The Whitney Portal Store Burger

I had an amazing burger last week. This one blows Corner Bistro and Shake Shack out of the water. The evening before I hiked Mount Whitney, I was hungry and wanted to get a square meal. This burger has fresh-cut potato fries, a nicely toasted bun, a juicy patty, and melting cheddar cheese. But that's not all. Crunchy, fresh lettuce, flavorful tomatoes, and salty pickle slices with integrity (not the limp ones) add texture and flavor. I was thoroughly impressed with the taste of the burger and the excellent components--usually a good burger has a glaring flaw, like a soggy bun or tired lettuce or unremarkable cheese. But this was perfect.

For more on my Whitney hike, and other fun things I've been doing, check out my new blog: http://christinetanguyen.blogspot.com/.

Salad omelet

I have a love-hate relationship with the New York Times.

On one hand, I sometimes become irritated by the editorializing of many news articles. I also feel some articles play on people's fears of virtually everything-- for instance, radioactive granite countertops and germ-ridden lawns. Such articles sensationalize small risks.

However, the paper does have a fair amount of really excellent content. This article discusses the underappreciated omelet. I was inspired after reading the article and the associated recipes to make a salad omelet. I took three egg whites and heated them in a non-stick pan. Then I stuffed the omelet with a few thin slices of Morbier cheese (left over from a wine-tasting expedition a couple of weeks ago), a sliced tomato from my mother-in-law's garden, a handful of spring mix greens, and some salt. I heated the omelet for a little while longer, so that the cheese melted. The result was a delicious, crepe-like omelet.