turn-down service

The mint my husband left on my pillow. It's a mint M&M.

tacos and izakaya fare

Note: This is a super old post that has been long in the making. All this happened about two weeks ago. Enjoy.

An empty fridge and a long week were hints for us to have an easy night out on a steamy Thursday. We started at the brand new brick-n-mortar location of our favorite taco truck, Tacos El Chilango!

(photo cred: Eater, who got it from Yelp)

The place looks great and while I was waiting for G and after ordering a cup of horchata to start, Juan, the co-owner (who ran the truck and opened the eatery with his brother Jesus) gave me a complimentary al pastor taco. It was delicious - good amount of meat, cilantro, and onion, which I topped with a little of both of their homemade sauces (verde and spicier red salsa), but there wasn't enough room on the taco for the pickled veggie mix that was also offered on the condiments table. When G arrived, we ordered: two chorizo tacos, one carne asada taco, one mixto taco (pork mixed with sausage), and one more al pastor taco. All excellent and adequately filled with fillins'.

After happily shoving tacos into our mouths, we went next door to Izakaya Seki, a, well, izakaya that just opened a couple weeks ago right above U St.

(photo cred: by Molly W, posted on Yelp)

We ordered the following:

ankimo (monkfish liver) with yuzo miso vinaigrette 

the Kyona salad with arugula, bonito shavings, mizuna and "onsen" egg

Tarako (salted cod roe) rice ball

What you hear is true - it is pricey for what you get. However, everything was tasty and it was a pleasant dining experience (aside from the very few cheap napkins and over-dressing of the ankimo). Oh - I forgot to mention the 2 complimentary soy and sesame chicken wings they give you as an appetizer; tasty, but the skin was still chewy. All in all, a nice addition to the dining scene and a great place to meet a friend for some heavy gabbing (both first and second floors are nice spaces, but I'd recommend the first floor).

happy snacks

Here are some new finds from our latest Wegman's haul:

• Holy seltzer! We bought 7 bottles, but it would have been more if G didn't stop me. I usually get about 4 bottles of their usual lineup of flavors, primarily pomegranate, cranberry lime and grapefruit. This visit, however, presented us with a surprise of Polar's 'Destination Flavors.' I've tried their ginger lemonade flavor from this line, but the ones you see above are new and exciting: Orange Mango, Pineapple Passion Fruit and Pina Colada (which is really good). G finds it amazing that the seltzer tastes and smells like its indicated flavor, yet has no calories nor is it sticky when spilled! Just fantastic. Seltzer water weened me from soda years ago, and I'm glad to see new flavors of it. HuffPost ran a sensory test of the new summer flavors; go here to read it.

• There on the bottom is what is left of my wedge of Fol Epi cheese. It's tasty and creamy, and has holes of a Swiss cheese, but is a bit sweeter; a really nice, mild snacking cheese. I first tried it at Trader Joe's when it was the featured cheese for the month of June, and was elated to find it in the never-fail cheese section at Weggy's. It's my new fav, after snacking on Le Jeune Autise for a couple months.

• The last item up above is our new fav chip: Crisproot Cassava Root Thai Ginger chips. They are super crispy, not oily, extremely flavorful, and are ridged. If cassava root were to chips as potatoes are, I'd be one happy snacker. It makes a significantly crunchier chip.

UPDATE: fried cx battle result

As a follow-up to my 'b vs. b' post, here's the result to the Chang vs. Questlove fried chicken battle!

(pic cred: Late Night via HuffPost)

Thanks for sharing, G!

...whoa this is super old news...

mmm...processed...

Oops I forgot to post this yesterday. Happy Thursday!

As much as we'd all like to (or maybe not...), we can't avoid consuming processed foods. Whole foods schmole foods. We make sure to adjust the rest of our diet and physical activity to compensate for our taste for processed foods, so it's all good (we do, however, need to work on our sodium intake).

On this List Wednesday, I present to you another list of food items: a few processed yummies we bought this past weekend.

1. Eat Your Vegetables Chips in Jalapeno Ranch flavor

(photo cred: here)

These are delicious. Spotted for the first time a few weeks ago on a Wegman's endcap, the texture of these crispy delights is akin to that of fried wuntun (or as non-Chinese say, wonton) skins. They're made of dried potatoes, beans and rice flour. The jalapeno ranch flavor is exactly what I love about processed flavors (your stereotypical jalapeno and ranch notes), with the jalapeno surprisingly spicy enough to actually feel on your tongue. I think it's funny but a little disconcerting that you can get these on the Babies 'r Us site.

2. Green Tea Soymilk (Vegemil)

 

(photo cred: here)

A grad school favorite of mine, this soy milk has found another fan in G in recent years as well. We used to get a whole flat of these, but H-Mart has only been selling them individually lately, so we've just been getting handfuls at a time. This image comes from their website, which I was glad to find because now we can order our bulk packs again online! It's by far my favorite soy milk variety, over even the black soy milks, and maybe even over Vitasoy (the nerve of me to betray the brand of my childhood! Gasp! Is that coconut flavor new?).

