I based this on a recipe I got off foodnetwork.com, but substituting red curry paste for Madras curry powder, and nutmeg + cinnamon in place of cardamom.
I’m not really sure I can post this recipe on my page, so let me just link to it. I made mine with half of the recipe for 0.75 lb of shrimp. Will adapt the recipe later on for lamb (see SPOT drool buckets).
Thanks to Chris Isaak for the title.
My first real awareness of San Francisco was from surprise, surprise, a Scooby-Doo episode called “I left my neck in San Francisco” where Mystery, Inc. is on the trail of the Lady Vampire of the Bay. Sample dialogue:
Lady Vampire: “I am the Lady Vampire of the Bay!”
Shaggy: “And like, we are the cowards of the year!” (Scooby whimpers in background.)
In this episode, the gang tours San Francisco, including the Alcatraz (where they first meet the Lady Vampire), Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown. I thought that Scrappy was not featured in the original cartoon, but unfortunately, he’s there, and Scrappy is an annoying little *****. In spite of this, “I left my neck in San Francisco” is still my favorite Scooby-Doo episode ever. It took me years to get tired of the sample dialogue above.
I’ll spare you the details of why I was at San Francisco, because the reasons are infernally boring, but let me just tell you I got within striking distance of Ken Rogoff (one of my idols, just by virtue of his being Chief Economist at the IMF. That's Ken up there, thanks to the Harvard website, during his chess-playing days), Lawrence Klein, Ken Arrow, Philippe Aghion, Roger Myerson and Eric Maskin. All I had to do was whip out my sword and use my death-at-ten-paces-technique…(at this point SPOT hits me on the head: Bad Kristinesync! Down Kristinesync!).
I didn’t want to spend all that money on just work, so I extended my stay in the city for a few more days, catch up with my cousins, and explore this beautiful city.
I did the usual touristy things, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, the Castro, riding the cable cars (it’s tempting to ride the first cable car that arrives at the turntable – yes, they manually turn the cars—but to get to the Fisherman’s wharf area, take the one that goes through Hyde Street…it’s got a better view of the bay), tour the shopping area, taking the MUNI and the BART and the SamTrans, Union Square, Golden Gate…all the things that Scooby and Shaggy did while running AWAY from the Lady Vampire of the Bay.
Some things I learned about San Francisco (from my own observations, of course, the usual caveats apply--as in don't sue me!):
1. They have wicked uphill climbs! You knew this from films and television, yet they don’t prepare you for the real thing. Chuck the Louboutins! Take your cue from the San Francisco ladies and wear nice comfy shoes. You can get more familiar with the layout of the downtown area by walking.
2.
It hardly snows in San Francisco (maybe once or twice in every ten years) even though the city is almost as far north as NYC, I think. Maybe has something to do with overlooking the Pacific? Must go to Wikipedia right after I’m finished.
3.
While it is an extremely busy city, the vibe is more laid-back than other cities I can think of. You also get the feeling that people “live” in the city as opposed to DC, which is pretty much an extra-long row of cubicles, with museums sandwiched in between. I’ve entertained fantasies of being late for work and just jumping into a cable car to avoid a long uphill walk!
4.
Bring a lot of CHANGE!!! They even take pennies!!! Unless you are from San Francisco and have a monthly MUNI pass, you have to have exact change to ride the buses and the trains. You can take as many rides as you can within a time window printed on the MUNI ticket, but don’t piss off the bus driver by trying to use an expired ticket.
5. Apparently, people swim in the Bay during the winter! I have proof! I don’t know anyone who would willingly backstroke around the East or Hudson Rivers (around the NYC area at least), but hey, to each their own.
6. Clothes and shoes are taxed in San Francisco; so unless it’s a really good deal and you can’t find it anywhere else, keep that credit card in your wallet. On that note, there is a cute little store called Aricie in the Crocker Galleria. Unfortunately, they ran out of my size L.
They are taking down the Bay Bridge soon (probably not as safe as it used to be) so better start taking pictures of this landmark before it goes.
8. Special Interest: The monument at Union Square was erected in commemoration of the victory of Rear Admiral George Dewey in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War (1898). Nerd that I am, I remembered that Dewey’s ship was called the Olympia because of a short story I read in grade school. For those too young to remember, Roxas Boulevard along Manila Bay used to be called Dewey Boulevard.
The best thing I got out of my trip was reconnecting with family. Some of my uncles and aunts and cousins there I haven’t seen in 15 years; some of them I had never met before. They were all wonderful about taking me around, feeding me, and even providing me with exact change for the MUNI. Thanks you guys. As long as I am living in NYC, you will always find a place here J.
My room is now officially a sick zone. I just popped downstairs into the convenience store to buy the last box of Kleenex tissues, taken out my Neozep, Vicks Vaporub, and Berocca from my storage boxes, and put White Flower instead of my usual lavander-sage blend into the fragrance oil burner (you smell like an old lady, but it’s the best thing for nasal congestion, trust me).
I can’t even blame this on my students, because I don’t have any, but I suspect that I must have gotten this cold from the 12 hours spent on a plane commuting between the East and West Coasts last week.
