foodie hunter

citrus flight of fancy

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:20:00 +0000

at this very moment, i feel a bit fried from the day. i was able to make some very solid progress on a key work project, so i thought i'd take a moment to wind down here at the sfmoma rooftop....before attending the chef panel put on by inforumsf this evening.

i'm thinking about unexpected moments and how sometimes i really do not know what the day will bring.

this week i was having dinner with a loved one and the discussion turned to how i ended up making a cocktail for 50 people at a private hapa event a while back. i had just finished kid sitting and AC was kind enough to gave me a ride to the hapa kitchen before he went to work so that i could meet up with everyone before heading to the private event. little did i know that when i arrived into the kitchen that i would obtain the responsibility for creating a cocktail for 50 people.

i learned of this about an hour before we all squeezed into the car and left for the event.

i admit that when i first heard the words "you're on cocktail", there was a flare of utter panic...that was instantly squashed down because really there was no time for panic....and my immediate thought was "what do i have to work with?" after taking a look at the available ingredients...then i thought about what flavors would work with what was available, be aligned with the menu, and be a yummy first taste for the clients that evening. fortunately and unsurprisingly, ingredients that were available were excellent....including in-house created syrups, fresh citrus juices....from local organic produce from farmers markets, and in-house candied citrus peels. after a bit of analysis, i pitched the idea of a winter citrus bourbon spritzer that i decided to call a "citrus flight of fancy". this was due to the "flight" of different winter citrus, how this would be a whimsical first taste (a spritzer in a martini glass) as well as a hidden reference to the fact that i was making this up on the fly. once i received the ok/approval on the overall flavor profile and vision of the cocktail....it was all about math.

lots and lots of math.....figuring out how many glasses (with some fudge factor), estimate milliliters/oz per glass, then how many parts of bourbon versus other ingredients to be served to 50 people. then, there was also factoring in the visual presentation of the drink, how could it be made to scale, and delivered quickly for the 50 clients that would be likely arriving within a 30 min window.

i'd like to point out that i'm not a bartender.

i'd also like to point out that i'm not in the food industry.

yet, those dear readers that have been following me for a while are likely well aware of my research into cocktails and my specific interest in different types of whiskey. i had a clear idea in my head of what i wanted the drink to taste like (nothing like pressure to make one very focused)...something to point to what folks would be having later on and winter citrus appeared on the menu that evening.

yet, everything was theory until we arrived at the venue. once there, i set up my station and made a sample drink for the hapa crew to try. now this moment.....this moment was by far the most stressful moment of the evening for me....and i exhaled a breathe that i didn't realize i was holding once richie provided his ok for it. when the event began, it was show time....answering questions about the hapa, richie's background, the provenance of the food, the cocktail....doing all this while making glass after glass of the "citrus flight of fancy".

i think most of you dear readers can understand just how relieved i felt when i started hearing guests speak to each other about how much they liked it. one of the event organizers also came into my station area while i was making the cocktails to provide positive feedback... which was very kind of them to do so. i was extremely glad that the first taste of the evening went well....because i knew just how much tasty, lovely, and comforting food was on the menu that evening....and wanted to ensure that i was being respectful to hapa and the folks eating the food. at the end of the evening, it was fascinating to see different clients glow and smile broadly from being well-fed. while i observed this, i remember thinking that this is likely one of the reasons people decide to make careers out of feeding people...to see this kind of happiness.

well, it is time for me to head over to the commonwealth club to listen to some chefs talk about their food....

until later dear hearts....

own

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:42:00 +0000

just finished up the last of my morning meetings and am taking a break. i'm noshing on my latest tasty snack.....

which this morning consists of greek yogurt with maple syrup mixed thoroughly and then topped with some grated candied citrus peel + chili (i.e., taking a piece of dobashi-beni satsuma mandarin peel from june taylor and a dried pulla chili from tierra vegetables and then using a microplane grater) and a pinch of cinnamon in the middle (i grind small batches of bark/sticks at a time and keep in my pantry).

simple but effective.

tasty.

perfect for my mood.

before i dive into this work project that will be having my full attention over the next few hours, i wanted to take a moment to write a bit about something that has been on my mind for quite some time.

basically, i wanted to write about owning who you are and what you want.

once upon a time, when i was a neophyte....i had this unwavering belief that people will say what they want and take responsibility for who they are. then, as time went on.....i realized that people will often not say what they want and even more confusing....they will say the want something but it won't be what they really want...because they can't or won't accept who they are....or take responsibility for it. this isn't always done from a place of malice or deception.

it just happens more often then not.

when i was a wee neophyte, i didn't realize people didn't take responsibility for who they are and what they wanted..... because i was always a very stubbornly strong personality (aka a total shit) and when i wanted to learn, discover, explore, and grow...i took steps on my own to make sure that happened....and i really didn't care if supposed friends, queen bees, or family approved. oftentimes, when they didn't approve and try to get me to do things "their way"....i would counter with some very pointed observations that were quite unsettling coming from a little kid. punishments, maneuverings, or various nasty things that children will do to each other ended up strengthening my resolve, my level of stubbornness, and comfort with who i was...and who i am.

as you can imagine, childhood was quite fascinating experience.

as i grew older, i learned to keep my mouth shut about the things i observed in other people...because the majority of people really don't want to know....they really don't.....which is why i don't volunteer observations unless people ask me directly....and as some loved ones have recently pointed out...you really do have to ask the right kind of questions when you do ask.

yet, while i may be relatively gentle with loved ones....when it comes to myself i am not gentle. there is no one that will push me harder than i push myself. there is no one that has higher expectations for me than me. there is no one that will be more critical of me than me. for better or worse, i have always seen me. i know my weaknesses, my strengths, and the areas that i want to grow in....the areas that i need to grow in. i know...and have always known....to stop growing and learning is not what i want and is not me. for me, life is too short to not learn and discover as much as possible and just because someone else doesn't think something is possible "because it hasn't been done before" or "because it has always been done this way"....doesn't mean that they are right.

it means that they can't see what isn't right there or that they are scared to.

if i had stopped myself each time i came across someone that has said something "wasn't possible" to me in my lifetime, i wouldn't be where i am now....i wouldn't have experienced what i have.....i wouldn't have loved who i have.....i wouldn't have the passions i have.....i wouldn't have lived.....and i wouldn't be excited about the possibilities that life still has to offer.

admittedly, i can point to rather pivotal moments in my life when someone or a group of someones has said that i couldn't do something because it didn't fit into a "box" or some preconceived notion of theirs.....me and my epically stubborn prideful self wasn't very gentle about showing them how wrong they were....and then...ummmm...providing succinct summary bullet points afterwards.

yet, that isn't the case for everyone.

there are many people that will say that they want things...whether it be a lifestyle, types of love affairs, careers, or whatnot....that they really don't want. they will say they want these things because they want a sense of belonging to what everyone else is doing.....or they want approval from their social group. they will say they want these things because they think it is what they should want. they may also say that they want these things because it is the path of least resistance ....and it means not taking a closer and deeper look at who they really are. then, they....in turn....will pressure others to do the same...to affirm their choices....and makes them feel better about themselves.

it is difficult to see who you really are and take ownership for it.

it means conflict, doubt, fear, potential multiple levels of disapproval, and heart break. yet, it also means amazing experiences filled with joy, supreme satisfaction, and passion. it means having a level of confidence that can never be given to you....but always earnable and obtainable.

always.

many times, when i see people that seek to change, maneuver, or influence others in a detrimental manner ...it stems from a rather deep seated unhappiness within themselves and where they are in their lives. they are living a life of self-deception and want others to do the same to make them feel better about their own choices.

those are the times when i just shake my head and sigh....and mumble something about how this is reason 10,015 of why i shouldn't be around people.

they would be a lot happier and a lot less evil if they just owned up to who they are, what they want, what they are lacking in their lives, and pursued ways to make change in themselves.

i do think that they are forgetting that the life that they are living is a choice....or a series of choices. i also think that if they aren't going to take responsibility for it...they should stop whining about their lives, where they are, and longing for some fantasy "what if" life. i think the first step towards change is truly seeing who you are, where you are, and being honest about where you want to be.

basically, i think you should own who you are.

this is neither a new or revolutionary concept.

maple coffee yogurt with spiced pecans

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:31:00 +0000

winding down for the night before i go to sleep. it is one of those situations where i'm not writing about what i'm really thinking about....but rather something else instead.

sometimes, the best way to process something is to step away from it and think about something else for a while.

i'm looking through some pics that i took earlier today during a break from work. it was one of those dishes where i randomly threw together what sounded good and what i had immediately on hand. after a few hours of meetings and such this morning, i went into the kitchen to grab a snack. i decided to have some fage yogurt and instead of having yogurt and honey....i decided to add a bit of the chilled coffee (philz) i had in my fridge to the yogurt.

yes, i often make chilled caffeinated beverage for me to drink throughout the day such as lychee infused black tea, chai, or coffee. sometimes i'll have coffee with condensed milk over ice or with just a bit of cream or full fat milk....so having chilled coffee easily available is not unheard of in the foodie hunter household. once i mixed those together, i looked around the kitchen to see what else i could add. i saw that i still had a few of the honeyed spiced pecans left over from yesterday's oatmeal so i thought....why not? and then added some maple syrup for some sweetness. i already knew that maple and coffee would go well together (ahem...the coffee bourbon maple bun from the no longer around tell tale preserve is a prime example of how coffee and maple works.....as well as having coffee with pancakes + maple syrup....)

unsurprisingly, it was pretty delicious and i was able to take some fun food porn shots as well.

spicy citrus oatmeal with toasted honeyed pecans

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:44:00 +0000

it is good to be back in san francisco and back in my kitchen.

the rain is making intermittent visits throughout the neighborhood....and a separate chilly wind is also making sporadic appearances as well. it is a very gray day today. as i was making my way through my early morning work emails, skype conversations, and such, i kept thinking about how today is a perfect day for oatmeal. i do love whole grain porridge in general and think it is quite unfortunate that there are those who exclaim that grain porridge is boring. when i hear things like that....my response in my head (yes i can be diplomatic at times) is that they are lacking imagination.

i mean, really.

