25. Try 10 new restaurants

A report on one of my items from my 30-before-30 bucket list. 
Note: Travel can't count for new restaurants so I added the stipulation that all must be in SLC.

1. Pat's BBQ. I went in April 2014. Got the half pulled pork and half beef brisket. Delicious. Especially with their  BBQ sauce. I wish I had taken some for the road for my leftovers. However, I like Sugarhouse BBQ better.

2. Indochine. (May 8, 2014) This Vietnamese restaurant is so close to my office. I drive past it every day on my way to work. Yet it took so long for me to actually go here. I had a lunch meeting and this is where my colleague suggested, specifically for some phó. While I love phó, I wasn't really feeling it that day, so opted for their chicken curry. Delicious. I stole this photo off the internet, as I am really bad at remembering to take pictures of my food before I eat it. While Vietnamese curry is similar to Thai curry, I think I like this better. Stronger, bolder flavors, an a nice little kick.

3. Flatbread Neapolitan Pizzeria. (June 14, 2014) In honor of my good friend Aubree's birthday (only a little over a month late) we went out to dinner at this new pizza place in Sugar House. I've seen it for a while, but I haven't yet been there. They are in the process of renovating much of that area of town, and there have been random new restaurants popping up around. It is a cool little place in the heart of everything. When I asked our waiter what his favorite was, he very thoroughly walked me through the whole menu, like I couldn't read. he still never told me his favorites, but whatever. My friends got the sandwiches, and they looked delicious, and the flatbread was awesome. I got the Capricciosa pizza (Fior di Latte, San Marzano Pomodoro, Creminelli Prosciutto Crudo, Fresh Basil, Artichoke Hearts, Herbed Portobello Mushrooms, Kalamata Olives). It was pretty tasty. But truly, I am not the biggest fan of flatbread pizza. Give this girl deep dish and she is much happier. I'll probably go the sandwich route next time, but either way, great ingredients and great atmosphere. (Note: I realized while finding a link to this online that they also have a few of these in Boise, and I may have at one point been there, but I have no recollection of the food, and this is a new place in SLC, so it totally counts.)

4. The Garden Restaurant. (June 20, 2014) I remember going to The Roof on Temple Square as a kid, but I have no memory of the Garden, so I tried it while there for a wedding. I got the pesto margherita chicken (right). complete with mashed potatoes and cheese and all sorts of goodness. It was pretty amazing. We also ordered some deep fried pickles to share, and wow. Those are pretty awesome. I may have to go back just for those. Lovely pre-wedding lunch.
Photos courtesy of The Garden Restaurant because I eat my food too fast and forget to take photos of it.

5. Su Casa. (June 26, 2014) On our way to Arts Fest. It started raining that day, so we didn't want to walk down or take the train. Jessie reminded me I had always mentioned this place whenever we drove by, so we finally went. It was affordable Mexican food. Pretty basic menu. I got the tostada and a cheese enchilada. Delicious. Close to my house satisfaction for a Mexican food craving. I will likely go there again sometime.

6. Taqueria 27. (August 2, 2014) I have heard a lot of hype about this place, and wow, it actually lived up to it. I got the cirtus carnitas pork taco and the taco of the day which was buffalo chicken. So good! Spicy and perfect. My mouth is watering writing this. I also got the nachos to share and they were a major hit. My friends got the quesadilla and that was also amazing. Nothing bad. Nice atmosphere. Adding this to my list of SLC favs.

Again, no food pictures. I just forget!

7. Spitz. (August 12, 2014) I used to have kebabs all the time in England. Lits of immigrants from the mediterranean/middle eastern area in England. So when I heard this shop opened up in SLC specializing in the doner kebab, I knew I had to go. It took a long time, and it definitely didn't disappoint. First, the atmosphere is awesome. They had cards against humanity at every table, so we played a little while we waited  for our food. I opted for the doner salad, which was delicious. We also got the street carte fries. All tasty. Adding this one as a favorite too. Thanks to Aubs for coming with me.

photo courtesy of the internet, via http://www.randomactsofkelliness.com/

8. Lucky 13. (Labor Day, September 1, 2014) I heard they had the best burgers in town. I can't say I know of another one, but I wasn't super amazingly impressed. I liked their creativity in the options for burgers. I got the bacon stinky burger, with blue cheese, which I love, but I think there may have been just a little too much cheese on it. My favorite burgers are usually pretty plain, with just the flavor of the meat. But if you like creative juicy burgers, delicious fries, and a fun bar atmosphere, this is a great place. I'll likely be back there at some point.

9. Dim Sum House. (October, 27, 2014) Once upon a time, there used to be a great sushi place relatively close to my house. A whole ago it shut down, and then got bought and changed to Dim Sum House. It had been on my list, so I went with my friend Emily. We ordered a lot of random things to try. Some delicious, some, not so much. Scallion pancakes; delicious. Pork Dumplings: NOT delicious. It was a good experience, but I don't think I will be going back there.

Scallion pancakes and sesame chicken. Both delicious.

All the signs were in Chinese.

Fried taro (Meh), and BBQ pork bun (YES!)

