Picky Eater

Preggers and Backpacking

2010-05-14T03:00:00.001-07:00

Starting out in Chiang Mia Thailand Nov 2009, we never imaged traveling while pregnant. Here we are 6 months and 2 weeks along in our pregnancy in May 2010 still in Thailand.

Traveling while pregnant isn't easy and has a tendency of leaving a preggers woman drained. It is however, stress free, and involves eating much more fruit. Also, in much of the world people constantly rub your belly and tell you the gender and send you off with well wishes.... sweet.

I am the first to admit dangers; such as rabies, Hep, Dengue fever, Malaria, the extreme heat, no cross walks, and a host of bacterias and viruses that thrive in these conditions. If precautions are taken then there is far less to fear. Some examples are to wear bug spray, stay out of Malaria/Dengue areas (as much as possible), treat cuts and wounds with great care, do not wash wound until healed in tap water while in Asia, eat at reputable places, take a long time to cross the street, and sleep in an air conditioned rooms.

That's my 2 cents for now.

Pregnant and never in the mood for food

2010-05-01T23:41:00.001-07:00

We are 6 months along in the pregnancy and Thailand is good for the baby. The baby kicks lots when I sit or lay down, but when I the baby falls asleep.

The food here is amazing but hard for me to find passion for it. I walk around and look for the my hunger in shop windows and feel nothing. There are exceptions thought like chips, soda, candy, mcdonalds, and other really unhealthy crap. Offcourse, I stop all of that immediately as I remember the baby and the image in my mind drifts to a baby addicted to Cola, chips, and Mcdonalds. Obesity enters my mind, diabetites, high blood pressure, and high cholesteral all for these bad choices. They say in studies where mothers ate carrots, and salad, it was more likely that the baby would eat those things when offered vs. the babies who mothers did not eat those things.
I should start to write again- its good?

Please ignore prev from marina

2009-12-02T08:05:00.001-08:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sleepy in chiang Mia

2009-12-02T07:49:00.000-08:00

Today felt like it didn't happen. Even though this city allows me unlimited freedom. I found myself locked in a room sleeping both today and yesterday away. I first encountered chiang Mia almost 10 years ago. Yes it was love at first sight. I can walk this city and always find beauty, fun and serenity. This city is so charming. It's a good break in asia from rough travel. In India it's amazing but a struggle. Everyday in India is earned and maybe that's why I love it. Hoe Thailand is a joy to travel. The food is also some of the best in my opinion. Troy and I frequently talk of retiring here. No matter what I will always feel at home in this city.

Arirang Oriental Food Mart

2009-05-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

1799 Portage Ave

We initially set out to try the Korean BBQ joint called Be One, however upon entering it was such a turn off the smell was bad, the interior was dark since most of the lights were off, there were no other dinners, the host was the cook and owner, and the it felt weird.

We jumped up and told the owner we though it was the sushi restaurant next door and left abruptly. I felt sorry for the owner but I wasn't ready to taste some old and stale grub.

We went into Ariang Food Mart to have sushi instead. My husband ordered the lunch special Benito box with soda, 1 regular roll, edamae, and goza (3pieces). I ordered the spicy tuna roll, salmon roll, two pieces of tuna sashami, and two pieces of salmon sashimi. I actually did enjoy the tender fish. However.......

I have a few complaints.
* The owner spoke with us and annoyed me. She was very nice and polite but she managed to go through every picture of sushi displayed and be very long winded in her explanation.
* The owner claimed her sushi is cheap(over 5 times). Not a good selling point in a sense, it makes it seem like you are ingesting cheap raw fish...scary. Tried not to think about it, a lot.
* It is the same price and value as say a much better restaurant like Meiji. At Ariang Market it's actually quite expensive.
* The tuna had blood marks on it, not so appealing.
* The lunch special was very small. One roll short of a meal in my opinion.
* There is no ambiance, but you ask what should I expect from a take out. At least less blood tuna.

Overall: **
out of 5 stars

Finales Coffee House in winnipeg

2009-04-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

Nice spot. The coffee was fine and the atmosphere was really what you come for. They have a few cakes we got the banana toffee cake which was the cake version of Bannoff pie and the caramel part was much too hard but the cake was nice, I like the concept of mashed bananas on the inside it added a good banana flavor. Will return for sure.

Honba Sushi Winnipeg

2009-04-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

Honba Sushi
Dominion Centre

This looks like a take out spot. Everything is served in Styrofoam and take-out containers. Certainly, the thought of global warming is irrelevant in this sushi quickie.

We arrived 10 minutes late for the lunch special, and the girl behind the counter rudely informed me of this. I we ordered the spicy salmon roll,spicy tuna roll x2, miso soup, and a dynamite.

The spicy rolls' were good but much too much mayo and in the tuna roll there were several weird chewy bits. The miso soup was instant and OK. The dynamite roll was the best roll. Overall I found this place very expensive, if you miss the lunch special. I don't think I would run back, would much rather Meiji. Upon leaving I wanted to go to the bathroom and the girl was rude in telling me there wasn't one. I am afraid this rude girl might have encouraged this harsh review. You gotta be nice in a restaurant.

Freezing the tofu

2009-04-22T17:23:00.001-07:00

Since I love tofu and have eaten it almost as long as I have pot pies, I have decided to work with it more this week. After being a vegetarian for many years (on and off since I was 16) I have learned to love the tofu and beans in general.

