As If We Needed To Go...

Though, did they honestly think they could open up a Shake Shack in Midtown and not expect The HOchieS and Co. to turn up for lunch?

Finally, a Shake Shack that is near the job but near enough to be frequented often and thank goodness.

I really did not want to have to do a self-imposed ban had the latest Shack been close.

I've had a number of burgers in my life time and maybe not as many as I'd like to think but enough to know that unless burgers are home-made, I cannot get a great one from an establishment.

There are places I have yet to eat a burger from and will in the future, but I can say that Shake Shack lives up to the hype.

Even at my third outing, I still looked sadly at my empty wrapper when it was all done.  What makes a shack burger good? It's seasoned!

I'm not one for a burger tasting like beef.  It is something I have learned to be okay with but I am used to Momma Hochie seasoning her burgers and was spoiled for years.

Other than the burger, I went there for a reason.  The Jelly Donut Concrete called "Jelly's Last Donut".  It's wrong, oh so wrong what with the Donut Plant Jelly donut mixed into custard and then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.

It was far too sweet but you know? I kinda liked it at some parts - the parts that didn't have too much jelly involved.  I would never have it again (or crave it again), though.  I've been there, done that and I think my body will thank me for that.

This was not how I wanted my first Donut Plant donut to be but I will fix that at some point in the near future.  In fact, Beetchie and I are already planning an excursion for creme brulee donuts.

Having already talked about Shake Shack in the past, we know the food is good but what about the location? The space? The crowd?

I hate it.

Times Square, as Aims so rightly pointed out, has become Tourist Central.  I love my city.  I hate my city at Christmas and New Year's Time - it's usually bustling with so many people that it's hard to move, or breath without cursing.  It's definitely hard to be in any sort of giving, cheery spirit at Christmas while working in Midtown.

I know I have spoken about this before but why people feel the need to see a dead tree with lights on it at Roc. Centre is something The HOchieS will never understand.

Christmas time in Midtown usually means I am a scrooge.

Sadly, it may be that I have to be scroogey all year round now.  Tourists invade the city every day of the year.

Obviously they're not all bad but they are annoying with the need to take up the street and standing in the middle of a sideWALK.

Shake Shack Midtown suffers from being in the middle of it all - the Theatre District.

Shake Shack also has always suffered from Hipsters.  NYC is not only being plagued by tourists but it is now also being plagued by Hipsters.  It's damned awful.

At least at the Shake Shack at Madison Square Park, I could ignore people.  I did not have to look at Hipsters.  They were out preaching to each other about how sand under their sandals and in between their toes was the best thing since the sun shining on their milkshakes.  Hipsters are a lot like that - they don't know that the sand is nasty in NYC.

At the Madison Park location, I could get a table with my friends and not have to hear or look upon anyone else.

The Midtown Location? There's a lot of fighting for tables.  There's music blasting over head that while good music, it becomes bad music because Hipsters have decided to take it as their own.

Then there was the bathroom.  There are a lot of places at which the bathroom is for paying customers only.  There is nothing wrong with that but Shake Shack has managed to take it to a whole other level.

You need your receipt to use the bathroom because at the bottom of every receipt is a four digit code.  You need the code to enter electronically to open the door.  There's also some sort of method to getting out of the bathroom.

That's right, the bathroom is a vault and you can get trapped.

So the things to remember:

1. We need to go at 3 p.m. to avoid any major crowd because that place was rough all week since the opening with a wait from 45 minutes to 2 hours.

2. Until I can find a way to lessen the Hipster population, we may just have to keep scowling at stupids.

3. Use the bathroom before you go, or plan to use it after.  Pray you do not have to go while there but...! If all else fails, go across the street to use McD's.

Fancy Schmancy

Eating at Financier Patissiere was a pretty good experience, however, eating as a French person would is not.

That's just blind speak and should not be taken seriously.  I do not have an educated outlook on the subject having never been to France or knowing someone who could tell me otherwise.  One should also consider that the only part of my French classes in the early 90s that I remembered was that Jean Paul, Pierre and the girl (what was her name again, H1?) were always getting into trouble but in this order: They went on holiday, ate ice-cream and were always getting into trouble.