3. Annie's Organic Pizza Snack Mix

 

(photo cred: here)

Once bought to silence and appease a certain hungry now-5-year-old on a car ride to Pittsburgh, this cracker and pretzel snack mix is a favorite in our household (the 5-year-old liked it a lot too). We previously were only able to find it at Target, but on our last visit to Wegman's, G vigilantly spotted it. A baby-food container full is the perfect snack (among 4 others) for my workday.

4. Betty Crocker's FUN da-middles Cupcake Mix

 (photo cred: here)

Look at it! Enough said. Seriously considering making a batch to bring as our "snack to share" for our upcoming engagement retreat.

5. Uegaki Beika Wasabi Flavored Rice Crackers/Kaki No Tani

(photo cred: here)

We used to just call these chili crackers growing up and they would just come in spicy chili flavor, but ever since discovering these wasabi flavored ones a few years ago, I've never gone back to just spicy chili. These are potent! Occasionally, you'll get a clump of them stuck together and if you pop the whole clump into your mouth, you'll feel the sensation of eating a clump of wasabi. Phenomenal.

6. Tabasco, Buffalo-style

 

(photo cred: here)

Upon watching the commercial for this, we knew we had to try it. Having a love for everything Tabasco, I went nuts on a brief trip to New Orleans, buying some of the Tabasco products that don't make it to our local store shelves...so I was delighted to learn that a new flavor is available everywhere! We haven't tried it yet, but expect nothing less than delicious.

...and here's an ode to bringing classic processed snacks to a party (although I prefer Coke):

(Recorded from this original Youtube video)

the great terrible towel

Unbeknownst that such a fabulous commercial would be made of such clips, we shot the above video on our trip to Beijing in May of this year (that's G, in case you couldn't tell).

can't...turn...the...channel...

Folks, we're treated to another guest post by G today! Enjoy this week's List.
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It's an honor to bring you yet another guest post for LIST WEDNESDAY, coming to you a day late.  My apologies.  

We've all been stuck inside on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and randomly flipping through the channels hoping to find something entertaining to watch.  Assuming it's not football season, it's sometimes a pleasant surprise to land on a channel that is showing a movie you love that you haven't seen in a while.  Thanks TNT, AMC, TBS and FX.  With that being said, here are 7 movies that I just can't stop watching whenever I unexpecedly find them on TV (in no particular order, or INPO):

==TOP 7 MOVIES I CAN'T STOP WATCHING WHEN THEY'RE ON TV==

1) A FEW GOOD MEN - Star Power Galore:  Cruise, Nicholson, Demi Moore, Keifer, Kevin Bacon, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Rob Reiner directing.  Everyone remembers "You want the truth? You can't handle the TRUTH!" but how about "Oh I'm sorry, you were sick the day they taught law at law school".  Reminds me of my days in law school.

2) MY COUSIN VINNY - A TBS Classic with so many funny moments and lines.  "The two yutes", "Uh, What's a yute?" -  "I wore this ridiculous thing for you" (when Vinny was forced to wear a ridiculous red tuxedo because the dry cleaner was closed) - Vinny, going from "What's a grit" to "I love grits too, do you like yours creamy or al dente?"  Just a coincidence that this is a courtroom "drama" like "A Few Good Men."

3) SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - "Place the lotion in the f-ing basket!"  Sir Anthony Hopkins is so creepy and so convincing and even though I've seen this movie at least 15 times, I can still feel the suspense build and am constantly entrigued by the interactions between Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling.  When Clarice walks down the hall to Lecter's cell only to see him standing there smiling and waiting for her is genius filmmaking.    

4) OLD SCHOOL - Another TBS Classic and my favorite moment among many includes a short cameo from Terry O'Quinn (Locke from LOST).  Luke Wilson is talking with his boss (Locke) and Locke's daughter walks in.  Earlier, Luke had hooked up with Locke's daughter and Locke says something along the lines of "It's amazing how fast they grow up, and to think in a few months she'll be graduating high school." Luke choking on his coffee always makes me chuckle.  

5) NATIONAL LAMPOONS EUROPEAN VACATION - Whenever I hear Big Ben referenced, I will always think about Chevy Chase driving around in circles going nuts saying "Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament.  I just can't get left."

6) JURASSIC PARK - The T-Rex breaking free from his pen and looking into the SUV where the kids were is classic Speilberg.  Of course, as with so many Speilberg films, John Williams does the score and the music playing when everyone first sees the dinosaurs is sweeping and unforgettable.

7) THE WEDDING PLANNER - Not sure why I can't turn away from this not-particulary-good movie.  As the author of this blog can attest, I must have a thing for Matthew McConaughey romantic comedies because I also enjoy "HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS".

