My Hospital Roomate: Like Camping, Only Way Suckier

While I was in the hospital for one night I had the pleasure of having not one, but two, great roommates. You might ask where the camping fits in and I will tell you that both bears and tents had to do with this little misadventure, so a camping only seemed appropriate.

The first roommate was a 30 something mom who had just had back surgery that day and with support from her ridiculous husband, kept asking the nurses to page her doctor AGAIN that they had been waiting for for over 4 hours.  But they didn't complain once...they complained at every chance they could to any hospital staff about getting the doctor up there so that she could be released.  Since I'm sure that doctors don't have "scheduled surgeries" or "clinic appointments" at some point during the day, her urgency to get released high on pain killers and just out of surgery seemed REALLY reasonable. 

So while I understand the urge for her to get back to your children, when you say that your leg is having pretty severe spasms (and it hadn't hurt or had issues before before surgery) and you haven't even had your catheter taken out...what's the rush?  

Holy crap!  My leg just spasmed and I love my heels!

I mean, maybe I'm just Captain Obvious but it's time to back the train up and wonder if maybe it makes more sense to see how you're feeling and if your leg is doing better in the morning instead of needing an emergency trip back in two days because you didn't take good care of yourself the first time? But what do I know? 

All of the luxuries of home...besides sleep, clothes and quiet.

So leg spasm mommy ended up leaving at about 10:00 PM and when they were prepping the room my nurse said that I'll be getting a roommate but it "sounds like it should be a good one".  What a freaking jerk.  Pretty sure that he was being a smart@ss looking back at the situation.  What a nice thing to do to someone late at night on painkillers, attempt to be sarcastic.

So at about 11:30 PM, in barges Agnus (made up name) on an ambulance gurney.  Agnus was born in 1987 which makes her 24 years old.  Agnus is there because two days earlier she had her tonsils and adenoids taken out, was released and sent back up to Nort' Minnesodah, and then proceeded not to take care of herself during recovery.  Now, her tongue is so swollen she can hardly breath and at one point earlier that day explained that she had to hold her tongue down so that she could breath.  So her local hospital up Nort' gave her steroids and she was ambulanced back down to the big city at the hospital where she had her surgery.

Agnus, comin' in hot!

While this all might seem normal so far...it all got a little weird for me since  the whole time that Agnus was there she couldn't SEEM TO KEEP HER MOUTH SHUT OR TALK WITH AN INSIDE VOICE.  You would think that if your tongue and tonsils were swollen you wouldn't want to talk, and especially talk loud. Nope, not Agnus.

MY TONSILS HURT AND MY TONGUE IS SO SWOLLEN I CAN'T BREATH!!!!

Agnus talked on the phone throughout the night..called everyone in her town to tell them about how she was in the hospital, had her boyfriend in there until 1 AM in the morning talking with him and was rude and extremely loud to the nurses and hospital staff about how her boyfriend couldn't stay in the room overnight (because of hospital procedure if you have a two bed hospital room - yeah I know - I'm such an inconvenience).  Then she FINALLY went to sleep.  Thank goodness!  I'll finally get some rest!

But talking loudly wasn't the only thing that Agnus excelled at.  Agnus also snored like a freaking bear.  Now we're not talking normal person snore...we're talking a certified sleep apnea snore.  For those of you that don't know the difference, find a video of someone with sleep apnea on Youtube.  Just do it.

MEH!! Where are my steroids!?!*&%&

So since Agnus has sleep apnea, guess what that meant?  That meant that Agnus's oxygen levels drop at various times through the night and sometimes she almost stops breathing.  And guess what that meant?  It meant that all  of the alarms went off on the monitoring equipment!  So after about 20 alarms and three hours they finally decide that MAYBE they should put her on oxygen.  But since Agnus has a swollen tongue, they can't put on a normal mask so instead they set up a very loud oxygen tent.

Yipee for me! It's like camping, only it totally sucks and the bear that we usually hide our food from is hibernating right next to me!  Then the tent that we usually get peaceful cricket-chirp-filled sleep is actually keeping the overweight 24 year old next to me alive, and me awake!

BEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPP!!!!  Agnus, Agnus, wake up....you stopped breathing AGAIN.

