A Sunday Poem

+++ Happy +++

Cake baking
Birthday celebrating
Sun watching
Tea drinking
Errand running
Kitchen rearranging
Disappointing movie watching
Family reuniting
Friend visiting
Supposed to be resting
January ending
Weekend.

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A Sunday Poem

Fóumami Asian Sandwich Bar

Sometimes I wonder what people are thinking. Some of the press releases that I receive are so out of the realm of what would ever be of interest to me and probably any of you reading this blog.

But then other times, I receive news so perfectly timed and relevant that it's a beautiful thing. That's how I felt when I learned about Fóumami celebrating the Year of the Dragon with a special menu.

At the end of November, I started working on a new project not too far from where I was working in October.  Each day I passed by Fóumami, noticed the attractive exterior, but didn't know anything about the place.

 

I wonder if feng shui was used for the design of the restaurant? Especially considering that the building is on a busy corner in the Financial District: High, Oliver, and Franklin Streets.

Then recently out of the blue, I received an email. Here's an edited excerpt below: 

Chinese New Year or “Spring Festival” marks the transition from winter to spring in China and is the longest and most important holiday in the Chinese Lunisolar Calendar. For 15 days, starting in January, Fóumami Asian Sandwich Bar will celebrate the Year of the Dragon!


Red envelopes containing cash or other presents are often exchanged during Chinese New Year. Fóumami will be giving one customer a day, throughout the 15-day festival, a traditional red envelope gift with their purchase from January 23 – February 6, 2012.

As I read the email, I thought, "Isn't this the place that I walk by every day? Maybe I'll go there for lunch."

I had already been thinking about Chinese New Year. There seems to be an air of excitement about it, especially when it's the Year of the Dragon. More specifically, it's the year of the Black Water Dragon. On Point had a really interesting show discussing  it.

During the show, writer Gish Jen made an interesting comment. She said that she can see Chinese New Year becoming a style, like a theme at Bloomingdales or on a T-shirt.
That really struck a chord with me. It sounds rather horrible at first. For those of us who are not Chinese or Asian, yet we are intrigued with certain holidays and want to participate on some level, is it a homage to the culture to celebrate it? Or Is it disrespectful? Especially for someone who wants to financially capitalize on it. Is it a bit of both? I'll have to think about that a bit more as I work on an upcoming post discussing this exact issue but in another context.

As someone born in the year of the Green Wood Dragon, I must say that I'm looking forward to seeing what this Year of the Dragon holds as the new year begins on February 4, 2012.

But now back to the food! The suggested menu special was pork, which I don't eat, but there are selections available for everyone, including vegetarians. Everyone at Fóumami  was very friendly and more than willing to suggest alternatives to me. I was even given a sample to taste.  They did not know that I was a food blogger planning to write about them, so they are just plain nice!

I ended up having the Chicken Katsu, which is a panko-breaded chicken breast cutlet, cabbage, tomatoes, and katsu sauce on Shao Bing bread. I loved it and definitely recommend it. The bread is crisp and flaky on the outside, and soft on the inside. The exact texture that I like. And texture is so huge for me!

This past week I've been fighting a horrible head cold and have been drinking tea with lemon and honey twice a day in addition to doubling up on vitamin C and fish oil pills. I'm doing better today, so it's working.

What was also helpful was the tea at Fóumami. The menu says that the teas are iced, but I asked if I could have it hot and they were more than happy to oblige. I had the ginger tea. It's made with fresh ginger root, brown sugar, and Chinese red dates. It was just what I needed. Very strong but sweet enough for me. And I swear it may have booted a little bit of this cold right out of me! I may stop by in the mornings just to get the tea. Whether I have a cold or not.

Now one other thing about the menu that really excited me, but then disappointed me. There's a section for desserts. If you go to Chinese bakeries the sweets are awesome, but I never find those same sweets offered in a Chinese restaurant. So to see both together, I was almost over the moon!

I asked about the Táng Bing, which is a hot bing with melted brown sugar, and sesame, and then the Quiao Cookie, which are assorted Chinese cookies. I was told that they no longer carry them due to lack of interest. They are only available for catering.

What??!! Why must I be tortured like this??!! I was told that they had Red Bean Shaved Ice, which is shaved ice, red bean, mochi, milk, with assorted fruits. But I didn't want anything cold, so I didn't have it. *sigh*

Well life goes on without dessert. : ) Anyway, I really liked Fóumami and plan to bring a co-worker there soon. I suggest you do the same! Maybe we'll get a red envelope next time!


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Fóumami Asian Sandwich Bar

Oh Sugar!

Flickr Photo: Sugar Sticks by Trilli Bagus

SUGAR. What a loaded word. It's always fascinated me when people use it instead of sh*t as a swear.

It's also a term of endearment. Two songs from my childhood immediately come to mind when I think of the word: Sugar, Sugar by The Archies and Sugar Pie Honey Bunch, by The Four Tops.

Of course sugar is a main ingredient used in baking. It's a staple in my house. But it's also something I fear. Sugar is a slang term meaning diabetes. Diabetes runs in my family. I do NOT want to get it.

