Honestly, a single day cleanse will not hurt you. Heck, it may even help some of us de-bloat after a week of eating salty Panda Express and Carmelina’s. However, it’s not enough nutrition for a healthy, sustainable diet. I would think twice about committing to a cleanse for longer than 3 days.

As for the juices themselves, they were all good, but my favorites were the “After Party” and the “Relax.” The root vegetable and ginger combination created a spicy-sweet taste. The “Relax” was a smooth cashew milk similar to a richer and nuttier Horchata. It’s also the only drink with a significant amount of protein.

How did I feel?

Because I drank the juices every 2 hours, I rarely felt hungry. Sometimes, I didn’t even finish my current drink before it was time to have my next one. Each drink is 12 oz so you’re drinking a lot of liquid which stretches your stomach and makes you feel full.

The only time I felt uncomfortable was after my first juice of the day. I drank the “Brainiac” during lecture and there couldn’t be a worse name for it. This is a 90 calorie vegetable juice with only some vitamins and natural sugars. I was pretty hungry, missed my hearty bowl of oatmeal, and had a hard time concentrating. I suggest that Urban Remedy pack their breakfast drink with more protein and fiber.

However, by the time I was at juice #6, I was full and satisfied! My 1-day cleanse was rather fun because I had something new to try every couple hours.

What were the effects?

The next day, I lost 2 lbs (of water weight) which I gained back after a day of normal eating. My jaw was more relaxed because I hadn’t chewed anything for a day. I have jaw pain from TMJ. I actually woke up the next day pretty energized and motivated to eat healthy, simple, and fresh foods. My initial worries did not become reality. I felt satiated for the most part, so I didn’t gorge on solid food or turn “hangry”. Overall, I went through a typical day in medical school fine, and even had energy to do a short run.

Would I do it again?

Well, Urban Remedy is expensive. A one day supply of juices is $60.00 plus shipping. So I definitely will not buy this for myself. However, I would consider doing something similar if I ever get into an unhealthy eating rut or need to quickly get rid of bloating after days of consuming salty foods. Also, I think eating more soups and liquid foods would help me manage my TMJ better. I’m glad I did it and survived to tell the tale.

Have you ever done a juice cleanse? Did it change you in any way (effects, mindset, habits)? Let me know!

Best,

Geraldine

What I do instead of taking real pictures with K… BF:...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:06:45 -0700

What I do instead of taking real pictures with K…

BF: “I’ve paid for your food multiple times…”
Me: “I like paying for dinner! But only when I feel like you’ve been on a good boyfriend streak.” :P

Just wanted to throw up the most recent picture of me (with...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:56:57 -0700

Just wanted to throw up the most recent picture of me (with classmate, and high school friend). This is at XS in Vegas over Spring Break/last month. I realized ya’ll haven’t seen me in forever (I’m the green girl on the left)! I haven’t been taking many pictures in medical school. I’m also kind of nervous to take pictures with my boyfriend. I wouldn’t mind and it’d be cute to have pictures together =)…but what if I don’t look pretty in the picture, or it’s a bad angle >.<…I draw doodles of us with MessageMe (app) and send it to him instead ha.

BTW, Vegas was fun and I actually learned a lot! Like who I’m comfortable around, who I have similar interests to, and what some of my classmates are like outside of medical school.

Green Roots Pizza! Highlights: Vegan, veggie-filled,...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:39:00 -0700

Green Roots Pizza!

Highlights: Vegan, veggie-filled, whole-wheat, delicate flavors, mix of fresh and baked goodness

Kai and I finally made a vegan pizza together! We’ve been wanting to make one for a couple months now and got to it once his oven was fixed and I had a free-ish weekend. We just thought of vegetables that sounded delicious and a base that could work to hold the ingredients together. This is what we used:

Ingredients

Whole wheat pizza dough
2-3 beets
1-2 parsnips
1-2 avocados
3 vine-ripened tomatoes (pretty small ones)
yellow onion
balsamic vinegar
olive oil
arugula
salt & pepper

Directions

Wash all vegetables. Cut the stems off of beets and parsnips. Slice half a yellow onion.
Place parsnips in a microwave safe bowl. Add 1/4 cup of water. Microwave for 5 minutes.
Place beets in a microwave safe bowl. Add 1/4 cup of water. Microwave for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile…stretch the pizza dough to cover a large baking pan.
Rub olive oil over the pizza dough.
Sautee onions in olive oil and balsamic vinegar for 5-6 minutes.
Peel the skin off of parsnips and beets. Slice parsnips, beets, and tomatoes into thin pieces.
Layer parsnips, beets, tomatoes, onions onto the pizza. Make sure to layer ingredients on top of each other.
Season with salt and pepper.
Bake pizza at your oven’s highest temperature (400+ F) for 20 minutes.
Add arugula and avocados on top!

