My Life Was So Different A Week Ago

What I do now:

Study, Eat, Poop, Sleep

What I did last week (including really quick reviews!):

Went to Jason’s Deli because they are delicious, make (fake) po’boys, and remind of Sweet Tomatoes (my favorite!).

The next morning I went to Noshville for brunch with Yash. Surprisingly, lox and scrambled eggs is a tasty combo. If the creative juices were really flowing, I would’ve put the eggs, lox, latkes, and cream cheese on the bagel, and had a bagel that could’ve easily obtained ultimate-status. Note to self: do that next time.

Went to Goten for Zack’s birthday dinner. Goten is a sorry excuse for a teppanyaki restaurant; even the ones in Fresno (particularly Edo-ya) are leagues ahead in terms of show, taste, and value.

Salt water and mushrooms = soup? No, it = fail.

Hooray for volcanoes!

This chicken contains pineapple. Pineapples are filler for what could’ve been more chicken. I want meat, dammit! Also of note, the dipping sauces are ketchup and terriyaki sauce. KETCHUP. Let that sink in. I’ll remind you that this is a Japanese establishment. Ok. Time to move on. TIME FOR PICTURES OF MAH FRENZ!

They were dressed the same.

This is a cute accessory.

How can you not love this face?

The birthday boy and his pinata. It was a one-shot decapitation; this is the strength that comes with going to the gym. Weight room!

I sorta stopped remembering things at this point. Or wait…it might’ve been the liquid cocaines. Yeeah, I probably stopped remembering stuff after having four of them. I might not be able to return to Hollywood Disco–not because I could’ve been banned, but because if I go I’ll be tempted to get more liquid cocaines. And frankly, after that weekend, I need to grow up.

And so, I’ve adopted this grown-up schedule: study, eat, poop, sleep.

It feels good to be a mature adult.

I’ve Become A Sellout!

It’s official: I’m a tool. I’ve fallen for The Man’s tricks.

I received a package from Foodbuzz containing a new product from Quaker Oats, a fancy schmancy cereal bar, and…I liked it! How could this have happened? I initially thought it would just be great to get free food, and I would laugh when my plan to swindle the corporations into giving me free food succeeded. But now, the tables have turned, and I may actually consider buying these cereal bars when they come out (given a situation where I have money to buy them). I guess that plan blew up in my face. It could’ve been due to the nice paper-like wrapper that reminded me of all expensive food products. Or it could’ve been my surprise at how the banana coconut (WTF?) bar was actually tasty. Somewhere, I had let my guard down and been taken in by the corportations.

And now I’ve lost all hipster credibility! All those years of listening to indie music, supporting mom-and-pop hole-in-the-wall restaurants, wearing American Apparel, buying Apple products–they’re worthless! I’m no longer a unique individual like the legions of hipsters who make the world a better place, one free-trade coffee at a time.

I hang my head in shame. But you know what? In 15 or 20 years, if (or when!) I’m accepting vacations to Hawaii and the Bahamas courtesy of big pharma, this instance of selling out to Quaker won’t be so bad.

Christmas Dinner (It’s Only A Month Late)

So why am I posting about Christmas dinner almost a month after it occurred? For a variety of reasons: 1. I have a huge stockpile of pictures from winter break that I need to post and I decided to start with this one, 2. there’s never a bad time to post about good food, and 3. I don’t care about Christmas so I don’t care if it’s a month late.

That’s right. Christmas can suck it.

It’s a consumerist’s holiday that brings out the shallow and superficial sides out of people (pretending to be good) and it makes to stores crowded and then I get pissed at everyone because I want to shop in peace and not have to use my people-whacking skills to knock everyone out of my way.

Christmas is, however, good for one thing: getting the family together for a good meal. And nothing beats hot pot on a cold (at least in California terms) winter night.

The spread usually includes various leafy veggies, noodles, tofu, sliced meats, and meatballs of sorts accompanied by dipping sauces. It’s sorta like Japanese shabu shabu, except it’s got more variety for a smaller price.

For a meal that doesn’t overtly emphasize carbs, it’s suprisingly easy to get stuffed eating just meatballs and veggies. I’m always amazed to see my mom (who’s 5′5″ and 105 lbs.) finish up everything long after everyone else has called it quits. It’s downright shameful to see someone almost half my size eat at least twice as much. I guess I can find some solace in the fact that I can always eat more burritos and tacos than her. But that’s cuz she hates Mexican food. Hooray for technicalities!

P.S. If anyone has a portable grill and wants to have an old-fashioned hot-pot-in, let me know! I’ll be available…in 3 weeks, after my test.

I’m Hongry

I wish I had some Golden Cheesecake from 99 Ranch Market. So fluffy, so non-cheesecake-like, so delicious.

Or maybe some Portuguese egg tarts would hit the spot. I can’t believe the Chinese didn’t think of crisping and caramelizing the tops of egg tarts before.

I don’t think I should have pictures like this as my desktop background; it’s probably the reason I’m always hungry. What can I say? I’m a glutton.

The Boba Party

After spending hours making boba and tea, and after having my friends indulge in them, I was finally able to shamelessy flaunt my skillz and delicious tea. My ego did lots of growing tonight. It was great.

And I even have pictures to prove I have friends! Food is the most awesomest way to make friends, and I’m sure anyone who’s cooked for people will know that people love to have friends who make food. Unless those people have had gastric bypass surgery and have no more tastebuds. To that: well…I don’t know what to say.

I apologize to Frances, Johnny, and Carorine for taking turrible pictures. This is why I’m not allowed to take pictures of people.

I think my little tea party tonight was kinda like Foodbuzz’s 24, 24, 24 event, even though I’m not quite sure if I grasp the concept: is it 24 dinners in 24 hours…with 24 friends? If that’s the case, my event would be like a 1, 5, 8 event: me + 5 hours prep + 8(omgimsopopular!) friends. You can tell I don’t read the emails I get from Foodbuzz; I’m probably too busy to do a coordinated event like that. Studying (or procrastinatin) usually takes up most of my time.

Speaking of which: I should be nearing panic mode soon–my cumulative final (7 months of material) is coming up on Friday the 13th (!) of February. During panic mode, I will be cramming as much information about the human pathological condition and medicine as possible into my tiny brain. Or will be updating the blog constantly.

But enough of the digression. I believe I was talking about tea parties. I made batches of Thai Tea, EMW House Special Milk Tea (which uses a mix of Assam and Darjeeling leaves), and Jasmine Green Tea. It’s not the same as what I would normally get at the tea shop, but it makes me appreciate the differences between tea brewed by steeping in hot water and tea brewed using an esspresso machine. The latter definitely creates a more intense flavor and is infinitely easier to use, especially when making iced teas.

Hopefully, I’ve gotten my friends accustomed to better tasting drinks, and they will no longer have a desire to go to Fat Straw. I don’t really have anything against them, but I just like showing people what good tea tastes like. It’s just too bad I won’t be having another tea party for a while. Sucks for them.

It’s Boba Time Again!

I’m making boba Wednesday. This is what I do instead of studying. I heart procrastination.

It’s also a good way to subvert Fat Straw and their subpar boba.