I’m sure you’ve all noticed the ads for Pick Up Stix running alongside your food blog for the last month or so. Well, thanks to the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received a $50 gift certificate to taste-test!
Even though I’ve lived in LA for 3+ years, I still forget that this city is SO spread out. The only Pick Up Stix location nearby is in THE VALLEY. For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, going to the Valley involves words like “driving over the hill” and is always accompanied by a groan and/or eye roll. In other words, I live in Santa Monica…a good hour trek (at least!) from Pick Up Stix. Luckily, driving is relative and I’m used to spending eons in the car. Also, two of my very favorite girls, Katie Jo & Julia, live in the Valley, so I’m always willing to hop the hill.
Kate cubed (so many Kates!) and Julia hadn’t gotten together in nearly two weeks (GASP!), so it wasn’t hard to twist anyone’s arm for FREE! CHINESE! TOGETHER! Kate Winston and I took her pup for an hour hike through Runyon (which totally kicked my butt) to stretch our legs and build up an appetite before dinner. When we finally went to pick up the food, it was almost 9PM!
I had checked out the menu beforehand with intentions of ordering something light and healthy, but since Winston and I picked everything up for the group to share, we just went to town and ended up ordering the following spread:
- Vegetable egg rolls
- Wonton soup
- Steamed dumplings
- Dan Dan Noodle bowl with chicken
- Vegetable Chow Mein
- Lemon Chicken
- Beef w/Broccoli
- Steamed Veggies
- White Rice (why kid ourselves at this point with brown rice, right?)
Yes, for 4 people. Our grand total came to $50.09. I mean, 9 cents. We had the best time picking things off the menu and asking the cashier “How much do we have left now?” I felt like a kid in a candy store. Thank you Foodbuzz and Pick Up Stix — ordering has never been so much fun!
Here’s a snapshot of the night’s taste-testers. From another occasion, I have to add. Wednesday night we were in sweats and chowing down around a coffee table 🙂
Everyone was super hungry, so I snapped a quick photo of the vegetable egg rolls so we could start on those while I unwrapped and shot each dish. We piled our plates high and made a really decent dent in all the food. So much for leftovers?!
Group favorites included beef with broccoli, lemon chicken (which was definitely fried and crispy), and the Dan Dan Noodle bowl (which was super spicy). Here’s a shot of my plate…plus many more bites straight from the containers!
My thoughts? Well, I went into the night intending to order a healthy chicken and vegetable bowl with steamed brown rice and ended up with the feast above. I really appreciate that there definitely are some healthy options on the menu (Wok Smart), although everything I ate was pretty much fried and sodium-packed. I LOVED the lemon sauce for the chicken and thought the veggies tasted pretty fresh for “fast food,” although I wasn’t a fan of the egg rolls or won ton soup, which is strange because those are usually two of my top picks.
Overall, I don’t eat that much Chinese takeout (I think the last time was December 2008?), but Pick Up Stix was great for a quick, friendly, easy, filling, tasty option. It’s not my usual style of eats but we all enjoyed it and gobbled everything up. AND I got to spend the night gabbing with three of my favorite loves, so no complaints!!
In other news, thanks for playing the one truth game! Almost everyone guessed either #1 or #7 and the winner is…NUMBER ONE.
- I’ve never had a cavity. TRUTH. Jealous?
- I played basketball in college. FALSE. I played from elementary school until early high school when I turned in my mesh shorts for newspaper editing.
- I’m left-handed. FALSE. 100% righty.
- I love scary movies. FALSE. I hate scary movies. Even episodes of Law & Order watched alone at 11PM give me bad dreams!
- I’d like to bungee jump at least once in my life. FALSE. While I would love to give sky diving a chance, the though of snapping back on that cord just freaks me out.
- I’m afraid of horses. FALSE. I was actually born on a horse farm and even now approach horses with childlike enthusiasm. What? All horses don’t like when you hang from their necks or blow in their noses? Well…I will probably do both those things.
- I never visited my college in DC before confirming my acceptance. FALSE. I am insanely indecisive. I visited DC many, many times before finally sending in my acceptance, and I actually had an acceptance to another college in the mail and called my mom before the post got picked up and had her switch them out. Down to the last second.
That was fun, although hard to come up with so many lies! Looks like the week has flown by yet again. It’s been a busy one at work and at night. It’s supposed to be gorgeous this weekend AND I have a pool party/BBQ planned AND Beck-O is coming to town from NYC so I am pretty pumped. Plus, I have my camera back. SIGH. Hopefully I will have some good updates for once!
Happy weekend everyone 🙂
March 26, 2010 at 4:31 pm
whooooooo!!!! the food looks amazingly good! so jealous! i love chinese food, i might have to have some tonight! lol
i love your truths, im with you, i get nightmares from law and order too – i wonder if thats why i am paranoid about everything??
love your hair, its getting SO long!
March 26, 2010 at 4:33 pm
hooray for no cavities 🙂 good to hear from you, have a great weekend. your hair IS getting long!
March 26, 2010 at 7:45 pm
I could not imagine living in LA- In Victoria we complain if it’s longer then 20minutes- most things in this “city” are within 15minutes- beach to hill top (or mountain, but they’re little mountains).
I was thinking about your book list the other day as I completed the Chelsea Handler “Are you there Vodka..” book. You should read it- it’s amazing.
March 26, 2010 at 8:30 pm
i can’t believe you have never had a cavity. seriously?!
i think our next blogger meetup should be in san gabriel for some chinese food!
March 27, 2010 at 8:24 am
Yum. Veggie rolls and dumplings are so good 🙂
Have a great weekend!
March 28, 2010 at 4:47 pm
My husband loves Pick Up Stix! Dinner looks delicious and how gorgeous are you and your friends?
I know what you mean about driving to the valley, I always think 10 X before getting on the 405!!
March 28, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Yummy! That Chinese food looked so good! I told myself that I was going to be ‘good’ this weekend (food-wise) and I have been nothing but that. I had a great dinner with my sister and her BF last night and really enjoyed myself. So, in the end, that is all that really matters. It looks like you had a blast with all your ladies. What could be better than sitting in your sweats, eating yummy food, giggling with friends and enjoying yourself?
March 29, 2010 at 4:56 pm
No cavities! Nice!
That is so neat that you got to do a taste test! Looks like a fun night. I always have intentions or ordering healthy when eating out..somehow it doesn’t always happen. Thankfully I don’t eat out all that often.
March 30, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Hooray for getting your camera back!! I love Chinese food, but tend to love the deep fried stuff!
March 31, 2010 at 6:21 am
I think I saw this on Amanda (boo)’s blog! What a great opportunity to get FREE food. Always a nice thing.
April 1, 2010 at 11:42 am
I was gonna sayyy wow you all dressed up nicely for Pick up stix!?? 😀 haha there is one right across from my house in LB, i love iitt!! XO have a great weekend girlie!
April 4, 2010 at 2:53 pm
This is exactly why I love Foodbuzz. They are so generous! I don’t eat Chinese take-out much either because I usually feel like I can make it better myself, but this looks pretty darn good.
I’ve only had one cavity my whole life and it was tiny. I didn’t even need to be put out for it!