Wheresthehummus.com

I'm back

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:10:00 +0000

So I got a random tweet from an old friend in Cleveland (and subsequent email) telling me that I need to blog again. Umm, I don't know what kind of peyote he was smoking, but it did get me thinking. Its been almost two years since I moved to Chicago, started a new job, and subsequently realized that I had no time to blog... at all. But during those past two years, there were a number of random thoughts that I've been wanting to talk about, but didn't have the time.

So here is my ADD riddled hodgepodge...

- I work with some smart, smart people, but what I love the most is that our little social media team is the funniest bunch of people I've ever worked with. I love coming to work in the morning....

- Social media was interesting when I was in PR, but having real budgets and people who can build out crazy experiences is WAY MORE IMPORTANT. (Ok, I'm done talking about work now)...

- Carlie still lets me into the house, which is a good thing. How did she put up with me for this long? No clue...

- Chicago is an awesome city, but its not the food, or the architecture, its the people. Everyone here is nice, and even the hipsters aren't all that pretentious. Ok, they're still pretentious...

- New York, on the other hand, thats a different story. I just don't get it....

- Cleveland is underrated. All my friends here are sick of me talking about how much I love the CLE, but I do. Leaving Cleveland, I realize now, was like leaving home for college. I left thinking I would be alright on my own, doing my own thing, but I realized that sometimes I just need a home cooked meal (Greenhouse?), a nice beverage (VTR!!), and a place to do laundry. I can't believe that I"m saying this, but its become home...

- My sister had a baby a few months ago. She is the cutest thing I have ever seen, and while I don't get to see her that much, I would step in front of a train for her.

- I have reestablished my love for live music. I still don't get to as many shows as I would like, but I keep dragging Carlie, and she still doesn't seem to mind (with the minor exception of Lollapalooza.... in a rainstorm.... that lasted hours). I 'm going to have to pay that one back for a while, me thinks...

- I went to a proper college football game recently. Notre Dame v. Michigan State. I never cared about college football, but I get it now. I'm just not rooting for OSU. I can't do it....

- How come I always end up sitting next to the woman stinking of deep fried death every morning on the bus?

- Am I a bad person for thinking that Feline AIDS is funny? I don't know why, but every time I think of FAIDS, I laugh my ass off. Yeah, I know... I'm totally going to hell.

So thats the past two years. Talk to you in 2013.

My Favorite Place in Cleveland

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:11:00 +0000

What is sentimentality? I mean, I’m not a sentimental kind of guy. OK, maybe I’m a helpless romantic who cries at sappy movies (or those make-a-wish stories on SportsCenter), but overall, I’m not that sentimental. That being said, as I’m getting ready to make the big move to Chicago, I’m starting to think about what I love about this place I call home.

When I think about what I’m going to miss the most, the truth is that there are two places that I love for almost the same reason. The first is our friend’s Beth and Buddy’s backyard. When the weather gets warmer, it is are defacto meeting place. It was where we would end up grilling some great food, tell jokes and enjoy a beer or two. Of course it is about the company. We have the greatest group of friends, and while there are always stories of drama (generally revolving around our jobs, lives, yard work, or that damn deer that eats all of Beth’s vegetables), we would last till the wee hours of the morning (or until the wood in the fire pit ran out) laughing at the hysterics.

While I know that I’m not going to be able to replicate whatever it is I love about that place, I will make a point of trying. If not, I will just have to drag the crew out to Chicago at some point and make sure there is a fire pit, a bucket of cold beer and a grill somewhere. The stories and the laughter- well that’s the easy part.

The Cleveland Food Bucket List

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:00:00 +0000

For a while now, I've thought if I only had one day left in Cleveland, what would I do? where would I go? and most importantly, what would I eat? (shocked aren't you).

When thinking about this in the abstract, it seems like a genius idea. One day. One City. Go to town.

