chicopea

Sunset Salsa Thursdays

2011-07-02T15:42:00.006-04:00

Me and my sensei

Go Phil!

"Little russian" taking me out for a spin

Pics via Dave from Sunset Salsa Thursdays, which takes place the whole summer on 14th street and 9th ave across from the Apple Store wooohooo!

Am so excited that Dave finally has a website so go and get your salsa on!

Phil's birthday at Pulse Karaoke

2011-07-02T15:35:00.005-04:00

awww this has got to be one of my favorite pictures ever of a very jet-lagged and drunk Darren using Phil as a pillow. Thanks Kat for sharing!

New Ashiya

2011-06-25T22:42:00.005-04:00

Scavenged some long lost pics from Sarah's birthday at New Ashiya. Make sure you bring a bib for all the table slamming to drop your sake into the beer glass!

five-six-seven

2011-06-25T22:24:00.004-04:00

My first salsa pics at the Frankie Martinez social last night. Does it look like I'm dropping the f-bomb in the second pic? yeah, sometimes I do get that frustrated, but I have tons of fun along the way. Rule #1 in salsa -accept you are going to suck for a while and just go for it! Pride? What's that? Make sure to check out Dave's free intro salsa class this Tuesday!

2011-06-25T22:21:00.005-04:00

Circa cinco de mayo 2010.
Less than a week before Darren is back yipeee!

Hester Street Fair's Sunday Picnic

2011-06-15T01:18:00.008-04:00

Hanging out at the Hester Street Fair this past Sunday. We stopped by to support my salsa friends at the Jam Stand which serves all types of yummy and unique concoctions. Phil and Ryan bought the bacon and I'm already halfway through my raspberry and jalapeno jar. I got the mini version since the jar is so darn cute but am definitely going with the large next time!

171 East Broadway

2011-06-15T00:53:00.009-04:00

This weekend I passed by the apartment where I grew up in Chinatown (the beige door on the left). We lived here for 12 years before the neighborhood became trendy. Things I remember about the apartment:

It was mad haunted. If you don't believe me just ask my parents or cousins.
I shared a bunk bed with my grandma
My neighbors upstairs had a fortune cookie business
I can still recite my old telephone number, but only in chinese
Recording songs from the radio on a cassette tape
An import/export/fish monger place downstairs filled with perverts
We did not have a sofa but had a washing machine. How I would trade for that any day!

Summer Vegetable Pasta

2011-06-07T14:39:00.003-04:00

Rolling out the Be Fit meal with our chef for hospital employees, patients and their families. Our Summer Vegetable pasta was a hit and sold out completely!

Recipe via Rachel Ray:

Ingredients:

1 pound corkscrew pasta, such as rotini
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
3 zucchini (about 1 pound), thinly sliced
4 ears corn, kernels scraped off
6 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil

Smart move
Chop the basil just before using to keep it from turning black.

Directions:

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until al dente.Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and the pot.
Meanwhile, in a small skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add half of the garlic and cook until golden, about 30 seconds. Stir in the breadcrumbs and remove from the heat.
In the reserved pasta pot, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the remaining garlic and cook until golden, about 30 seconds; add the zucchini and cook, turning occasionally, until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the corn, cooked pasta and reserved 1 cup pasta cooking water. Add 1 cup cheese and toss; season with salt and pepper.
Stir the remaining cheese and the basil into the breadcrumb mixture and sprinkle on top of the pasta.

Chef Grace cooks for the You family

2011-06-06T10:23:00.015-04:00

Spent a lazy and relaxing Sunday with Grace at Ten Degrees, which has the best happy hour in town (2-for-1 everyday til 8PM - yeaaah!). I told my parents I would cook dinner yesterday and asked Grace on a whim if she would be interested in taking over. The next thing you know she is writing out the entire menu on napkins and ready to go - the alcohol must have gotten to her, poor thing ;) My parents and I were so grateful for the delicious home-cooked meal!

Prepping the salmon steaks and side dishes (Spinach, and a mixed veggie stir-fry):

The salmon was just outstanding - so flaky and bursting with flavor from the mushrooms, bell peppers, cilantro and shallots.

Thanks dearest!

Iron Sushi

2011-06-04T20:22:00.008-04:00

When H told me about the happy hour at Iron Sushi ($3 appetizers, rolls, sake, beer and wine), I made her go again two days later =P The spicy tuna was disappointing and bland but the Philadelphia roll, spicy salmon and Alaskan roll were winners. Our favorite was the yellowtail with scallions.

They also have more abstract rolls if you're into that - peanut butter, sweet potatoes, sun-dried tomato with avocado. May have to try the pumpkin tempura next time!

