I have actually enjoyed more ethnic foods than I remembered to write down. One of them was a treat enjoyed in Maui, Loco Moco.
Basically, a hamburger patty with a fried egg on it and smothered in gravy.
It's a thing. Like most Hawaiian "things," however, it was bland at best, and gross at worst. It seems (and there was literature on the island attesting to this) that Hawaiians tend to like bland, greasy food. Supposedly, this is from American colonialism, and has caused the epic morbid obesity in the islands.
Four to go!!!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Ethnic Nummers and the Old List
On my original 30 before 30 list, I made a goal of trying 30 new ethnic foods. I tried many, but not 30. On my 31 before 31, I restated this goal.
I'm actually almost there.
I'm continuing this goal with my current remaining count.
Below, however, are what I've tried thus far:
1. Pad Thai – A Thai noodle dish. Nummers.
2. Shark Fin Soup – Yes, it’s reprehensible, but I tried it. Sue me.
3. Buddha Jumps Over The Wall – Another Asian soup consisting of seafood in a broth with the aroma and flavor of month-old vulture vomit.
4. Torta – The Mexican version of the panini. Love these now.
5. Vegemite – A thick, brown paste made of yeast. Also the only item on this list that literally made me come close to vomiting. I even tried it prepared the traditional way: on toast, with melted American cheese on top.
6. Menudo – As near as I can tell, a Mexican soup made of corn and lard. Oh, wait, I remember reading the ingredients; it is actually made with corn and lard.
7. Posole – Menudo’s ugly step sister.
8. Naan – I mean REAL naan, an Indian flatbread. Think tortilla, but with flavor.
9. Aloo tikki – Basically, Indian version of latkes. Potato and spice dumplings. BTW: AWESOME!
10. Tandoori chicken – Seasoned chicken cooked in a traditional clay oven, another Indian delight.
11. Lamb Vindaloo – One of those Indian dishes with lamb meat served in glop. Delicious, delicious glop. See also: Lamb Rogan Josh.
12. Lamb Rogan Josh – More lamb. More wonderful Indian glop.
13. Carrot Halwa – Again, Indian. Think carrot cake, but without the cake.
14. Gulab Jamun – Indian doughnut, basically. Super sweet, and drizzled with sugar syrup flavored with saffron and cardamom.
15. Miso soup – In this case, a tofu and noodle soup seasoned with the traditional Japanese spice blend “miso.”
16. Kalbi ribs – Short ribs marinated and cooked in Korean soy sauce.
17. Kalua pork – Hawaiian pork cooked in an underground oven.
18. Pork Laulau – A Hawaiian dish of pork – apparently the parts too fatty to pack in a can of pork and beans – wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. Good. Little full. Lotta fat.
19. Lumpia – Filipino version of the spring roll.
20. Boxty – Irish potato pancakes.
21. Coddle – A new staple in our house. An Irish dish of potatoes, onions, carrots, fresh herbs, bacon, and sausage, all simmered in hard cider. Delish!
22. Colcannon – Basically half mashed potatoes and half cooked cabbage, blended together.
23. Turkish delight – Ever had sugar-coated fruit jelly candies? Like those “orange slices?” That’s pretty much Turkish Delight. I made the mistake of getting rose flavor (the only flavor I could find), which was like eating the gelled contents of gramma’s perfume bottle.
24. Pakora – Another South-Asian treat, essentially a vegetable fritter.
25. Jaipur Karhi – Indian potato dumplings in a coconut milk and saffron sauce.
I have also given up on the 30 new kinds of produce. Turns out I've tried so many in my life, and many of the varieties I haven't tried are unavailable. So screw it.
Some of the other items on my 31 Before 31 list will be repeated, but mostly my 32 Before 32 is new.
As a reminder, the old list:
1. Inventory all DVDs in collection DONE!
2. Try 30 new ethnic foods ALMOST DONE!
3. Try 30 new kinds of produce
4. Lose 30 pounds
5. Do 100 push-ups
6. Have a picnic in a park DONE!
7. Read a classic novel, cover to cover, in one sitting
8. Beat Super Mario Bros. on NES
9. Get better at juggling
10. Put up shelves in man cave
11. Visit Kubota Garden
12. Visit the Banana Museum - DONE!
13. Watch all DVDs in collection I haven't seen yet
14. Join Slow Food organization
15. Go to U-District Farmer's Market DONE!
16. Move video game systems from living room to man cave DONE!
17. Beat my 2009 Torchlight Run time DONE!
18. Have a party DONE!
19. Organize storage room DONE!
20. Visit the Flaming Geyser DONE!
21. Go to Bob's Java Jive DONE!
22. Visit the Experience Music Project and Sci-Fi Museum DONE!
23. Visit the Bug Museum
24. Get photos from hard drive onto Flikr account
25. Visit the Museum of Flight DONE!
26. Visit the Burke Museum of Natural History DONE!
27. Make pate at home
28. Eat at Dick's Drive In DONE!
29. Read "Pride and Prejudice"
30. Get a tattoo
31. Re-learn to rollerblade.
I'm actually almost there.
I'm continuing this goal with my current remaining count.
