Road Trip - California

I've somehow found myself in California. Not that I didn't expect to be here - I had the plans in my head since Asia - but with all the thinking I have been doing about my future, sometimes I feel like a walking zombie. I just looked up and here I was! Walking out of my sister's car onto a jasmine-scented street lined in flowering trees and green grass, just one block from a whizzing highway. Yes, LA it is. Does weather ever get this good on the east coast, even on our best days? If it does, it will never feel as good as it does out here. We are missing the chill vibe that makes it sink in.

I am happy to be here. It's not enough of a change to shock you out of your senses like Asia; rather, its just another location from which I will continue to exist, and continue my stream of thinking. Hopefully the thinking will turn to action soon. I am busy researching variety of things. As a backup plan, I may work on a website for a green energy non-profit out here. Volunteering free services is somewhat of an egotistical endeavor I think - the people will always love and appreciate any work you do. You are working for free! But it is great to help people out, and it's always a good learning experience.

Tomorrow I start a 10 day road trip with my three siblings, two boyfriends (one of each sister), and one sister's friend. Should be a hoot. We are hitting all the big national parks that the lucky west coasters seem to know and love: Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Big Sur and other delights. I'll leave you with some words from a Bright Eyes song we played today (which may or may not have anything concrete to say? but somehow still resonates traveling):

Well I'm changing all my strings
I'm gonna write another travelin' song
about all the billion highways
and the cities at the break of dawn
I guess the best that I can do now
is to pretend that I've done nothing wrong
and to dream about a train
that's gonna take me back where I belong

Well now the ocean speaks and spits
and I can hear it from the interstate
and I'm screamin' at my brother on a cellphone
he is far away
And I'm saying nothing in the past or future
ever will feel like today
until we're parking in an alley
just hoping that our shit is safe

So I go back and forth forever
All my thoughts they come in pairs
Oh I will, I won't, I doubt, I don't,
I'm not surprised but I never feel quite prepared

Options

I started volunteering during the day at City Harvest...doing, brace yourself, technology. Yup, I'm back in the tech world for the next few weeks. But working for a non-profit is SO much more rewarding. The tech life doesn't look so bad from this angle, although I am being cautious :) The mission of City Harvest is to rescue food from restaurants, groceries and deliver it to food pantries and other places of need. It's a good experience to see what it's like in non-profit environment, make connections, and generally see what's out there.

I am helping them with their Access database. I realized that, while I worked/suffered for 5 years, at least I now have some skills and can add real value to an organization. It's hard to believe many people don't know how to do pivot tables in Excel or don't know how to look at their data in Access, which is a relatively user-friendly (if archaic) program. However, I don't blame them - it's not as if I ever learned it in any class. I learned at work. But being comfortable with your data is so important, to be able to converse with it in lots of ways to get the information you need. (Maybe I need to start a company: Data Literacy for Non-Profits?) Anyway, so it's been fun to get my head working again and to be helping out.

In the meantime, I am still thinking about the big question: what next. The answers range from:

- Working at a non-profit, in a desk job basically, or volunteering or interning at one for a short period...could be boring? Is it impactful enough?

- Hands-on volunteering or field work job. Something like Peace Corps, but not as long of a commitment (6 months would be good)

- Starting my own non-profit (or socially conscious for-profit)....the most challenging route

Ex of a cool non-profit: Hot Bread Kitchen - they hire immigrant woman to bake the breads that are native to their homelands and then sell the breads (finding a market for skills)

Ex of a cool for-profit: Tom's Shoes - everyone has probably heard of them now...the guy donates a pair of shoes to poor people for every pair bought.

Intersecting with these options are the fields I could be working in....aka, what kind of help? I've always been interested in food issues: agriculture, healthy, environment effects, etc. Not necessarily separate from food issues, I am also interested in economic development and education and/or types of solutions that last and have a healthy fit into the larger system.

Next move is to start looking into these options further and talk to people who have taken these route. (Anyone have good contacts?)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I saw a video this morning of Jacques Torres describing life on his houseboat. He is so cute - Mr Chocolate! My thoughts quickly strayed to memories of his Chocolate Chip Cookies...

