One Week, Two Chinatowns - Part II

Had the N train not decided to run like rubbish on Friday morning, the trip to Brooklyn would have not taken the extra half an hour longer than it did.

The extra half an hour really cut into our dim sum eating time! But, now we know it can easily be done and East Harbor Seafood Palace is within reach for future jaunts without having to drive to Brooklyn in a mini-van with which to both embarrass and kidnap Beetchie.

The entire day was hit with snafu after snafu.  Beetchie unfortunately got food poisoning, and could not partake in the dim sum feast.  We almost did not see her, actually.  We also forgot that Alex was not eating meat on Fridays during lent, and all the pork I ordered did not go to waste, but there could have been more and/or different types of pork on the table.

Also, being super late led us to not having the luxury to relax, take pictures at leisure or do any such thing.  It turned out to be a really long day.

Spare rib tips were excellent here.

One Week, Two Chinatowns - Part I

This week, Beetchie made an NYC appearance for Spring Break.  Although it was not completely planned, we ended hitting up Chinatown in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

It's been some time since H1 and I have been to Chinatown in Manhattan (well, H1 went in January without me).  Though it has been pretty cold and the streets were fairly empty, there was something just off with Canal Street on Monday evening when we went.

It was... clean.  There were new buildings, and worst of all, it was not shady at all.  It was rather jarring, and completely odd.  A clean Chinatown just sort of seems wrong.  It shocked me in Yokohama, and it certainly scared me when H1 and I stepped off the N train line.

Maybe it was the light of the evening?

...Followed by the Successful Sunday

For some reason, H1 and I have been going on a cooking rampage.  Is it due to the fact that I enjoy torturing my frenemies with things they are unable to eat because they live in different states? What's that Beetchie and MC? You think that's what it is?

Oh no.

That would be evil of us!

We're so far from evi...uh.  Never mind.

It seems I may have forgotten myself and my middle name for a second.

Although, truth be told, I would like to call these cooking sessions as...practice.  Yes! Trying and perfecting recipes, so that when you people come around, we can replicate them for you.

See? There's no evil in our hearts.

Just maybe some hunger to go along with that good intention.

Being hungry, caring people, we decided to continue our Saturday cooking spree into Sunday by making grilled skirt steak with a port wine mushroom sauce over couscous.

The Semi Successful Saturday...

There were plans to make a lot more today but time got away from us! Running around town for over an hour in search of ingredients can do that to you.

Instead our plans will spill over to today and hopefully all will get done.

In any event, H1 did manage to cook up some good times for us.

What is it, you ask? Why...

Happy Birthday, Bs!

Today, the HOchieS are wishing Clee and Beetchie a fine day full of Birthday cheer and Birthday beer, respectively. 

Sorry this is so late but you know, I forgot.  Bwahahahaha.  Just kidding.

Lots of love!

Beware the Ides of March

Ah, my favourite none gift-giving day of the year.

Please be very mindful today to watch your back.

Also, if you have any friends named "Brutus" and/or "Cassius" and they happen to have a bunch of shady questionable council of friends, you may want to strongly consider breaking off those friendships right about now...  Unless it's too late for you, then I am sorry I did not post this yesterday.

Happy Ides, Everyone!

Currently listening to: "Big Bang Baby" by Stone Temple Pilots.  Man, that's so wrong.

A Successful Sort of Saturday

Saturday was one of those winning kind of days for The HOchieS.

It was not the 'winning' Charlie Sheen kind of day, no.  There were no drugs, no 'baby-sitters', no porn stars and no crazy.

Perhaps someone would find that much of a 'losing' sort of day for us...

Your dirty thoughts aside, H1 and I set out to try new recipes this day, starting with bacon cheddar pop-overs for breakfast.

Bits of Bacon Goodness

Out of the oven

Happy 3.14 Day!

Today is Pi Day, and I have failed to eat any pi(e).  I did eat some custard and rice pudding (more to come later on that rice pudding - oh yes).  That's still a fail, I understand but...

...I did do some math today though! That's gotta count for something, right? So what if the math did not involve circles? Stop looking at me like I'm a bad person!

