March Eats.
April 03, 2026
April 03, 2026
I set out for March with the goal of only eating out for dinner exactly once (on my dime). I hated this challenge and frankly didn’t do that great of a job. The predetermined one dinner out was already planned for an anniversary dinner at Duck Alley in Michigan. I quickly figured out I was going to have at least another dinner out because I planned a surprise trip to DC to take my sister out to dinner for her 30th birthday (we went to Sushi by Bou, a beginner friendly omakase perfect for Grace who had never tried it before). I was out of town nearly every weekend in March and any travel makes it difficult to not eat out. I technically had dinner out 7 times, though 2 were a part of a wedding and I only paid for 4 of the dinners. So while I failed the overall challenge I ate out for dinner less than in a typical month. Horrifically, I somehow spent a little. bit more money on food/drinks in March than I did in February, though I suppose March is a longer month …. and I did tell myself at multiple points that I was saving money by not going out to eat so it was okay to spend more on drinks.
While I didn’t like this challenge very much it was interesting. I felt more flexible and explorative in the kitchen, seeing spare ingredients in a new light. I made homemade pesto twice, something I don’t normally turn to as a solution to the midweek dinner crisis. No recipe, just blending together whatever collection of green herbs, a seed or nut, parmesan, lemon, olive oil, and seeing what happens, and somehow it’s always so good. I cooked 3 entire chickens because they are so versatile and simple. The month pause has made me so excited for the dinners I have planned in April; North Pond with Maddy to celebrate her acceptance to grad school in Stockholm, and Le Bouchon with Maddy, Calvin and Oliver, to use up some gift cards we’re sitting on.
Below are some notable meals I enjoyed this month, in and out of restaurants.