I don’t spend much time in the town I live in. I grew up here, and while it has its special charm, I just don’t really care to wander the same locations I’ve wandered for 25 years. Sure, if I need to run a quick errand I will go to my local shops, but if I have the time I will go out of my way and drive to other towns. This opens the doors for new adventures.
When I went to pick up my race packet for the last half marathon I ran, I made the mistake of leaving my house without any food. I thought I’d be home within a couple hours (only a 35 min drive each way), but I should know better. Looking back I think subconsciously I knew I wanted to explore this town away from home through its food.
After I got my packet I did what any hungry explorer would do, I Googled vegan restaurants in the city I was located. The first to pop up was one I had been wanting to try.
Vegan, gluten free, AND raw!? Deal. Please bare with these photos, all I had was my phone.
I ordered the AmeRAWcan sun burger (description on the menu) and I was so obsessed with the bread! Cutting out 95% of my wheat intake means I don’t eat a lot of bread, so this was a major treat. I thought about how delicious a PB&J would be on this bread.
I couldn’t possibly experience this place without trying one all of the desserts they had available. SO..I got three desserts. OOPS.
Snatched from my Instagram.
It’s not everyday you have access to raw mocha cheesecake, raw strawberry cheesecake, and raw brownie bites. Go big or go home. For the record, I did share these with my mom.
This place was delicious, but definitely not cheap. My sandwich, two brownie bites, and two slices of cheesecake cost me $36. I didn’t mind though, my $ goes towards food and running. I’ll be going back soon for some raw nachos and raw enchiladas. Swoon.
After my feast I found myself at the mecca of cheap, yet fantastic.
Fun Fact: I don’t actually go to Trader Joe’s all that often, because I don’t like going into the one in my town. I used to work there and well, I’m weird like that? I sometimes try to suck it up, but it usually brings back funky memories so I just don’t.
With that said, I get excited when I’m in a town away from home that has a TJ’S. As I was stuffing my medium sized bag I thought to myself, “wow, I just came in here for organic berries (which they didn’t have much of after all) how did I end up with all this stuff?” Notorious thoughts in my mind. Long story short I had a shitton of food in my overstuffed bag, and lo and behold the price tag…
$36….the exact price I payed 30 minutes prior for a small sandwich, and three desserts.
I found it ironic, and somewhat comical to compare the two. I think TJ’s wins the, “more bang for your buck” contest, but I still didn’t mind paying for my lunch. YOLO? Sorry…I promise to never say YOLO again, I hate it. Here’s more cheesecake to make up for that.
Q(s):
- Do you like going into places you used to work? No..I get 50 shades of awkward, even if I leave on good terms.
- Would you go out of your way to explore a different town? What else am I going to do with my days off? I need adventure, and I don’t always go far!
Blissfulbritt 
54 thoughts on “$36 vs. $36”
thefaithfulrunner
That restaurant looks awesome!!! AmeRAWcan sounds perfect. I feel really awkward when I go to places I used to work. Hate it! And I would definitely go out of my way to explore a different town. Great photos!
Rebecca@RunningFoodBaby
That food looks good – If you are ever in Ottawa, you need to check out The Green Door – it is a ‘pay what you get’ type of buffet but all vegetarian and lots of vegan options. SO GOOD. I had to stop myself from eating everything they had to offer.
No, I do not like to go to places I used to work at – especially anything in retail/food. Schools is a bit different but I still very rarely go back to a school once I leave.
Brittany
Ohh my gosh, a vegetarian/vegan buffet sounds DANGEROUS!
The vegan 8
I’m sooo jealous of where you live! We don’t have ANYTHING like that here in Houston. It royally sucks and makes no sense, considering Houston is the 4th largest city in America and we have tons and tons of restaurants but practically ZERO vegan. That is one reason I want to move to Austin! Vegan heaven! All that food sounds to die for!! I also love your explorative, adventurous personality, super cool 🙂
karla @ finding my fit
That looks so delicious. You have an abundance of awesome places to eat where you live!
