Last weekend, hubby and I decided to do some exploring. Been meaning to check out this UK grocery store for a while since I've been looking for Cadbury chocolates. Haven't exactly been craving for chocolates, but have a feeling that the craving will come back once baby is born.
Anyway, there are 2 UK food stores near our area. Near being a relative term since the one we went to was about 50 mins away, via highway and small country roads. The one we went to was close to Danbury. We've been meaning to explore the area for a while since if we decide to stay here permanently, Danbury would be our best bet for a reasonably priced house with land.
On Saturday, we left at about 10am or so since hubby had to work a bit in the morning. As we were planning to have lunch right after visiting the UK store, we decided to stop by the Christmas Tree Shoppe in Danbury (it was on the way). Been meaning to visit the store since I was looking for cheap imported jams as well as any other imported food goodies that they have. I always find that the CTS have some rather unique finds (at least for me). I ended up buying 4 jars of jam (3 from France and 1 from US), 2 boxes of Merci chocolates, 1 lamp for baby's changing table, 1 box of Cadbury covered biscuits (from UK), 1 kitchen mitt and 1 pack of stickies furniture feet (so that it won't scratch the floor). Not too bad, and the damage to wallet wasn't that bad either...hahahhaa..
Next we went to the UK shop. I figured that I won't spend too much time there since I was only looking for chocolates. We found the store and went in. It was quite small, much smaller than what was depicted on their website. Anyway, found my chocolates, bought a couple of varieties to last me a while till I can find another source..hahaha..
Then it was time for lunch since I was starting to get hungry. We passed by the lunch place on the way to the chocolate store. I let hubby decide on the choice of restaurants since I wasn't particularly picky on food these days. So he chose this German restaurant called Old Heidelberg. It's a quaint place, probably was a house that was converted into a restaurant. He said that the restaurant had good reviews and decided to give it a try.
We weren't sure what to order since it was our first time there. So we ordered a wurst/sausage appetizer, I had a schnitzel (always wondered what it was) and hubby ordered roast pork. When the appetizer came, I was shocked at the portion. It was huge, but I have to say the wursts was good. It tasted like the sausages we used to get from back home. Mustard apparently goes really well with it. Too bad our wursts was only chicken and pork since hubby can't eat beef. Shucks.. We didn't eat too much of the appetizer since we wanted to save space for the main course.
Next came the main dishes: my schnitzel and hubby's roast pork. Mine was ok, it was a manageable portion, though hubby's one was definitely an eye opener. I think they mistakenly gave him a pork shank, instead of the roast pork. It was HUGE. It reminded me of the time where hubby also made a similar decision and ordered lamb shank from a restaurant in SF. We thought that the portion would be small but lo and behold, a giant piece of pork with the bone still attached. I found the situation so funny, and so did hubby. Too bad we didn't have a camera to take pictures of his dish.
Anyway, hubby's dish was goood.. I especially like the crispy pork skin. It wasn't oily or salty like the chinese roast pork from the grocery store in White Plains. The meat was tender, and tastes pretty good with the mustard. Mine was ok, but I think I preferred hubby's dish. We both ate as much as we possibly can, and packed the leftovers home. I had decided that I was going to heat up the leftover wursts on the following day, and eat it with beans and toast. As for hubby's dish, it was going to be our dinner on the following day :D
We'll probably go there again. I think my BIL would love it since the portions are huge and they have a lot of German beers on hand..hehehehe..
After that, we headed home. We decided to try a new route by taking a major highway home since the local roads were quite slow. We didn't have a chance to plot a new return route so went based on our gut (so to speak). We ended up at White Plains, near the Asian grocery store and decided to do our groceries as we were already there. I didn't feel like going out the following day, especially if we were already in the area.
So, with groceries done, we headed home, unpacked and I took a nap since I was so tired. I had skipped yoga that day since my regular teacher was not teaching that day.
The following day, we decided that it would be a day for chores. We had to set up the crib for baby and clean the apartment. Hubby did the setting up, though I did help a bit. Don't worry, no heavy lifting. After that was done, I took a nap since I was tired..hahaha..really tired these days. Then came lunch, which was the leftover wursts with toasts and beans. After that, hubby vacuumed the apartment, while I wasn't sure what I did. Can't remember, probably was in front of the computer surfing the web. But I did swifter the floor earlier when hubby was setting up the crib. There was a lot of packaging materials on the floor.
Once those chores were done, we drove out to throw the crib's boxes and went to Target. Someone mentioned a sale on crib sheets, so we went to Target to take a look. Plus we do need to get a couple, so might as well. Once that was done, we went home and I made carrot cake cupcakes :D By now hubby was really tired, so I did most of the work. He helped with the cleaning :D I was trying out the recipe for the first time, so it turned out ok. Not too sweet, just the way I like it. I think hubby wanted cream cheese frosting, but too bad :p
After that, it was just relaxing at home. Busy busy weekend, but not too bad. I'm happy with what was accomplished :) We'll probably take it easier next weekend though I'm tempted to check out the other UK store..mmmmm..
