Happy New Year everyone! It's been a while. Literally 16 days left, weekends included. Applied to a few jobs, just submitted my application to the NYU Masters Program for Food and Culture. We will see what happens.
Plans for now are...
1) Hopefully make it into NYU.
2) Find a full time job.
3) If NYU does not accept me, find a job in Asia.
4) If I am in Asia, you guys better visit me! I am ready for some good eats and good people! I love the culture and the change of environment when I am over there. Vietnam? Malaysia? Singapore? Shanghai? Hong Kong?
Crossing my fingers! = )
Monday, January 25, 2010
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Anthony Bourdain and Michael Ruhlman!
I can't help but put a really quick post although I have a final and project due in the next two days. A lot of exciting things have been happening in class and around campus the past few weeks.
Today I got to meet Anthony Bourdain and Michael Ruhlman, although I did go hear Michael Ruhlman speak the last time he was around. They are both very inspiring. I think that one of the many good things about the CIA is when the school has connections with people like Bourdain, Ruhlman, Ferran Adria and etc... They are willing to come and speak to the students and share their insights about their own experience out in the industry.
Here are some pics for now... It totally made my day! Both are very inspiring(oh! I said this already), someone asked what Anthony Bourdain thinks would work as a business and where this business should be? UMMMMM can I just say that I totally had the same idea and even made it into a project my second year here at school! I'll tell you if you would like to invest in my business. HAHAHAHA, we can make it big together! Who is up for it?
The ride that Bourdain and Ruhlman arrived in parked in the Admissions Lot, look familiar?
Them arriving into the EcoLab Theater as I entered.
I brought my dvd collection to get signed, only got one of them signed, but I received other goodies... one undisclosed item.
Maybe if you beg me I'll tell you what it is, I also got the tshirt for having the doors closed on me, but somehow I got in to the theater.... I'll tell you a play by play next time. (I'll probably be on his show too! Maybe for a few secs)
Today I got to meet Anthony Bourdain and Michael Ruhlman, although I did go hear Michael Ruhlman speak the last time he was around. They are both very inspiring. I think that one of the many good things about the CIA is when the school has connections with people like Bourdain, Ruhlman, Ferran Adria and etc... They are willing to come and speak to the students and share their insights about their own experience out in the industry.
Here are some pics for now... It totally made my day! Both are very inspiring(oh! I said this already), someone asked what Anthony Bourdain thinks would work as a business and where this business should be? UMMMMM can I just say that I totally had the same idea and even made it into a project my second year here at school! I'll tell you if you would like to invest in my business. HAHAHAHA, we can make it big together! Who is up for it?
The ride that Bourdain and Ruhlman arrived in parked in the Admissions Lot, look familiar?
Them arriving into the EcoLab Theater as I entered.
I brought my dvd collection to get signed, only got one of them signed, but I received other goodies... one undisclosed item.
Maybe if you beg me I'll tell you what it is, I also got the tshirt for having the doors closed on me, but somehow I got in to the theater.... I'll tell you a play by play next time. (I'll probably be on his show too! Maybe for a few secs)
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
One Year Ago...
I was in Singapore. I had waited a whole summer before finally deciding to pack up my bags and go for a month before school started. It was pretty crazy, probably one of the most adventurous things that I've ever done in my life. I literally ordered my ticket on a Sunday and left the next day. It was labor day weekend.
Can I just say, I had the time of my life there, even though I was traveling alone and to live on a budget and not wanting to share bathrooms or room (in case I can't trust everyone), I chose to live in a hotel in the red light district of Singapore than to live in a hostel. Looking back, I should've just stayed in a hostel, I would've met more people and could travel around together only to eat more food and have more variety. = ) I am all about having variety when I eat, I want to try everything and eat everything! Luckily I did have a friend and an acquaintance that was there at the time, so I met up with them for a day or two. I had to try everything, especially when I traveled half way around the world to get to this place! I think this was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made, although it was "financially irresponsible" as Chef Lon would put it. It was better to travel and ate well with the money and be happy with it, than investing in the stock market at that time and have all your investments reduced down to practically ZERO and be upset and regretful. I am now happy and living with no regrets with that decision of going away for a month.