Then finally at 6:00 AM her doctor came in, awakened the bear, and let 24 year old Agnus know that her breathing issue had much less to do with the swollen tongue and lots more to do with health and weight issues and that she is at very high risk for multiple conditions and that she needed to focus on addressing her high blood pressure and sleep apnea.  He said that he would give her some more mild steroids for the tongue swelling but he thought that she should be out that day, but, wanted to talk with her about the weight and blood pressure issues when he stopped back next time.

Yup, those numbers look like crap Agnus.

So when her boyfriend comes in, what does she tell him when he asks "what did the doctor say?". "The doctor said that my tongue is really swollen and that I might be here for a few more days and is giving me more steroids".  What?  Shut the front door!  I almost laughed out loud in my hospital bed.   THIS is what she's going to tell him?  Alright girlfriend, you run with that story.

Now I'm not here to judge or to give medical advice (because I'm neither God or a doctor) but I will be giving the following statements that I feel are reasonable about this whole situation:

• If it's raining, put on a rain jacket  (totally ripped off from my future father-in-law)
• If your bruise hurts, don't push on it
• If your leg is broken, don't walk on it
• If your tongue and tonsils are very swollen, you should restrain from talking, and especially talking loudly, if at all possible

But what do I know, right?

Brasa Premium Rotisserie: North Minneapolis

Brasa Premium Rotisserie
Minneapolis and St. Paul Location
See Directions and Addresses Here

Website: http://www.brasa.us/
Menus: http://www.brasa.us/menus_eat.aspx

What Makes This Place Unique?
In short Brasa is gourmet food, gone country, and I think that it's uniqueness is best told by a little story.  Once upon a time there was a James Beard award winning chef (kind of a huge deal) named Alexander Roberts who was the Proprietor and Executive Chef at a critically acclaimed restaurant called Restaurant Alma in Minneapolis. 

Alexander's loved fresh and local food.  His dad even ran a farm back in Wisconsin and whenever Alexander could he loved to use organic, sustainable and locally grown produce in his highly acclaimed restaurant. Then after years of success with his high end restaurant, Alexander thought that it might be cool to have a place where he could cook the kind of food that he eats at home...then was bore the foodie brainchild behind Brasa.

Maybe it could be a place to showcase locally grown produce, dairy and eggs, slow roasted organic and free range meats.  And maybe they have the restaurant located inside a converted service station in Northeast Minneapolis??  Who knows??

Good thing is that it's all just too strange to be made up and as someone who appreciates some great roasted meats can tell you, it's fabulous!  Brasa now has two locations and the one that I've been lucky enough to eat at multiple times (and be catered in at work) is in North Minneapolis.

The ambiance and daytime lighting at Brasa is great (as long as you don't mind smelling like smoked meats for a day or two - hint hint - leave your jacket in the car) and along with great food chances are that your server will probably have tattoos, a smile and be quick on their feet.  It's a special kind of place that pulls off what they do so flawlessly and is truly a neighborhood gem.

As far as for what kind of food it is...it's got some Southern dishes on there as well as Latin American but why even argue about what kind of food it is when it's all just in the category of "Kick @ss Food"?  Is that a type of cuisine?  Because it should be.

What's On The Menu?
It's pretty short and sweet.  Essentially you pick your meat (rotisserie chicken, pulled pork, pulled chicken or smoked beef) and side (listed in second column) or pick your sandwich (third column).

They also have combination plates that are usually listed on the table menus which is what I suggest doing.  Because, you're not going to want to try just one.  And while the meat and sides sound simple, as does the menu, they're just not.  They sneak up on you with names like "pulled pork" and then come and punch you right in the mouth when they get to the table.

So if you're going to make a list of "must have" dishes I would suggest somehow working together to share the following dishes with your group (at a minimum):

• Rotisserie Chicken  - roasted for over and hour, is fall off the bone tender and packed with flavor
• Pulled Pork - Berkshire pork shoulder well seasoned and roasted to perfection
• Creamy Spinach with Jalapeno - simple enough but seasoned to have a kick while still being able to enjoy the rich taste of spinach
• Crispy Yuca w/ Citrus and Garlic - like potatoes only better - try with cilantro sauce
• Rustic Style Grits w/ Cheddar - I didn't think that I would like grits.  Turns out I was wrong!
• Cornbread w/ Honey Glaze- served still warm, soft, with hunks of corn kernels throughout with a pad of delicious butter and honey glaze on top

Rotisserie chicken lunch plate with mozzarella salad (meh - skip the salad next time) and a cornbread w/ honey glaze

Pulled pork lunch plate with creamy spinach & jalapeno and cornbread biscuit with honey glaze

Smoked beef sandwich: smoked beef, fried onions, sharp cheddar & BBQ sauce, served with chips

Brasa caters and offer a take out menu for those of you wishing to avoid the lines or the trauma of smelling like meat for a couple of days.  But sometimes I'll admit, it's totally worth it!  Here's a pic of my coworkers chowin' down! 

