Happy Birthday Katy!!
Katy turned the big 2-3 today and I was honored to help her celebrate with lunch at Press 101.
(Kelly came too!… and Katy’s husband Adam is behind the camera ๐ )
Press 101 is the cutest sandwich shop off of Dr. Phillip’s Blvd in Orlando. I’ve been there once before over a year ago and loved it! I’m not sure why it took me so long to return, but I’m glad we decided to meet there today.
I was pretty hungry when we sat down and the Mango Chicken pressed sandwich immediately jumped out at me on the menu
Lightly blackened chicken breast, jalapeno havarti cheese, caramelized onion, piquallo sweet peppers, cilanto, mango chutney on ciabatta bread..
This sandwich definitely had that sweet and savory combo that I love so much in sandwiches. The chicken and mango combination were of course amazing, but really struck out at me was the crusty bread pressed with the sandwich. Usually when I order a pressed sandwich I expect a greasy sandwich that has been drenched in oil, but this did not fit that description at all. It was perfectly crusty, chewy, and delicious.
All sandwiches come with a light salad.
The birthday girl requested Menchies after lunch and what the birthday girl wants, the birthday girl gets.
I think they knew I was coming because they had all my favorite flavors waiting just for me. ๐
Well.. except peanut butter. I guess you can’t win them all. ๐
Love me some Menchies. ๐
Guess came to Orlando this weekend?!?!
ELLEN!! ๐
I desperately tried to find tickets to the taping of her shows almost as soon as I discovered she would be in town, but had no luck. Bummer.
Fortunately I was playing around online and discovered they would be taping the shows in CityWalk and the band performances were open to everyone. Score! It got even better when we discovered one of the bands performing was Rascal Flats. I am a HUGE Rascal Flats fan and even though I just saw them in concert last July, I wasn’t about to pass up a chance to seem them (for free) in concert again.
The four of us figured Ellen would be taping in one area of the park and Rascal Flats would be performing in a completey different location. We were pleasantly surprised when that wasn’t the case at all.
We may not have been in the actual seated audience, but we were able to watch the show being taped from the distance.
We were even close enough to have Ellen dance right by us!
Too bad we didn’t get as close to the featured guest (Mario Lopez) or that he wasn’t shirtless. ๐
Unfortunately it started raining pretty hard right before Rascal Flatts were set to perform. We were able to listen and sing along, but there were too many umbrellas to get a great shot.
I did manage to capture Ellen introducing Rascal Flatts on film.
I think the four of us had a blast watching Ellen and Rascal Flats. Nothing like free entertaining to brighten our day! I hope Ellen returns to Orlando soon!!
๐
A couple of years ago my Mom made a delicious Leek & Potato Soup that was tasty and satisfying. When I saw leeks at the Farmers’ Market yesterday my Mom’s soup popped in my head and I thought it would be fun to try and healthify the soup for dinner tonight.
Mom’s Leek and Potato Soup Healthified
- 2 Leeks sliced thin
- 1 pound of Potatoes (I used red creamer potatoes)
- 2 gloves of Garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup Mushrooms
- 4 cups Vegetable Broth
- 1/2 cup Plain Yogurt
- Thyme
- S&P
- Cheese & Peanuts (for garnish)
Start with the leeks.
Add them to a large pot with a little olive oil and cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes.
While the leeks are heating up, begin chopping the potatoes.
Add the potatoes, mushrooms, spices and vegetable broth to a pot.
Bring it all to a boil and then back to a simmer for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes I added the yogurt and took the hand held blender to the soup until it was creamy
Garnish with cheese and peanuts.
Enjoy! ๐
Thin Mints and Dried Kiwi for dessert.
I’m wiped.
Good night!!
Glad ya had a good time- that sandwich looks delicious!
I love Ellen and rascal Flatts!
Dancing to Rascal Flatts sounds like a fun afternoon to me! I don’t find Ellen too funny, but I can’t get over the fact that she’s 50 and could pass for like 35.
I LOVE Ellen! What a fun afternoon. Rascal Flats is my favorite band, too. Jealous. ๐
That sandwich restaurant sounds right up my alley, I’d love a place like that in MN.
Every time I see Menchies featured on your blog I long for some Fro Yo! I need to get some asap.
I’m a big Rascal Flats fan as well – it’s awesome that the concert ended up being free!!