I've thought about this for awhile, debating the order, location, menu choices, etc. But as this is now a reality (I don't have too much time left in the Cleve), this may not have been the greatest idea. To do this right, I would consume something in the range of 35 billion calories in one day. When your friends who like to eat tell you this is ridiculous (in this instance, Adam and Buddy), maybe it needs to be spread over a longer period of time.

Unfortunately, that isn't nearly as fun as doing it all in one day, but I do want to live to see Chicago and my new job, but if health wasn't a concern, and I had one day to dive in gluttony style, here is the ultimate day of eating in the Cle: Nader style...

Breakfast:

Lucky's Cafe: Waffles. During the summer, their waffles are topped with peaches, Chantilly cream, and caramel. Coupled with a coffee the size of my head, there is nothing in the world that makes me happier on a Sunday morning. An excellent way to start the Day.

Lunch:

Lola /Lolita/Bar Symon: The Lola Burger. In deference to other all others, this is the greatest burger in the entire world. Period. Good meat, topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, pickled onions, and a fried egg (cooked in bacon fat), and served on a grilled English muffin (the lack of English muffin is why I couldn't, in good conscious, pick BSpot. I dig me some Bspot, but the English muffin makes this for me). Not that Michael Symon needs more press, but he nails it every time with this classic. I love good food, but a burger is a special thing in my eyes. And this burger stands alone.

Mid-Afternoon Snack (this is my day, and I can do what I want):

The Greenhouse Tavern: Chicken Wings. Why Chicken wings you ask? Why not go to one of those places that deep fries thousands of wings a day and offers you 30 different flavors to choose from? Because these are perfect. The meat falls off the bone, and the taste is exactly what I would want. Spicy, with a hint of garlic and scallions. They just need to be enjoyed.

Second Mid- Afternoon Snack (not only is this my day, I'm also indecisive):

The Flying Fig: Tempura Green Beans. To be honest, the Fig has a special place in my heart. Carlie and I love to eat and this was one of the first restaurants we ever went to together. In fact, we spent our first wedding anniversary here. The Tempura Green Beans is just one of those things, that seem interesting before you order them, and once you try it, its something that you will never to order if you ever go back.

Dinner:

L'Abratros: Mussels with Pomme Frites. Simply, its one of the closest things I've had that reminds me of visiting my family in Belgium. On top of that, they throw on some garlic mayonnaise for fun. How could I not pick this? Its a no brainer.

Dessert:

Again a two-parter. We start with a Coffee cupcake from Cookie and Cupcake. Which is then topped by a scoop (or 4) of Jeni's Gravel Road. While this does not exist at a restaurant currently, at this point of the night, if you actually ate all of this, you are probably in a food coma, and eating this at your house is probably a smart idea.

Honorable Mentions:

Chicken and Biscuits at Crop
Sunnyside Pizza at Bar Cento
Pineapple Guacamole at Momocho

So, now I'm hungry. But truthfully, there is no way I could even think about this in one day, so I've spread them out for my remaining time here in Cleveland. To my friends in the 216, what am I forgetting? Let me know what you think needs to be added.

A New Adventure...

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:04:00 +0000

To those who I see on a daily basis, this might be some old news, but I was asked to hold off announcing what are amounting to some extreme life changes going on in Chez Ali-Hassan. So here it is…

I’ve decided to accept a position with Razorfish in Chicago as the Associate Director, Social Media.

It was a tough decision to leave Cleveland. This is a totally underrated city. World class restaurants and bars (oh my god, how am I not twice my size), culture, and a blue collar “roll up your sleeves” mentality that quickly made me forget about that east coast city that I called home for so many years (though, I’m never going to be an Indians fan… that just won’t happen). In the seven years I’ve been here, I’ve loved getting to know the personality of this town. Clevelanders are passionate about this place, and don’t give a damn about anyone who knocks it. As one of the better bloggers around, Alexa, says “Cleveland is a plum.” I couldn't have said it better myself.

(Oh yeah, before I forget--- to the people at Forbes who decreed Cleveland as the most miserable city in America: kiss my ass!)

