EAT | BENIHANA

 My besties know me so well - especially when it comes to food. They know it takes me forever to finish a meal, partly because I eat really slowly and partly because I talk a lot. And they know I eat ice cream especially slowly (they usually finish before I even get to the cone). They know how much spicy I can handle (not much!) and that I like my hash browns extra crispy. If it has bacon, pork belly, or unagi, I'll probably order it.

Joyce also knows that when she tells me to "leave now!" that's when I start getting ready, haha. So, naturally, I was the last one to dinner last night even though I was the only one sitting at home (well, actually I was sewing Joyce's holey clothes and Wreck-it Ralph pillowcases & capes for Traci, so there's that.) When I arrived at Benihana, Traci told me what I was going to order since they had already looked over the menu, and I handed the server my birthday coupon.

I wasn't surprised when our food came and our table was full of my favorites.

 Splash 'N Meadow - Hibachi steak, grilled colossal shrimp. 

 Land 'N Sea - Filet mignon, sea scallops, shrimp. 

 Las Vegas Roll - Tempura battered salmon, avocado, crab, & cream cheese topped with jalapenos and spicy mayo. ($4.25, happy hour menu)

 Dragon Roll - California roll topped with unagi (!!!) and avocado. ($6, happy hour menu)

 Green tea ice cream

 Matching Nike Free Flyknits!

Now I need to go run in my new shoes because we ate way too much last night! Don't forget to sign-up for their birthday club, so you can get a $30 birthday certificate (with the purchase of another meal) - basically BOGO.

xoxo, allison

EAT | SAMURAI SUSHI

 Even though Joyce and I have been trying to try new places and venture outside of our comfort zone, there are some cravings we just can't get over. One of those things is the Shogun Boat at Samurai Sushi. When I was younger we used to go to the same Japanese restaurant often with our church family, and when someone ordered a boat, it always seemed like such a special thing, reserved for special occasions. Since then, ordering a boat of sushi has always been on a list of really special things for me.

There aren't that many sushi places on our side of town, so this has been my family's new go-to sushi place since it opened. I took Joyce here last year for an early birthday dinner and we ordered a Shogun boat to share between the two of us (since, ya know, we always order too much food and challenge ourselves to finish it). Traci wasn't able to make it so we promised that we would take her soon. This time we invited a couple more friends to join us so we ordered two boats!

 Tempura, teriyaki beef & chicken, California rolls, sashimi, and different little sides everytime we go. This time we had a little seaweed salad and some meatballs. I love boats because it's like a huge sample platter of all my favorite things. Plus, we love to share food anyways. And, it comes on a BOAT!

Of course we finished it all. Do you ever order a boat when you go out for sushi?

xoxo, allison