When I explore new towns it’s always by trying to find the local coffee shoppe 🙂
Brittany
Hell yes! Coffee and food are my top two for exploring!!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
I like your philosophy about exploring nearby towns. Think of all the little gems you find by doing that! And I like to visit places that I formerly worked. For some reason I find it fun to reminisce and see people I knew back then.
Rach @ This Italian Family
Sometimes a meal is just worth the money! 🙂 And girl, I know what you mean. There are a couple of jobs that I left on good terms that it would still be a little weird to go back to. Though I have a couple that I actually DO still go back by (like one of my college jobs) because I’m still close to a couple of my previous supervisors. 🙂 It just depends on the circumstances for me, I guess. 🙂
Shawna
ummm that AmeRAWcan sunburger looks amaze. need that asap.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
It’s ironic because I try to stay in my community and spend my bucks there. I do love your sense of adventure though and appreciate you dropping your bones on local food even if it was the neighboring community. That menu is crazy, and I’m impressed you only ended up with three desserts. Nicely done!
Brittany
I am alllll for local, but yes…neighboring communities are local to me too! I love that you referred to money as bones…takes me back to my HS days when I thought I was a gangsta bitch.
happyappalachy
Yes, I really don’t like good back to places where I used to work! I’ve never left anywhere on bad terms, but I’m with you — it’s just weird.
di @ life of di.
I HATE going into places I used to work. The Whole Foods that I worked at last year is about three miles from my house but I always drive to the one that is nine-ten miles from my house because I don’t want to run into anyone there. I’m not a shy or introverted person but I just left on somewhat of an awkward note so I don’t like to go there. 🙂 Also, that burger looks so delicious! YUM!
Katherine
There is nothing like this in South Texas ughhhh! I’m terribly jealous. My favorite restaurant that is anything at all like the one you went to is basically $12 for a salad! That meal was totally worth the money though! And it’s a local restaurant! You could’ve done way worse 🙂
Lauren
I love your sense of adventure. I’m not like that at all. I like to be in my little corner where I know how to get from place to place and I know the people, haha. Love me some TJs, too!
PNWRunner
I like to explore new towns! New adventures are super fun! We did this last weekend up in snohomish. Good experiences! Those desserts look delicious!
Change of Pace
That bread does look delicious, and I love the restaurant’s name!
I kind of think it’s awkward to go somewhere you used to work, too!
brickhousechick
Very smart of you to forget to take food with you. I usually carry snacks with me wherever I go but I think I’ll try your tactic. 🙂 Is ANYONE capable of going to a grocery store and getting only what they went for?? Is that even possible?
Brittany
No…it’s not possible.
Hannah
Yummy raw food pics! I can’t go anywhere I used to work. It’s way too awkward! Like…people always talk about the old people to the new people and I don’t want to know that they know things that I don’t know they know. No thank you!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Can you believe that, in all my 29 years, I’ve never made it into a TJ’s? I know… I’m ashamed of me too. But we don’t have them up here in Canadaland, and I only ever seem to make it to Whole Foods when I’m down in the States. One of these days I’ll do you proud. I promise.
Brittany
When you finally make it to a TJ’s, you MUST consult me on what to buy!!! and the rest of blog land of course. If you don’t have suggestions I fear you being disappointed by the hype! I remember before working at TJ’s the first time I went into one I was like..uh…OK? But then I started to FALL IN LOVE with certain items. Now I am full blown obsessed.
brittanylesser
Everything looks so amazing! I’m the SAME way with places I used to work.. I refuse to go there!!! hahaha
Luv What You Do
Mmmm Those deserts look so good! Well worth the money!
I do find it funny how easily I will spend 30$ sometimes and not others!
P
I totally avoid going into the store that I worked in as my first summer job when I graduated high school. I don’t think I’ve been inside for almost two years? So yeah, I understand!!
