My Wrap vs Eating Out

I am transitioning to a new job and decided that I would have a challenge with some of my coworkers. I had been taking wraps and told them it was better than some of the stuff you got on the streets eating out. I made wraps for them and made potato chips.

So that morning I woke up early and had a assembly line ready to go:

What you see there is the following: Mixed Berries, Cherries, Spinach, Bacon Bits, Pastrami, Pepperoni, Roast Beef, Salami, Colby Jack Cheese, Monterey Jack Cheese, Ginger Paste, Garlic Paste and Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Wraps.

I made the chips the night before using this recipe from a blog called Shutterbean:
http://www.shutterbean.com/2010/baked-potato-chips/

They came out okay but realize that they must be razor thin so they are chips and not fried potatoes (not a bad thing necessarily!!!)

So this is the end result:

 

 

 

Here are the comments from the peanut gallery AKA my coworkers:

 

 

 

Coworker #1:

 

"The homemade wrap was very well thought out. It had a lot of flavors ingredients were fresh, and most of all it was not a dry wrap. When I purchase a wrap from restaurant or sub shop I get the opposite results. I basically get a dry, no flavor, no meat, overpriced wrap."

 

Coworker #2:

 

"Hmmmm.......what to say about the home made potato chips and wrap.......First the home made potato chips - they tasted good but needs improving. Less grease and thinner chips. The wrap was on point. All the flavors of the roast beef, Monetary jack cheese, spinach, fruit, vinaigrette dressing along with the garlic and ginger wrapped in a tomato flavored shell made a delicious and satisfying lunch. Definitely worth it compared what I've had to pay $9 for in the downtown DC area."

 

Coworker # 3:

 

"The review for the wrap you provided for me is as follows:

The presentation was a triangular wrap which was broken at the top from wrapping it shut. The wrap had a whole wheat wrap shell with spinach, cherries (mixed berries), Monterey and coby jack cheese with pepperoni, roast beef, pastrami . There was some garlic spread a little too much, my wife will hate me tonight. The wrap was something I would pay for if it stayed together. The ingredients melded very well and it was a good portion for a normal person but being that I am protein heavy person I felt it could’ve used a little more meat. Overall ,I would eat this again and if I was one of those people that steals food from co-workers refrigerators this might end up missing ;-)"

We have a consensus: The Wrap was a flat out success!!!! I would like to thank my coworkers for giving their reviews.  

 



Full Analysis (Eating Out)

I have finished my eating out portion of the experiment and it is now time to see if I have learned anything. I think I came out of this with a clearer understanding of what is needed throughout the week: Variety. I ate at all the places in the area and found I could get alot of what I wanted but it came with a price $$$$$. Throughout the month I was spending anywhere from $10 to $20 a day and this was from low end to high. When added all together that was anywhere from $200 to $400 a month (a bill could be paid for all that food!!!!). I will include the exact price later on when I get it but this is crazy. I might have a different opinion if it was a home run every day but sadly there were some duds along the way. When you eat out you want an experience that you cannot get from the comfort of your home. Sometimes I could have got more comfort at home but I understand convenience. At the same time don't let me feel like I got jacked AKA ripped off in the process. As the saying goes quality is not always quantity and vice versa.

I think I will eat out from now on but not everyday. I think it will be once to twice a week and it will be a mixture of some of my favorites (Basil Thyme and Mojo) and also being on the lookout for the next best thing, which I will post. Hopefully this has inspired you to think about the food you eat and what you are spending. Money doesn't grow on trees and has to be used efficiently. The same goes for the the food you eat.

If you find any new spots that deserve a try, let me know. Also let me know what to avoid at all cost.




Now here's a song for how much money I spent and how much money I hope to save taking my lunch for a month!!!!!!

Day 20

Today is extra special. I am out of town and they had a restaurant week. This is the first time I've known Atlantic City (A.C) to have a restaurant week and was interested in what they were offering. I went to Whiskey Bar for lunch. As you are going to see from this post and others coming up, everything was darkly lit.

 

 

 

 

 

My choices were:

Deviled Eggs

 

 

Cobb Salad

 

Cheesecake

 

and I also tried the French Fries fried in duck fat

 

Everything was good and decent to a degree but not something you do everyday. I spent $34.68 for the day . This concludes my eating out experiment. Look for the taking lunch portion of the experiment to start on the 25th of March.

 

 

 

Day 19

Today's stop for lunch was Qdoba. I got the Pork Tacos with all the extras plus a drink. I like Qdoba but what makes them unlikeable is that they charge extra for what you get free at Chipotle's. The bill was $12.54 for today.

 

 

 

 

Day 18

Today it was time to end the battle of all battles. I had been to White Apron on Tuesday and told you guys I would be going to Au Bon Pain today. Well to my surprise they now offer hot sandwiches and I was eager to try them out. I got the Steak & Cheese with a Large Corn Chowder and a drink for $16.25. I always knew this was the winner but I can now confirm that Au Bon Pain, YOU'RE HIRED!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 17

Today was a late start and I just needed to get something to eat. With that said I knew it was a Wendy's day as it was the closest thing and would allow me to get to work ASAP. I got the #8 Asiago Chicken Club Meal with a Wild berry Lemonade. I spent $9.63 for the day.

***Side Note ***- Wendy's needs to bring back the Bacon N' Blue Sandwich and the Mozzarella Chicken Supreme, just sayin'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 16

Today I went to White Apron and got a Greek Tuna Sandwich with a Greek side salad and a Coke for a total of $14.00. This was the second time I had been to the restaurant and it will probably be my last. I feel that me and White Apron don't see eye to eye. The first time I went I got a Monsieur sandwich and felt like I had gotten ripped off because it was just bread, meat and mayonnaise and not worth the price. I feel the same way today and have made a final decision and fired them. Try for yourself and tell me what you think. I think if it were them vs Au Bon Pain, I would have to go with Au Bon Pain X 1,000. I think I will go there later on this week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now let's take a look at the bag:

 

 

 

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BACK

 

 

LEFT/RIGHT

 

 

 

In the words of Donald Trump via Vince McMahon:

 

 

 

http://mywhiteapron.com/

Day 15

For the start of the week I was looking forward to something but did not know what. I had pasta the last week from Basil Thyme Two so I decided to make a trip to L'Enfant Plaza and try Basil Thyme One. I got the Giuseppe (Black Truffle Lasagna with Portobellos and Gorgonzola). This was definitely worth the trip and is what going to the food truck is all about. It had me talking to myself so you know it was good! I got a Cannoli du Jour (Cookies n' Cream) and soda for an extra $1. The bill for the start of the week was $13.20. Highly recommended.

** On 7th Street, not in L'Enfant Plaza/Mall**

 

 

 

 

 

http://basilthyme.com/

 



https://twitter.com/BasilThymeDC

 

 

Day 14

Since it was the end of the week I decided it was food truck time. I thought I would go to Tasty Fried but saw this food truck called Goode's Mobile Kitchen . I was intrigued because they had crab cakes and that sealed the deal for the day. My sides for the meal were plaintains and cabbage. I went and got a Ginger Lemonade from Chop't for a total of $21.78. It was good and highly recommended. All crab meat, no filling. Check it out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/mobilekitchen

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Goodes-Mobile-Kitchen/139358522764577

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 13

Today I decided to go back to Chop't and try something a little different. I got the Silk Road Vegan and added chicken. I also got the Green Tea Lemonade for a total of $10.98.

 

 

 

And now let's take a look at the bag:

 

FRONT

 

 

BACK

 

 

LEFT/RIGHT