Overall, I loved this pizza. It had such a good array of vegetables with flavors that did not overwhelm the subtle tastes of the beets, parsnips, avocado, and arugula. The onions added savory flavor. Also, the parsnips and olive oil made a good base to hold the ingredients to the dough. It kept the dough soft in the middle as well. This pizza is easy and fun to do with someone else! I was stretching the pizza dough (first time ever!) and Kai was working on the vegetables. Although he did question whether I make the process more efficient or if I should help out more…Anyhow! We’re think of ways to add plant-based protein to our pizza. Any ideas? Would garbanzo beans go well? We made a little date out of cooking dinner. We went to Whole Foods and I tried not to get too distracted by all the new food trends (like Kombucha and chia drinks!). Then, we worked on making the pizza. While waiting, he watched Star Trek while I was sketching his profile on my iPad. We ate together and I was just so satisfied with the healthy meal we made! Just wished we had more protein…

Try making a vegan pizza this weekend and tell me how it goes!

Best,

Geraldine

P.S. Vegan pizza sold at hipster bakeries like Arizmendi Bakery near my school, is so actually really unhealthy. They use refined white flour on the dough, bake the pizza until all the vegetables are wilted, and use a TON of oil. The slice literally drips of olive oil which is how they get it to taste good. You also won’t find a rich and colorful array of vegetables by eating out!

Boston

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:30:00 -0700

Praying for the Boston marathoners and their families for good physical recoveries and even stronger mental breakthroughs. I hope their collective energy and courage brought to the starting line channels to a rectifying cause. The marathon is a time for hope, encouragement, and the redefinition of unattainable. It’s to push your limit and to see what greater person you can become. I can’t believe any organization would target such an event.

Hello G! I enjoy reading your blog. I had a couple questions/thoughts. I like your A+ Grocery List but wondered why beans, lentils, and tofu/tempeh are not on it. They may not be A+ but they are fantastic sources of protein and all in all health. Also, have you ever thought about writing up a Grocery Guide for Singles. I have never found a good one just for singles. Thanks. Enjoy the rest of your school year. Cheers to your happiness, health, and peace of mind.

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:07:31 -0700

I never noticed I didn’t mention Beans, Lentils, and tofu! I personally don’t like tempeh because it’s higher in fat and has a gritty texture.

What do you mean Grocery Guide for Singles? I definitely do want to make some guides for grocery shopping, my favorite pastime!

hey! i love your blog btw [: i'm about to finish my 3rd yr of undergrad, planning on taking a yr off, and then applying to med school! i saw that you're in med school right now so any tips at all that you'd like to share would be much appreciated!

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:58:00 -0700

Hi! Thanks for reading :D. I think these are really important:

Grades and MCAT scores: These will keep doors open to you.
Keep up with extracurricular activities you are enthusiastic about. Can you talk to someone with a lot of confidence and excitement about your research topic or school club?
Have a great year off by doing something you love. Or, try something new! Be productive, but enjoy yourself.
Gain clinical experience and develop a mentorship with a doctor or professor.
Talk to medical students around for some advice.
Think about student support offered at medical schools you end up applying to.
Think about traveling abroad if you are seriously interested.
Spend time with friends and family!
Apply smart! Target, reach, and safety schools according to you!
Have people with excellent writing skills review your personal statement and application.
Keep going strong!

Getting my priorities straight: Med school curriculum My fitness/health Family. Get to see mom, dad,...

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:44:00 -0700

Getting my priorities straight:

Med school curriculum
My fitness/health
Family. Get to see mom, dad, and little bro soon! I have a date to watch Wreck It Ralph with my brother, and I’m happy I can see my dad before he goes to Malaysia on a business trip.
Extracurricular Activities (Med School activities, writing, drawing/painting)
Boyfriend? I feel like it should go here…I’m willing to put it up here…but *sigh* I’m not sure. I guess 4-6 are interchangeable depending on how fulfilling I find them to be.
Social activities and catching up with friends.