While I’m sad to leave Cleveland, I’m so psyched for the new adventure Chicago is going to be. First of all from a professional standpoint, this was a no brainer. I’m going to help build a social media team with some of the smartest people in the industry, and I couldn’t be more excited. Hell, I'm giddy.

I’m also excited about getting to know a new city. The architecture, culture, the food (THE FOOD), the Cubs and the Blackhawks (I WILL NOT root for the Bears, White Sox, or Bulls). Who knows, I missed out on the Red Sox winning the series by living in Cleveland at the time, maybe the Cubbies can pull it off this year?

I would be lying if I didn’t say I’m a bit scared about what all this means, leaving my friends and my family and the comforts of normalcy that Carlie and I started to build, but I know that this is going to rock. Plus, I promised that we could get a big enough apartment so y’all can come and visit. So by all means, look us up- we’ll get some deep dish, check out a game at Wrigley, or drink beer somewhere.

What's new for 2010? Proof that Mobile Giving Works

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:58:00 +0000

I spend a decent amount of time helping a few non-profits in the Cleveland area figure out how to develop a social media strategy and leverage it towards their goals. Know which goal is always top of mind? Raising more money. How could it not be, right?

If you have spent anytime on Facebook lately, you probably experienced the latest trend in non-profit giving: mobile donations.

Both the American Red Cross and Wyclef Jean's YELE Foundation have taken the Obama model when it comes to fundraising (forget about huge donations from a small amount of people, get small donations from a large group) and utilized new technologies to simplify the process. The response has been astounding: According to a press release, the Red Cross has already raised over $35 million with over $5 million coming from $10 dollar donations provided through individual mobile providers. On top of that, Wyclef Jean's Yele Foundation has raised over $1 million with individual $5 donations. Even brands like Ritz are supporting these groups by posting links on their Facebook pages.

Obviously, the earthquake in Haiti is a terrible circumstance, and expecting people to give at such a level is unrealistic (I have to say how great it is that people have decided to donate to support those in need). But what does this mean for your run of the mill non-profit?

There are great opportunities to use mobile as a fundraising tool. It provides the donor the simplest way to donate. No need to even input a credit card into a form on a website, no need to fill out any information. In under a minute, and two text messages later (one to confirm) my donation was made. It was even possible to set up a recurring charge on my account if I wanted to donate more than five bucks.

Non-profits need to start embracing this technology as part of their fundraising efforts. Developing a mobile strategy around a campaign will allow a non-profit to grow your their fundraising base in innovative ways. During a end-of-year push, utilizing a combination of email, social media and other marketing tactics, in combination with a mobile delivery system will not only increase the amount of money that a group can bring in, but will also allow new donors to make a donation and learn about your organization.

Wow its been a while...

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:36:00 +0000

Man has it been a while.

Over the past few months, life has been hectic. Work has been real interesting: I helped to lead a national ad campaign, including my first "real" commercial shoot, and I've been cranking away answering RFPs, providing a whole ton of strategy and learning from people smarter than me. Its been a blast, a little stressful, but fun nonetheless. What can I say... typical agency life.

As to on the other side of things, things have been great. Carlie and I have been trying new restaurants (L' Albatros is a must for anyone who loves food in Cleveland and Michael Symon's new burger joint, the B-Spot, made me extremely happy), my annual "must work out until my pants are comfortable" plan, and finally, we are getting ready for a big trip to visit the family in Belgium later in the year.

Overall, while I've been away from the blog, things have been pretty good. While sometimes I look out the window of my house and wonder why the hell do I live in Cleveland, I can't complain too much (though, bringing a NHL team to Cleveland, might make me happy enough to never complain again).

The BEST Non-Profit Marketing Campagin I Have Ever Seen

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:02:00 +0000

My Colleague, Linda Nawrocki forwarded me a link to this campaign from Sears/Lands End. Maybe I'm a sap, but the combination of great marketing, sound technology and social media really knocks this out of the park. hell, they even allow you to track the coat that you donated to see where your donated coat ended up. How cool is that!