Anyway, there are 2 UK food stores near our area. Near being a relative term since the one we went to was about 50 mins away, via highway and small country roads. The one we went to was close to Danbury. We've been meaning to explore the area for a while since if we decide to stay here permanently, Danbury would be our best bet for a reasonably priced house with land.
On Saturday, we left at about 10am or so since hubby had to work a bit in the morning. As we were planning to have lunch right after visiting the UK store, we decided to stop by the Christmas Tree Shoppe in Danbury (it was on the way). Been meaning to visit the store since I was looking for cheap imported jams as well as any other imported food goodies that they have. I always find that the CTS have some rather unique finds (at least for me). I ended up buying 4 jars of jam (3 from France and 1 from US), 2 boxes of Merci chocolates, 1 lamp for baby's changing table, 1 box of Cadbury covered biscuits (from UK), 1 kitchen mitt and 1 pack of stickies furniture feet (so that it won't scratch the floor). Not too bad, and the damage to wallet wasn't that bad either...hahahhaa..
Next we went to the UK shop. I figured that I won't spend too much time there since I was only looking for chocolates. We found the store and went in. It was quite small, much smaller than what was depicted on their website. Anyway, found my chocolates, bought a couple of varieties to last me a while till I can find another source..hahaha..
Then it was time for lunch since I was starting to get hungry. We passed by the lunch place on the way to the chocolate store. I let hubby decide on the choice of restaurants since I wasn't particularly picky on food these days. So he chose this German restaurant called Old Heidelberg. It's a quaint place, probably was a house that was converted into a restaurant. He said that the restaurant had good reviews and decided to give it a try.
We weren't sure what to order since it was our first time there. So we ordered a wurst/sausage appetizer, I had a schnitzel (always wondered what it was) and hubby ordered roast pork. When the appetizer came, I was shocked at the portion. It was huge, but I have to say the wursts was good. It tasted like the sausages we used to get from back home. Mustard apparently goes really well with it. Too bad our wursts was only chicken and pork since hubby can't eat beef. Shucks.. We didn't eat too much of the appetizer since we wanted to save space for the main course.
Next came the main dishes: my schnitzel and hubby's roast pork. Mine was ok, it was a manageable portion, though hubby's one was definitely an eye opener. I think they mistakenly gave him a pork shank, instead of the roast pork. It was HUGE. It reminded me of the time where hubby also made a similar decision and ordered lamb shank from a restaurant in SF. We thought that the portion would be small but lo and behold, a giant piece of pork with the bone still attached. I found the situation so funny, and so did hubby. Too bad we didn't have a camera to take pictures of his dish.
Anyway, hubby's dish was goood.. I especially like the crispy pork skin. It wasn't oily or salty like the chinese roast pork from the grocery store in White Plains. The meat was tender, and tastes pretty good with the mustard. Mine was ok, but I think I preferred hubby's dish. We both ate as much as we possibly can, and packed the leftovers home. I had decided that I was going to heat up the leftover wursts on the following day, and eat it with beans and toast. As for hubby's dish, it was going to be our dinner on the following day :D
We'll probably go there again. I think my BIL would love it since the portions are huge and they have a lot of German beers on hand..hehehehe..
After that, we headed home. We decided to try a new route by taking a major highway home since the local roads were quite slow. We didn't have a chance to plot a new return route so went based on our gut (so to speak). We ended up at White Plains, near the Asian grocery store and decided to do our groceries as we were already there. I didn't feel like going out the following day, especially if we were already in the area.
So, with groceries done, we headed home, unpacked and I took a nap since I was so tired. I had skipped yoga that day since my regular teacher was not teaching that day.
The following day, we decided that it would be a day for chores. We had to set up the crib for baby and clean the apartment. Hubby did the setting up, though I did help a bit. Don't worry, no heavy lifting. After that was done, I took a nap since I was tired..hahaha..really tired these days. Then came lunch, which was the leftover wursts with toasts and beans. After that, hubby vacuumed the apartment, while I wasn't sure what I did. Can't remember, probably was in front of the computer surfing the web. But I did swifter the floor earlier when hubby was setting up the crib. There was a lot of packaging materials on the floor.
Once those chores were done, we drove out to throw the crib's boxes and went to Target. Someone mentioned a sale on crib sheets, so we went to Target to take a look. Plus we do need to get a couple, so might as well. Once that was done, we went home and I made carrot cake cupcakes :D By now hubby was really tired, so I did most of the work. He helped with the cleaning :D I was trying out the recipe for the first time, so it turned out ok. Not too sweet, just the way I like it. I think hubby wanted cream cheese frosting, but too bad :p
After that, it was just relaxing at home. Busy busy weekend, but not too bad. I'm happy with what was accomplished :) We'll probably take it easier next weekend though I'm tempted to check out the other UK store..mmmmm..
