Turn off your light for an hour!!!

Turn off your light for an hour today for an hour at 8:30PM to take part in this global movement to bring attention to climate change!!!



https://www.earthhour.org/

Life on Discovery at 8PM tonight

Amanpour Leaves CNN

The saddest news this week for me to find out that Christiane Amanpour was leaving CNN.
As my hero, she's been on CNN for over twenty years. She's covered most of major events in my lifetime. Plus I enjoy her current show, Amanpour, very much (Podcast is a great thing).

But I can understand why she's decided to make a move to ABC. Although "This Week" is currently more focused on Washington politics, ABC is willing to change the format to cover more foreign affairs. Plus she will be a major contributor on ABC World News and will be given chances to create documentaries. This will give her a chance to be in front of broader audience and more options to use different channels of sharing foreign affairs.

Good for her! Even though I am sad to see her leave CNN, maybe this will give me more chances to see the Great Amanpour!!!


From Los Angeles Times:

By turning to Christiane Amanpour -- one of the world’s most recognized journalists -- as host of “This Week,” ABC hopes to send the message that Peter Jennings’ legacy endures even as the network is slashing its news staff and scaling back foreign operations.

Jennings, who died in 2005, projected a sophisticated worldview developed during extensive overseas reporting assignments. Amanpour brings with her similar international sensibilities.

Amanpour, who was born in London and grew up in Iran, has worked at CNN for 27 years, including the last 20 as a foreign correspondent, traveling to such strife-torn countries as Rwanda, Iraq and Afghanistan. Amanpour, in an interview, said she intended to increase the focus on foreign affairs on the Sunday-morning program. Previous host George Stephanopoulos made his insider's knowledge of Washington the show's hallmark.

Continued

Harper Gives Beer From Obama Olympic Bet to Hockey Hall of Fame

March 19 (Bloomberg) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will donate to the Hockey Hall of Fame two cases of beer he won from U.S. President Barack Obama as payment for an Olympic bet.

David Jacobson, the U.S. ambassador in Ottawa, delivered a case of Yuengling Lager from closely held Yuengling Beer Co. Inc. and a case of Molson Canadian from Molson Coors Brewing Co. to Harper’s official residence, as settlement for the wager.

Obama had bet Harper the U.S. men’s hockey team would beat Canada in the gold medal game at the Vancouver Olympics. The U.S. lost to Canada 3-2 in overtime.

The Canadian women’s hockey team also beat the U.S. 2-0 to win a gold medal. U.S. press secretary Robert Gibbs wore a Team Canada jersey to his daily briefing on March 12 as a settlement for a side bet with Dimitri Soudas, Harper’s chief spokesman.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=av9mHsZsDZgk

Mango with Sticky Rice!!!

Who knew that I could find Mango with Sticky Rice in a box.
But I found it at Trader Joe's.

Because I didn't know how it was going to taste, I only bought one box. Now I regret it... I should have bought more.

You just have to defrost in a microwave for 5 minutes.

Now I can have my favorite Thai dessert everyday!!!




Trader Joe's
142 East 14th Street
New York, NY 10003-4170
(212) 529-4612

http://www.traderjoes.com/

Artichoke Pizza

I was told Artichoke had the best pizza in New York. I don't know about being the best but I have to say, it was pretty good. But don't expect to get a table, there are none. There are few benches outside.


We ordered Margarita, Artichoke, and Crab. Highly recommend all three of them.


http://www.artichokepizza.com/

328 East 14th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 228-2004

Good bye, Facebook

I decided to close my Facebook account.

I was spending too much time on Facebook and not spending enough time on doing something productive - such as studying...

I would like to spend more time on studying, reading, and catching up on current events.
And of course, I would like to spend more time on this blog as well.

Good bye, Facebook...

New Noodle Soup Option

I enjoy things that are cooked for 5- 6 hours, but I am also all about something quick and easy.
After work and school, sometimes I just want to eat something in 10 minutes. Most of the nights, Chris takes care of dinner and I appreciate that, but when my blood sugar goes down, there is no cure!!!