After reading the news about Paula Deen recently, I couldn't help but think about it. Considering her recipes, I can't be shocked that she's diabetic. Do I think she should have admitted to having it before she started promoting a new diabetes medication? I'm still not sure.

The recipes that she is most famous for never would be considered healthy. When my dinner club decided to cook some of her recipes I was rather nervous. Not all of her recipes are so over the top and it was just one meal, so it all worked out okay.

Would I buy one of her cookbooks? No. Do I think that she is being genuine about her desire to promote healthy eating for diabetics? Not particularly. It seems to me that she's doing it for the money. Otherwise she would have been promoting healthier cooking and eating as soon as she was diagnosed. She was probably concerned about her ability to continue selling her brand of food and cooking, because it would have to change. Would her fans continue following her? Well, we'll never know, because she waited.

As much as people are outraged by her conduct, I don't feel it. Maybe because I was never a huge fan and don't feel betrayed. But even then I don't understand how if I were a fan I would feel betrayed. Recipes for butter fried marshmallow dipped lard coated chocolate filled triple cream everything eaten on a regular basis are bound to have negative health consequences.

She didn't have to admit to having diabetes for people to know that those foods could lead to it. If she was willing to sell these types of foods to people why wouldn't she be willing to sell them the antidote?

Well, enough about Paula Deen. I hadn't even planned to write about her. It's just that after all the talk about her having diabetes, I heard about a one-woman play called Sugar, which recently opened at ArtsEmerson in Boston. The interview on Radio Boston includes a conversation with Yvette Cozier, who is co-investigator on the Black Women’s Health Study, which I've written about here before.

The play is by Robbie McCauley, Obie award-winning playwright and professor of performing arts at Emerson College. In the play, McCauley documents the African-American experience with diabetes. It sounds like a really interesting show.

All this thinking about diabetes has me thinking that my cooking and some of the focus on this blog has to change. Overall I'm a healthy eater. I don't eat huge portions or fast foods. I cook from scratch. I don't eat meat except for poultry and seafood. But I have a major sweet tooth. The older that I get, I see that I just cannot get away with what I could when I was younger. I need to exercise way more and make it an integral part of my life and this blog. There is room for improvement and change.

A study that I read about recently did give me something to smile about. It seems that coffee can protect against diabetes. I don't drink the four cups a day that the study mentions, and I don't plan to, but it's something.

Mostly though, I will just have to do the hard work even though it was never hard for me when I was younger. I'm starting to plan my meals better with menus. I'm focused on increasing my intake of vegetables and protein-rich grains. Yes, I'm slowly warming up to quinoa.

I'm also coming to the sad and painful realization that yoga might not work for me, at least in a formal class. As much as I love it, the forward bends are killing my back, even modified versions. There are some poses that I can do at home, but in a class, even with an amazing instructor, I feel pressure to do more poses than may be good for me. So I'm figuring out which exercises will work best for me.

It's all a process. Life seems to require that as soon as we think we have things somewhat figured out, something changes and we have to learn to adapt to a new situation again. So I'm trying my best to adapt. Adaptation seems to be the key to a good life. And making friends with uncertainty.



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Oh Sugar!

Afternoon Tea At The Boston Public Library

Last Friday, I took some time to do something special for the new year with two other Boston area ladies who love food and trying new places just as much as I do. Audrey of Boston Foodie Tours, who I first met on the Bertolli Tour and Robin of Doves and Figs, who I just met for the first time.

So what did we do? We had afternoon tea at The Courtyard Restaurant in the Boston Public Library. It was great and I highly recommend it to everyone!The premises are just lovely. As one might expect at the BPL, which is known for its stunning architecture.

We had a selection of loose teas, sandwiches, scones, and small tartlets.Take a look at the menu for yourself. The price is pretty reasonable at $22.50 per person. This isn't something that most Americans would do every week. Well, maybe some might. It would actually be quite fun. But most of us have afternoon or High Tea for a special occasion like a birthday or to celebrate an event.

Even if you wanted to go every day, you couldn't, because the tea menu is only offered Wednesday through Friday, from 2-4pm. However, there is a lunch menu available Monday through Friday, from 11:30am - 2:30pm. I'll have to go back and try that too!

A few years ago, some friends and I had tea for my birthday. It might have been at The Four Seasons, but I don't quite remember. Anyway it was at a very elegant hotel and I knew that I wanted to do it again and try tea at different places in Boston. London would be great too! Maybe I'll make it to Harrods one day.

For now, Boston is quite nice. A few years ago, I enjoyed reading a blog called The Boston Teacup, where you could find out about places offering afternoon tea in the Boston area. And there are many nice hotels that offer the meal.  I was so sad when the writers decided to stop updating it.

But when a door closes a window opens! Recently I found a new blog called Tea Pages, which provides information about all things tea and is based in the Boston area as well. So we have another tea resource at our fingertips!

Cheers!


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Afternoon Tea At The Boston Public Library

Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in pictures and quotes

(via Try Anything Once)

Thank you Dr. King.


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Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in pictures and quotes

Speak Out Now About Private Student Loan Debt

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finally has a Director, Richard Cordray.