Speaking of desserts that are Worth It (my previous post), here is the list of chocolate chip cookies that I have tried in the city (....yes, I have been keeping track) and my favorites.


Top Tier - Very Special Cookies

Birdbath (owned by City Bakery): Everyone likes their cookies a different way. As a chewy girl, to me, these cookies are perfect. The flavors are distinct - vanilla, brown sugar, butter, chocolate. The amount of chocolate does not overpower the delicious said flavors. The cookie is rather large (no opinion on that), flat and chewy with parts of softness and crispness. It is not to be missed. I have seen people walk out of the store empty-handed when told that chocolate chips cookies have run out. (I go to the location on 7th ave at Charles St).

Jacques Torres: Get a warm chocolate chip cookie from here and you will be in heaven. His chocolate is so good; it is highlighted by its presence in flat, square slabs within the cookie. And when its melting...! Cookie itself has great flavor, balanced between ingredients.

Jack's Coffee: This is a cookie for traditionalists. Small compared to what we see in bakery cases these days, but about the size of what you would make at home. They are thick and soft, and of course, meet the mandatory criteria of being deliciously flavored. They are labeled Aunt Rosie's Chocolate Chip Cookies, further emphasizing the nod to traditional cookies. By the way, the cookies are in a cake platter at the register, don't be discouraged when you dont see them in the bakery case :)

Levain Bakery: Take at look at that picture in the link and tell me it doesnt make you want to eat one. These cookies are mammoth in size and in history. I brought a few home to my family (cookie lovers too) and the favorite was the one pictured, a chocolate peanut butter one. The chocolate cookie was so richly flavored, and the size/density was unique, adding to the deliciousness.


Second Tier - Very Good, still Exquisite

Milk & Cookies: Delicous cookies, can be made fresh to order, and offers amazing cookie sandwiches, as I mentioned in the last post. Highly recommended.

'wichcraft: Yummy cookie sandwiches called cream'wiches. They are a nice, moderate size too :)

Momofuku Milk Bar: Yummy. I gotta go back and try this one: cornflake-marshmallow-chocolate chip. (Their pies are obscenely good.)


Third Tier - Good but I have some complaint.

Bouchon Bakery: Good! Not blown away. Flavors not as strong as I like and a bit dense for my taste. Browned edges yummy.

Insomnia Cookies: Good but a bit greasy for my taste and far too large. A cookie meal. I also really didnt like the bakery itself/location. Felt like a McDonald's for cookies. Love the delivery concept though.

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Any good places I missed? Let me know in the comments, so I can continue my research. Help a sister out. (You can also take the poll on my page!)

Also, let it be known, that while I love chocolate chip cookies and use them as a standard by which to measure a bakery, my favorite cookie to eat and to make is a ginger cookie (any variation of molassas cookie, gingerbread cookie, ginger snap, etc). And in fact, I am happy with a ginger cookie from almost anywhere, I love them that much. :) Some favorites are from Birdbath and Once Upon a Tart.

The Indulgence Police

As usual, my life in NY revolves much around food. Don't blame me for posting more about it. It's simply that food is one of the most obvious and loved treasures that the city has to offer.

There is nothing worse than wasting calories on a mediocre dessert, am I right? A few of us went to a dessert bar last night (sweetiepie) and the consensus was the only 1 out of the 3 desserts we shared were really worth it; that one being a plate of cookies. And even cookies are not a surefire success in spending dessert calories! We were lucky.

I decided that as I discover them, I will enlighten you as to the best sweets in the city. To think of people, friends!, eating stale croissants, bland cookies and industrial-baked cupcakes is heartbreaking and completely unnecessary, when I am already doing the testing for you.

To start you off, here are two delicious and completely worthwhile desserts I had recently:
- From Milk and Cookies (on 7th and Commerce): Chocolate cookie sandwich, filled with vanilla cream that was so delicious - a magnolia-type cupcake icing. Think oreo - that classic combo of chocolate and vanilla.
- From Ronnybrook Dairy (Chelsea market): In the same vein, another classic also perfectly balanced and flavored, a chocolate cookie ice cream sandwich.