So, when my mom was here over Christmas, she recommended this noodle soup. My knowledge of Korean snack and packaged food stopped in the early/mid 90's, so it's good that someone is telling me what's good and what's not good. Apparently this brand called "Pulmuone" puts out good products.

This particular noodle was really good on a cold day.
It's not your $1 top ramen - this was almost $9 and there were two servings inside. And it took about 5-6 minutes, but it was worth it.

Chris said it was a bit bland... but I am Korean after all. I can always add Kimchee.



You can find this at:

Hanareum Supermarket
25 West, 32nd Street
New York, NY 10001
Tel: 212. 695. 3238

Okonomiyaki Friday!!!

As we were missing Okonomiyaki restaurants in Tokyo, we decided to make Okonomiyaki at home.

This was mine - with squid

This one is Chris's - pork, cheese & corn

You can buy all your ingredients from any Japanese market -

• Okonomiyaki powder
• Japanese mayo
• Fish flakes
• Okonomiyaki sauce

and other ingredients that you would like to put it in

Takoyaki at home

You can finally eat takoyaki at home. At Sunrise, you can find frozen takoyaki's.
I tried to cook them in macrowave, which wasn't successful. Chris finally put them in a toaster oven and they came out to be perfect.

Otafuku in East Village only makes good takoyaki's. A lot of restaurants in the city try, but they are not the same. But now I am glad that I can eat these at home.

This is the brand that I buy and I am extremely happy with it.

Sunrise Mart
29 3rd Ave
(between 10th St & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10003

Otafuku
236 E 9th St
(between 2nd Ave & Stuyvesant St)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 353-8503

Happy Valentine's Day

We decided not to exchange any gifts for this Valentine's day to save money for our upcoming trip. But of course, we got something for each other. This happens all the time.

But that's not the funniest part. Apparently, we went to the same chocolate shop on the same day, at different time. We are assuming that the same lady sold the boxes to us as well.

Some of you know that I have an obsession with Neuhaus chocolates. It's an expensive obsession so I try to control it. Now we have two boxes of goodness!!!




Neuhaus
http://www.neuhaus.be/

Boutique Neuhaus
569 Lexington Avenue,
NY 10022 New York (United States)

Boutique Neuhaus
2151 Broadway,
NY 10023 New York (United States)

Kiosque
Grand Central Terminal 460 - 42nd St.,
NY 10017 New York (United States)

Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos

We saw Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos on TV while back. One of Chris's favorite cuisines is Mexican and he has been complaining about a lack of real Mexican restaurants in New York. So when we heard about Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos, we were very excited.

When we finally visited Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos, it didn't disappoint.
Tacos were huge and they were $2 each.

We didn't talk very much because we were busy eating. Eating a taco and half made me very full. A lot of gringos know about this place now, so be prepared to wait for a seat.


Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos
271 Starr Street
(between Wyckoff Ave & St Nicholas Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11237

Kababish

We used to look for a place to live in Jackson Heights, Queens for 2 years straight. That's why we know so much about Jackson Heights. During winter, we don't get out too much, especially to Queens, but we had to be in Queens for some reason.

We couldn't go to Queens without stopping at a restaurant or two.
I have been to Kababish before, but apparently, this is where Chris picks up his 40 kebabs to put them in our freezer. It's not a restaurant. Kababish specializes in catering, but has a few stools if you want to stay, which we did.

While they were preparing 40 kebabs for Chris, we ordered Naan (as shown above) with veggies and spices. It was very good. I can eat this everyday.

Kababish
7064 Broadway
Jackson Heights, NY 11372

(718) 565-5131

Shopping!!!

We were out of a lot stuff, more specifically Japanese food products, we were headed to Sunrise Mart. While we were buying necessary items such as Miso and Japanese mayo, I was distracted by Kimchi Natto.