Check it out, and go donate you old coats today. Check out www.bigwarmup.com to experience the site.

The Hummus Rap

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:49:00 +0000

For my boy Luke... I give you the hummus rap

Buried

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:39:00 +0000

I'm sorry I haven't had anything fun or witty to say over the past few days, I've been buried at work and various other things that I'm involved with. I guess I could say that I'm burning the candle at both ends.... with a flamethrower.

More humus coming soon!

Wait, You Lost Your TIcket??!?????: U2 in Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:23:00 +0000

Saturday, September 12, 2009: a day that could live in infamy...

The truth is that this day started out as any other vacation day. We were in Chicago with travel compatriots Beth and Buddy for a weekend trip to see U2 in Chicago. In 2005, I dragged Beth and Carlie to their first U2 show, and while they were more interested in visiting our friends in Pittsburgh that night, everything changed when Bono popped up 20 feet in front of them to begin the night. Since then, any possibility of seeing U2 was greeted with wild acceptance from these two. Buddy was dragged along, but made the best of it considering how much college football he was going to miss.

We spent the early part of the morning playing tourist, and taking a river boat tour to learn about the architecture in Chicago. This truly interesting, but I think the multiple screwdrivers on the boat may have had something to do with it :). We tried to get into some new restaurant for lunch, but was thwarted by the line out front, and ended up at the "Harry Carey Steakhouse," where the service was so bad, the drinks were comped.

A quick stop at the hotel, and pregaming for the concert got us to the gate at Solder Field with plenty of time. So I thought.

Now to put this next part in perspective, I am a pretty big U2 fan. We had general admission tickets, and I would have had no problem spending the entire day in line in order to get to the front of the stage, but as we were traveling with friends, that wasn't going to happen. But I wanted to get to the show with a decent amount of time so we could get to the front as soon as possible. Regardless of when we left, I was going to be a little anxious to get to the floor, and I was a bit of a jerk trying to rush our group to the floor. We even got into the stadium in the wrong entrance and had to walk down about ten ramps and staircases to get to the gate entrance where we can get to the floor after showing our tickets and getting wristbands.

This is where the night went a little crazy. The problem though when you drink all day is that you have to use the bathroom. When we got to the gate, Carlie realized that she lost her ticket. I couldn't belive it. How is this possible? What were we going to do? We came all the way from Cleveland, and we are going to have to hear this show in the concourse, without being able to see it?

We were all frantic, and we had a plan to sneak her in. But of course, I figured it would be better to tell the truth and hope for the rest-- WRONG-- we were denied and I was a mess. What were we going to do? Carlie went back up to the top, with no luck. To keep this relatively short, we were forced to go to the will call window where after what was realistically 30 minutes, but what felt like 5 hours we finally were all wrist banded and allowed to go onto the floor and enjoy the show. Amid the tears from Carlie, and a racing heartbeat, we realized that all was well, especially after Buddy handed me a beer. We got down there in the middle of opener's Snow Patrol's set (who is fantastic BTW), and we were able to relax and dance around and sing with Bono and The Edge for the rest of the evening.

Overall, the show was fantastic. A great set list (they even played Ultraviolet from Achtung Baby- a song I've never seen them do), from a band who knows how to put on a Stadium tour. The "spaceship" or whatever they are calling the stage was totally impressive and somewhat ridiculous. Which was perfect. My exceptions couldn't have been higher and they were met, but it was that trip to the floor that I will never forget (or more importantly, let Carlie live down).

My latest obsession: Jeni's Ice Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:48:00 +0000

Maybe the greatest, most vivid memory I have of my grandfather is his obsession with ice cream. Every time he would come and visit from Belgium, we would go out for ice cream (this was great, because he would come for two or three week stretches and we would get ice cream every night). He was blind and his abilities to do a whole lot were somewhat limited, but we would go with my mom, get a cone, and take a walk and talk about life. Soft serve, traditional hard ice cream, it didn't matter, as long as there were strawberry involved. After he died, it really wasn't the same, but I still kept up with my love for ice cream. Whether it be Ben & Jerry's or the generic ice cream stand near the beach down on the Cape, nothing made me happier than an ice cream cone.