Here are pictures to show how happy I was, I look at these pictures now and wish that I was back there again! Well most pics are of food! That is what makes me happy!
This was at Food Republic, it is a food court type of place located in Vivo City. That's the array of food that I tried with Angela Lin and her dad! = )
(On the table, starting from top left corner going clockwise, Popiah- it is a thin crepe like layer wrapped around all sorts of ingredients such as daikon, jicama, cabbage, bean sprouts, tofu, peanuts, chinese sausage and etc, Stir-fried Turnip (carrot)cake, it's these little carrot cakes cut into cubes sauteed with soy sauce, scallions eggs, chinese sausage and something else, Singapore Laksa, this is some ridiculously good curry goodness! it's noodles, with curry broth, fish cake, shrimp and fried tofu, Assorted Fried Goods, can't really remember what I picked, but the rice noodles came with it (sorry), Indian Mee Goreng, noodle dish with shrimp, chicken, meat, spicy sauce and squeeze of lime, Bak Kut Teh, a soup made with meat bones, pork, cinnamon, clove, garlic, fennel seeds and other spices and herbs. It's something the Singaporeans drink all the time adapted from Hokkien or Teochow people.
Outside Vivo City after a delicious meal! Tummy full of yummy food = Happy Angela
At the Lion Mermaid thing in Singapore.
At one of the more historical hawker centers in Singapore, Lau Pat Sat. Hawker centers are where most people eat in Singapore, cheap and good!
Satays... my favorite! I love things on a stick, they have rice cake for you to dip into the sauce too! Peanuty Goodness!
Okay I have to go to bed now. I will update later this week with more pics. Hong Kong entries to come too!
Can I just say, I had the time of my life there, even though I was traveling alone and to live on a budget and not wanting to share bathrooms or room (in case I can't trust everyone), I chose to live in a hotel in the red light district of Singapore than to live in a hostel. Looking back, I should've just stayed in a hostel, I would've met more people and could travel around together only to eat more food and have more variety. = ) I am all about having variety when I eat, I want to try everything and eat everything! Luckily I did have a friend and an acquaintance that was there at the time, so I met up with them for a day or two. I had to try everything, especially when I traveled half way around the world to get to this place! I think this was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made, although it was "financially irresponsible" as Chef Lon would put it. It was better to travel and ate well with the money and be happy with it, than investing in the stock market at that time and have all your investments reduced down to practically ZERO and be upset and regretful. I am now happy and living with no regrets with that decision of going away for a month.
Here are pictures to show how happy I was, I look at these pictures now and wish that I was back there again! Well most pics are of food! That is what makes me happy!
This was at Food Republic, it is a food court type of place located in Vivo City. That's the array of food that I tried with Angela Lin and her dad! = )
(On the table, starting from top left corner going clockwise, Popiah- it is a thin crepe like layer wrapped around all sorts of ingredients such as daikon, jicama, cabbage, bean sprouts, tofu, peanuts, chinese sausage and etc, Stir-fried Turnip (carrot)cake, it's these little carrot cakes cut into cubes sauteed with soy sauce, scallions eggs, chinese sausage and something else, Singapore Laksa, this is some ridiculously good curry goodness! it's noodles, with curry broth, fish cake, shrimp and fried tofu, Assorted Fried Goods, can't really remember what I picked, but the rice noodles came with it (sorry), Indian Mee Goreng, noodle dish with shrimp, chicken, meat, spicy sauce and squeeze of lime, Bak Kut Teh, a soup made with meat bones, pork, cinnamon, clove, garlic, fennel seeds and other spices and herbs. It's something the Singaporeans drink all the time adapted from Hokkien or Teochow people.
Outside Vivo City after a delicious meal! Tummy full of yummy food = Happy Angela
At the Lion Mermaid thing in Singapore.
At one of the more historical hawker centers in Singapore, Lau Pat Sat. Hawker centers are where most people eat in Singapore, cheap and good!
Satays... my favorite! I love things on a stick, they have rice cake for you to dip into the sauce too! Peanuty Goodness!