in general, i have little tolerance for the "i'm bored" whining....my immediate response is..."what are you going to do about it then?" even something as simple as day dreaming during something mundane....how can day dreaming be boring? again....being bored from my perspective is a lack of imagination.

during my break today, i puttered around my kitchen, just happy to be home. i looked through my pantry and thought about what i was in the mood for....and what seemed to be calling out to me. i thought some toasted spicy pecans would be nice with the oatmeal....so as i pan toasted them with black pepper, cayenne, and cinnamon....i was thinking how a touch of honey would be nice as well as allow the spices to adhere more to the nuts. the toasting released some lovely aromas and i put the honeyed nuts aside.

for the oatmeal, i chopped up a few pieces of candied dobashi-beni satsuma mandarin peel from june taylor and added it to a mixture of organic oats, organic full fat clover milk, water and salt. i cooked it slowly. as i was cooking the oatmeal, i thought about how i wanted to add more chili spice to the dish...but didn't want to cook chilies with the oatmeal as i really wanted there to be potential variation of flavor in different bites. so i delved into my assortment of dried chilies from tierra vegetables and settled upon using dried pulla chilies. i decided that grating a bit (using a tiny box grater .....the side that i usually use for whole nutmeg) onto the plate....

and on top of the oatmeal would be a way to add spice but not have the spice overwhelm the citrus that i really wanted to come through.

it all came together quite quickly ....

and it was at the very last minute that i decided to drizzle some buckwheat honey (local CA....but to be honest....i prefer the raw buckwheat honey from new york than the buckwheat i have found from CA)...

this dish made me so happy. i was humming to myself as i was eating it.

warm, spicy, sweet, savory, nutty, and comforting.

to me, this is a cozy winter dish.

this is one of the reasons why i love cooking so much....being able to make things specifically for my own palate or mood at any given time. realistically speaking, i 've never seen a spicy oatmeal on any menu anywhere....yet in my home kitchen....i knew that i could try it....and make it so that it was tailored to my palate....and for my current mood.

it is so nice to be home.

"we"

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:04:00 +0000

last week, while richie was making various super yummy homemade pizzas for the super bowl, mrs. hapa ramen + i were pretty much using the event as an opportunity to just hang out since neither of us really cared about the game.

i know that i was there to just hang out for a bit with richie and mrs. hapa ramen in between finishing up a project before i went on a business trip .....and of course, like i'm going to pass up on opportunity to eat whatever richie feels like making.....

during the hanging out, i mentioned to mrs. hapa ramen that marcia had recommended that i take the goddaughter to foreign cinema which sounded cool....and i had never been before. yeah, i know....it is very odd that i've never been to foreign cinema. anyway, mrs. hapa ramen mentioned that we should all go there for brunch....so fast forward a week later and there we were having brunch once i returned from a recent business trip.

as this was my first time, i had no idea what to expect. when i walked down the dark corridor to the host station, i remember thinking "ummm, this is dark and should be interesting"....like interesting in a twin peaks creepy kind of way. however, when actually entering the restaurant .....it is extremely different. i was relieved. during the hours we were there i found it to be airy, bright, well worn wood accents, comfortable, casual, and so not what i would typically expect for a restaurant in the mission.

it was lovely to just relax, do a bit of catch up, and some noshing (see top pic as well).

i missed out on market yesterday so i asked richie a bit about it. as we all discussed the saturday farmers market at the ferry building.....it reminded me that i hadn't told mrs. hapa ramen how after i did a short stint working FOH a long time ago.....and very soon after i did that particular stint.... i was shopping during a saturday market and folks were asking me "are you guys at the market today?" and my immediate response without really thinking about it was "no, we aren't at the market today.".....in other words....no, hapa did not have a presence at the saturday market that day.

i know that both sus and richie got a big kick of it when i told them pretty soon after it happened. i think mrs. hapa ramen got a kick out of it during brunch as well.

after we finished up brunch and i headed home, i started thinking more about the whole "we" thing.

that time at the market, i really didn't think about what i was saying. i suppose if i had really thought about it, i would have responded with "no, hapa isn't at the market today." but i didn't....because i didn't think about it...i just responded.

these days....when i am helping out with hapa, i use the royal "we" a lot when talking to clients and the public. because it makes sense in that context. when i'm in the stand or at an event, there is a switch that gets flipped and i'm in hapa mode. i can speak with confidence regarding the food providence, the quality of the ingredients, the farms and farmers, the flavor profiles, the intentions behind the food, and the passions of those cooking the food.

because i have seen it. because i have tasted it. because i have been listening....for well over a year now.

so when i am helping out with hapa, i feel like i'm representing them, their efforts, their intentions, and their passions. it is important to me that the clients feel good, happily nourished, and if they ask....(which they often do in the san francisco bay area) that they obtain an accurate glimpse of the people and ingredients behind what they are eating.

yet, when i am not physically helping out with hapa and folks associate me with hapa....i usually indicate that i only help out occasionally. it isn't because i don't care about them or want to distance myself.....anyone that thinks i don't care about them or seeking to distance myself is severely lacking in reading comprehension skills....also, given that i have a very good job that has some crazy ass hours....i wouldn't help out if i didn't believe in what they were trying to achieve. i think that is pretty obvious.

if i don't refer to myself as a member of hapa it is because i don't want to de-value the amount of work the hapa team puts in. in terms of hours, the time i put in to help out is incredibly minuscule in comparison to the amount of work that the individual team members put in. relatively speaking, if the amount of work that a core member of hapa puts in is the size of the universe....the time i put in isn't even the size of an atom.

i really don't think everyday folks truly understand the amount of prep and work goes into the food.

admittedly, i have...quite frankly....given certain members (who shall remain nameless) a wee bit of a hard time for not publicly touting the kinds of techniques they use....and how they are constantly and continually doing research to learn/experiment/innovate....and the amount of sheer fucking work that goes into breaking down 300 pound riverdog farm pigs, the in-house charcuterie, the multitude of pantry items made from scratch, some of the lovely dishes at the private events, and a hella lot more that reflects what it REALLY means to cook food with good intentions.

yet, i can also understand their perspective.

they often think the food on the plate or bowl should speak for itself and that they shouldn't need to talk about the other stuff.

sigh.

i guess what i'm trying to say is that the whole "we" thing is complicated. not in a bad way though. it just isn't as black and white as it may seem.

lou lou and gypsy jivers at red poppy art house on 1/27

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:31:00 +0000

before i head off to sleep...those of you that have been with me for a while....may or may not have seen the post i did in may 2011 that describes my experiencing listening to louis and his band play at the red poppy art house in the mission district. well....they are playing tomorrow (friday) night at the red poppy art house (see top screen shot image). the address is 2698 folsom street....it begins at 7:30....and admission is $12-20.

unfortunately, i'm going to be missing out on this show since i'll be kid sitting. yet, if you are into lively jazz, then this is something that i have a feeling you'll enjoy quite a bit.

in case you haven't seen the posting i did in may 2011 about a performance they did at the red poppy, here is a link:
http://foodiehunter.blogspot.com/2011/05/stories-in-melody.html

my pics in 7x7

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:49:00 +0000

when foodspotting was in the alpha stage, i contributed 15 pics to their site...including pics of bi-rite creamery's salted caramel ice cream and humphry slocombe's secret breakfast ice cream. before i uploaded the pics, i reviewed their terms and conditions which indicated that they have a royalty free license and could share content with their partners. this is pretty much the major reason why i've only uploaded 17 pics to their site since its inception as i usually prefer to retain rights to all of my pics. i like to know where they end up. just because i take pics of something....it doesn't necessarily mean that i endorse it personally.

it just means that i've taken a picture of it.

there have been many pics that i've donated to vendors, especially vendors just starting out....or organizations that provide assistance including la cocina. yet, most of the time....i retain rights to all of my pics.

yet, i liked the idea of foodspotting when they were in alpha and also liked the idea that i could post a few pics of dishes that i liked.....and if it meant that folks would visit those places to check out these dishes or foods....then that was worth giving control to where the pics may eventually end up to a few pics.

fast forward year or so later, and i was looking online at the 7x7 big eat 2012....and guess what? two of my pics that i posted on foodspotting showed up. this makes sense since it is pretty obvious from the site that there is some kind of strategic alliance or partnership between 7x7 and foodspotting.

i was surprised and not surprised when i saw the pics show up. overall, i was glad that bi-rite and humphry slocombe were getting shout outs (i do love them both quite a bit. yeah, i know....complete understatement.)

this is also an example of what i mean by using "foodie hunter" as a lab...as this a pretty good example of how user generated content can be re-purposed....and done legally. in "old world" publishing terms....this is something that has the potential to be interpreted as derivitive or an alternate channel of distribution (third party partnerships).

foodie hunter goes to the ball

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:57:00 +0000

a few weeks ago, i was investigating some events happening in sf and came across references to the edwardian ball for the first time.

a friend and i were quite curious about it and both decided to do a bit of research first including a visit to dark garden in hayes valley. dark garden put on a "prepare for the ball" event where they had pieces for potential costumes as well as ready made corsets for folks to try. we were both game for the dark garden visit and would then decide on whether we wanted to go to the ball.

i've been wanting to visit dark garden for years and this seemed like a perfect excuse. admittedly, each time i dog sat hector in hayes valley or paid a visit to the blue bottle kiosk on linden....i would peek quite longingly at their window displays. dark garden is located right next door to blue bottle. their clothing and corsets have opulent and lovely fabrics....that seem to whisper..."wouldn't you like to touch me?". i do love textiles quite a bit which is why it is rather dangerous for me (or my credit card) to be in places like britex and dark garden.

in doing research for a potential costume for the edwardian ball, i really got into digging into uber clearance sales at various places....trying to piece together an appropriate outfit for the ball. it came together unexpectedly quickly and then by the time we went to dark garden, i knew i could go to the ball with or without a corset.

i ended up buying a corselette. (see top pic).

c'mon....like we all knew that was going to happen. from my perspective, a corselette is akin to a large obi belt. it also enabled me to make a relatively inexpensive purchase, test out how i felt wearing it....and then decide if i want to have a custom corset made ($$$).