Wild Arugula salad

2011-06-04T19:53:00.011-04:00

Momsy and I collaborated on this beautiful salad for lunch:

Wild arugula
Avocado
Apricot
Yellow and orange bell peppers
Cannellini beans
Seaweed
Persian cucumbers (mini, seedless cucumbers)
Parmesan cheese

We used a basic balsamic and olive oil dressing with salt and fresh pepper. Yes, it tasted as good as it looks!

Stir-Fried Tofu with Mushrooms, Sugar Snap Peas, and Green Onions

2011-06-04T19:20:00.006-04:00

I find it hard to do things in moderation and consider myself an all-or-nothing type of person. Blogging is one of those things, and it was hard to find the motivation after I stopped blogging for a few weeks. Sometimes you need a break even from your favorite hobbies to get a new zest for it ;)
With my upcoming move I really want to refresh my cooking skills and have easy/healthy recipes on hand. This stir-fry tofu recipe was a snap to make and the 30 minutes it takes the tofu to marinate is exactly the right amount of time to do the prep. I'm sure a lot of people are able to slice, trim, mince and peel in a much shorter time but I actually find that part the most relaxing and take my time.

I didn't have shiitake mushrooms and used baby portebello and oyster mushrooms instead. Also used canola instead of vegetable oil and used low-sodium soy sauce. I would probably add a little more sesame oil than the recipe calls for the next time I make this. Also, it took about 5 minutes longer than the directions to cook through (I also don't like my veggies overly crunchy). This was delicious and a good way to get in lots of protein with the tofu and antioxidants from the mushrooms.

Recipe via epicurious:

3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon oriental sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 12-ounce package extra-firm tofu, drained, cut into 3/4-inch cubes, patted dry with paper towels
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon cornstarch

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
6 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps quartered
8 ounces sugar snap peas, trimmed
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
4 green onions, sliced on diagonal

Whisk first 5 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Add tofu and stir to coat; let marinate 30 minutes. Drain, reserving marinade in small bowl. Whisk 1/4 cup water and cornstarch into marinade.

Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu and sauté until golden, about 2 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer tofu to plate. Add remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to skillet. Add mushrooms and stir-fry until tender, about 3 minutes. Add sugar snap peas; stir-fry 2 minutes. Add garlic and ginger; stir-fry 30 seconds. Return tofu to skillet; drizzle reserved marinade mixture over. Stir-fry until marinade thickens slightly, about 30 seconds. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl. Sprinkle with green onions and serve.

Okemo

2011-03-10T12:17:00.004-05:00

Injury-themed cocktails

My first and only ski trip this year to Okemo was a little disappointing in terms of snow conditions - way too many moguls. With a snowboard you have to slow down and brake all day, not fun at all. The fresh air and was well worth it though. There's nothing like falling down and just letting yourself sit there to enjoy how beautiful nature is.

Pipa

2011-03-03T00:12:00.007-05:00

On my first day as a pescetarian we went out for G's birthday dinner at Pipa and we were served this. lol.

The only thing I normally would have eaten and enjoyed was the prosciutto. I was so busy loving all the other dishes like the mushroom + truffle flatbread, cheese plate, and grilled octopus that I didn't miss a thing.

Hookah night at Kush

2011-02-13T12:32:00.009-05:00

Was excited for hookah night since I don't get to hang out with the girls often - we're always at different rotations/campuses. Haven't been to Kush since my birthday there almost 2 years ago. The fruit flavor was delicious - mango and berry(?) although I swear it felt like there was real tobacco in it. One more rotation and we're at the halfway point! Can't wait for our mid-year outing.

Day 7 - Oprah Vegan Challenge

2011-02-13T02:18:00.006-05:00

My last day on the challenge was very uneventful, mostly due to poor planning! Despite having 2 snack bars, my lunch was just inadequate and left me feeling very weak and hypoglycemic by the late afternoon. I actually almost threw up. Thats not to say I did not enjoy the challenge because it really re-calibrated the way I eat. I was more aware of flavors, smells, feelings of satiety, where my food comes from and how it was made.

I was definitely ready to get back on a regular diet, but make that a lacto-ovo pescetarian (eats fish, dairy, and eggs). This is pretty much similar to how I usually eat. I have meat a handful of times a year but its not something I crave and absolutely must have. I do love fish and cheese! As for eggs, it would be really tough to not have any pastry products since ultimately food is supposed to be enjoyable :)

Day 6 - Oprah Vegan Challenge

2011-02-09T21:44:00.011-05:00

Oops. I messed up yesterday. Had a veggie burger for lunch and Rachel pointed out the bun is definitely not vegan. I totally overlooked that eggs were probably used to make it. Its a really big adjustment to think about all the foods that aren't as obvious as meat. For example - honey!