Okay I have to go to bed now. I will update later this week with more pics. Hong Kong entries to come too!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tomatoes and Beef over rice
Being in Hyde Park, NY, having good Chinese food or authentic Chinese food is pretty impossible. So sometimes it calls for an opportunity to cook it yourself, if you have all the ingredients that is. Lucky for me, I only live 1.5-2 hours away from home, so I can pick up groceries from Chinatown every time I go home. I have all the typical seasonings to make basic Chinese food.
Growing up I never really enjoyed tomatoes. So automatically, I wasn't too fond of tomatoes and beef over rice. My brothers loved this dish though. This dish is actually pretty homestyle, every Chinese restaurant would make it in their own way. I only started liking this dish from this one restaurant called "Goody's". It was different from any other restaurant and they would also whip an egg into the sauce, like how they make egg drop soup (this style would translate into "wet/smooth egg"). Too bad I stopped going to them after I found a cigarette butt in my noodles while eating there one time. They have since relocated or closed.
This was my attempt to make the dish here at school when I was craving some homey Chinese food. All was apprx to taste, so adjust the seasonings to your own taste. I liked mine a bit more sweet and I like a lot of sauce. Growing up Chinese, the more rice you eat means that the dish/sauce is really tasty, this is actually a compliment to the Chef, when you have multiples of rice to eat with the dish. I love the extra sauce so that every grain or rice would be soaked up.
Here is the recipe.
.25 lb sliced Flank steak
2 ea tomates, washed cored and cut into wedges.
Marinade
1 t sesame oil
1 dash white pepper powder
.5 T sugar
1 T oyster sauce
1 T light soy
1.5 T dark soy
1 T tapioca starch
Those are just apprx. I marinaded the beef.
sauteed the beef, took it out, sauteed some garlic and thinly sliced
ginger, put the tomatoes in and then the beef put the sauce in.
Sauce
1 t sesame oil
2 T light soy
1 T dark soy
1T oyster
5 T ketchup (or to taste)
pinch of white pepper
sugar to taste
That was also apprx. I did it all by taste and added more if I needed
it. Then I mixed a slurry with cornstarch and water and put it in the
wok along with the beef and tomatoes till it bubbled and thickened.
Growing up I never really enjoyed tomatoes. So automatically, I wasn't too fond of tomatoes and beef over rice. My brothers loved this dish though. This dish is actually pretty homestyle, every Chinese restaurant would make it in their own way. I only started liking this dish from this one restaurant called "Goody's". It was different from any other restaurant and they would also whip an egg into the sauce, like how they make egg drop soup (this style would translate into "wet/smooth egg"). Too bad I stopped going to them after I found a cigarette butt in my noodles while eating there one time. They have since relocated or closed.
This was my attempt to make the dish here at school when I was craving some homey Chinese food. All was apprx to taste, so adjust the seasonings to your own taste. I liked mine a bit more sweet and I like a lot of sauce. Growing up Chinese, the more rice you eat means that the dish/sauce is really tasty, this is actually a compliment to the Chef, when you have multiples of rice to eat with the dish. I love the extra sauce so that every grain or rice would be soaked up.
Here is the recipe.
.25 lb sliced Flank steak
2 ea tomates, washed cored and cut into wedges.
Marinade
1 t sesame oil
1 dash white pepper powder
.5 T sugar
1 T oyster sauce
1 T light soy
1.5 T dark soy
1 T tapioca starch
Those are just apprx. I marinaded the beef.
sauteed the beef, took it out, sauteed some garlic and thinly sliced
ginger, put the tomatoes in and then the beef put the sauce in.
Sauce
1 t sesame oil
2 T light soy
1 T dark soy
1T oyster
5 T ketchup (or to taste)
pinch of white pepper
sugar to taste
That was also apprx. I did it all by taste and added more if I needed
it. Then I mixed a slurry with cornstarch and water and put it in the
wok along with the beef and tomatoes till it bubbled and thickened.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Lots of blogs to be posted!
