ONE DAY MORE! (er, one post more?)
This is, indeed my final Slice of Life post. It's been a long journey, and now, we are on the final stretch. So bear with me as we finish the last bit of out 2014 Slice of Life!
I was planning on blogging about food every day for this blog, but that hasn't exactly worked out. Some nights, I've blogged about other things, but tonight, let's finish this the way we started it. (TOGETHER! Harry Potter reference for those Potterheads out there. :P)
Dinner was very pleasurable tonight. My mom made pork chops, and I must say that this is some of her finest work yet. The pork was tender and juicy, brimming with flavor. The meat absorbed the light sauce like a sponge, so each bite was flowed with delicious tastes. On the same plate, the vegetables soaked up whatever sauce the meat could not, resulting in a similar, delectable flavor. Finally, the fresh garlic bread with butter rounded out the meal with a bit of richness against the sharper tastes of the pork. Dessert was more macaroons, as we finished the rest of the pack that my friend had brought two nights ago. Thank goodness they had not gone stale yet!
Today was the first time in forever (Frozen! ^.^) that I didn't have homework. Well, not really at least. I mean, I had the blog post, but that was about it. I don't remember the last time I had such a relaxed day! So the night ends now, with me writing one more SoL blog post. Until another time, this is Rachel Ma, and, and in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: For the First Time in Forever from Frozen (which I've actually never seen. That is definitely on my bucket list...)
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Day 30: Almost Forgot...
Wow, I almost forgot to blog... And it's my second to last post. I would hate to have messed up that late. Yay, the streak lives on! :D
Today was a boring day. I finally finished my 40 comments! I had a piano recital, which was fun. I got my 10-year award for the piano evaluation that I do every year. It's a beautiful plaque, personalized with a design carved above my name. Now to decide where to put it...
Yesterday, my friend brought me a pack of macaroons. I don't mean those imposter coconut macaroons. I mean the real, French macaroons. Apparently, she got them from Restaurant Depot, also where the freshman council gets their soup. Huh. Anyway, they were very soft and delicious. I love macaroons! New York has wonderful macaroons at a store called Laduree. Unfortunately, Laduree's macaroons are very expensive. If you're interested, the link to their website is below! (It might be in French...)
So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Ho Hey by Lumineers
Today was a boring day. I finally finished my 40 comments! I had a piano recital, which was fun. I got my 10-year award for the piano evaluation that I do every year. It's a beautiful plaque, personalized with a design carved above my name. Now to decide where to put it...
Yesterday, my friend brought me a pack of macaroons. I don't mean those imposter coconut macaroons. I mean the real, French macaroons. Apparently, she got them from Restaurant Depot, also where the freshman council gets their soup. Huh. Anyway, they were very soft and delicious. I love macaroons! New York has wonderful macaroons at a store called Laduree. Unfortunately, Laduree's macaroons are very expensive. If you're interested, the link to their website is below! (It might be in French...)
- http://www.laduree.com/fr_fr/
So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Ho Hey by Lumineers
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Day 29: Fanfiction, 2048, and Dinner Party
Within the past few hours, I've found two more sources of procrastination. The first is fanfiction. After watching a certain TV series, I have found a fanfiction story that can last me a while. At least, I hope so. The story is 100 chapters long, not to mention that there's a sequel. I first came across the story on YouTube. The author made a book trailer for it, and the trailer pulled me into the story. So far, the story is well-developed, but the grammar is absolutely awful. Sometimes, I struggle to figure out what the author is trying to say. I don't think there's been a single comma throughout the entire first half, not to mention the fact that the writer doesn't seem to know the difference between "threw" and "through". Sigh... At least the plot is decent.
The other option is a game called 2048. As I understand it, many people at High Tech have already discovered this game. If you haven't yet, try it! It can be found here. The point of the game is to match up similar tiles so they can combine. You want to try to get the 2048 tile, or 2^11. So far, I've gotten up to the 512 tile. The game is a both frustrating and entertaining, making you think about the best strategies. One wrong move, and you could be done for. Have fun!
Tonight, some family friends are coming over, so I won't be able to blog about my culinary travels. :( It should be fun; we haven't had dinner together for a while. Until the families get here, I'll be doing some more comments for SoL. I really shouldn't have left them to do all at once... Oh well. I should probably get to that. So the evening approaches, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming today: Iris by Goo Goo Dolls
Friday, March 28, 2014
Day 28: Frozen Coffee Treat
Today, I discovered a wondrous new dessert option. It seems so obvious, but it never occurred to me to try it. A couple of days ago, my mom bought hazelnut-flavored ice cream. My mom got me hooked onto hazelnut coffee in the fall, so naturally, I had to try to mix coffee ice cream and hazelnut ice cream. What resulted was an amazing mixture of sweet and creamy.
I love how the slight smokiness from the roasted hazelnut countered the bitterness of the espresso, while the sugar balanced all of that out. The ice cream was smooth, lightly sticking to my tongue. The dessert was frozen, and it wasn't warm outside, but I didn't care. I was thoroughly satisfied. I reminded me of affogato, an Italian dessert in which a ball of ice cream is dunked into strong espresso coffee. Since the coffee ice cream was not particularly sweet compared to most variations, it resembled actual espresso coffee nicely. The ice cream was flavored with hazelnut, so it was essentially a frozen version of a hazelnut coffee.
If you ever get a chance, give affogato a try! Just take a scoop of ice cream and pour some coffee over it. It's just a fancy name for a coffee float, but it tastes so good! Or, if you'd prefer, pour hot chocolate over the ice cream! :D So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Hasta El Fin by Motel
I love how the slight smokiness from the roasted hazelnut countered the bitterness of the espresso, while the sugar balanced all of that out. The ice cream was smooth, lightly sticking to my tongue. The dessert was frozen, and it wasn't warm outside, but I didn't care. I was thoroughly satisfied. I reminded me of affogato, an Italian dessert in which a ball of ice cream is dunked into strong espresso coffee. Since the coffee ice cream was not particularly sweet compared to most variations, it resembled actual espresso coffee nicely. The ice cream was flavored with hazelnut, so it was essentially a frozen version of a hazelnut coffee.
Yum!
If you ever get a chance, give affogato a try! Just take a scoop of ice cream and pour some coffee over it. It's just a fancy name for a coffee float, but it tastes so good! Or, if you'd prefer, pour hot chocolate over the ice cream! :D So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Hasta El Fin by Motel
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Day 27: Being Emotional
Today, I learned a very valuable lesson. I used to think that hiding your emotions was a good thing. It meant that you were strong, not weak and unstable. Turns out, it's the exact opposite. Hiding your emotions makes you seem like a weird robot person who has no feelings. I've learned that the hard way, and now, I finally seem to understand what it really means to be strong. Being strong can mean feeling weak sometimes. It's not always going to be sunshines and rainbows and unicorns. The matter of "being strong" is how you react to when it's sad and gloomy. If you really are tough, you know when to act a certain way. You know that if it gets dark, it's okay to show it. It's okay to tell people what's wrong and vent about your problems.
All my life, I've been told that I should take what life hits me with. I've been told to "be tough". The thing is, I didn't understand what that meant. I thought I did, but I really didn't. I had a crazy notion that being tough meant to brave everything alone. In fact, it meant quite the contrary. There are always people out there who care. There are always people who are willing to listen and help you. You're never alone. Never truly.
Today's post had nothing to do with food, but I really don't care. I've learned something so valuable today, and I know that I won't ever forget it. I guess no homework ends up with a lot of thinking time. So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: About a Girl by The Academy
All my life, I've been told that I should take what life hits me with. I've been told to "be tough". The thing is, I didn't understand what that meant. I thought I did, but I really didn't. I had a crazy notion that being tough meant to brave everything alone. In fact, it meant quite the contrary. There are always people out there who care. There are always people who are willing to listen and help you. You're never alone. Never truly.
Today's post had nothing to do with food, but I really don't care. I've learned something so valuable today, and I know that I won't ever forget it. I guess no homework ends up with a lot of thinking time. So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: About a Girl by The Academy
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Day 26: ¿Paella? ¿Noodles? ¿Por qué no los dos?
What do you get when you cross paella, risotto, and noodles? I have no idea, but apparently, you get this!
I saw it on a NY Times Dining article today, and the dish looks absolutely delicious! Just as a quick note, paella is a traditional Spanish rice dish made with tons of seafood, sausage, and a pinch of paprika. It's absolutely delicious!!! It's extremely popular in Spanish culture, and if you go to a Spanish restaurant, chances are, it'll be on the menu! Personally, I love the brininess of the seafood fused with the herbs that are stirred into the rice. The rice is savory, sucking in flavor from the succulent seafood.