This post is to remind me of the most important things going on right now, and to not stress about the items lower/off the list. 1-3 are non-negotiable (taking care of yourself is a must!) 4-6…depends how happy while I’m involved.

Weekly Workout 3/18-3/24/13

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:24:00 -0700

Monday: BodyJam (50 minutes)

Tuesday: Elliptical trainer (45 minutes)

Wednesday: Elliptical trainer (50 minutes)

Thursday: Elliptical trainer (45 minutes)

Friday: BodyPump (50 minutes)

Saturday: Hike, 6-7 miles

Sunday: Running, hills, (45 minutes)

Wow, I was on the elliptical a lot this week! For stress relief, I prefer high-intensity cardio over strength training. I find that I need cardio/stress relief more during the week then strength. One of my advisers told me that the two most effective ways to get over worrying or anxiety is through heart-pumping cardiovascular exercise and meditation. I’ve incorporated both in my weekly routine. But, my goal is still 2x strength training sessions a week. I can cut my cardio down to 30 minutes, and do 15 minutes of lifting for the upcoming weeks.

BodyJam is usually my favorite workout during the week, but our instructors were away this week. The substitute instructor is nice and enthusiastic, but doesn’t get me as motivated and isn’t as funny as our regular leaders. I picked myself up in the last half in order to break a sweat and to have fun dancing!

Going hard on the elliptical feels great. I usually use a set program (interval training, fat burner, or cross country) and make sure I mix in high-resistance periods with short rests. Make sure you have good posture when you’re using cardio machines and keep your abs on.

It’s the start of Spring Break, so I was able to get out of the city this weekend and go hiking around Stinson Beach with my boyfriend. It was a beautiful trail featuring overgrown groves, shady trees, and a running creek. The hike takes you through damp woody paths, to deciduous forests, up to grassy plains, and down through a redwood grove. The view from the top of the trail is beautiful. On this clear day, we could see down towards the Golden Gate Bridge all the way north to Point Reyes. I love being in the outdoors, and what struck me was how quiet and peaceful it was out there. It felt so wonderful to be out of the city and surrounded by traffic. However, I was a little distracted. I was having a lot of fun, but I wasn’t sure that my boyfriend really was enjoying himself. I think it was fine though.

BodyPump was good this week…did better in triceps and was able to increase weights for squats and clean presses.

P.S. I’m going to Vegas tomorrow! :D

Hey! Firstly, I love your blog; you seem to have such a positive attitude. I'm in my last semester of undergrad and I'm applying to grad schools whilst holding down two jobs, two internships, and, ready for this, downsizing to move. Working out has become my way to keep my life in order-the earlier the workout, the more productive I end up being. So I wanted to ask you something: I'm currently underweight and I'm not quite certain as to how to bulk up (I'm also vegan), thanks for your help!

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:44:00 -0700

Hi! I hope applying to grad schools is going well. You probably have made your decision already. I’m sure you’ll get into one of your top choices with all the activities you are doing. I agree that keeping a regular exercise regimen helps productivity and staying on schedule.

I eat vegan about 95% of the time, and I find it a very balanced nutrition plan! As for gaining weight, definitely make sure you are eating enough. Do you have time for meals? Do not deprive yourself even if you are busy. You deserve time to eat and to relax! Make sure you have a protein source at every meal. For example, I drink soy milk as part of breakfast, beans as a main part of lunch, and lentils as a dinner entree. Try and do 2-3 strength workouts a week in place of cardio. Some people are naturally underweight…have you always been thin and are your family members generally thin? Being underweight is big concern if it’s from recent weight loss.

I saw a picture post of things you bought at Costco, and I saw dried plums. I always thought dried fruit isn't a "clean" food. Are dried fruits healthy for you? Do they lead to weight gain?

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:38:09 -0700

Dried plums/prunes ARE a clean food. It is the 9th food richest in antioxidants! They are the only dried fruit I regularly eat…and they keep me regular ;-). For the most part dried fruits are not that healthy for you. However, they make delicious toppings which can replace brown sugar and chocolate chips. Also, they can satisfy a sweet craving without ruining your eating plan…For example, a serving of dried mango or plums is better than reaching for some jelly beans. Try and eat mostly fresh fruits!

