My Husband Has No Shame...

In an attempt to make-up for his wrong decision, Brian had to take me to Panera for dinner and watch a Johnny Depp movie with me. He doesn't really like Panera anymore, so it was a semi-punishment, but mainly so that I could go to my comfort food. And well, the Johnny Depp movie, that speaks for itself!

Well, after having Panera last night for dinner, he suggests we go there for lunch today. Say what? Yes, my husband has no shame and will go to the same restaurant for back to back meals. Not even drive across town and go to the other Panera, but the same location as last night. I would like to state for the record that I did not influence this. He wanted a pre-concert meal of Panera. As much as I love Panera, I even asked if he is insane, while enjoying my lunch.

Who wrote this?

As we have already established, I love me some Panera. However, who wrote this article?

Beyond Cookies and MilkArticles
Let’s be honest: Cookies really don’t need to be paired with anything to taste great. But after hearing (and tasting) head baker Tom Gumpel’s surprising suggestions for what to sip with his latest creations, we had to share them with you. From our classic Chocolate Chipper to some of Tom’s new seasonal specials, here’s what to match with what - and, of course, dunk.

The Cookie: Toffee Nut Cookie
The Drink: Earl Grey Tea
Why They’re Perfect Together: “This tea is flavored with bergamot and its citrus notes work really well with the toasted nuts and rich caramel flavors in the toffee,” says Gumpel. “It’s complex and really good.”

The Cookie: Mint Chocolate Crinkle Cookie
The Drink: Peppermint Caffe Mocha
Why They’re Perfect Together: “Although they have similar flavor profiles, their contrasting textures and temperatures take this to another level,” he explains. “It’s a fantastic pairing.”

The Cookie: Gingerbread Man Cookie
The Drink: Gingerbread Latte
Why They’re Perfect Together: It’s the same strategy as with the previous combo: similar flavor profiles, but in two different forms. If you like gingerbread, this is a double shot.

The Cookie: Chocolate Chipper Cookie
The Drink: Low-Fat Strawberry Smoothie
Why They’re Perfect Together: Instead of dunking this traditional cookie in milk like everyone else does, Gumpel suggests enjoying it with a smoothie. “It’s a classic play on strawberries and chocolate that tastes almost like a sundae,” he says.

The Cookie: Shortbread
The Drink: Lemonade (or Pumpkin Spice Latte)
Why They’re Perfect Together: “Because this cookie is so buttery, it needs to be paired with a leaner drink,” Gumpel explains. “In warmer locales, a nice iced lemonade actually goes great with shortbread. But when it’s cold and you want to warm yourself, the caramel notes of the pumpkin latte complement it well.”

The Cookie: Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
The Drink: Low-Fat Black Cherry (or Wild Berry) Smoothie
Why They’re Perfect Together: “Oats and fruit always go well together,” say Gumpel.

Kid Favorite!
The Cookie: Sugar Cookie
The Drink: Hot Chocolate
Why They’re Perfect Together: This cookie has milk chocolate coated candies on top, so matching it with a steaming cup of hot chocolate that has whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup works really well. It’s not overpowering; it’s perfect.

(Taken from the Panera website: http://www.mypanera.com/storiestips-view.php?id=55)

I mean seriously? We already know that an unsweetened iced tea is the way to go, so these must be second choices or back-ups. Peppermint Mocha with a peppermint chocolate cookie? A Gingerbread Latte and gingerbread cookie? Talk about flavor overload. I mean we already know that an unsweetened iced tea is the way to go. Did a three old learning to match pick out the pairings? The explanations of the odd pairings are awesome too.

Dear, Dear Panera

I think my card is stuck like a broken record. Why am I only earning breakfast food? I JUST got rid of the free breakfast sandwich and soufflé a weekend or two ago. Now, I have 2 free breakfast sandwiches and a free soufflé again. What gives? I am not trying to sound ungrateful, but could I please earn something I want? Or will use? As in, something that doesn't require getting up at the crack of dawn to redeem. Thanks, your beloved patron.

Panera Update

I currently have a free breakfast card and a free soufflé waiting fir me on my My Panera card. These will have to wait for a time when I actually make it out of the house before 10:30. Hmm... Maybe after my 6 week visit that is stupidly scheduled for 8:15!

Another way to get free stuff at Panera is to have a 3 year old who sneaks his hand in between the counter and glass to touch the tray of cookies. I did not tell him his efforts were rewarded... But at least I will get a treat after a long day of a three old starting his terrible twos.

My Panera Card!

It's here! It's here! Finally our Panera has the My Panera card! We got our card Friday night. As of today (Monday) we have received a free cookie and a free smoothie. I think I am really going to like this!

I must add that I am really enjoying their newest menu addition, steak chili with cornbread. YUM!

Hello to Old Friends

Prior to rediscovering Panera, I was a Starbucks junkie. So we got to know the baristas quite well. All the baristas love Caedan. However, one was particularly fond of him. She dubbed him skater boy. He always had a big smile for her. She in return would spoil him with cookies.