Fast forward 17 years.

This past weekend we were in Columbus, Ohio for a wedding. Along with our friends Beth and Buddy, we spent Friday night, sitting around an outdoor patio at some bar, eating crap food and drinking, trying to figure out what we would do the next day as we had a six hour break in between the ceremony and the reception. We struggled to decide, but when the decision was made, we were all in agreement. We would make a pilgrimage to Jeni's ice cream shop in the Short North neighborhood.

Besides being some of our closest friends, Beth and Buddy also share our obsession for great food. Since trying the ice cream at restaurants here in Cleveland, we have been obsessed with their great flavors like Black coffee and Salty caramel (Beth even had some shipped for their honeymoon, based on her man's obsession). We have all raved about their website and I think we quickly became a fan of theirs on Facebook. But, for me at least, the thought of making that two hour drive strictly for ice cream seemed a bit nuts.

Well, I was wrong.

The minute we walked into the shop, the smell of waffle cones being made was the first thing to hit my nose. I'm not sure why, but that might be my favorite smell in the entire world. The next thing that I noticed was the flavor board. Talk about being overwhelmed. Do I go crazy and try their seasonal flavors like "Sweet corn and black raspberries", "Goat cheese and roasted red cherries" or do I go with their twists on traditional flavors like "Belgian milk chocolate," and "Strawberries and butter cream." It was at that exact moment than the person behind the counter held out a tasting spoon with their "Queen city cayenne" flavored ice cream and said try this. We all spent the next 5 minutes like a 3 year old in a toy store: "Can I try this one... ohhh I want to try this one too..... "Celery? I have to try that."

I don't want to bore you with the details (that is if you are still reading this), but as a group we all ended up with various combination of flavors in those fresh cones. And, even though we were all complaining about how full we were, we decided to do it again (we were on vacation, so the calories don't count).

The next morning (nursing post-wedding hangovers) and after having a great brunch, we decided to stop by one more time before we headed back home. But this time not for a cone, but for ice cream in bulk. You see, Jeni's will pack up some pints of ice cream in a styrofoam container, put a little dry ice on the bottom and load up your favorite flavors (for those not close to Columbus, they will even ship it to you-).

As you can see from the photos below, we ended coming home with 8 pints, and I think I might have to order some more. I wonder what my grandfather thinks...

No Reservations: Boston- Hummus Style

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:00:00 +0000

I am not cool.

But if I could pick someone to emulate, someone that personifies cool, I would totally pick Anthony Bourdain. His TV show, No Reservations, is one of those shows that I would watch all day marathon-style on a rainy Saturday. I just love his personality: he loves to travel, he loves to eat, he has that whole east coast "I don't give a crap about anything" persona down to a T. I even love his thumb ring (why? I have no idea).

Anyways, he hasn't done an episode about Boston yet, and I figured, considering I get asked all the time about things to do in Boston, I would just put it down on blog. I know I will forget some stuff, but here is what I love about the city I grew up in:

1) Dunkin Donuts

Location: Every F*()&^ corner. Seriously.

One of the places that I must visit every time I'm home is a Dunkin Donnuts. I couldn't care about their donnuts, muffins, or whatever food they are now selling- I just want the coffee. I'm pretty sure the cream has some addictive qualities, but there is something magical about a cup of coffee and grabbing both the Boston Globe and Boston Herald (at least while they still exist) and just enjoying your day. For the uninitiated, I can't recommended a cup of their coffee enough. And for those who have heard the rumors, yes its true: the coffee does taste better in New England.