When I read this article, I was totally fascinated. Normally, I'm not a big fan of rice. I'd prefer noodles to rice any day. It was also a cross between Spanish and Italian food, two of my favorite cuisines. The dish seems to have all of the flavors of paella, while using the techniques of making pasta. Hooray for the recipe at the bottom of the page!
The article is linked below, with a recipe at the bottom of the page. If you're interested, I recommend giving it a try! And if you do, be sure to comment on your results! :D So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Radioactive by Imagine Dragons
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Day 25: Homemade Dumplings!
I'm quite sure that my mom labored long and hard today. When I returned from school, I found two huge pans of small round pouches, stuffed, pinched, and ready to be steamed/fried for consumption. These little pouches, of which there were likely around 80-100, were homemade dumplings. They were filled with pork, Chinese vegetables, mushrooms, and Chinese pickles. They may have been small, but the taste of these dumplings were anything but.
Consequently, tonight's dinner was very satisfying. I can't remember the last time I ate so many dumplings in one meal! The meat was tender and not overcooked, while the vegetables neutralized the meat flavor while not overpowering the entire filling. The mushrooms added texture, and the pickles brought on some savory flavors. The juice from the meat flowed into the dumpling, so when you bit into it, a flow came pouring out. Pair the dumplings with some soy sauce to cut through the richness of the dumpling, and it will make a simple but delicious meal to enjoy!
I can't exactly give away my mom's dumpling recipe because I don't know it, but I do know that she makes the filling and the dough for the skin from scratch. However, below, I've included a link to a recipe that would be just as tasty! Enjoy!
So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming: Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast
Consequently, tonight's dinner was very satisfying. I can't remember the last time I ate so many dumplings in one meal! The meat was tender and not overcooked, while the vegetables neutralized the meat flavor while not overpowering the entire filling. The mushrooms added texture, and the pickles brought on some savory flavors. The juice from the meat flowed into the dumpling, so when you bit into it, a flow came pouring out. Pair the dumplings with some soy sauce to cut through the richness of the dumpling, and it will make a simple but delicious meal to enjoy!
These dumplings look a lot like the ones I came home to! :D
I can't exactly give away my mom's dumpling recipe because I don't know it, but I do know that she makes the filling and the dough for the skin from scratch. However, below, I've included a link to a recipe that would be just as tasty! Enjoy!
So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming: Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast
Monday, March 24, 2014
Day 24: Lucky Charms and Marshmallows
"They're magically delicious!" That is the slogan for Lucky Charms, one of General Mill's most popular cereals. It's the cereal with the little freeze-dried marshmallows that we used to pick out from the rest of the grains. Lucky Charms has those tiny sugary treats in them, which makes the cereal that much more appealing to little kids. Today, when I was volunteering at my district's elementary school Aftercare program, the kids were given their daily after-school snack; today's snack was Lucky Charms. Throughout the "snack time", the kids separated the marshmallows from the rest of the cereal to eat later. They each had their own little cup of marshmallows, which they would compare among themselves, resulting in the occasional, "Lucky! You have so many more than me!"
MARSHMALLOWS!!!!!! :D
I remember when I was little and had Lucky Charms in the morning. I was never a fan of the marshmallows. I mean, yeah, they tasted good, but I never picked them out of the box. If anything, I grew to enjoy them more later. When I got older and went to CTY, I would have a bowl of cereal in the morning, and mix Cheerios and Lucky Charms. Cheerios alone were too bland, but Lucky Charms alone would give me a sugar rush. So why not the best of both worlds? Sometimes I wonder if I appreciated all of my "little kid experiences" more once I got older and got to relive them. Is that just me?
Anyway, I probably shouldn't stray too far off topic. If I continue with that, it's just going to be a nostalgic rant that will end up boring you to death. Lucky Charms, however, are still very enjoyable. It's fun to be able to enjoy the sweet little marshmallows with the crunchy cereal grains and just savor a moment of childhood memory again. So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Best Friend by Jason Chen
Song I'm humming tonight: Best Friend by Jason Chen
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Day 23: Chocolate Magma/Lava Cake
While the rest of my dinner today was fairly uneventful, dessert was a wonderful surprise. Tonight was chocolate lava cake, a chocolate cake with a melted chocolate center. When you cut into the cake, the liquefied chocolate seeps out into a gooey but delicious treat. Being my nerdy self, I remembered something that I once say regarding chocolate lava cake.
Song I'm humming tonight: Vanilla Twilight by Owl City
^Doesn't that make so much sense??? :D
The cake was warm and fresh-out-of-the-oven. The outside was slightly crunchy from the baking, but the inside was soft and dense. Warm chocolate oozed out of the middle and into a little puddle of sweet goodness. A dollop of coffee ice cream topped it all off, though the ice cream melted before I was halfway through the cake. :P The small amount of bitterness from the ice cream cut through the sweetness of the cake nicely, so it didn't feel like too much sugar at once. Naturally, the cake itself wasn't excessively sweet either, thanks to dark chocolate. The result was a very satisfying end to a wonderful meal.
I still remember the first time I had molten lava cake. I was in Washington D.C., at a restaurant whose name is slipping my mind right now... Anyway, when dessert came around, the waiter arrived with what he called "a special treat". From then on, I fell in love with chocolate lava cake, enjoying every bite of light cake, chocolate-y liquid, and freezing ice cream. Below, I've linked a recipe to chocolate lava cake. Enjoy!
So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Vanilla Twilight by Owl City
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Day 22: To Be Hungry, Or Not To Be Hungry
That, is the question... Have you ever felt like you're just not sure if you're hungry or not? Sometimes, it's just that feeling of "Am I actually hungry, or do I just want to eat?" When I have that internal debate, chances are, I just want to eat for the sake of eating. I'll take a bite of something, only to find that I really don't want to have anything. It was merely a thought in the back of my mind that said, "You want food! Oh wait, just kidding!"
I'm not sure if that feeling is a good thing or a bad thing. On one hand, it may be a sign that I'm a foodie, which I would be proud of. On the other hand, it could cause me to gain extra weight because I'm constantly eating.
Today, I was in one of those scenarios where I wasn't sure if I wanted to eat or not. I just stood in front of the pantry for a good ten minutes, trying to decide what I wanted to eat, if at all. Then came a good 10 minutes in front of the refrigerator, staring into the possibilities of edible delights. For a quick snack, I decided on some cheese and crackers. I took out everything I needed and put everything together. Once I took a bite, however, I realized that I wasn't really that hungry. I just felt like eating. Sighing, I finished what was left on the plate and returned back to my computer. Once again, I was deceived by my mind.
Am I the only one who has felt like that, or do you get random internal conflicts over whether to eat or not? Comment below! :D In the meantime, the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: All of Me by John Legend
I'm not sure if that feeling is a good thing or a bad thing. On one hand, it may be a sign that I'm a foodie, which I would be proud of. On the other hand, it could cause me to gain extra weight because I'm constantly eating.
Today, I was in one of those scenarios where I wasn't sure if I wanted to eat or not. I just stood in front of the pantry for a good ten minutes, trying to decide what I wanted to eat, if at all. Then came a good 10 minutes in front of the refrigerator, staring into the possibilities of edible delights. For a quick snack, I decided on some cheese and crackers. I took out everything I needed and put everything together. Once I took a bite, however, I realized that I wasn't really that hungry. I just felt like eating. Sighing, I finished what was left on the plate and returned back to my computer. Once again, I was deceived by my mind.
Am I the only one who has felt like that, or do you get random internal conflicts over whether to eat or not? Comment below! :D In the meantime, the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: All of Me by John Legend
Friday, March 21, 2014
Day 21: Semi-Formal!
Sorry. no culinary adventures today! Today is dedicated to our school's spy-themed semi-formal dance, which turned out to be a huge success! Yay for 007-shaped drink arrangement!
The dance itself was everything that an average high school dance should have been. The room was hot and sweaty. The music was blasting to the point where your ears would ring afterwards. Everyone was screaming the lyrics to whatever song was playing. Hardly anyone was actually dancing, mostly just fist pumps and swaying hips. It was essentially a huge dance party. Like I said, pretty normal.
There were a few highlights of the dance. Two prom proposals happened, both of which were really adorable... ^.^ Everyone was wearing black and/or white for the theme, except for those few rogue individuals who splashed color into an otherwise plainly colored dance. Shoutout to them for adding a little bit of a rainbow! Other than that, most were elegantly dressed in nice dresses or suits. Girls complained about pained feet from high heels. I've learned from past experience that dancing in heels does not end well, but surprisingly, my shoes tonight were comfortable. Perks of wedges and platforms, I suppose. There were so many people there, and the room was way too stuffy. I had to leave twice because it was so warm and congested. All the same, it was so much fun, and it was a great way to end the year of SGA events. I'm so tired after all of that.....