Oh, and it may have rained on them too.

Moving on, let me tell you all a bit about lunch at Financier.

It was expensive.  The portions were small.  But the food was delicious.

Alex had a potato salad which was okay.  It needed a bit of salt but otherwise, I think I may have actually liked it.

 potato salad

She and I both had the truffle oil, whatever and whatever (it's been a while since I ate it - June 17th to be exact, so I've forgotten what was in it and refuse to look it up!) quiche.  Although I may not at this moment remember what was in it, I can say that I remember everything about the taste.

 I could eat quiche right now!

It was a brilliant quiche and all quiches that I may have had in the past or had after that, have failed in comparison.

I must also say that the salad was even good.  What is the world coming to?

 Salad.  Hmm, definitely could 

have used more quiche and less salad.  Heh.

H1 had some sort of sandwich that involved beef and mushrooms.  Maybe some truffle oil again? It was also a brilliant sandwich.

Aims had a salad which said was quite good.  All I know is that I have a strange love of boiled eggs these days and Aims was willing to share some of hers with me.

Next we ate desert.  I had a flan filled with pears.  It was not the traditional creamy type of flan I am used to, but I still liked it.  I did not go crazy over it, though.

Alex had some sort of flourless chocolate cake which she said was okay.  Aims went with a raspberry tart which was yummy and H1 had macarons.

 Pistachio and banana macarons.

We have discovered that of the macarons Financier has to offer, thus far the pistachio is the best.  BH will agree as he enjoys him one of those too.  He is awfully high class sometimes.

 It's very good.  He wants one this coming Monday.

I think I would very much like to go back and eat more quiche or try one of their hot press sandwiches.

Edit: Alright fine. I looked it up.  The quiche was a mushroom, gruyere and white truffle oil quiche.  And now, I am hungry.

The Toe in the Street

Beetchie was unfortunate enough to be in the presence of another explosion.

This time, a horrible accident took place in Queens while she was on her way home from work.

The explosion which was caused when two men carrying a fire extinguisher dropped, resulted in the loss of a finger and a toe on two separate individuals from shrapnel that flew from the extinguisher.

Beetchie, being a good Samaritan, went looking for the missing toe and found it.  Sadly, a car soon ran over it before it could be saved (not that the cops at the scene seemed hurried to save the toe...).

I am thankful that she is okay but very sorry that those poor people had to go through such trauma.

While I did not wish to tell such a gruesome tale on Beetchie's behalf here, I did want to mention that it has finally been confirmed - all those misadventures that she and I seem to run into when we're out together was Beetchie's fault.

I was just the innocent bystander who got caught up in the midst of her crazy energy!

If anyone needs a Bush Bath, it's Beetchie.

Yep, it was all her fault...

Do you remember the Bees?

The Heap of Hate at St. Marks?

The Day Kenka Defeated Us?

The Entire Trip to Japan?!?!?!

Tea for Three

Perhaps I was too full having consumed a bagel with cream cheese and lox, but Tea for Three was not as enjoyable as previous times.

My scone did not taste as beautiful as I recall.  It was light and fluffly but I think it may have been a tad sweeter the last time I ate.  Also, I must remember that my clotted cream needs to sit for a bit if we go for when the Tea Room opens.

Still, going for tea at our local place is good times.  I love the place with its mismatched tea cups.  I think all the frenemies need to experience it at least once! X? I would like you to hush.

                              You cannot really tell but that dark bit on the right is raspberry jam. 
                                        I wonder if they make it themselves? It is amazing.

Clotted cream, yum.  Raspberry Jam, yum.  Five finger?

Assorted Tea Sandwiches! Their gerkins and date bread are the best.

BH's Tea Sandwiches.  Next time, we won't get ths for him. 

He hates peanut butter and jelly. 

We probably should have inquired as to what

the tea sandwiches for kids entailed.  They still tasted really good though.

A tea pot!

The tea pot is full of cranberry juice! Huh?

Serving birds in a tea pot

Acceptable.