when the evening arrived, we were pretty excited. we had our outfits ready and my friend also had her hair and makeup done in the time period. when my friend walked into her house after getting her hair and makeup done (i was being introduced to 3D video games and skyrim by her husband while this was going on), i remember thinking "holy shit! that looks so cool". so then we put on our costumes and really did look like figures from the past.

i think this is hella lot more fun than dressing up for halloween (which is something i don't really do).

folks really go all out with their costumes at the edwardian ball.

not just edwardian styles btw....but also victorian, a mix of edwardian/victorian, and steampunk. i was gawking at people all night....the fabrics, the craftmanship of some of the clothes, the accessories, etc. etc. i also found the event quite friendly and very refreshing. people go to see and be seen.....it is a costume ball.....but it wasn't a "scene" in a negative sense.

it wasn't a meat market or a mean market. i found people to be very friendly and enjoyed myself quite a bit. the bar endeared itself to me as well when i found out that they were using templeton as the house rye for their cocktails. there were various objects on display as well as

performances....from music, to dance, to acrobatics, as well as performance pieces.

there were some folks that were quite puzzled that i would even go to something like this. my response was "why not?". one of the amazing things about living in san francisco include the amount of subcultures here. i love how one weekend, i can go to venue to listen to moombahton and the next weekend go an edwardian ball....and how that really isn't weird.

i've tried to pepper photos and videos throughout the posting ....but i don't think i'm really doing it justice.

perhaps next year, i'll do a better job.

feel like it

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:55:00 +0000

the other night when i was hanging out with a friend at the boxing room and smuggler's cove.....

the friend mentioned during the evening that when they don't see a posting from me in a while they get a bit worried that something has happened.

no worries.

i'm still here.

i'm still writing.

i just haven't been writing here.

writing is too much a part of me to stop writing. i will always write, even if my audience is an audience of one. i was hanging out with some other friends and the subject of writing came up over drinks and nibbles at absinthe....and one of the things that came up was how writing makes itself known...and how not writing....well, it feels like something is missing. i've accepted that i can't not write. i've accepted that a long time ago. i just haven't been writing for the foodie hunter blog.

hanging out with the friend at boxing room and smuggler's cove reminded me that there are some folks that i don't see as often so they probably don't realize the background of why i had been writing less here. a while ago, i joined google plus and then within a period of a few days.....i had several hundred people (like over 700) that decided to follow foodie hunter that i'm pretty certain that had never heard of foodie hunter before. it happened because of a couple of shout outs and inclusion various "sharing circles" presented by some writers and artists.

yet, as a result, there were all of these people not based in the sf bay area, new york, chicago, hong kong or london...which is where the majority of ongoing folks that keep tabs on foodie hunter via this blog, twitter, flickr, etc. they were also not aware that this blog is where i write whatever i feel like. if folks are usually interested in food porn, i usually try to point them in the direction of the flickr page. yet, it is much easier to deal with a few folks here or there .....rather than hundreds at once....wanting to have a say...or wanting to try to work you in some way or another.

admittedly, one of the reasons why i have a social media presence is because the "foodie hunter" personae is also my lab. i observe how connections, networks, information travels via the various networks. not only is this an outlet for my passions for cooking, food, photography, and writing....it is also an way for me to delve more into understanding how people connect and communicate. so from a metrics and analytics perspective, it was interesting to see how recommendations translate into increased connections.

this is the type of first hand experience in a controlled "lab" is very useful for work.

i'm pretty practical in many ways and starting this blog and delving into social media has enabled me to learn and grow in many ways....both personally and professionally.

it was a bit jarring to receive attention from a group of people that had no historical knowledge of what "foodie hunter" is and as a result, brought their own expectations...and in some cases....tried to foist their own expectations upon me, my writing, and what i do here.

so, i pretty much implemented a tactic that is the antithesis of what folks expect to "growing your brand"....if foodie hunter can be considered a brand. i wrote a series of pissy postings and told people to fuck off. you don't do that sort of behavior when you are trying to drive up traffic or expand one's brand. this is basic B-school stuff....i suppose....if i was inclined to attend B-school....and if i was also inclined to "grow the foodie hunter brand". i have inclinations toward neither avenue.

i know that i can be such a stubborn shit. it is why i haven't been posting here. in a way, i've been waiting them out. waiting for them to go away....or just stick to the pics i post on google plus or stick to the pics i post on flickr. i do think it is possible to have different avenues of communication and expression that may appeal to different audiences.

in terms of the blog or what i do with "foodie hunter", i want to do it my way or not at all.

at work, i have to do so much for other people. i have to think for other people. i have to make their lives easier....it doesn't matter if i believe in them, trust them, or even like them. my job is my job. i pimp out my brain. i have a responsibility to my team and my work ethic is such that i will always do a good job.

foodie hunter is suppose to be my space. my teeny tiny room of my own. a place where i could share what i love and believe in....so when i suddenly and unexpectedly received comments, emails, etc. etc. from people who seemed to believe that they were entitled to what i write, post, take pictures of....or in a sense...feel entitled to me....i got upset.

hence the pissy postings with me stomping my foot and going grrrrr at various faceless nameless people whose sense of entitlement was rather mind boggling.

also, for better or worse, when i think something isn't going in a good direction for me....i cut what i need to and then i walk away. in an overly dramatic way, it is a bit like the wolf that decides to gnaw off their paw that is caught in the trap. at the end of the day, it is a survival tactic. so yeah, while the "foodie hunter" has been good learning experience for me, become a creative outlet, and have enjoyed it....i did seriously consider walking away from it.

i'm usually pretty good at thinking about the bigger picture.

i wanted to see if i could wait them out....in many cases ignore them.....and then come back to it.

if i felt like it.

jake part deux

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:52:00 +0000

when richie texted me asking me if i'd be up for helping out with hapa at the stand at the ferry building today, i said ok. but i also immediately followed up with wanting a confirmation that the stand would be "camera free". i know that i like to take pictures but i'm not fond of being in front of any sort of camera.

for many reasons.

there was a definite groove and hum to service today. it was a beautiful....just absolutely beautiful day....and there was much going on within the stand as we were running a new chashu as well as soy braised pork jowl (toroniku) as an add on. it never ceases to amaze me how folks are in tune with each other in the stand. i didn't really understand until my random helping out with hapa why a kitchen team is called a brigade. in the case of the hapa, it is really the front of house and the kitchen together. if something happens where one person has to step away from FOH or on the line, someone else on the team immediately steps in to keep things moving. in my "real" job, i set clear expectations for this on my team by assigning a "primary" and "secondary" on every project. this way, if anything happens, the project always makes its deadline. at hapa, it is similar...the team accommodates and changes depending on interactions with clients, the flow of tickets, impromptu meetings with industry, and the like...to ensure that orders are taken, food gets made, and then sent out to the clients.

richie had to step away for a moment and while most of us were garnishing and plating the food....behind me, i heard mrs. hapa ramen ask for confirmation on whether a certain someone was jake gyllenhaal. i took a quick peek over my shoulder to where he was sitting with someone on the wooden plank across from the hapa stand......and then i said "yes, that is jake gyllenhaal." the reason why i was so confident was because in nov 2010, when i was in new york, i had ample amount of time to pretend that i wasn't aware of him in a tiny room before a variety event that GC was moderating. it was a semi traumatic experience. for more details, please feel free to visit my older posting about it.

much conversation went on while we were plating the food that i really won't get into here.

yet, i will go into how at that moment....i didn't think he actually ordered anything from hapa ramen. in hindsight, it makes sense that he ordered from hapa ramen since mrs. hapa ramen asked for confirmation regarding who he was. yet, i didn't realize he actually ordered from hapa ramen until i called out a number and then he got up to walk over the very short distance.

when i saw him get up, i thought "oh shit."

this wasn't a time for my social awkwardness to be front and center....heck...when a famous chef comes to the stand (i.e., such as CC, DP, and the like)....that is typically when i find a reason to scamper into the back...you know...to find more produce to refill bins or something.

also, unlike the time in new york, i couldn't try to hide behind a projector or GC's coat i was holding. i also couldn't pretend that he wasn't there...since he was a client.

when he came up, i treated him just like any other average client. friendly but no extra special treatment. extra special treatment is reserved for hapa extended family and hard-core committed regulars.

i thought that was the safest route to take....because really....if someone is at the farmers market they are likely there to enjoy the day and do their own thing. he wasn't traveling with an entourage. someone asked me later why i didn't take a picture....and when i heard that...i felt like taking a picture in that context would have been inappropriate. he's a person...like anyone else....would likely value a certain level of privacy....and it wasn't like he was performing or "on the job" at an event where pictures would be expected and appropriate. he was picking up food. he also isn't a friend so taking random pictures also seemed inappropriate as well.

i did find it rather hilarious that after he left the stand....a few minutes later....that someone from 4505 meats (to be clear...it wasn't ryan....but someone female) came by to say that they wanted to talk to us about something....and we all thought it was something serious....and then they said that what they wanted to know was whether or not that was jake gyllenhaal that came to hapa.

the reason why i thought that was hilarious is because it is a prime example of how lightening fast the behind the scenes gossip network is in the food industry.

it didn't come from me btw. i didn't tweet/text/communicate on my phone at all during service.

also, after service, i stopped into wing wings to grab a couple of things and the FOH folks introduced me to my first panuchos (top pic). it really didn't surprise me that i ended up here after service. sometimes, i want to go to a place where i know the food is good, where i'm comfortable, and where i can just let my hair down (oftentimes....literally). by the time i arrived home and checked online, i saw that social media had already been all lit up regarding jake gyllenhaal's visit to the ferry building farmers market.

i just shook my head at some of the comments.

like anyone else that comes to hapa....famous, not famous, or something in-between....i hope he enjoyed the ramen and had a positive experience.

seed

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:02:00 +0000

after working a few hours this morning, my day was disrupted by the sound of a jack hammer right outside my window. this is an issue when one works from home. so i packed up and decided to be a nomad today and spend at least part of the day working from sfmoma. it has been quite productive actually, with my sipping on blue bottle mocha and listening to tunes on my ipod as i respond to folks' emails as they are returning from their holidays and conducting some research for my own projects.

i thought i'd take a break from work and write a bit for the blog.