So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Pompeii by Bastille
The dance itself was everything that an average high school dance should have been. The room was hot and sweaty. The music was blasting to the point where your ears would ring afterwards. Everyone was screaming the lyrics to whatever song was playing. Hardly anyone was actually dancing, mostly just fist pumps and swaying hips. It was essentially a huge dance party. Like I said, pretty normal.
There were a few highlights of the dance. Two prom proposals happened, both of which were really adorable... ^.^ Everyone was wearing black and/or white for the theme, except for those few rogue individuals who splashed color into an otherwise plainly colored dance. Shoutout to them for adding a little bit of a rainbow! Other than that, most were elegantly dressed in nice dresses or suits. Girls complained about pained feet from high heels. I've learned from past experience that dancing in heels does not end well, but surprisingly, my shoes tonight were comfortable. Perks of wedges and platforms, I suppose. There were so many people there, and the room was way too stuffy. I had to leave twice because it was so warm and congested. All the same, it was so much fun, and it was a great way to end the year of SGA events. I'm so tired after all of that.....
So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Pompeii by Bastille
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Day 20: Sweet vs. Salty
Yay! Two-thirds of the way through Slice of Life! Last leg!
With every culinary fanatic comes the age-old dispute: sugar or salt? Would you rather have a piece of cake for a snack or a bag of chips? Everyone has his/her personal preference!
I know plenty of people who have an incredible sweet tooth. Chocolate, candy, cookies, pastries, basically anything that contains sugar. They would take dessert any day because it's too hard to turn down sugary. I can't say that I blame them; a candied treat once in a while can be very satisfying. However, I must confess that salt appeals to me much more. I'll eat candy or cookies, no problem. But pit that against a bag of chips or a popcorn at a movie theater, and I'll dive for the latter in an instant.
Salt is much more delicious than sugar. At least it is in my opinion. You can easily have a full meal with savory food. Something about salty foods just appeals to me rather than sugar, which made me a very strange child. When the doctor offered lollipops after a visit, I never took one. Halloween was candy collection, but I never ate what I got. Candy prizes were never a motivation, as it so often was with others. My parents always told me that they never had to force-feed me vegetables when I was little, which was convenient. On the flip side of the coin though, they could never threaten me with taking away dessert... :P
So what's your take on this? Comment below with your answers, and we'll see which one is the real champion! In the meantime, the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Demons by Imagine Dragons
Song I'm humming tonight: Demons by Imagine Dragons
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Day 19: Brunch? Nah, Lunch
It's Wednesday again, which means...
NY TIMES DINING!
This week, I saw an interesting article about brunch, which can be found here. What exactly is brunch? To be honest, it's that awkward meal that you eat because it's too late for breakfast but too early for lunch. I agree with the author; brunch is a pretty pointless meal. If it's that awkward time of day, just have lunch. Better yet, have this lunch. The meal in the piece is what really caught my attention. It looks absolutely delicious. Sadly, some recipes will have to be altered for young adults, but I'm sure it'll taste just as great. For appetizer, a citrus salad drizzled with prosecco to cleanse the palate. In our case, prosecco, the sparkling Italian wine, is out of the question. I have yet to think of a replacement, but whatever you choose to use, make sure it's crisp and refreshing. For main course, spicy crab linguine with mustard, creme fraiche, and herbs. This sounds like a take on Alfredo sauce, except definitely more classy. To finish it off, a frozen espresso zabaglione, similar to gelato. A simple dessert to finish a simple but scrumptious meal.
There was also an article about a fried chicken restaurant in Brooklyn that puts a little more spice than usual on the crust. And by a little bit, I mean A LOT. I'm a huge fan of spicy food, but this makes me cringe a little just by reading it. First, the crispy, oily skin. Then, the slight sweetness in the spice mixture. Then, the heat. A searing, pungent blazing heat that makes you cry a little. According the article itself, as read here, "Drink your beer. Wipe your nose. And start all over again." The trick to the spice? Ghost chilis, one of the hottest chilies in the whole world. It can reach as high as one million on the Scoville scale! Part of me wants to go to try this place, part of me is screaming, "SAVE YOURSELF WHILE YOU CAN!" I guess we'll see how brave I really am eventually.
How brave are you? Will you go try that hot chicken house, or will you be the chicken and stick with the fresh spring lunch? I think I'll stick with being the chicken on this one. On that note, the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys
NY TIMES DINING!
This week, I saw an interesting article about brunch, which can be found here. What exactly is brunch? To be honest, it's that awkward meal that you eat because it's too late for breakfast but too early for lunch. I agree with the author; brunch is a pretty pointless meal. If it's that awkward time of day, just have lunch. Better yet, have this lunch. The meal in the piece is what really caught my attention. It looks absolutely delicious. Sadly, some recipes will have to be altered for young adults, but I'm sure it'll taste just as great. For appetizer, a citrus salad drizzled with prosecco to cleanse the palate. In our case, prosecco, the sparkling Italian wine, is out of the question. I have yet to think of a replacement, but whatever you choose to use, make sure it's crisp and refreshing. For main course, spicy crab linguine with mustard, creme fraiche, and herbs. This sounds like a take on Alfredo sauce, except definitely more classy. To finish it off, a frozen espresso zabaglione, similar to gelato. A simple dessert to finish a simple but scrumptious meal.
There was also an article about a fried chicken restaurant in Brooklyn that puts a little more spice than usual on the crust. And by a little bit, I mean A LOT. I'm a huge fan of spicy food, but this makes me cringe a little just by reading it. First, the crispy, oily skin. Then, the slight sweetness in the spice mixture. Then, the heat. A searing, pungent blazing heat that makes you cry a little. According the article itself, as read here, "Drink your beer. Wipe your nose. And start all over again." The trick to the spice? Ghost chilis, one of the hottest chilies in the whole world. It can reach as high as one million on the Scoville scale! Part of me wants to go to try this place, part of me is screaming, "SAVE YOURSELF WHILE YOU CAN!" I guess we'll see how brave I really am eventually.
How brave are you? Will you go try that hot chicken house, or will you be the chicken and stick with the fresh spring lunch? I think I'll stick with being the chicken on this one. On that note, the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Day 18: An Apology Note to the Chickens
For any chickens who might be reading this post, I sincerely apologize for my behavior. It has been completely out of line, and I can only hope that you can forgive me for my grievous faults. Over the course of the past two days, all six of my meals have had chicken. Six straight meals where the only meat was chicken. I also regret to inform the chickens that my next two meals for tomorrow will also contain chicken. Because of these deeds, I must once again sincerely apologize for the havoc that I have caused on your chicken society.
This is basically the first time ever where I've had the same meat for two days straight, soon almost to be three. To be honest, I'm completely fine with it. Breakfast and lunch are both chicken and rice soup with celery and corn. Dinner is an enjoyable chicken surprise. I haven't gotten sick of it yet; if anything, I'm very satisfied by the meals. The observation just happened to catch my mind. In general, my family doesn't eat that much chicken, so it was a bit surprising when I realized that it was all I'd been having for the past few days.
OH WAIT. I just realized that I forgot about Sunday... So three days. Three days of chicken, soon to be four.
More importantly, I just wanted to point out that all day for the past few days, I've been eating chicken. Just an observation, a fun fact about my culinary adventures. Right now, I've been blown off course with a cold and shipwrecked onto Chicken Island! :O
This is where I've landed. I see the chicken! :D
I think I'm going to have to end it here, because if I have to type the word "chicken" again, I think I'm going to burst. So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: If You Want to Be My Lover from "Chicken Little" (how appropriate... :P)
This is basically the first time ever where I've had the same meat for two days straight, soon almost to be three. To be honest, I'm completely fine with it. Breakfast and lunch are both chicken and rice soup with celery and corn. Dinner is an enjoyable chicken surprise. I haven't gotten sick of it yet; if anything, I'm very satisfied by the meals. The observation just happened to catch my mind. In general, my family doesn't eat that much chicken, so it was a bit surprising when I realized that it was all I'd been having for the past few days.
OH WAIT. I just realized that I forgot about Sunday... So three days. Three days of chicken, soon to be four.
