My Week in Food: From Curry Chips to Crispy Chicken Skin

Writing for a publication dedicated to food is probably one of the best gigs I’ve had, but it does present some challenges. Each meal is an opportunity to test a recipe, experiment with a strange ingredient, or order from a new restaurant. I initially pitched an article tracking my meals using an app, but before I started my food week, a friend suggested otherwise. “Food self-tracking is a slippery slope, especially when calories are involved,” they warned.

Not one to count calories, I kept a detailed food diary instead. Patterns emerged right away. I crave foods that hold memories, I’m a creature of habit, especially in the morning and I like feeding the birds.

Friday

Most mornings I wake up already dreaming about going to bed the next night and today is no different. I brew a strong espresso for my daily latte. I’ve started making my own coffee syrup. Today’s flavour is brown sugar cinnamon, which pairs perfectly with the chocolate chip waffles I heat in the toaster. I know I shouldn’t be eating a food normally marketed to children, but I can’t resist. In my defense, I try to keep my waffle consumption to one morning a week.

At the office, I snack on yogurt, fruit and granola to tide me over until lunch.

My best friend and I both work downtown and we try to lunch together once a week. Today she insists we eat at Red Fish Blue Fish. I don’t argue, but a sunny Friday in July guarantees a long wait at the dock. I order the tempura cod tacone and a side of curry chips. I’d been craving curry chips since trying them at the Argyle Attic. RFBF’s are good, but too spicy for my taste. A seagull helps me finish them.

I squeeze in a yoga class before meeting a friend for dinner. He wants to cook at home. I don’t protest, but my stomach is growling like crazy after an hour of downward dog. We finally decide on a pork and vegetable stir-fry with udon noodles. I mix together soy sauce, rice wine vinegar and hoisin for a light dressing. My stomach finally shuts up.

Saturday

I sleep in, waking in time for a late brunch. Another latte. A little orange juice. I scramble eggs with sautéed mushrooms, smoked paprika and salsa. A side of toast.

Out to the grocery store to pick up ingredients for a dinner I’m hosting. My biggest weaknesses are impulse buys. Even if I’m just popping into Thrifty’s for a jug of milk, I always leave with something frivolous. Today is no different, as my chocolate chip waffles are on sale.

Back home to prep and cook dinner. My contribution is a scallop risotto with leek and asparagus. I used seafood stock for the first time and the risotto turned out better than expected, not too salty. The key is plenty of white wine and lemon zest.

Guests bring stuffed mushroom caps, a Greek salad with fresh beets and cherry tomatoes and gourmet chocolates for dessert.

We attempt to make Mexican bulldogs, but the blended margaritas aren’t thick enough and the overturned beer bottles spill everywhere. Don’t worry, both are fully consumed by the end of the night.

Sunday

A slight variation on Saturday’s breakfast, I add onions and Parmesan cheese to my eggs.

Lunch is leftovers from dinner, another reason to host dinner parties.

After the last two days of heavy food, I’m craving something healthy for dinner. I mix up my favourite guacamole: finely diced red onion, fresh limejuice, chopped cilantro, garlic and avocado. I scoop it up with Que Pasa blue corn chips. When I was a kid, I took swimming lessons at a pool in Vancouver near the original Que Pasa storefront. My mom and I would often stop in for chips and salsa after my lesson. I complete my dinner with a glass of white wine, left over from the risotto.

Monday

Back to the early mornings. A latte and bowl of cereal.

More yogurt, fruit and granola as a mid-day snack and a homemade roast beef sandwich for lunch.

I always hit the 3 p.m. wall at work. We sometimes have snacks delivered to the office. Today a bag of mini Oreos are sitting in the kitchen. I sneak a small handful, limiting my self to four little cookies. One of my biggest fears is having food in my teeth, and Oreos are prone to leave snacking evidence.

After work I still feel sluggish. I brew another espresso for an iced latte and I nibble on chips and salsa while I edit at my computer. After a few hours at my laptop I’m craving the risotto from Saturday.

I make the next best thing, baked mushroom rice with pork chops. The rice only takes a few minutes to prep before it hits the oven. While it bakes, I’m back at my keyboard. Thankfully, before long I’m cooking the pork chops and plating my dinner.

Tuesday

Roll out of bed and head straight for the freezer. It’s a waffle morning. And a latte—never forget the caffeine.

The usual yogurt, fruit and granola. For lunch I dig into last night’s leftovers.

Rush from work to an EAT content meeting. The editors promised snacks and my stomach grumbles in anticipation. Gary and Colin don’t disappoint. WildFire bread, Lonetree Cider and a smattering of goodies from the Fig deli, including a walnut dip and a feta cheese spread. Editors note: The feta cheese spread from Fig is excellent, and almost always in our fridge. Go get some!

Back at home, I’m in the mood for something light. I roast a piece of salmon and sauté fresh green beans in a little butter and garlic.

My impulse grocery store shopping now carries over to Target. Earlier in the week, I pick up a “grow your own” cilantro kit. Feeling inspired after our meeting, I “plant” the seeds and setup the miniature greenhouse on my kitchen windowsill. I’ve killed the last three houseplants under my care, so my expectations are low for this green thumb adventure.

Wednesday

Latte and cereal. Fruit, yogurt and granola combination. Roast beef sandwich. I wonder how long I can keep up my habits before I detest the sight of these foods?

After work I rush around town for two meetings and a gym class. It’s close to 9 p.m. before I even get the chance to think about dinner. I roast chicken legs with salt and smoked paprika, shredding it into fettuccini noodles with roasted peppers, mushrooms and a rosé sauce. The best part of the meal is the crispy chicken skin, equal parts salty and smoky. The entire dish feels wrong after my workout.

Thursday

Again with the latte and cereal. Fruit, yogurt and granola combination soon follows. Leftover pasta for lunch, which I eat in the Inner Harbour. Feeling generous, I throw a seagull a few bites.

A friend and I made plans to spend the remainder of the day at the beach, but he works late and we miss the hot sun. Instead, we pick up dinner from Fairfield Fish and Chips, carting the newspaper wrapped meals down to Dallas Road Beach. We both devour the crispy fish as we gaze out on the sunset. A darn good way to end my food week.

I’m glad I decided to keep a food diary instead of logging every meal into an iPhone app. Instead of discovering how many calories I consumed per day, I got to record my feelings and cravings. We spend so much time and effort photographing our food for our Instagram followers, it’s a nice change to reflect on the food choices we make on a daily basis. I doubt I’ll break my habits, but I know for sure I enjoy meals much more when shared with others (or a seagull).