Insane catering plate from 12:00: corn bread muffins, yuka, macaroni and cheese (might only be on catering menu), rotisserie chicken, pulled pork, guacamole and chips.  This combination cannot be found at the restaurant to my knowledge but if you have an event to cater...highly recommended!

Would You Go Again?
I will definitely be going again and will also begin taking people that visit from out of town.  It's one of those cool little places that when you pull up your unassuming guests won't know what they're in for (since it looks like a automobile service center) and by the time that they leave, they will be in shock that a cute little place like that can have that level of cuisine.

Along with that, it's also a place that has and will continue to get media attention, which is always cool for out-of-town guests, especially if they follow the food scene.  As an example, the pulled pork meal that I had above was listed as one of Adam Richman's, from "Man vs Food", Top 5 American Meals Not to be Missed on the Today show.

To see what others are saying, you can also check them out on urbanspoon!

  

Search terms: brasa, brasa restaurant review, alexander roberts chef, brassa north minneapolis, brasa minneapolis, best rotisserie chicken, best rotisserie pork minneapolis, best restaurant 2012, best pulled pork minneapolis, sandwich place twin cities

Braised Short Ribs, Brusselsprouts with Pancetta and Pureed Cauliflower

I have four conclusions about this dish that our friend Steph treated us to a few weeks back while enjoying our regularly scheduled viewing of the "The Bachelor".   

SIDERANT: Which by the way, is a complete and utter joke this season (even more than usual).  Ben is such an idiot and we'll just leave it at that for now.

Braised short ribs, pureed cauliflower and brussel sprouts with pancetta

My conclusions are:
1.) I really should get a pressure cooker
2.) Converting people into liking brussel sprout is a strange past time of mine
3.) Pureed food can actually rock
4.) Holy crap, yet another example of why our friend Steph should try out for Top Chef...even though in real life she is a drug cocktail shaker (Anesthesiologist), not a chef. 

Let's jump to number four first though.  Steph, seriously...you need to try out for one of those Food Network shows and just forget about that whole "doctor" thing.    

Pressure Cooker
Now onto the pressure cooker!  How did I not know how awesome pressure cookers were before this?  I've always known about them in general terms but it's one of those things that I've always wondered "will I really use this?".   While I'm sure the fiance will be THRILLED to hear that I'll be putting something like this on the registry, he can get over it because it's going on there!

After watching the short ribs fall off the bone with a slight movement of my fork, my mouth also fell when Steph told me that she only had them in the pressure cooker for 35 minutes and then threw them on the grill to brown.  Are you kidding me?  Thirty five minutes?  If you're like me and has purchased a half pig or quarter cow, only to wonder 6-9 months later what in the world to do with some of the cooking time intensive cuts of meat then I highly suggest looking into one!

Brussel Sprouts
Brussel sprouts are now one of my favorite things in the world.  Thinking of them evokes thoughts of the Minneapolis Farmer's Market, summer in Minnesota and their wonderful cabbagy goodness.  But unfortunately for some people this is what they think of when they hear "brussel sprouts":

If you don't get this, then you weren't a child of the 90's (or didn't have one during that time) and I'm sorry for you.

And I was like that too until a few years back!  Growing up the only thing that I knew was that it smelled gross when my mom cooked them, so of course, I didn't eat them. 

Then I had brussel sprouts served to me already prepared at a friends house a few years ago and life hasn't been the same since.  I felt like I had missed out on so many years of a great thing and don't want people to feel that same regret I do...so...

In order to redeem myself now whenever I get the chance to have people over for dinner and the sprouts at the store or market look good, I attempt to bring them to onto the brussel sprout band wagon.  To date I've only converted my sister and one friend...but...I am 2 for 2 on my conversion rate and I've got lofty goals for when the sprouts are back in season and invade the Minneapolis Farmer's Market!