Is it Wrong?

Is it wrong that I am backing the Netherlands in the World Cup Final?

I think I was so mad at that stupid Oracle Paul the Octopus for the Germany loss (Yes, the octopus is to blame!) that I've decided to back those ugly orange uniforms, even though Spain's uniform is much better.

Nuts!

Things did not turn out quite the way I planned but I still find myself not at Roc. Center this morning.  That was a good decision on my part.  An estimated 20,000 people are currently in the streets for Lady Gaga this morning and I have no idea how they're managing.  Midtown must be insane!

H1 and I do hope that that one dude with the sign, cut up shirt and awesomely large hair got in okay... yeesh.

Not to be Trusted

In late September 2006, Momma and Papa HOchie went to visit a recently born A'Face.

I was tasked to pick the rest of the cucumbers from Papa's garden, and to give water if necessary to the plethora of plants.

The garden bore many vegetables that year, and in the week's time I was left in charge, no one enjoyed the sweet harvest it produced.

It was a rainy month, I recall and with darkness approaching faster as the day ended, I picked not a damned thing after I got home on evenings from work.

Then too, there were the slugs.  If there is one thing to be said of me, it's that I made some slugs very, very happy.

Now, this was a story I meant to post almost four years ago but got lost in my backlog of things to do.

I am bringing it up now because the Parent HOchieS have once again gone off somewhere and left me in charge of their garden of tomatoes, beans, peppers and spinach.

The Four Year Massacre has returned.

Well, within a few hours of being in charge, I already managed to turn the once beautiful green Garden into something not so green.

Looking okay so far, yeah?

Yeah, normal.

A nice green tomato.  The abnormality of that is not on me!

But that yellow beneath might be all me.  Heh.

Yep, yep.  Definitely my doing.

Have some bokeh to be easier on the eyes.

Really, I watered and have been watering.  I may have watered them at 11 a.m on Saturday which may explain the horrible yellowness going on but shouldn't talking to them lovingly be enough along with the water?! Psh.

I kinda want to blame the nasty hot weather we have been having and my nemesis the Sun.

Heck, at least there are no slugs this time (so sorry I cannot locate those pictures at the moment).

Ah yes, one more thing.  Do you think I should pick those beans now?  Something in my memory of my bean picking days tells me I should...

Currently listening to: "Blue" by Yoko Kanno featuring Mai Yamane, from The Cowboy Bebop Blue Original Soundtrack.  You know what sucks? The ability this song has to make me cry even though it's been 1999 since this series aired.  At least I can take comfort knowing I traumatized B. too. =)  Just have to work on H1...

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

What? It's July already?

Good luck to everyone!

Ah Yes, Futurama is Back

Let us all rejoice and curse that merciful Poseidon.

Party on, Duck

Moodou had a party thrown in his honour last Saturday, and was presented with pyos of all the things he will need when he makes an appearance.

Even at a baby's shower, there is always that one fool who does not know how to act right.

 It's a wholesome affair for now...

Pink umbrellas, baby bottles, baby games.

A rocking horse, blue umbrellas, more games.

Broccoli and cheddar cheese quiche

with a beautiful side salad and veggies.

And then, 1 glass of wine later...

A duck brings out some chicks.

Like I said, no behaviour.

A Toy Story About MC

This day, I made a revelation about MC.

Before I begin, I would like everyone to get a tissue in hand because this one is going to be a tear-jerker.  Of course, if you are a bastard then you might want to get a tissue to wipe up the spit from your computer screens from laughter.

It has come to my attention in recent months that MC hates the Toy Story series.

It baffled all as to how one person could dislike that series but I have finally figured it out.  The clues were in a bit of childhood history of MC's that some may not have known.

As a child, MC did not know he had a Birthday.  He did not know what a birthday was or what day that would be or anything of the sort.  It's a weird story but then, I surmise his Granny was somehow behind that sad, unbelievable tale.

The facts above led me to the conclusion that since he did not know about birthdays, he obviously did not have parties and perhaps, he did not get presents and more specifically, toys.