I have also done some extensive research in the past on croissants, grilled cheese sandwiches and pizza (among so many other things!), which I will post for you at some point. :)

By the way, in case your indulgence leaves you with some unforeseen side effects (tight jeans, loosening your belt, etc), worry not. Bring yourself to the Bronx. I was there this weekend for a volunteering event, and my "curves" (ahem) were not unnoticed. I don't mean they were noticed the way they are in the West Village - where you are an outcast if not built like a rail. Rather, they were very much appreciated. (In other words: You don't need to travel across the world to realize the body image issues that are bred in America. That said, I do not endorse eating sweets as a road to health ;-)

The Real Dangers of NY

I've been in the US now for 9 days. Besides seeing my friends and family, the other necessity upon returning home was reconnecting with all my favorites foods.

Starting with comfort food: pizza thrice (Gruppo's - best ever, Bleecker St pizza, and Co. a fancy new place), grilled cheese (Blind Tiger...sigh!), sushi (not American comfort food, but sorely missed), and an unexpected but welcome southern meal at UVA of chili and cornbread. And I couldnt resist a choco chip cookie from Birdbath (best ever) and an exquisite cupcake from Billy's - banana with cream cheese frosting. I bow my head to honor its memory.

My goodness no, I didnt eat that all in one day! It was a fun week, but now its over and I can be semi-healthy again. My focus on comfort food was replaced with...THE NEED FOR ASIAN FOOD! It had been too long since my life of noodles and rice ended. To start, when I was at my parent's place, my Dad and I sought out a Vietnamese restaurant. I got to satiate my Pho craving somewhat. I also got Vietnamese coffee complete with sweet condensed milk and one-cup tin coffee maker! (this drink single-handedly killed any chance of me losing weight in Asia ;-)

Next Asian craving was Banh Mi, the delicious French-inspired Vietnamese sandwich. Dave and I ate Banh Mi often in both Vietnam and Laos, and the combination of ingredients is unique to this dish - it can only be satiated by having a banh mi. Read more here. So I set out yesterday to a Banh Mi place in Chinatown. The route there from my apartment is perilous - especially on an empty stomach. For fun, I mapped my route here. Here are the trials I had to endure:

(1) Pass Doma, the pretentious but cozy coffee house on my corner. No espresso, I am on a budget!
(2) Cross the street and practically into Birdbath. Must not buy a cookie.
(3) Continue down 7th ave and over on Bleecker. Ignore the following: gelato place, Bleecker st pizza, Murray's cheese, Amy's bread
(4) Walk down Sullivan, my old street and a minefield of delicious food. Peanut Butter & Co must be avoided. Pass a new panini place -mmm, memories of Italy but must keep walking. Pass Once Upon a Tart - remind myself banh mi awaits, keep walking. Walk past Alidoro, the BEST italian sandwich place...this is tough because its a true competitor, wonder - what's better, Banh Mi or an Alidoro sandwich? Repeat banh mi, banh mi and keep walking.
(5) Cross east through Soho. Pass Marie Belle chocolate successfully. Try to forget that there are amazing croissants at Ceci Cela nearby
(6) Gelato temptation strikes again in Little Italy.
(7) Finally - arrive at Saigon Banh Mi. Unscathed! I was able to get real Vietnamese iced coffee in addition to my sandwich- bonus!

Vijay and I checked out another Banh Mi place today, and it was also a success. I never spent much time in Chinatown, mostly because I never knew what to order or from where. So now that I am venturing out there, its like discovering a new world. And its cheap! My sandwich was only 3.75.

This goes along well with my new philosophy on spending. I decided I will not spend the amounts I used to spend on food. Everyone has their weaknesses and (clothes, gadgets, etc) and mine is food. I am not just doing it to save money, but on principle. Sometimes in NY, you feel like your wallet has control of you, instead of the other way around. It is an infamously perilous city for one on a budget. So far it's been pretty easy and a fun challenge - constraints keep your mind busy and force creativity.