Seems like I am forever trying to catch up on blogging. I guess that is going to be happening quite often, given how busy school is. Lots of catching up to do. 6 more months till graduation. Started to look for jobs and seeing what the options are out there. I am not too sure what I exactly want to do. Still exploring. I am taking a "Professional Food Writing" course as an elective at school. I must say that it is the only class that I am loving right now. I actually want to go to class and when Professor Chalmers lets us out early, which she does quite often (even if it is 5-10 mins), I get really sad. She also has a blog online, her newest book is "Food Jobs" www.foodjobsbook.com/blog that's the link to her blog! Check it out. She's really funny and fascinating with tons of experience.
One of the recent class assignment was to write an article, for the Alumni Magazine (40,000 copies get sent out),on one of the following topics: Stars and Stripes (Independence day celebration on campus), Flavor or Bees. I attended the event and took some pictures, wrote two articles one on the event and one on flavor. Hey! I have to take every opportunity to get published! Who knows when someone will read it?! Well needless to say, my article did not get chosen but as a "consolation prize" the editor said she would use some of my pictures (or maybe just one). That's better than nothing. I am pretty happy about it. That's a start of something!
Here are some shots from that day that I actually liked myself. The editor didn't tell me which shots are going in yet.
OH! I'm also taking an online photography course soon! Really excited about that!
One of the recent class assignment was to write an article, for the Alumni Magazine (40,000 copies get sent out),on one of the following topics: Stars and Stripes (Independence day celebration on campus), Flavor or Bees. I attended the event and took some pictures, wrote two articles one on the event and one on flavor. Hey! I have to take every opportunity to get published! Who knows when someone will read it?! Well needless to say, my article did not get chosen but as a "consolation prize" the editor said she would use some of my pictures (or maybe just one). That's better than nothing. I am pretty happy about it. That's a start of something!
Here are some shots from that day that I actually liked myself. The editor didn't tell me which shots are going in yet.
OH! I'm also taking an online photography course soon! Really excited about that!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Few glimpse of Italy
It's been a week since I've been in Italy! Been to three cities, Venice, Bologna and Turin. I must say that traveling like this is quite tiring. Being able to see the different cultures from city to city and having the variety of food and how the flavors and techniques change is definitely well worth the sleep deprivation and the constant moving. Highlights so far! I've tasted...
*the best asparagus I've ever had in my life. One because it is in season, two, because it's local from the proprietor's own farm.
* the greatest balsamic vinegar I've ever had ranging from 30 year old- 100 year old! UNBELIEVABLE! The 100 year old balsamic is an opportunity of a lifetime on it's own! It brings a tear in my eye, and I am still amazed and touched through the work that has gone into producing and aging that 100 year old. Plus the generations of and heritage that shares this 100 year old vinegar!
*Fresh parm cheese! SO GOOD!
*Cutatello from the factory itself! Being in the cellar with all the cutatello's hanging, unbelievable!
* Best fresh pasta, lasagna in particular with bolognese sauce (ragu, as the italians call it) in Bologna of course! It was a 3 michelin star restaurant/hotel!
Here are some pics. I have limited access to internet. So I can't waste all my time yet. Waiting for internet that is cheaper or until I get home to NYC.
OH! I've been having Gelato everyday! I was tempted to have it twice yesterday, but the store closed by the time I got back to it! hahahahaha. oh wells!
*the best asparagus I've ever had in my life. One because it is in season, two, because it's local from the proprietor's own farm.
* the greatest balsamic vinegar I've ever had ranging from 30 year old- 100 year old! UNBELIEVABLE! The 100 year old balsamic is an opportunity of a lifetime on it's own! It brings a tear in my eye, and I am still amazed and touched through the work that has gone into producing and aging that 100 year old. Plus the generations of and heritage that shares this 100 year old vinegar!
*Fresh parm cheese! SO GOOD!
*Cutatello from the factory itself! Being in the cellar with all the cutatello's hanging, unbelievable!
* Best fresh pasta, lasagna in particular with bolognese sauce (ragu, as the italians call it) in Bologna of course! It was a 3 michelin star restaurant/hotel!
Here are some pics. I have limited access to internet. So I can't waste all my time yet. Waiting for internet that is cheaper or until I get home to NYC.