Freezing the tofu rules:

Make sure the tofu is firm, if its medium-firm them make sure to wrap it in several towels and put something on top for 6 hours to drain.
Place into the freezer for 24 hours or more, allowing for the texture to develop.
When you remove the tofu from the freezer, wrap in towels and wait for the defrost- usually takes me from 8-5pm.
The tofu texture will almost be like tripe (so I hear).

Then add some flavor. For quick stir fry's i just add soy sauce and cornstarch and its good.

Vi-Ann Restaurant in winnipeg

2009-04-18T19:47:00.000-07:00

This Vietnamese restaurant in Winnipeg is slamming. They make my favorite vegetarian bunn in the city and an excellent Vegetable chow mein. They add tons of fresh vegetables and the sauces are great. There is a word of warning however, DO NOT ORDER OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. This is really serious, if you order anything beside the vegetarian bunn or the chow mein I can not guarantee you will like it. They do a few dishes well and the rest beware of. One time we walked in and decided to order totally wild and funky. This was a big mistake, but it was only after the fact. We ordered the shady lemon chicken and something weird with vegetarian duck. We have never strayed again, because we stick with he two trusted dishes. This reveiw is totallly positive.

Mondragon in winnipeg

2009-04-18T19:26:00.000-07:00

The food blows, the service really sucks, but I keep returning?
I do like the vibe and I dig that they allow the homeless population entry and a hang out space. I respect Mondragon for those things, however bad food and bad service needs to end. I mean how come their hummus is awful? Its simple to make a good hummus and they should be selling out of it!
Their starving courier platter comes with soaked chips and a not so yummie fake beef. Well, I would love to see them work out their food. Food is political, but shouldn't Political food taste good?

7 1/4 Bistro in Winnipeg

2009-04-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

Well, this place is quite close to my condo and a year earlier I had really enjoyed a meal in this restaurant. Today I have to kind of trash it! Its wild bc, I live among Canadians and as a result I am becoming sensitive to hurting peoples feelings, what a shame.

I got the chicken sandwich for lunch with fries. Another friend got the mussels, and a beet soup.

The beet Soup: I didn't try this off red shebang but it looked off. The girl who ordered the soup barely had a few spoon fulls before giving up. She said it tasted of cream, water, and boiled beets. This was terrible.

The chicken sandwich: It was some kind of previously cooked and frozen breast with tomato's (nice orange ones), mayo, and Cheddar cheese. This sandwich was something I ate, but really would have rather went to Stella's, or tomato pie then endure this meal. The bread tasted boring and old despite it appearing like Ciabatta.

Pomme Frite: THESE WERE FRIED HARD! bad. The mayo was old and looked off, why serve this.

The Mussels: They were fine, but not incredible. Too bad.

Sadly the quality and passion in the place have been lost.

Overall rating: **1/2
atmosphere: ****
Decor ****
Food: **
Service: ***
Out of 5 stars

Bombay Garden in NYC

2009-04-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

234 7th Ave, New York 10011
(Btwn 23rd & 24th St)

This was a strange eating experience, first after we arrived at 1:10 they were nearly full for lunch. We got up and there were no chicken, lamb, veggies, nan, or salad. We pretty much sat down with a bunch of old pieces of fried eggplant and rice. They slowly arrived with nan which half of the restaurant ran up for, then tandoori chicken again half the place got up for. This went on for sometime, the dish's were brought in small amounts and finished quickly. Despite this place trying to starve customers the food was spot on. The onion chutney was great, the chicken tandoori was nice, the chicken korma was just breast of chicken and a nice light sauce, and one of the veggie curry's was nice. The salad was no good, the no frill rice was bland, the appetizers were deep fried unidentified objects, and the nan wasn't special. Overall I would maybe eat here again, even though too much weird stuff transpired. The dishes I liked I really liked.

Another thing to note is this place was closed by the health department for tons of violations a few months prior to our meal.

The Pancake house in winnipeg

2009-04-13T15:55:00.000-07:00

The pancake house in the forks has never really drawn me in. With its dreadfully boring decor and its overall uneventful feeling, I just couldn't foresee the day. Several days ago, someone mentioned they have this large breakfast special, so this drew me in. $4.49 for the normal breakfast of 2 eggs, potatoes, bacon, and toast or pancake. We finished yoga and decided to have a nice breakfast out.

The eggs: fine, as requested. Over easy-- In Russian its like a closed eye and that's what I always think of when eating this type of egg. Not a good imagine.

The potato's: These were not home fries. They were in fact just square cut fries. They were grease and yet I finished them. I do want to note, I was hungry and not happy with them despite the appearance of my plate.

The bacon- I don't like so gave it to my husband. I think he didn't mind it.

The pancakes: fine, nothing worth writing in the blog! An obvious mix, that was fine.
The waitress wasn't very attentive, but she had many tables and its really not her fault.

rating:
overall: *1/2
Atmosphere: *
Decor: *
Food: *1/2
service: **

NY Times Brike recipe from 1981

2009-04-11T17:15:00.001-07:00

I am planning to make Brik. It looks so good.

Sweet Impressions

2009-04-11T14:01:00.000-07:00

Finally decided to enter this bakery. I loved the look, the inside smells of butter and sugar- yum. The sugar cookies look totally cool as do the cakes and cupcakes. The outside all the way to the interior is really nice. We are excited to try chocolate cupcakes and the brownies for the chocolate month in Winnipeg. The cupcakes look amazing, the brownies are pre-wrapped in plastic and are very small. We finally get cups of tea prepared to eat the yummies.

