The Omnivore's Hundred

I found this in my google reader via Just Hungry's blog entry:

The Omnivore's 100

This great list has been swirling around the food bloggers for a week or so and I’ve been meaning to post my own results. Below is list of 100 items that every good omnivore should try at least once in his/her life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all.

Here’s how it works:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk (the one who started it) linking to your results.

Jeannie’s Omnivore’s 100 (with commentary!)

1. Venison- my family once ordered deer at the catfish restaurant Phong Dinh, and I had no idea I was eating it until I mentioned that it was really tough and my cousin said, well duh it's b/c you're eating Bambi. Eeeek!
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros- the best huevos rancheros I've ever had was at Fred's Diner in Arizona. The cook was Greek but damn, he must know his Southwestern cooking!
4. Steak tartare- only had tuna tartare, I should try this!
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue- ewww cheese. I've never eaten it but I've served it at a party before.
8. Carp- yum I like any kind of fish
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush- I've had it but not really a fan
11. Calamari- tasty!! I especially like it battered and fried and dipped in aioli
12. Pho- Mmm, comfort food.
13. PB&J sandwich- So much better with homemade bread :)
14. Aloo gobi- Not a big fan of Indian food but I like most things curry based
15. Hot dog from a street cart- I still have to try this!!
16. Epoisses- cheeese. I will never try this
17. Black truffle- I've had pesto made from this, does it count?
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes- hmmm not a big fan of wine dunno if I'd want to try
19. Steamed pork buns- yummy!
20. Pistachio ice cream- mmm
21. Heirloom tomatoes- so much better than other tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries- I want to go berry picking!
23. Foie gras- I'm not boughsie enough to have tried this yet
24. Rice and beans- I grew up in El Monte, hello!
25. Brawn, or head cheese- Isn't this the meat in the banh mi dac biet?
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche- mmm desserts
28. Oysters- only super fresh and raw. I don't like them fried
29. Baklava- I made it before in 8th grade! Also had it at the Grove. Way too sweet for my tastes.
30. Bagna cauda- never heard of it until I wiki-ed it
31. Wasabi peas- only had the fake version in a bag from a Korean market
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl- yesssss!! And that's what's for dinner tonight, sans the sourdough bowl :)
33. Salted lassi- I've only had the sweet version. Not a fan...I don't like yogurt based drinks.
34. Sauerkraut- Yes in Solvang. Not a fan.
35. Root beer float- I would serve this our wedding if I could! But then everyone would be burpy and a burpy bride is not very appealing huh?
36. Cognac with a fat cigar- no thanks
37. Clotted cream tea- maybe I'll try it when we go to London
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O- what college student has not made/had this? remember my 21st bday party, folks?
39. Gumbo- yum I want to try make this sometime, and eat the real thing in New Orleans
40. Oxtail- I wish it wasn't so expensive!!
41. Curried goat- goat? I dunno. I like curry though...
42. Whole insects- no thanks
43. Phaal- had to wiki this. Don't think I can handle it!
44. Goat’s milk- is it really as good as ppl say it is?
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more- I need some boughsie rich baller friends.
46. Fugu- I don't know if Jer and I would try it on our trip to Japan...
47. Chicken tikka masala- ehh its okay. Why don't I like Indian food? Hmmm?
48. Eel- yummy!!!!
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut- O.D. on these during undergrad. Who eats 4 in one sitting?
50. Sea urchin- thanks to Christina, I tried it for the first time! Gooey.
51. Prickly pear- I've had the candy. But that doesn't count huh
52. Umeboshi- ehh they are okay.
53. Abalone- mmm I want this at our wedding too!
54. Paneer- cheese? no thanks
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal- Jerry used to work at mickey Ds in HS. I wonder how many he's eaten
56. Spaetzle- ooh I want to try
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine- I ate around the cheese. Haha
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads- that sounds gross. at first I thought it was bread that was sweet. I was wrong.
63. Kaolin- isn't that clay? who eats clay?
64. Currywurst
65. Durian- stinky!!
66. Frogs’ legs- Mr. Luiten cooked it for us in high school. Tastes like chicken and fish
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake- all four!! I loooooove churros, even though I can't pronounce it for the life of me
68. Haggis- maybe I'll try it if we ever go to Scotland
69. Fried plantain- So good with vanilla bean ice cream but I dunno how traditional that is, hehe.
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette- what?
71. Gazpacho- def want to try this!
72. Caviar and blini- I guess I'm not cultured enough!
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost- there are so many cheeses on this list!
75. Roadkill- what?
76. Baijiu- and so much alcohol!
77. Hostess Fruit Pie- ya know, I don't think I have
78. Snail- I think I tried it at the French Club dinner in HS. Didn't we have to sell SO MUCH CANDY just go to to a fancy dinner?
79. Lapsang souchong- I love tea! I would want to try this
80. Bellini- this is something alcoholic that I actually like
81. Tom yum- mmm tasty. I love thai food
82. Eggs Benedict- I always ask for the hollandaise sauce on the side b/c I don't like my eggs drenched in it
83. Pocky- I love the green tea flavor, and the almond ones. I want to go to a pocky store in Japan and stare in awe at all the whacky flavors
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant- maybe someday when we have extra money and want to celebrate a special occasion! In this economy, I can't justify spending that much on dinner.
85. Kobe beef- yummy! I want to eat the real thing when we go to Japan
86. Hare- maybe I'll try someday
87. Goulash- I want to try! I like hearty dishes
88. Flowers- I've had chrysanthemum before. I always wanted to try wanderingchopsticks's squash blossom recipes.
89. Horse- hmm. don't know if I'd try it.
90. Criollo chocolate- I want to try this!
91. Spam- best in musubis....
92. Soft shell crab- Can we have this at our wedding too???
93. Rose harissa- I hope it tastes better than Ethiopian food...
94. Catfish- my favorite fish!!
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox- mmm. why is smoked salmon so expensive? :(
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Hehe, kimchi should have been on the list!