OH! I've been having Gelato everyday! I was tempted to have it twice yesterday, but the store closed by the time I got back to it! hahahahaha. oh wells!
Monday, April 20, 2009
10 months to go
I know I don't update this blog much. Let me tell you, it's been quite crazy here. I really shouldn't be blogging but studying or sleeping.
I have two group projects due (Psych and Marketing), Accounting test on Tuesday, Italian quiz on Tuesday, Psych Quiz on Tuesday and a History paper due Thursday along with the group projects! Can they pack it in anymore?! Oh yeah, Accounting Final next Tuesday too.
I really can not wait for Italy which is coming in about 2 or 3 weeks. Less than 10 months to go before I graduate! You're probably wondering why I have to take all these courses in culinary school. I am going for a hospitality management degree as my bachelor's here. That's what they offer.
So I've been thinking about life after graduation, started to look and investigate on the options out there (in the world). I am totally up for Asia, I believe I have mentioned this before. I've looked and a lot of jobs seems like I would need years of experience. Hmmmm... I always wondered how I can get this experience if people don't give others an opportunity to learn and grow. If I ever open up my own business, I will definitely give people the chance to learn and grow within the company/business, instead of requiring 3 or more years of experience right off the bat. I am also looking into a master's degree program that is connected with a Marriot Hotel in China(there is an informative meeting for this program tomorrow)! Get the theme here? I am pretty much in love with Asia and it's cuisine. Maybe it is because I'm Asian. Who knows?! (shrugs) so... "say a little prayer for me"(forever and ever... you stay in my hearrrrtt... music trailing off)
Since I haven't updated this blog. It is going to take me a while to post all the stuff that I've made and tried. So this is just a little glimpse of the past two months.
My friends and co R.A's decided to have an impromptu pot luck. I made the Hainan Chicken Rice with the sauce. It's from Hainan, China, but you really find it in Malaysian or Singaporean restaurants here in the states. I think it's because of the Chinese population in Malaysia and Singapore. Either way, it's delicious! Whatever is delicious is good enough for me! My friends made a mole beef and another one made some kind of peppered vegetables. I know odd combo of food! But when you cross between cultures, this is what you get! I love it!
Recipe will follow next time.
I have two group projects due (Psych and Marketing), Accounting test on Tuesday, Italian quiz on Tuesday, Psych Quiz on Tuesday and a History paper due Thursday along with the group projects! Can they pack it in anymore?! Oh yeah, Accounting Final next Tuesday too.
I really can not wait for Italy which is coming in about 2 or 3 weeks. Less than 10 months to go before I graduate! You're probably wondering why I have to take all these courses in culinary school. I am going for a hospitality management degree as my bachelor's here. That's what they offer.
So I've been thinking about life after graduation, started to look and investigate on the options out there (in the world). I am totally up for Asia, I believe I have mentioned this before. I've looked and a lot of jobs seems like I would need years of experience. Hmmmm... I always wondered how I can get this experience if people don't give others an opportunity to learn and grow. If I ever open up my own business, I will definitely give people the chance to learn and grow within the company/business, instead of requiring 3 or more years of experience right off the bat. I am also looking into a master's degree program that is connected with a Marriot Hotel in China(there is an informative meeting for this program tomorrow)! Get the theme here? I am pretty much in love with Asia and it's cuisine. Maybe it is because I'm Asian. Who knows?! (shrugs) so... "say a little prayer for me"(forever and ever... you stay in my hearrrrtt... music trailing off)
Since I haven't updated this blog. It is going to take me a while to post all the stuff that I've made and tried. So this is just a little glimpse of the past two months.
My friends and co R.A's decided to have an impromptu pot luck. I made the Hainan Chicken Rice with the sauce. It's from Hainan, China, but you really find it in Malaysian or Singaporean restaurants here in the states. I think it's because of the Chinese population in Malaysia and Singapore. Either way, it's delicious! Whatever is delicious is good enough for me! My friends made a mole beef and another one made some kind of peppered vegetables. I know odd combo of food! But when you cross between cultures, this is what you get! I love it!
Recipe will follow next time.
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