The Brownies: They are small and flavorless and are very dry have a ton of tea ready. Brownie mixes are easily better, sad but true. They are a skip- hardly the rich chocolate flavor I expected.

The chocolate cupcake: The butter cream was the best part of both the cupcake and brownie experience, but hardly my favorite frosting. The cupcake is moist which I find to be a relief after such a dry brownie. However, the actually cake part is not very good, too much flour taste and too much baking powder of soda after taste (not good sensation on the tongue). There is no chocolate flavor in the actual cake. Sadly bland.

Food: *1/2
atmosphere: ***
Out of 5 stars

Les Jasmins De La Tunisie in winnipeg

2009-04-11T11:43:00.001-07:00

Les Jasmins De La Tunisie
111 - 131 Provencher Blvd.
Winnipeg, MB R2H0G2

After hearing about this restaurant for sometime from our friend, Troy and I finally ventured to St. Boniface to try it. We started with two samosas, but after watching the owner take out Tupperware from the fridge full of samosas and then bring them to the kitchen and shortly after to us, I was prepared for the worst. When cutting into it the aroma of spices was wonderful. The outer crust was not crispy, but microwave soft. . The samosa had so much flavor, it was nice. It was potato, peas, curry, cilantro, and various spices that I wasn't familiar with. Overall a good introduction.

After talking to the owner we ordered the Oja with shrimp and a chicken couscous. The chicken couscous was good and came with veggies and a leg of chicken. It was very nice, it was like a Tunisian stew. The chicken had good flavour and was fall off the bone. The oja shrimp was a wonderful spicy tomato sauce with a poached egg in the middle (I would have preferred the egg not be poached firm, so the yolk would burst and engulf the dish), but it was wonderful. It arrived with a homemade rolls that was made from 60% wholewheat, I am guessing. It was wonderful and we enjoyed all of our food. The restaurant's dishes range in price. From $6-$15. Our total including drinks and tax was $30.00. We didn't try their Brik this time, but will plan a return trip for this favorite Tunisian speciality(also I am planing to make it at home!) I hear the Brik comes with a hard boiled egg- which isn't the best way to have Brik, but the only way at the moment in winnipeg.

Value **
Price *
food **1/2
atmosphere *
All out of 5

Winnipeg Events

2009-03-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

Wednesday March 25

The Power to Radically Change Society, seriously.

A discussion introduced by David Camfield.
7:00 pm, Emma Goldman Grassroots Centre
91 Albert St., 2nd Floor (above Mondragon Bookstore & Coffeehouse)
Organized by the Winnipeg New Socialist Group.

CNIB Eye on the Arts Benefit Auction 2009

Location: Winnipeg Convention Centre
Time: 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Information:Enjoy an exciting evening of beautiful art, live auctioneering, dinner & music. Laurie Mustard hosts the 10th annual CNIB Eye on the Arts auction in support of CNIB programs & services. For more info call 774-5421 or visit www.cnib.ca/eyeonthearts.

Saturday March 28th 2009

Jodi King (Live Music. Duo)

Saturday Mar 28 2009 8:00 pm - Polo Park in Prairie Ink Restaurant, Winnipeg

Sunday March 29 2009

Pat Ternovetsky & Zane Belton (Signing) Sunday Mar 29 2009 2:00 pm - Polo Park, Winnipeg

Signing copies of Who Wants This Puppy? A heartwarming children’s book that tells the story of a puppy who is brought home as a Christmas gift, but soon finds himself lonely and unwanted. He is eventually taken to the local animal shelter who finds him a loving family. Nine-year-old illustrator Zane Belton will also be on hand signing books.

RUMMAGE SALE for CancerCare Manitoba

Address: 1 sir john franklin road, Winnipeg, MB, R3N View map
Location: Winnipeg
Date Listed: 19-Mar-09
Event Date(s): 29-Mar-09
Event Time: 11:00 to 16:00

Our Challenge for life team "Staples for Les" is holding a rummage sale to raise funds for our walk.
It takes place at SIR JOHN FRANKLIN COMMUNITY CENTRE on MARCH 29TH from 11-4pm.
Clothing, toys, electronics and household items, all priced to sell!
Come out and support a great cause!

Han Bat in little Korea is so good

2009-02-20T20:03:00.000-08:00

The seafood pancake was wonderful. The crispy outer pancake which managed not to be too greasy despite being pan fried. The inside gushing with calamari, shrimp, and green onion. The first bite is crispy and soft on the inside.

We also ordered the Soon Doo Boo or spice seafood and tofu soup. The soup comes with rice and is full of clams, oysters, and a very large prawn, and tofu. It screams with all its spicy goodness. The broth is seafood based which really helps bring flavor to the tofu.

Previous visits I usually get the Bibimbop in the hot pot, and it is amazing. I always ask to have the cast iron pot get extra heated for a very crispy rice bottom. They have one of my favorites.

The side dishes were diakon carrot salad, Kimchi, fish cakes, a sweet potato pancake, pickled radishes, green beans, and a strange romaine salad with French dressing. These dishes are always rotating and changing, in true Korean fashion.

The hot green tea was not very strong but all things considered the food here is great. That king prawn is better then it looks- yummie.

