There's something to be said about having a meal that was made by your grandmother.
Everyone at lunch looks on in envy, for they all know the kind of loving care that went into making the delicious entree.
That, or the fact that you're eating a bottomless pit of spaghettini, that you never quite finish, and end up packing for tomorrows lunch...
I am so full right now.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Foodie Blogger Meme
It's May!!! Time for a foodie Meme.
What is your favorite meal to prepare?
Depends on the mood, really. I made a really great anchovy-garlic-balsamic dressing at M's house a couple days ago. Last night I attempted to make pisalladerie last night, but all I had were sweet and red onions (and not enough, at that). I'll probably make it sometime this weekend in an attempt to carb up for the Marathon. I guess right now I like fresh, simple things?
Is there a food that you indulge in when you know you shouldn't?
Cheese. I buy cheese when I know I shouldn't - be it too rich, be it that I have some at home already (but not this particular type!), be it that I am training for an event and need to cut down on the fat. I always end up eating it in limited amounts, until it molds. Then I cut off the mold and snack a little. Then it molds again and I process continues until I splurge on another hunk of delicious, exotic cheese.
What food always reminds you home?
I suppose I should answer this in a couple months. But my mother actually doesn't cook as much. She buys a lot of "butchers goodies", which includes roast pork, bbq pork, roast duck, and vegetarian / gluten food. I suppose that steamed eggs with duck or salted yolks in it, or vermicelli with gingered baby choys (bok choy or gai choy) reminds me of something so simple, so real as home.
What's the perfect snack?
Fresh veg or lightly blanched vegetables - where you can *taste* the essence of the food, without the adulteration of sauces, dips, or other masking agents. Mmmm. I have cherry tomatoes in the fridge for my morning break today.
What was your most memorable meal?
There are so many. I had a really romantic meal with M earlier this year, at Chambar. I can still remember what the perfectly seared sablefish tasted like when M fed me over the table, and the playful flavours of the passionfruit sundae, especially when I mixed it with the (REAL!) chocolate from M's apple dessert. *insert Homer Simpson drool here* Another memorable meal, was Christmas dinner from three years ago. Everyone put aside their differences, and the food was plentiful and delicious. All the cousins were together, we all joked around, and people enjoyed themselves. Mains were prime rib and ham. Someone brought a whole suckling pig. And of course, I made lots of appetizers, sides and hor d'oevres. Loved it.
When you are out at a restaurant or bar, what's your drink of choice?
At a restaurant, a nice glass of wine to go with my meal. At a bar, I just have to start off on jager-bombs. When I feel buzzed enough from that, then its on to long island iced teas.
What's your favorite restaurant and what do you order there?
I have to pick one??! The world is so boring when you only have one.
What three things are always in your refrigerator?
Milk, butter, eggs.
Do you have a comfort food?
Pasta. Pasta with ham in soup, pasta with pesto. Pasta with tomato rose sauce, pasta with meatballs in tomato sauce.
What are you having for dinner tonight?
We're going to the Gastown Mavi launch party tonight. Later we'll be going down the street to Guu Otokomae for some ebi mayo, salmon and seven friends, black cod steak, kimchi rice bowl, and other delicious, mouth watering appys. Can`t wait!!!
What is your favorite meal to prepare?
Depends on the mood, really. I made a really great anchovy-garlic-balsamic dressing at M's house a couple days ago. Last night I attempted to make pisalladerie last night, but all I had were sweet and red onions (and not enough, at that). I'll probably make it sometime this weekend in an attempt to carb up for the Marathon. I guess right now I like fresh, simple things?
Is there a food that you indulge in when you know you shouldn't?
Cheese. I buy cheese when I know I shouldn't - be it too rich, be it that I have some at home already (but not this particular type!), be it that I am training for an event and need to cut down on the fat. I always end up eating it in limited amounts, until it molds. Then I cut off the mold and snack a little. Then it molds again and I process continues until I splurge on another hunk of delicious, exotic cheese.
What food always reminds you home?