If this isn't biological weapon, I don't know what is.
I am not that brave to try... if any of you are willing to try, let me know...


Then, I found frozen Taiyaki. I was thrilled!!!
I just put them in microwave for a minute and half. It was better than I expected.


Older Sunrise post -
Sunrise Mart
29 3rd Avenue (between 10th St & 2nd Ave)
212 598 3040

Present from Japan

Stephen and Aki brought much anticipated Red Bean Pepsi.
It was actually really good. It was not as sweet as regular soda, which I have a problem of cutting down, but still had a little bit of Red Bean taste.

I want some more....

Next time, I want to try Shiso Pepsi.
http://tokyobling.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/pepsi_shiso_tokyobling.jpg

Gajyumaru

Mom was in town and she took us out for sushi. Gajyumaru was not only convenient, but also has good sushi considering where we live. And yes, it's actually owned & operated by Japanese people.

They also have ramen on weekend for lunch (not on the menu, so you have to ask for it).

Maguro was good...

hamburg steak

Older post -
Gajyumaru

Gajyumaru
1659 1st Avenue at 86th Street
212-860-8857

Christmas

Chris cooked duck on Thanksgiving, so we decided to be lazy for Christmas and order a ham online. We knew about Honey Baked Ham from San Francisco. There is a store in San Francisco as well, so you can just order and pick it up yourself. But there is none in Manhattan, so we had to order online.

Sorry, picture doesn't do a justice, but it was good.
Here is instruction:

Product Care

Refrigerate the HoneyBaked Ham and Turkey Breast as soon as you receive it.

In the refrigerator, the HoneyBaked Ham will stay fresh for 7 to 10 days and the Turkey Breast for approximately 5 to 7 days.

To freeze unused ham portions for later use, wrap in aluminum foil and freeze within 5 days of thawing. The HoneyBaked Ham can be frozen for up to 6 weeks. To serve again, place in refrigerator for 24-48 hours ahead of time to thaw. Once thawed the Ham will keep for 2 days.

http://www.honeybakedham.com/default.asp

Reporting from Paris & Tokyo

My friends and family already know about my obsession with food and taking pictures of food.
Since I can't travel at the moment because of work and school, they are doing my job for me.

Michelle was just in Paris (now in London - let's see what kind of pictures I get from London) and Stephen is in Tokyo and they sent me photos of what they are eating.

Thanks guys for making me hungry...

Michelle reporting from Paris

Stephen reporting from Tokyo

Tripe stewed with daikon, onions, carrot, sweet Japanese negi scallion as garnish. Above, though barely visible is a salad of tripe on a bed of shredded lettuce in a light ponzu dressing. Served with ice cold beer (his description of what he's eating at a yakitori restaurant)

Thanksgiving - My First Stuffing & Chris's First Goose

Right... right... It's been a while.
With work and school, I don't know where last few months went. So I will be back-dating.

Let's start with Thanksgiving...

I made my first stuffing ever. I have seen Chris making it many times, but had no idea how much work that was. Christina's mother made stuffing last year with chestnut in it, so I decided to try to use chestnut as well.

I used the below recipe but changed a little bit.
The below recipe is asking to stuff it inside turkey, but I didn't, instead I just cooked it in the oven (Yes, yes, Chris had to help me...)

Have to say, it was good.


http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chestnut-Stuffing-10769



Chris made his first goose.
Goose is in between turkey and duck - not as dry as turkey, but not as fatty as duck.
It was good. Let's do it again next year.

We went to New Amsterdam Market today to support Lauryn who is starting her own business. She now is starting Mother in Law's Kimchi and we are proud of her. It's her mother's recipe and we approve!!!

You can find her bottles of goodness at:

Essex Street Market in Manhattan and Marlow & Daughters in Brooklyn.
Go buy some already!!!

http://www.milkimchi.com/


http://www.newamsterdammarket.org/markets.html