The Best Hummus in Dallas

Dining at Café Izmir changes your perspective on Middle Eastern/Mediterranean cuisine. With dishes like garlic infused hummus, freshly prepared pita bread and spicy Eegra, you won’t regret trying this eatery. Falling into a food rut seems like a fairly common issue for me, I usually wait until I can’t wait anymore before going to eat somewhere, and by that time finding a new place seems like it isn’t worth the effort. But if I plan ahead to branch out, I almost always discover a new favorite dish. Because I love free things, I make sure to sign up for every discounted site including Groupon, Gilt City, Thrillist and ScoutMob, among others. ScoutMob gives you a 50% discount for certain places if you use during certain days. One such deal expired the next day, so feeling adventurous, Justin and I headed out the door to sample the acclaimed restaurant Café Izmir, who supposedly serves the “Best Hummus in Dallas” according to Yelp.com and “The Observer”.

Cafe Izmir hummus, aka, the best hummus ever!

Everyone who submitted reviews of Café Izmir complained about the valet parking situation, but in reality, anywhere worth going in Dallas will bring with it parking issues, this place is no worse than the rest. Although we did wait about twenty minutes for a table, the staff was very friendly and even gave me a complimentary glass of wine. To start off, we ordered hummus, Eegra, (a warm, spicy eggplant and tomato dish), marinated baby portabellas and piping hot pita bread. The hummus hype was not exaggerated, it really had the consistency of butter, I enjoy hummus but am often put off by the gritty texture. I have no idea what the chefs in Café Izmir do to those chickpeas, but it was the creamiest, most delicious hummus I have ever eaten. When added to the Eegra, the creaminess took on a hint of spicy tomato quality; it is bar none the best hummus of my life. Between wondering the secret behind the hummus and the contents of the mushroom marinade, the meat items really passed over me. I enjoyed the lamb roll and this creation called Piroshki, which consisted of spiced ground beef and goat cheese wrapped in a tortilla, grilled to perfection. When I return to Café Izmir, I know what I will be ordering; I only wish I could buy it in bulk…

My Love Affair With Sam's Club

Sam's Club, a bargain shopper's dream

Bargain shopping is what I live for, the greatest thrill in life is finding a great deal. Those who know me know that I am a determinedly frugal person, which is why my bulk buying should come as no surprise to anyone. Buying essential items in bulk saves money, shopping time and bargain hunting, all in one great warehouse-sized establishment where the samples are complimentary and the deals are never ending. From a young age, my mother instilled in me the ability to quickly calculate the best products for my money, now that doesn’t mean buying cheap things in place of expensive things, rather it means making sure that the products you spend money on will last, thereby getting the most value for your money. For example, I could go out and buy 2 black tanks from Forever 21 and only spend $10, but you can rest assured that those shirts won’t last beyond two or three washes at best. The better alternative would be to spend $30 at a place like Talbots and know that the one shirt will wash well, wear well and ultimately save you money and time in the long run.


By successfully learning which items to buy in bulk and which ones to purchase at a local grocery store will save you invaluable time and help you avoid throwing away uneaten food well past its edible stage. Follow the following tips and you’ll become armed with the ability to save yourself the headache of sorting through coupons, ads and the agony of tossing out moldy fruit.

Tip #1 - Purchase non-perishable items in serious bulk
Buy essential items like paper goods, saran wrap, household cleaners and socks that won’t perish, that way you can purchase them in large quantities without taking the risk of not using them before they spoil.

Tip #2 - Decide which foods you use most-and only buy those!
Often times, going to a warehouse store can cause buying mania; everything seems like such a great deal, why wouldn’t you buy a gallon of pickles when they only cost five dollars? Take a breath and calculate how many times a week you actually eat the food you are buying, fresh fruit at a warehouse will rot just as fast as fruit from the grocery store. If you buy 5 pounds of apples, eat 5 pounds of apples, or you haven’t saved any money and you will have wasted food in the process.


Tip #3 - Inspect fresh produce before purchasing
Because the produce available in bulk usually comes pre-packaged, make sure to examine the contents and stay away from bruised or discolored fruits. With avocados, make sure to squeeze them before buying a five pound bag or you’ll be forced to whip up an enormous batch of guacamole.


Tip #4 - Keep an eye on the prices
Don’t let yourself be fooled by all the good deals you are getting by letting your super saver self talk you into buying everything in sight. Keep a running tally of the total so you won’t reach the register only to discover the cost of your supplies is more than your monthly car payment.