i welcomed the new year huddled in my place, trying to recover from being sick, and ignoring the world. often times when this happens, i use this time to get up close and personal with a book. instead of reading something new though....i decided to reread betsy lerner's the forest for the trees. my copy is the first edition....published over a decade ago.

it has been a very very long time since i read or referenced this book. i started to think about it recently because i bought the updated edition at green apple for a friend for xmas. she is interested in pursuing writing....and much like when i used to be an editor....i thought about lerner's book and how useful it is for a new author. from my perspective, lerner provides some candid advice about the pros and cons of what it means to be a writer in the publishing industry. i have a feeling that my friend and i will be having many conversations about writing and publishing over the next year or so.

admittedly, when i was also an editor, i also referred to the book to remind myself....during some rather challenging moments....why i was an editor....and why i enjoyed it.

it was a wee bit bittersweet that i reread the book....having made the decision to walk away from publishing and being an editor so many years ago. yet, like any heartbreak that has enough time and distance....i'm at a point where i can remember certain moments fondly and remember why i did it and why it was good for me....at the time.

my re-reading of this book was also serendipitous....as it also made me realize that despite not being an editor anymore....there are certain aspects that i still carry with me.

specifically the aspect of representing what you love.

i remember as i was reading through through the book....with a different set of eyes....and having just written my represent post....it made me think about how these days....instead of books....i'm seeking out food, dishes, restaurants, and people....who are doing things that i respect and sincerely want to tell people about....whether in this blog, flickr, twitter, etc. etc. that i put in personal effort to support them because i want them to be successful....because i believe in them, their food, or their vision.

yet, this didn't fully crystallize for me until last night when i was writing a bio for a homie.

as i was writing the bio, i had a sense of deja vu. because, in a previous life...as an editor....i had done the exact same thing....dozens and dozens of times. i didn't remember this until i was in the middle of doing it. writing one's own bio is a total suck-o-rama experience. back in the day, i had some extraordinary brilliant authors with some extremely healthy egos....but when faced with their own bios....they would call me and ask me to write it for them....because they honestly didn't know what to say. also, it is challenging to have someone else that doesn't know you write it....because there is a lack of trust in someone you don't know. so when i saw that the homie was having some challenges writing his bio, i guess it really isn't a surprise that i ended up offering to write it for him.

yet, it made me realize that despite how much i may have changed over the years....there are still certain aspects that i seem to have carried with me....without being fully conscious of it. it made me realize that it is possible to walk away from a passion or identity such as being an editor....and transforming it into something else....but still keeping that seed of what drew you to that passion in the first place.

for someone that is supposedly so smart, it took me a while to realize what was right there in front of me.

represent

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:01:00 +0000

recently, i worked FOH for a friend at an event....that interestingly enough...wasn't for hapa. after the event, sus sent me a text message about how a friend of a friend mentioned to her how "charming" i was with that smile of mine at the event. i remember, quite frankly, that when that text message came in...i choked in disbelief....wheezed a little bit...and then started laughing.

there is always a first for everything.

there are many descriptors that have been used to describe me throughout the years....the most common descriptors being smart, analytical, robotic, scarily efficient, stubborn, independent, ummmm...intimidating....and well, cranky......and well....hmmm.....kind of an asshole.

charming, is not usually among the list.

like ever.

ever ever.

after i was done choking, wheezing, and laughing, i took a moment and thought about it (hello! analytical!).

i suppose it made sense.

i suppose it made sense because it is really all about context.

when i love you, believe in you, and want to support you....then things are quite different. i'm not an asshole. when people see me in that context, then i suppose i smile a lot....i laugh a lot....and i don't even realize that i'm doing it. it is me....just being me....being real....in that moment.

i remember when i was working FOH for an event where CK was selling some of her holiday sweets. i've been eating CK's food for a long time and have always been an advocate for her food. here are some of the pics of her holiday sweets that i took earlier including a shot of her candy cane marshmallows that i've been having with my hot chocolate........

doesn't that look just tantalizingly and sexy? sigh.

my love and excitement for her food is sincere and i have a feeling that folks probably picked up on that. it wasn't manufactured. i was representing someone that i believe in. when i think about the folks that tried CK's food for the first time that day....i find that i'm smiling a wicked smile right now...just thinking about it. i remember intently watching the faces of people before and after they tasted her food for the first time. i remember thinking "you have no idea just how delicious what you are about to eat is going to be" right before they tasted a sample....and then feeling quite wickedly gleeful when i watched their faces transform into a blend of utter surprise and pleasure.....and oftentimes there was with an "OMG" or "holy shit" thrown in there.

in my head, when i would see their pleasure at eating CK's food, i thought "gotcha!!!!"

hee hee.

sometimes, the proof really is on the plate and that is all you need.

speaking of proof on the plate....or both plate and bowl actually.... there is also the helping out that i do at hapa.

helping out at hapa is on a completely different level....especially in terms of scale. as a well known presence within san francisco, hapa has their legion of passionate fans that often make special scheduling arrangements to ensure that they are able to eat hapa's food. good food, made with good ingredients, and made with good intentions. these fans have high expectations for hapa's food and they know exactly what they want. when i help out with hapa, i am keenly aware of the fans.....as well as every member of the hapa team that works very hard to bring their "A" game to ensure that the fans are not let down.

it makes for a very intense service.

there are so many fans. i am naturally a very curmudgeonly anti-social uncharming type of person who doesn't suffer fools....and who, quite frankly, shouldn't be around people on a regular ongoing basis.

on the surface, it doesn't make logical sense that these two components could peacefully co-exist.

yet, when i am in the hapa stand, i am there because i believe in richie's vision for the food. i know exactly where the food comes from. i know where the ingredients are sourced....because oftentimes those very farmers come to the stand to eat. i know who makes the food that respects the ingredients from these farmers. i know many, within the extended hapa family, that decide to contribute time, support, and resources because they believe in what hapa is doing.

i know that i'm a cranky person. yet, i also know that my belief in representing who and what i love....trumps all crankiness. this happens when i'm working with hapa, working other events, or even just being really excited about a particular dish from folks in the bay area and beyond. also, paradoxically enough, when i put aside my typical cranky ass personality and focus on providing a friendly experience that underscores and respects the food....it is actually sincere. i don't do this because i have to. i do this because i want to. i don't do this because have expectations of some sort of return. for me, this isn't a P&L statement. it isn't business. it is personal. it is because i personally want them to succeed.

while not having any expectations of a return, sometimes, there are startling unexpected moments that leave me stupefied....but in a good way.

for example.....despite hapa being at the ferry building on tuesdays and thursdays for over a year now...there are still many folks that are newbies to the food of hapa. it is usually quite gratifying to hear when someone has had the food for the first time and enjoyed it. just hearing that makes me feel this encroaching sort of warmth....you know....kind of like the warm that invades the grinch. yet, there are times when the newbies take their enjoyment to heights that amaze an incredibly cynical person like me. recently, when i was working a service....a client who had only had the food twice decided to buy us mittens....because they thought we looked cold.

think about that for a second.

this was a stranger. this was only their second time eating hapa's food. they loved the food. their love of the food put them in such an incredible good mood. they saw that we were cold. they decided to buy us mittens.

a random act of kindness from a stranger born from enjoyment of a lovely meal.

i know that the client was almost in a disbelief that they were doing this...and was almost sheepish really....but we were pretty thrilled. we also knew that there wasn't any expectation of "return" because they had already paid and such well before they decided to give the mittens to us.

i was pretty amazed and touched by the unexpected kindness and generosity of the gesture.

i still am actually.

while i enjoy being immersed in technology for "my real" job....the pace...the stimulation.....the intellectual puzzles.....and more...., there is something about the everyday human connections, care, and sense of community that occur between strangers around food that is supremely unique.

it isn't about logic, analytics, adoption levels, metrics, scales, or p&l statements.

or it isn't for me.

when i started on this journey a few years ago, i had no idea that i would be doing what i am doing now. none. all i really knew was that i began the journey with a very simple premise....represent what you love.

changed

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:46:00 +0000

wired and tired.

you know, that feeling when you lie down in bed....you know that you are tired....but for some reason the lights that play against the walls from cars and streetlights seem super duper fascinating that you can't sleep. thoughts are stopping, starting, and running all over the place. there is a replay of the past few hours, the day, the week, and more....but not in any kind of sequential chronological order.

i decided to get back up and write a bit.....perhaps as a way to wind down from the day......knowing that work will begin in a few hours.

despite random thoughts starting, stopping, and running all over the place.....methinks i should just write about change..... specifically, how i have changed.

i noticed this a few months ago. i noticed a change but i don't think i could clearly verbalize it. i remember mentioning this to richie in passing....and when he asked for a bit more insight....i could only say that i don't see things the way that i used to. for example, i don't see the farmers market the same.

at the time, that was all i was able to say.

yet it is different now.

i don't see the farmers market.

i see farmers. i see bakers. i see people that make confections. i see butchers. i see cheese mongers. i see cooks. i see families. i see security guards. i see market staff. i see people who likely have to be up at or before 5am....when it is still dark....to make preparations for the market, set up, and likely have been at work for hours before the first customer visits a stand.

i've also discussed this change in me with a couple of friends of mine....and with each discussion, i think i was able to get closer to identifying the change....and perhaps....just how significant the change is.

i think it became clear to me just how much i had changed recently when a couple of friends who knew me before "foodie hunter" came into existence saw me working a service or event.

one of these friends.....a particular friend who has been a cook for many years....and knew both richie and i separately....well before "foodie hunter" came into existence....came to visit the hapa stand one day when i was working service. for this particular service, i was chatting with clients about the source of the ingredients while garnishing bowls and running food. i'm pretty certain that this was the first time my friend...who knew me before "foodie hunter".... had seen me in this setting. while she was inside of the stand, we didn't chat for very long and unlike other friends who aren't in the industry, i wasn't worried that she'd be offended.

another friend who i have known since our university days had a bird's eye view of me working FOH at a food event that wasn't for hapa.

sometimes, events like these help place change....or exactly how much change....in context... because these are friends who knew me "before"....and seeing them within these environments provides a marker of just how different my perspective has become.

while i still do not consider myself industry, i know that i do not look at food, cooking, service, space, and people the same.

i notice that when i walk into a place for the first time, i gravitate...almost unconsciously....to sensing whether or not folks have a sense of pride in their place. basically, do they "own it". i don't mean own it as in actual paper deed ownership. i mean "own it"....as in do they give a shit....really....do they care....and if they care, what of themselves are they putting out there and what are they trying to say? i also notice that when i walk into a place, the veneer or glossy distance is no longer there. i feel like i am no longer walking into a "restaurant" but walking into someone's home....but a different kind of home....where i am able to taste different types of dishes, see how the FOH interact, perhaps see folks on the line, and watch the ebb and flow of service. intellectually, i know that these aspects were always present....like a clear interactive wall filled with encrypted code....visually present but not recognizable. the code not becoming recognizable until i was provided the cipher.

the cipher provided to me included a couple of things....my experiences with hapa and oddly enough....industry folks telling me stories. i would have thought that finding out that i was "foodie hunter" would have folks be silent around me.....but i'm not really finding that to be the case. i know that many bloggers are viewed as being akin to snakes in the grass so i'm always extremely surprised when someone decides to tell me about their experiences...especially when haven't asked them about it. to be clear, i don't find these stories unwelcome...i'm just rather surprised. in many ways, i am thankful as it has helped me see ....what was already there...what i just didn't realize was there....right in front of me.

my life. my choices. my blog.

