Archive for the 'food' Category
Back in Miami, one of my favorite pastimes was to choose someplace with a window that served caffeinated drinks, typically a cafe of some sort (though never a Starbucks), and just sit in it. My only company would be a book or some homework, maybe some bowings that needed marking; other times it might have been the shifting environment of people, servers, and sparse nature (It is Miami, after all.) By no means a unique activity, a dear friend nonetheless often affectionately commented on and was bemused by my habit, which always extended to any city I was staying in for prolonged period of time. Namely, she would point out its essential solidarity. But when she herself began to go through a particularly trying personal period, I couldn’t come up with any decent suggestions for finding some quick inner peace except finding a cafe and haunting it for a bit.
Today brought another rejection in an absurdly long losing streak, and this one, by far, has hurt the most. I don’t feel like I have many chances left, if any. Recovery is not one of my strengths. To feel like my beloved profession and world is closing me off is approaching insanity. My next bid will likely suffer if the all-consuming uncertainty is not destroyed. While I’m lucky to be in a safe place, timeline-wise, safe is not the same as desired. I am terrible at accepting my failures and words which tell me I am not “strong” enough, not “good” enough. Here is a textbook moment of flailing.
I thought back to the cafes. When I was there, I was exactly where I wanted to be in all respects, and nothing told me I could not be there. I functioned and, with the purchase of coffee or somesuch drink, was a part of the functioning environment. And so I would keep going back. If I can’t believe in myself, it doesn’t matter how much or how many others believe in me.
I need to get out more.
March 20 2011 | food and music and musings and travels and waffle | No Comments »
Not too very long ago, a foodie friend made the remark that “No one should ever pay for a ceasar salad.” I did not disagree. There is some sort of inexplicable reputation with the ceasar salad that gives the customer a rather unoriginal and sad reputation for having desired it.
That is, until today, when a waitress at [Main Street Bakery] recommended the ceasar salad complement to my entree. It was quite a caesar salad. It wasn’t gussied up with fancy oils or condiments or anything like that. In fact, it was fairly plain. Something was just done right.
Main Street often does food in stranger ways, though. Their gazpacho creation, for instance, was a constant topic of debate between the libraries earlier this season. So if when the fast-vegetable craving strikes me as it always inevitably eventually does, I will be returning to the cafe and wondering intensely if they can make it even more exciting.
August 25 2010 | food and travels | No Comments »
There is no more special or powerful being anywhere than a real mother. It probably takes more skill to be a mother than run a country. For starters, it’s not really an office you can leave once you’ve stepped inside. For afterstarters, they’re so very very scary when they are angry.
But some of us get lucky too. I will never forget my mother teaching me to read and do math. Or the fact that her best dishes are impossible to replicate perfectly and I miss them terribly sometimes. Or the time she explained to me how babies are made, but only on a cellular level (When I asked how the cells meet, she gave me a medical textbook and a smile.)
Or stealing back the N64 from my apartment because she was in MarioKart64 withdrawl.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
May 09 2010 | food and games and musings and semi-facts | No Comments »
the deducted:
- Subway
~~~~~~~~~~~
Part II: Titanic Brewery
+ [Titanic] is this cheeky little brewery and restaurant on the edge of campus. They sometimes serve lovely seasonal ales on tap that likewise sometimes get me in troubles of sorts. Back in April, they celebrated an anniversary, complete with specials, one of which included a beer and veggie wrap and some other lovely provision or two. This was my order. It was delicious and that was actually one of the nicest dinners I had ever had the privilege of participating in.
Months later, after a fairly trying day, the thought of a veggie wrap and beer was highly appealing. I was too late: They had changed the menu and the vegetable wrap no longer existed. After an awkward second or two standing around wondering whether or not to pull a Subway and stay regardless, I decided the beers on tap that month weren’t tantalizing enough and probably forgot all about eating after that.
Part III: Whole Foods
+ The exact night of the Titanic failure that I realized I had a lifeboat after all: my friend Jenny, a bona fide vegetarian. Surely she would know a place with good vegetable wraps.
Alas – from having lived on campus for her entire college career so far, she did not know of any one specific place where the wraps were lovely beyond belief. But she did suggest a few places to try. The first was Whole Foods, which I kicked myself for not having thought of, given that I frequent the store for groceries. The second was a Publix (a grocery chain in mostly the Southern United States), but she warned against the one closest to school.