Pork dumplings. Look weird. Smell weird. Taste weird. Not 

10. The Original Pancake House. (November 1, 2014) Brunch is one of my favorite meals. If I have a free Saturday morning, I am likely out to brunch. This weekend, my parents flew in for a day. We went to breakfast. Instead of taking them to one of my normal favs (which I am always so ensnared by) I decided to try something new, and mark this goal completed. I had heard much about the Original Pancake House in Sugar House. My friends who know I love brunch were surprised I had never been. So we changed that, and it did not disappoint. Got the biscuits and gravy: delicious. The parentals each got veggie scramblers (they are more healthy eaters than I am) and we all got a different kind of pancake: buttermilk, pumpkin, and sourdough. The pumpkin was sweet and delicious. The buttermilk were not as good as Penny Anne's heavenly hotcakes. But the sourdough were awesome. They were fluffy and different. I loved it. Definitely adding this to the list, but like every other brunch place in this city, got to go early, or prepare for a wait.

Overall, this was a great experience trying new places. There are some I will go back to in the future and have added to my list of favorites in SLC. Thanks to everyone who ate with me on this one.

20. Swim in Lake Tahoe

A report on one of my items from my 30-before-30 bucket list.

This trip was so amazing. I've taken so long to blog about it, and mostly because I have no idea how to put it into words. It was just such a great fun time. I seriously love those cousins of mine, and it was great to spend time with them in such a beautiful place. We stayed in this lovely little hotel in Carson City that used to be a mansion. Such a lovely place, not too far from Tahoe. We explored a lot of Nevada, and really only spent a day at Tahoe. It was just as beautiful as I remembered, and again worth the trip and the wait (since I tried to go last summer, but it got wildfire smoked-out).

Also, I fell in love with Nevada. And Mark Twain. So much history intertwining the two. Who knew I would love it so much.

My cousin Jessie put it in such perfect words, so I will share hers, and then photo dump with captions:

"This summer I was lucky enough to get to take a trip to Carson City Nevada with two of my favorite people in the world: Lacey, and Eliza.  Our trip included adventure like driving for 14 miles on a dirt road to see the cabin that Mark Twain built when he thought he wanted to be a miner, and discovering fudge shops.  One thing that brings me joy is learning, and I got to learn so many amazing things about Nevada history.  Did you know it was made into a state because the republicans needed the electoral votes to re-elect Lincoln?  We got to visit the Nevada State Museum, which has a full scale mine you get to tour, one of the most impressive button collections I've ever seen, and, supposedly, a vault in the men's bathroom. Magical.  We got to spend a sunny afternoon in crystal clear lake Tahoe surrounded by beautiful mountains.  Speaking of natural wonders, our trip included a sighting of a stunningly beautiful cowboy.  It was a trip of dreams, and while our car singing didn't get as raucous as the Barnes and Rose Families', I did find out that Lacey knows all the words to Pretty Fly for a White Guy, in case you were wondering."

Road Tripping

We stopped here in Winnemucca on a whim, and it was the BEST food.
So delicious, we almost stopped there on the way home as well. Turns out
they have one in Meridian too, so it might have to be a stop when I go home.

Super random (kind of creepy) Native American homestead made from
"white man's trash" on the drive to Reno. Interesting walk around if you have time to stop.

Schoolhouse in the ghost town of Unionville. 14 miles on a dirt road off the freeway,

Mark Twain's cabin in said Unionville.

View of us and nothing at the top of Unionville.

Virginia City

Eliza in the amazing barrel of candy store. Right next to the Giant fudge shop.

Lovely church in Virginia City.

We really do. That little place is amazing! Definitely worth the extra miles off the freeway.

Carson City

In the bottom of the Nevada State Museum, they have this awesome mine. 

Nevada State History Museum.

Fremont is fascinating. Fremont for president!

This hummus plate was AMAZING!! All hummus plates should come with this much goodness.

Nevada State Capitol

Front of the capitol building.

Lovely little markers throughout the city.

A clock tower that plays Old Man River.

Lake Tahoe

My phone died while I was at the beach, so this is all I've got. But the water was clear and the beach was beautiful. 

29. Learn to water ski

A report on one of my items from my 30-before-30 bucket list.

I tried. Unsuccessfully in Idaho. The water was freezing (56 degrees at the surface). I tried 5 times, and got much closer. Next time. I have not had nearly enough time to go boating this summer. I also went with the Gilberts toward the end of the summer.

Seeing as the summer is now finished, and there is no more opportunity for water skiing before my birthday, I think I'm going to have to call this one. If you define learn as "consciously know how to do it and almost get your body to do it," then check, yes I learned how to water ski. It was sure a fun time learning this summer, and I would not have tried nearly as hard (or even at all) without this goal, and that is the real success. It really made me get out of my comfort zone.

Now, enjoy a video of my best attempt.

27. Leave my mark on the Pike's Place Gum Wall

A report on one of my items from my 30-before-30 bucket list.

September 27, 2014

--- warning: a few gross pictures, if you don't like chewed gum. skip to the cute girls at the end---

In between my job change, I made a quick trip up to Seattle. My whole family was together in Boise over Labor Day, but I couldn't go up there, because of my triathlon. So, I felt like I needed to get some time with my nieces. and finally leave my mark on the gum wall.

When we walked out into the alley, Susan got super excited "Look at all the candy!" Haha. We quickly gave the girls some gum so they wouldn't try to eat the gum off the wall.

Turns out, rained out gum isn't sticky, and neither is fresh gum. So, I had a little trouble making it stick. But eventually it worked. Mine is that orange L (of course).

Thanks to Steph for braving the grossness of it all to help me fulfill this one.

 

And now, as promised some adorable pictures with my adorable nieces (and sister-in-law) from the weekend.