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:26:00 +0000

yeah, i know that i haven't been writing for a while.

well, i haven't been writing here anyway.

when i started, i never expected anyone to read this blog. i have some rather mixed feelings knowing folks are reading it. however, my feelings about people trying to tell me what to write or how i should conduct myself on this blog are not mixed. what i have learned is that the more people that read this blog, the more contact i have with people that seem to have a sense of entitlement regarding what i write.

this is mind boggling on many levels.

this is particularly mind boggling since i have never....not even once...asked anyone what they think about my blog. i have never solicited any opinions or feedback about it. i am never the one to bring it up in conversation. i have stated....repeatedly...over the years...that i write for me and me only.

over the past few weeks, i have been thinking about whether or not to continue.

i'm not going to lie. i'm still thinking about it.

i remember when i was finishing up my studies at berkeley [which was a VERY long time ago btw]...a couple of my profs.....noting....that i had a "knack" for research, how i was running an academic student group that ran events, a newsletter, peer advising, etc., and the fact that i was 19 when i started on my senior year honors thesis....they all assumed that i was going into academia.

OH HELL NO.

i thought it was rather mind boggling that they even thought they had a say in what i would do with my life.

they may have seen me in class or office hours but they knew nothing about who i was. by this point in my life, i learned that folks...especially teachers...see what they want to see...and see what they hope to "shape and mold" into what they want....not necessarily what the student actually wants.

the last couple of years of berkeley, i was incredibly stressed out about my decision to not work (when i started college i had two jobs....one at a combo bar/dive/pizza joint and another at a retail sales gig at a kitchen gear store), racking up more loans, and do things like unpaid internships and running the student organization. these profs knew nothing of this. they also knew nothing of how i have always hated school. always. i love learning.....but i've always hated school....and going into academia would mean school for the rest of my life.

i said nothing of this to the profs. when they would make murmurings and suggestions about getting my P.h.D., i stated quite clearly that the only three letters i'd be pursuing post-school were: J.O.B. my main objective included my earning enough money to pay off my student loans and becoming financially independent. this was a non-negotiable.

the profs wouldn't give up about trying to influence my path....they keep on saying things about getting a job writing for living....to which my response was

"i don't want to be the talent. i want to find the talent".

like most adults i came across during my neophyte years, they looked at me like i was from another planet.

i cannot tell you how many times folks have had a sense of entitlement regarding what i should do with my life...especially when i was a kid.

no, i didn't want to be an engineer.
no, i didn't want to be a lawyer.
no, i didn't want to be a scientist
no, i didn't want to be a doctor
no, i didn't know what i want my future wedding/husband to be like because maybe i won't get married.
no, i didn't want to be ten years old and be in college.

yup, this was even before i entered college.

i don't get people that have so much personally invested in influencing other people to do what they want them to do. i think those people need to take a real close look at themselves, their own motivations, and what they find so lacking in themselves that they need to influence others so badly.

i remember the day when i was promoted to being a full fledged editor. JS bought me a rather fancy pen to sign my first contract as an editor. he was always so proud of me....referring to me as a "phenom". i remember how i sat there in my office with a view, this fancy pen, and one of the contracts.....and thought back to those profs who looked at me like was an alien. while i didn't know when i left school exactly what it was.....how i was going to get there....i found what i wanted. i became the person who found the talent and i was good at it.

while i am no longer an editor.....that was a couple of lifetimes ago....and why i decided to stop being an editor is a story for another time......i think i'm remembering this story now...because it is a way of reminding myself that i've never taken the typical path for anything.

not when i was a kid, not when i was in school, not in my various "careers"...and not.....not even now.

oddly enough, it has always been a battle against what other folks feel entitled to regarding my life....which makes little sense. why should other people even care? i mean, really?

really.

it seems that despite other people's expectations, sense of entitlement regarding what i should do with my life, there has always been a constant of me saying

"go fuck yourself. i decide what i want to do with my life".

"must love yaks"

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:11:00 +0000

tough day today.

filled with conflict, politics, and anger.

the kind that makes one....or me....feel like i should sit in extremely hot shower....as if the taint of the experience could be washed away. after over seven hours of this, i really needed to take a break away from everything. i think it helped that i decided to check twitter and my feed seemed to have quite a few references to the rather hilarious video snippet that is a promo for the upcoming broadcast segment where ryan farr talks sausage with martha stewart. in that minute long video, there is MARTHA STEWART bringing up how sausage casings can be akin to condoms. there was some respectful banter from ryan farr and i have to give him props for "going with the flow" so gracefully.

i know if was me i think i'd be rather dumbfounded and speechless.

i watched the video twice in a row and laughed aloud both times. it was a good reminder that there are other things going on in the world. it was also a good reminder how laughter helps make anything a bit easier.....and how stepping away from something toxic is also a good idea.

so i decided to take a walk.

yes, i know it is a bit chilly in sf right now...but i really just needed to take a walk. i walked around the neighborhood for a while....and then started thinking i should eat something before i go to the sfmoma party tonight. i should have something in my stomach. i hadn't eaten all day. yet, i really wasn't hungry. i tried to think about potential things in my neighborhood. i received a note/notice via social media from some branding folks that roostertail was opening up in lower pac heights on sutter and decided to take a wander by. while i really wasn't in the mood to try something new (sometimes, in moods like this one.....i just want something that is familiar, comforting, and good) but i thought since i was walking around i should take a peek...and make an effort. i took a wander by and definitely saw from the outside some stylish accents....like the red chairs that pop. i love red.

there was also a sign in the door/window that indicated that they wouldn't upon until 5:30 today. this makes complete sense as today is their first day.

frankly, i must admit that i was a bit relieved.

in my head i thought "well, i made an effort to try something new! now i can just go to wing wings instead." it is really where i wanted to go all along....someplace i knew that i would like.....it is a comfortable space with what i know will be good food. it was like the universe was saying "yes! you don't have the be the exploratory foodie hunter today." i'll try out roostertail another day. i'm always interested in seeing what new places decide to set up a place my neighborhood.

so i went to wing wings and the always friendly FOH predicted that i was going to order the fried chicken that they are running on special today. under normal circumstances, i totally would have. i love the fried chicken...specifically christian's fried chicken (hello, well documented in the blog already). yet today....methinks because i wanted something that i personally find very comforting....i wanted the chicken salad on a biscuit. i think we each have certain comfort foods....and this is one of mine. i love the biscuit. i love the spices (which i suspect is a swipe of the herb sauce i love so much in addition to a few other things). this tiny sandwich is one of my personal hall of fame comfort foods (what's in my hall of fame comfort foods that i don't personally make? pho, bun bo hue, banh cuon, banh gio, carnitas burrito from la taqueria, farro porridge from il cane rosso, 4505 meats cheeseburger, and basically everything that CK, amy, sus, richie, and humphry slocombe make).

nope, i didn't take a picture of the chicken salad on a biscuit. i didn't really feel like it. i just felt like eating it and the crispy crunchy pickles. i love those pickles. yet, i think those that read me often enough have seen many o'many pics of what this looks like.

it hit the spot and then i headed back up fillmore to grab some coffee before i went back to work. i had to laugh when i saw the sign outside jane today (see top pic). it is always nice to have a moment of random laughter. when i went in to place my order, one of the baristas made a guess about what i was going to order.

methinks i'm rather predictable huh? but in a good way.

as i walked home, i reminded myself that although earlier had been pretty tough...it doesn't always have to be like that....and it is good to step away....into something completely and 100% different.

not complicated

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:29:00 +0000

didn't really leave my place today. a wee bit too much to work on. it also helped that my place is warm and cozy which is a marked contrast to the temperature outside. there is much left to do....but as it is nearing midnight, i really want to wind down for the evening and get some sleep.

my primary meal today was very simple and a reflection of how i'm feeling at the moment. things are complicated at work. on many levels. as a result, i'm not really looking for complicated in other parts of my life. sometimes, methinks the universe has an odd sense of humor at times. methinks that folks that seek out drama and complication....obviously don't have it happen naturally in their lives....so they deliberately seek out complicated drama as a way to feel alive.

so not me.

i was catching up with someone today and he asked how the weekend was. i said that it was pretty good....and how i really just wanted a day when i wasn't angry. i know that for many folks that read this blog....that statement is quite odd. yet, when i told him ....he understood. completely.

there are times when i am so tired of being angry. i'm so tired of being responsible. i'm so tired of giving a shit.

because to be angry....it means that there is care involved....it means disappointment....it means a sense of injustice....it means oh so many things.

yet, at the core....to be angry...it means that you give a shit.

most days, it is just "charge on". you know, when the universe shuts a door on you....you make your own window. i know that isn't the real way that proverb goes....but i like my version better. my version isn't passive. i'm a big believer in that the life we have....is the life we make.

yet, occasionally, there is a day or two....when the universe hands over something else, and i just feel like saying

"really?"