Within a few days, upon inspection, somewhat shockingly, most of the Whole Foods wraps contained meat, unless it was the $8 sliced up caprese wrap that, as delicious as it probably would have been, was not what I had in mind. There were no custom made wraps, though in hindsight, maybe I should have asked the guy behind the deli panel – but I had a sneaking suspicion with Whole Food’s reputation the way it is that this wrap would have probably run me up much higher than a wrap needed to be. I would save that for true desperation. Perhaps this visit was simply at the wrong time of day.
As it is a grocery store, I wondered if maybe I had made this elusive wrap myself once upon some day. After picking up the appropriate materials, dinner was settled with a spinach and feta croissant, some tea, and Nick Hornby.
November 16 2009 | food and travels | No Comments »
About a month back (or perhaps a little more close to present than that), for some inexplicable reason, I desired a vegetable wrap (heretofore referred to by its layman’s term “veggie wrap.”) Not just any wrap. An absolutely incredible one. One I knew I’d had somewhere before but had forgotten where. It’s probably a good thing I’ve started noting particularly fantastic cuisine when I travel.
Why exactly a vegetable wrap is also unclear. I am not a vegetarian. But this most definitely did not involve meat.
For as long as it takes, pocket universe will be documenting this increasingly desperate attempt to re-discover what was once known. These accounts are fairly chronological, with anywhere from one to eight days between ventures.
BASIC INGREDIENTS:
- assorted vegetables (but definitely involving spinach)
- a tortilla.wrap (probably that spinach or sun-dried tomato variety.)
- provolone cheese
- some spread that was most likely basil pesto mayonnaise (plain mayonnaise will substitute just fine for the purpose of this quest)
- additional seasonings may or may not have included oregano, olive oil, ground black pepper
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PART I: Subway
+ There is a Subway situated in the law school right across from the main auditorium of the music school, or home. (I’d like to point out that by some miracle, I have not made a single typo up to this point in this post. I almost feel credible. Moving on.) In the past, I have paid, literally, many visits to this little station mostly because it’s open until midnight, which is later than all but two other places on campus to grab that dinner I forgot to eat again.
I recalled they had wraps, and their possession of vegetables is as common knowledge as Harry Potter. So by the super-powers of deduction granted upon me by grade-school education, as this memory of The Best Vegetable Wrap Ever strikes, I go.
The lady behind the counter pluckily informs that they haven’t had wraps “…in a while! But we have the flatbread!” (Hey – flatbread’s a typo, Google Chrome?) In her defense, I had never ordered a wrap from this particular Subway before. She was just the messenger, and though dejected in my mild hunger, I surrendered and conceded to her enthusiasm. I haven’t checked any off-campus Subways – The idea has never truly occurred ever since discovering there’s one right at home. – but my faith was about as toasted as the flatbread vegetable sandwich gnawed to bits that night anyway.
November 16 2009 | food and travels | No Comments »
I didn’t mean to miss this little site’s birthday two days ago. I didn’t forget! However, my own computer died of what I suspect is exhaustion after all this traveling (and the parts still ahead) so now I rely on my sister’s until warranty things settle. If not, then I shall just have to finally get a Mac.
So happy three year birthday to pocket universe! We are becoming much more consistent with the postings! But again, as I do every year, I promise again to be better to you than the previous year. Whatever that entails, I’ll let you decide.
In travel, I write from Houston by way of various adorable small towns in Michigan, Chicago, and New Orleans. Everything has been incredible. When I have a stable connection, I’ll be posting accordingly about the journeys. But for now let’s just that say that food has been a very surprising and unexpectedly significant, though accordingly lovely, part of every major stop.
Now for an amaretto (with ice cream?) in honor of dear pocket universe and many more years to come.
July 22 2009 | food and travels | 2 Comments »
The audition process for music graduate schools is nothing to be trifled with. The work is hard and supremely time-consuming, but, like most things, revelations and joys can be found in between. At the end of it all, I was so grateful that the auditions gave me a chance to travel and meet and/or get to know some people better. Meeting the teachers was tremendously intimidating and frightening, but observing how they interacted with me was very interesting.
