Life Lesson: Get Back on Your Feet No Matter What

It was one of the nicer days in New York City, sunny, breezy and warm. We had just recovered from a hurricane and some bouts of rain. Work was not particularly stressful and I had a rare opportunity to step out for some lunch. I grabbed my coworker and off we went on a mission to buy some falafel.

We didn't get past one block before I found myself on the ground and in the street. I had slipped on a wet sloped curb and twisted my ankle. My coworker protected me from the traffic and helped me get on my feet. I took a moment to pause against a fire hydrant and catch my breath. I said I was okay, tried to mask any wince of pain my face showed and said, "I think I should go back to the office."

I felt defeated and embarrassed to tell people I fell for falafel. I did not want to look weak so I kept saying that I was fine. My coworkers got me a bag of ice from the deli and for the rest of the afternoon I nursed my ankle while it was propped up on a few boxes.

My ankle did not break. It was just swollen to the point where it looked like a baseball. The ice helped along with ibuprofren. For a week I took a tax/car service to/from work. It was tough for me to walk three avenues, eight flights of stairs, and some change.

Every day got a little bit better. For the first few days I felt pathetic and handicapped. I cancelled all my social engagements and walked like a turtle. Self deprication could only last so long and soon I was cracking jokes, smiling, and testing out how far I could walk without support and pausing.

I feel that mental state plays a big part in how fast you heal. I felt blessed that my fall did not put me in a worse state than I was already in. I was on my way to recovery and determined to be mobile for the upcoming week's festivities.

Earlier in the year, I found myself crying at work frustrated over certain things in my personal life. One of my coworkers said to me, "What's wrong? You're doing great. You don't realize it but you bounce back quickly. You're strong, brave, and fearless." It felt strange to hear these words come out from someone's mouth when they were about me but I've always remembered it and think about it when things get tough.

It was a year ago when I fell down. It was Fashion Night Out. When all the ladies were walking around Fifth Avenue shopping, I was at home, plans foiled, with my leg propped up on a pillow. Hey, I can walk now and I can walk fast, way faster than anyone in high heels.

A Trip Back in Time- Historic Richmond Town

Old school printing press

In a city where everything is so fast paced and in a constant state of evolution, it is a rarity to find something so old and unchanged. Far from skyscrapers and a Gap, lives Historic Richmond Town in Staten Island.

What makes Richmond Town historic? The town is in its original state from as early as the late 1600s. Believe it or not, the building structures of Historic Richmond Town have never been rebuilt or restructured. A walk around Richmond Town feels like a trip back in time during the colonial days when the Dutch, French, and English first took up residence in Staten Island. 

I visited Historic Richmond Town for their second Chili and BBQ Cook Off. During this two day affair, various groups and local restaurants set their best recipes and cooking techniques forward in hopes of winning a poker chip vote from the public. An admission ticket granted unlimited tastings throughout the day.

Pier 76 and their chili pot

There are many events that take place in Historic Richmond Town. Currently, there is a county fair going on. Events are meant to foster community and awareness of Historic Richmond Town. Proceeds go towards preservation. The Staten Island Historical Society, the City of New York, and an unnamed independent nonprofit cultural organization oversee Historic Richmond Town.

Traditional Cornbread

All handmade!

Cooper's White Work

Historic Richmond Town is open to the public and visitors are encouraged to tour the museum and walk freely on the premises. I got to wander into the old homes and working businesses. A typical visit to Historic Richmond Town may include a variety of activities from learning about basket making, tasting food cooked by an antique stove, and a demonstration from a tinsmith to having a drink at the local watering hole as well as a taking a walk around the lake and the old mills. Historic Richmond Town may be a small quaint space but it’s big enough to convey the feel of a living, working village 350 years ago.