"is this really necessary? what the fuck am i suppose to learn from this? why so complicated?"

my response at this very moment isn't exactly the most positive.

my response is "lets make it not complicated".....which means caring less.

hola chica

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 07:39:00 +0000

hmmmmm. winding out for the evening.

there are a few things that i could be thinking about....that i probably should be thinking about....but i'm too tired and really don't want to deal with those things. i know that i have relayed quite a few stories within this blog....yet for every story i do write....whether they be contemplative (musings about FOH), silly (pheromones), etc... there are dozens upon dozens that i do not write about.

the majority of stories.....i keep to myself.....there are some that aren't meant to be shared.

for various reasons.

yet sometimes, writing of the stories and musings that are ok to make public....still provides an outlet for those stories that cannot be shared. it is a story. it is a connection. it is a voice.

so as i wind down, i'll write of a small story of a recent visit with the family. it was a pretty chill visit that included kid sitting, making food, and eating food. interestingly enough, hapa had some loaves of rye bread from wise sons and offered me a loaf before i hopped onto the ferry to go meet the fam. i wasn't about to turn that down. i've only had a slice here or there before on sandwiches and such...yet i knew that i liked it. i thought it would be a great opportunity to eat more of it...for snacks and such. i'm such a carb gal. i'm not the only one that likes the rye bread from wise sons.....the fam ate the entire loaf within a 24 hour period. we all enjoyed it quite a bit. here is a pic of me having a couple of slices with butter as a breakfast snack while i looked through the sis' copy of ryan farr's whole beast butchery book.

later on during that day, the heart sis made a Nicaraguan version of salpicon and plantains for dinner......

and a ginger cake for dessert.....which is not Nicaraguan but one of her hubby's favorite desserts. i kind of love how there wasn't a second thought about having rye bread, butter, and tea for breakfast to having nicaraguan food for dinner.

folks may or may not have guessed by now that when i refer to my "sis", "sister", "heart sister", that we are not biological sisters. yet, she is family and i do think of her as such. we met when we were very young, have remained close ever since, and in many ways "grew up" together. the reason why i bring this up is that you, dear reader, may have guessed that while we are both american, born in san francisco, and raised in the bay area.....we have different ethnic backgrounds. her parents were from Nicaragua and mine were not.

interestingly enough though, when we went to a local latin market to pick up a few things for dinner....i did my usual thing when i'm not familiar with a grocery store.....i look at all of the shelves. i mean, i really look at them. i especially like to look at them if they are filled with many foodstuffs that i normally don't see. while i was doing this, i picked up a couple of things and was greeted with "hola" by staff. i said "hola" back as that seemed like the polite thing to do. if they spoke to me in spanish, i indicated in english that i was just looking. i don't speak or understand spanish. when it came time to pay, "hola" greetings were exchanged....and then i do what i always do when someone speaks to me in a language i don't understand when i want to buy something. i smile and i give them the highest bill i have. i've pretty much done this in every country i've visited where i don't speak the language. yet, before i go a country, i pretty much figure out how to say hello, please, and thank you. it is amazing how far one can get with learning those words in any country you visit. so when the cashier gave me my change, i said "gracias" and then the sis and i walked out.

i think we were about 3-4 steps out of the store when the sis exclaimed how the staff thought i was latina.

yeah, that happens.

it happened when i was in texas and it happened when i was in merida.

go figure. i don't see it...but i guess other folks do.

the sis has heard quite a bit about my various travel experiences where folks like to play "let's guess the foodie hunter ethnicity game". an unsolicited game at that.....but i think this is the first time the sister has actually seen it for herself.

then the sis relayed how when she goes into that store she never gets the "hola" greeting....and how she always gets "hiya". she was a bit exasperated....since...well....she's the american with the Hispanic ethnic heritage....and not me.

then i burst out into giggles.

the irony of it all....just tickled me.

then i said "i'm totally going to write about this"....between the snickers and cackles.

it is kind of amazing what people's perceptions can be. how sometimes we see only what we want to see....or see what we believe we should be seeing.

eliciting pheromones

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:58:00 +0000

i slept in. it was glorious. last night before sus and i embarked on our wandering around the lower haight and up divis, we met up at wing wings so that i could buy a cinnamon pastry togo.

i had a feeling that it was going to come in handy today. as i picked up the pastry, the FOH folks recommended that i make french toast out of it....and you know....french toast sounded like a really good way to underscore my lazy morning.

i scrounged around my kitchen to see what i had on hand to make the french toast.....a kind of french toast that would hopefully be an appropriate homage to the pastry.

i decided that the french toast would be lovely with some of the candied spicy bourbon pecans that i made a while ago, fresh whipped cream with a wee bit of bourbon, and slices of warren pear (frog hollow). i made the batter for the french toast out of organic pastry flour, egg (eat well), cream, and maple syrup. i, of course, also fried up the slices of battered pastry with butter (straus european style).

it was a pretty decadent brunch. it was a way to have dessert for breakfast....in a legit way.

as i made my way through the breakfast, i was thinking about some of the food from wing wings in general...and specifically, the fried chicken that they are running as a special. they are plating it in different ways with different sides. folks should follow them on twitter to get a heads-up on when they are running fried chicken on their menu.

quite frankly, i never had christian's fried chicken when he was at little skillet. egad! i know, it is quite an omission...but alas, i never had it. my curiosity was rampant about it though. i think it is pretty obvious how much i enjoy what christian puts on the menu at wing wings. when i heard that he was going to put it on the menu, i ensured that i was on hand to try it and was very fortunate (believe me when i say i know how lucky i am) that i was able to have a sneak peek of the first fried chicken special that wing wings put out.....

which was fried chicken, greens, and sweet potatoes. they also plated some of the "herb" sauce (which is one of my favorite sauces for the wings btw) on the side.

i can still remember the first touch....the texture of it....the hot light coating....and the first bite....the hot savory salty crispy first bite.

i remember thinking "oh fuck....so this is why. this is why there is a cult-like following for his chicken. hmmmmm."

it makes a lot of sense.

a hella lot of sense.

i wasn't surprised though....it is aligned with my expectations.....given the experiences i've had with the other food offerings on the menu.

i've had the fried chicken again since that first time....and it is always so wickedly deliciously enjoyable. i end up licking and sucking on my fingers and bones....not wanting to waste any bit of the savory salty flavor. the last time i had the fried chicken though....it came with an unexpected side effect.

i remember telling sus about it over dinner one night when we were at mission chinese and i was testing out the low light settings in my new camera......

you see, the odd unexpected side effect was that there were three males that decided to communicate and express admiration after i left wing wings. after the third time with someone who was at least a decade younger than me, i was like WTF? this kind of stuff doesn't happen to me. i remember tweeting something about it too. i only tweet about something like this if i'm extraordinary annoyed or extraordinary surprised.

i was extraordinarily surprised.

because....let's be frank, i'm not THAT cute.

i'm about average. when i've got my style going on, i'm not the most hideous thing ever. but-i'm-not-three-straight-dudes-giving-props-in-a-row-kind-of-cute.

most of the time, when i am approached/whatever....i know that it has primarily to do with perceived opportunity than anything else. i travel around quite a bit by myself....and i'm short. as a result, i find that folks see me and my short self walking around by myself..... they see that as an opportunity to "go fishing". you know...."just to see what happens". i bet it would happen if i had horns, a tail, and three noses....simultaneously. victor was asking me about this the other night when we were sharing a meal...and mentioned that he thought that sounded rather scary to deal with. i hadn't thought about it that way. i think of it as something that any female has to deal with when traveling around by oneself in an urban setting. it is just the way it is. what am i going to do? not go out? ha! that would be a rather disheartening to allow something like that to keep one from living life.

anyway.......so, i know that it wasn't me, what i was wearing, etc....that was eliciting that kind of odd reaction...so me and my nerd self have reached the only logical conclusion given the evidence.

i surmised that it must have been christian's fried chicken.

i think there is something about eating the fried chicken that initiates the release of pheromones.

i think that this theory also needs further investigation.....so if you, dear reader, decide to go try the fried chicken on special at wing wings.....please let me know if something similar happens to you as well.

can you imagine what a scientific breakthrough this would be? pheromones from fried chicken? that would explain why so many people love fried chicken. you know that someone....somewhere....somehow....would figure out how to bottle it......all in the name of science of course.

musings about FOH

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:11:00 +0000

"i don't think it is worth it!" declared a woman...over and over again....who decided to put back some of the fruit that she was going to purchase from one of the vendors at the farmers market. this is a vendor that i visit on a regular basis. fruit from this vendor is $3.90 a pound and the price point is very obviously displayed every 4 inches on their signage throughout their stand. when i observed this behavior, there was a part of me that immediately created a mental picture of me grabbing her very expensive yet knockoff quilted chanel purse and repeatedly hitting her burberry logo branded clad body over and over again for such incredible rudeness.

if you don't want to buy the fruit, don't buy it.

perhaps, if you knew a bit more about the fruit....you'd realize why their fruit is $3.90 a pound and why it is incredibly delicious. when i buy their fruit...i buy 3-4 pieces for personal consumption and enjoy every bite. i've been doing this for years and i'm doing it right now....as i eat an asian pear from this vendor for breakfast.

as i puttered around my place this morning, i made myself a cup of hot chocolate which was just water and valrhona (see top pic). just thinking. you know, just thinking about people. thinking about interactions with people. then when i reached for the asian pear, it reminded me of that instance at the market. i've been wanting to write about front of house (FOH) experience for a while now....so why not now? as i have a quiet contemplative moment...waiting for the various loads of laundry to finish up. there has also been more then enough time between my own FOH stints with hapa that my anonymity will still be present....even if i write about it.

i'm a cranky curmudgeonly person.

i don't hide this.

yet, the times that i've helped out doing some FOH work for hapa, i put that aside....because for me....it means more to me that the clients have a positive experience than being myself.

when i help out ...and end up doing FOH....it is important to me that the clients receive a friendly smile, observant supportive helpfulness, a positive connection....that underscores and respects the food. this friendliness is completely contrary to my personality. i'm usually only friendly...you know...if i actually like you. yet, why is it so important to me when i'm doing this? because i know exactly how much work the folks....often right behind me....in the BOH.... put into the food....and i know exactly who makes the food, the farmers the ingredients come from, and the number of lives that the overall business impacts.

