All Narfed Up photography and words by Bryan Villarin

Food

The spicy tuna roll from Yard House

In Art, Food, Life, Photography, Photos on 25 November 2008 with 1 comment

It looked so fancy, I had to take a photo.

Ingredients: seared ahi, avocado, edamame, cucumber with wasabi soy sauce

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Eat me and relish

In Food, Life, Photography, Photos on 15 October 2008 with no comments

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What number is the sandwich?

In Business, Food, Life on 11 June 2007 with 6 comments

Note: I’ve never worked at McDonald’s before, so I don’t know how their registers work. Sorry if I’m clueless.

This morning, I stopped by a McDonald’s on the way to work. I like their Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit sandwich.

The number for that breakfast combo corresponds to #3. I don’t want that because I have my own coffee with me. (I’m sure I mentioned my AeroPress before.)

Today was the first time I was ticked off from the drive-thru attendee, or whatever their title is called. I stated my order, which was just the sandwich. He asked me to clarify which number. If you’re not getting a combo, you’re not supposed to technically say a number. Right? Anyway, I insisted there wasn’t a number for the sandwich. He told me to hold on, then came back stating that I wanted a #3, but just the sandwich.

Fine.

At the window, he stated again that next time, it’s a #3. I’m fuming.

Let me create a trickier example to show why this is completely stupid. What if I wanted three Sausage McMuffins with Egg, one Sausage, Egg and Cheese McGriddle, one hash brown, two coffees and an orange juice? If I ordered with his method, this is how it’d sound.

“I’ll have three #2s and one #10. But, I only want one hash brown, two coffees and an orange juice?”

They’d have to think for a few more seconds to subtract three hash browns and one drink. Isn’t that more difficult than just punching in the order word for word? Lame.

Restaurant Review: Gin Sushi

In Food, Review on 2 April 2007 with 2 comments

Last night, I went to Gin Sushi in Pasadena with some friends (from Esther’s recommendation). It was pretty sweet. The place received a “B” at their last Environmental Health Restaurant Rating, but the place was packed, so I didn’t feel that uneasy.

I think it’s comparable to Ichima, and definitely better than Kabuki. It wasn’t overly nice, which I think Kabuki partially gets its prices from. The prices there for simple “sushi” items were $2.80/roll. Nice. Service was pretty good, too. I had the salmon dinner, and I was quite pleased.

Try ‘em out sometime!

I’m not affiliated with the Gin Sushi restaurant.

The start of a healthier Bryan

In Food, Health, Life on 29 March 2007 with 3 comments

On Tuesday, I made the decision to start working out. Tonight, on the way back from a meeting, I asked Andy about the diet aspect of it. I’m going to do what he’s been doing for years.

Diet

Eat six meals a day, 2-3 of which are a protein drink/shake. Definitely one shake 30 minutes after a workout. I also need to take multi-vitamins to make up for the lack of vegetables or fruit we probably don’t eat as regularly as we should.

What kind of foods am I looking at?

• 100% whole-wheat bread, tortillas
• Brown rice
• Chicken breasts, strips
• Turkey breast (meat dept, ask for a 1 lb of their meat of the day, not smoked; Jennie-O, honey-baked)
• Egg whites
• Tuna in water (not oil)
• Non-fat mayo
• Potatoes (baked or mashed)

He said I need to get disciplined with the above first, then if I want to add vegetables, that’s fine, too.

For the protein shakes, I can also add stuff to them. Non-fat yogurt, non-fat milk, fruit. Surprisingly, the strawberry-flavored protein mix (that I bought from Andy) mixed simply with water tastes pretty good!

Exercise

I’m putting myself at the will of Andy. He’s got Powerblocks, a treadmill, and an interesting abs routine (with a DVD and weight ball). I’m also joining the local 24 Hour Fitness in case I can’t work out at Andy’s.

Who’s Andy?

Andy read “Body for Life” by Bill Phillips years ago. He followed the 12-week program, and transformed himself. He’s a health enthusiast, and studied a lot about exercising. He doesn’t have a Ph.D or anything, but he’s one of the most physically healthy guys I know. Also, he’s helped his other friend, Dan, get “ripped“. I remember when Dan first started, he wasn’t that strong. Hearing Andy say that means a lot.

The BEGINNING

I don’t know the intricate details. I just know I need to change. I figured writing it here will help reinforce it, and the whole freaking internet will hold me accountable. (Boy, that doesn’t sound scary.) If any of you have been where I am, and can offer suggestions (especially on diet), please leave a comment or send an email.

Thanks for reading - and thanks in advance to Andy! (I hope you aren’t mad that I posted this. I couldn’t help it, I’m stoked about this!)

Retro Ketchup

In Food, Photos on 17 August 2005 with 8 comments

Does anybody remember these old ketchup packets from McDonald’s? I was given these today when I got some breakfast before work. Gross! I didn’t use them. Ketchup expires sometime, right?

Grilling is bad?

In Asides, Food, Health on 9 July 2005 with 1 comment

To grill or not to grill? (Golf clap: Donncha O’Caoimh, a.k.a. Holy Shmoly)

Independance Day antics

In Food, Life on 5 July 2005 with 3 comments

What’d I do yesterday?

• Processed a lot of my inbox
• Ate BBQ chicken for lunch at Jordan’s - it was delicious!
• Watched “Armageddon“
• Ate hot dogs and BBQ ribs (thanks Coco!)
• Played Pictionary ’til dark
• Lit various small fireworks
• Bill created some small “bombs” by removing the powder from a few (4) Piccolo Pete Fountains, wrapping the powder in a small plastic sandwich bag, taping it shut, insert the fuse protruding from the top, and sticking the fuse through a small hole made in the cap of a water bottle
• After what seemed like two hours of setting of fireworks and being pyros, we went to Denny’s

I think I got home around 1:30 or 2-o’clock in the morning. Yikes. At least I wasn’t too tore up for work this morning.

Surprising Expiration Dates

In Asides, Food on 22 June 2005 with no comments

Surprising Expiration Dates: A handy, who-knew guide for 77 foods, beauty products, and household goods (Golf clap: Anthony, then Laura for posting it two days later)

Dodger game

In Asides, Food, Life, Sports on 6 June 2005 with no comments

I went to a Dodger game tonight. They played against the Tigers. Other than waiting in concession in line for 20 minutes, it was a great game. I missed Jeff Kent’s homerun, though - man! My friend got me some garlic fries from his part of the stadium, because I was in the cheapo seats in center field with a huge group. My mouth was kickin after that! What’d I learn today? It gets cold out there. I’ll bring a sweater next time.