More importantly, I just wanted to point out that all day for the past few days, I've been eating chicken. Just an observation, a fun fact about my culinary adventures. Right now, I've been blown off course with a cold and shipwrecked onto Chicken Island! :O
This is where I've landed. I see the chicken! :D
I think I'm going to have to end it here, because if I have to type the word "chicken" again, I think I'm going to burst. So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: If You Want to Be My Lover from "Chicken Little" (how appropriate... :P)
Monday, March 17, 2014
Day 17: Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Today, with a four-leaf clover, a pot of the gold at the end of the rainbow, and the luck of the Irish, we celebrate the day where everyone wears green and celebrates, well, Saint Patrick!
In our IED class, we were supposed to have a quiz. Thankfully, that was postponed (shoutout to Shane Patrick Dolan!), and we ended up having a party where we ate Irish Soda Bread! So, in honor of St. Patrick's Day and the postponement of the IED quiz, I'm going to blog about Irish Soda Bread!
Irish Soda Bread is a dense bread made notoriously with baking soda (hence, "soda") rather than yeast in the leavening process. This makes the bread less airy and light. In most loaves, raisins are added to make the bread taste sweeter and better. Irish Soda Bread was once popular because it was relatively cheap, and the soda made the bread less likely to perish. Essentially, it was perfect for the days where supermarkets were not 5 minutes away in driving distance.
Below is a recipe for Irish Soda Bread by Ina Garten, otherwise known as "Barefoot Contessa" on her show on Food Network. She's one of my mom's favorite chefs, and I know that my mom gets a lot of recipes from her. The second link has a brief history about Irish Soda Bread and a few recipe variations. Have fun, and happy Saint. Patrick's Day!
Song I'm humming tonight: Just Give Me a Reason by P!ink (feat. Nate Gruess)
In our IED class, we were supposed to have a quiz. Thankfully, that was postponed (shoutout to Shane Patrick Dolan!), and we ended up having a party where we ate Irish Soda Bread! So, in honor of St. Patrick's Day and the postponement of the IED quiz, I'm going to blog about Irish Soda Bread!
Irish Soda Bread is a dense bread made notoriously with baking soda (hence, "soda") rather than yeast in the leavening process. This makes the bread less airy and light. In most loaves, raisins are added to make the bread taste sweeter and better. Irish Soda Bread was once popular because it was relatively cheap, and the soda made the bread less likely to perish. Essentially, it was perfect for the days where supermarkets were not 5 minutes away in driving distance.
Below is a recipe for Irish Soda Bread by Ina Garten, otherwise known as "Barefoot Contessa" on her show on Food Network. She's one of my mom's favorite chefs, and I know that my mom gets a lot of recipes from her. The second link has a brief history about Irish Soda Bread and a few recipe variations. Have fun, and happy Saint. Patrick's Day!
- http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/irish-soda-bread-recipe.html
- http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/stpatricks/sodabread
Song I'm humming tonight: Just Give Me a Reason by P!ink (feat. Nate Gruess)
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Day 16: Being Sick Doesn't Help Your Taste Buds...
All day today, I wasn't feeling all that great. I had a headache, and my nose was feeling congested. I'm thankful to say that I'm much better now, but I am also sad to report that my taste buds had minimal adventure today outside of chicken soup. :(
I hardly ate anything special today. Every meal was chicken soup and noodles, with some form of vegetables in the soup. At first, it was good, comforting and warm when I felt miserable. Now, after having it all day, it's no longer so appetizing. The saltiness of the soup began to taste bland, and the noodles began to feel mushy on my tongue. I can't say that I don't enjoy noodles and soup anymore because I'd be lying, but for today, I think I've had quite enough.
^This for every meal today is no fun.
Normally, sweets make me feel worse when I don't feel well. Today, however, I ended up craving something cold and sweet. Not creamy sweet, like ice cream. More like a sorbet, with its refreshing tang. With my luck, of course, we had none of that in the house, so lemon soda had to do. Then again, with my luck, nothing I'm ever really in the mood for is in my fridge... :P
Sorry this post is so short today. I really don't have much to blog about, since there were no culinary adventures. So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Candle on the Water from "Pete's Dragon"
I hardly ate anything special today. Every meal was chicken soup and noodles, with some form of vegetables in the soup. At first, it was good, comforting and warm when I felt miserable. Now, after having it all day, it's no longer so appetizing. The saltiness of the soup began to taste bland, and the noodles began to feel mushy on my tongue. I can't say that I don't enjoy noodles and soup anymore because I'd be lying, but for today, I think I've had quite enough.
Normally, sweets make me feel worse when I don't feel well. Today, however, I ended up craving something cold and sweet. Not creamy sweet, like ice cream. More like a sorbet, with its refreshing tang. With my luck, of course, we had none of that in the house, so lemon soda had to do. Then again, with my luck, nothing I'm ever really in the mood for is in my fridge... :P
Sorry this post is so short today. I really don't have much to blog about, since there were no culinary adventures. So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Candle on the Water from "Pete's Dragon"
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Day 15: Burger Without The King
If anyone has ever been to the Freehold Mall, you've likely seen the sign for Bobby's Burger Palace, next to the Cheesecake Factory. The restaurant was recently built, one of the newest stores in the mall. Today, I stopped by for an early dinner, and I must say that it has not failed to disappoint yet again!
The joint was started by American chef Bobby Flay. It serves 10 different burgers, each inspired by a certain destination of Flay's travels around America. Each month, a special comes out, known as the "Burger of the Month". Normally, when I go to BBP, I order the Buffalo Style Burger, with hot sauce, blue cheese, and watercress. The burger is done however you like it, from rare to well done. It is always perfectly cooked, not tough or dry. The Buffalo Style Burger has a spicy kick to it, while the blue cheese and watercress cool down the spice a bit. However, this time, I settled for the Burger of the Month, a Louisiana Burger. Topped with hot sauce, pepper jack cheese, and spicy ham, I was going all out on this one. No mercy. Where the burger would not spare me in its spice, I would not spare it in its fate. I could chomp through the heat, vowing that I would not stop. It was, in the end, a very satisfying burger, much better than any fast food.
Oh, and I don't think I've mentioned the fries yet. Fried to perfection, the potatoes are crispy and thick, dashed with some sea salt to top it off. Dunk it in their fry sauce (a ranch-like dressing with a little kick) to get a delicious masterpiece. Or, if you prefer sweet potatoes, that's fine, too! Like their potato friends, they too are perfectly done, with a hint of sweetness with their honey mustard sauce.
If you're interested to try Bobby's Burger Palace, the link to their website can be found here. So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: 100 Years by Five for Fighting
The joint was started by American chef Bobby Flay. It serves 10 different burgers, each inspired by a certain destination of Flay's travels around America. Each month, a special comes out, known as the "Burger of the Month". Normally, when I go to BBP, I order the Buffalo Style Burger, with hot sauce, blue cheese, and watercress. The burger is done however you like it, from rare to well done. It is always perfectly cooked, not tough or dry. The Buffalo Style Burger has a spicy kick to it, while the blue cheese and watercress cool down the spice a bit. However, this time, I settled for the Burger of the Month, a Louisiana Burger. Topped with hot sauce, pepper jack cheese, and spicy ham, I was going all out on this one. No mercy. Where the burger would not spare me in its spice, I would not spare it in its fate. I could chomp through the heat, vowing that I would not stop. It was, in the end, a very satisfying burger, much better than any fast food.
Oh, and I don't think I've mentioned the fries yet. Fried to perfection, the potatoes are crispy and thick, dashed with some sea salt to top it off. Dunk it in their fry sauce (a ranch-like dressing with a little kick) to get a delicious masterpiece. Or, if you prefer sweet potatoes, that's fine, too! Like their potato friends, they too are perfectly done, with a hint of sweetness with their honey mustard sauce.
If you're interested to try Bobby's Burger Palace, the link to their website can be found here. So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: 100 Years by Five for Fighting
Friday, March 14, 2014
Day 14: Pi(e) Day!
Happy Pi Day! Like every other year, I missed 1:59, but that's alright. There's always next year! Also, High Tech hung up the first 100 or so digits of pi through the freshmen hallway, to which I thought, "Only at High Tech..."
In the spirit of pi day, it's a post about pie! No, not the number, because I really can't recite that many digits. I was thinking more of pie, the stuff you eat on Thanksgiving that can have so many different fillings. Apple pie, pumpkin pie, cherry pie, blueberry pie, Boston creme pie, you name it! It is a classic American dessert, whether you prefer it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
My personal favorite pie is chestnut. It's not exactly conventional, but it's so delicious. Chestnut pie is much like pumpkin pie, except the filling is chestnut, of course. The chocolate crust is crispy and sugary, while the filling is rich and smooth. Chestnuts have a distinct, sweet flavor, making the pie feel just like a walk in New York in the winter.
Below, I've included a couple of random, cute pie recipes. Enjoy!
