I get lonely when it snows......

 
I don't remember the start of our day. I just remember us walking a lot and taking the subway. Lunch time came around and we decided to stop at Ippudo, one of the most hyped ramen places in the US. It didn't look like there were a lot of people waiting when we came in, so we put our name down on the list, sat on the bench and wait for them to call us. They said the wait would be around 40 minutes for our group of four.     

We order three bowls of ramen that we would split between the four of us and that was more than plenty. Ippudo's Akamaru Modern Ramen ($14) is a "tonkotsu" (pork bone) based noodle soup topped with their secret "Umami Dama" miso paste, pork chashu, cabbage, kikurage, scallions, and fragrant garlic oil. It was rich and pretty good, but is it worth it? I'd say it's definitely not worth the wait. I think the place is a bit overhyped.

I didn't even take any pictures of our food. The place serve kaiseki styled dishes. Everything was so minuscule and so expensive that we couldn't order a lot, everything was literally bite size portions. Food was good and was aesthetically nice towards the eyes but I can't justify the exorbitant prices considering the miniature portions.

What does it mean:

    Two kings declare war.  Both countries have been at war for years.  When will the war stop?  There is only one thing that ends wars.  
    One king will realize that his love for the country is overshadowed by his love for his people.   
    He loved both... But he did not know that in order to love his country, he had to love his people.  
    Are there pre-requisites for love?  If so maybe I'm over qualified and have been for a long time and just not willing to accept it........


I pondered about this all day today. I even employed the help of my sister. Is this what I think it is? I don't know if I should be happy or sad. It sounds almost too good to be true.

Some people say that time away is good for the relationship. Is it? I say sometimes it can be, but too much time away does more harm than good. Does it seem fair for the person who is waiting, without being allowed to have any expectations? I thought about this often, but all my questions was met with silence. The person chose to wait knowing she/he cannot expect anything in return, but she/he continues to wait for something that may or may not ever happen. That's all there ever was...silence. There's something deep down inside that cannot be explained...and in the darkness, it waits.

{via: passionateaffection, via soverypretty}

“Famous loners and anti-socialites make me feel happy. Why is being a loner characterized as a ‘social disorder’? It makes me never want to speak to anyone again. It makes me annoyed to be labeled as ‘antisocial’ or socially anxious. I feel like if you don’t get on really well with someone, there is little point in spending time socializing with them. Most events are full of people talking about nothing and this makes me feel even worse than staying at home, alone. Or perhaps I am just jealous of the people talking about nothing and can’t step out of this godforsaken bubble that makes me want to never go out again. Some people need time alone to process thoughts and events and some people don’t. I will probably always be this way. I wish people wouldn’t make introversion into a personality flaw.”

— Marina Diamandis {via: cheeeese-gromit}

I meant to post this a long time ago but I somehow never got around to it. Sometimes it took me a long time to post, especially restaurant related posts. I often get busy and then as time goes by I get lazy, but most of the time I'd post sooner or later. So, I had a wonderful dinner with two of my coworkers back in February. I remembered it was a cold day, the three of us walked over to the restaurant after getting off from work. I had been to Loring Kitchen & Bar once before but didn't think too much of it.

Theresa and I got the sparkling wine flights that night for only $15, they are a good deal for three full glasses. First on the left is a Prosceco from Italy, the middle is an American sparkling wine and last on the right is a Moscato from Italy. Our favorite is the moscato since it's easier to drink.

My coworker, Lauren got the house burger, which looked pretty good. I didn't try any.

Theresa and I shared one of the special appetizers that was featured that night. I believe it was lumps of crab meat that was bind by avocado instead of mayo. I forgot what else was in this salad concoction but it was so delicious and fresh, not to mention creative. I loved everything about this dish that I prayed they give it a permanent place on their regular menu.

Another special of the night that Theresa and I shared was the gnocchi. I was a bit apprehensive trying this dish out since my first time trying gnocchi was at Bar La Grassa, which was insanely rich, and not necessarily in a good way. Our server had assured us that the featured pasta dish of the night is lighter, cooked in white wine instead of the traditionally red wine for a lighter flavor. This dish was divine, the sauce taste so fresh of basil and tomatoes, and it was light like our server had promised. We enjoyed this dish very much.

Lauren got the maple pudding cake which I sampled a tiny bit, it was a good but too sweet for my taste.

Theresa and I shared a dense and rich chocolate cake. We were very full and very satisfied.

This is one of the best meals I had this year. I thought about what I considered as a best meal and it came down the experience. To me, to experience a good meal is not just the food and drinks but also to share that experience with good company.

I still have not found the right dining companion yet. Just like I still have not found the perfect traveling companion. I know that that person is out there, we just have not had the chance to cross paths. Deep down inside, I seek for a companion that I could share everything with, I can't stress how important that is to me. This person will balance me, the one that will anchor me; so it can't just be anyone and I will never settle.

