now here’s a bunch of vegetables that puts the aforementioned hospital veggies to shame.

the other tuesday saw me strapping on the baby and heading into the city for a wander. after stopping in at outré for a squizz at the tattoo art exhibition — which of the angelique houtkamp prints do i want the most? — it was still early enough that lunch at earl canteen seemed like a good idea.

turns out it was a great idea. in an effort to teach my eyes that they aren’t in fact bigger than my stomach, i turned a blind eye to the seductive salads in the counter display and only ordered the trout nicoise sandwich for luncheon, all fishy, oily goodness. it came as a sturdy plank of red-onion-flecked focaccia, filled with fat fillets of freshly seared fish, nestled warm in a ruffle of butter lettuce and mayonnaise. there were green beans and slices of tomato, though not nearly enough of them. perhaps it was just as well — any more and i would’ve had trouble eating it with one hand, as one must do, with a baby in the other. thanks, earl of sandwich!

when we left just before the lunch crowd, i must’ve still had a hankering for beans because the big green salad came with. later in the afternoon, sitting on the couch at home feeding the baby, i could not have been more pleased with the great pile of perfectly blanched green beans and asparagus spears, and strips of grilled zucchini, atop a bed of mixed leaves and herbs. the little tub of light, lemony dressing provided just enough of a glisten. i can’t say who enjoyed afternoon tea more that day, but i suspect it was probably me.