Song Restaurant is singing for me

2009-02-19T23:04:00.000-08:00

Song was a wonderful food experience. I loved the sleek outside and the DJ turn tables inside spinning funky mixes. We ordered the calamari, the summer roll, pad Thai (tofu), pad See yue, and coconut soup.
We ordered the small portion of calamari but when it arrived it was quite big. They were circular and crunchy with a tangy sweet and sour chunky sauce.
The summer roll was rather bland and the shrimp flavor was battling with tofu and too many other flavours including mustard and a hosin sauce.

The Pad Thai with tofu was good, not the best. For the classic and still the best go to pongsri . The tofu was fried and tasted off, and no real flavor. The noodles were good with chunky bits of peanuts with every bite, but there were also bits of lemon seeds that really should be removed. My friend had the pad see yue with beef that she loved and gobbled up happily.

The coconut soup smelled great but it was too thick and not enough curry flavor- not my favorite. Overall this restaurant was good, the food was cheap ($40 total for all the above), portions large, not too much oil, and good flavor.

Dumpling House is my cheap haven

2009-02-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

This dumpling house was my second favorite place in New York and largely ignored by me until now. Previously, I was an active patron of the small Chinese restaurant on 32nd st bet 7th ave and 6th ave. The restaurant is no longer there but the yummy vegetable dumplings were my favorite. They were the "Dumpling Nazi's" and had a policy to mistreat their customers. Despite their obvious disdain for paying customers their dumplings were the best and they were always packed. They would only give you two sauce containers with every 8 dumpling order, and another would set you back $.25. This restaurant is now closed leaving my new favorite dumpling spot as Dumpling house.

Dumpling house is so cheap its an old school favorite. The tables are cramped and the ordering is fast paced and unfriendly. The veggie dumplings and sesame veggie sandwiches will cost you a total of $4.50. The eight Veggie dumplings ($3.00) arrive steaming hot, I don't get them pan fried. The condiments on the table are watered down soy with rice vinegar mix and hot sauce. The soy mix has too much water and I find that I pour almost half a cup into my plate. The dumplings have tofu, scallion, carrot, cilantro, spinach, and garlic. The dough is soft and steamed to perfection. The vegetables are not overcooked, vibrant, and fresh. The sauce is too light to really add the necessary vinegar and soy flavor that these dumplings need.

The sesame vegetable sandwich was a little greasy on the outside. The vegetables inside the sandwich were shredded carrots, cilantro, lettuce, and a hoisin sauce. The greasy sandwich shell needs a good tissue rub down to remove the oily feeling and the inside is wonderful and refreshing. This sandwich is a mere $1.50 and very filling and healthy. The sesame bread is $.75 without any stuffing and a good treat.

I finished the meal with a wonderful warm cup of soy milk ($1.00). It was nice to have the sweet Chinatown drink to end a good meal.

Overall this is a good meal and leaves me loving this Dive.

Memories of Bensonhurst

2009-02-14T19:03:00.000-08:00

My memories of Bensonhurst is the wonderful pizza, the men standing on the street for no reason, the good fellow style cops, the huge nails on women, big hair-do's, and men with too much hair styling gel on their hair. These people shaped bensonhurst in 1980. While being raising there is a strange experience. Most would assume Bensonhurst to be a chill spot. The area has changed from its Italian Guido look into a multi-ethnic community by early 2000's.

In 1980 I still remember the white castle on 86th st close to 22ave. It was like a drive through and across the street was a huge fruit and veggie Market with cold cuts and not far off was Spumoni gardens.
Its interesting that most of the bus drivers are still big Italian guys who now live in Staten Island. Despite growing up there, I hardly knew them, I am a Russian Jew and tended to always find other non-Italians to befriend. Most of the area has for rent signs up. Like of NY it changes and the new immigrants come in and take over. This area is still holding on to its Italian heritage despite most of the Italian residents having moved to Staten Island.

Bensonhurst is what is it and I have always been unforgiving about it's down falls.

When I'm far away from Brooklyn I find myself missing it. What I miss now is the Russian food stores and the new bensonhurst.

Now bensonhurst runs to the beat of the Chinese coffee shops, where Muslims, Chinese, Russians, and Mexicans come together.

Spumoni Gardens in my memories

2009-02-14T18:44:00.000-08:00

Spumoni Gardens is to Italian, what Bensonhurst is to Guido. It is what I remember most, ice and a slice at the garden's. It was the hot spot 15 years ago. When I was 5 years old I remember thinking it was the greatest place. The area has slowly changed over many times, the hay day of Guido Paradise faded, the wiseguys are missing from street corners, and the pizzeria's are being replaced by Chinese bakeries.

I still go to Spumoni Gardens, but not for just a slice or blue ice. Late January 2009 I walked in for a square. I found the place full of Arabic speaking workers. They are new to this country and Spumoni Gardens is new to them. I laugh at the irony of the situation. These are Italian institutions and the people behind the counter are the immigrants that used to not be welcomed. The square is what Spumoni's is famous for, it arrives luke warm and a tad bit burned. The square is small but thick with slathered chunky tomato sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. I eat the slice at the run down table in the back, built over 50 years ago. The square has a tangy flavor and the tomato sauce is a mixture of bitter oregano and stewed tomato's. This slice is not soggy and the bottom of the square has a great crust with a soft sweet interior. The notorious square was fine but my memory says it was amazing.