Having only been told on his 10th birthday at which point he probably no longer cared or believed such things existed, MC probably never had a toy to love.

Using my "B-" Logic assessment, we can conclude that MC has no heart or at the very least never had one to love a plastic or plush friend, hence the reason he cannot associate emotions with the Toy Story series.

I can also say that I spoke about my theory with MC today and he has confirmed that what I say is true.

No. 4 and No. 11 Only, Please

I recently stumbled upon greatness.

This August, a Doctor Who Box Set of all 11 Doctors in action figure form, is set for release.

It comes neatly packaged in a TARDIS box!

While this is one of the greatest things I have seen, I would only need the Fourth and Eleventh incarnations of the Doctor.

In case anyone is confused as to which those are, I have marked up a copy to demonstrate.

I believe the figures are all sold separately but I would also need a TARDIS to go with them.  Maybe two! That might be a dangerous situation though, so I will have to think about it.  I also have not watched the David Tennant series which I hear was quite good.  If I like Tennant, I may need the Tenth Doctor as well.

In other Doctor Who news, H1 and I watched the second of the two part episode today called "Cold Blood".  It was a twist of an ending that dealt with the overall main series story arc but it had me distraught.

I know none of you I know are watching it because you all suck, so I will go ahead and say it.

ROOOORRRRRRYYYYY...NOOOOOOOoooooooooo.

I fancied him but suspected that this was coming.  It was a bitter ending and just one of two shocks for the main plot.  I did not know how much more I could take but I only hope they do not write a crappy end to the arc because as of now, this show has been pure brilliance.

Conflicted: Pongsri or Pam Real Thai?

The HOchieS' may have found a new Thai place for all of us to try.

Great frenemies that we are however, we tried it without you all first to make sure it was even worth everyone's time.

It's a little bit of a haul from the office and is all the way on 10th Avenue and 48th St., and takes cash only.

We tried the food we would usually get at Pongsri except pineapple fried rice.

 Fried Taro Cakes

Even though a part of me is ruined for eating raw taro, I will still wearily eat it when presented in different ways i.e. cooked only.  I am happy that my brain is so stupid sometimes because the fried taro cakes were wonderful with lots of great flavour.

 Chicken and Mushroom Dumplings

The chicken and mushroom dumplings were our second appetizer.  I don't really enjoy chicken dumplings but again, they were well-seasoned and tasty with good texture.

We then tried a Thai sausage fried rice.  I'm not sure I liked the sausage that much but mainly because I think I am used to eating my lapchongs.

Thai Sausage Fried Rice

For once H1 was grateful for the cucumbers to cut the salt.

Next we went with chicken red thai curry.  It was not as sweet as Pongsri's but the flavour was amazing and more intense.  Pongsri lost that round.

 Thai Red Curry

We then ate a crispy fried duck and it was mega salty.  I prefer pongsri's duck due to the texture (and too much salt on PRThai's).  I know it said crispy fried duck but it was almost a wasted meal not being able to taste anything duck-like and to just have the duck fried to unrecognizable chewy bits of meat.

Ped Pad Grow (methinks) Duck - 

Sure looks good in that picture now though.

I did not get to try a dessert there, nor do I even know what was on the menu but that's okay.  There's always the next time! I did get a Thai Iced tea though and I liked it a lot.  It was good on tea and not too sweet to have the sensation of drinking condensed milk.

 Thai Iced Tea

I think right now Pam Real Thai might have a bit of an edge over Pongsri but needed to lay off the salt.  There are lots more dishes to try, so the next is question is when will we all go together to make a proper decision on which place is better?

Toy Story 3

From the moment the trash scene began until the end of the movie, I cried.

That's right.

I am not ashamed to say that I cried a lot.

Other than to say that I cried, I would also like to say that I'm happy Andy grew up to be semi good-looking.

I was worried about him for a while there.

The pixar short was the worst one though.

Happy Dropday, Brother Breadfruit

Bwahahaha.

Happy Birthday, Bunji!

I did not get you anything for your birthday but intended to...now I feel bad.  I'll pick something up sometime not that you care.

This does not mean I don't want pyos from you for mine, Bunji.