Historic Richmond Town

441 Clarke Avenue

Staten Island, NY 10306

Meatopia 2012- Randall's Island, NYC

Meatopia and the Best Butcher Competition Stage

The plan was to conquer 40 food stands in four hours, eat something every six minutes, take pictures of everything, and meat our destiny. In reality, there were about 50 food stands, way too much (always a good thing), a visit from mother nature, and a cast of characters from all over the nation. I tried about 20 stalls before feeling full, took pictures while shielding my camera from the rain, and was overjoyed to see my beloved hometown of the Bay Area, California represented not once but a few times.

I was impressed with last year's Meatopia and ecstatic over this year's. Meatopia gets better every year. Bigger, more organized, more impressive, and more expensive. Worth every penny. It's a chockfull of fun. Here are the highlights.

Shane McBride: Smoked Duck Neck Gumbo w/ Wild Rice

Harold Moore: DUO OF SQUAB- Rillette of Dark Meat and Roasted Breast Ancienne

US Navy SEALs: Grilled Venison Steaks and Marinated Tenderloin

Gabriele Corcos & Debi Mazar: Pizza al Carpaccio w/ Certified Piedmontese Eye Round Beef

Paul Denamiel: Beef Shank Bourguignon

Chef Alex Guarnashchelli

Alex Guarnashelli: Canard a la Presse w/ Sauce Chasseur

Michael White for Osteria Morini: Grilled Hampshire Pork Cheeks w/ Late Summer Mostarda

Eduard Frauneder: Grilled Veal Breast w/ Arugula, Peach, and Rye Bread Mustard Vinaigrette

Justin Smillie: Spit-Roasted Short Ribs w/ Castelvetrano Olives, Celery, Walnuts and Horseradish

Joey Campanaro: Sangria Marinated Butcher Steak w/ Hearts of Romaine alla Caesar

Noah Bernamoff of Mile End: Sizzling Smoked Veal Brisket w/ Charred Garlic Scrapes

Rae Cohen of Mile End

The 1,000 pound steer of Pat LaFrieda

Pat LaFrieda: Marinated Creekstone Steer

April Bloomfield of The Breslin: Kansas City Style BBQ'd Whole Hog

April Bloomfield of The Breslin: KC Style BBQ Pork Slider w/ Slaw

Zak Pelaccio: Spit-roasted Duck w/ Lady Jayne's Cured Citrus

I did not eat one bad thing at Meatopia. At the point of my fullness, I walked around for the last two hours salivating over Ilili, BZ Grill, Dinosaur BBQ, and a few others. I took a break to watch a bit of the Whole Foods Best Butcher Competition. After that, I stopped by Whole Foods' tent to just be in awe of their giant sausages and "World's Largest" Toppings Bar. Randall's Island served as a great stage for Meatopia. There was plenty of space and lots of trees that helped shield a little from the ghastly rain storm which turned the nice lawn into a muddy mess. Ah, true meat lovers did not flinch one bit. The meatfest (err, eating) continued.

Meatopia 2012

For more Meatopia 2012 coverage: Stella Dacuma Schour Photography

Meatopia 2012 Survivor Tips

The Ritz Cracker Competition- Dinner Party

Every now and then there is an event I just know I have to be a part of.

A few weeks ago I got an email that was an invitation for a dinner party. It was all very mysterious and intriguing. The hosts would be cooking a “New American” meal for everyone but first there would be a Ritz Crackeroff. What exactly was a Ritz Crackeroff? If you chose to participate you would have 30 minutes to assemble toppings of your choice on a Ritz Cracker. The crackers would then be voted by your peers and the one winner with the most votes would be referred to as whatever moniker they preferred for the rest of the evening. In this case it would be either “Your Highness,” “Your Majesty,” or “Your Master.”

Host Chef Albert

I arrived at the location, an apartment building in Brooklyn, without knowing who’s apartment I was going to, a contact phone number, or an apartment number. Puzzled, my friend and I scrolled through e-mails to find a way to contact our mutual friend. The doorman, amused by us, saved the day by saying, “You must be here for Albert. There are already a few people who have shown up.” 