Converted my sister Jenny with this little number: chicken stuffed with an herbed goat cheese and a balsamic & fig glaze finish, roasted beets and green beans (from my garden) and the steamed brussel sprouts in a Dijon & butter sauce.

As far as preparation, my favorite is steaming them with some pretty heavily sea-salted water, straining them, and then mixing them with a butter, Dijon mustard and ground sea salt sauce.  I'll give the details this Spring on the exact recipe but keep in mind that adding salt to your water when you are steaming vegetables makes a HUGE difference in the flavor!

Pureed Foods
Now onto this one.  Many of you know that I'm currently on a 4-6 week pureed and soft foods diet.  Well before having Steph's pureed cauliflower I was downright scared about it.  How is someone that likes food as much as I do not have solid foods for that long?!*  But after trying it, I came upon the realization that the world is not ending...because is was one of the best side dishes that I'd ever had!

Now all I needed to do was think of what vegetables and fruits are "blend-able" and then think of good flavor combinations from there.  Here are a few purees that I've either thought of or tried out over the last few days:

• Primary food - preparation method- ingredients mixed with in food processor
• Potatoes - boiled - seasoned salt, pepper, 2% milk, margarine
• Sweet potatoes - roasted - sea salt, brown sugar, 2% milk, margarine
• Pears - steamed (or canned) - cinnamon, apple juice
• Apples - steamed - nutmeg, cinnamon, apple juice
• Spinach - steamed - sea salt, fat free whipping cream, margarine
• Cauliflower -steamed & roasted - salt, red pepper, margarine
• Broccoli - steamed & roasted - salt, margarine, shredded cheese

Some of these ideas were crafted in my crazy mind but some were also inspired by looking at homemade baby food blogs and recipes for raw living smoothies and soups.  Yeah, I know.  Baby food blogs...well I had to start looking somewhere!

If you have any great ideas on smoothies or purees that don't have seeds in them, be sure to leave it in a comment below or email it to me at annmariescupoftea@gmail.com!  

Nissen Fundoplication: Post Surgery Update

Everything with the Nissen Fundoplication surgery on Wednesday went really well and am feeling alright so far!  

I was feeling extremely nervous before the surgery earlier in the week after reading some of the post surgery forums that they have out there (you know those garbage forums where hypochondriacs and paranoid elderly people post about their nightmare surgeries??).  I know that I shouldn't have looked at those that but I didn't listen! And I was scared out of my mind!

Luckily though I have a friend that works here in the Cities within the healthcare industry that made some calls to her fellow doctors, did some investigative research and checked some references on my surgeon and hospital very last minute for me.  Without her I'm honestly not sure that I would have been able to do it...I was THAT nervous.  But I went through with it and I'm here to tell those of wondering what to expect (weather you are considering the surgery for GERD or if you have already decided to have it done) since I couldn't find what I was looking for online when I went searching for someone in their 20's that had went through with the procedure .

Choosing a Surgeon

I had the procedure done at Abbott Northwestern, which is one of the more well known hospitals in the Twin Cities for surgery.  As far as who performed the surgery, I met with Dr. Dawn Johnson of Surgical Specialists of Minnesota a few months back and after having met with three doctors in the past about my GERD issues, I chose her for multiple reasons: 

• She is a good listener, which is actually quite a rare quality in a doctor...especially for one that has been in practice for over 15 years.
• When I asked her questions about my test results done previously I could tell that she actually had looked through my charts and results and had taken time previous to our appointment and was respectful of our time.  Because nothing drives me more nuts then when they come in late and then skim through your chart for the first time when they sit down and waste your time to ask the same questions that are in your medical history.
• Dr. Johnson had done about 200 of this specific procedure and while that might not be 1000, this procedure has become more rare since the introduction of PIP's and other medications for acid reduction and I have been told by other people that it's a good number for this particular procedure.
• Surgical Specialists of Minnesota operates with two surgeons (versus a surgeon and a nurse) which I thought was great, especially since there were so many hands needed for this laparoscopic procedure.
• Dr. Dawn Johnson had also nominated by a group of 140 of her fellow doctors as one of the "Best General Surgery as well as Gastroenterology Doctors for Women" in 2010 as well as 2011 (which is a project run through the Minneapolis Monthly magazine).  She might even have been nominated before that as well but I couldn't find great information for the result previous to 2010.

What Happened That Day?