the food in itself is a culmination of so many different people....a web of networks....that come together....to ensure that the food that is delivered on the counter or table has the best intentions.

for me, when i am working FOH ....it is different....because i actually care.

at my day job, i care about the quality of work i produce....and my team produces.....it MUST be of the highest quality possible....but i have zero emotional attachment to what execs decide to do with the information. i know and they know it is what they need....my role is providing the information, potential outcomes, strategies, and tactics....but it is really up to them to pull up their own pants and take responsibility for the decisions that come out of the work i do. that is why they get paid a boatload more money than i do. i love the intellectual puzzles and challenges of the work....but have a complete emotional detachment to decisions that are made because of it.

i fully realize that i pimp out my brain and get well compensated for it.

my experiences helping out doing FOH stints here and here are incredibly different. not only do i actually care, but it has also provided me with a different perspective.

i don't see FOH folks the same way anymore.

anytime i hear about a sense of entitlement of a certain percentage for a FOH tip, i just roll my eyes these days. like any team in any kind of industry, there are those that are great at what they do, those that are average, and those that just really suck. if you suck, you shouldn't get rewarded for being subpar....you need to either step up your game or do something else. at the same time, i realize that the places i've become a "regular" at....it is because of specific food offerings and the skill of certain FOH. skilled FOH are integral to creating the atmosphere that underscores the vision for the experience...as well as the food. when i am regular at certain places, i know when someone is just having an "off day" and definitely don't penalize them for it.....and i also know which FOH at these same places are just consistently and always awful....and try to ensure that i'm not seated in their sections.

i also fully realize that some clients are on the full spectrum as well....some are super friendly, some just want their food, some are shy/awkward but are seeking connections with their food, and some are supreme assholes...on purpose....like that person at the farmers market that decided to publicly deride the fruit. there have been times when i've observed supreme asshole behavior from clients at places i've visited...and actually made a conscious decision to "break through" that barrier between client/FOH....to just acknowledge that as a human being......certain actions on the part of the client were inappropriate and uncalled for. normally, the FOH folks are supremely surprised when i've done this...yet, i never received the impression that it wasn't welcomed.

oddly enough, i think folks often forget that the FOH folks are human beings....or they deliberately don't want to remember. i find that this reveals quite a bit about their character or lack thereof.

yet, sometimes, i think this goes both ways.

there are times when i've been a client...watching...observing....certain suck-o-rama FOH folks forget that their clients are human beings as well. i've seen certain FOH pigeon hole and categorize people....and provide them with service that has truly been appalling....methinks that they forget that in such an affluent area like san francisco...that there are many folks that save up to eat out and are hopeful of having a lovely dining experience because they don't get it very often. instead of gently guiding these clients through the dining experience...these FOH become supercilious pretentious pricks. the times i've seen this...it makes me both angry and sad.

while i didn't receive that treatment....it makes me angry enough that i don't return to those places.

i suppose we all have our pet peeves....and this is obviously one of mine. a rather ginormous one.

unsurprisingly, i've never seen anything remotely like this with hapa (even before folks knew who i was)...which is not surprising since i think richie would make any FOH person become quite familiar with his serious knife skills if they were that type of person or decided to show that sort of unacceptable behavior....he's has high expectations for every aspect of his business. also unsurprisingly, i adore some of the FOH folks that do the hapa ramen popups.

i think my stints helping out FOH on occasion has also led to a greater appreciation for those that decide to do it day....after day....having the patience dealing with the sheer amount of people that come through. i'm not exactly certain what it is...but there is something about food that brings out the best.....most joyful.....almost glowing happiness from people....and it also brings out some of the most appalling behavior.

i know that i couldn't do it. the only reason why i do it occasionally now is because....as i have stated before...i believe in what hapa is doing and want to support them. there is a different doing something because you "have to" and doing something because you...or in this case.... "i".... believe in what the folks are doing.

big difference.

a nakano thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:06:00 +0000

"three turkeys?!"

when mrs. hapa ramen told me on our hiphop dance date that richie had three turkeys in their fridge for thanksgiving, i was both surprised and not surprised.

i was surprised considering how many events hapa had in the pipeline before thanksgiving....i.e,. a popup at bar tartine, two market days back-to-back, etc...which meant that there wasn't a heck of a lot of time to prep for thanksgiving. i don't think folks realize just how much prep work goes into hapa's regular gig at the tuesday and thursday farmers market....so when adding things like popups and such....it doesn't leave much time for coordination of a rather large holiday meal.

yet, i wasn't surprised...because...well, it is richie after all.

so after mrs. hapa ramen and i talked a bit more about thanksgiving, i didn't really think that much about the three turkeys. i figured that richie was going to do his thing and that i'd pretty much took it for granted that it was going to be great.

of course, it was.

i wasn't stressed about what i was bringing to thanksgiving because i had already arranged what i considered to be a rather fool proof strategy. sooooo....what do you do when you know that you are going to go to a chef's house (and not just any chef...but richie's house...no pressure or anything) for thanksgiving? well, if you are the foodie hunter....you buy food from another chef to bring for thanksgiving. and booze (i.e., templeton rye whiskey in this case).

when wing wings tweeted that they were thinking of offering up ready to bake biscuits for thanksgivng, i was ALL OVER IT. it was a no-brainer. i treat them like a bakery anyways, so i bought two dozen assorted (i.e., plain buttermilk, brown sugar black pepper, and bacon cheddar scallion) and picked them up the day before thanksgiving.

the FOH folks were really nice as usual. the ready to bake biscuits were packaged up and had heating instructions. i also received some additional instructions from the chef as well which was much appreciated.

i ended up baking them at my place before i headed over to richie's and mrs. hapa ramen's (yes, i'm calling her that because i don't have her permission to name her....but she really does have her own distinct separate identity). i had a feeling that the oven at their place was going to be in constant use and didn't want to add another potential stressor. baking the biscuits helped me get into more of a holiday mindset since a work project dropped on wed morning that i had to finish before i headed out for thanksgiving festivities at the nakano home.

when i arrived at the nakano residence, things were already in full swing. the apps of boccalone salumi, cheese from cow girl, gigantic shrimp that looked like mini-lobsters, etc where already on the table and bubbly wine was being passed around.

the aromas throughout the house were absolutely delightful. when i walked into their home, i walked into warmth, comfort, and hospitality. the hours went by quite quickly.....and then there was a flurry of activity to put out all of the thanksgiving mains and sides.

richie had deboned one of the turkeys and stuffed it.

oh yes he did.

he also sous vide turkey and then pan fried it.

oh yes he did.

of course, it was all so good.

there was no dry bland tasting turkey in the nakano residence that evening. absolutely not. as for the sides, there was also greens, brussels sprouts with guanciale, cranberry sauce, au jus gravy, a roasted squash with dates, dumplings (homemade russian style from svet), biscuits (wing wings), holiday souffle-like mash potatoes (riche's mom), and desserts (jesse).

the food was great. quite frankly, i wasn't expecting it to be anything less than great.

while the food was wonderful as expected, there were also some rather choice non-food moments throughout the evening that make me smile....and make the rather cynical foodie hunter all warm and fuzzy as i recall them days later.....

watching richie show his mom how to use a knife
colton dancing.
hearing how proud richie's mom was of him
mrs. hapa ramen and i discussing various options for our next date. richie trying to not look too excited or too encouraging about one of the specific shopping options.
jesse instigating a "making whipped cream contest". the young adorable brothers who put 300% behind the whisk. enthusiasm was infectious. i couldn't stop laughing.
my slight panic when i found out richie's mom had read "foodie hunter". i did a mental scroll through my blog...trying to figure out if i've written anything offensive. then panic completely dissipated when she let me know that she follows her son on twitter. then my reaction was sending richie a look that translated into "OMFG-your-mom-follows-you-on-twitter-especially-given-what-you-tweet". richie's response? a half shrug.
jesse and his wife holding hands. adorable.
getting to meet violet blue. i went to a commonwealth club panel earlier this year to specifically see her speak. smart, sassy, articulate, and even more uber awesome in person.
richie giving me a cup of coffee with a cheshire grin. anytime he smiles like that it means something is in the drink. sure enough, it had enough booze in it to put hair on someone's chest.
colton making a grunt noise to get my attention, holding up his arms, and wiggling his fingers....all indications that he wants to be picked up. i'm well trained.
at the end of the evening.....two seconds before i closed my eyes....trying not to laugh as a very inebriated friend gave his wife a lap dance. hence, my closing my eyes as i realized what was going on to prevent something like blindness.
the appearance of darth vader.
richie showing me video games, specifically the third person fighting game....which is like waving crack in front of an addict btw. i got a wee bit too excited and said that i had to stop. i was having flashbacks to being stinky at 3am with numb ass playing video games. this was thanksgiving after all.
the nerd moment when a group of us instantly identified that the picture of the space ship was serenity.
mrs. hapa ramen yelling out that she knew that i knew the answer to a movie trivia question because i read the young adult science fiction novel rather than watching the movie. we talk a lot. usually not about food.

thanksgiving at the nakano home was filled with so many lovely moments. many more than what i have recounted here. moments filled with family, friends, food, laughter, and many reminders of what i am thankful for.

revel

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:46:00 +0000

the first slew of morning meetings is over. i'm waiting on a couple of things so i thought i'd steal away for a moment to revel in my crush over the pineapple guava that the fam dropped off yesterday. i know that they look quite humble .....small oval globes with bumpy lime green skins and tiny bursts at one end.

yet, there is more to them than just the humble visage.

as i take one in my hand....rolling the very firm, plump, and slightly nubby fruit through my fingers.....i bring it up to my nose and inhale the delectable fragrance....that hints of sweetness, citrus, green, floral, and a wee bit of mint.

then as i peel off the skin.....the ivory juicy fruit reveals itself......the enticing fragrance becomes more present and i can feel the freshly wet grainy pear-like texture underneath my fingertips...engaging and teasing the senses which builds up the anticipation for the tasting.....hmmmmmm....hey lover....

then as i slice into the fruit, i can't help but think how humble it looks....

so at odds with the potent fragrance. yet, then i take a bite.

the first note of tartness sparks the tongue....stimulating the senses to full alert....and then follows through with sweetness....almost lullingly....soothing the taste buds after the initial intensity.