Off we went with eyebrows raised. We had no idea what to expect only that in New York this was common. You show up with an open mind and just go with the flow. The Ritz Cracker competition was about to begin.

There were eight of us participating. We had all brought our own ingredients and got to work. We were permitted use of the kitchen and whatever gadgets or appliances we needed. I had practiced my recipe earlier in the day. I called it A Picnic in Tuscany. My concoction was cream cheese based. I soaked sun dried tomatoes in olive oil and chopped them up in a blender. I threw in red pepper flakes for spice. I mixed the tomatoes with cream cheese and let it sit in the refrigerator to form. For assembly, I put a dollop of sun dried tomato cream cheese on top of the Ritz cracker and topped it with a pinch of dried basil and jalapeno cheddar pepperoni. The result was favorable. Everyone said it belonged at an Oscar party.

A Picnic in Tuscany

I was amazed at everyone’s creation. None of us knew what each other was bringing. In fact, the majority of us were meeting for the very first time. Some did savory recipes. Some did sweet. A few drew from their cultures for inspiration and some were fueled purely by determination to impress. In the end we had a full on meal of Ritz Crackers from appetizers and main courses to dessert.

Which one would you vote for?

We had cucumber shrimp salad, salmon and lox, Thanksgiving, A Picnic in Tuscany, Thai Mango chili, red wine figs and brie, ribs with sour cream, and chocolate ganache with cannoli filling. Everyone was given 20 Ritz Crackers. We had a choice between regular, low fat, and wheat Ritz Crackers. It was interesting to see how each was paired and even more fun tasting each contest entry.

Ribs flavored with Sriracha for a kick!

The winning Ritz Cracker was ribs with sour cream made by @Stellaaa. She has a new blog called Cooking With Stella. Hopefully, she will post her winning recipe! 

The Ritz Crackeroff turned out to be a huge success. We were all full from the tastings and had bonded over the shared experience. If you ever need an ice breaker to start a dinner party, this would be a great one. Of course, the delectable bites didn’t stop there. We then moved on to a full sit down dinner of salad, barbecue chicken, grits and chorizo, vegetables, and sugar pie. How I love dinner parties but this one really took the cake!

Cooking With Stella    

Mosaic of Life- Philadelphia Magic Gardens

Philadelphia Magic Gardens lower level

Imagine an empty alleyway transformed by garbage and knickknacks. Glass bottles protruding out of the walls, mirrors smashed into a million pieces, ceramic tiles strategically placed, and painted quotes all over. At the Philadelphia Magic Gardens there is so much to see and make sense of. It is only natural to question the origins of this mosaic garden in the middle of the city. Who made it? Why? How is it that you feel like you are in Barcelona when you are really in Philadelphia?

Genius or Madman?

Visionary is the word in regards to artistry that can be used to describe Isaiah Zagar, the artist and mastermind behind the Philadelphia Magic Gardens. For the past 10 years, 72 year old Zagar has taken junk, bottles, tiles, dishes, sculpture, mirrors, anything and everything and turned them into beautiful mosaics and murals adorning the Philadelphia Magic Gardens and surrounding South Street neighborhood. Even the ceiling of the Philadelphia Magic Gardens building has been transformed into a mosaic. Zagar’s work is distinct and provides many messages cultural, political, and sentimental. Zagar’s approach to his art and the community, however, is another story. Genius or Madman? Everyone has their own opinion.

Zagar's ode to 9/11

Zagar is an artist with a one track mind and mission. If he sees a wall or an empty plot of land and wants it, he will do whatever it takes to have it. There have been times in the past where Zagar has seized a blank slate like a graffiti artist and started working. It is also common that he commemorates people from the community into his mosaics and murals. Guy with tools and cap look familiar? He’s the local plumber. Imagine seeing yourself one day in a 50 foot mosaic mural. What a surprise that would be.