Do you have any workout tips for someone who wants to start? Every time I attempt to go for a run, I get out of breath after one round around my development (maybe 10 minutes max), which is pretty sad. I never worked out before, so I am quite new to this! Any tips for increasing my running stamina? Also, I get lightheaded and dizzy after I run, and sometimes during. Any suggestions? :)

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:32:00 -0700

Hi! What a GREAT time to start exercising! For a healthy person, having no medical complications, here are some ways to increase your running stamina.

1) Drink water before, and after 10 minutes of running. This will help with feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

2) Take a walking break after 10 minutes, and then do one more round.

3) Stretch briefly before, and for 7-10 minutes after exercising. (Something I need to work on too.

4) Strengthen major muscles by doing: calf raises, squats, and lunges.

5) Keep it up!

Beans and Berries have the highest amounts of antioxidants per...

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:15:00 -0700

Beans and Berries have the highest amounts of antioxidants per serving!

What are antioxidants? They are vitamins and minerals that protect cells from harmful molecules called radicals. There’s evidence that antioxidants fight against aging, and cancer when consumed in moderate amounts.

This is the reason I eat beans every day! After learning about these foods, I’m going to eat more red kidney beans instead of garbanzo beans which are both provided at my medical school’s cafeteria. I also have so many dried azuki beans in my pantry. They make a delicious and healthy red bean pudding! Also, when going out for Mexican food, we can choose pinto beans over refried beans and black beans. Prunes are a better choice than raisins and add just the right amount of sweetness to breakfast grains.

Source: USDA, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry June 9, 2004

quick post to say “I’m alive… >.<” Ideas to come: -1-day Juice...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:50:49 -0700

quick post to say “I’m alive… >.<”

Ideas to come:

-1-day Juice Cleanse report

-med school & life update

-Grit/Les Mills review

-Weekly Workouts

-way better snacks review

-answering messages!

Love,

Geraldine

what would you do if you weren't in medicine

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:59:00 -0800

Today in Small Group, our facilitator asked us to share (icebreaker alert) what we’d be if we weren’t going to be doctors. I felt like I got to know people a little better after hearing their responses…like wow, we don’t always take ourselves that seriously. My classmates would have been bakers, chefs, real estate agents, school administrators, nannies, and even one that would just snowboard all day and live at his parent’s house.

As for me, I said…”Obviously, I would be a supermodel!” No one laughed. I laughed. Then everyone else joined in! “No really, I would be a painter =)” But just after, I realized I told K on Valentine’s Day that I would have been a pianist/musician and would have gone the academically rigorous musical route.

It was just a really quick and fun talk =)

So my boyfriend (this is relatively new…did you catch on?) read my blog for the first time and...

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:52:45 -0800

So my boyfriend (this is relatively new…did you catch on?) read my blog for the first time and I’m so embarasssedddddd >.<! He mentioned it over the phone and I got really chatty and started talking really fast and almost defensive..oh god he’s going to see this and it’s going to be even more embarassing. Ahhhhh! okay I had to vent just a little bit to you guys! I’M SUCH A DORK. he’s going to know. he already knows. he’s going to know about crazy I am about fitness and how hyper-aware I am of food and how I try to be a photographer…oh well. shit how I have to blog more to push this post down so we can all forget about this outburst.

P.S. Tumblr makes me happy. My dashboard is full of art, yummy recipes, news, and uplifting stories! Also, I’m going to try and share a little more about my life on here, and not just pretend to be this omniscient healthy lifestyle writer. I really admire people like Liz who can talk about their fitness goals, their relationships, and their struggles openly.

Butternut Squash Zosui Soup! -vegan, veggie-filled, healthy...

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:57:59 -0800

Butternut Squash Zosui Soup!

-vegan, veggie-filled, healthy comfort food

My weekly routine includes searching up recipes for butternut squash because diced and cubed organic butternut squash is too tempting to pass while grocery shopping. I admit, sometimes I buy a bunch and don’t end up cooking it. Also, after having Japanese hot pot the other weekend, I fell in love with Zosui soup! It’s the rice soup broth soup served at the end of your meal.

Honestly, I should be studying, preparing for small group tomorrow, and reading papers for my summer research project…but this was SO GOOD I had to take a break to share =) Okay…so I’ve taken a 2 hour break so far to cook, clean, photograph, and blog (and listen to Les Miserables soundtrack which I’m not liking so far…). So when I’m studying at home, I’m sitting most of the time. I find that getting up and cooking for an hour is a great break which allows you to stand, move, get creative, and be productive!