Tip #5 - Take advantage of the samples, but…
You pay for the membership, you might as well enjoy the benefit of tasting the inventory. That being said, just because you taste something yummy, that does not mean you need to buy it immediately! The beauty of sampling in a warehouse is that those products they are pushing will still be on the shelves tomorrow. Take some samples, wander around savoring them and really think about how often you would eat the food before making an impulse purchase. I know from experience, this is how I wound up with a carton of mini cheesecakes and 5 pounds of meatballs which still reside in my freezer.


Tip #6 - Buy food for a crowd
Inevitably we all, at one time or another, have to prepare food for a large group of people, whether it’s a baby shower, a family reunion or hosting poker night, you will probably be expected to feed said guests. Don’t feel pressured, this is when having a membership really pays off. While the party trays are pricy, they are all inclusive, or if you are in need of something a little more filling, those 5 pound bags of pre-cooked meatballs really come in handy. Dips by the quart, pre-sliced cheese trays and frozen appetizers are so easy to prepare on a moment’s notice, and as long as you properly hide the plastic containers no one will know you didn’t make it yourself.

Tip #7 - Products NOT to buy
While canned goods and frozen goods take a long time to perish, items like medication are significantly less likely to be used in the time frame before expiration. So leave the 12 pack of Advil on the shelf, no one needs that much pain reliever. Other items to skip include books, new release movies and furniture-these items are probably going to be the same price or a little more than other places selling identical items. Books and movies are particularly higher priced than places like Target and Best Buy so make sure to do research to ensure you are buying at the right place.

Tip #8 - Be wary of the booze
Just because the food and cleaning products are amazing deals, doesn’t mean that buying alcohol in mass quantities is the best move (for your liver or your wallet). Consider what you are using the alcohol for, if you need to buy it right then and how much you usually pay for the bottle(s). If you are purchasing several bottles of wine, I would suggest going to a local grocery store like Kroger or Albertsons who will give you a discount for buying six or more, usually it is 10% - 20% off the total. Now if you are purchasing an enormous bottle of champagne to celebrate a holiday, a birthday, or it has been an exceptionally rough Tuesday, I would suggest buying from Sam’s. The best deal, in my opinion is the $7.99 1.5 liter bottle of Cook’s. Or if you consider yourself more elegant, than I would recommend the 1.5 liter of Korbel that is only $9.99 – which is the price for 750mL at grocery stores. Beer is probably the same price or a little more, depending on where you typically shop. Word to the wise: do not buy a big bottle of wine just because it seems like a good deal. Unless you are planning on making sangria in bulk, do not buy cheap red wine-not only will your hangover beat you senseless for the next two days, you’ll be sad because of the terrible taste you had to endure whilst drinking it.

21 Day Challenge - Day 9

My guilty pleasure, the cheat meal.

I am on day 9 of my challenge now and as of yesterday I had lost 5 pounds! If you are wondering how I haven’t fallen off wagon and into a vat of cheese fries, let me just tell you, it’s been difficult. But following the meal plan, taking the supplements and abstaining from drinking is definitely worth the pain. I feel better about myself and my energy level is very high, I am never hungry, (which is probably the main reason I haven’t indulged). Even during the first week, the program helped me recognize the detrimental eating habits to which I have become accustomed.  After both lunch and dinner I feel a craving for chocolate and it occurred to me that I always eat some (small) sweet treat and those calories were subconsciously adding up. Eating carbs with every dinner meal also seemed normal, until I began eating salads, protein and grilled veggies as the last meal of the day. After this challenge is over, I am going to drop the late-night carb fest and stick to more filling alternatives that will leave me satisfied but not incapacitated.

Abstaining from adult beverages, while at times challenging, comes with the greater rewards of feeling better, saving money and losing weight. Now for my confession… I did use my cheat meal yesterday; I saved up all week for a cheeseburger and fries. The rules are as follows: the cheat meal has to fit into the meal box, you must consume your protein first and you cannot eat dessert. I only ate the few fries that would fit in the box along with the cheeseburger, and I have to admit that while it was tasty, I stopped wanting to eat the burger halfway through. Whether it was due to the poor burger flavors or my disappointment with the restaurant, I felt bad after I ate it. I suppose that is what happens when you start to eat healthier food - your body starts to reject the greasy foods. I will keep you posted about my progress, let’s hope I can lose ten more pounds before June 9^th, and keep it off!