November 03, 2014
Ode to Panera
I was originally just going to tweet about how awesome my meal at Panera Bread was, and then I realized that I had much more of a rant bubbling up inside of me, and since my blog IS called “Thoughts Longer Than 140 Characters” this actually was the epitome of blog material.
Anyway, I love Panera Bread. Seriously. I’ve been there about 5 times this month. Mainly because they brought back their autumn squash soup, which is unfortunately only seasonal, so I’m trying to eat as much of it as possible before it leaves the menu. (Side note: Anyone wanting to start an “autumn squash soup year round” petition, let me know). So, to describe this soup, it’s creamy, delicious, and not to be overdramatic, but eating it is like looking into the face of God and seeing Him smiling back and saying, “You are my most wondrous creation” (to quote one of my fav SNL skits). I had it in a bread bowl the other day. UNREAL.
The second reason that I’ve been to Panera Bread so many times this month is because they have these challenges when you’re a MyPanera member, and this month’s was that when you eat 5 salads this month, you get one free. I’m already a fan of their salads, so this was not a difficult feat. BUT, I received some LIFE CHANGING advice regarding my salad intake, and I’m here to share.
I usually get the Thai Chicken Salad but without the chicken. It has edamame, carrots, red pepper, walnut clusters, tangy Thai dressing; really it’s not missing anything without the chicken. HOWEVER, as I ordered my regular order, the cashier suggested subbing avocado into my salad instead of chicken.
HELLS YEAH I want avocado instead of chicken. Especially because it’s FO FREE.
Delicious. Divine. You don’t even know.
P.S. My dad has yet to pronounce Panera correctly. He always calls it Pantera or Pandera. This is actually a more common occurrence than you’d think, it’s a Pictou County thing I guess, of adding in extra consonants willy-nilly. Such as, “My cousint can play goaldie, he’s standing over there on the lawnd.” As my dad explains, “consonants are free, you never seeing them have to buy consonants on wheel of fortune, so I can put them wherever I like.”
The second reason that I’ve been to Panera Bread so many times this month is because they have these challenges when you’re a MyPanera member, and this month’s was that when you eat 5 salads this month, you get one free. I’m already a fan of their salads, so this was not a difficult feat. BUT, I received some LIFE CHANGING advice regarding my salad intake, and I’m here to share.
I usually get the Thai Chicken Salad but without the chicken. It has edamame, carrots, red pepper, walnut clusters, tangy Thai dressing; really it’s not missing anything without the chicken. HOWEVER, as I ordered my regular order, the cashier suggested subbing avocado into my salad instead of chicken.
HELLS YEAH I want avocado instead of chicken. Especially because it’s FO FREE.
Delicious. Divine. You don’t even know.
P.S. My dad has yet to pronounce Panera correctly. He always calls it Pantera or Pandera. This is actually a more common occurrence than you’d think, it’s a Pictou County thing I guess, of adding in extra consonants willy-nilly. Such as, “My cousint can play goaldie, he’s standing over there on the lawnd.” As my dad explains, “consonants are free, you never seeing them have to buy consonants on wheel of fortune, so I can put them wherever I like.”