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Chocolate Caramel with Hazelnuts, and a Caramel center!
Yum yum, delish! And they looked very nice on a cake stand outside while all the neighborhood kids were hunting Easter eggs in the yard!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Latest Find: Whole Foods cupcakes
Over Easter weekend, we needed something quick and easy to bring over to a family friend's place. Surprisingly, the Whole Foods in Clarendon has a ridonkulous bakery. I was hoping for a cake shaped like a bunny that G had spied a few days before, but unfortunately it had been sold. Instead I bought a dozen gorgeous, huge cupcakes that were $1.99/each! Definitely delicious, and definitely beats a $5 designer cupcake that's half the size and for which I waited in line for 45 minutes.
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Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Shawarma Wars: Shawarma Spot
As an embedded journalist in the Shawarma Wars (aka Adams Morgan, DC) I figured I'd try my hand at reporting what I know and love best, and that is eating. With the proliferation of shawarma/falafel places within a 1/2 mile radius of my apartment -- I can think of at least 5 off the top of my head -- I think someone needs to help cut through the fray. I cannot by any means claim to be an expert on shawarma in terms of authenticity, but I can definitely say with confidence that I am pretty much an expert on deliciousness.
Before my walk to class yesterday I decided to stop and get some sustenance at Shawarma Spot on the AdMo 18th St. strip. At first glance the place seems like a hip, modern Middle Eastern joint, with black tables and their logo prominently displayed Andy Warhol style on the walls. I ordered a chicken shawarma ($6.95), fries ($2.45) and a can of Coke ($1.45).
Like all the other places, they offer you a selection of toppings to put on your shawarma. Rather, THEY put on your shawarma. I opted for hummus, cucumber and tomato salad, pickled red onions and tzatziki sauce. The chicken itself was soaked in some kind of liquid, and had the texture of chicken fajitas, and was not spicy at all. The hummus had a perfectly smooth consistency, like the kind you might find at the grocery store. I kind of like to be able to crunch a bit of garbanzo once in awhile, but to each her own. They definitely don't skimp on the toppings! Shoestring fries were hot and crispy, and tossed in some kind of spice that you could see on the fry but not taste. I'm usually a voracious ketchup eater, but the small thing they provided was plenty.
The oddest part about the whole scenario was the bread. It was almost like a ciabatta roll, but with a much lighter texture. So much lighter in fact that the bread couldn't really hold up to the dense toppings and began to sprout fault lines on the bottom half of the bun. It was also not toasted, which I have come to expect from eating shawarma at other places in town.
Also, not that this would be a common experience for a potential diner, but apparently a contractor from the gas company came in and was making a huge fuss about finding parking for his enormous truck in Adams Morgan. Read: probably impossible. There was much shouting on the phone and storming in and out. ("Dude, what is your PROBLEM?" "DC Police use alleys as emergency access, and my truck WILL be ticketed and it WILL be towed!") Eventually, thanks to your eagle-eyed reporter, I spotted a car pulling out on the street and directed the proprietor's attention to it so that they could continue getting their gas problems fixed. The dude came back and was still shouting on the phone while using some kind of hand-held meter with a wand, crouching down outside the front door, I assume to check for a gas leak.
Quite strange. I finished my food and high-tailed it out of there before any more unpleasantness could occur. Overall, I think I give this place 2.5 stars. The meal was filling, but the gas company drama was more memorable than the food. The flavors were pretty bland and I'm pretty sure I'll be heading somewhere closer and tastier in the future.
Before my walk to class yesterday I decided to stop and get some sustenance at Shawarma Spot on the AdMo 18th St. strip. At first glance the place seems like a hip, modern Middle Eastern joint, with black tables and their logo prominently displayed Andy Warhol style on the walls. I ordered a chicken shawarma ($6.95), fries ($2.45) and a can of Coke ($1.45).