For Los Angeles, for the first time ever, I was completely on my own, with no guides or friends in the city. The experience turned out to be rather exhilarating in the end, though very nerve-wracking with the fear that I would oversleep my alarm in the ridiculously comfortable hotel bed or miss the bus to my audition. L.A. was also the first place that I could feel the pulse of the city so clearly after touching down. Like Seattle, I only had one weekend there so I can’t say I’m any expert on the city, but there was no questioning that the air practically buzzed with life. I’m sure nothing actually happened faster than normal, but it certainly felt that way as if in any moment, the city could just burst into sunshine particles – and it would do it again if you dared it. The pace of Los Angeles felt like a composition of millions of moments and memories in time that play in your mind for just a second, before it is swept away by the next moment; and you would have to be very lucky to find that moment again. Also, perhaps because the people in L.A. are undeniably gorgeous, I couldn’t help but feel like I was being judged with every step I took.
L.A. is so fast-paced and crammed to the brim with craziness that there isn’t just one thing that can completely sum the city up (as proven by how long it took for me to decide on one photo from my collection to represent my thoughts.) And as I killed time waiting for my red-eye home, reading newspaper house listings (barely any of which were under a million dollars) I could not deny that California life is really something else.
During the flight, I was greatly amused to discover that the thick layer of smog above L.A. is no joke, and had a good time imagining how incredible the interiors of some of the houses on the hills and mountains were. I suppose my assumption isn’t entirely off considering that the University of California, Los Angeles is one of the most beautiful collections of buildings I have ever seen. I actually didn’t realize until after I returned just how prestigious the music school was, but the people were quite nice, possibly except the students who gave me strange looks when I got there the first night. I suppose I could pin this on my outstandingly touristy appearance – on the phone with my friend/guide/Oracle and wibbling to her about how amazing everything was (She’s hoping to attend UCLA for graduate school herself. The night I got into the town, I went to the campus to make sure that I could find the building in the morning, but didn’t have a map. So my friend found a map online and proceeded to guide me step-by-step where to go. After finding the music school, I got distracted by the gorgeousness of some of the other buildings so I let her off the phone while I took photos, and consequently got lost from thereon in.) Sometimes, the niceness felt a little forced, but maybe that was just another part of the nature of L.A.
However, Westwood Village, the little shopping plaza (or very outdoor mall?) right beside the campus, was incredibly charming, and I don’t think that area could have lied at all. There were so many sushi and noodle shops that for a few brief moments, I thought I was back in Taiwan. The shops, though small, were literally open and inviting. I was particularly impressed by this little fashion boutique called [Ai-Wish] which featured quirky cute teeshirts, fun interiors, and adorable import accessories right from Japan and Korea. I couldn’t help picking up a very sparkly and pink cell phone charm there for my oracle friend.
The first night in L.A., I hoped to have a small dinner at a little cafe on a corner of Westiwood that I wholly regret forgetting the name of. My regret stands particularly because when I finally did accomplish a meal there (The previous night’s attempt was foiled by the fear of missing my alarm in the morning and given that L.A. is a few hours behind my “normal” circadian clock, I was getting paranoid.) I enjoyed the turkey burger and goat-cheese spring salad quite a bit. The coffee was not too bad either, but much of the enjoyment was truly compliments of the Bohemian vibe of this little cafe and perfect outdoor meal weather. For a small and probably misleading moment, I felt like I could actually get used to the city, even with all its reputation and schizophrenia.
That next day, I returned to Florida at around 9 a.m. EST, and at 2p.m. EST, joined my university orchestra for the second run of our Polish avant-garde concert. I was visibly tired so when my colleagues found out I had just come back from L.A. that morning, some were visibly impressed. One pointed out how cool it must be to say to another musician, “I just got back from L.A. this morning.”
I didn’t disagree.
June 05 2008 | fashion and food and music and travels | 1 Comment »
If you are drinking a cup of good coffee, please take the time to appreciate it. I forgot to do so today, and when I realized what had happened, it was really rather disappointing.
September 12 2007 | food and musings | 2 Comments »
Tonight, over dinner, I came upon two realizations – First, Chili’s Frosty Chocolate Shake is far sweeter than I remembered it to be thus I shall probably never order one again (especially if the restaurant has run out of sprinkles! The disappointment of this tragic discovery surpassed that of the over-sweetness of the dessert.), and second, I’m a horrible critic of films. But I also know this to be true: digital animation behemoth Pixar knows what it’s doing. But poor Pixar – they’ve come with solid film after film, and expectations just keep building. The pressure must be unbelievable. Yet, they tackle the most unexpected of plots and somehow manage to make the most of them. I admire them immensely for having kept up their reputation and telling such engaging stories, but will not deny that I have approached just about every single Pixar film with skepticism. That is until tonight.
