Elizabeth's English Bakery & Tea Shop

Yesterday Megan and the kids and I went up to Salt Lake to check out a number of antique shops. It was a lot of fun (until the end when the children started to cry, as tired and bored young children are wont to do) and I'm glad we went even though the only purchase made the whole trip was Megan's vintage animal cracker tin.
For lunch we went to Elizabeth's English Bakery and Tea Shop. I grew up with an affinity for all things British, having Mom for a mom, so I was personally very thrilled to include the Tea Shop among our many other stops. That, and I was starving.
Adjacent to it is the London Market, which, very sadly, we did not have time to visit.
Unfortunately I neglected to take pictures of the facade, so I've stolen ones from this blog (they have pictures of the interior of the London Market as well). I also didn't take the picture of the counter, the link to that photo is above in the shop's title.
Anyway, the food was smashing. I got a slice of ham quiche that came with a side of baked beans. I was still hungry after that so I got a scone with strawberry jam. Megan got a Cornish pasty, scone with jam, and a mug of hot cocoa. (I didn't take a picture of my quiche and beans because I ate it too fast.)
The quiche was a little blubbery in the middle, but most all quiches are like that. It was very tasty. I didn't try Megan's pasty, but she said it was incredibly good, and it certainly smelled so. The scones were very good, a little harder (and rounder) than I'm used to, but still very good. But the jam-- oh the jam-- Megan especially can't stop talking about it. It was some of the very best strawberry jam either of us have tasted. The hot chocolate came in a mug (not a styrofoam cup or anything else) and was very foamy and good. I like my chocolate a little weaker (than the European sipping stuff Megan loves which is really just chocolate syrup in a cup), and this was almost perfect.
The food was relatively well-priced, but I sort of felt like the novelty of British food was included in the price for some items. All in all, though, it was a stop well worth it. The staff were even patient with the kids and didn't say anything when Rylie cried and gave Nathan a little Thomas the Tank Engine thing to look at/play with.
Next time you're in Salt Lake, stop by. And tell me how the Market is.

Elizabeth’s English Bakery & Tea Shop
575 S. 700 East, Salt Lake City
(801) 433-1170

J Dawgs

Today I accompanied my friend Autumn to J Dawgs just south of the BYU campus in Provo. I don't normally like hot dogs, but this place's fare is so much better than the average limp thing one normally calls a hot dog. Aside from the slightly ridiculous name of the food, the place is definitely worth going to.
J Dawgs is a little red shack on the corner of 900 North and 700 East with outdoor seating. The play music out over the tables and chairs so as to create a bit of atmosphere. Today they played a bit of Bobs Dylan and Marley.
The Dawgs are about 8 inches long, incredibly plump (but chopped a little so you don't have to work to get a bite), and served in a thick and yummy, almost flakey bun. Though the menu is rather limited (option of Polish or Beef with a number of toppings), it's friendly to the student budget (I paid $4 total for my Dawg and a drink), so you get your money's worth. I got a Beef Dawg with ketchup and dijon mustard. Autumn got a Polish Dawg with the "Special Sauce," which is just a sweet sort of barbecue sauce. Normally I hate barbecue sauce, but I tried this "special" stuff, and it was good enough to make me want to get some on my Dawg next time I go.

Going Home

This past week was one of the best weeks I've ever had. Last Wednesday night Megan, Adrien, me, Nathan, and Rylie made our very long way back home to Fallbrook. I had a great time. Thursday we (the girls + Nathan) went to lunch at Ruby's on the pier in Oceanside. It was windy and we met lots of pelicans.
Friday Adrien, Megan, and I went down to my favorite beach in Leucadia/Encinitas. When we got back Adrien, Ian, and I went bike riding.
Saturday I spent the day with Michaela and then the family went to Olive Garden for dinner (I don't have pictures of that).
Sunday after church I drove up to Long Beach and went to Sunday school at my old ward, El Dorado, and suprisingly, most people in the ward weren't even aware that I'd moved...not too suprising though, since I didn't really tell anyone. Afterwards I took Kevin over to Robert's parents' house to hang out with them and Justina.
Monday we went to the zoo. It rained.
Tuesday was sort of a packing and tying-up-loose-ends day, and Wednesday we left. I got back to my lovely warm and particularly well-made (thanks roomies! I think...haha) bed and slept until late this morning.
The trip had a lot of eating, a lot of being outside (especially bike-riding), and a lot of raining (which I loved).
Now if you'll excuse me, somebody left cookies on the doorstep and I have to go eat them.

Mad Greek

If any of you have ever made the trip from one end of the 15 (as in I-15) to the other, you know about the Mad Greek Cafe in Baker. With all the advertisement on billboards a hundred miles in either direction, I've always wondered whether or not the place was all it was cracked up to be.
Though the food is absolutely supreme, it is incredibly overpriced. I paid upwards of $15 for a gyro with rice on the side and a chocolate shake. Yikes! And they didn't have very many vegetarian options for full meals, just appetizers. I was pretty sad since my favorite bit of Greek food is falafel in a pita. But other than those things, the atmosphere and the food were fantastic. Statuary (Greek and otherwise) was crammed into every nook and cranny and the walls were plastered with travel posters, photos of Greek towns, paintings, and even a list of the Greek Alphabet and pronunciations.
My gyro was so very good. The rice was fat and soft. My chocolate shake was almost too chocolatey. I sampled Megan's strawberry shake and it was so very fruity and tasty-sweet.
So if you ever find yourself in the middle of nowhere on the 15 with too much change floating around in your pocket or car, stop at Mad Greek for playful atmosphere and good food.