- Random pictures: http://www.pinterest.com/dandanilandian/creative-pies/
- Polka Dot Peach: http://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Pie/Polka-Dot-Peach-Pie-105443
- Pineapple Pistachio: http://www.mrfood.com/Pie/Pineapple-Pistachio-Pie-2208
- Dreamy Mocha: http://www.mrfood.com/Pie/Dreamy-Mocha-Cream-Pie-2214
- Two Minute Hawaiian: http://www.mrfood.com/Pie/Two-Minute-Hawaiian-Pie
- French Silk: http://www.instructables.com/id/French-silk-pie-1/
- Summer Berry with Mint Cream: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Summer-Berry-Mint-Cream-Tart-12306
- Mango Strawberry: http://familyoffood.blogspot.com/2009/06/mango-strawberry-upside-down-tart.html
- Strawberry and Chocolate Baked Alaska (this isn't exactly a pie, but it looks so good! :D): http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Strawberry-and-Chocolate-Baked-Alaska-235561
So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight:
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Day 13: Oh My God, It's Salted Cod!
In case you didn't realize, this post is, indeed, about salted cod! I know it might not sound very appealing, but trust me, it's a lot better than it seems. My mom made it for dinner tonight, and it was actually quite good. The fish is left in a salt water solution for a while, which sucks all of the moisture out.
QUICK! SCIENCE QUESTION: WHY DOES THE MOISTURE GET SUCKED OUT? (see the answer below!)
Anyway, this makes the fish dry and flaky, when it is then cooked into a casserole/stew-like thing. That's probably not very descriptive... The mixture is hearty and warming, full of potatoes, capers, olives, and of course, fish. On a cold winter day like today (what happened to the past few days?!), I would definitely recommend giving it a try. It is comforting and satisfying, and it doesn't seem to be too unhealthy. (I'm not exactly sure on that one, but I don't feel guilty after eating it, so it can't be that bad.)
Dinner ended with a nice, hour-long conversation with my parents. For a whole hour, we just sat at the table and talked. The conversation drifted from how our day was to the recent news of the day to deep personal lessons and back around again. I love those kind of conversations where you can just rant or talk about anything, and it can flow so naturally from one topic to the next. For the fun of it, I retrace my steps back to where we started, and I laugh at how far we've come since then. It's almost like Wikipedia jumping, going from page to page to page to see where you'll end up. I almost felt bad ending it, but then again, there was homework to be done!
So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
By the way, if you were still interested, the answer to the science question was osmosis. ^.^
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Day 12: NY Times Dining
Every Wednesday, I'm excited to read the New York Times. Not that the newspaper isn't interesting the other days, but Wednesdays feature my favorite section: DINING. The Dining Section is all about food; it features restaurants, recipes, and the latest in Foodie World.
One article really caught my attention today. I love Japanese food, and I found a review for a sashimi bar in Park Slope, Brooklyn called Sushi Katsuei. You can read the article here. The article talks about the expertise of the chefs there. Everything is to perfection, and the chefs work with so much dedication, they even gently reprimand customers when customers put their food on the side to talk. Warm food is not allowed to go cold. For example, cooling tea is replaced quickly by a fresh hot cup. If that isn't commitment, I don't know what is. The presentation looks simple but beautiful, but presentation should come as no surprise. Have you seen Morimoto on Iron Chef America? STUNNING PLATING. The freshness of the seafood and preparation is supposedly good, though I guess we won't know unless we go. One more restaurant on my list of places to try but will probably never get a chance to.
Another interesting article was the one on Irish cooking. IRish cuisine is not one that is heard of often, so it caught my eye. I was curious to see what kind of food is so distinctive to the area, and I found one recipe that was particularly tempting. Whole Arctic char with spinach butter. I love whole fish since it captures the entire fish rather than just one small portion of it. It sounds like something that people in Ireland would eat, so I'd love to try it! The recipe is here.
So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
.
Song I'm humming tonight: Skyfall by Adele
One article really caught my attention today. I love Japanese food, and I found a review for a sashimi bar in Park Slope, Brooklyn called Sushi Katsuei. You can read the article here. The article talks about the expertise of the chefs there. Everything is to perfection, and the chefs work with so much dedication, they even gently reprimand customers when customers put their food on the side to talk. Warm food is not allowed to go cold. For example, cooling tea is replaced quickly by a fresh hot cup. If that isn't commitment, I don't know what is. The presentation looks simple but beautiful, but presentation should come as no surprise. Have you seen Morimoto on Iron Chef America? STUNNING PLATING. The freshness of the seafood and preparation is supposedly good, though I guess we won't know unless we go. One more restaurant on my list of places to try but will probably never get a chance to.
Another interesting article was the one on Irish cooking. IRish cuisine is not one that is heard of often, so it caught my eye. I was curious to see what kind of food is so distinctive to the area, and I found one recipe that was particularly tempting. Whole Arctic char with spinach butter. I love whole fish since it captures the entire fish rather than just one small portion of it. It sounds like something that people in Ireland would eat, so I'd love to try it! The recipe is here.
So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Skyfall by Adele
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Day 11: If There's Anything We're Good At...
We're good at comfort food. For the record, the "we're" is referring to Asians. I don't mean to sound racist or anything, but Asian food is often so great for when you're at home sick or just wanting to curl up with a simple yet satisfying meal. I guess you could argue that I'm biased. But, hear me out. Honestly, who could resist a warm bowl of ramen and a good book or movie on a cold winter night? I know I couldn't. The food is not very heavy and creamy, so it won't sit in your stomach, making you feel guilty for eating unhealthily... What, am I the only one who feels like that?
Now, don't get me wrong. I love Western food, Italian, French, Spanish, or even a burger. I could go for any of those. In fact, my family tends to prefer going out to Western food as opposed to Western foods when we go out to dinner. My only point is that there is a difference between eating a bowl of rice versus a bowl of pasta. Asian food is lighter while still satisfying hunger.
I just thought of this point while smelling my mom's spicy Korean tofu soup downstairs, so I blame the food for this post. On that note, time for dinner! Comfort food! :D So the night (er, evening) ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Judas by Lady Gaga
Now, don't get me wrong. I love Western food, Italian, French, Spanish, or even a burger. I could go for any of those. In fact, my family tends to prefer going out to Western food as opposed to Western foods when we go out to dinner. My only point is that there is a difference between eating a bowl of rice versus a bowl of pasta. Asian food is lighter while still satisfying hunger.
I just thought of this point while smelling my mom's spicy Korean tofu soup downstairs, so I blame the food for this post. On that note, time for dinner! Comfort food! :D So the night (er, evening) ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Day 10: Cute Little Kids
Before I start, I just want to say, "Slice of Life is one-third of the way through!"
Ok, so today was another blast from the past. Every Monday, I volunteer at the elementary school in my town to help with the kids at the Champions Aftercare program. I'm there for about two hours a week to entertain them and help them with homework, and I must say that they're absolutely adorable. Some will come up to you and ask in their tiny, innocent voices, "Um, excuse me? I don't get something on my homework. Can you help me?" *cue puppy dog eyes* Let me tell you first hand that it is almost impossible to resist them. Off you go, being pulled by the wrist by a small 3rd grader who is utterly confused by three-digit adding. Oh, those were the good ol' days right? Remember when one hour of homework combined was a lot? Remember when the only tests we had were spelling? Remember when the answers to reading comprehension questions were stated word for word in the text? Ah, those were the days. We were carefree, not stressing out over bio objectives or Python codes or the math test tomorrow or whatever. Life was so much easier...
That sounds so pessimistic, doesn't it? So onto a happier topic. The kids are actually absolutely adorable in every single way. They tell you about everything that happened in the day, and they get excited over everything. They're so fascinated. For example, when I was taking one girl to the gym for a game, I stopped by at one of my former teacher's room (for those of you who know and love her, since it's impossible not to love her, Ms. Palmer) and we had a chat. We were talking about what she had taught us when my class was there, specifically about John Locke and the Enlightenment. I must admit, I don't really remember learning all of that, so thank goodness we just learned about that. At any rate, Ms. Palmer was asking me about Locke's beliefs and influence and other details that I won't bore you with. After the little girl and I left, she was so interested in what I was talking about, she told me to tell her everything about it. The wonder on her face was so cute! Needless to say, I think I just started cultivating a new line of history nerds! #soproud
Dinner today was ramen noodles, which once again brought me back to when I was little. I've always loved noodles, ever since I was very, very small. You're probably imagining a diminutive Asian girl sitting at a table and slurping noodles. Something along the lines of this?