The thought of the smiling older man giving me my blue ice brought instant heaven. The ice was impossible to eat in -1 Celsius, somehow I ate all the sweet ice. The ultra sweet chunk of blue ice, was the frozen kool aid of my dreams. Ah, why over analyze these memories.
Now Bensonhurst runs to the beat of the Chinese coffee shops where Muslims, Chinese, Russians, and Mexicans come together. With coffee and a bun for a dollar, how can the garden's win.

Waldy's Pizza

2009-02-14T13:19:00.000-08:00

Yes I ordered a Roasted Eggplant, Zucchini and Olives

pizza last week for lunch. The small is $8.00. I arrive with high expectations as the heavily tattooed cashier took my order with a look of bored frustration. Still I remain undeterred from my excitement. The place smells like cheese, basil, and burnt bread. I take my pizza and leave the small over crowed restaurant. After a block of walking I am ready to eat it.

First, I notice is the pizza needed another few minutes in the brick oven, and the lack of Roasted Eggplant. My first bite is nice. The pizza is drooping down due to it's short lived stay in the oven and the basil hits good and hard- yummy. The four cheese blend isn't helpful with the other flavors on the pie. The cheese is battling with the olives, zucchini, and eggplant. The little remnants of the eggplant are good, the olives are jared boring green, and the zucchini is my favorite. Overall, the pizza feels too heavy despite the small size and the very thin crust. I enjoyed my pizza however, I still prefer Lombardi's the original.

Sushi Samba dances with flavor

2009-02-14T10:26:00.000-08:00

Yes, It is easy to love this hot spot and in NY its the easy sushi chose when in downtown and hunger for great sushi. The miso soup is wonderful with a strong bonito flavor in the dashi. The sashami melts in my mouth and the creative rolls are a great flavor explosion. The inside is clean and glitzy. Too much for the eyes but I love the bathrooms. I am very picky with bathrooms which shows the restaurant as a place that regards customers with a level of respect. I have eaten here at least a dozen times and have always found my experience to be as good as the first. Very consistent, but you pay for it. This place is a little on the pricey side.

Go Sushi is no-go for this NYer

2009-02-14T10:07:00.001-08:00

Yes go sushi, has been around for many years and I have had many pieces in the past without complaint. I am not sure if the quality has gone down or if my drunken sushi eating helped the flavor.

I ordered the Sushi regular about $10.00 after tax. The miso soup was skimpy on the miso paste, I didn't taste the dashi only mushroom broth. The soft tofu was thrown in as very large chunks. The waki was cheap Chinese replacement waki. All served in one of my favorite NY coffee cups- always loved that touch.

The salad, if it can really be called that was iceberg lettuce without even a shred of carrots. It was thrown in as large chunks, with brown edges (never a good sign). With a teaspoon of bland ginger carrot dressing.

The sushi was as follows. The salmon was fine, lots of soy sauce and spicy mayo ($.50 more) helped. The California roll was basic and cheap. The rice was slightly longer grained then most sushi restaurants use. Yellow tail was fine, but the tuna I left on the plate. The tuna had a bit and I spent much too effort fighting the sashami piece in my mouth.

Its better to go Drunk.

Monster sushi is more like a monster stomach ache

2009-02-14T09:42:00.000-08:00

This place has cheap chinese style sushi yet my dinner cost $35. The tuna was chewy and the salmon was slimy. I asked the waiteress to replace those rolls with yellowtail and it managed to be somewhat worse. The miso was dish water with a soapy after taste.

The Shrimp Shumai had one piece of shrimp and the rest was filled with something like a startchy base, it was left untouched. These tasted frozen, defrosed, refrozen, and finally served.

The salad was iceburg lettuce with a small amount of carrots and a stale slice of tomato. The dressing was typical with the exception of a very cheap oil base.

The Block cod was the best part of the meal, by far the most enjoyable. The cod was in a sweet sauce that was not overcooked with a fresh taste. There were a few bones. The Chilean Sea Bass was a little fishy but the heavy sauce covered that flavor.

We chose not to experiement with this restaurant any further and got a brownie from Garden of Eden which was lovely and helped to forget the Monster stomicah ache left from rotten fish.

Vegas Diner in Brooklyn

2009-01-28T21:33:00.001-08:00

The spot isn't the Vegas Diner anymore, where Italians get the best seat in the house and the nicest waitress. Last week I ate at the rundown Vegas dinner and found that it was as bad as I remember, not that it will stop me. I heard in 2008 they were closed for food handling violation and telling by the hair in my friends breakfast potato's i would say they need a new inspection. This place is falling apart, the booths are peeling and the decor hasn't changed in 20 plus years. For dinner they still sever too much food and charge hardly anything for it. I met for appetizers with my cousin. Our waitress was a woman with a mullet, and the 1980's Bensonhurst favorite curly frizz. She is wearing large brown rimed glasses and I assume she is 50 years old. Later, she divulges that she is in her late thirties.