He's getting right to work and has an open comment period where we, members of the public, can submit our personal stories and experiences regarding private student loans. If you have private student loans, please take a look at the bureau website and Request for Information.

I've written a little bit about student loans on this blog and have personal experience with private student loans. The comment period is open until next Tuesday, January 17, 2012. I plan to submit something and hopefully this post will help spread the word, so that everyone who is impacted and wants to speak up can have their voice heard.

At least in law school, it's pretty routine to take out private student loans, especially Bar Study Loans. For those of us who don't have other means of support, during the time that you're studying for the Bar Exam, you need money to survive.

Private student loans are pretty much the only option. Preparing for the Bar Exam is a full-time job and you spend all your time taking classes and studying. Many who try to work at the same time don't pass. These Bar Review Courses are very expensive. On top of paying for classes to prepare for the exam, you have to pay a lot of money to take it for each state that you want to be licensed in.

I'm sure there are similar issues with medical school and other graduate schools where you are no longer eligible for federal loans, subsidized or otherwise, but you still need money to continue what you started. What is the point of having graduated from school, but you cannot pay to take the next step to become licensed so you can work?

Many of us without money felt that we had no option but to get even further in debt by taking out private student loans. I know there are a lot of us. Many of us are silent about our loan debt. Privately we speak with one another about it, but there can be real shame about discussing it in public. Didn't we read the fine print? Shouldn't we have known better? What happened?

Well, you do what you have to do to make it through school and you think that you'll be able to pay it off in the end. Sure, some try and game the system, but most want to pay off the debt. 

Yesterday I listened to On Point with Tom Ashbrook discussing the American Dream and how it is getting harder to attain. Moving up in America is difficult. Someone who comes from a family with money and goes to school and graduates with no or very little debt and family connections to the powers that be has a very different experience from someone who graduates with over six figures worth of debt and no connections. Not that it's impossible. Some people really do rise up and make it just fine on their own. I'm just throwing it out there.

Anyway, hopefully there's a bright light at the end of all this. I just hope it's not the bright light you see when it's really the end.

*Updated 1/12/12* Here's an interesting interview and article about the issue of student loans. According to FICO's quarterly survey of bank risk professionals, "risk managers are seriously concerned about the debt loads held by students in the country." 

One thing that I want to add to this issue is that most of the articles that I'm reading are focused on young people and recent graduates. Student debt is a burden on people who are much older than those in their twenties. Student loans are NOT just an issue for young people. It' s an issue for people in their 30's and beyond and is a factor in weighing down the economy. People can barely pay their mortgages, rent, and health insurance.

So, if they can pay their student loans at all, their disposable income is seriously diminished. After paying for transportation and food, not much money is left to play around with. Read the FICO Survey here.

*Updated 1/13/12* And because I just cannot leave the student loan issue alone, here's an ABC News Report that I saw tonight. It's about young college women dating older men in order to get money to pay off their student loans.

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Speak Out Now About Private Student Loan Debt

Breakfast Cookies + My Quinoa Complex

Quinoa is all the rage. It seems that each day there is a new recipe using it. Everyone is all oooh and aaah. Yes, it's the best thing since chocolate. Everyone loves it. Well, almost everyone.

I tried it before and honestly, I thought it was horrible. I'm very picky about texture and quinoa tasted and especially felt all kinds of wrong in my mouth. But as someone into food, I'm bombarded with constant new recipes and all the praise and love for this pseudocereal, which is part of the beet family. No wonder I can't find any love for quinoa. I don't like beets either! Aaargh!!

What 's horrible is that I really want to love quinoa. When other food bloggers mention a new recipe with quinoa, I want to be just as over the moon about it as they are. But deep down I'm thinking, "Wow, that sounds really gross." Sorry! It's true.

So a few weeks ago, out of the blue, I get the January issue of Bon Appetit magazine in the mail. Joy and happiness! Talk about a nice surprise! I didn't find out until a few days later that my Godmother bought me a subscription for Christmas. Thank you again Aunt L!

As I was looking through the magazine, I saw a recipe for a breakfast cookie. Yum! With quinoa. Hmmm. Could this be good maybe? The recipe called for the quinoa to be cooked first, then added to the mixture. Could that eliminate the texture problem? I pondered the idea on Facebook, then decided to try it.

I followed the recipe pretty closely except for that I didn't have white whole wheat flour, so I just used all-purpose. Also I used walnuts instead of almonds. I had the cookies for breakfast this morning. The texture is rather healthy. The taste is pretty good, but they are bordering on rubbery. *sigh*

Would I make them again? Maybe. I'd cut the amount in half, because it makes two dozen.  G hasn't tried them yet and if he doesn't like them, that's way too much for me. (Update: He loves them!) After a few days, the texture could get more rubbery.

They are a good energy food though and would be a nice snack to take with you instead of buying a granola bar. They would be especially good to take with you while traveling. Oh, and speaking of travel, I have another article in the January issue of AAA Horizons Magazine. You can read it here online, if you are in Southern New England.

Well, I still have my quinoa complex. Can't quite shake it. Maybe it's time to move on to millet.



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Breakfast Cookies + My Quinoa Complex