Like all the other places, they offer you a selection of toppings to put on your shawarma. Rather, THEY put on your shawarma. I opted for hummus, cucumber and tomato salad, pickled red onions and tzatziki sauce. The chicken itself was soaked in some kind of liquid, and had the texture of chicken fajitas, and was not spicy at all. The hummus had a perfectly smooth consistency, like the kind you might find at the grocery store. I kind of like to be able to crunch a bit of garbanzo once in awhile, but to each her own. They definitely don't skimp on the toppings! Shoestring fries were hot and crispy, and tossed in some kind of spice that you could see on the fry but not taste. I'm usually a voracious ketchup eater, but the small thing they provided was plenty.The oddest part about the whole scenario was the bread. It was almost like a ciabatta roll, but with a much lighter texture. So much lighter in fact that the bread couldn't really hold up to the dense toppings and began to sprout fault lines on the bottom half of the bun. It was also not toasted, which I have come to expect from eating shawarma at other places in town.
Also, not that this would be a common experience for a potential diner, but apparently a contractor from the gas company came in and was making a huge fuss about finding parking for his enormous truck in Adams Morgan. Read: probably impossible. There was much shouting on the phone and storming in and out. ("Dude, what is your PROBLEM?" "DC Police use alleys as emergency access, and my truck WILL be ticketed and it WILL be towed!") Eventually, thanks to your eagle-eyed reporter, I spotted a car pulling out on the street and directed the proprietor's attention to it so that they could continue getting their gas problems fixed. The dude came back and was still shouting on the phone while using some kind of hand-held meter with a wand, crouching down outside the front door, I assume to check for a gas leak.
Quite strange. I finished my food and high-tailed it out of there before any more unpleasantness could occur. Overall, I think I give this place 2.5 stars. The meal was filling, but the gas company drama was more memorable than the food. The flavors were pretty bland and I'm pretty sure I'll be heading somewhere closer and tastier in the future.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
DC weather = cruel temptress
Despite the now three "real" winters I've experienced in my life, I have yet to learn how to navigate spring. The effing weather has now tricked me thrice, and each time I yearn more and more for the predictable (read: seasonal change-free) weather of LA. I thought it was really real this time, I even saw those adorable little early yellow spring flowers poking out of a flowerbed a couple days ago. People were out in skirts and shorts, wearing colors other than black and in a generally springy mood. But today, the flowers r ded, I had to shut my windows because the balmy Sunday breeze had turned into 23 degree windchill that woke me up overnight. Bastards.
Despite having the world's easiest schedule, graduate school is still somewhat kicking my ass. I forgot how to read things other than blogs and papers for work, I forgot how to write papers for school that aren't in newspaper article form, and I forgot all of my post-Tudor era British budgetary history which is apparently required to fully understand American public policy. Who knew. That said, I'm having a generally awesome time. I love the heavyacademic feeling of walking onto campus, at least 50% of my professors and the fact that this is probably bumping me up into a higher median salary range. And hopefully I'll learn something practical and interesting as well.
Recently rounded the corner on 10 mos. w/G which puts it over the top as the longest relationship I've ever had...twice as long as the next one down the list. I must say this entire thing has been characterized by the most intense normalcy I've ever experienced. In situations long past, I think I took a page from my social worker parents and got close to people I thought I could fix. Which of course, is simultaneously self-serving and self-destructive, and a terrible idea for anyone who wishes to sleep at night. It's a beautiful thing to not have to talk on the phone for hours and listen to circular logic and assorted pointlessness, to be able to have my own life and my own friends and my own thoughts. To be left alone when I need to be, to go on random adventures for "culture" and to just generally feel comfortable in one's own skin. Cheers to normal!
Despite having the world's easiest schedule, graduate school is still somewhat kicking my ass. I forgot how to read things other than blogs and papers for work, I forgot how to write papers for school that aren't in newspaper article form, and I forgot all of my post-Tudor era British budgetary history which is apparently required to fully understand American public policy. Who knew. That said, I'm having a generally awesome time. I love the heavyacademic feeling of walking onto campus, at least 50% of my professors and the fact that this is probably bumping me up into a higher median salary range. And hopefully I'll learn something practical and interesting as well.