One day she wasn't there anymore. We always wondered what happened to her. Well today, skater boy and barista were reunited. She recognized us and came over to say hi. Odd that we form such a relationship at the places we venture to.

What do you get the Panera Lady?

It is no secret that I love Panera. I like to believe that Panera loves me back. Sure, I know they are a chain and have no time for loving a mom in Frederick. However, in my mind they love me and know me by name and order.

As I have written before, all the Panera employees at our home branch are particularly nice to us. However, one lady stands out. She amazes me, in fact. She starts our order while I am in the parking lot. Yup, she spots us in the busy shopping center and starts collecting our order. She has 2 everything bagels in a bag to go, not sliced or toasted. She also places the duet cookie in the bag so that Caedan won't be reaching for it the entire meal. She also has started ringing us up and has my cup waiting. What more could you ask for? She even knows not to mention the word cookie and if we aren't getting bagels she knows to let me grab one and hid it in my purse when a certain toddler isn't looking. Talk about customer service!

How do you repay someone who goes a little beyond their call of duty? So much so as to let other employees know how to ring up our order. Crazy enough, I can't even recall her name. Sure we see her almost everyday, but sadly I never look at name tags. However, we are grateful for the awesome lunch experience she helps achieve for us.

By the way, if you ever read this, can you ask the main Panera man to bring back the Chicken Tomesto sandwich? Fabulous and I miss it.

Happy Panera Day!

Yes, you read that correctly, I am celebrating the change of the Panera menu. When the seasons change, Panera comes out with some new selections. Let me just say, phenomenal! Caedan and I enjoyed the BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad. They also have introduced a few other tasty items to tempt me with. Such as a Macadamia Nut Blondie, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, and Bogels. And yes, in case you were wondering, there site says: What We're Celebrating, as the header for their new items. I am not the only one who loves the seasonal change.

I Feel Special

How many people can say that Panera employees were fighting over who gets to take your order? Oh wait, no not zero. There is at least one! Wahoo, add it to my book of accomplishments. Although, if I am being fully honest, I think it has to do more with my cute son, than me. But let's pretend it is because I am so enchanting.

My Ironic Pet Peeve

This weekend I saw two awesome signs. The first, was a sign at the Frederick Hospital Parking Garage. We watched the fireworks from the top of the garage. The sign stated the speed limit. However, I found the speed limit to be quit odd. 3 1/2 mph. Hmm... Not 3 mph, not the normal 5 mph, but the well researched, I am sure, 3 1/2 mph. Odd.

The next sign was located at the local music store. We followed Brian there, so that we could go have cookies afterward, yes I am on the about the same maturity level as my son. This sign caught my eye:

Maybe I am just a stickler for professional looking advertising, but this sign really bothered me. If you cannot spell and don't know what contractions to use, have someone else make the advertisements. However, if you must complete them yourself and they are later proof read by someone who knows more rules of the English language than you, please RETYPE the sign. It is tacky.

I don't know which would have been better, leaving the sign as is or writing in the corrections. My gut reaction is, leaving the wrong sign. At least that way, people who also don't remember grade school English will be none the wiser. I have to also believe that the target audience for this drum set, a toddler or preschooler, would also not know the rules. The parents who would purchase this set, probably also would not know the rules. Therefore, next time take your chances and leave the mistakes or better yet, reprint the flyer. How much effort does that take?

Panera Update

I still love Panera just as much as I always have. I think Caedan is starting to recognize that place like he recognizes home or Grandma's. In fact, as we were eating a few days ago, a lady comes up to us and asks what Caedan is eating. I tell her that he likes the chicken and bread. At the same time I am wondering to myself, why does she care. She then tells me that she had to know because as I carried him through the door his eyes lit up and he became very excited. Well, yes, of course, he is my son.

We seemed to draw attention to ourselves yesterday at Panera as well. We went to lunch, while Brian had band practice at our house. Caedan was getting very frustrated that he couldn't go in the basement and practice with the band. So I brought him to Panera to cheer us both up. We shared a Cobb salad, no cheese, no eggs and add pecans accompanied by a french baguet and a large ice tea (new summer menu item, which can now swap out with my Fuji salad). I also, being a good mommy, and instinctually knowing that my son needed to share a cookie with me got a chocolate chip one.

However, ordering the chocolate chip cookie caused quite a few stares. As I am ordering my lunch. I tell the cashier, who we happen to see quite often, that I would like a cookie but I am going to grab it when Caedan isn't looking. This prevents an entire meal of toddler angst. She completely understood and rung up the cookie but didn't hand me one or mention it. So when she was distracting Caedan with our cup, which he late spat into (thanks hun), I picked up a cookie with my free hand and moved it around my back, into my bag. Well didn't that get thousands of stares and disapproving looks from strangers. I would just like to say for the record I PAID FOR MY COOKIE! I do not take my son out for a day of shop lifting. Thank you and you obviously have forgotten what it is like to have a toddler.

Caedan enjoyed lunch and then got to come home and watch the band from the top of the stairs. He also came down after practice and got to hang out and "jam" with them. The perfect day for toddler Caed.