So what you have all been waiting for…the recipe! It’s adapted from http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/butternut-squash-edamame-zosui-with-ginger-150-green-onion-relish/ but I changed some ingredients and used a deep pan instead of a pressure cooker!

Ingredients (4-6 servings):

Zosui (soup part)

2 tsp sesame oil
2 leeks (light green and white stem, thinly sliced)
16 oz pkg. diced butternut squash
2 cups cooked brown rice
1 1/2 cup frozen shelled edamame
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
3 Tbs. Nori (seaweed & sesame topping)
3 Tbs. white miso

Relish (topping)

1 Tbs. grapeseed oil
3 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
6 green onions chopped
pepper to taste

Directions

Heat sesame oil in deep pan or large pot over medium heat.
Add the chopped leaks and cook until they are wilted (few minutes).
Stir in the squash, rice, edamame, vegetable broth, Nori, and 2 1/4 cups of water.
Cook soup over medium heat until the butternut squash is soft and easily pierced with a fork (~25 minutes).
Remember to stir every now and then so the rice doesn’t stick!
When the squash is almost done, stir in the 3 Tbs. of white miso.
The relish: Heat grapeseed oil in a pan, add green onions, add minced ginger, and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. The green onions should be bright green still and not too wilted.
Serve each bowl of Zosui with 1 Tbs of relish!

Tips: When buying diced butternut squash, look for a package with bright orange pieces. Oftentimes the pre-cut squash are not that ripe and lack flavor. Grapeseed oil is used because it can withstand high heat. If you don’t have it, use canola oil.

I can’t decide if I want this for dinner or breakfast this week…

Okay everyone, please enjoy this recipe and I hope you make it soon!

xoxo- Geri

Weekend Restaurant Wrap Up:

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 21:54:00 -0800

So I’ve become food obsessed like everyone else in San Francisco…not really because I love food so much, but I’m fascinated with the effort, love, and dedication people have for the food and restaurant that they’ve created.

On Friday, K and I watched Argo at the Kabuki theater (great movie, learned a lot, Ben Affleck is so talented) and ended up having dinner at one of the last open restaurants in Japantown…I don’t even remember it’s name. It was casual…although I spied a Michelin Recommended certificate. I had soba noodles with mountain vegetables (spinach, carrots, and the standard works) and green tea.

Saturday. I had Farley’s housemade granola with soy milk, and half-caf coffee. Really good granola…dried unsweetened cranberries, not clumped together, not too sweet, generous portions of almonds and pecans, toasted to goldeny perfection. (I must admit, I had a bowl of oatmeal just before this…wasn’t planning on getting food!)

Saturday dinner: So I got K to come over (apparently he grumbled to himself unbeknownst to me) after I finished some studying, and I was searching up restaurants open late. We were too late for the “semi-late” ones, but there was this highly-rated and yelp-popular Korean restaurant open until 2 am further down the muni line. What intrigued me about this place was that people were saying it was in someone’s remodeled garage, and the pictures looked sketchy. I wanted to check out the grungy Korean garage joint! But alas, Toyose, was just a shady exterior which opens up to a pretty cute, regular restaurant. I wanted to see cement floors, fold-up chairs, and random family members walking around. I ate a little bit of Japchae yam noodles and kimchi appetizers. This was around 11 pm…K said it was actually pretty bad and is probably only popular with the drunk crowd at 2am…Probably true.

Sunday morning was a win though! We went to Outerlands for brunch (didn’t have to wait long!) which is such a cute, cozy place. My friend calls it “hipster meets comfort food” which is totally on-point. We sipped on lemon ginger apple cider and barley tea. The cider was sooo yummy! (At first, they mistakenly gave me the bourbon spiked cider…) Although I only slept 6ish hours last night, I knew I wanted some of their famed sugary cider so I worked up the energy to do a morning beach/slight incline run! Then we had granola, persimmon, and yogurt. I don’t really eat yogurt anymore. But this is winning combination right here: persimmon + fresh chopped mint leaves + drizzle of honey (I’ll try it with maple syrup on my own). My entree was the avocado winter citrus salad which was delectable! Tri-colored grapefruit and mandarin wedges, blanched almonds, and ripe avocado topped a bed of sharp greens. It was an interesting combination of flavors. I tried some of K’s dutch pancake with spiced apple which was really satisfying too. Yumm… =)

Oh and I had the best muffin of my life today by Peiru, baker of Sweet Aha Bake Shop. She makes SUCH good muffins! All of her goods are vegan and she doesn’t use any fake vegan substitutes. I had her lemon poppy seed muffin last week…omgodz the taste of real lemon was so good. Today, I tried her ginger cinnamon muffin which I fell in love with.