Now I suddenly I thought about someone that had once said something to me. I can't forget......and it makes me sigh

SwTLoVeR82 (11:56:02 PM):    but then again...you also once said, "i'm full of surprises!"
n*********** (11:56:14 PM):    aren't i?
n*********** (11:56:26 PM):    but so are you
n*********** (11:56:54 PM):    it's only a surprise because you bring out things in me that others cant.... and i like to think that i do the same for you

n*********** (12:02:15 AM): "it''s good to doubt"    "life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get"    "sometimes people come knocking but someone gotta be home to open the door"

So I was on a trip not too long ago. It was one of the worst trips if not the worst trip ever. Worse than that family cruise I was on a couple of years ago.  I couldn't eat nor sleep 24 hrs prior to departure causing me to be on edge. Right when I arrived, the sky was cloudy. Thinking back, I wonder if it was a prediction of what was in store for me.

I compromised a lot. I swallowed my pride. I took the high road against retaliation and provocation. I held back many times. I tried too hard I think, I really tried to make others happy by sacrificing my own happiness. I was kinda glad to have my sister there with me, she and I became the voice of reason. My sister had witnessed and observed what was being played out. One night she asked me, "I don't know how you do it. How do you stay so strong? How do you do keep everything together when you are being treated like that.... in this kind of situation?"

I think it's important to have composure in any difficult situation, it doesn't help the situation by losing your cool especially when you're already on edge. I also think it's important to address any issue right at the beginning, so avoiding talking about it in a calm and diplomatic manner only cause more tension. It's like a ticking time bomb. I noticed many things on this trip; people's true nature came out.

I tried to put this behind me but, underneath it all, the other traveling companion's selfishness, inconsiderate personality and immaturity really ruined the trip for me. I believed that good communication and interaction would have made the trip better but out of consideration, common courtesy, and respect for my sister, I tried to hold it all in and not make a big deal out of what the other person was doing. But by doing so, I harbored more resentment toward the other traveling companion. I just wished that any issues there may have been were addressed right from the beginning, nipping it in the bud, but it didn't happen that way, which only made the problems bigger.

 I try to be optimistic, it's like I'm trying to convince myself to stay strong. To answer my sister questions, I said, "Well...even in situations like this, I try to tell myself that it's probably a blessing in disguise." Oh well, you win some, you lose some. Live and learn. There's always a lesson to be learned.

Yesterday (Weds.) was very chilly. Q sent me a text wanting to hang out again, it must be the weather. I agreed since I was craving for something warm and comforting. I gave Q a few choices/options, but in the end I ultimately chose for us. I always know what I want, but when it involve others, I appear as if I'm very indecisive. It is not so much that I'm indecisive, it is because I considers other people's wants and needs first, before my own. I decided that I want a bowl of hot and steamy ramen; a bowl full of goodness on this particular fall evening.






Zen Box Izakaya recently opened and is located in the Warehouse District on Washington Ave. S. After trying out Masu's ramen, and being disappointed that it didn't lived up to my expectations, I didn't have too much hopes for this Japanese pub. I got slightly more hopeful when I saw a picture of the ramen bowl in this month's Metro Magazine and reading a bit about it in Mpls./St. Paul Magazine.

I don't need for it to be like Santouka or Ippudo, but close enough!






I was curious to try a beer here, especially the Hitachino Ginger which not too many places carries. They also have Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo, as well as 1919 root beer on tap. I didn't feel like drinking so I ordered a genmaicha hot tea. The genmaicha was not the roasted rice tea that I'm used to at other Japanese restaurants, the one here lacks the "toasty-ness" and flavor of the true genmaicha tea. Oh well, we sat right at the window so it was more colder, but I insisted that I like the view of grassy scrubs rather than staring at walls or tables.






I noticed the menu were on the expensive side for the appetizers, as expensive as those you'd find on Ippudo's appetizer menu. We're not in New York!





I was comparing the menu to other izakaya establishments that I've been to, and the price are comparable if not MORE expensive than in the West and East Coasts like Musha, Gyu-Kaku, Honda-Ya, Hakata Tonton, Yakitori Toto to name a few. I don't get the ridiculous prices for some of these items on the menu. I don't mind shelling out the money but it has to be really good if they are charging that much for small plates. I'm sick of restaurants that tries to charge a lot for appetizers and the portions are tiny and/or doesn't have the quality to match.





Look at here, the ramen bowl are actually not much more expensive than some of the appetizers! It is hilarious to me. Oh and the extra toppings are exorbitant even compared to places like Hide-Chan Ramen, Menkui-Tei, and Setagaya. The only place I know that charges toppings more expensive or as expensive as here would be Ippudo, and again, it is in New York!