Upon arrival and after being checked in, they had me put on my gown and socks and meet with my Surgeon, Nurse and then Anesthesiologist.  Dr. Johnson and Dr. Nissen (my Anesthesiologist, what a coincidence!) walked me through "best case scenario" and then "not best case scenario".  Best case was the laparoscopic where I would have 5 small incisions on various parts of my stomach and would hopefully only be taking pain medication by mouth for a week or so post surgery.  

If you're going to go...go in style!

Not best case was that they would, for one reason or another, need to make a large vertical incision on my abdomen to get at what they needed to.  They then explained that a epidural would be done post surgery, which would be slightly higher then where they insert it for child birth epidurals.  Shots in the spine...I could get sick thinking about it!?  Another not best case was that they would need to elongate my esophagus; they would do that by taking out a bit of my stomach near my esphogus so that my esphogus had more slack and they could fully wrap my stomach around it.

They then put on my IV, inserted some relaxants, hooked my gown up to a little warmer (which was liked a pimped out snuggie!), rolled me into the operation room, put the gas mask on me....and from there it was all gone memory-wise.  During the surgery they put a breathing tube in me, made their five incisions and completed the full wrap successfully in a procedure that lasted about 2 hours from start to finish.

Post surgery they woke me up and let me know that everything went well, I was able to have it done laparoscopically and that they would send my fiance up to my room (versus post-op where I currently was) to meet me in about a half hour.  As far as discomfort, my throat was pretty dry from the breathing tube and I felt like I had just done about 2.5 million sit-ups.  Luckily there were good pain meds though and was relatively comfortable.

I know that this is probably not cool to some of you, but, the  reason I put this on here was that I was having issues finding pictures of the incisions when I had been looking before my surgery and would have like to see one like this to make me feel a little more comfortable of what I was signing up for.  It's kind of bloated (looks worse than it is actually) but the stitches were less invasive then I was expecting so that's good.  The belly button one is kind of red since that incision was used the most for the scopes but the others look better.

Today I do have quite a bit of pressure in my chest since I've started getting up and moving around but nothing too serious, mainly just overall soreness.  Some people on the forums talk about having extreme discomfort in their shoulders (sometimes feels like a heart attack) and ab cavity from the gas that they fill up your abdomen with during surgery but what I've been feeling is luckily bearable with the pain medication.

As far as food, I've had some chicken stock, apple juice, cream of wheat, mashed potatoes with gravy and blended canned pears.  So far so good and while I can't eat very much and it feels kind of funny, my esophagus seems to be working and letting these things down.

Now with that all out of the way, a THANK YOU goes out to all of you that prayed for me and sent over well wishes the last few weeks and supported me through this!  Seems like the prayers have worked so far and I appreciate it more than you know!

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa and Amber for the beautiful flowers! Love them!

Lastly, another really big THANK YOU goes out to my very handsome fiance Adam, who has had to see many of the ups and downs of me dealing with this but has always been there for me.  You've been super supportive and helpful (especially over the last few days when I have needed the most help) so thank you for all of the help around the house, with spending extra time with Wallace since I can't :(, the slippers that you got for me, moving the TV and all of the things that went with it into our bedroom so that I was comfortable, the little grocery trips that you've promised to make for me this weekend and for sooo much more!  XXOO!  Sorry that I've had to test out the "in sickness" part of our vows before the wedding but hopefully this means that I will be reflux-free while having our wedding meal! 

Yeah, I think that black and white is probably best for this one so that you don't see the bags under my eyes.  You'll find out about my delightful roommate in my next post and how we had a GREAT  slumber party the other night!  Only weird thing was that she slept all night and I didn't!?*

Spill the Wine: Minneapolis, MN

Spill the Wine

1101 Washington Ave S

Minneapolis, MN 55415

Website: http://www.spillthewinerestaurant.com/

What Makes This Place Unique?

It's a very neat wine bar that has a good small plate menu but to be honest, I hadn't heard anything about the chef, food, or wine selection and reacted on an urge to buy a $50 Groupon for $25 there and give it a chance!  

I even tried to find a bio about the Executive Chef or something unique about their business online or through a magazine review but besides being recognized for the atmosphere and the restoration of the building...I was unable to find anything.  If Spill the Wine is reading this, put up something on your website or an "About Us" section!  No background or connection to what you're trying to do!

What Do They Serve Here?