Hmm, 46. Not bad I guess for someone who's spent her entire life in one place and is relatively untraveled in her adult life. That's the great thing about living in LA though, so diverse when it comes to people and food! I suppose me not liking cheese or alcohol will stop me from ever completing this list. :) I can't wait until I graduate and start working so Jer and I can eat our way around the world!

A Mini Rant

I love my family and they're all really cute and warm and fuzzy but sometimes I wish I wasn't living so close to them that I have to go to every single family function and that if I don't I'm going to feel guilty about not going. We have a pretty busy Labor Day wknd planned with visits to both the Hollywood and Rose Bowls and Sunday was our day to chill and not have to go anywhere. Not I'm not doing anything special but the last thing I want to do is wake up and drag my butt to the beach. If you know me pretty well, you know that I'm not a big fan of the beach. I hate excessive sun exposure and I hate getting sandy. I especially HATE crowds and with it being Labor Day weekend and all, it's going to be packed. Even though I can swim now I don't ever plan on swimming in the big big ocean. So, I don't really feel like driving all the way out to whatever beach all my cousins are going to be at, because it's going to be at least a 30 mile drive each way and I have to go by myself b/c I know Jer's tired of me dragging him to family event after family event. But now I'm in a bad mood b/c I already feel guilty about not wanting to go, but I know I'll begrudgingly go, and I'm in a worse mood b/c there goes my plan to lazy around.

I'm already in a bad mood b/c my day started with a super fat obese lady who had to choose to sit next to me on the freaking bus all the way from Palms to UCLA. She was so fat her heat radiated onto my thigh and the rest of my body and she hogged all the bus AC. I'm sorry, but there is no excuse for being fat like that. I hate obese people. I have absolutely no sympathy for them and I don't care that I'm in public health, I'm just going to say that. I bet the rest of the people in public health feel the same way but are too PC/cowardly to say what they really think.