I LOVE Ellen–I was just telling my roommate today that I wish she was our graduation speaker!! Tropical fruit flavored savory sandwiches are the best. I love pineapple in savory sandwiches.
Awesome day!!! And how cool you were that close to Ellen!
I used to live right smack dab across the street from Universal. Right off of Vineland road! I miss it sometimes!
Your sandwich looked amazing!!!
Very cool! My roommates and I used to plan our college schedules around Ellen so we’d all have lunch when her show was on. It was awesome. ๐
ACKK! You are sooo lucky! I am glad you had a fun day!
thin mints are a great way to end the day ๐ yummy!
That’s AWESOME u saw ellen! her Halloween episode with Kelly Pickler as the guest was hilarioussss. And mmm, you can never go wrong with Rascal Flatts. I crank Summer Nights in my car like every day. Have an amazing Monday!
Soooooooooooo exciting! Ellen looks like she got her hair did. If I come to Orlando will you go to Universal with me?!
awesome looking soup, but more excited about ellen! i LOVE her!!!
What a fun day!!
Sounds like an epic day!
Yumm I love potato leek soup!!! Fell in love with it in Ireland, the country of potato soup haha
Very cool about Ellen!!
Look likes you guys had a fabulous lunch. That sandwich sounded amazing. I loved dried kiwi!
Oh how lucky! I absolutely ADORE Ellen! She’s got so much energy and couldn’t be funnier… I’m so sad I never get to watch her show anymore- stupid work!!!
That fro yo shop is adorable!!!
looks like you made the most of the weekend!
I never tried mango in a savory combination, I wonder how it tastes like!
that soup sounds delicious, leeks and peanuts, yum!
Ellen!! How awesome! That froyo place looks amazing – cappucino? cake batter? yum!
I love Ellen, she’ so funny! ๐
Can you believe we don’t have self-serve froyo in Canada?!?! The travesty!!!! lol ?
I hope it’s an idea that makes it North super soon!!!
aww bloggger friends make real friends! Cute! ๐ xxx
Oh my that sandwich sounds good!!
And lucky you, getting to see all the Ellen stuff (even if it was from a distance :p) – I’ve never seen her show but I think it’s quite big in the US!?
Glad you had fun ๐
Oh I’m so jealous! I’m such a huge Ellen fan! ๐
so I’m totally straight but I have the biggest crush on Ellen! She’s sooo nice and hilarious! JEALOUSSS. BTW you bloggers should have ONE central blog about your outings! hahaha. Ya’ll always hang out!
How cool that you got to meet Ellen!!! That sucks that it started raining, but still– very cool!
I love leeks. My mom makes a leek and onion pie that is so good.
Your lunch with fro yo looked really yummy. I have seen the same type of fro yo place while I was in Vegas a few weeks ago. Anyway super cool about the Ellen show.
Looks like such a great day! Especially that Menchies yogurt. I still have yet to find a place like that!
I want to come to Orlando just for the self service Fro-Yo places. I am so jealous! The Ellen Show looked fun too, even if you got rained on. Rascal Flatts is worth it!
I love menchies! and rascall flatts! how fun!
Ellen AND Rascal Flatts?! And Fro yo?! What a fabulous weekend ๐
Yay for Ellen! I love when she dances spontaneously. Makes me wanna dance, too.
I never thought to add yogurt to a soup, but it makes complete sense. A healthier way to add creaminess. mmm. I will have to try this out soon.
Love Ellen! Glad you at least got to see her doing what she does best LOL I’m sure you know but she does Universal every year at this time. One day I’ll get there.
Sure wish we lived somewhere that had healthy restaurants close by! We don’t have a lot out here in the burbs but Chicago I’m sure has some great choices.
Your mom’s soup looks and sounds awesome!
Isn’t Mario Lopez so much SHORTER in person?! Haha, I remember that’s what I thought when I saw him in Vegas (he was taping something at Planet Hollywood).
was ellen that orange looking when you saw her?
The original leek soup recipe came from Rosemary Ruwe
I’m so envious of all the amazing fro-yo places in Orlando, and of the fact that you got to see Ellen. I adore her. The potato and leek soup looks amazing too.
Yay, for Ellen… I love her!! Thats how I was at the Oprah taping…didn’t get in the official area but we still got to see her on stage, on the other side of the gate. lol
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