The end of the weekend. Exam week up next…

Oh and I made kale, white bean, butternut squash ragout & overnight oats tonight too. But I used purple kale and it’s too bitter… =/.

(My first restaurant review! It’ll be printed in...

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 21:11:00 -0800

(My first restaurant review! It’ll be printed in Synapse this week! How do I become a legit food critic???)

Nabe- New Hot Pot Restaurant on 9^th Avenue

Since Nabe’s opening in January, I’ve walked up and down 9^th Avenue scoping for this new nabemono hot pot restaurant. After a couple weeks, Synapse finally decided to take closer look. It’s easy to miss because steam from the cooking pots clouds the glass windows while shielding its patrons from the cold night. We went on a chilly Sunday evening, bleak enough to make the Muni look tempting to the most avid of walkers, and stepped into Nabe’s warm interior thinking only of savory noodles and vegetables.

Inside, the décor is simple, smart, and cool. It seats 32 people with a long communal table and separate tables on the sides. Along the slate-colored walls are display cases for finished bottles of high-end sake. Although Nabe adopted a modern design, its small size, focus on DIY hot pots, and steamy interior make it an intimate spot for a casual catch-up session with a friend, or a fun date night. Couples and small groups of friends occupied the separate tables, while a large family birthday party reserved the extended center table.

The juxtaposition of comfort food and sleek design make Nabe a unique destination. Our party of four all ordered different nabemono sets, but because I follow a vegan diet, I can only describe the flavors of the Kinoko Nabe entrée. Each set comes with meat/seafood/tofu, broth, noodles, vegetables, dipping sauce, and rice soup (regular size is $19, large for $24). In the Kinoko Nabe, the broth is brimming with several varieties of mushrooms, bok choy, spinach, tofu, carrots, and to my joyous surprise…kabocha squash. One type of mushroom maintained its tough, chewy texture no matter how long I cooked it. The Miso broth is not overly salty, but added flavor to the fresh produce. Our table also ordered the Kimchi + Kurobuta Pork Belly, Shabu Shabu (Washygyu beef/Kurobuta pork), and the seasonal Kamonanban (duck breast). For omnivores, I would recommend the Shabu Shabu because it of its variety: two dipping sauces as well as the most impressive plate of vegetables and tofu. As if ramen, udon, and soba noodles weren’t enough, our waitress came to prepare our Zosui rice soup using Japanese style rice and our remaining broth. After simmering the rice, she added green onions, egg (optional), and nori seaweed toppings to the soup and served each of us a hearty bowl. At first I was discouraged from trying my rice soup, but my fellow diner, Carly, gave me the courage by saying, “There’s always room for rice!” It was worth the extra cardio-workout during the preceding week.

Although Nabe is new, it’s already gaining popularity! Here are some of my tips for a good time:

Go early. Nabe only takes reservations for 6+. We waited 40 minutes starting at 7:30pm on a Sunday. Probably not the best place for Valentine’s Day because of this.
Have to wait? Grab a drink at Social across the street.
Regular sized hot pot sets are $19; larges are $24
Excuse some minor service flops because of newly trained staff. (i.e. I never got my share of noodles and also had to remind our waitress about the tea I ordered.)
Don’t cook the squash too long.
Bring friends to try different broths!
And most importantly…invite me!

Lately, I’ve been keeping a food log on Paper, an iPad...

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:37:00 -0800

Lately, I’ve been keeping a food log on Paper, an iPad app. It’s fun because I can doodle, and I can just write out what I ate instead of type/search/find the closest substitute on an online tracker. Doodling is fun too because sometimes I draw out how I feel or make light of eating not-so-stellar that day. My calorie counts are guess-estimates from general knowledge of how many calories…and eyeballing how big my servings are. (If you’re looking to change your weight, I’d be more meticulous/scientific than this!)

Made With Paper