hmmmm, such a lovely way to begin the morning....don't you think?

moment away from the headache

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:03:00 +0000

something hit me today and literally knocked me off my feet.

i think i caught a bug or something. completely unexpected.

at the moment, i can finally feel the headache lessen a bit....which is quite a wonderful thing. when i was talking to the heart sis this evening, i was pleading with her to not make me laugh since the headache would reach a rather epic level. the fam is going to be keeping an eye on me over the next couple of days. i think i'll be getting a check-in visit tomorrow as well as a potential delivery of some pineapple guava from their back yard. not only will it be good to see one of the godkids but i also do love pineapple guava quite a bit.

i know that it seems to be a bit odd for me to be writing, despite feeling a bit ill....especially with a headache. yet, one of the things i found out this evening is that a friend of the godson was diagnosed with a brain tumor. this friend is seven years old. i find this pretty heartbreaking....which is why i am writing about this now.

in case you haven't figured it out yet, this blog really isn't about food. this blog is about what i am thinking about at any given moment. this blog is me.

right now, i'm thinking about what it means to be diagnosed with a brain tumor at seven years old. seven years old. i'm thinking about what this mean for her parents. i'm thinking how does one explain this to the godkids....who are seven and five...that a friend of theirs has this. i'm thinking about how my family is thinking about this....as it is natural to do so when your children are so close in age. how can you not think about the challenges that life presents and how there are things we can never predict despite so much planning. i'm hoping that the tumor will be benign and easily removable.

unsurprisingly, hearing about this also reminded me how important it is that people that i care about know that i care about them. this is really the most important thing.

stopping by my local "bakery" before sunday dinner

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:04:00 +0000

i was running a wee bit behind today. i wanted to ensure that i arrived to oakland on time to make sunday dinner at CK's house. while i had no idea what was on the menu, all i knew was that it was my responsibility to show up with the marrow bones (marin sun farms). i also knew what i wanted to put together my host present which would be a jar of peacotum (plum peach apricot hyrbrid) jam from blue chair that i already picked up.....some baked goods from wing wings, and a bottle of wine from paul marcus.

yeah, i know that wing wings that has a large focus on chicken wings. i also think the readers of this blog are aware of my affection for the chicken wings and chicken salad on a biscuit. yet, to be quite frank, i also treat wing wings like a bakery. for example, when the sis crashed at my place for an evening a while ago, i ensured that i was stocked up on the brown sugar black pepper biscuits as well as the pineapple sweet cream cheese pies (see top pic) which were a hit btw. we also paired the brown sugar black pepper biscuits with ice cream (strawberry je ne sais quoi from three twins for me....which is the one pairing in the picture..... and a vanilla goat milk ice cream for the sis).

so yeah, i treat wing wings like a bakery. i really shouldn't be surprised by this. the most common things i get from OTD on bush to go are the steamed buns and the pate choux. there is precedence for this kind of behavior.

when i like food..... i just like it. i also end up buying it for loved ones to try as well.

while i was a bit behind schedule today, i knew that i still wanted to buy some baked goods from wing wings before i picked up the marrow bones. so i got in a cab to the lower haight and i don't know what it is about me and talkative cabbies....but this happens a lot. the cabbie ended up telling me about this sandwich place that he likes in soma and then proceeded to ask me why i was going to the lower haight. when i told him that i had some jam in my bag and wanted to pick up some biscuits from wing wings as part of my host present for the sunday dinner party....you know...something for the folks to have for breakfast the next day as a treat. he had a good chuckle and said something about how i must like to cook and then proceeded to ask me about the wing wings menu + how late it was open.

while i was answering the cabbie's questions, i did think this was rather funny on very many levels.

then i got his curiosity going so much that when we arrived to the lower haight....instead of dropping me off at the corner (which would have been much easier), he wanted to drop me off literally right in front of wing wings + double park.....so that he could get a good look at the place as he wanted to remember it for him to visit later. we were both chuckling quite a bit when i gave the cabbie the fare+tip and hopped out.

after i bought some brown sugar black pepper biscuits, i caught muni to bart.....

and made it in enough time to pick up the marrow bones and wine (a young barolo). sunday dinner included roasted marrow bones w/home made bread (using a tartine recipe no less!), a poached egg in the broth from the pot de feu (well hello you sexy dish), the super tender meat from the lovely pot de feu, and a deliciousness dessert of goat milk panna cotta, pears, and a pine nut brittle.

i think i'm still glowing from the pleasure from the meal.

masks

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 07:40:00 +0000

not to state the obvious or anything....but i haven't written for quite some time.

it hasn't been a case of not having things to say, to write, or to process.

it has been more of a what should or shouldn't i say?

everyday i have sat in front of the monitor, put my hands on the keys, and thought "is this the day?"

every. day.

there is some comfort in anonymity as it provides a mask.....albeit sometimes an illusionary mask....yet, the anonymity mask is still a device that provides me with the capability to be vulnerable and "speak" truthfully. the more folks that know who i am "in the flesh", the more difficult it becomes to maintain that level of vulnerable truthfulness....the sort of stark blunt honesty that enables this blog to be a sanctuary space.

a small sanctuary space where i could just be me with all of my contradictions, weaknesses, and foibles. a space where i could be nerdy uncool unhip in my passions. a space where i could type of many seemingly unrelated random things that make up snippets of stories....just unassuming tiny snippets about an everyday life with everyday challenges and everyday moments of pleasure. yet, no matter what...the snippets would be honest, open, and truthful in the moment.

what has been on my mind recently is that i don't know if i will be able to continue to do so. as the anonymity slips here and there....i don't know if i will be able to write with the same blunt honest mindset that i did before.

to be quite frank, i don't know if i'm strong enough to do so.

i want to believe that i'm strong enough to do so.

yet, i don't know if i will be.

how's that for some honesty?

there are some things in life that i have some overwhelming epically large amounts of...like pride, stubbornness, analytical processing speed in the identification of patterns (which unfortunately is decreasing with age....sigh) and the like...but i'm not carrying around a big load of "willingness to be vulnerable". the amount is more a kin to a thumbnail...and i have small hands.

do i know that it is something i need to work on?

yes.

you can't hear me...but if you could. you'd hear a whisper that would also sound like a remarkably squeaky kind of "yes".

it is one of the reasons why i started this blog...years ago. i knew i needed to work on this.....and i have been working quite diligently on this.

yet, it is still a challenge.....for me....and one that doesn't seem to get easier.

ms james

noreply@blogger.com (foodie hunter) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 03:12:00 +0000

i love music.

i enjoy all different types of music....yet, it should surprise no one that reads this blog that the types of music i am the most drawn to...is that of soul music, old school jazz, some r&b, and hip hop. from my perspective, music....like any kind of art form....it is about the connection between the artist and the audience....not everyone is going to like the same thing.....not everyone is going to connect with the same type of music or song...and they shouldn't have too.

i was rather thrilled when i was on muni a few weeks ago and saw that leela james was going to be at yoshi's. i've been listening to her music for years. i love her rendition of sam cooke's "a change is gonna come"....and i'm pretty certain that i've linked to her songs such as "mistreating me" and "my joy" before in this blog. i pretty much re-arranged my schedule so that i'd be able to attend her performance at yoshi's. there was a chance that a couple of friends of mine were also going to attend...but because i wanted so much to see her perform...i wasn't going to put it to "chance" and bought myself an assigned seat ticket.

what can is say? when i want to do something....i just do it. i don't wait for anyone. i make it happen for myself.

i later found out that friends went to a later performance...and while i love these friends....i wouldn't have been a happy camper about arriving to the show after ms. james sang two songs. i'm very glad that i decided upon purchasing my ticket separately as me and my anal self was early to the first show of the evening.

i was very excited to be there. i took a couple of pictures....but only before the show began.

from my perspective, it is a bit disrespectful to take pictures when the house indicates that there are no pictures and audio recording. also, folks that take pictures with a flash are a special sort of assholes in my opinion. what do you think happens to the performer when they do that? i'm rather amazed how folks forget that performers and artists are actually human beings.

anyway, i enjoyed the performance. when leela james came out on stage, i had read that she was a petite person...but didn't realize just how petite until is saw her. such a petite person....and such a booming lovely voice. since i was so close to the stage, i was also able to see that she was wearing sparkly heels that were a size or two....too big for her. this made me smile and just shake my head a bit. it then became no surprise to me that she eventually just took those shoes off while she was dancing on stage. she has a rather adorable and sassy stage presence.

while i had no expectations about the songs that she was going to sing, i felt my heart leap to my throat when i heard the familiar tunes to "my joy" being played.....

this is one of my favorite songs from her. she sang it so beautifully. i could feel myself swaying....listening to her very powerful voice....and whispering the words along.

for me, it was a rather perfect moment.

a moment when i could literally just feel the music, the mood, the emotions, and the seductive presence of the moment. there are few times in my life when everything else just fades....and i am just utterly and completely present in that moment. it felt like i was given this amazing gift.

i haven't been out to see music in ages and ages. i had forgotten how seductive it can be....to just put yourself in the music....forgetting everything else...willingly....as you let the melodies wrap around you....and embrace you....whispering stories about life....and letting you know that your experiences, anger, or heartbreak were understood, shared, and part of what it means to be human..

there was a time when i was younger and a hella lot angrier....when i used to go quite often to venues to listen and dance. i'm pretty certain there is a direct correlation to my level of anger and my attachment to rap and hiphop during that time. quite candidly, that is the case now....to a lesser extent. i'm no where near as angry as i was when i was a young-un. thank the gawds.

yet, if folk hear me streaming the likes of AMG, NWA, Easy-E, Public Enemy, Too Short, Dre, and the like ....it is probably best to leave me alone.

i suppose i stopped going to venues to listen and dance because i've never been interested in the "scene"...or the seen and be seen.....that comes with it. i was only interested in the music and the opportunity to dance with the music....just so not interested in the games that people play......not interested in "catch + release" or the many variations of it. methinks the last time i went to a venue and just felt myself give myself over to the music was at donna's in new orleans.

that was a long time ago.

yet, after listening to leela james on friday, it was lovely to have a reminder of what it can feel like....to just give yourself over to music that you really and truly enjoy.