Recently rounded the corner on 10 mos. w/G which puts it over the top as the longest relationship I've ever had...twice as long as the next one down the list. I must say this entire thing has been characterized by the most intense normalcy I've ever experienced. In situations long past, I think I took a page from my social worker parents and got close to people I thought I could fix. Which of course, is simultaneously self-serving and self-destructive, and a terrible idea for anyone who wishes to sleep at night. It's a beautiful thing to not have to talk on the phone for hours and listen to circular logic and assorted pointlessness, to be able to have my own life and my own friends and my own thoughts. To be left alone when I need to be, to go on random adventures for "culture" and to just generally feel comfortable in one's own skin. Cheers to normal!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Cutest Victory Ever
(www.yesonprop2.com)
Can everybody say awwwwwwwww, cute little bacon!! Free the Chickens!
Victory!!!
Consolidated district:
Candidate Votes %
Mariko Yamada
84,807 66.8%
Manuel Cosme
42,218 33.2%
and just in Yolo County:
| Mariko Yamada (DEM) | 42,557 | 71.6% |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manuel Cosme (REP) | 16,840 | 28.4% | |
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your well wishes and prayers, and THANK YOU to everyone who worked so hard for Barack Obama all over the country. We changed the world yesterday.
And now I think I need a vacation. :o)
Wong!
Monday, November 3, 2008
ONE. MORE. DAY.
Well, it's been almost two years since we started this long, long road, but if all goes well tomorrow I pray that Mom will be in the State Assembly! The Vacaville HQ has been buzzing, 160 volunteers on Saturday, and more and more roll in every day. It is the most encouraging thing I have ever seen. Senior citizens, college students, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, disabled and even kids who can't vote yet are showing up at the Democratic HQs all over my county and the one next door, asking to be put to work. Calling swing states Montana and Nevada for Barack, calling neighboring cities and counties for tight state races, going out into the most rural (and snowy!) areas in Nor Cal to knock on doors and tell people why this is the most important campaign of our lifetimes.
300 calls to Lodi, Calif. 84 burritos. Hundreds of targeted homes. Today was a crash course in campaign day prep. I ended up with a nearly dead pay-as-you-go campaign cell phone, two perfect wallcharts (!!) and hands covered in green marker but I felt pretty awesome today.
I proudly voted by mail for Barack Obama in Fairfax County, Virginia, last Friday. I went through two applications, one rejection, several PDF forms and 18 emails back and forth with the elections office, but I got my vote. I got my voice. Tomorrow, PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP. The polls mean nothing. Votes are everything. Exercise your civic responsibility and your constitutional rights.
http://www.voteforchange.com
Vote proudly tomorrow, if you haven't already, and hopefully in 24 hours we will all get to celebrate! Or take a nap.
heiwa,
Wong
300 calls to Lodi, Calif. 84 burritos. Hundreds of targeted homes. Today was a crash course in campaign day prep. I ended up with a nearly dead pay-as-you-go campaign cell phone, two perfect wallcharts (!!) and hands covered in green marker but I felt pretty awesome today.
I proudly voted by mail for Barack Obama in Fairfax County, Virginia, last Friday. I went through two applications, one rejection, several PDF forms and 18 emails back and forth with the elections office, but I got my vote. I got my voice. Tomorrow, PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP. The polls mean nothing. Votes are everything. Exercise your civic responsibility and your constitutional rights.
http://www.voteforchange.com
Vote proudly tomorrow, if you haven't already, and hopefully in 24 hours we will all get to celebrate! Or take a nap.
heiwa,
Wong
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
World's Most Emotional Ballot
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Somebody stole our No on Prop. 8 sign. But apparently the Yes on 8 people in Sacramento claim that 25,000 of their signs have been stolen over there, at a cost of about $2 each, so who knows. They caught some of the hooligans with 53 signs in the trunk of their car. Luckily, they had no affiliation with No on 8, unlike McBush's self-mutilating Texan harpy.
And so the Sign Wars continue. 7 days to go!
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