Poor June people...you and Gen' Frien' get treated poorly for your birthdays.

Cart Life: Drinking Our Fruit

For some months now, the Fresh Fruit cart has made an appearance on one of the streets near work and we have been almost daily visitors.

It just occurred to me as I typed that that I wonder just how much money that effin' cart has gotten from me!

The cart is run by these two Asians.  The girl who mainly handles the money is a cutie.  She recognizes us when we come along and how could she not? We tip them every time.

The guy, who is less friendly makes pretty damned good smoothies.

But like every good cart, it has its shadiness.  The shadiness makes the smoothies taste even better probably.

There are fan-made Naruto characters plastered all over the cart.  They're all chibi and they hang from pictures of fruit.  It's not the only series borrowed from and most hilarious to me is the famous Misato picture of her enjoying swigging back a cold one.

Of course, the picture has been altered to represent a smoothie in hand rather than the trademark beer.  In no known universe would Misato be so excited to be drinking a smoothie.  No way.

Other shady dealings with the cart include the cups we get our smoothies in sometimes.

The first time we went, the smoothie cup had a franchise name on it for a smoothie and fresh fruit company.

The second time it had Regal Cinemas on it.

Every other time after that the cup has been some completely unrelated and I am wondering if a crap load of cups fell off the back of some trucks, hence the reason the smoothies are so cheap at $3.00 for a 16 oz.

It may also explain why the girl will sometimes draw a smiley face on the cup.  It's there as a ploy to distract me! It's all a ruse to make me think she remembers me and is friendly for a bigger cover up!

Whatever the case may be, the Smoothie cart wins and the colours from the blended fruit are beautiful.

Drinkable fruit is good stuff.

Because I Need To Make a List

I know I have Amazon for it but not all these things are on there yet to be added to my wish list!

I took a second look at the games coming out for the 3DS today and made a list of all the ones I am interested in. 

I'll be cursing Nintendo a lot within the next year. 

Animal Crossing
Kid Icarus
Mario Kart (maybe)
Paper Mario
Etrian Odyssey
Shin Megami Tensei
Resident Evil: Revelations (what the hell...can't be that scary on a hand-held, right? Bwahahaha, who am I kidding?)
Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle (more like Mask of Headaches...I can see frustration now from a 3D related puzzle.  Oh Hershel.)
Kingdom Hearts
Final Fantasy
Dragon Quest
Codename: Chocobo Racing 3D
A Boy and His Blob

And all this for games that are not even out yet and ONLY DS related!!!  What about all the games I still have to play or want?!

The Last Story (no release in sight or details...phew)
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)
Professor Layton and The Unwound Future
Super Scribblenauts
Okamiden
Rock Band 3

Thank goodness I didn't see anything from the PS3's Move list that I wanted.

And thank goodness for reviews.  I'll just wait for those...

Obsession(s) of the Week(s): 5/23/2010 to Until the End of June, I Reckon

Doctor Who

The HOchieS were fans of the Fourth Doctor many years ago. That series starring Tom Baker, was one we grew up watching as children. A love of science fiction was more than likely shaped by our many hours watching that funny man with big curly hair, and long colourful scarf as he travelled around the Universe and time in a Police Box, fondly known as TARDIS. Recently, I started watching the current Doctor Who series starring Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor. With Steven Moffat (Coupling) as the head writer.

Matt Smith, The Eleventh Doctor

Having not watched the series in about oh...25 years, I was curious to see what all the fuss was about. I discovered that Steven Moffat was writing and that was reason alone to be interested. Then I saw that a new, really young actor was cast in the role of The Doctor. Times change but was it just some sort of idiotic plot to pump new blood into an already long-standing, well-established series to capture a young demographic? After watching the two part episodes involving the Weeping Angels, I must admit - I'm enthralled by Matt Smith. He can be a little hard on the eyes (but if he turns to the side, he's just fine) but his acting is superb. He speaks quickly and I cannot catch it all sometimes but he's doing a fantastic job playing this complicated character. He's harsh, witty, can be cute in ways, quirky and downright bitchy.