Then, at work, I had to drop $20 for a dumb lunch to celebrate someone's bday that I don't really care about. Oh, did I mention that our bdays are 11 days apart and someone at work conveniently "forgot" that it was my bday and didn't include me at all? I had to sit through the entire lunch pretending I was having a good time while feeling like shit that my own coworkers, in addition to treating me like ass when it comes to paying my wages (I've worked 2 months and 2 weeks now w/o pay) also has forgotten my bday? Not that I really care about the lovely bday wishes from my coworkers, I wanted a free lunch and a gift card damn it!! (That's what everyone at work gets for their bday).

Then I had a lousy workout at Wooden. Okay, not super lousy. I was able to run at 6.1 speed for almost 15 minutes. But I was so tired b/c my leg was aching half the time I was running. And the rest of my workout sucked. I couldn't do some of the weight machines for the life of me. I think my body hates me right now b/c I'm not feeding it enough fruits and veggies.

When I came home, I was looking forward to a tasty dinner. I had a really good meal that I heated up. After taking a few bites, I decided it needed more furikake. Right when I got to the kitchen counter, I DROPPED MY ENTIRE DINNER ON THE FLOOR. :( I almost wanted to cry.

Then, I had a cramp on my feet that would not go away, no matter how much I massaged it. Owww. :( I should have cooled down after my workout but I was too tired. I guess I paid for it with the cramps.

And then I found a gunk of chocolate cake stuck between my toes. Gross.

And it's only 9:41pm. What else is gonna go wrong next?

*edit
I'm pretty gullible:
jer: i need to take apart my comp
need to restart for 20 mins
is that ok?
me: yeah
okbyebabe
k bye

10:37pm
homeboy shows up at my door. yay my night got better :) I honestly had no idea!

Bday Bling

For my bday present, Jer gave me some gorgeous diamond studs!! 1/3 carat, platinum. Not only did I love my present, but I had so much fun searching for it!

I got sent on a scavenger hunt all over the house with clues in the Scrabble box, Kitchen Aid mixer, ice cream carton, and even the garage where my next clue was hidden next to the miter saw.



Finally, my last clue was to find Banksy's Bridge because my present was hiding behind it. I kept looking for my Banksy book but it was at my apt. Then I realized that for xmas I gave him a picture frame that had a pic of the bridge. And there it was, hiding all day!

I was so excited!! Even though I had a feeling that I was getting earrings, I had no idea they'd be this sparkly and shiny!!!

This was at swimming the next day. Much better lighting. :)

Yay, no more itchy or infected ears for the rest of my life!

Il Chianti

For my romantical bday dinner, Jerry took me to Il Chianti, a restaurant that he says has never disappointed him. He had been there twice before, and it was my first time. I'd have to agree with him. We had a really tasty meal and the damn freshest restaurant water I've ever had in my life. I asked the waitress why the water tasted so different and she said they serve Pi Water. I dunno if it's for reals or not, but it's soooooo good. I had 4 glasses! Also, what I liked was that this place didn't break the bank. Two appetizers and two entrees came out to be under 30 bucks! Since Jer spent a lot on my bday present, I was glad that dinner was very affordable w/o compromising quality of service and of food. Jer knows that he doesn't need to impress me with fancy schmany expensive dining experiences. In fact I would have been just as happy if we had gone to a Mexican taco truck or if we had stayed in and cooked. Hehe, but I'm glad we went to Il Chianti- what an experience! I could see us coming back here for future special occasions. And since this is a chain in Japan, we definitely plan on dining there to see how it compares to this Lomita location.

The menu is pretty big and so is the variety of choices.

Bread and evoo

Soft shell crab appetizer. Yummy!

Squid ink spaghetti. I wanted to get something unique and this was right on. They basically take the ink from the squid and make a broth with it. There's spaghetti of course, and then bits of pork and squid. Tasty, but super messy. We had to eat really carefully to make sure we didn't stain our clothes.

Jer got pilaf with tomato cream sauce. It wasn't too creamy so I liked it. The sauce had seafood in it too. The rice was so soft and flavorful. I want to try making pilaf sometime.