Spill the Wine offers a wide variety of small plates, as well as a decent selection of larger lunch and dinner portions.  As far as dishes, pretty predictable for a wine bar but good.  Small plates that caught my eye include: roasted baby beets with goat cheese, pecans and balsamic, duck rillettes and fig marmalade, chorizo & ham, machego and piparras, mussels & curry broth, ahi tuna.  Prices range from $4-13 and like I mentioned, they are pretty predictable but there is a variety.

Bigger plates include: pork belly burger with parsley aioli and pickles, lamb chops with a sage brown butter, truffle gnocchi with foraged mushrooms peas and brown butter.  The menu also offers a tasting menu and over lunch they did have a soup and sandwich option that wasn't listed on the online menu.  Pricing ranges from $11-19 on the bigger plates.

Their drink menu and wine list has a TON of wines (duh - it's a wine bar) and according to an article that I read online, they do offer a lot more wines by the glass than many wine bars in the area and are known for their intuitive drinks, to which I can attest. 

What Did We Get?

Well, I had a Groupon and so I had to spend $50 over lunch so my coworker Shannon and I headed over to do just that, let the binging begin! 

Ginger Rogers: Hendricks gin, mint, ginger syrup, lime juice, ginger brew ($9)

Roasted Baby Beet Salad: beets, goat cheese, pecans, balsamic ($7)

French Fries: no description on the menu but they are actually truffle fries, amazing ($9)

Tuna Small Plate: olive tapenade with greens and olive oil ($13)

Shannon also ordered the lunch combo which was a grilled skirt steak that has a celery root, onion and apple slaw with arugula and was served with cup of chili.  That day they had chili and minestrone for soups as I recall and the combo was very reasonably price (under $10).  

As far as taste, the truffle fries were the clear star for me.  They were awesome; I would get them again and that's a lot to say about fries that cost $9!  The Ginger Rogers house cocktail was also very unique and mixed well with the right amount of booze. The rest (beet salad and tuna) was on par; the flavors and textures were all there for me and I have nothing bad to say about the food.  It met the standards that I have for food priced out where it was.

The atmosphere was very warm and inviting with great restoration elements but there was something that wasn't so warm and fuzzy.  The server situation that we had was one of the worst service experiences that I've ever had.  My coworker tipped her 20%, but neither of us was sure why.  Maybe we felt like she was just having a bad day or something, but, I wish that I would have asked or told her some of the following questions and thoughts about our extremely poor experience:

1. I have a Groupon, and obviously telling you that at the beginning of the meal was a BIG mistake.
2. If we ask if we can get the soup that was ordered with the sandwich before the meal with the appetizers, is that really that big of a deal? Alright, well as you said, apparently you usually don't do that so let's NOT be flexible.  You hold your ground.
3. If we ask "What's good?" and you tell us "Everything.", then you should probably try something on the menu.  You're at a wine bar and there are probably foodies in your presence...try something on the menu and be able to speak to it...
4. Would I have had a $50 bill and then tipped you 15-20% of that on a normal lunch day?  Then why are you being so rude to me?
5. Another tip: If you want a diner to have a good experience, maybe you shouldn't say things like "you're going to get that too?" when I'm ordering a dish.  Yeah, I'm a fat cow.  THANKS.
6. Last tip, I promise: Stopping by the table might help.

While I understand that was pretty harsh, I was a server for quite a few years and if there is one thing that I can't stand it's situations like this.  I feel terrible for the owners and chef because they weren't privy to seeing this behavior when it happened but if I'm seeing it, other people are too...and if your ratings aren't where you want them to be, then how else can you find out but through resources like this?  The good, the bad and the ugly about the internet.

I've seen that in most cases Groupons are used as a marketing tool to get people through the door for a great experience and to get these first time customers to become patrons...and this server was not helping your mission and it's sad because little did she know that we worked right down the street (within walking distance) and if we would have had a rockin' experience, then we probably would have been back.

Would You Go Again?

I want to say yes, but, the answer unfortunately is no.  Until I start seeing more positive reviews online and a more inventive food menu I probably won't be back.  There are just so many options over on that side of town and if I don't have good service or an inventive menu....nine times out of ten I'm not going to leave my house for wine alone.

Search terms: spill the wine minneapolis, wine bar minneapolis, spill the wine food, spill the wine review

Operation Fridge: Crappy Surgery Fast Track

I've decided to go through with writing about a pretty common medical condition (but not for someone my age or in my health) that I’ve dealt with for the last few years.  While I don’t want to seem like an elderly person writing one of those depressing Christmas card, if I am able to help just one person that was like me, embarrassed about having pretty severe acid reflux issues/GERD at such a young age and that lives a pretty healthy lifestyle but not sure where to go from there, then it will have been worth it.

While it might not seem like a big deal this next paragraph should put it into perspective.  An article that I recently read gave a list of the worst foods for people with acid reflux issues and I've taken the liberty of highlighting ones that I absolutely love and can not imagine living without: tangy citrus fruits, tomatoes, garlic, onions, spicy foods, peppermint, cheese, nuts, avocados, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, carbonated beverages.  Let's just say that it sucks.

How am I supposed to say no to a face like this?

So here beings the journey down the GERD road, while be it a nasty one.  A few years ago I started noticing that I felt pressure in my chest, like there was a lump sitting there, found myself short of breath and yawning a lot but not being tired quite a few times during the day.  While I thought that it was all normal or just blamed it on something that I ate, the more time that I spent in the working world, the more that I realized that it wasn't normal and that it was getting more and more in the way of my daily life.  After looking into it, exploring the fact that it might be asthma, cutting soda almost entirely out of my diet, and other steps…nothing seemed to be working.

Goodbye to you too soda.

From there I did more research and realized that I might have acid reflux.  For example, I have not felt good enough to have a glass of orange juice for over 3 years.  I love orange juice…and thinking about it gives me a sad puppy face!  So then started the endless attempts of various PIP’s (proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec).  Then cutting out coffee, then tomatoes when I could part with them, and spicy foods.  Still with no big changes.  For example, I would have a glass or water or a bowl of cereal and have the same symptoms. 

Then began the tests.  The first one was the esophagogastroduodenoscopy or an upper GI endoscopy, where they put you almost all the way under with sedatives and shove a little scope down your throat to your stomach, checking to see if there has been acid burn damage or if you have Barrett's esophagus, both of which can lead to cancer.  Another thing that they look at while down there is weather or not your lower esophageal sphincter works.  The concluded that I didn't have burning yet but that they really wanted to do another test after seeing an potential issue with the lower esophageal sphincter. 

Well the next one, called a esophageal pH test was a really fun one.  You don't take your heartburn medicine for 7 days (oh my goodness this was horrible).  Then they put a tube from your nose and run it all the way down to your stomach, and leave it there for 24 hours while you carry around a little computer with an arm strap.  They also let you know that you can eat things that you have issues with then hit the buttons and keep a journal every time that you have a symptom (heartburn sensations, reflux, puking).  Let's just say that I ran out of lines and had to add my own sheet.  

GREAT look while doing my pH test.

It turns out that, in the easiest explanation, I have GERD and my lower esophageal sphincter is broken and instead of what is in my stomach staying there, it goes back up because it's not sealing shut.  So after lots of research on the options, reading feedback from people with the same condition, scary phone calls with my friend Josie that sees post-op patients as a nurse and thinking about this as a lifelong decision...a choice is finally being made that has been pondered over for a year. 

I'll be going through the recommended surgery that they call a Nissen Fundoplication where they'll take the upper curve of my stomach and wrap it around my esophagus so that it actually closes.  The hope is that everything goes as planned and it will be done by five small incisions on my stomach laparoscopically and I will be in the hospital for just one night and recovering for a few weeks.

Few things that majorly suck about this:

• That it's surgery...and surgery is freaking scary
• The fact that there is a chance that they can't do this via scope and they need to do it via a vertical incision which is a much more intensive recovery timeline
• That they fill your body cavity up with CO2 and from what I have read it hurts really bad for a few days, especially in your shoulder
• That I can't go to Zumba or yoga class for 4-6 weeks (No!  What am I supposed to do without you Leslie!?)
• That it's surgery...and surgery is freaking scary

Oh yeah, and I can't have solid foods for essentially two months.  Minor details.  Like I said to Adam, what a crappy reason to get on the Operation Fridge fast track...surgery.  The diets that I have seen go from a clear liquid diet, to pureed foods, then up to items like cream of wheat or mashed potatoes for the first 6-8 weeks.  Bring on the protein shakes packed with vitamins because I just don't see myself being able to go through a normal day on chicken broth alone!

Yummy?

But onto the great news...I won't feel like I'm going to puke every time that I eat spaghetti and meatballs or want to enjoy a glass of red wine :) and here are some more things that I will LOVE after this:

• Bloody Marys.  I still indulge sometimes but MAN do I pay for it.
• Meetings...being in meetings can be kind of scary for people with this condition
• Not having that disgusting acidic taste in my mouth all the time
• Public speaking...I used to love it but having this has made me more nervous about it
• That I don't have to bring my toothbrush into the bathroom at work (people probably think I'm behlemic or something!)
• Not worrying as much about having gum at hand ALL the time
• Eating what I actually want!
• Vino

Lastly, I don't want this to be a downer or a recommendation of what you should or shouldn't do...I'm not a doctor and I simply want this to be an informative post to let other young adult that are embarrassed and unsure that it's alright!  It's a big decision and it's different for everyone but you're not alone!  There are more of us out there dealing with this and if you have any questions, please feel more than free to email me at annmariescupoftea@gmail.com and I'm sure there will be more about what is going on post surgery once I'm up to it! 

Search terms: GERD, acid reflux young adult, healthy GERD, nissen fundoplication, fundoplication surgery, lower esophageal sphincter, GERD surgery, esophageal pH test, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, upper GI endoscopy, acid reflux surgery, shortness of breath

Kramarczuk's: North Minnepolis

Kramarczuk's

215 East Hennepin Avenue 

Minneapolis, MN 55414

(612) 379-3018

Website: http://www.kramarczuk.com/ 

I grew up with Czechoslovakian Grandparent's on one side in Northern Wisconsin so I'm a woman that can appreciate cabbage, poppy seed noodles and some hand-crafted sausage.  No pun intended.  So I was excited to hear that my coworker and friend, Dusty, was taking me to a Eastern European deli. 

What Makes Kramarczuk's Unique?

Per their website: "In the late 1940s, Wasyl Kramarczuk and his wife Anna traveled from their beloved Ukraine to the United States in hopes of achieving the American dream, and after years of hard work, they founded Kramarczuk’s.  Wasyl with his skills in sausage making, Anna with her skills in cooking and baking, and their idea of making the best possible products, created the Kramarczuk’s that today is considered a Minneapolis Landmark".  

Honestly, how can you beat a place that has stood the test of time and kept their American dream living on for generations?  Kramarczuk's is also not only a restaurant, but a bakery, sausage counter and delicatessen as well!  

Kramarczuk's restaurant line and a busy employee!

Kramarczuk's Dining Area

What Do They Serve at the Restaurant?

Kramarczuk's restaurant is cafeteria style and the day that Dusty introduced me to the restaurant it was right before Christmas and quite busy.  But, what was I expecting?  I'm going to a ethnic food spot right before the masses come to pick up their Christmas sausages and baked goods!

The restaurant serves a variety of foods including Eastern European dishes like: cabbage rolls, goulash stew, Ukrainian meatballs (the size of a softball), and verenyky (dough dumpling stuffed with yuminess).

Some of the Eastern European dishes

Some cold salads

How good does that special sound?

Hungarian Meatballs over noodles: huge, hearty and hittin' the spot

Soups and salads include a savory (not spicy) chili, borscht, chicken noodle, and both kinds (German and American) of potato salad.  Highlights on the sandwich menu include: the Cossack (Ukrainian sausage served with kraut and Swiss cheese), the Reuben, and a pulled pork sandwich for those of you feeling less adventurous.  For dessert there are a few great items listed that I saw but I only have one word, kolachi.  And if you don't know what a poppy seed kolachi is then you need to come to my family's place over the holidays. 

Say it with me, ko-la-chi.  Yum-ee.

Would You Go Again?

Yup!  I love this place because it reminds me of home and the holidays.  While I know that it's bias since I have family associations with this food, I recommend you check it out at least once to see hustle and bustle, try some authentic Eastern European food (which is slightly neutral in nature but very hearty), and get some homemade sausages to take home. 

Also, don't forget to pick up some poppy seed bread or a poppy seed kolchi on your way out!  You won't regret it!

Search terms: Kramarczuk's restaurant, Eastern European food Minneapolis, kramarczuks restaurant, north Minneapolis restaurant, best European food Minneapolis, europe food twin cities, best kolachi, poppy seed kolachi, hungarian meatball, hungarian meatball minneapolis, Hungarian food minneapolis, Ukrainian food minneapolis