Megan
Hmm I haven’t worked anywhere service like aside from Pacers in DC so this hasn’t come up in a while. I did tell me family they were not allowed to go in and get fitted at Pacers yesterday. I knew that my Dad wanted to get fit so that he could go online and order shoes. I am totally fine with that BUT I am not going to waste other peoples time to fit him when I knew he wouldn’t buy.
Different town… Yes probably.
This meal makes me think of Woodland and I think I need to adventure my way back there!
kathy@vodkandsoda
TJ has their head up their ass because they refuse to step foot on canadian soil. WHY, TJ, WHYYYY!!!????? however, whenever i’m down in the states, i only make it over to target but forget about TJs so come october when my ass is in orlando, i’ll look for one near us.
Brittany
Yeah that is lame, if only that guy smuggling TJ’s goodies across the border didn’t get busted. HAHA.
Nicole @ FruitnFitness
I’m all about cheap and love trader joes but man that lunch sounds good. I’m not vegan or gluten free but it just sounds so good! I so wish we had restaurants like that in lexington.
Ashley
If I’m ever in WA (which I hope to eventually visit or live there possibly) I need to find Amerawcan! This vegan restaurant in my college town always had a couple raw dishes on their menu and I loved them so I can’t even imagine a totally raw restaurant!
And TJs is a new-found love of mine, even though I’ve been there only once. They finally made their way into Colorado and then I happened to move away to a state without any TJs. So sad, because I loved how cheap everything there was. For now, I just suck it up and spend all my $$$ at Whole Foods!
Brittany
If I lived closer to WF my paycheck would go there. Instead I spend it at another near by health food supermarket similar, but slightly smaller than WF. Just as $$$ though!! NO SHAME!
Khushboo Thadani (@KhushbooThadani)
I want to face plant that cheesecake…that is all! I always justify my grocery expenditure with the whole “health is wealth” jargon 😉
Brittany
I couldn’t agree with you more! Jargon or not, I have no problem spending LOTs of money on good food because MEDICAL bills ain’t cheap!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
BRIGEE – that will be our Vegan/Carnivore Food Truck Name.
And uh, yeah, my tummy hurts. I just shoveled in the grub. Mistake. Mistake. Mistake. It’s vegan in there right now. However, if I barf it up, we won’t be selling it on the food truck. Okay this comment is weird, has nothing to do with your post. It’s also 12:17 am. And I am awake. Ugh, who am I?!
Brittany
How about BEEGEEs food truck? Cause, that sounds catchy like a 1950’s pop group.
Dear Lord 12:17 am..WHO ARE YOU!?
themilereport
I’ve never been to a vegan restaurant!
And I totally understand about not wanting to go into places that you used to work. I was a summer camp counselor all throughout college, and I can’t go back to that YMCA for fear of hearing “MISSS KAAAAREN” whinewhinewhine
Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen
I would happily munch down some of those menu items! It does sound pricey but maybe it takes longer to perfect a Vegan menu and have it fresh every day? It must because I’ve heard the Vegan restaurants in our city are awful.. I’ll have to check them out some day but when they’ve got bad reviews I’m not exactly in a hurry to try them;) Very cool that you spent the same amount at both places!
Brittany
That is AWFUL, all the vegan restaurants in Washington state are fantastic! I don’t blame you for not trying yours, bad reviews are no good. SAD SAD!
Food, Booze, & Baggage
3 desserts are totally worth it! Exploring through food is the best way to explore 😉
Choc Chip Uru
So many desserts is actually the best, love the choices you made 😀
And this vegan restaurant looks so good!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Melissa @ Mel's Miles
I used to work at Cold Stone Creamery and it was always super awkward to go back and visit. All of my other old jobs are either in my college town or have since closed up shop. Now I feel old 🙂
Ashley
haha- isn’t it so depressing to compare the price of a pre-made meal vs just buying ingredients at a grocery store? BUT that food you got looks totally amazing! Especially those desserts… YUM.