My cousin and I order the calamari for $9.99 she advises us to pay $12.99 for the platter, we agree to it. I get a tea and my cousin gets a milkshake. The salad starts coming and never stops. First we get pickles, cold slaw, cucumbers, a pile of droopy veggies or junk, bread of all varieties, bread sticks, and a green salad with garlic bread. While we are surrounded with all types of mediocre food, my cousin gets the monster that is his milk shake, the waitress delivers this with pride. Me and my cousin are afraid of what will come next. The waitress tells me she lives in Staten Island and said she grew up in Bensonhurst. I don't have an accent, unless I get angry and then I speak like a "Bensonhurst girl". She starts saying she left "cus no one even speaks English in Bensonhurst," to this comment I smile, but with a dark undertone. I recognize Brooklyn's loss is certainly not Staten island's gain. I tell her I think its a good thing. Despite my obvious disdain with the direction of the conversation, she continues and mentions how "blacks" are now everywhere here. I take a deep breath and aggressively roll my eyes at her and then turn to speak Russian to my cousin, and she quickly goes to another table. This for me is bensonhurst I tell myself.

Dinner arrives and as expected is huge and tasteless. The deep fried calamari have a really gum like effect all of our chewing is to no avail. Eating them was like taking a pill you just have to gulp it. The french fries are freeze section style as well. We quickly and without further incident get the bill. We need to leave and then there are tons of Italian cookies. This is like a blast from the past and the fact that it remains makes me realize that these dinosaurs need to die a quick death so everyone can have good memories.

Marina by Charles Bukowski

2009-01-28T13:15:00.000-08:00

majestic, majic
infinite
my little girl is
sun
on the carpet-out the doorpicking a flower, ha!
an old man,battle-wrecked,emerges from his
chair
and she looks at me
but only sees
love,ha!,
and I become
quick with the world
and love right back
just like I was meant
to do.

My husband sent it to me, sweet.

Generation of packaged goods

2009-01-28T12:39:00.000-08:00

Do I want to bake from scratch? Do I want to stand in my small cramped apartment kitchen for this?

After pondering this and considering my other options. I think I will bake, sort of.

Baking an all encompassing crazy flavor creation. An extra pinch of something can throw something completely off or create a flavor explosion. I have never been a true baker from scratch at home, even thought my $400 kitchen aid has been hidden in several rooms so I don't feel guilty. (I still hear my kitchen aid calling, seriously) I sometimes the use the KA for Betty crocker mixes. The truth is that the brownies from Betty, Betty Crocker rock my world. Yes, I sometimes think I am a big fraud as I buy the package browns- hump. I have made brownies from scratch for a bakery, for Foodie NY friends, with wholewheat spelt, kamut, and pastry whole wheat flour and each time I find myself trying to reproduce the browns from Betty. Horrible as that may seem I don't think I'm the only one. I think we all live in a generation of packaged goods and quick mixes fast answers via the Internet.

But the final question is what is home baked mean in 2009?
Check out: Ten Trends to Watch in Packaged Goods

The hell of leaving winnipeg

2009-01-20T15:32:00.000-08:00

Leaving

It so easy and with minus 50 temperature its exciting to think I am a flight away. But a last my other half aint with me, and thats sad.

Funky

2008-12-17T17:09:00.000-08:00

I'am back, 4Real. After a long and forgetful journey away from the blog. It hard to write a blog. First of all things change. I change or maybe evolve (devolve) is the word. I thought I would bake for life after working as a baker for 7 months, crazy. Now, I am less sure maybe more confused ahh, but I still dig eating, so I plan to make Noodle Kugal. I am home sick. The winter in winnipeg is so cold it blows me away. I try and eat greens and sprialina but still there is no rainbow there, waiting for my bitchin NY self. I think I ran away from Brooklyn, partly bc I didn't understand how lucky I was to be raised in such an amazing place. It was a cool childhood and one that can't easily be put into words. I still eat all the food that bring me home mentally. I hope this Kugal work-- I never watched my babushka make it. Fingers crossed, I will bake it tomorrow.

A comfort-food treat that's great for brunch. This version takes less time than most because the noodles aren't precooked.

Ingredients

8 ounces wide egg noodles
1 cup dark raisins
5 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, cooled
1/3 cup sugar
4 cups whole milk

3 cups cornflakes, coarsely crushed
1/4 cup (packed) dark brown sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Spread uncooked noodles over bottom of prepared dish and sprinkle with raisins. Whisk eggs, sour cream, butter and sugar in large bowl until smooth. Whisk in milk and pour mixture over noodles. Let kugel stand 5 minutes.

Mix cornflakes and brown sugar in bowl; sprinkle evenly over kugel.

Bake kugel until set in center, about 1 hour. Cut kugel into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Stoppard Fest- Winnipeg 2007

2007-01-22T08:07:00.000-08:00

We are excited about Stoppard since he is still alive and more relevant then last years choice Eugene O'Neil. However, our first play was not the best introduction to the fest.
The review is in order of the plays watched:

The Dog it was that died- this was basically a radio show play (if that makes sense). It's horribly boring, and felt like we were unwillingly transported to the early 20Th century. The play was confusing, the sound effects where so loud and constant that I left having a minor headache. It was strange I found myself tuning out of the dialogue and watching the other actors make the various sound effects. The only semi-complement is for the very talented actors who stayed awake through this extremely boring play.

After Magritte - This play was short and sweet. In fact, the play ran only 45 minutes, however felt longer then it was. It was a funny play and wonderfully acted. Left us very interested in watching the rest of the Stoppard fest.

The Real thing - This was a two and a half hour play and it felt like it went by too fast. I enjoyed the play and the incredible actors. Brilliant script and excellent set made this piece stand out. Bravo.

