August 26, 2006
I was a weird kid + a bunch of random things I ate + a gift
[I'm going to Paris in less than a week oh crap oh crap ohcrapcrap.]
If you keep up with my flickr account, you may notice that I blog about 75% of the stuff I actually photograph. I'm too lazy to write about everything, but I'll dig up some old stuff for you. It's time to...
DIP INTO THE PAST!
Dip into the past?
DIP!!!
Cheese dip?
...CHEESE DIP!
Why are you shouting?
WHY AREN'T YOU SHOUTING?
- I was a weird kid
This goes way, way back. Back to when I was a wee lad. Or ladie. While wading through the old grade school assignments my mum unearthed from her box labeled, "WHEN ROBYN'S BRAIN WAS AT 1% CAPACITY", she gave me the gem pictured above. It goes a little somethin' like this:
Dear Mrs. Brincka,I love you. am I ever going to get a picera. I hope I do. I relly like you. I'm lacy the I'm in your class. I wish I can stay in yoar clas for every year. I'm never going to forget you. Even when I'm dead. When I'm dead I want your cat to remember me.
Wuh? When I'm dead I want your cat to remember me? ...HUH? I wonder how many kids have said that to their first grade teachers. And how many restraining orders have been made against students by their first grade teachers.
That wasn't food related, but I figured you'd enjoy it.
this stuff is random!
Get ready for NON-IN-DEPTH REVIEW-AGE TOO-MANY-HYPHENS NOOO!
I went to Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop a while ago (11 days to be exact) with Diana for sandwich indulgence. My first experience burst with awesomness, so I naturally thought the same thing would happen on my second visit.
- crab cake sammich
But no. Just like Babe was not meant to be breakfast, my crab cake sandwich was not meant to be... ...wait, that doesn't make sense. What looked so perfectly made, all cutely bundled up in paper wrapping, turned out to be a disappointment. Just like today's youth. I wasn't expecting chunks of crab meat, but I wasn't looking forward to a patty of mashed potatoes either. And it wasn't like one of those crispy golden fried Japanese potato croquettes (because that would've been tasty); the soggy breading on my "crab cake" was never allowed to reach its crispy potential. As my sandwich couldn't help but poop cake bits out from between its soft brioche bun halves (which was great bread on its own), I realized that the paper wrapping was necessary as a sandwich diaper. But it only works if you leave it on the sandwich for the whole duration of the meal, which is hard if you want to not eat paper.
I'd still go back to Tiny's since I know they make a mean cheesy mushroom sandwich on semolina bread and their prices are freakishly low. Just make sure to avoid the "crab cake".
- friiiess
I already mentioned Taim's deliciousness, but I didn't report on my second trip during which I tried their fries. Perfectly dunked in burning hot oil to order, their long, skinny fries come generously (but not overly) salted with a side of saffron aioli dipping sauce. One order was enough for four of us to share, so if you want to try it out I'd advise you bring other stomachs with you. Or you could just finish the whole bowl yourself. It's that good.
- omu rice
I think omu-rice is one of those "no fail" foods. If a restaurant screws up rice and egg, you probably shouldn't eat there. (Granted, they shouldn't screw up any food.) Choga's version of omu-rice was satisfying for a lunch. While I prefer my rice snuggly wrapped in omelet instead of blanketed, it doesn't reaaallllly matter, although a happy face written in ketchup would be pretty sweet. After eating the whole mound of vegetable and chicken-filled ketchup coated rice, I emerged from the restaurant very stuffed.
- cuppy cakes
Although Sugar Sweet Sunshine is known for their cupcakes, they've got plenty of other choices that are just as tasty. ...But probably not as photogenic. Their technicolor cupcake army makes adults squeal with delight (well, that's what I do) and fills inhabitants of non-cupcake-eating countries with raging, itchy jealousy. I'm sure there are plenty of people who look down on this simple and childish dessert, but hey, screw em. Are their bloodstreams full of artificially colored frosting? NO, MINE ARE!
Ohh, it hurts so deliciously.
