National Eat What You Want Day

A Day of Indulgence

Observed annually on May 11th, in the USA, National Eat What You Want Day is a day of indulgence. It is all about setting aside dietary restraint to enjoy the foods you crave. Though, for many of us it is a day much like any other day. I try to  make wise choices, but I don't always succeed. 

Poking around the Internet I found out that it was created by Thomas and Ruth Roy who have invented at least 80 American "holiday" observances. 

I also came across a list, created by a Vancouver marketing agency, of the foods Americans would mostly eat everyday if they were not worried about the consequences. The list of these foods accompanied by photographs I took - because of course I would have at least one of each - is as follows:

#1: Pizza (13%)

#2: Pasta (12%)

#3: Burgers (11%)

#4: Ice cream (11%)

#5: Tacos or burritos (9%)

#6: Chocolate (9%)

#7: French fries (9%)

#8: Donuts (7%)

#9: Cake (6%)

#10: Chips (5%)

#11: Cheese (4%)

#12: Cookies (4%)

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

National Pizza Day

 National Pizza Day is held every February 9:

There seems to be no actual recorded history for the birth of National Pizza Day. But, apparently it has been a thing since about the year 2000.

Pizza, itself,  originated in Naples, Italy, some time in the 1700s. It seems to have arrived America in the late 1800s. It, obviously, became very popular;

I can't recall eating one until I was in high school in the early 1960s. While I may have missed out in my preteens I have made up for that lack in the ensuing years.

My favorite pizza is mushroom and green pepper. What is yours?

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

On the Town

 A Musical and Dinner

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission. 

International Falafel Day

 International Falafel Day  -  June 12

Falafel + Tahini: photo by Cliff Hutson

Falafel is a deep-fried ball, or patty-shaped fritter, made from ground chickpeas. I see that some say falafel may be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 

Falafel: photo by Cliff Hutson

While I very much enjoy it for lunch (see photos) or dinner, I would prefer cold pizza for breakfast.

 

Reading Log: February 2022

The books I read in February 2022

February 2022 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Night Passage," Robert B. Parker

"Trouble in Paradise," Robert B. Parker

"Death in Paradise," Robert B. Parker

"Stone Cold," Robert B. Parker

"Ocean Prey," John Sandford

"Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home," Julie Carlson

Cliff's Notes

"Jesse Stone"

I have enjoyed the work of Robert B. Parker over the years, having read all of the "Spenser", spelled like the the poet, novels that he penned. (Additionally, I have also read eight - out of ten - written by Ace Atkins; who, in my opinion, writes better as Parker than he does as himself.)

Mushroom & Green Pepper: photo by Cliff Hutson

But, I had not read any of the Jesse Stone series until now.  I found them to be an OK change of pace, and liked how they were different, but did have crossover characters from the other books. I also get a kick out of the fact that Stone and I have the same favorite pizza - mushrooms with green bell pepper. However, I have grown tired of his dealing with his ex-wife Jen and don't find the series compelling enough to follow it any further.

"Prey"

Lucas Davenport is another character that I never really cottoned to. The fault probably lies within in me and not in the series by John Stanford, but I had previously read only two books from what I think of as the "Prey" series. However, I really enjoy Stanford's stories about Virgil Flowers. So when I saw that Virgil was in the latest Davenport book I felt compelled to buy it.  I am glad I did. It is a good story and I enjoyed the read. Still, it did not make me warm up to Lucas in any way at all.

"Remodelista"

This is a book that I have had for several years and revisited as a part of the culling process I have previously mentioned. I have also alluded to it several times in the past as it was the springboard for I called the "Friday Favorites" posts in the blog. While I got some value out this book, it is not really for my kind of people. I should have known this right upfront when I saw that a blurb on the back cover was written by Diane Keaton and the introduction by Julianne Moore. It is now going to the discard pile.

National Greasy Foods Day

National Greasy Foods Day

"Avoid fried foods, which angry up the blood."

Satchel Paige

Cheeseburger & Onion Rings: photo by Cliff Hutson

Greasy and/or fried foods are not the healthiest of choices, but how much can it hurt to eat some every once in a while? And, October 25th, National Greasy Foods Day, may be your best excuse to have a taste.

Popular Greasy Foods

Potato Chips: photo by Cliff Hutson

• Burgers
• Fries
• Pizza
• Potato chips
• Fish and chips
• Fried chicken
• Donuts

I have had more than a few over the years.