Below, however, are what I've tried thus far:
1. Pad Thai – A Thai noodle dish. Nummers.
2. Shark Fin Soup – Yes, it’s reprehensible, but I tried it. Sue me.
3. Buddha Jumps Over The Wall – Another Asian soup consisting of seafood in a broth with the aroma and flavor of month-old vulture vomit.
4. Torta – The Mexican version of the panini. Love these now.
5. Vegemite – A thick, brown paste made of yeast. Also the only item on this list that literally made me come close to vomiting. I even tried it prepared the traditional way: on toast, with melted American cheese on top.
6. Menudo – As near as I can tell, a Mexican soup made of corn and lard. Oh, wait, I remember reading the ingredients; it is actually made with corn and lard.
7. Posole – Menudo’s ugly step sister.
8. Naan – I mean REAL naan, an Indian flatbread. Think tortilla, but with flavor.
9. Aloo tikki – Basically, Indian version of latkes. Potato and spice dumplings. BTW: AWESOME!
10. Tandoori chicken – Seasoned chicken cooked in a traditional clay oven, another Indian delight.
11. Lamb Vindaloo – One of those Indian dishes with lamb meat served in glop. Delicious, delicious glop. See also: Lamb Rogan Josh.
12. Lamb Rogan Josh – More lamb. More wonderful Indian glop.
13. Carrot Halwa – Again, Indian. Think carrot cake, but without the cake.
14. Gulab Jamun – Indian doughnut, basically. Super sweet, and drizzled with sugar syrup flavored with saffron and cardamom.
15. Miso soup – In this case, a tofu and noodle soup seasoned with the traditional Japanese spice blend “miso.”
16. Kalbi ribs – Short ribs marinated and cooked in Korean soy sauce.
17. Kalua pork – Hawaiian pork cooked in an underground oven.
18. Pork Laulau – A Hawaiian dish of pork – apparently the parts too fatty to pack in a can of pork and beans – wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. Good. Little full. Lotta fat.
19. Lumpia – Filipino version of the spring roll.
20. Boxty – Irish potato pancakes.
21. Coddle – A new staple in our house. An Irish dish of potatoes, onions, carrots, fresh herbs, bacon, and sausage, all simmered in hard cider. Delish!
22. Colcannon – Basically half mashed potatoes and half cooked cabbage, blended together.
23. Turkish delight – Ever had sugar-coated fruit jelly candies? Like those “orange slices?” That’s pretty much Turkish Delight. I made the mistake of getting rose flavor (the only flavor I could find), which was like eating the gelled contents of gramma’s perfume bottle.
24. Pakora – Another South-Asian treat, essentially a vegetable fritter.
25. Jaipur Karhi – Indian potato dumplings in a coconut milk and saffron sauce.
I have also given up on the 30 new kinds of produce. Turns out I've tried so many in my life, and many of the varieties I haven't tried are unavailable. So screw it.
Some of the other items on my 31 Before 31 list will be repeated, but mostly my 32 Before 32 is new.
As a reminder, the old list:
1. Inventory all DVDs in collection DONE!
2. Try 30 new ethnic foods ALMOST DONE!
3. Try 30 new kinds of produce
4. Lose 30 pounds
5. Do 100 push-ups
6. Have a picnic in a park DONE!
7. Read a classic novel, cover to cover, in one sitting
8. Beat Super Mario Bros. on NES
9. Get better at juggling
10. Put up shelves in man cave
11. Visit Kubota Garden
12. Visit the Banana Museum - DONE!
13. Watch all DVDs in collection I haven't seen yet
14. Join Slow Food organization
15. Go to U-District Farmer's Market DONE!
16. Move video game systems from living room to man cave DONE!
17. Beat my 2009 Torchlight Run time DONE!
18. Have a party DONE!
19. Organize storage room DONE!
20. Visit the Flaming Geyser DONE!
21. Go to Bob's Java Jive DONE!
22. Visit the Experience Music Project and Sci-Fi Museum DONE!
23. Visit the Bug Museum
24. Get photos from hard drive onto Flikr account
25. Visit the Museum of Flight DONE!
26. Visit the Burke Museum of Natural History DONE!
27. Make pate at home
28. Eat at Dick's Drive In DONE!
29. Read "Pride and Prejudice"
30. Get a tattoo
31. Re-learn to rollerblade.
One last try...
If it wasn't for my rugged good looks and ability to sing any song in a pirate voice, I'd say I don't have much going for me. In particular, THIS FRIGGIN' BLOG!!!
So, I'm giving it one last go.
Reasonable goals.
Consistent upkeep.
That's it. It's not so hard. Don't know why I can't do it.
But, well, if I can't, I'll quit. It's not worth the stress I feel every few months when I remember that this blog exists.
So read on: new goals, and an update on my previous year's accomplishments. I will say, better than last year! Woop! Victory!
So, I'm giving it one last go.
Reasonable goals.
Consistent upkeep.
That's it. It's not so hard. Don't know why I can't do it.
But, well, if I can't, I'll quit. It's not worth the stress I feel every few months when I remember that this blog exists.
So read on: new goals, and an update on my previous year's accomplishments. I will say, better than last year! Woop! Victory!
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