Hope you enjoyed this "List Wednesday" list on Thursday.  

more sunday please

(photo cred: my awesome Sony Ericsson phone circa 2007)

This here was our Sunday afternoon football spread: cracked pepper water crackers, a wedge of bel paese cheese, some birthday jerky all the way from Jackson Market via MaBa, and some pony beers. We later ordered some pastitsio (or as they call it, pastasio) and gyro fixins from Mom's Pizza Kitchen to supplement. After a serene and spiritual morning, there's nothing like an afternoon of football and food on a bright fall day. It doesn't hurt that there was a trifecta of football happiness either (Steelers win, Niners win, Redskins lose).

...birthday jerky? Yes, birthday jerky. Because today is a day to commemorate the birth of someone the world could certainly use more of (I think I've written that in every one of his birthday cards) - Happy Birthday, G :)

unis

Unicorns? Unitards? Unicycles? Non, mes amis - uniforms!
Today's List is a special one, because as promised a couple weeks ago, it is brought to you by a guess blogger! The List is fantastic, combining sports and fashion. Our guest blogger is none other than ... G! Known for his extensive knowledge of everything sports, he has a profound gift for commenting on just the right things, often just as the Sportscenter analyst or play-by-play announcer has the same thought on the tip of his/her tongue. This post probably has some of the most factually valid content on this blog thus far. It is my pleasure to present his first of hopefully numerous guest postings.

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== TOP 6 UNIFORMS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL ==

There has been a lot of talk and buzz recently about uniforms in college football thanks to the unis worn by The University of Maryland earlier this month:

 

(photo cred: here)

My personal opinion is that these unis are terrible, mostly because of the seizure inducing helmet.  The jersey is actually pretty cool but a solid color helmet with an image of the terrapin would have worked better.  These radical uniform designs are a new and unstoppable trend in college football and intended to increase fan interest and of course revenue through increased jersey sales.

Its important to note that most of the schools that are choosing to go the radical route for uniforms are schools without a rich tradition in football.  If that's what these schools need to do to garner attention to their programs, then so be it.  Call me a traditionalist, but you deserve attention for winning. Or you can be like Notre Dame and get media adoration for blowing leads, losing big games, losing not so big games and getting over hyped year after year.  

With that being said, here are my top six uniforms in college football. You'll notice that most of the unis have largely gone unchanged through the years and are accompanied by success on the field as well (with one notable exception, see team that appears at No. 4).  

No. 1 MICHIGAN

(photo cred: here)

While this is a picture of their retro throwback unis, the classic winged helmet is still worn and the maize and blue color combo looks great.

No. 2 PENN STATE

(photo cred: here)

Basically unchanged throughout the years, this is a classic uniform that I actually found boring as a little kid.  While I think the white jerseys aren't a good look with the white pants, the navy blue jerseys with the white pants and white helmet that has only a blue stripe down the middle is classic college football.  The only thing they could do to make this uni better is using a gray face mask grill instead of the blue one they currently use.

No. 3.  ALABAMA

(photo cred: here)

Yet another classic example of a uni that has not changed through the years.  Unlike Penn State, they utilize the gray face mask grill and also put the players numbers on the sides of the helmet.  The numbers on the side of the helmet are such a little detail that adds a lot, that as far as I can think are only used by Alabama and occasionally by the San Diego Chargers when they wear their powder blue throwbacks.

No. 4 NOTRE DAME

(photo cred: here)

It should be noted that NAVY used to wear unis that were very similar to this classic looking uniform but the gold helmets (where real gold is actually sprayed into the helmets) and navy blue jerseys are instantly recognizable as belonging to Notre Dame.  

No. 5 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 

(photo cred: here)

The scarlet and gold color combo looks great with the helmets that have gone, for the most part, unchanged except for a brief period in the late 80's - early 90's where they had a scarlet face mask grill.  The logo on the side of the helmet is a basic but classic profile of a Trojan.  Common theme among all these teams on the list so far?  Unchanged through the years.  With all the new unis being sported by schools nowadays, its nice to know you can count on continuity and consistency when it comes to these top 5 teams.

No. 6 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

(photo cred: here)

The sole school on this list to have unis that are not considered "Traditional."  Nike founder Phil Knight is an Oregon grad and huge booster to the school. Oregon benefits from this by having top notch athletic facilities and cool unis for the football team.  Oregon has at least 513 different helmet, jersey and pant combinations and Nike has designed some of the unis to actually make the team look faster by placing bright colors around the athletes fastest moving parts (shins, feet and wrists).  The neon yellow works well with either the schools traditional green and often used black or gray.  Since the inception of these multi-combination unis, Oregon football has also improved their performance on the field, becoming consistent challengers to win the Pac 10/12 and making it all they way to the NCAA championship game last year.  Coincidence??