Breakfast: Multigrain rice with soy milk, goji berries, and raisins. Pre-cook a big batch of rice and use it for different dishes.

Lunch: here's that veggie burger. The veggie roll actually tasted as good as it would if it had fish.

Dinner of assorted vegetables. I got the fried tofu in chinatown.

Am addicted to these apple cranberry bran muffins from Trader Joe's which have 13 grams of fiber each for heart health, regularity and increased feeling of satiety. The recommended daily intake is 25-30 grams of fiber per day. These do not have eggs or dairy in the ingredient list but the disclaimer says "made on equipment shared with milk, egg and tree nuts."

Day 5 - Oprah Vegan Challenge

2011-02-07T22:37:00.012-05:00

Day 5 was really challenging because I had to eat out for dinner. It was the first time where I didn't have as much control over my food. Even though I eat at the hospital cafeteria for lunch everyday I can pretty much guesstimate what the menu will be. I met my college roommate for dinner, and we had to leave the first restaurant (a noodle shop) because there weren't any vegan options. You would think noodles are on the safe side, but all their soups were fish-broth based. The only thing I could have on the menu were french fries. It made me realize the challenges of the vegan diet expand beyond having to prepare food for yourself - it affects everyone who has to eat with you. Will your friends order as liberally as they normally would? Probably not.

Had this amazing date shake for breakfast. Mentally, I escaped to the Caribbean for a few minutes :) Loved the pulp bits.

Lunch: Mexican bar. Was thrilled it tasted as good as getting it with meat and sour cream.

Dinner: Ended up at Oh! Taisho in St. Mark's and the quality of the food was pretty impressive, especially the glass noodles, pumpkin fries and kimchee pot. Reasonable prices as well.

Dessert next door had 3 non-dairy options. The gelato looked darn good, but this tuttobosco sorbet hit the spot.

Day 4 - Oprah Vegan Challenge

2011-02-06T19:14:00.013-05:00

Made it past the halfway point! Am feeling lots of energy today despite having under 4 hours of sleep. I feel a heightened sense of smell and taste because I'm eating with more awareness and introducing a lot of new foods.

Breakfast/lunch - Spinach noodles with vegetable dumplings. I have never been a rice person but can have noodles everyday. Some red vinegar makes it perfect.

Mid morning snack: edamame and peanut rice balls. The chewy and sweet rice balls are massively addicting. Superbowl Sunday definitely calls for dessert in the morning!

Afternoon Snack - cucumber, tomatoes, alfafa sprouts with hummus on whole wheat wrap. I liked this wrap a lot but was a little disappointed with the hummus (Yorgos). Will stick with my favorite brand next time (Sabra).

A lot of coconut waters out there have a bad smelly-feet taste. This one is soooo good and has extra pulp, some fiber and potassium. It has a nice sweetness to it and no added sugar. Bonus: effective for hangover relief and has less sugar than sports drinks.

Dinner: Tofu curry with broccoli, pumpkin, onions, bell peppers. I used vegetable broth, curry powder and light coconut milk. Relieved the light coconut milk gave the dish enough flavor. Whenever possible I do try to walk the walk and choose healthier options. I added some brown sugar, lime juice and cornstarch slurry to thicken it up.

Day 3 - Oprah Vegan Challenge

2011-02-06T12:11:00.014-05:00

Breakfast shake: 1/2 orange, 1/2 banana, 1/2 tomato, cherries, kiwi and cilantro. Even when I'm not on any special diet I have a fruit shake on the weekends for breakfast. I'm a huge breakfast person so the shakes do not hold me over and I usually have lunch about an hour later.

Lunch: Vermicelli noodles

Had a cup of this Yam powder drink (3 gram protein, 1 gram fiber per serving). Other ingredients include brown rice, oats, wheat germ, sugar, milk powder, black sesame and vanilla powder. Delicious!

Went to The Nut Box on 8th street to load up on snacks and things I can add for breakfast. I've never liked nuts but I'm trying to broaden my horizons a bit to get in some extra protein, antioxidants and omega-3. This last year I started to semi-like peanut butter so anything is possible!

Dinner was definitely not typical. I was babysitting for 10 hours and didn't really come prepared since the parents usually get home earlier. I brought 2 clementines and had this Clif Bar which I shared with baby H. Also had Stacy Pita chips and some random things I found in the fridge - cantaloupe, broccoli with water chestnut, 1/2 red bell pepper, some orange juice.