I suppose I should answer this in a couple months. But my mother actually doesn't cook as much. She buys a lot of "butchers goodies", which includes roast pork, bbq pork, roast duck, and vegetarian / gluten food. I suppose that steamed eggs with duck or salted yolks in it, or vermicelli with gingered baby choys (bok choy or gai choy) reminds me of something so simple, so real as home.
What's the perfect snack?
Fresh veg or lightly blanched vegetables - where you can *taste* the essence of the food, without the adulteration of sauces, dips, or other masking agents. Mmmm. I have cherry tomatoes in the fridge for my morning break today.
What was your most memorable meal?
There are so many. I had a really romantic meal with M earlier this year, at Chambar. I can still remember what the perfectly seared sablefish tasted like when M fed me over the table, and the playful flavours of the passionfruit sundae, especially when I mixed it with the (REAL!) chocolate from M's apple dessert. *insert Homer Simpson drool here* Another memorable meal, was Christmas dinner from three years ago. Everyone put aside their differences, and the food was plentiful and delicious. All the cousins were together, we all joked around, and people enjoyed themselves. Mains were prime rib and ham. Someone brought a whole suckling pig. And of course, I made lots of appetizers, sides and hor d'oevres. Loved it.
When you are out at a restaurant or bar, what's your drink of choice?
At a restaurant, a nice glass of wine to go with my meal. At a bar, I just have to start off on jager-bombs. When I feel buzzed enough from that, then its on to long island iced teas.
What's your favorite restaurant and what do you order there?
I have to pick one??! The world is so boring when you only have one.
What three things are always in your refrigerator?
Milk, butter, eggs.
Do you have a comfort food?
Pasta. Pasta with ham in soup, pasta with pesto. Pasta with tomato rose sauce, pasta with meatballs in tomato sauce.
What are you having for dinner tonight?
We're going to the Gastown Mavi launch party tonight. Later we'll be going down the street to Guu Otokomae for some ebi mayo, salmon and seven friends, black cod steak, kimchi rice bowl, and other delicious, mouth watering appys. Can`t wait!!!
Friday, April 27, 2007
My Hunnee is Funnee.....
Went to Guu again last night, this time the one in Gastown.
This one is *very* different from the Robson and Thurlow locations, being that it is a larger, more comfortable space, with contempory seating arrangements, larger bar area and dark wood and brickwork throughout the restaurant. What's more, is that there are two levels to the restaurant, and large windows that apparently open up in the summer months. (I can already tell that I'll be back many a time in the summer.)
What remains the same is the loud, rambuctous energy that the staff and restaurant has - the place should be endorsed by a cough syrup / throat lozenge company, as all staff yell out and confirm orders, and bill requests.
It was a good deal ($20 + tax & tip) with excellent eats. Perhaps it was because we had a group "tasting menu" that the food was a little more mainstream, but it was delicious nonetheless:
Guu with Otokomae
375 Water Street [map]
Vancouver BC
Phone: 604-685-8682
This one is *very* different from the Robson and Thurlow locations, being that it is a larger, more comfortable space, with contempory seating arrangements, larger bar area and dark wood and brickwork throughout the restaurant. What's more, is that there are two levels to the restaurant, and large windows that apparently open up in the summer months. (I can already tell that I'll be back many a time in the summer.)
What remains the same is the loud, rambuctous energy that the staff and restaurant has - the place should be endorsed by a cough syrup / throat lozenge company, as all staff yell out and confirm orders, and bill requests.
It was a good deal ($20 + tax & tip) with excellent eats. Perhaps it was because we had a group "tasting menu" that the food was a little more mainstream, but it was delicious nonetheless:
- Cold Spinach Salad with Black Sesame Dressing
- Cold Tofu Salad with Chicken, Bean sprouts, julienned cucumber
- Sashimi (Yellowtail, Whole Prawn, and Salmon) & Mesclun Salad
- BBQ Kalbi
- Warm Spinach Salad w/ Mushrooms, Garnished with Garlic Chips
- Grilled Garlic Pork Skewers
- BBQ Short Ribs
- Ebi Mayo
- Halibut Cheek Karaage (oh my god this was so good - my family would lurve this.)
