sweetgreen

Rating: 💋💋💋😘

I recently had to stay in New York for a little work trip. I tried to plan smart in every way, from packing clothes that could easily mix and match to buying groceries that would keep in a mini fridge and be easy to whip up. (No ramen here.)

I had my slip-ups. For example, I forgot to pack a toothbrush. That had to be sorted. Clean teeth are important to me. I also bought yogurt and failed to pick up spoons. Fortunately, I was able to secure utensils before resorting to using my fingers. There were some tight moments, but I figured it out and no problem was ever too big or too painful. That being said, I was living life on the fly. I granted myself one luxury, and that turned out to be my first taste of that salad chain, sweetgreen. I love a fresh bowl of greens, there was a location around the corner, and it was not prohibitively expensive. It seemed like the move.

I placed my order online and I was a bit disappointed because the menu seemed rather small. Perhaps there were simply not enough tantalizing items for me to get indecisive about. It really might have been a good thing. I am the Queen of Conundrum, after all - and yes, a simple menu can create a huge quandary for me. Still, I did wish there were at least a few more choices on the sweetgreen menu. I tried to create my own bowl and met more disappointment. The website claimed you could pick a grain and a green, as they do in most of their popular pre-designed bowls, but that was a lie. Sorry to use inflammatory language here, but I really wanted both and it kept glitching so I could only have arugula. I simply did not want only arugula. If I was going to be treating myself, I wanted to get what I wanted. As in, arugula and quinoa.

I am working on advocating for myself, because it is really important and I do not have a great track record with that skill. So far, this is how it is manifesting. Me getting stubborn about quinoa.

Whatever works, I guess.

Anyway, the Create Your Own option was getting on my nerves, so I canceled that and went with the pre-curated sweetgreen warm bowl that had originally caught my eye: the Fish Taco Bowl.

The order was ready sooner than expected, but fortunately it was just around the corner so my food did not have to sit out too long. It really was such an easy system. Place your order online, get text updates, and pop on over to the store for a contact free pick-up. They have a whole shelf lined up for you to grab and go.

Oops - I prefer tossed to chopped. I did not think about the photoshoot when I made my order. I just thought, I like an even dressing mix. It is high up there in Things I Care About. Then I got my bowl and was like oh no, this is totally not photogenic. You can't let vanity rule your life though so, all in all, I do not regret my decision. I am sorry though. You deserve prettier pictures than this.

Despite being literally five minutes away and me picking up the order on time, my warm fish taco bowl was not warm. Every second counts, I guess. It was still really good. The combination of sweet salmon and creamy avocado with peppery arugula and bitter, raw red cabbage was fabulous. The hot sauce was perfect for firing up the dish and added a slightly smoky flavor. I also loved the addition of quinoa, which coated everything and added a fun texture. I requested the removal of the cilantro, but if that herb lights up your tastebuds I can see how it would be good with this dish. Just not for me. See? You have to advocate for yourself!! It makes a difference.

My takeout and I had a lovely night in, full of poetry books and good sleep. Life is truly about the simple pleasures.

It is officially summer! I encourage you to get out in the sun, make time to grab drinks with friends and treat yourself to some relaxation. You deserve it!

XX,

MK