Side of Fries: photo by Cliff Hutson

Pizza: photo by Cliff Hutson

Fired Chicken: photo by Cliff Hutson

Some Call Them Doughnuts: photo by Cliff Hutson

Diète méditerranéenne / Journée nationale de la plage

Mediterranean Diet

Salade méditerranéenne: photo by Cliff Hutson

Avocat, laitue beurre, houmous, le flétan pané, huile d'olive et vinaigre

“Mediterranean diet” is a generic term based on the traditional eating habits in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. There’s not one standard Mediterranean diet. The mainstays of my mediterranean diet are pizza and red wine.  Sometimes, I do better.

Mushroom Pizza: photo by Cliff Hutson

Red Wine: photo by Cliff Hutson

National Beach Day

Beach Day: photo by Cliff Hutson

August 30th is National Beach Day. It was created to celebrate the beach, and to encourage the cleaning up of beaches worldwide.

It has been a long time since I have seen the ocean, so I don't have an actual beach photo. But, I once came  across this napkin that expresses the way I feel about the beach.

While most people associate beaches with the sea, as I just did. But, they can be part of the shore of a river or lake.  It took me awhile to get used to this when I was in northern California.  In any event, get out and enjoy one if you can.

A Diet to Stay Healthy and Happy?

What should we eat?

Healthy Salad: photo by Cliff Hutson

Many experts suggest that a Mediterranean-style diet made up of fruits, vegetables, extra-virgin olive oil, yogurt and cheese, nuts, whole grains, seafood and lean red meat, and the elimination of fried and processed foods is best for us. That diet provides the nutrition our brain needs and supports good bacteria in the gut.

Other Suggestions:

Some nutrients are particularly helpful. Here are some examples, and which foods supply them.

Vitamin B6: An ingredient needed to produce serotonin, the main neurotransmitter that regulates mood and sleep. Too little serotonin is associated with depression. We need Vitamin B6 every day from our diet.

Sources: Pistachios. Garlic. Salmon and tuna. Chicken. Spinach. Cabbage. Bananas. Sweet potatoes. Avocados. Whole grains.

DHA: The main omega-3 fat in the brain. It promotes production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a hormone that protects neurons and promotes the birth of new brain cells.

Sources: Wild salmon. Oysters. Anchovies. Mackerel. Mussels.

Prebiotics: Foods that the good microbes in our gut need to stay alive.

Sources: Onions. Asparagus. Artichokes. Garlic. Bananas. Oats.

Probiotics: Live bacteria and yeasts that replenish the good bacteria in our microbiome.

Sources: Yogurt. Sauerkraut. Kefir. Kimchi or other fermented vegetables, such as turnips, cucumbers or carrots.

However, at bottom, the most important thing we can do is to focus on the overall quality of what we eat, rather than single nutrients or foods. Try to include more nutrient-dense foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes and lean proteins. Limit foods that offer lots of calories but little nutritional value.

Pizza in the Foothill Cities

Pizzeria: photo by Cliff Hutson

It should be patently obvious to even the most casual visitor to this blog that I am not one in much need of validation. But, I got a real kick out of the latest issue of Westways magazine which in its “Day Trip” article cited one of my favorite pizzerias  as a good place to eat in La Verne, CA. 

La Verne

The said restaurant is Warehouse Pizza. It is definitely worth a visit if you are out that way. As David Allen says, more eloquently than I, “ For its size, La Verne has a lot of homegrown pizza parlors (Red Devil, Sal’s, Pizza Barn, Pizza N Stuff and maybe one or two I’ve forgotten), with Warehouse perhaps the best, and certainly the most fondly regarded.”

I would never think of going to any of the others. If you try it, order the side salad with the house dressing, as well. A treat not to be missed. But, as good as this is, this is not where I usually end up when I go out for pizza. I, instead, head for Claremont.

Claremont

The “City of Trees and PhDs” also has a lot of pizza parlors. But, there is only one for me - Pizza ’n Such. If you look it up, you might also find it listed as “Pizza N Such” or “Pizza n’ Such”. It seems nobody can settle how it should be written, including the owners.

It once was a small eight table restaurant occupying a small section of the east side of the current building. The same owners expanded in 2002 to take up the entire downstairs. We ate a lot at the original spot and still enjoy the same delicious food; plus more menu items and many beers on tap. Allen and I are at odds on the best pizza in the Village, but he can’t always be right.

The careful observer might note from my accompanying photos that Mushrooms and Bell Peppers is my go to pizza. But, I have had others and they are all good.

One last great thing about Pizza N Such is that if you order a pizza for take out, you can get bottled beer to go. How is that for service?

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