The kitchen. We had one of the best seats in the house...in the middle but upstairs so we got to see kitchen action from our little nook.

Il Chianti
24503 Narbonne Ave
Lomita, CA 90717

310.325.5000

Thanks babe!! Can't wait to come back here again, let's bring some friends and introduce ppl to this joint!

Bday Dinner and Bowling

Some pictures from Garden Cafe and Action Lanes :)

Noreen and Dave

Nancy and Mike

Cam and Chris

Ann and Aaron

Allen

Christina

Emmanuell

Terri

John

Lots of food! We all ate family style, just the way I like it. :)

Then it was off to Action Lanes. We had a great mix of people and everyone seemed to have fun bowling. Cosmic bowling rules!

We had 4 lanes

Jerry throws a strike

Rachel, Cam, Jenta, Hyobin

Rieber roomie

Alfred and Hyobin

Jenta and Ainsley

Afterwards we went to say bye to some folks chilling at the bar, and we ended up staying for a little bit to sing. I'm not a big fan of public karaoke though but it was fun to see ppl get into it. :) Tong serenaded Rachel with a scandalous song!

What a fun, fun night. :) I can't wait to go bowling again!

Quarter Century!

Finally I've joined the club! It's been an amazing 24th year. I accomplished a lot of things and I think the positive and negative things that have happened certainly has not made it a boring year by any means! Negative experiences have taught me so much: how to act around "authority" and deal with uncomfortable situations, when to keep my mouth shut and when to open up, and how to handle going from full time pay to practically peanuts (dealing with work, my sometimes annoying mom- but when Jerry's around she's so cool, weird!, and today's economy/ridiculousgradschfees). I went through some uncomfortable times when I was 24 and even though I wish they hadn't happened in the manner that they did, in a way I'm glad they unfolded the way they did because I learned a lot from them. Positive experiences during my 24th year have taught me how to love and be loved in a way that I didn't think was possible (Jer), accomplish a seemingly impossible task (swimming), hone skills that give me great joy because I am creating something that is eye-catching, tasty, and a labor of love (photography, baking, and sewing) and renewing a friendship that shouldn't have been lost in the first place (Christina). Good and bad, there are countless other things that have made my 24th year unique but those mentioned above really stand out to me because I would be a different person on the morning of my 25th birthday if they hadn't had happened.

There are still many accomplishments, experiences, and lessons ahead of me: some could take a day, others a lifetime, and the following I hope, a year. In my 25th year I want to focus on being less speedy: there is a time and place to be quick but quicker is not always better (2 speeding tix have hit me, my wallet, and my record hard! *gulp*). I also want to make the most out of my grad sch education- I feel that during my first year I didn't learn as much as I could have b/c I was so busy working. Like Christina said, in school we're taught to learn and forget immediately- sufficient but not sustaining. Year 2 of my program is my last shot to learn in a safe space before I truly enter my career. 3rd, I want to TRY to complain less and be proactive about things that irk me, or worse, piss me off. Being a girl, I'm prone to bitching and whining and I get the feeling that that it can be tedious for those closest to me with whom I chat with everyday. There will probably be days there all I want is to vent, but for the other days, I want to be able to turn the thorns in my side into...something not so thorny. ( I wanted to say "into roses that I can smell" but that is so cheesy!!!) Next, I want to continue getting back into shape. I've noticed that my muffin top was growing larger and that my body wasn't feeling like what it used to be and it was due to all the cow I was eating while dating Jer early on, along with a full academic/work load and the temptation to skip going to Wooden more often than not. Since I'm not taking classes this summer I've been dedicating the extra time I have to going to Wooden more regularly and also swimming as often as I can. I have been noticing a difference, and my goal this year is to not only increase the difference, but also to maintain it. I already eat pretty healthy to begin with, and the missing piece is continuous workouts to maintain a healthy weight and body shape. On a completely vain note, I don't want to add "lose weight so I can fit into my wedding dress" onto my list of wedding tasks, haha. But with school starting in about 1.5 months it is very easy to regress, and I certainly don't want to waste away my current progress! Finally, this may not be accomplished in a year, but I want to make strides in not STRESSING so much. Last year I stressed over everything- family, school, work, friends, money, health etc. So simply put, I'm going to try to do it less. Easier said then done, eh?! Well, no other choice but to try! :)

Okay, here's to another year of learning, living, and loving!

