Bizarre

I was watching a show last night on Travel Channel called Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. I was transfixed. By chance, the episode was about bizarre foods in Philippines. Being a Pilipino and have eaten my share of funky food, I don't think I can eat most of what he tried. The host made eating worms so gourmet. He looked genuinely delighted in eating deep-fried stuffed frogs. What I liked about him was he was respectful of the food, the culture and the people. No harsh words on things he didn't like. He just said in effect that it wasn't his cup of tea.

When we travel Colin and I do seek out what the locals eat. My favorite memory of food was being on a boat in Cebu, Philippines. We just had a great lunch on a beach and were going snorkeling (while the girls slept on the boat). The boys who were manning the boat decided that they were hungry as well and donned on goggles. As Colin and I snorkled, the boys were gathering sea urchin. They opened up one for us to try. I remember thinking how utterly wonderful it was to be on banca (boat) with my family tasting the sea.

Kitchen Interrupted

Demolition Day. The crew arrived early Monday morning and work started without delay. Our kitchen is no more. Yeah!


Lauren have bonded with the crew. Here she is knocking down the last of the brick wall. We've been wondering what was behind the brick wall. Alas, no skeleton, no pirate treasure, no long lost secret to Nirvana. Just air.

Eve of Change

I'm sitting in an empty room. Well, pretty much empty. The only thing that is in this room is this computer, some Mikes Hard Lemonades, and crescent rolls.

We've been emptying out the kitchen because demolition is starting tomorrow morning. Hence, the empty room. The Mikes are our reward for some hard work and the crescent rolls, well, because it's our last night to use the oven and we must use it.

By tomorrow morning, this computer will be in the basement with the rest of things from our family room. (Family room adjoins the kitchen - so that goes, too). It will be interesting to live out in the basement for the next 3 months or so.

I'll miss the kitchen for its purpose (cooking, washing, snacking, etc) but it is time to make it better. Gone will be the white laminate cabinets, the matching laminate countertops, the brown ceramic tiles, and the brown appliances. It is an efficient kitchen but it could be much, much, much better.

I must end now since Colin will be unplugging the lifeline off this computer.

Literally Climbing the Walls

We couldn't take it anymore!! We were literally climbing the walls today.

At the Boston Rock Gym, that is. We were there with Lauren's Girl Scout troop.

Emma was like a spider. All arms and legs scaling the wall.

Lauren was shaky at first but tackled a difficult wall after another.

I only did four climbs but proud of myself for even trying.

The girls and I would like to try again and learn how to belay. It was sooooo cool.

New Orleans

Cafe DuMonde. Beignets. Cafe Au Lait. I told Colin that the moment we tucked away our luggage we were to make our way to Cafe DuMonde. Yes, the home of powder sugar laden beignets. I am a pro at eating these little pillows of carbohydrates. Take a deep breath, bite and never exhale when the beignets are nearby otherwise you incur the avalanche of white powder all over the place. Sip the chickory cafe au lait and you are in heaven.

Colin and I spent three and half days exploring French Quarter. We were in New Orleans about 14 years ago (honeymooned there). Apart from new restaurants and some spruced up buildings, time stood still in New Orleans. The Quarter was preparing for Mardi Gras and most of the buildings were festooned in beads and ribbons. The people were friendly and happy to see us. We met a couple who were renovating some of their properties (one of which Tennessee Williams lived in) and gave us great suggestions on what and where to eat.

My best memory of our trip is of Colin eating crawfish on our wrought iron balcony at sunset watching the Superbowl.

Here's our suggestions for eats in the Quarter:
Cafe DuMonde- beignets
Cafe Croissant- great brioche
Yo Mamas- The cook there made Colin try crawfish on the sidewalk (yummy). He makes gumbo on Friday night (50 gallons) and by Saturday night its gone. We were too late but if the gumbo is anything like the crawfish, we are definitely going to try it next time.
Acme Oyster House- Oysters and the best Bloody Mary in the Quarter. Sit by the oyster bar to get the full experience.
Bourbon House Seafood- Oyster Rockerfeller!! Raw oysters with caviar!! Bit more $ but soooo worth it. Sit by the oyster bar and chat with oyster guys.
Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse- Creole Cream Cheesecake and Banana Foster Bread Pudding are heavenly.

New Orleans is still rebuilding and French Quarter is up and running. We will come back again, hopefully, next year. I miss the beignets already.