I hope everyone had a more successful pie eating and algebraic day than I.

Currently listening to: "Island of Dragons" by Tsuyoshi Sekito from the Brave Fencer Musashiden Original Soundtrack.

To Japan

I could sit here and write about the millions of things that went through my head today, and how tearful and sad I was but there is only one thing that really needs to be said.

The HOchieS have Japan and all in the world affected, in our thoughts, after the horrific 8.9 earthquake that hit the country.

Tragedy

Amidst the heavy rains, flooded basements and the chaos that ensued, another tragic event was waiting in the wings.

The Crown Jewel, worthy to be placed in the Tower of London, met with an unfortunate end yesterday.

In my heart, when the phone rang, I immediately knew without being told that a disaster had struck.  A Queen knows when there is a major loss of one of her priceless jewels.

Think of all the custard batches that could have been made!

H1 claims it slipped out of her hand.

When asked, I will claim that 'off with her head' slipped out of my mouth.

Checked

Bughie J. had to check me because I wanted November to be here already.  I know we're not even out of winter yet and I'm already calling for November but with good reason, honest!



...

It's Drake!

And hooligans!

No? Not a good reason?

A Lobster Fest?

It can't be all Brasserie and Home-made Ramen all the time here on the misadventures with The HOchieS.

Sometimes, when the child speaks, you can opt to answer the call.

Even when the child speaks the crazy and demands a Lobster Fest from you guessed it...

By the way, I think that's my best bao-head to date!

Let it be known that it was in fact, our last venture to Hatsuhana that brought on this lobster fest request from BooHead.  As I recall, the conversation with Grandma went a bit like this:

::While watching tv, the commercial for Lobster Fest at Red Lobster came on::
BH: I want to go to Lobster Fest, Grandma
Grandma: You like lobster? I think you mean you like crab.  When did you have lobster?
BH: Mmmm, I LUZ lobster; it's so crunchy.

Grandma had no idea the lobster massacre at Hatsuhana took place a mere few days before BH saw the commercial.  Still fresh in his little head was the light, crispy awesomeness of the tempura lobster we had, which he almost ate all of if given the chance.

Even though I tried to explain that tempura made the lobster good, he insisted that it he still wanted lobster, tempura style or not.  And thus the trip was made.

Shamrock Shakes: Full of Shenanigans

March brings a lot of things: Spring, The Ides, St. Patrick's Day complete with drunken louts that annoy me to no end on the train (at 8 a.m. in the morning no less), and McDonald's Shamrock Shake.

For all the years the elusive Shamrock Shake has been around, this was the first year The HOchieS decided to try one to see what the fuss was all about.

I would love to sit here and tell you it was super awesome but instead I will write you a tale of how it was full of super shenanigans.

First, between us, H1 and I have tried the shake at three different locations.  H1 had one with very little mint green syrup, which meant it was not sweet shake.  She actually did not think it was too bad.

Our third and final attempt at a McD's Shamrock Shake

The next two we had were absolute disasters.  They were not blended well but now I'm not even sure if they are supposed to be.  H1's first was not blended at all with the green sitting at the bottom of hers.  And talk about the sugar! It was a sugar fest and it was gross.

So, why do we see raving reviews of this nonsense every year?

Perhaps I have just not found a good shake yet? Some sites allude to the fact that it is just not being made well as in previous years with the downfall of the shake starting with last year's batch.

If that's true, perhaps I will never know true greatness because we are never buying that again.

In the meanwhile, I can truly say...

...that I am not lovin' it, despite what McDonald's would like you to believe.

A Very Special Obsession

This obsession is so special, that I need everyone to start watching this fabulous little show called Adventure Time.

DO IT!

Obsession(s) of Weeks: 01/03/2011 through 02/25/2011

Phew, I'm slack with this, yeah?

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit. Hare, Hare, Hare.

Do you think I'm doing it wrong? Is it "Here, Here, Here"? Hm.  Well, no sense questioning things now.  I don't want to test fate!

Whatever it is, good luck to everyone this month.  It's March (already), and a few things to beware such as...The Ides.  Muwahahahaha.