Hotel Living - Microwaverly
There’s no kitchen in my hotel room. Just a microwave and mini-fridge tucked into a cabinet.
If I’m gonna be here until the end of August, I need to find a way to make food that meets my needs without getting sucked into the fast food arena or buying those highly processed microwave meals that I haven’t eaten in at least 15 years.
Eating in a hotel room without a kitchen should be a piece of cake. If van life taught me anything, it’s how to be flexible and creative.
I have a darn microwave. I just need to become fluent in the art of living microwaverly (Yes, that’s a word. I waved my magic wand and made it so!).
The hotel has a complimentary breakfast…
The lady running the hotel breakfast spread asked if I was looking for anything in particular. I said I was looking for something I’m not allergic to.
She asked if I was allergic to eggs. When I said “no,” she proudly pointed to the scrambled egg tray with gooey melted cheese mixed in. One of my allergies is cow’s milk, so her cheesy scrambled eggs weren’t an option.
Her mistake was asking what else I’m allergic to.
My mistake was not keeping it simple.
I was rattling off my food allergies when, not even halfway thru the list, her eyes started bugging out of her head. I briefly wondered if the boogeyman was coming up behind me but I’ve seen that look before… always from someone who asked what foods I’m allergic to.
Rather than totally freaking the poor woman out, I said “No worries, I’m used to it.” Those must have been the magic words because her eyeballs retreated back into her head.
The complimentary breakfast was a bust…
Everything had something I was allergic to.
I don’t usually eat breakfast anyway. I was just looking for fruit, hard boiled eggs, or anything I could save for later.
A friendly chat with the front desk…
I asked the ladies at the front desk if I could bring any cooking appliances in from the van. They know about my lifestyle. I’ve been here plenty of times before but not as a long term guest.
They said I could use my egg cooker and popcorn popper in my room… but I can’t use my one-burner stove because it’s considered a “fire hazard”.
I suppose that’s fair, and I’ll abide by the no-stove-in-my-room rule, but I never once burned down a van while cooking inside. My impeccable track record should count for something!
My room is actually a suite…
I’m in awe that my room has a king-size bed, a living room area, and an extra sink with a small counter (a wet bar?!)… all things a regular room doesn’t have.
This little wet bar area (close to the mini-fridge and microwave) is perfect for my makeshift kitchen.
The microwave is tricky…
Probably because I haven’t used one in years.
A quick web search gave me enough insight that I nuked a batch of homemade vanilla coffee syrup… easy-peasy!
I have collapsible silicone bowls and a big silicone measuring cup that can be used in the microwave. The measuring cup works well to heat water for my pour-over coffee.
Chicken and rice is a whole other story. I’m not sure I’ll figure out how to do that in the microwave, but the rest of my food can easily be done microwaverly.
Right now my egg cooker is working away on the little counter by the sink, my newest batch of coffee syrup is chillin’ in the fridge, and this room without a kitchen feels more like home than I ever thought it would.
Connie 🌼
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