- helloooo trifle
I skipped the cupcakes and went for the strawberry lemon trifle. It's not a looker (unless you have a thing for "mooshed pudding and cake"), but it tastes awesome! Like mooshed pudding and cake! With bits of strawberry thrown in to fulfill 1% of your recommended daily fruit consumption! Can anyone give me a good reason why more bakeries don't have trifle? Do people not crave the combination of pudding, cake, and other creamy things? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?! I am full of rage! And sugar!
Compared to SSS's other types of trifle, I'd put this one in the middle. My favorite is the pumpkin trifle, least favorite is the chocolate bomb trifle. Of course, you should try allll threeeeee.
- chicken tempura
Last week my mum, brother and I went to Kumo with some family friends for a "last meal we're going to have together in a very long time" kind of meal. Since I had no idea what to get, I ordered something I never tried before: chicken tempura! You can't go wrong with deep fried food. A mountain of eight carefully stacked identical chicken batons that looked more like shrimp than chicken was placed in front of me along with a small bowl of dashi flavored dipping sauce. While the chicken wasn't very flavorful, it was uber-tender (almost like ground chicken, except this was visibly...chicken) and—most importantly—coated in a crispy panko-filled shell (seriously, like a 3:1 breading-to-chicken ratio), essentially making the greatest version of chicken fingers you will ever eat. Although it felt light at first (as light as something fried could feel), I felt like my stomach was going to burst after eating six pieces. Luckily I had other people to share with or else I would've eaten every piece and become the subject of the headline, "GIRL EXPLODES FROM EATING TOO MUCH."
- buns n stuff
On Friday I wandered into Nice One Bakery after getting my hair cut and before eating all that stuff I talked about in my previous entry. Despite knowing of the fooding that would occur that night, I had to go in. Going to Chinatown and not indulging in one of the dozens of bakeries is a crime! A crime that isn't punishable by any means. But you should feel bad about yourself and believe me, I'll give you a virtual smacking upon the head. BAD BAD BAD.
- mexican bun
My fruitless search for a taro bun among the brightly lit shelves somehow resulted in the purchase of this Mexican bun. It was just...there. And "Mexican". I was intrigued. The bun had no special filling, but provided plenty of squishy soft, mildly sweet goodness that is a requirement of all "China buns" (as Sarah would lovingly refer to them as). The Mexican part of this bun appeared to be the sugary swirl on top, as without it it would seem like any other bun. But this swirl! It's magic! It's a fiesta of Mexican splendor! (Don't ask me where that phrase came from.)
Anyone who's gone to a Chinese bakery knows that their attempts at making desserts from other cuisines tend to be a bit off, but that doesn't make them any less awesome. How else could you get a crazy yule log with twin santas? You don't know you want it until you see it.
okay, I'm done. Can I go home now?
too many addresses, noooo!
Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop
127 Rivington St
New York, NY 10002
Taim
222 Waverly pl
New York, NY 10014
Choga
145 Bleecker St # 2
New York, NY 10012
Sugar Sweet Sunshine
Sugar Sweet Sunshine
126 Rivington St
New York, NY 10002
Nice One Bakery
47 Bayard St
New York, NY 10013
my present to you
I've watched this at least ten times today.
If you don't enjoy it, then...you're probably normal. Congratulations! You win nothing. Don Hertzfeld is a genius. Or something.
Posted by roboppy at 11:58 PM
Comments (17)
Anna: It's freaky how well it fits in, eh? I looove that sequence...it's like valium.
Kathy: I thought it was shrimp too until I actually ate it, haha! "How is this..CHICKEN?!" Mm, it's perfect.
Gerald: I think "picera" is "picture". But it may also be, "lock of your hair".
Ani: I hope I meet nice people too! Tasty goodies, here I coooome!
Posted by: roboppy ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.roboppy.net/food/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 27, 2006 1:02 PM [#]
Crab cakes usually disappoint me. I think I always expect giant lumps of crab meat and it's always nothing but bread crumbs. ;_; I was at a wedding yesterday that had a ridiculously delicious dungeness crab souffle. If my table mates hadn't come when they did, I would have stolen their souffles probably. (NO SHAME)
HAVE FUN IN PARIS AND EAT LOTS OF BAKED THINGS! (and then please oh please blog about it so I can live vicariously through you.)