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
I haaaate going back to places where I used to work. I feel like even if you left for good reasons it just feels weird going back and I have expect people to be mad at me for “ditching” them. Is that a weird way of putting it? I’m the same way where if a food is really unique or exciting I’ll spend too much money on it but then I go to Trader Joe’s and get super excited about buying a week’s worth of groceries for like $80. It’s just a food-lovers conundrum – we like food no matter how much it costs us, and oftentimes the excitement of something new/out of the ordinary justifies paying extra. For the record I’ve never tried a raw-food-only place but that looks really sweet! Definitely something I’d try.
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
half**
jessielovestorun
If you were to move to Kuwait, you’d find that that $36.00 lunch date for one is quite the normal price here. I got olive garden with a friend the other day – ordered one entree & a water & it came to $26.00. I will say though, your lunch looks far far much better. Jealous!!!!
To answer your question about work – I actually have no problem going back to places that I worked at. I figured whats the weirdness as long as I left on a good note.. which I always do :]
Meghan
Girl, haha, I feel like all I do is work hard for the money…. to fund food & running. Also, #alltheworkoutclothes
You didn’t get the salted dark chocolate almonds at TJ’s? I just bought a pack for my man and guess who wound up eating them ALL? Yepppp, and as you’ve said-YOLO to that. 🙂
And LIKE YOU I just don’t LOVED going back to places I worked. I feel like it’s a closed chapter in life for a reason.
Brittany
Oh don’t you worry, I have some salted chocolate almonds stashed in my closet. YES…my closet. No shame. SO FREAKING good.
An Unrefined Vegan
Look at you with a new blog design! AND the new ‘do – – things are happening, my friend! I think it’s totally awkward to revisit places one has worked. Let the past stay in the past.
Davida @The Healthy Maven
I avoid the places where I used to work like the plague! No way could I go back…they might not even let me back LOL.
Love the new design!!!
apartmentwife
ah, i feel the same way about going out of my way to make new adventures possible. i’ve moved around quite a bit, so that helps, but now i’m all about finding new hot spots in neighboring towns! oooh, and never ever going to places where i used to work!
Amy
Ahhh I’m loving your new blog look!! 🙂 And I totally approve of splurging on 3 desserts. A group of us went out to dinner in Miami on Saturday, and I convinced them that we needed to try over half of the dessert menu. Yes, we ordered 4 desserts for 5 people — and I ate at least 1.5 servings! Such a dessert hog…
GAH I totally forgot to look for those muffins, and I was just at TJ’s again today!! Good thing I go 2-4 times per week… Please, please, please mention them again in your next blog post so I can finally try those beauties! 😉
And oh goodness, I was completely oblivious to the “YOLO” acronym thing for ages. I actually live in “Yolo County,” so young adults get super excited when they visit here, but for us it’s just overhyped. Go figure!
Nicole
I agree with you 100% on your willingness to pay a little bit more for a good meal. I mean, sure, I like saving money like anyone; so I’m all about finding good sales at the grocery store. But when eating out or treating myself, I don’t mind going all out and enjoying a good meal that might cost a little bit more. I think we all spend money on what is important to us, and since I’m a foodie, I’m definitely all right with sometimes dishing out more on a yummy treat. 🙂
Kelsey
I don’t mind going into my job from the past, mostly because my work environment felt more like a little family instead of just plain ol’ coworkers. So I still love stopping in – but only if I know that one of my old coworkers/managers is there. Otherwise, 50 shades of awkward for sure (I have a hard time not correcting them if they do something wrong since I was a shift lead…oops!). And food is honestly the BEST thing to spend money on in my eyes!
Amalia
All your posts inspire to check out vegan and raw food restaurants in my city. I bet I could find a few good ones. I have to go on a crazy scavenger hunt on Monday and I imagine a vegan or raw food place would be great for a pit stop!