Our Schedule:
Jan 26 Real Inspector Hound (8:05)
Jan 27- Rosendcrantz&Guildstein are Dead (7pm)
Jan 28- Enter a free Man (2pm)
Jan 30- Jumpers (7:30pm)
Jan 31 Teeth& A Separate Peace (8:00pm)
Feb 2- Arcadia (8pm)
Feb 4- Indian Ink

American Immigrating to Canada

2007-01-16T08:01:00.000-08:00

I am a 30 year old American (University Graduate) married to a
Canadian in the application process of obtaining my Canadian Permanent
Residence.

I have been involved in this Canadian Permanent Residence application
process since June 2006. It is a frustrating process because I am not
yet able to work. Every job I apply for and mention I am seeking
sponsorship just ignores my resume. I would like to work and stay in
Manitoba, we like it here and my spouse's family is here. To keep my
work history recent and up-to-date I make frequent trips to New York to
work and visit family.

I believe that the application process should vary depending on the
background of the person. English is my first language and I am
educated in New York and have extensive work experience in New York.
For me to adjusting to Winnipeg has been easy and I was hopping the
application would go through faster, it has not.

Calling the immigration office has become a daunting task it takes 4-5
months just to open your application and the applicants name. Every
application gets sent back at least once just to add an addition four
months to any application. Our Permanent Resident application got sent
back for not writing the word Present under employment status and place
of residence (we put the date we sent the application, instead). The
entire process can span one to three years. Where the applicant and
their partner has to live in a state of limbo and unsure of when they
can really start their life.

I recently began reading about arriving into Canada and claiming
political asylum. Canada has the most generous asylum system of any
country in the world. This makes it possible for every interested
persons to seek political asylum with free legal advice. In fact, the
Canadian Parliament passed new legislation that makes it easier for
asylum seekers to apply for refugee status and makes it more difficult
for those found not to be genuine refugees to be sent home. People
seeking political asylum can be HIV positive, can get on welfare right
away, can get a job, can get free medical care, can get arrested, can
have a prior criminal record from another country or countries, and can
basically live this way for as long as they so want to in Canada (only
around 15% actually leave).

Compared to the proper application for Permanent resident which being
HIV positive, being formerly imprisoned, and being arrested in Canada
are definite no-no's for proper immigration. Also, for the first 8
months plus I can not legally obtain work, get a health care card, get
on my husbands insurance plan, can not receive welfare from Canada, and
not get a Canadian credit card. After making political asylum easier
in Canada, the permanent resident immigration application into Canada

has become increasingly difficult following 9/11.

Please note we want to stay in Winnipeg, we love it here, but I need to
work and we are willing to leave Canada and go to New York where the
application process for my husband will be considerably shorter. Please
help us, Manitoba needs quality immigrants!

Thanks,

Marina Shusterman

Cheap Baileys Irish Cream Recipes

2006-12-05T08:11:00.000-08:00

Bailey's Irish Creme(Cream) Recipe

1 1/4 to 1 3/4 cups Irish Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, Brandy, Rum, Bourbon, or Scotch(Bourbon or Brandy is most recommended)

1 14 oz. Can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk.

2 Cups (1 pint) half and half

3 Tbls. Chocolate flavored syrup.

2 Tsp. Instant coffee, whatever brand you can get, regular not flavored.

1 split Vanilla bean

1/2 Tsp. Almond extract.

Combine all ingredients; blend until smooth. . To get increase flavor let it sit tightly covered in the fridge for 2 weeks to mellow. Then add the cream or half and half and whip in a blender. Serve over ice if preferred. Always stir before serving . It should stay good in the fridge for 2 weeks after you add the half and half.

or another recipe is:

1 cup light cream
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 2/3 cup Irish Whiskey
1 teaspoon instant coffee
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend at high speed for 30 seconds. Place in a tightly sealed bottle and refrigerate.

Serving Ideas : Shake well before serving. NOTES : Liqueur will keep for 2 months if refrigerated.

A baker slash Office Manager

2006-12-05T08:03:00.000-08:00

So here I am in Winnipeg at times working as a baker. Life is strange like that, if you love something sometimes everything in the world makes you do it. I have loved baking, the smells and the amazing cakes that always surprise me. I never imagined to be in the situation where I am actually baking Daily and getting paid. One day I would like to open the Dream NY-style desert (palace I like to call it) in Winnipeg, cus well, I think it would be new and fresh. I see the place at times. and every time I see a for sale sign I think wait give me a few years-- wait for me. Hoping the spot will eventually come available when i become available. I dream of a business that will offer profit sharing and free yoga to employees. Making the best quality product at affordable prices. I love to bake and bake I will.

The orginal pancake house in winnipeg

2006-12-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

We had the apple pancake and I must admit in NYC, I had only eaten maybe 3-4 times at the chain, since it was closer to Queens then Brooklyn. Ruff to go to Queens via Brooklyn- and worse and area in between the two. However me and my best friend annie moy used to skip Edward Murrow High school just to go there!!!! I have always loved food. The trip would be a long 2 hour bus extravaganza, we switched buses more then 5 times. So in Winnipeg, me and the Troyster finally ventured back. I was happy to find the apple pancake up to par.
Here is the recipe. I will actually make it in a few weeks after I get my birthday gift of a kitchen aid.

If anyone tries it first let me know how it turns out.