- Deep Fried Brie with Mango Coulis & ripe Kiwifruit
- Beef Tataki
- Okonomi-Yaki
- Kimchi & Spinach fried rice in an earthenware bowl - this was mixed at the table and the hot bowl made the bottom layer of rice crisp. Soooo good.
Dude, I am so going to Kitanoya Guu for my birthday or to celebrate after I do my Half Marathon. And I'm pulling people along with me, so that we can have the same huge meal. haha!!!
375 Water Street [map]
Vancouver BC
Phone: 604-685-8682
The boyfriend is funny. Remember all those yummy delicious samples we got from the tradeshow last week? I called TM from the skytrain, and also when I got back home. Here's an excerpt (Me. TM.)
Me.I'm home! That was a friggin' good meal! And for $26!
Well. At least you had a good meal!
Why? What did you have for dinner?
I haven't had dinner yet. Oh. You know those crackers we got from that show last week?
What! You ate them without me?!?
I left you like, six. Anyways, they're kind of bland.
(there's a hesitated choke. Then I burst out laughing.)
What.
hahaha. You suck hunnee!!! It's like, you were eating them and realized you had only ten left. And then you thought that you'd save them for me. But you couldn't help yourself and ate four more.
(snickers, reluctant sigh) basically.
Yeah, you were like, "oh crap, there's so few left - pulls one out of your mouth, wipes it dry. Gotta save this."
hehehe...Yeah. 'hey Summer (his cat) give that back!'
You suck hunnee!!
How well do you have to know someone before you can understand all that happening?
Friday, April 13, 2007
TGIF!! & Stories about Aliens.
It's FRIDAY!!!!!!!!
Just had two huge soft tacos from a local fast food joint near work. They were cheap and big, but seriously lacking in flavour. You *know* something's wrong when you drive 5 minutes back to the office with your lunch in the car and there are no yummy smells emanating from the bag of food. But! The Pico de Gallo was pretty damned good. And the tortilla chips were warm.
Made a presentation to a client this morning. I had the wrong vision for his marketing. I envisioned something very different, very inventive, something that was a twist on the ordinary.
He wanted brand marketing. Which is fine...everything went ok and I was humbled by his energy and ventures. It sounded like a great idea!
Some things that make me wonder are those people that you encounter in life that *claim* to love food. They exclaim, "that's so good! That's so delicious!" Usually it's food that I've made or served to them, and I know that they're being polite...but let's face it. They don't love it. It's not that good to them. They don't enjoy eating. They eat to live.
I live to eat. So these people are pretty damned interesting to me. What makes them tick? How do they do it? How do they make it through life looking all sallow and gaunt and disinterested? Even as a child, I remembered eating joyfully, loving foods that my mother made and relishing in the different textures and flavours of food. I remember eating chocolate pudding for the first time and dreaming about it - the deliciously sweet flavour and smooth silky texture stayed on my mind for days. I dreamt that my grandmother was babysitting me and my brother and flicked open the tin of baking powder and spooned out the velvety dessert. The next day, I demanded that my mother give me the chocolate pudding that I was so adamently sure was inside that tin of baking powder.
So yes...what do these people live for? I've encountered them several times. TM's neices and nephews. Even Ms B...she once asked me, "don't you wish there was a pill you could take that would encompass the days' meals?" I looked at her like she was an alien with six huge eyeballs for heads as she continued, "Eating is such a waste of time! First you have to shop for it, then you have to make it, then you have to eat it..."
Good god! Eating is one of those things that I hope I could never be without! I love eating - I love the flavours, the textures, the feeling it gives you. Good food...makes you feel good. And I love feeling good!
I pity the toddlers and the seniors who cannot chew, and probably cannot taste as much as they will / did. I pity the cold and flu sufferers who cannot taste the amazing array of foods that I can. And I pity the ignorant who are unwilling to experience and immerse themselves in the culture and history of authentic foods.
Long live food!!!
Because I, for one, live to eat.
Just had two huge soft tacos from a local fast food joint near work. They were cheap and big, but seriously lacking in flavour. You *know* something's wrong when you drive 5 minutes back to the office with your lunch in the car and there are no yummy smells emanating from the bag of food. But! The Pico de Gallo was pretty damned good. And the tortilla chips were warm.