Yeah... Pretty accurate. In short, my entire afternoon and through dinner made me think about my childhood. There are so many things that I wish I did or took advantage of. Life was easy back then. However, on the brighter side, there are also plenty of things that I understand now. I've learned so much since my early years, and I'm confident that I'll learn more! But meanwhile...
The night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Rescue Me by Kerrie Roberts
Ok, so today was another blast from the past. Every Monday, I volunteer at the elementary school in my town to help with the kids at the Champions Aftercare program. I'm there for about two hours a week to entertain them and help them with homework, and I must say that they're absolutely adorable. Some will come up to you and ask in their tiny, innocent voices, "Um, excuse me? I don't get something on my homework. Can you help me?" *cue puppy dog eyes* Let me tell you first hand that it is almost impossible to resist them. Off you go, being pulled by the wrist by a small 3rd grader who is utterly confused by three-digit adding. Oh, those were the good ol' days right? Remember when one hour of homework combined was a lot? Remember when the only tests we had were spelling? Remember when the answers to reading comprehension questions were stated word for word in the text? Ah, those were the days. We were carefree, not stressing out over bio objectives or Python codes or the math test tomorrow or whatever. Life was so much easier...
That sounds so pessimistic, doesn't it? So onto a happier topic. The kids are actually absolutely adorable in every single way. They tell you about everything that happened in the day, and they get excited over everything. They're so fascinated. For example, when I was taking one girl to the gym for a game, I stopped by at one of my former teacher's room (for those of you who know and love her, since it's impossible not to love her, Ms. Palmer) and we had a chat. We were talking about what she had taught us when my class was there, specifically about John Locke and the Enlightenment. I must admit, I don't really remember learning all of that, so thank goodness we just learned about that. At any rate, Ms. Palmer was asking me about Locke's beliefs and influence and other details that I won't bore you with. After the little girl and I left, she was so interested in what I was talking about, she told me to tell her everything about it. The wonder on her face was so cute! Needless to say, I think I just started cultivating a new line of history nerds! #soproud
Dinner today was ramen noodles, which once again brought me back to when I was little. I've always loved noodles, ever since I was very, very small. You're probably imagining a diminutive Asian girl sitting at a table and slurping noodles. Something along the lines of this?
The night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Rescue Me by Kerrie Roberts
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Day 9: Crunch Time!
DISCLAIMER: I know my blog is about food, but this post has nothing to do with crunchy food. Just a heads-up.
Apparently my TSA project is due on Friday... I didn't know that... So, in the wise words of a High Tech senior, also my friend's celebrity crush, "Crunch time!" We put most of our project together today and within about 4 hours, which I found impressive. Yay us! :D
Our topic is Music Production, which involves the writing and recording of an original song. Now, I must admit that I didn't do that much in actually writing the song. Recording, yes. Writing, no. There was that one part that took us a while to rewrite because it didn't sound quite right, and that was "fun". Long story short, it involved a lot of rhyming (we thanked Rhymezone afterwards) and distractions from food. Anyway, in a mere four hours, we recorded an entire song, and started putting it all together. If all goes according to plan, it should sound really awesome! :)
The best part of recording was definitely the equipment. When I watch those "Behind the Scenes" shows on TV, I'm always marveled by all of the fancy mics and soundboards the producers have. Now, to able to use something like it was amazing! I felt so professional! ^.^
I'm seriously so excited to hear the finished product of the song. Even though I usually HATE hearing myself on recording, I'm hoping that autotune and other technical stuff will make my voice sound at least a little better than usual. The lyrics were so inspirational and metaphorical (Mrs. Gross, that should definitely be acknowledged, although if you're a grammar Nazi then maybe not...), and I found myself humming the melody all the way home. Overall, the day was a success!
So, the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: TSA Song! (Tentatively named "Today" by our TSA group!) <3
Apparently my TSA project is due on Friday... I didn't know that... So, in the wise words of a High Tech senior, also my friend's celebrity crush, "Crunch time!" We put most of our project together today and within about 4 hours, which I found impressive. Yay us! :D
Our topic is Music Production, which involves the writing and recording of an original song. Now, I must admit that I didn't do that much in actually writing the song. Recording, yes. Writing, no. There was that one part that took us a while to rewrite because it didn't sound quite right, and that was "fun". Long story short, it involved a lot of rhyming (we thanked Rhymezone afterwards) and distractions from food. Anyway, in a mere four hours, we recorded an entire song, and started putting it all together. If all goes according to plan, it should sound really awesome! :)
The best part of recording was definitely the equipment. When I watch those "Behind the Scenes" shows on TV, I'm always marveled by all of the fancy mics and soundboards the producers have. Now, to able to use something like it was amazing! I felt so professional! ^.^
I'm seriously so excited to hear the finished product of the song. Even though I usually HATE hearing myself on recording, I'm hoping that autotune and other technical stuff will make my voice sound at least a little better than usual. The lyrics were so inspirational and metaphorical (Mrs. Gross, that should definitely be acknowledged, although if you're a grammar Nazi then maybe not...), and I found myself humming the melody all the way home. Overall, the day was a success!
So, the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: TSA Song! (Tentatively named "Today" by our TSA group!) <3
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Day 8: NYC!!!!!!!
Finally! Back to food! Today was a trip to New York City, a second home for foodies! It started with a walk throughout SoHo, where we shopped in small boutique stores (mostly window shopping, of course) and wandered into tiny bakeries. It was mostly just fun, not actual spending. After all, some of those stores are crazily expensive! :)
Many of the stores in the area were locally owned and simple, not the usual designer brands that we see in malls and 5th Avenue. One bakery was Balthazar, a tiny French bakery famous for bread. The store was so crowded, all of the customers could hardly fit! Pastries and cookies lined up on the shelves, along with loaves and loaves of different breads. Though sampling everything was tempting, we decided on a raspbery tart, brioche loaf, chocolate and almond cake, and cannole (not to be confused with cannoli).
We came across Bisous Ciao Macaroons, a shop with nothing but a single counter containing a variety of colored macaroons spanning across like a rainbow. Not wanting to go too overboard at once, I only bought three flavors: chestnut, dark chocolate, and espresso. I have yet to try them, but if the delicacies are as tasty as they are beautiful, then they will be a treat.
Meandering on the streets was very time-consuming, so it was only a few hours before dinner at Cafe Espanol, a Spanish restaurant that never seems to fail to deliver. On the way, we passed The Magnolia Bakery, a minuscule shop with a line winding around the corner. We didn't have time to wait, but I knew that it was on the list of places to try. Amy's Bakery was also along the way, which had a band of about 8 people singing and playing in front of it. I don't remember much of it, but I do remember the men singing, "Get ready, get ready!" I laughed to myself. I would certainly get ready for the amazing meal ahead.
Finally, dinner time came. The restaurant was narrow, but very welcoming. I remembered my first time there over the summer. I remembered meeting Christine Choy, an teacher in the cinema arts part of NYU and Oscar nominee. That was probably the closest I ever got to any form of stardom. Anyway, back to the restaurant. Cafe Espanol offered unsurpassed seafood, mostly in the form of octopus and squid. We ordered pulpo a la plancha (grilled octopus), pulpo a la gallega (octupus with olive oil and paprika), jamon (Spanish ham aged for 12 months), fried artichokes, squid in its own ink, and the authentic Spanish seafood rice, paella. Ordering it in Spanish was fun, though I'm pretty sure the waiters laughed at my pronunciation more than a few times. :) I must say that of these dishes, I was most impressed with the paella and the pulpo a la plancha. The rice was soaked with seafood flavor, bringing out an enjoyable, savory brininess. The octopus was tender, though not mushy, and laced with flavors of olive oil, chili flakes, and strong garlic. Once again, I was mesmerized. I felt guilty when one waiter offered us desserts on a platter and went through a fancy routine, only to be rejected. However, I was just too full and satisfied.
All of the places above are recommended to anyone who loves food! Next time you travel to NYC, check them out! I'll have links below. So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae
Links:
Many of the stores in the area were locally owned and simple, not the usual designer brands that we see in malls and 5th Avenue. One bakery was Balthazar, a tiny French bakery famous for bread. The store was so crowded, all of the customers could hardly fit! Pastries and cookies lined up on the shelves, along with loaves and loaves of different breads. Though sampling everything was tempting, we decided on a raspbery tart, brioche loaf, chocolate and almond cake, and cannole (not to be confused with cannoli).
We came across Bisous Ciao Macaroons, a shop with nothing but a single counter containing a variety of colored macaroons spanning across like a rainbow. Not wanting to go too overboard at once, I only bought three flavors: chestnut, dark chocolate, and espresso. I have yet to try them, but if the delicacies are as tasty as they are beautiful, then they will be a treat.