BAKED PANCAKE HOUSE APPLE PANCAKE

3 tbsp. milk
3 tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
Dash of salt
2 eggs, separated
3 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. butter
1 1/2 - 2 apples, pared, cored and sliced
Pyrex dish shaped like cake pan, 9 or 10 inch
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and egg yolks and 3 tablespoons milk. Beat 2 egg whites with 3 tablespoons sugar (gradually) until soft peaks form. Fold in flour mixture.

Melt butter in baking dish. Arrange apples in bottom of pan and sprinkle with mixture of 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Then turn apples over and pour batter over apples. Bake 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Serve immediately.

Winnipegs best daily bargains

2006-12-05T07:50:00.000-08:00

These few sites offer different daily deals. Some are to be skipped and others are worth watching daily. Especially since me and Troy are planning our wedding social- we need gifts.

The Source By Circuit City : Circuit Breaker
Amazon.com Gold Box: New Deals. Every Day.
outlet : Sears Canada
Hbc.com - KitchenAid Stainless Steel Tool Set
HomeDepot.ca
Hpshopping.ca - 12 Days of Gift Giving!
http://www.redflagdeals.com/

Well, these are all of them.

Greek restaurants

2006-11-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

love the Niko's its good and love their veggie gyros with like oven potato's (yummy). Very cheap too, unlike Kristina's which is pricier and inferior. Nicer seating and looking restaurant but the food is very bland. Saffron's is another villain producing fish that tastes bad and we spend over 60 bucks for two people and left 90% of my pickerel- it wasn't deboned and not cooked with any flavor. Niko's is my fav but still haven't tried homer will comment after i try it.

pho 1 almost killed me

2006-11-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

Pho no.1--- that's some scary stuff they serve for food. I ordered from a vegetarian menu and still got ill. I had the bun with spring rolls-- that's so easy and simple. I was super sick for like 2 days-- please don't recommend this restaurant- as I saw the kitchen and it was on the ruff side and is in need of some serious food inspection.

Winnipeg's wide world of sushi.

2006-11-23T10:31:00.000-08:00

I always keep up with new restaurants and such. I love good quality food on occation and for sushi am always willing to slurge!! Amazing sashami... priceless. So I went to Edohei and I gotta say it was pricy and well... gross just remember that ruff, bad sushi and the sand in some of it!!! Serious the worst sushi in winnipeg. Another horrible place is Asahi they served slices of fish that were huge and flavorless- I left half a plate of raw fish that bite me back, wasabi is barable but not quite there, not forgetting the mecca of food posisioning sushi-train in the forks(making people sick since 2004) , miso is good for its price and the fish moves fast and there for not that bad way better then the three above.

MY absolute fav in the city so far is Meiji, although the last time the sushi was good but far from great. But other times the sushi has been almost melt in ur mouth, amazing.

Ichiban-- old-school but MOnday is half-price day and for this Jew in winnipeg thats all I need to hear.

Blu Fish Sushi- was ok, wouldn't run back and over pay again for ok sushi, their spice tuna roll was the tinnest thing and had to look for the fish in all the rice. Left me craving raw fish.

Hanabi was not memoriable- and my memory is excellect i still remember every dish at my bros wedding 6 years ago. But I recall not likeing it.

Kenko was better then Hanabi. The rolls were OK, we had the lunch special, but it wasn't that special.

sushi on portage located in the korean store is OK. Just a quicky really.

Shangri-la for the half off sush-- not truely that, and not real sushi-- kind of dirty and just alright. not as bad as the top three offends above.didn't expect much.
Mishiroo on portage- Has Ok days and then not such good days. Once it was nice and this last time OK. Nothing special.

that's it for now

new york taste need only apply

2006-11-19T17:15:00.000-08:00

I always say don't mess with my bus pass and my food. Being a new yorker living in Winnipeg the first thing I did in Winnipeg is set out looking for good food. My belly has lead me down many a strange food alley way. Things I remember fondly and things I can easily forget- the loaistan-Thai restaurant(hated it!). I guess the way i judge a restaurant is can I make it myself? If I can reproduce a dish at home why would I bother going to your restaurant? This is a thought has prevented my return or at times my ever trying a food spot. I guess in this time when food has so much flavor and all the worlds ingredients are all available, the world is the limit. If a Caribbean restaurant can't beat my curry, or my jerk tofu, then I can't image spending the mula to fund them. I want something that invites all my senses, cus that's what good food does for me. Also, coming from Brooklyn, NY I have always loved public transport, also I have never learned how to driver, sad but true. I aspire to learn to maneuver in a car one day. So for me I have always loved food and naturally explored the world via bus or train. I am looking for food to excite me in Winnipeg. I would like to try all rest-aunts in Winnipeg, 500 to go.

Restaurants in winnipeg on a bus pass

2006-11-19T17:06:00.000-08:00

Months ago........ I was really feeling like some Indian food, actually I wanted a variety of Indian food. I ended up taking the 33 maples to Punjab sweet house. I gotta tell people the ride from Osborne is long and at times you might want to turn back and go to say Ivory or even the Mumbi as you pass it across from garden city. But, we stayed on, the long at times deserted bus journey. When we finally arrived for the Sunday lunch buffet- I gotta tell you i was worried we appeared to be the only customers for a huge buffet. Ruff Indian food is maybe my least favorite feast to have. When we began eating everything tasted good. We couldn't believe it was only $6.99. It was a very large buffet and some of the items were better then others, but I can't say it was all cooked to perfection. The veggies at the buffet had better days(actually some of them weeks), but overall it was good. Shocking affordable.