This weekend, JC and I ate a pizza covered with wild boar meatballs, rabbit sausage, and finocchiona (a.k.a. awesome salami). Thank you, Parlor. If you would have presented this meal to me six years ago, I would have quickly turned up my nose.
In the time that we've lived in Phoenix, both of our palates have expanded dramatically and has allowed us to discover some pretty phenomenal food options. Some people spend their extra money on expensive purses or lavish trips...we spend ours on delicious food. Granted, with all of the exotic flavors and unique joints we've come to enjoy, we've also gotten very smart about portion control - we split everything. Not only does it help to keep the costs and calories down, it also allows us the opportunity to try a wider variety of dishes.
As we've branched out and followed our noses (and stomachs) outside the norm of chain restaurants and the well-publicized eateries, we've also had some fantastic experiences with the people. One of our absolutely best choices off the beaten path is a place called Elie's Deli. They don't have a website, and being located in a near deserted strip mall can't possibly help drive up business. Elie's is basically the definition of a diamond-in-the-rough. The food is authentic and truly made with love by a brother and sister team who runs the business themselves. There are no employees, just the two of them, and the occasional appearance of Elie herself - the stereotypical, middle eastern grandmother. I'll admit, I was nervous the first time we stopped in, worried that two Caucasians might be completely out of place and even treated as if we didn't belong. Oh, how I had drastically misjudged the experience. Natta and her brother are so extremely welcoming and so gracious for every customer that comes to enjoy their food. She genuinely takes an interest in every person who walks in the door - she actually wants to hear the answer when she asks, "How has your day been?" We have become regulars at Elie's and are easily identifiable by what we order. When I call ahead, I'm always greeted with, "I know who you are!" It brings such a huge smile to my face and fills my heart with joy just as the food fills my belly with goodness.
Another great local joint is Kitchen 56. The assortment of unique twists on traditional flavors makes this a place to visit over and over. It's hip and fun, yet sophisticated and classy. The atmosphere is very fun and relaxed, and we've never had bad service. Everyone who works there seems to truly enjoy what they do. It has definitely grown in popularity since the first time we visited right after it opened, but it's worth having a big of a crowd for the comfort of knowing it won't be closing anytime soon.
A not-so-hidden gem and mouth-watering delight is Delux. If you want a burger, this is the place to get a burger. The fries are also delicious and served in a "basket" - a mini shopping cart - with an exquisite aioli dipping sauce. This is hands-down the best burger in town. And they have wonderful hot dogs as well. That's all that needs to be said about Delux.
Looking for a sandwich? Duck and Decanter has many locations around town yet somehow still maintains that mom-and-pop feel. Again, terrific service from friendly people, with a wide assortment of tasty treats between two slices of bread. JC created his own sandwich combining the menu's standard marinated roasted chicken breast with a half-portion of duck breast, and he has creatively named it "The Double Fowl". One day I was in picking up some lunch to go, the manger happened to take my order. He commented on the delicious sound of those two meats, and I shared my husband's clever naming. The manager was delighted and said they just might add it as a special during baseball's Spring Training season. Ah, my culinary hubby!
There are so many other places around town that we frequent on a regular basis, expanding our tastes while trying not to expand our waistlines too much. There's really something special about enjoying food from a restaurant that is just that - something special. No more Taco Bell or Applebee's for this desert duo - our tastes are far too sophisticated for the monotony of the well-beaten food path.
I feel very fortunate to have lived a life free from any major sickness or injury. That being said, I've had my fair share of pain and discomfort that comes with an assortment of minor illnesses and conditions that require medical attention. Growing up riding horses and dancing, it seemed inevitable. Falling off a horse, or being stepped on and bitten, are all part of the package deal, just like blisters and bloody feet come along with serious ballet training. The day I dislocated my left knee cap during a PE soccer game in middle school was a bit of a turning point which lead to my first surgery. What I remember most about that experience was the extreme nausea I sustained as a result of the anesthesia. Waking up from a medically-induced sleep and vomiting almost instantly is not a fun experience, and that's when I knew I was semi-allergic to anesthesia.
I had my wisdom teeth removed my freshman year of college. It wasn't a horrible experience, but I was quiet swollen, and it happened to be within a week of my birthday. I had feared a return of the nausea and was not looking forward to any post oral surgery vomits, but my worries were for nothing, and everything turned out well, until I tried to take Vicodin. My stomach did not react well at all to the powerful pain killer, and that's when I knew I could never be a drug addict.
During a routine visit to the dentist in 2010, they noticed white tissue on the underside of my tongue. Because I've never smoked a cigarette in my entire life (not once!), I was very annoyed and even angry at the potential of any oral cancer. During this same time, I was having horrible pain in my lower abdominal area consistent with ovarian cysts and possible endometriosis. This pain required a variety of different procedures including multiple ultrasounds (both external and internal) and a CT scan. My experience with the CT scan is not one I will quickly forget. Eventually, it was determined that taking a surgical look inside would be best to see what was causing the pain. As it turned out, I scheduled my tongue biopsy a few weeks prior to my laproscopy - because two medical procedures are more fun than one. Honestly, I was more nervous about the laproscopy than the biopsy, but soon learned I had misjudged the pain and pure discomfort of a tongue biopsy. For several days, I couldn't eat, could barely drink, and was becoming an expert drooler. Any slight movement of my tongue resulted in an unbearable amount of pain, and that's when I knew I had greatly underestimated the role of my tongue in every day life.
Being a ballerina for 12 years, I knew a day would come when I would pay the price for the hours of twisting, bending, and stretching. For as long as I can remember, I have had a constant ache in my hips - nothing that wasn't easily ignored, but just enough to tell me there was a problem. JC has been requesting for quite a while that I go get things checked out, and I have been putting it off simply because I already know there's something wrong. Finally, I gave in and visited an orthopedic hip specialist who took x-rays and announced there are signs of hip impingement syndrome in both hips. This required a closer look through an MRI with an injection of contrast. The doctor said they are only able to conduct the procedure on one hip at a time, so we decided to start with my left. I was very relieved that I would not have to relive the horror of drinking barium, and for some reason, I thought the injection with be much like a vaccine shot into the side of my hip. Of course, I made the mistake of conducting a bit of research on the internet and learned the contrast is actually injected through a large needle straight into the hip socket. Awesome. It was a very unpleasant experience. Although it wasn't necessarily painful, the sensation of a needle touching my bones was terrible. After the contrast fluid was sufficiently injected, I was off to the MRI. The technicians quickly strapped me into place, tying my feet together in a pigeon-toed position to effectively open the hip, and I was given earplugs, headphones, and an emergency button to push if I need to stop the test at any time. Then, into the machine I went, and that's when I knew I was claustrophobic. I truly didn't think I'd have any problem with an MRI, but I would be lying if I didn't contemplate pushing that emergency button within the first 30 seconds. Of course, I knew that if I stopped, I would just have to start all over again. So, I managed to slow my breathing, close my eyes, and focus on the music in my headphones. I honestly don't know how long I was in the machine, but I was definitely relieved when it was all over.
I am very grateful for the wonders of modern medicine and the various resources available to doctors in order to diagnose the causes of pain and sickness. I am also extremely glad I do not have to frequent these sorts of tests on a regular basis;but, I know many people who do, including my own mother. It seems like a necessary evil, having to withstand a high level of discomfort in order to appropriately deal with a constant issue. In the end, it really all boils down to an increase of knowledge about ourselves and our bodies that we may not otherwise be able to obtain.
