Weekend Highlights: Pumpkin Beer, Clemson Wins, The Bagel Shop

The highlights…

Friday: Exhausted from this week’s workouts, I jumped on the opportunity to take Body Flow for the first time. Body Flow = Yoga, Tai Chi, and Pilates. Body Flow is supposed leave you feeling “centered and calm.” I don’t know that I’ve ever felt “centered and calm.” It was a nice stretch and and all, but mostly I just left feeling ready to party.

So I did. Boding and I picked up 2 types of beer From Trader Joe’s and met my roommate and her boyfriend back at home. They had just bought a case of Coor’s Light and Jenna suggested we play Circle of Death. What are we, 21? Mentally, I think so.

This was one of the beers we picked up. It was so…um, pumpkiny. Weird. Not a fan.

Circle of Death left us knowing a little too much about each other, as per usual.

Saturday: I met Mariah at Midtown to watch the second half of the Clemson game. Those tigers are undefeated this season! After their 59-39 win against the Tar Heels, they’re now ranked at #5!

They’re kind of making me want to be a tiger (tigress?) for Halloween…

After the game, I met a friend for lunch at The Bagel Shop. This tiny little shop is located downtown on George Street, right outside CofC’s campus, my alma mater. Had it been there when I was in college, I would have made it part of my dining ritual. Along with the expected bagels and breakfast sandwiches, they also have paninis, wraps, salads, and baked goods. If you’re thirsty, stop in at the coffee bar or grab a cup of organic tea. Even better are the heart healthy options like oatmeal, yogurt, and fruit cups.

While I would have loved to grab an everything bagel (my fave!), it was 3 p.m., so my friend and I opted to try two items from the lunch menu.

I have an everlasting love affair with basil, so when I saw the Turkey Panini on the menu, I knew I had to try that.

Turkey Panini: Sliced turkey, pepper jack cheese, and sliced green apple with basil pesto aioli on focaccia

This was my second sandwich this week that had apple slices on it. Lovers of the sweet and salty combo will appreciate this sandwich –- although the green apple is tart, it delicately balances out the spiciness of the pepper jack cheese.

Our second choice had one of my other favorite sandwich elements: avocado!

Grilled shrimp, avocado, mixed greens, tomato and sautéed onions and red peppers with cilantro-lime aioli in a tomato wrap

Obviously, this was requested sans onions. I was impressed with the large chunks of fresh avocado but a little overwhelmed by the amount of tomatoes. I guess it’s never a bad thing to get your daily requirements of lycopene though.

Both items were served with super crunchy pita chips and a pickle spear for around just $8 each. Considering how good lunch was, I’m convinced I’ll have to go back for breakfast. The Bagel Shop claims to serve traditional New York style bagels – dense, chewy, and doughy interior with a crisp exterior. Guess I’ll have to return to find out for sure…or maybe I just want to go back for the blueberry cream cheese.

CofC students and downtown residents: I know you’re reading…you’re soooo close. Go!

The rest of the weekend…to be continued…

Halloween costume ideas: lady tiger or devil? I’ve never been either. The previous few years I’ve been a Greek goddess, a bunny, a nun, and a cop. Any other ideas are welcomed.

Paninis or wraps? Favorite type of bagel?

Never Have I Ever Blogged Live. From Metto.

…until today.I have found love in the form of coffee.

I’ve always enjoyed coffee, but since I ventured out to Metto, in Mt. Pleasant, I have learned to love coffee. Monday morning, I drove to the nearest coffee shop that didn’t start with S and ends with S. You know where I’m talking about. Ick. Just a few miles away from my house is Metto, an adorable coffee shop that Brandon told me had the best coffee in Charleston. I would have been skeptical of his recommendation as he was not a coffee drinker when we dated, but remembering we had tasted the wonders of Italy’s coffee in January, I figured I could trust now trust him.

After waking up with a sore throat on Monday morning, I wasn’t sure if coffee should be my beverage of choice. Until I spotted the Honey Latte on the menu. How soothing does that sound? I requested a large; thank you Metto for not using stupid terminology to describe your size options. Small, medium, large. Everyone understands that.
So my latte. Superb. Nonfat, yet creamy, sweet, with a touch of spice. All in a paper cup stamped with Metto’s precious M-shaped heart logo. It is now Thursday afternoon and I’m back for my second latte. I was so ready. I marched right up to the counter, disheveled, unwashed hair and all, and requested “that honey latte that I think has crack in it. What’s in it by the way? Is it crack?” “Honey, a little bit of vanilla, and cinnamon,” says the Manager. “And yes, crack,” adds the second Barista.

I couldn’t not blog about this. Given the free internet access, a comfy chair, and extremely friendly baristas, I felt I should stay. And I might as well order a sandwich.Turkey Cranberry Panini: Oven Gold turkey, Swiss cheese, mayo, cranberry chutney, lettuce, tomato on Tuscan bread. $7. Delicious.

For a coffee shop, Metto has a lot of food options. Breakfast items include made-from-scratch muffins, cinnamon rolls, croissants, quiche, bagels, breakfast wraps, and biscotti. And go ahead, order another latte and while you ponder the lunch menu. You can have your choice of a salad, panini, or a wrap with either chips or fresh fruit. Do not forget dessert: chocolate chip cookies, macaroons, dark chocolate brownies, pecan blondies, and whoopie pies. This place is dangerous in the best way.

As I sit here and type this, the jazz rendition of “I’m in Love with a Stripper" is playing. Nobody seems to mind, and I think I like it. This somehow reminds me that I missed my 12 o’clock spin class. Whoops. All jacked up on coffee but no pedaling for me. Is it time to try Zumba?

The barista just informed me that they’d be closed tomorrow. Poof went my coffee buzz. On a better note, I can come back Monday for double stamp day.

What am I coming back for? A third Honey Latte and this. Stay tuned.