At the midway point, am feeling excited about eating less mindlessly and actually tasting my food. My face is less bloated :) The biggest challenge is that a vegan diet takes a moderate amount of planning, especially when you're away from home like I was last night. Am going to try to cook some meals today.

Day 2 - Oprah Vegan Challenge

2011-02-05T11:51:00.008-05:00

I was definitely hungrier than I was on day 1 - had half a luna bar in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. It really reinforced the importance of snacking! After din I felt tons of gas. Like the type that would catapult you to the moon lol. One of the rules about fiber in the diet is that you have to add it in slowly otherwise there will be major GI upset. Am feeling much better today and cleaner in my gut:) I'm excited to take a trip to the supermarket today to explore!

Oatmeal with soy milk, bananas, raisins and cinnamon. At work I tried to double up on caffeine since I'm not used to not having coffee yet. I used two green tea bags - huge mistake since I ended up feeling nauseous for about half an hour!

Lunch - Fridays are our busiest since we work ahead and see patients that are due on the weekend. I didn't take lunch until 2:15. The vegetarian chili was very satisfying. More green tea - I learned my lesson and just used one bag this time!

Dinner - almost the same ingredients as yesterday except I added bean curd. It comes dehydrated and you have to soak it before cooking. It is a staple in chinese cooking and goes well with almost any dish. Also added snap peas.

Day 1 - Oprah Vegan Challenge

2011-02-03T20:53:00.012-05:00

To kick off the Chinese New Year today, I am taking on Oprah's Vegan Challenge! One week of no animal products (dairy, fish, meat or eggs). While a vegan lifestyle is voluntary, it'll make me more aware of having dietary restrictions - something that most patients have to work with since they're on therapeutic diets. Will do my best to document for the whole week!

Breakfast - whole wheat bread with bananas, peanut butter and blueberry jelly. Green tea at work - making an effort to cut out coffee, plus it wouldn't taste as good without milk. Didn't feel hungry at all til lunch.

Lunch 12:30- ran straight to the salad bar. Expanded my horizons and added soy nuts and dried cranberries. Had another banana and green tea. Felt a moment of weakness when I craved the Edy's fro-yo until Megan said she would support me and not have fro-yo too. Aww what a sweetheart (even though I encouraged her to get what she wanted)!

Lunch kept me pretty full til around 4:30 when I had a Clif bar kids in chocolate brownie - soooo good and under a buck a pop at Trader Joe's!

Dinner was stir-fry tofu, black fungus, pumpkin, chinese mushrooms and vermicelli with some sweet chili sauce and low sodium soy sauce.

Snack: clementines and a cup of almond milk.

Overall I'm pretty happy I wasn't lethargic or starving today. It was easy to forget that a lot of foods I eat out of habit are non-vegan (yogurt, cheese, cream soups). A vegan diet can be filled with junk food but I'm definitely trying to make it as healthy as possible by eating more fruits and veggies :)

five star

2011-02-03T20:10:00.008-05:00

We were so lucky to have D in town and a feast prepared for us by Chef Phil! (Make sure you sign up on his site to receive amazing deals when it launches). Warning: if you're hungry you may want to close this page now or you might punch someone. I do not want to be in the line of fire. Brace yourself for the menu:

Imported Italian Burrata, Vine Riped Tomatoes and Basil sprinkled with extra virgin olice oil. (Inspired by Traditional Old World Recipe)

Proscuitto, Brasola, Roasted Peppers, Artichoke Hearts, Parmesan. (Inspired by Old Mafia Friends of the Gambino Family)

Shallot dusted Bluefin Tuna Avocado Tartar drizzled with Sake Soy Wasabi Sauce. (Inspired by Celebrity Chef Laurent Tourondel from BLT Group)

Nobu Miso Black Cod (Inspired by Celebrity Chef Nobu Matsuhisa)

Asparagus alla Milanese con Olio Del Tartufo. (Inspired by Celebrity Chef Mario Batali with a Chef Phil twist)

Short Rib Ragu Papperdelle. (Inspired by Iron Chef Bobby Flay)

We were spoiled rotten. Thanks Phil! What a drag to go back to everyday food.

a little reminder....

2011-02-02T21:45:00.003-05:00

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

- Reinhold Niebuhr

smells like teen spirit

2011-01-27T23:00:00.006-05:00

At Bond no.9 to help D choose a custom fragrance. The scents are unisex and the staff super friendly.

Since we couldn't decide we went to Double Crown to sniff each other's wrists and do more customizing at the bloody mary bar. Who knew some ginger makes a bloody mary complete! After taking a break we unanimously decided on West Side. Runner ups: Bond No. 9 (their signature scent) and Astor Place.