Yes, I did go see Ratatouille tonight. I walked into the theater knowing I’d see something amazing, and now that I have, I’d see it all over again at the slightest urging. Movie magic like that is rare today. Nowadays, people are seemingly all too willing to spend the cost of a full day’s worth of food to view anorexic films filled with pretty faces glossed by big-budget effects, and companies are all too happy to cater to such cash cows. Initially, sure, we can excuse such productions and call them “fun”, but the experience is a novelty which fades as quickly as the plating on a dollar store ring. (Pirates of the Carribean trilogy, I’m looking straight at you.) When films like those Pixar has produced thus far are presented to the world, I – as only a lowly viewer and critic of nothing but the impression that the film leaves on me – treasure such examples of what movies can really be and do to us “just watching” people.
So bear with me for a brief moment as I give into the demeaning expectations of a blogsphere wherein everyone expects everyone else to force opinions on each other and say that Ratatouille is a really darn good film. It’s fun, gorgeous, truly entertaining, witty without having to revert to a single joke about bodily gases, and an excellent way to spend time. To top it all off, Michael Giacchino’s score is amazing. I fall more and more in love with that man every time he scores a movie (or short film – see One Man Band – or video game…). Too bad the soundtrack hasn’t been released yet. I guess I’ll just have to watch the movie again. (I almost wish I could say that with some exasperation haha.)
[EDIT] Sorry, the soundtrack IS out. I was just apparently inept at finding it last night at 3am. heh. *waits in anticipation*
July 01 2007 | films and food and music | No Comments »
A lot of thoughts arise after a first breakup.For one, breakups are not just called such because you break from the person you were with, but also because you get broken up.
…okey. So that wasn’t a terribly original or convincing thought. But you see what I mean? Empty-calorie thoughts run abound and break you up. Or at least they try. And then they make you forget to watch the one show your life revolves around. But Battlestar Galactica‘s been in a bit of filler-funk anyway….so I’m not entirely depressed about that.
Comfort and glue comes in the reassurance from friends that finally reveal to you, mostly only after breakup, that your ex-significant other was a total asshole…to both you and as is. But don’t blame them…they have lots to consider as well. For one – your feelings. Friends are put in tough places when you take on a significant other. However, their thoughts deserve listening.
Breakups are made especially harder when about 70% of other friends around you are convincingly confident that they have already found their significant other…and 40% of those friends are formally engaged. So when two of your friends give their girlfriends (also friends of yours) rings within the same week that you get the slip, it kinda hurts.
Other than friends, music will help you. If you’re a girl, try some chocolate. A friend has introduced me to the wonders of hot chocolate and some whiskey. I recommend Southern Comfort. Especially if it’s your ex’s favourite. Makes the mixing of liquids that much more vindictive. The slight sweetness of the SoCo enhances the sweetness of the chocolate to make for something warm in many ways.
Here are a few songs that helped when friends couldn’t quite, and it wasn’t quite the right time to have alcohol. None of these are emo or whiny because I don’t have any of those. But what is it about these songs that help? I’m not sure. I’ll write down what I think it might be, but let me know what you think….
I do miss the romance. But I’d been missing it for a while anyway.
[all songs uploaded into savefile.com]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[MUSIC]
please support the artists! Buy their CDs!
small note: I meant to upload some Manowar in this post. But sadly, I don’t have any of their music on my computer and I’m too lazy to rip them off the CD….
+ [Put Your Records On] – Corinne Bailey Rae
- This song is well-famous by now, but not without reason. The lyrics and music are both uplifting and optimistic without being bubbly. There’s just something beautiful and heartfelt about it all…
+ [London Town] – Bellowhead
- Funky English folk music. Yay funky. Yay violins. Yay for cheeky lyrics and charm. Those are what helped?
+ [Yume wo Mite ita Kingyo] – Yano Maki
- I discovered Yano Maki about a year ago, but only two songs of hers. She’s undeniably talented and I do hope to hear more of her songs sometime soon. Like Bailey Rae, there’s a certain sense of comfort in her voice…
+ [Ring Your Song] – Itou Eri, Yuki Kajiura (from Tsubasa Chronicle)
- okey, fine, so this song is a bit sad. And I do personally find Kajiura overrated when so much of her music sounds exactly the same. But Itou Eri’s voice is so (mostly) touching and when she sings “find me there/my tiny feathers” I KNOW she’s talking about the anime premise, but can’t help feeling some beautiful hopefulness anyway.
February 27 2007 | BSG (and such) and food and music and waffle | 2 Comments »
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