Mike Mattio - Zagar's Plumber

I stumbled upon the Philadelphia Magic Gardens on my last Philly trip. The center was closed and I was only able to peer in from the outside gates. I managed to snap some pictures and when I found out you could take a tour of the grounds, I vowed to come back and center my next day trip around the Philadelphia Magic Gardens.

Carlos Carpet

For $10 you get a private tour of the building and South Street neighborhood. The tour will take anywhere from one and a half hours to two if you go overtime. The walking tour covers quite a bit of ground so plan accordingly. Bring water with you, wear comfortable shoes, and bring a stroller if you have small children. The tour must be booked in advance. Philadelphia Magic Gardens is also open to the public for self guided viewing for a mere admission cost of $5.

South Street Neighborhood Mural

The Philadelphia Magic Gardens is a non-profit organization and definitely worth a look when in the Philadelphia area. Great for photography buffs, families, art enthusiasts, and anyone who loves something shiny and interesting. 

Philadelphia Magic Gardens

1020 South Street

Philadelphia, PA 19147

5 Molecular Gastronomy Highlights - Moto

Adding fog to marshmallows

Food science. I never really understood it until I ate at Moto in Chicago.



They will give you food they call "food". Appearances are not what they appear to be and they will cook things unconventionally. It is not uncommon to see a blow torch, oxygen tank, fish bowl, or steamer at your table. You will be surprised. You will be amazed.

Take it for what it is. Moto is not a place where you will get a 12 ounce steak or whole lobster. You will get bits and pieces of the cow and sea but nothing more. Moto is all show and tricks. I was fine with that and was pretty full at the end of the meal. Not stuffed, but satisfied. I've been eating non stop in Chicago anyway.

We did the tasting menu in the lab downstairs and it was spectacular, complete with a tour of the kitchen. The experience was really something. 



Top 5 highlights of our meal included:



Savory Corn Ice Cream

5.  Reconstructed Corn- Savory corn ice cream popsicle complete with kernels someone placed one by one with a tweezer. You would have never known it was not a corn on the cob until you finished the whole thing. Completely edible. No cob! It's ice cream!



Cheese from France

4. Zen Garden- Time to play with your food! The gravel was cheese and the rocks were chocolate. The garden came with a little wooden rake so you could make your own design and have an "Om" moment.



Chicken Noodle 

3. Kentucky Fried Pasta- The chicken was dehydrated and crumbled into flour. They made a noodle out of it. The skin was served crispy on the side. There was a biscuit. Powdered buttermilk gravy. A specially designed fork entwined with a fresh rosemary sprig. It smelled amazing. Tasted great too. Dehydrated chicken noodle. Who does that? Forreal?!



Mango

2. Egg Drop Soup- They created a solid membrane around mango puree to make it look like an egg yolk. I learned how to do this food science trick at a friend's house and it is not easy at all. Hats off to the crew at Moto. They are skilled in what they do.



Ready to be lit on fire

1. Acme Bomb- A Valrhona chocolate bomb complete with a marshmallow wick which they lit on fire. Once the wick melts away you pop the chocolate bomb in your mouth. Death by chocolate! It's rich and delicious if you love chocolate, especially melted hot chocolate. The center of the chocolate bomb was liquid graham cracker. And you live. 



The meal was spaced out and we were not rushed out the door. The staff was friendly and we had a great time exchanging banter with them. Moto is in a desolate industrial area. Since we were tourists without a car, Moto called us a cab. It was 5 star service all the way. They even tweaked their menu for our guests who could not eat nuts. Usually the substitutes are bland but Moto did not disappoint. We were drooling over the risotto dish they got. Everyone wins at Moto. For a first time experience at a food science restaurant, I was blown away.

Moto
945 W. Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60607

Subway Ride

NYC Subway

It’s raining and I’m thankful that the subway entrance is just a few feet away from my office. I pace a few steps, look across the street at Pottery Barn, Zara, and just as my neck turns and my eyes gaze upon Banana Republic it’s time to collapse my umbrella and make my way down two flights of stairs. Just as I swipe my unlimited card through the turnstile, the 6 train opens it’s doors and a sea of people are released. The majority of them are headed towards the N line. It never fails. The crowd bottlenecks at the top of the stairs and they come to a halt as they wait their turn to proceed. It’s like merging on a highway. True veterans swiftly move in. New comers stumble into their blind side and disrupt the flow. 

Today I am straying from my routine commute. I have to detour into Brooklyn to feed my sister’s cat while she is on vacation. I take baby steps down the stairs to hop on the 4 or 5 express train. I’m scared of slipping. I wish there was an escalator. I make my way down and find an empty pillar to wait by. I stare up at the electronic sign and am thankful the next train will arrive in two minutes. The doors open, I grab on to a pole, and within five minutes I am at my transfer point.

Union Square is one of the busiest subway stations next to Grand Central, 34^th Street, and Times Square. I patiently wait to climb the stairs. Without fail, like salmon, there is always one person who defies the crowd and goes against the stream. I shake my head and wonder what rush this person is in that they can’t wait two minutes for the crowd to dissipate.

Typical Hipster (posted at theChive.com)

I have calculated my ride well. If you ride the same routes long enough, you know which subway car to ride in so that when you exit, you are closest to where you need to go. I turn the corner and part ways with the suits and ties. Perhaps I am the most conservative person walking in the crowd. The woman next to me has half long hair and half shaved head. The man in front of me is wearing cutoff jean shorts and his arms are covered in tattoos. I can count not one but two people in neon. Typical footwear includes platform shoes, Toms, and oxfords. I feel like I should be wearing Ray Bans even though it’s not sunny.

All aboard the L train. I’m in the thick of things. We stop at 1^st Avenue. A petite man walks in. He looks like he is going to take a stroll in the Hamptons despite the fact that his clothes don’t quite fit right and were probably bought at a second hand store. The train is extremely crowded. He pushes his way past me and settles on a spot right in front of me. Hampton man throws his duffle bag man purse over his shoulder. It presses against me. People who blatantly ignore subway etiquette and refuse to put their bags and backpacks down are one of my biggest pet peeves. I shake my head and do my best to not mutter out loud, “Hipster.”   

It takes less than 10 minutes to reach Bedford Avenue. The majority of the wannabe fashion plates step off the train.

I reach my stop further along the L line and am relieved to see the weather has stopped pouring buckets of rain. It’s just a little bit misty. I pick up my pace and as I walk past the bodega, I feel a sting to my hand. I lift and turn it slightly to see a black and white powdery substance on my knuckle. I have no idea what it is. I turn around and see a woman walking quickly with a cigarette caressed between her fingers. She had just burned and ashed me. I curse Bushwick and continue on with my business.

It is three hours later and all I want to do is go home. I know I am going to wait 10 minutes for a train so I pull a book out of my bag. I sheepishly hide what I am reading but the bright blue jacket cover gives it away. Mockingjay. It is a sign of the times and I, too, have been sucked in.

I get to Sixth Avenue where I transfer to the F train. It is late, almost midnight, and there is a group of teenagers yelling at the top of their lungs. I look at them in annoyance and wonder why they aren't home. Isn't it a bit late for a field trip? I have a sudden flashback to when I was eleven. I was in New Jersey visiting for the Summer and my grandmother scolded us children and instructed us to stay quiet on the subway. "It's not nice to yell," she said as she tried to instill manners in us. I didn't understand at the time what the big deal was. Now I do. The subway door opens and I hurry in to a car far away from the school kids. Peace and quiet. I sit and read a few pages. My eyes shut and I allow myself to sneak in a few minutes of shut eye. I'm confident I will wake up at my stop. I always do.