2) The Border Cafe http://www.bordercafe.com/

While not technically in Boston (Its in Harvard Square, across the river in Cambridge), this is easly a must for anyone who loves good food. I don't mean to sound crazy, but this place is my favorite restaurant in the entire world. Since I moved to Cleveland in 2002, I visit that place as soon as I get off the plane. Its a great combination of Mexican and Cajun food that has been a staple ever since my high school friend, Mike Welch (Monster if your nasty) introduced me to their homemade tortilla chips. It was great in high school because they served soda in what seemed to be 1 liter cups, which was perfect considering how spicy their blackened chicken and dry jambalaya are. As an adult, I found that their Margaritas were just as large, so not only will I quench my thirst, if I'm not careful, I will be taken to my happy place.

3) Alston/Brighton

When I was at BU, the Alston/Brighton part of the city was the place where we hung out the most. Great bars (too many to name, but if you like beer go to the Sunset Grill- NOW), Mr. Music- an awesome guitar store where I bought my first electric, and where I can spend a ton of time playing their great used finds, and a number of "Packies" where if you need to purchase a vast amount of alcohol, they can support you. The truth is that the best part of this area is the people watching. There are some weird dudes in this neck of the woods, so if you are going to visit, keep an open mind, but have fun exploring.

Take the B Green line train out of the city to Harvard. Walk Straight.

4) The Duck Boats http://www.bostonducktours.com/

While this might cause me to loose my native-Boston card, these things are great for a sightseeing tour of the city. Recently, I've taken my in-laws around Beantown, and we all had a blast. I actually learned a ton about the city, and the entire experience was fun. I always hated driving down the road next to those things, but being in them is an entirely different story. As the wife says, "they are the most touresty thing to do in Boston that is actually fun."

5) Fenway Park

I am a Red Sox fan. But even if you are not, and you are visiting my fair hometown, take a visit. Now trust me, I hate most Red Sox fans (especially the ones with the pink hats), but I do love that team and the ball park. Trust me, the seats are uncomfortable and if you sit in the grandstands, you have to turn your body almost 90 degrees to actually see most of the game, but the view of the field as you walk up the tunnel for the first time, is something quite memorable, even if you are a Yankees fan.

Some other things to consider: The Sam Adams Brewery, driving up to Maine for a lobster roll, or checking out a great band at the Middle East What do you think? For the folks in Boston, what is it that you love about it?

To Maine!

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:37:00 +0000

I'm off to go on vacation for a few days, and visit my folks on the Maine Coast. While I'm gone, I'm hoping to convince my father to let me film him while he makes hummus (I have never tried an equal to my father's hummus) Emeril style and post it. Plus, there should be a good bunch of stories that come out of having to spend 5 days in a small apartment with my wife and my parents.

I've been so desperate for a vacation that doesn't involve a wedding... this will be a nice break.

So What's with the Hummus?

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:21:00 +0000

In creating this little blog of mine, I sent out a query to my friends on Twitter and Facebook asking for their suggestions regarding the name of the blog. Some great suggestions were had, but it was my good friend and budding legal genius Beth Meyer who mentioned the word hummus.

So why would this resonate?

Well over the past couple of years, hummus has turned into a nickname for yours truly. It came from me storming all over my house, looking for a tub of hummus that I swore was in the fridge. It was the pure humor of a giant Arab man, running around in house (like I would seriously find a tub of hummus under a bed??) frantically looking for the hummus like it was a lost winning lottery ticket that sent my friends into a concerned eruption of laughter.

I have never lived that down. And I never found the hummus.

Welcome to Where's the Hummus!

noreply@blogger.com (Nader Ali-Hassan) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:21:00 +0000

Well I'm back. Since I left my past job, I had to give up my blog, tradigitalist.com, being that they technically owned the url, etc. I also figured that I needed a change, here in the world of blogging. I was still interested in talking about social media, online marketing, public relations and crisis communications, but truth be told, I also love talking about the things that basically are regulated to my weekends: Restaurants, travel, music, sports, being an east coast guy living in Cleveland.

Hi. I'm Nader. This is my blog.

Let me know if you have any thoughts, or comments. I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes.