Dinner at Et Voila and Dinner at Home

So whenever we go out to eat, I am always thinking about the rules in Bethenny Frankel's book, Naturally Thin. For example,

• taste everything, eat nothing
• you don't have to clean your plate
• stop when you're satisfied

Basically, I can enjoy whatever I want--wine, bread and dessert included--as long as I remember that I really only need a few bites of a high-calorie food to feel satisfied. Practice it and you'll find it really is true.

Yesterday we went to Et Voila, a new-ish Belgian restaurant in Palisades. It's in a long, narrow room with high ceilings, which can lead to a really noisy atmosphere when crowded. I had the trout and lentil salad, and for an entree the scallops. Chris had the fried goat cheese salad and hanger steak with fries.

As I ate, I realized yet again that most restaurant food is overrated. Our meals were decent, but to me they didn't have any memorable taste, aroma or texture. I mostly tasted salt. And I again I thought that the food I make at home is so much better. It's fresh, seasoned with herbs and low in sodium. I've really been enjoying the simple things lately...

• grilled eggplant and goat cheese sandwiches
• bison burgers with blue cheese
• almond milk, banana and almond butter smoothies
• grilled chicken with an Argentinian rub
• oatmeal pancakes topped with sliced banana, almond butter, and agave syrup

Of course, it's nice to go out from time to time. I do get tired of cooking and cleaning, and once in a while I do find some restaurants that I love! My favorites so far...

• Ray's the Steaks
• Restaurant Eve
• Black Salt