BBQ | Eric Christensen

Today is my 32nd birthday, and my wife, Laura, made sure I was a very happy birthday boy today by taking me on a “This is Your Life” series of activities. The day began with breakfast at Bayou Bakery, a wonderful place for someone who spent their childhood in New Orleans (like me) or someone who just enjoys the food (like Laura). We had coffee with chicory; bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits; and beignets. Even better? We could bring our dog and eat outside. If you ever find yourself in northern Virginia or DC, take a trip out and enjoy what Chef David Guas has to offer.

Next, Laura and I went to the Smithsonian exhibit, The Art of Videogames. Flashback time: Videogames were a large part of my childhood. I still remember getting the NES system, and I continued to play all sorts of videogames as I grew up. Laura played outside. She never really played videogames, and references to them are largely lost on her. Therefore, you should all appreciate what she put up with as I relived my childhood walking from room to room, looking at the evolution of hardware and software. But lest you think she was bored to tears, let me show you what else the exhibit contained:

Super Mario Bros

That’s right. You can play a handful of classic videogames on huge screens. Even Laura couldn’t resist that. Here’s her, playing Pac Man:

Laura Pac Man

As we were still full from breakfast, we decided to stop for a few drinks before lunch. We stopped at Graffiato. This doesn’t have to do with my childhood or anything. We’re just fans of the place, head chef Mike Isabella, and Top Chef (Isabella was a former contestant).

For lunch, we stopped at Hill Country, a BBQ place named after a region of Central Texas just outside Austin, where I lived for a few years while attending law school and grad school (and miss terribly–the region, not school). It was a yummy, messy time, filled with meat, cornbread, and Shiner beer.

And to cap it all off, we come full circle to my childhood. Laura knew just how to celebrate:

Cookie Cake

That’s right: cookie cake. I don’t care how old you are, cookie cake is delicious, and I can’t get enough of it. I had a craving for cookie cake a few days ago and made a wisecrack about it on Facebook (remember, I am an adult). Thankfully, Laura saw it, and ordered me a cookie cake. And that was my birthday. Thank you, Laura, for making it so much fun!

So tomorrow my wife and I will attend our first BBQ of the summer. Even better? The hosts are getting BBQ shipped in from the Salt Lick, so there will be brisket, sausage, and ribs galore. On top of that, there will be beer and cocktails. In other words, a great time. But here’s the thing, two weeks after that, my wife and I will be at my sister’s wedding. And then there’s bathing suit season, and come September, I have to run a Tough Mudder. So how do I maintain my fitness while also enjoying all the beer and BBQ summer has to offer? I hit the gym of course. I lift weights, run, and swim. Need some fitness advice? If you read this site, you would probably enjoy Nerd Fitness.

Nerd Fitness is run by Steve Kamb, a young guy who loves Star Wars, video games, and fitness. He tries to combine all of these things while offering simple plans and commentary for his readers. He’s a big fan of trying new things, lifting heavy things, and eating the right things. But he also enjoys a cold beer on a hot day. Here’s a recent article to show you his style (and you can probably start putting it to use tonight): A Nerd’s Guide to Healthy Drinking.

So that brings me back full circle. How will I get ready for the wedding, the beach, and the Tough Mudder while also enjoying all the beer and BBQ summer has to offer? Simple. By also taking advantage of the great weather to run around, swim, and play outside. So have fun this summer, and look good doing it. And if you need helping finding the right ways to do so, turn to Nerd Fitness (not a commercial; just a fan).

Eric Christensen

What's in my mind is on the page.

Tag Archives: BBQ

BBQ, Beer, and Bathing Suits