By the way I put up a poll! Look to the right (...on the page :-).

One Person's Blog

For what it's worth, I am having fun with my blog. Producing something is fun. I guess like art, you don't produce something because others are asking you too, you do it because you want to or are inspired to. (By elevating my blog to the level of art, I can justify blogging even if nobody is reading ;-)

For those of you who visit my blog directly- I changed my colors! The usability person inside of me was has been perturbed for months by the white text on dark green background. It's harder to read that way. But being subjected to dial-up speed internet for 3 months I wasn't much inspired to change it. And in fact, I wasn't much inspired to change it when I made the changes today - but in the span of a few mins, I could try some variations and make a pick. I kept it simple. Kinda 80's-ish, huh? Well, I'm an 80s child!

Also - pictures are coming! It is one of my "projects" - activities that I am defining and using to substitute in the hours of the day I used to be working.

Not working, by the way, is awesome. More on that later!

More Planets to Visit

NY is a strange place, but at least I am used to it and feel relatively at home there. The suburbs are also strange, but given the length of time its been since I've lived there (10 years!), they can sometimes seem as foreign to me as Asia. Today, at my parents house, I drove a car and went to a 7-11 to buy a lottery ticket (mom's request) and coffee. Sounds simple enough, but I found myself feeling like a foreigner - going through the thought sequence of driving a car - ok, put on your seat belt, adjust mirrors, drive slowly, smile at unknown neighbors. Self-aware - Can they tell I am not used to driving? A little sign on the 7-11 window says Live Bait. A few scruffy outdoor workers are inside. Do I look out of place? Looking around the store - where is the coffee, what kind do people usually get? Uh....can I have a Win for Life scratch off? I hope I did ok, as i pull into the driveway, that behaved like a local. It's strange to simultaneously want to fit in and stand out.

I flashbacked into another world earlier this weekend visiting my sister at UVA (where I also went to school). Courtney lives in the frat area, off a road officially called Rugby Road. The neighborhood is beautiful actually: colonial homes of brick walls and white columns, green lawns, stone fences and birds chirping. Walking around on a Saturday morning, before all but the most ambitious college kids were awake, you'd think you were in a rich, southern neighborhood, not one inhabited by college students.

That afternoon I had a treat of attending a traditional UVa event - an outdoor party / "fish fry" at a frat, complete with a band an outdoor keg. Besides bringing back memories, and being a great source of entertainment, I kept thinking how "classic" american this college scene was, and how interesting people from other countries would find it. After months of being an outside observer to other cultures, I guess it's hard me to shake the perspective. I don't think its a bad perspective, as long as I don't alienate myself in the process :) So I was sure to kick back some beers and mingle with the "locals." Although I did decline to drinking a bourbon and coke on the roof...

I continued my escapade that night. We went to another frat party to hear Pat's band play. I boldly did my duties - waited in line in the basement for a beer, trying to catch the eye of little fratties behind the bar, got beer spilled on me by the girl in front of me, etc. I was "in it," man! The frat boys behind the bar rule the world - they can pick who gets a beer! Swarms of people on the other side of the bar, raising their glasses, calling guys' names they know - anything to be recognized and get a beer. Are you pretty or cool enough? Do you know anyone or are you on the outside? I used to be feel so mad at the antics. I hated feeling like I was on the outside and that these guys had so much power. What ego! I can still relate to these feelings, but I felt something very different this time. When I watched these young guys walking around behind the bar, I felt happy for them. Why not be young and beautiful and wield some power in a little microcosm of a world? To feel important and attractive, even famous. Many of us never have that experience, and anyway, theirs wont last long. In just a year or two they will be dumped into the real world: a world of working and anonymity, and a future of growing old and losing their beauty. I was glad they were having their moment. (I can't remember what books speak to this, maybe Dorian Gray, but its a pretty classic theme.)

I had a great time at the party. Pat's band rocked out classic 90s music - all your favorite radio sing alongs. I was glad to be hanging with the locals, and feeling like a local, all at once :)