"love the one you're with"

Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors. I've read all her books- "Something Borrowed", "Something Blue", "Baby Proof", and my current favorite: "Love the One You're With." I don't necessarily relate to her story lines but I love her writing. Even though it's probably considered chick lit, I've read enough of those kinds of books to see that her book isn't as frivolous or as cheesy.

Some of my favorite passages:

"...I can't get over the feeling of being cheated. At the most, I was cheated out of the choice for a different life- a choice I had the right to make and that nobody else should have made for me. At the very least, I was cheated out of the all-important closure- knowledge that would have made me feel better about the worst thing to ever happen to me short of my mother dying, as well as the chance to reconcile my feelings for Leo with the way things ended between us. Yes, we broke up. Yes, Leo did the breaking up. But he regretted it. He loved me enough to come back. I was worth coming back for. It might not have made a different in my life, but it would have made a difference in my heart. I close my eyes, riding a wave of resentment and indignation and more anger still."

"And yet, instead of striking fear in my heart, or giving me pause of any kind, I feel all the more calm, resolute, indignant, as I head back upstairs and get back under the covers. How dare he draw a line in the sand? How dare he not even try to understand what I'm feeling? How dare he back me into a corner with his demands? I try to turn the tables, imagining and homesick, wishing to reconnect with with something or someone. And then I realize that that is why I moved to Atlanta. With him. For him. That is why I'm here now."

"But maybe that's what it all comes down to. Love, not as a surge of passion, but as a choice to commit to something, someone, no matter what the obstacles or temptations stand in the way. And maybe making that choice, again and again, day in and day out, year after year, says more about love than never having a choice to make at all."

"Instead, I hold that day deep within myself, as a reminder that love is the sum of our choices, the strength of our commitments, the ties that bind us together."

Luscious Dumplings

Susan was in town so what else did we do but go eat? Based on Wandering Chopsticks' recommendation, we went to Luscious Dumplings. That weekend in June was insanely hot, so we didn't want to eat anything too heavy. It was too far to drive to ktown for some naeng myun, so dumplings it was. The food was pretty decent. I wasn't blown away by any of the items, but what I liked was that the prices were very modest and the portions were perfect for two people. Oftentimes I hate going to eat at places where they charge you an insane amt but they give you enough food for 3 people, and since you can't eat it at all and it's not practical to take it home, it goes to waste anyway.

Luscious Dumplings Inc.

704 W. Las Tunas Dr., #E4

San Gabriel, CA 91776

626.282.8695

Oh, and Phoenix Inn (for desserts mostly) is across the plaza and they were blasting the AC so that, coupled with fruity drinks and yummy custard was a perfect way to end our meal.

Congrats N!!

My old roommate just got engaged, yay!! Too bad I found out waaaaay later than everyone else :( I really must check my cell phone/facebook more often! Apt 303 is now half married/engaged! Hmm, who's next?!

Not a Good Cousin...

Chatting with my cousin about my upcoming bday party:

9:48 AM me: are you gonna bring anyone?

9:50 AM s: don't think so

unless you want me to bring raymond

9:53 AM me: who's raymond?

s: my younger brother

9:54 AM me: omgggg

hahahahha

i'm dumb

s: haha

me: that's sad

s: yes it is

me: i thought he was up north

s: you forgot who raymond was

me: well i never see him anymore!!

s: no

he is down here for the summer

9:55 AM me: are you gonna tell him?

hahaha

s: he knows

me: he knows what?

you told him ALREADY?

yeah bring him

s: ok

Man, so if my cousin Raymond comes (goes to HS boarding school up north) and then my friend brings her bf there's going to be at least a 20 year age difference, haha.