Meandering on the streets was very time-consuming, so it was only a few hours before dinner at Cafe Espanol, a Spanish restaurant that never seems to fail to deliver. On the way, we passed The Magnolia Bakery, a minuscule shop with a line winding around the corner. We didn't have time to wait, but I knew that it was on the list of places to try. Amy's Bakery was also along the way, which had a band of about 8 people singing and playing in front of it. I don't remember much of it, but I do remember the men singing, "Get ready, get ready!" I laughed to myself. I would certainly get ready for the amazing meal ahead.
Finally, dinner time came. The restaurant was narrow, but very welcoming. I remembered my first time there over the summer. I remembered meeting Christine Choy, an teacher in the cinema arts part of NYU and Oscar nominee. That was probably the closest I ever got to any form of stardom. Anyway, back to the restaurant. Cafe Espanol offered unsurpassed seafood, mostly in the form of octopus and squid. We ordered pulpo a la plancha (grilled octopus), pulpo a la gallega (octupus with olive oil and paprika), jamon (Spanish ham aged for 12 months), fried artichokes, squid in its own ink, and the authentic Spanish seafood rice, paella. Ordering it in Spanish was fun, though I'm pretty sure the waiters laughed at my pronunciation more than a few times. :) I must say that of these dishes, I was most impressed with the paella and the pulpo a la plancha. The rice was soaked with seafood flavor, bringing out an enjoyable, savory brininess. The octopus was tender, though not mushy, and laced with flavors of olive oil, chili flakes, and strong garlic. Once again, I was mesmerized. I felt guilty when one waiter offered us desserts on a platter and went through a fancy routine, only to be rejected. However, I was just too full and satisfied.
All of the places above are recommended to anyone who loves food! Next time you travel to NYC, check them out! I'll have links below. So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae
Links:
- Balthazar- http://www.balthazarny.com/
- Bisous Ciao Macaroons- https://www.bisousciao.com/home/
- The Magnolia Bakery- http://www.magnoliabakery.com/
- Amy's Bakery- http://www.amysbread.com/
- Cafe Espanol- http://cafeespanol.com/
Friday, March 7, 2014
Day 7: Wave of Nostalgia
Wow. I don't know what it is, but for the last few days, I just don't feel like blogging about food. So, here's another post about life.
As some of you might know, tonight was the Biotech's District Dance/Social. Many of my friends from middle school went to BTHS, so it was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with everyone since high school. We talked about our new schools, crazy experiences, new friends, reminisced about past years, laughed at inside jokes, and ultimately, just had a great time. It brought back memories that made me realize how much of middle school I actually still remember. That got me thinking...
Will I remember this years from now? When I'm 80 years old and in my rocking chair, will I think back to this? Will I think back to middle school, high school, college, maybe even later? Who knows what life has in store waiting? Who knows what kind of experiences are just waiting to happen? Thinking back, I remember all of the jokes and fun we had then. I think about how much everything has changed since then, and how the people I know now were not necessarily the same people I knew then. As Taylor Swift says, "everything has changed". Okay, maybe not EVERYTHING, but you get the point. We're no longer as innocent and free-spirited as we once were.
I don't want to get too sentimental here, so I won't go on for much longer. I just wanted to say that right now, it can be tough, and there are going to be hardships. But in the end, they really aren't that bad. In the long run, they just might be little mistakes that you will laugh about. I know that there are lots of those times from middle school already, and I have a feeling that there will be plenty more in high school. And if anyone has problems and you just want to vent, I'm here for you all. It's natural and completely understandable.
I don't want to get too sentimental here, so I won't go on for much longer. I just wanted to say that right now, it can be tough, and there are going to be hardships. But in the end, they really aren't that bad. In the long run, they just might be little mistakes that you will laugh about. I know that there are lots of those times from middle school already, and I have a feeling that there will be plenty more in high school. And if anyone has problems and you just want to vent, I'm here for you all. It's natural and completely understandable.
So the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Opening I from Into the Woods
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Day 6: Only Slightly Off-Topic...
At last, the day has come where I would not blog about food for once. Dinner was so simple, I found that there was nothing inspiring about it. Of course, it could also be because I'm tired, and tiredness does not help in coming up with connections between food and life. So, here's a post about life.
It's been a long week. Actually, it's been a normal week, but it felt long. I was going to say that it was because we had a completely normal week for once. Then I realized, "Oh wait, we had a delayed opening on Monday..." So there goes that. I think Mother Nature has gotten a grip on herself (though I would hate to jinx it). Maybe we won't have to worry about another blizzard rampaging past us again. After all, daylight savings time is on Sunday! Speaking of daylight savings time...
I had no idea until I looked on my calendar and saw it marked... Who knew? The days are getting longer, and the nights are getting shorter, paving the way for spring and summer! We can start thinking about not having to wear a bubble jacket and scarf everywhere we go. No need for sweatshirts; the t-shirts are being rolled out! I think I can sacrifice one hour of sleep for that one. Speaking of sleep...
Over the years, I've come to realize how precious sleep really is. Remember when we were little, and we would have to beg to stay up past 10 PM? Those were the days were sleeping at 11:30 or 12 was practically unheard of. Now, I find that I've become a night owl. I don't sleep that late (around 10:30 to 11), but considering what time school starts, it's not a lot of sleep. I really didn't appreciate the days where I could sleep early, and now I want them back. You really don't appreciate stuff until it's gone, huh?
Re-reading this post, clearly it got very off-topic. See, this is what happens when I'm tired. So, the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Limon y Sal by Julieta Venegas
It's been a long week. Actually, it's been a normal week, but it felt long. I was going to say that it was because we had a completely normal week for once. Then I realized, "Oh wait, we had a delayed opening on Monday..." So there goes that. I think Mother Nature has gotten a grip on herself (though I would hate to jinx it). Maybe we won't have to worry about another blizzard rampaging past us again. After all, daylight savings time is on Sunday! Speaking of daylight savings time...
I had no idea until I looked on my calendar and saw it marked... Who knew? The days are getting longer, and the nights are getting shorter, paving the way for spring and summer! We can start thinking about not having to wear a bubble jacket and scarf everywhere we go. No need for sweatshirts; the t-shirts are being rolled out! I think I can sacrifice one hour of sleep for that one. Speaking of sleep...
Over the years, I've come to realize how precious sleep really is. Remember when we were little, and we would have to beg to stay up past 10 PM? Those were the days were sleeping at 11:30 or 12 was practically unheard of. Now, I find that I've become a night owl. I don't sleep that late (around 10:30 to 11), but considering what time school starts, it's not a lot of sleep. I really didn't appreciate the days where I could sleep early, and now I want them back. You really don't appreciate stuff until it's gone, huh?
Re-reading this post, clearly it got very off-topic. See, this is what happens when I'm tired. So, the night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Limon y Sal by Julieta Venegas
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Day 5: What Connects Food and Life?
From a biological perspective, food gives way to life. All living things need food in order to survive. However, food and life are also connected in a variety of other ways. There is good food and bad food, just as there are good parts of life and bad parts of life. I guess what I'm really trying to say is that food has inconsistencies, just as life does.
Tonight, we had steak, green beans, and butternut squash risotto. Butternut squash looks and tastes a bit like pumpkin (for more information, click here). The risotto was what got me thinking today. While savoring the lightly sweet, cheesy, soft goodness of the dish, I thought about how much effort it takes to make it. It took a lot of work for my mom to finally get the recipe just right. Risotto is not easy to cook; it takes perseverance, time, and practice. Practice. That means that it won't be perfect every time. It'll take multiple tries to get it right, and even after the first perfect time, there will still be occasions where it's not quite right. There are two important things to know:
Tonight, we had steak, green beans, and butternut squash risotto. Butternut squash looks and tastes a bit like pumpkin (for more information, click here). The risotto was what got me thinking today. While savoring the lightly sweet, cheesy, soft goodness of the dish, I thought about how much effort it takes to make it. It took a lot of work for my mom to finally get the recipe just right. Risotto is not easy to cook; it takes perseverance, time, and practice. Practice. That means that it won't be perfect every time. It'll take multiple tries to get it right, and even after the first perfect time, there will still be occasions where it's not quite right. There are two important things to know:
- If it isn't right the first time, don't just give up on it. Give whatever you're doing time and a chance to improve. Patience is a virtue (though not mine).
- When you do get it right, don't just assume that you'll get it right every time. Once in a while, there will be blunders, and you'll just have to accept it. Consistency and perfection are very difficult to achieve together.