I always have a soft spot for tofu. I ordered the Hiyayakko ($5.50). It came out just like those silken tofu blocks that you can buy at Asian grocery stores, with chopped scallions and shaved bonito flakes on top, which could be easily purchase at an Asian grocery store. There was nothing special about this dish, they even brought out a small soy sauce dispenser for me to eat with the tofu. But alas! It was the regular Kikkoman soy sauce and not the Light Kikkoman soy sauce and it was very very salty. This is the wrong pairing. I may have excuse the restaurant since it only recently opened but little things like these are annoying.


Chilled tofu should be house made like the one below at Musha in Torrance, CA or taste like the Otokomae "handsome guy" tofu brand.







Next came the Miso Spareribs & Daikon ($8.50). Q seemed to like this dish and ate pretty much the whole thing, except for the daikon radish which he deemed too acquired texture and taste.






Buta Kimchi ($8.00) came with about 4-5 thin slices of pork belly sauteed with kimchi. This dish was very salty, we didn't really like it nor could we fish it.






Q got the Miso Ramen ($.10.00). I sampled a tiny bit of the broth and it seemed solid.






I went for the Spicy Kimchi Ramen ($.10.50), added corn ($1.00) and bean sprouts ($1.00). The scent coming from the bowl of ramen is not too heady but pungent of infused sesame oil. The broth was not  too spicy at all but has a kick. The additional toppings of bean sprouts and corn was not necessary since the ramen came with kimchi, seaweed, menma (seasoned bamboo shoots), 2 slices of chashu, perfectly prepared soft boiled eggs.

The ramen bowls were humongous. We were only able to eat like 1/8 - 1/4 of the bowls. We had the rest packed to go, they boxed the noodles and broth separately. I re-heated the ramen the next day for dinner, it was still a very huge bowl, flavors still retained. I think the ramens here are much better than at Masu.

The total for our meal including tax was $52.62. The next time, I am positive that I will skip ordering from most the menu save for the ramen only. It's what they can do well, and the rest, I'm not so eager to find out.

Q and I ended up watching two episodes of American Horror Story on Hulu. After two hours of watching, I was tired and ready to call it a night.

My sister and I went to Meritage in St. Paul on Tuesday evening. I love French cuisine, always have, and I had looked forward to trying Meritage. A few times that I did wanted to go, but the menu seems pretty expensive for just a casual night out. Restaurant Week was a perfect occasion to try out the food at the restaurant without paying an arm and a leg for it.

Eating companion as well as traveling companion is very very important, to me that is. My sister is definitely not ideal of an eating companion, snippy attitude here and there in the beginning was tolerated, but like I said, it wasn't ideal. I enjoyed myself nonetheless, and that's the most important thing.



Bread was just sourdough and butter.





















My sister decided to order The Shellfish Boudin Blanc: Celery Salad, Tarragon & Beurre Blanc. This was where the snippy attitude came in, I barely captured this picture on camera. I didn't even want to try her dish but she did offer a small piece of sausage, which doesn't taste like much to me.





I had ordered the Trio of Oysters on the Halfshell: Chef's Selection served with Traditional Accompaniments. The oysters were fresh and sweet.





My sister ordered for her main course the Canadian Salmon en Sous Vide: Apple-Rosemary Puree, Bacon Glazed Brussels Sprouts, Charred Red Onion Sauce. Sous vide is a cooking method, where food is sealed in an airtight plastic bag and placed in a water bath for a long time. This salmon was one of the best I've ever had. It was so light and.... fluffy almost, I don't know if this is an appropriate word to describe the texture but it was so delicate. We love this dish, now I want to cook all my fishes "en sous vide" from now on.











The the main course, I had ordered the Beef Short Rib Pot au Feu: Traditional Poached Beef served with Root Vegetables, Horseradish & Pickles. My beef short rib was tender enough. My sister and I split our entrees so it was a nice balance. We were actually full when I thought before our dishes arrived that I may have to order pomme frites or a hamburger to fill up.






For the third course, I ordered Apple Pavlova: Pomegranate & Honey Creme Fraiche. I had no idea what a pavlova is until I ordered this, I wouldn't have ordered it if I had known it was this hard, sticky, and very sweet meringue crust. Dessert didn't impressed me.





For her third and last course, my sister ordered the Chocolate Terrine: Creme Anglaise & Pistachio Sable. Again, nothing special about this, we were both underwhelmed by our dessert course.





To end our meal, we each order a latte ($5 each). It was a nice way to end the meal, this should have been our dessert instead.


The 3-course meal was $30 per person. Our total meal including the two lattes and tax came out to be $75.34. My sister treated me to this dinner which I thought was very sweet.

Today after I got home, literally, Q sent me a text to see if I wanted to go hang out. I figured why not, it was....how should I put it....something that was needed. It was good to see Q and I was able to vent. I talked Q into going to Broder's for dinner and then back to my place to watch one of those corny American superheroes movies that Q is so fond of. This time it was Captain America.