It’s 10:30 in the morning and the temperature is a frigid -17°C. My cousins in San Francisco are enjoying a comfortable 8°C at 7:30 in the morning. I won’t even go to how warm it is where Roomie’s cousins are, or how great the weather is where my parents are.
I am meeting my professor at 9:30 pm tonight, and I am already very afraid of how cold it might be later.
Due to the production of a disgusting amount of snot, my turista chronicles of San Francisco will be posted at a later date.
A belated Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to everyone!
I've followed the food blog marketmanila.com for almost a year now. Market Man's posts and photographs of Filipino food have never failed to make me crave sinigang, puso, bulalo, etc. Here, he plays host to Anthony Bourdain of "No Reservations" and introduces Bourdain to the joys of Cebu lechon. Sorry Roomie. Anthony Bourdain got to the Cebu lechon before you did.
Also, Anthony Bourdain also writes a little bit about the Philippines in his blog. The episode is supposed to air in Jan 2009. Frannie, may Travel Channel ba kayo?
Pic from the Travel Channel website.
In between bursts of research industry, my favorite thing to do is to seek out new entertainment. After watching the finale of the Vicar of Dibley for the gazillionth time, I decided to browse through the BBC website to see if there are any interesting television shows to watch.
I found a clip of the Doctor Who Christmas Special that will be shown on Christmas Day. Imagine my delight at seeing David Tennant and David Morrissey both holding a sonic screwdriver while exclaiming “Allons-y!” What’s going on in London, 1851? Are the Davids both Doctors (squeal!!!!!)? Will Morrissey take over when Tennant leaves in 2010? Can I keep myself from going crazy between now and Christmas Day?
I had spent so much effort trying to track down the episodes of Spooks that I forgot to check out BBC’s new fall show. While I seem to love action-fantasy films (Hello! Lord of the Rings!!!), I feel that the genre does not really translate as well in television (except for shows by Joss Whedon). Or should I say it does not translate as well in AMERICAN television. I find that English accents often make up for a lot of flaws in a TV show.
The creators of Merlin have had some artistic license with the Arthurian mythology, which has made the premise of the show all the more interesting. Magic has been forbidden in the land of Albion. King Uther Pendragon will not hesitate to execute those who break the law (we find out later exactly why the king wants to stamp out magic for good) and Merlin has a magical gift that will cost him his life.
In a departure from traditional literature, Merlin is depicted as an earnest, oftentimes bumbling, young man with dark elfin features that would not be out of place in 90210 or Twilight. Though unsure of the extent of his capabilities, Merlin likes to walk on the wild side by using his magic to help people in spite of the danger he brings to himself. In one of these fiascoes, he brings on himself the displeasure of the heir to the throne.
In contrast, Prince Arthur is the golden boy of Camelot, the Nate Archibald of the age of chivalry. He is good-looking, privileged, and just a little bit over the line that separates confidence from arrogance. He, however, has a great sense of duty and responsibility, which he likes to hide under the frat boy exterior.
From the very beginning, it is clear that these two cannot get along, and we are treated to a few popular-kid-hunting-down-the-dork scenes until circumstances bind them to each other. With the help of a philosopher-dragon, Merlin finds to his dismay that his destiny is to use his magic to keep Arthur alive so that they can live long enough to bring peace to the kingdom.
So begins the story of our medieval tag-team as they try to survive calamities like war, disease, witches, warlocks, griffins, ginormous spiders, love, etc.
And so the BBC suckers me into another period dramedy. The style of Merlin is very much like that of Robin Hood, where you have a period setting and a 21st century sensibility (look out for Morgana's halter-top evening gown). The humor in Merlin is very quick, dry, and pop-culture refernce-y -- blink and you’ll miss it (this is where subtitles would do very nicely). Once, Merlin asks Guinevere, a maidservant if she had to choose, would she choose Arthur or Lancelot, the new knight? Guinevere retorts that she would never have to do that, seeing she’s only a maid, then she goes on to lament that she doesn't really know what her "type" is. Of course, everyone knows that the fate of Camelot depends on Guinevere’s choice.
I have to commend the BBC in picking a very talented (and exceptionally pretty) ensemble cast. Except for Anthony Stewart-Head, the main actors in the show are relative unknowns. Especially entertaining when they share the screen are Colin Morgan as the wisecracking geek-chic Merlin and Bradley James as the oft-exasperated Arthur. In a reversal of roles, Merlin is seen to be the more impulsive of the two, while Arthur has to save him by pretending that Merlin is nuts, drunk or in love in order to explain his “outbursts.” Even though his job is to keep Arthur safe, Merlin seems to get Arthur in to trouble again…and again…and again…
I admit it, I am a BBC addict! If only the BBC would make their DVDs more affordable, then I would actually buy them. But alas, fair reader, I will have to resort to other measures.
As long as I’m inside the house.
I’ve missed writing here, but it was just so difficult to set aside the time. I have been preoccupied with writing and job-hunting. Well mostly job hunting. I’m hoping my efforts will pay off in time for next fall. Wish me luck.
*****
*****
*****
Because I love Muse, I’m not going to stand between them and world domination. But if I see any of The Libertines’ songs on future Twilight movie soundtracks, that means war!