Being consistently good at something takes forever to do. If I could count the number of things that I'm consistently decent at, it would be on one hand, and I would have learned how to do those things since I was very little. However hard it may be to have it, though, consistency is important in one's life. By keeping certain factors constant, you can make way for other variables and leave room for failures. That way, when the time comes, you won't be left in total despair and ruin. Family is an important part of this steadiness. Your family are the people who will always be there, no matter what. It is easy to confide in them when necessary. Family is also who you have dinner with regularly, who you enjoy your food with. Coincidence? I think not.
On that note, I say good night. So night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Because of You by Kelly Clarkson
On that note, I say good night. So night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Because of You by Kelly Clarkson
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Day 4: Late at Night
Today is Tuesday, the one day that I probably eat dinner AFTER 7:30. It's my most hectic day: home for an hour, leave for tennis at 4:30, get back at 7:30, eat dinner around 8, start homework again around 8:30 (if I'm lucky). I don't have time for homework to be long, hard, time-consuming, or any combination of the three. And when it is that way, it usually results in a thoroughly irritated me who wants to rip her hair out. Not fun.
Of course, it doesn't exactly help that tonight's homework involved lots of decimals, conversions, and other stuff that I a. don't really understand, and b. don't like one bit. For the record, I'm not really a math person. I'm okay at it, but I don't like it. In short, tonight was very, very long. Again, no fun. At this point, I just give up. I have other things to be doing (like writing this blog post! :D).
Sorry for the short post again tonight. I'm tired, slightly annoyed, and mostly, just tired. So night ends now, with me writing yet another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Ever After (from "Into the Woods") (I should really get to learning my lines and stuff... I'll do that later. :P)
Monday, March 3, 2014
Day 3: Eating Sorrows Away
Dinner was no fun today. I mean, don't get me wrong, the food was great. Fried pork cutlets, spicy tofu, and spinach. The cutlets were tender and juicy, the crispy breadcrumbs adding a crunchy sparkle. The warm tofu was perfect for the cold night, keeping me cozy and satisfied. It was good food, yes. As per usual, homemade Chinese was perfect. Yet, it wasn't the food that ate away at my conscience.
I was stressed out yesterday. It was over small issues which I won't bore you with, but the more important thing is that I was stressed, and there was food. That brought up an interesting point for me. We joke around all the time and say, "Oh, just eat your sorrows away!" The problem is, we really do eat our sorrows away. Literally. That probably isn't healthy. In fact, there is actually a condition called binge-eating where one just continuously eats and eats and eats. That is no healthy way to solve your problems. If you want to eat to comfort you, that's okay. I'd be hypocritical if I said that I didn't eat to make myself feel better sometimes. The point is to know your limit.
I was stressed out yesterday. It was over small issues which I won't bore you with, but the more important thing is that I was stressed, and there was food. That brought up an interesting point for me. We joke around all the time and say, "Oh, just eat your sorrows away!" The problem is, we really do eat our sorrows away. Literally. That probably isn't healthy. In fact, there is actually a condition called binge-eating where one just continuously eats and eats and eats. That is no healthy way to solve your problems. If you want to eat to comfort you, that's okay. I'd be hypocritical if I said that I didn't eat to make myself feel better sometimes. The point is to know your limit.
I know that this post is short... Sorry. But it's really late and I realized that I didn't blog today. So the night ends now, with me writing another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Fighter by Christina Aguilera
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Day 2: An Unglamorous Way to Celebrate a Glamorous Night
Today marks the date of the 86th Annual Academy Awards! The Oscars is probably Hollywood's biggest night, with tons of stars gathering in designer outfits to salute the greatest cinema works of the year. As I'm posting this, the Red Carpet is going on, with pre-ceremony interviews and sneak peeks at the most gorgeous gowns of the night.
Tonight's meal, however, was in no way glamorous. It was a family dinner, at home in pajamas. Basically, it was the exact opposite of what Hollywood is currently in the middle of. Chinese food it was, with a steamed whole fish, stir-fry, and miso soup. Simple, yet comforting. The fish was tender and soft, not underdone, not overdone. As Goldilocks would put it, it was just right. The stir-fry was bright with crunchy, pungent celery at every bite. Miso soup, the plain Japanese tradition, was savory and warming on the cold night. As we ate, a most interesting topic came up.
In yesterday's issue of The New York Times' magazine, there was an article on some of the lesser-known actors who have to work so hard in order to gain their fame. If you think about it, it's not an easy business. There seem to be so many movie stars out there, but they only make up a small fraction of the real acting population. There are the little guys who we usually don't pay attention to. It's a tough world out there, and competition is rough. After all, at the end of the day, the Oscar only goes out to one person. I suppose I sound quite cynical by saying such a thing, but in my defense, once you think about it, it's true. The big stars get paid the big bucks, and the little guys just sit around, waiting for their turn.
Let's end on a happy note. Enjoy the Oscars! Root for your favorite actors (Go Jennifer Lawrence!) and cheer when they win! Tweet about the best dressed, the worst dressed, and everything in between! So the night ends now, with me writing another blog post. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: Say Something by A Great Big World feat. Christina Aguilera
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Day 1: Just Starting
The night started in Belmar. Somehow, I ended up in a beach town in winter, right before a massive snowstorm. What are the chances, right? Anyway, my family, my friend, Gabby, her family, and I were going out to dinner. Ragin' Cajun, a Cajun restaurant in a small run-down house. If I just passed it on the road, I never would have noticed it. Yet, here I was, tempted by the scents and aromas coming from the kitchen. Jambalaya and étouffée were just waiting for me.
The place was tiny, but the taste was giant. I decided on the "Swamp Daddy Pasta, a dish made of bow tie pasta, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, shrimp, and sausage tossed in a spicy, creamy sauce. Like classic, Cajun cuisine, it was spicy, savory, and absolutely amazing. I love spicy food, so it's perfect. As we talked and laughed the night away, it ended with more than just dinner. It became a night with a conversation that was probably spicier than the food itself.
That night turned into a mini movie marathon of films that would have otherwise been ignored. It started with the Hunchback of Notre Dame, the Classic Disney animated film about the deformed Quasimodo who has been locked in the Notre Dame cathedral by the evil Frollo. I haven't seen it in ages, but it was a nice wave of nostalgia to the good old days. Quasimodo is a hero unlike most others; he is not a classic knight in shining armor. Instead, his armor is his heart, kind and true. When he saves and falls in love with beautiful Gypsy girl Esmeralda, everything that Frollo taught him is turned upside down, and he learns the true difference between man and monster. I must say that as much as Frollo is awful and horrid, he is one pretty epic villain. He also has a killer song. Hellfire is probably a close second to The Lion King's Be Prepared. Then again, nothing beats Be Prepared. The night ended with Geek Charming, a tale of a diva queen and film geek who work together to make a movie, and it becomes pretty crazy. It starts off as a cliche, silly film, with the girl as irritating as ever. Soon, though, it turns into a cute movie that was actually quite enjoyable.
So the night ends now, with me writing this blog post. If you're interested in the restaurant listed above, check the link here. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: If My Heart Was a House by Owl City ^.^
The place was tiny, but the taste was giant. I decided on the "Swamp Daddy Pasta, a dish made of bow tie pasta, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, shrimp, and sausage tossed in a spicy, creamy sauce. Like classic, Cajun cuisine, it was spicy, savory, and absolutely amazing. I love spicy food, so it's perfect. As we talked and laughed the night away, it ended with more than just dinner. It became a night with a conversation that was probably spicier than the food itself.
That night turned into a mini movie marathon of films that would have otherwise been ignored. It started with the Hunchback of Notre Dame, the Classic Disney animated film about the deformed Quasimodo who has been locked in the Notre Dame cathedral by the evil Frollo. I haven't seen it in ages, but it was a nice wave of nostalgia to the good old days. Quasimodo is a hero unlike most others; he is not a classic knight in shining armor. Instead, his armor is his heart, kind and true. When he saves and falls in love with beautiful Gypsy girl Esmeralda, everything that Frollo taught him is turned upside down, and he learns the true difference between man and monster. I must say that as much as Frollo is awful and horrid, he is one pretty epic villain. He also has a killer song. Hellfire is probably a close second to The Lion King's Be Prepared. Then again, nothing beats Be Prepared. The night ended with Geek Charming, a tale of a diva queen and film geek who work together to make a movie, and it becomes pretty crazy. It starts off as a cliche, silly film, with the girl as irritating as ever. Soon, though, it turns into a cute movie that was actually quite enjoyable.
So the night ends now, with me writing this blog post. If you're interested in the restaurant listed above, check the link here. Until next time, this is Rachel Ma, and, in the words of Alton Brown, I bid you good eating.
Song I'm humming tonight: If My Heart Was a House by Owl City ^.^
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