Posted by: Jeanne at August 27, 2006 6:55 PM [#]
Don't u just LOVE digging up things from the past? It really makes you stop and think about how your "kid" version of you would think of "adult" you and how you turned out. That is hilarious and really cute how random that last line of your note is.....it probably says more than you think about yourself! Very unique!
Posted by: kaitlin Hess at August 27, 2006 10:22 PM [#]
Best wishes for the trip to France!
I learned that there is a special word in France for the inside of bread, la mie.
I look forward to reading about your visits to French bakeries in France.
bon voyage
Posted by: LIsa in Toronto at August 27, 2006 11:48 PM [#]
I believe the word is 'lass'. however i'm not from that part of the world. also i very much enjoyed your present, so a very large monsterous 3d grain of sea salt is likely appropriate.
uh... keep on chomping!
Posted by: sherman at August 28, 2006 1:34 AM [#]
Jeanne: I'd totally eat a bread crumb cake, but crab cake?...meeh...
Wait, I should just eat bread.
YES, that is what I'll do in Paris.
Kaitlin: I guess it's nice to dig up stuff from the past, but only if it shows that I've since become smarter. If I find something i wrote 4 years ago and it's just as good/bad as something I'd write today, I feel pretty depressed. Either I was really smart before or I'M JUST NOT PROGRESSING AT ALLLLL.
Anyway. In 2nd grade or so I wrote a story about Snoopy exploding and then making a bunch of kids cry. I guess I was a unique child!
Lisa: Thanks! I look forward to la me. Or...mange-ing la mie. Or whatever. NEED TO LEARN FRENCH.
Sherman: LASS! Okay, that sound right. Where'd I get "laddie" from? That sounds like a baby ladder.
"MAH LIL' LADDIE"
Um, anyway.
IT'S LIKE AH CAN TOOUCH YOUUU!
Posted by: roboppy at August 28, 2006 4:15 AM [#]
Wow France, have a great time, you'll have so many bakeries to go to and eat your loved carbs! Omu rice is usually blanketed with eggs! if you want really good korean food you have to go to flushing/bayside in queens or go to a korean's family's house =P
Posted by: Paul at August 28, 2006 11:21 AM [#]
Great. Now I desperately want tempura.
*munches forlornly on lunch nachos*
Although, it's ALL YOUR FAULT I went to the bakery inside the Fubonn center here in Portland. And just because you were totally right and there were tasty, bread-y treats there doesn't make it any less your fault!
Don't hit me, I was good! When I was in Boston I made sure to hit up a Chinatown bakery just because I've seen all the yummy things you get. I got a butterfly cake and I husband got some cake roll-thingie. It was pretty yummy. VERY sweet. Cheap, too. It was only $1.50 for both of us. ;) Aren't you proud of me? Now give me a cookie!
Happy Paris Packing!
Paul: I'm so glad I don't have diabetes, or else I'd be in some biiig trouble.
I don't have enough Korean friends! Wah. I don't get invited to people's houses for meals. :( Really, the last homemade meal I had was in Norway. I think.
Mary Sue: Oh noo! Nachos are so not a substitute for tempura!
YES you went to the bakery! I have fulfilled my duty.
Cathy: Woohoo, you went to a bakery too! I used to love those cake roll thingies, but I only ate them when I was little. Now I'm addicted to buns! I should get a cake roll for old time's sake.
I would love to share my cookie if you'd come here and get some. ...Really, it's a big cookie. I'M DOOMED.
Posted by: roboppy at August 28, 2006 10:30 PM [#]
It makes me happy that someone was a weirder kid than me. :)
That tempura looks SO GOOD.
Posted by: Aaron F. at August 28, 2006 11:51 PM [#]
LOL, I can't stop laughing over the funny video. Which means I am not normal either, but I've known that for quite a long time.
Anyway, I think we all were pretty crazy when we were children. But yeah, you must have either made your teacher compassionate or freaked her out.
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Posted by: zhmcmrbbfn at July 7, 2007 11:20 AM [#]
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Love the Swedish singing.
Posted by: Anna at August 27, 2006 6:45 AM [#]