Made a presentation to a client this morning. I had the wrong vision for his marketing. I envisioned something very different, very inventive, something that was a twist on the ordinary.
He wanted brand marketing. Which is fine...everything went ok and I was humbled by his energy and ventures. It sounded like a great idea!
Some things that make me wonder are those people that you encounter in life that *claim* to love food. They exclaim, "that's so good! That's so delicious!" Usually it's food that I've made or served to them, and I know that they're being polite...but let's face it. They don't love it. It's not that good to them. They don't enjoy eating. They eat to live.
I live to eat. So these people are pretty damned interesting to me. What makes them tick? How do they do it? How do they make it through life looking all sallow and gaunt and disinterested? Even as a child, I remembered eating joyfully, loving foods that my mother made and relishing in the different textures and flavours of food. I remember eating chocolate pudding for the first time and dreaming about it - the deliciously sweet flavour and smooth silky texture stayed on my mind for days. I dreamt that my grandmother was babysitting me and my brother and flicked open the tin of baking powder and spooned out the velvety dessert. The next day, I demanded that my mother give me the chocolate pudding that I was so adamently sure was inside that tin of baking powder.
So yes...what do these people live for? I've encountered them several times. TM's neices and nephews. Even Ms B...she once asked me, "don't you wish there was a pill you could take that would encompass the days' meals?" I looked at her like she was an alien with six huge eyeballs for heads as she continued, "Eating is such a waste of time! First you have to shop for it, then you have to make it, then you have to eat it..."
Good god! Eating is one of those things that I hope I could never be without! I love eating - I love the flavours, the textures, the feeling it gives you. Good food...makes you feel good. And I love feeling good!
I pity the toddlers and the seniors who cannot chew, and probably cannot taste as much as they will / did. I pity the cold and flu sufferers who cannot taste the amazing array of foods that I can. And I pity the ignorant who are unwilling to experience and immerse themselves in the culture and history of authentic foods.
Long live food!!!
Because I, for one, live to eat.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Mmmmmm. Fluffy.
I work in a consulting business for a woman who has worked in the food business for the past two? Three? Decades.
Anyways. We have a new project that I've been working on, and it is so not Westcoast. Usually the products we get are healthy, energizing, organic / Kosher / gmo-free products.
This project?Is all about NOT-healthy. Not organic. Not sugar free.
Just recently (about 5 minutes ago), I was introduced to marshmallow creme.
OMFGDC (figure that one out) this shit is good! and FLUFFY! If angel wings and fluffy sunny summer clouds could be embodied in a food, it would be branded Marshmallow Creme.
I have been living a sheltered life without Marshmallow Creme - I have always passed it by in the supermarket, imagining it to be a marshmallow, liquified...but now, I want to take it around the world and enjoy it in crepes, in fluffy pb sandwiches, with nutella and all things sinfully sugary and sweet
....
yes. It is the sugar talking, not me.
I've been listening to The Secret on CD. I love the messages they provide. Think positive! Be positive! Manifest your positive feelings and do great things! Attract the things you want by only knowing positive!
Ok. Not so sure if it's the sugar talking anymore. Stay tuned
Anyways. We have a new project that I've been working on, and it is so not Westcoast. Usually the products we get are healthy, energizing, organic / Kosher / gmo-free products.
This project?Is all about NOT-healthy. Not organic. Not sugar free.
Just recently (about 5 minutes ago), I was introduced to marshmallow creme.
OMFGDC (figure that one out) this shit is good! and FLUFFY! If angel wings and fluffy sunny summer clouds could be embodied in a food, it would be branded Marshmallow Creme.
I have been living a sheltered life without Marshmallow Creme - I have always passed it by in the supermarket, imagining it to be a marshmallow, liquified...but now, I want to take it around the world and enjoy it in crepes, in fluffy pb sandwiches, with nutella and all things sinfully sugary and sweet
....
yes. It is the sugar talking, not me.
I've been listening to The Secret on CD. I love the messages they provide. Think positive! Be positive! Manifest your positive feelings and do great things! Attract the things you want by only knowing positive!
Ok. Not so sure if it's the sugar talking anymore. Stay tuned
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