We’ve been pretty busy this week. A few days ago we drove down to LA for a business dinner. It was a nice night, we went to a Thai restaurant in Santa Monica (great tofu penang). The next day, before heading back to Vegas we quickly drove through Hollywood since it’s been a while.

..and quickly checked to see if there were any new handprints on the boulevard. Johnny Depp has been added since we were there last.

and here’s the ol’ Star Trek plaque, just for your dose of nerd-dom.

It would’ve been nice to hang out in Santa Monica a bit, I haven’t seen the sea in a while. I like Santa Monica & Venice, but we had to rush back to Vegas.

Yesterday was the US Airforce Airshow here in Nevada. We had a great time. I’m still going through the photos from that day, so you can expect a post soon.

So after an eventful few days, & clocking up a lot of miles in the car once again, I felt like a lazy, domestic kind of day today. Time for a visit to Trader Joes & a day of home-cookin’.

I had been hearing about Trader Joes for a few years before we arrived in the US. In my food-blog-rounds people would brag of crazy-yummy things they got there & I was really looking forward to exploring it myself.

So, finally we went last week!

I am now hooked on Trader Joes. I wouldn’t shop anywhere else.

Sure it’s just a supermarket, but it’s something a little more. As a vegetarian it is like a one-stop shop, everything you could desire, the biggest organic & vegetarian/ vegan selection you’ve probably seen. They also have incredibly helpful staff & just a cool vibe about the place.

We had tried this beer before (maybe in NZ?). It’s awesome. Quite a heavy stout, so it’s not the kind of beer I could drink gallons of & get wasted. This bottle was enough for me. But of course it’s the chocolately goodness you drink this one for. Not a sweet kinda chocolately taste, just a slight cocoa aftertaste, but oh so good. I thoroughly recommend.

On the subject of chocolate..

I’ve been having chocolate cravings since we arrived in the US. The American chocolate just doesn’t cut it for me. I’m not a fan. Too salty & not creamy at all. The closest match to Australian chocolate they have is European stuff like Lindt. So you can imagine my excitement when we get to the chocolate section at Joes & it’s filled with Swiss & Belgian chocolate. This one was very good.

I’ve also had curry cravings like mad. We were eating a lot of curry in NZ, both Thai & Indian. Since I can’t really go crazy collecting spice racks over here yet I haven’t made any flavourful curries at home. Thankfully Trader Joes has these quick heat-&-eat meals so all I have to do is put on the rice cooker & we have awesome curry & rice in 20mins. Really good quality stuff for $2. Plus they have paneer curries! My favourite!

I love protein-foods. I definitely am not deficient. I’ve tried lots of the American vege-meat stuff now & Joes has a great selection. Tofurky sausages are my new favourite. Great texture & a little spicy. I was also eyeing off the Tofurky Roast for thanksgiving/ xmas. It has me all looking forward to Thanksgiving, a holiday I’ve never celebrated. That thing is gonna feed me for a week.

This drink is amazing. I’m hooked. It has apple, peach, pineapple, banana & mango juices with spirulina, barley & wheat grasses, brocolli & spinach. Oh yeh.

Ok, so that’s the shopping done. Stay tuned for my afternoon in the kitchen.