life from a foodie's perspective

Countdown #4

2010-06-03T00:38:00.000-07:00

#4 Incredibly Edible

Its been way to long since I've written in this blog, and for the select few who have been waiting eagerly for an update, its finally here! Since I last blogged, I picked up a magazine that caught my attention as I walked by it. The first issue of "Chicken" magazine was interesting...and I got this magazine because I've heard so much about the joy and fun in raising chickens- which is doable even in a suburban setting. Now some people might raise chicken for meat(which is great and also the most eaten meat in the US) but for me, its ALL about the egg.

Lets be honest...there are not many dishes that the addition of an egg doesnt make better. Quite possibly the best part of a cobb salad is the egg on top(i'm not quite sure why its not included on more salads). Eggs on a sandwich or burger, for some reason, make it so much more decadent. If you've ever seen the movie Spanglish, you may remember the sandwich Adam Sandler cut in half, with the egg yolk drizzling out...any foodie had to be salivating at that image. Its also quite customary to crack an egg into ramen noodles, or the bubbling crock of korean soondubu jjugae(tofu stew). The emulsifying properties of eggs enable them to bind together concoctions like mayonnaise, which any lover of sandwiches can tell you, is what gives a nice fat sandwich some satisfying and needed moistness. Obviously the best part of eggs benedict are eggs. "Ah but the dreamy hollandaise sauce!", you say---alas, also an emulsion of butter and egg yolks. Even all by themselves-hard boiled, scrambled, over-easy, poached, preserved, salted-eggs lack nothing. Once a few friends and I, scrambled 30 eggs to try and appease our college sized cravings.

And all this is on top of the role that eggs play in desserts and baked dishes. Without eggs, you would have no light and fluffy lemon meringue pies and souffles..no decadent flans, creme brulees or trifles...no cakes even! The role that eggs play on a chemical level in these recipes are crucial for development of structure and flavor. Eggs lay the groundwork and lattice(literally) for all these different desserts.

Nutritionally, eggs are complete in their offerings of fat and protein. They contain vitamins A, B6, B12, D and E as well as riboflavin, folic acid, choline, iron, calcium, phosphorus and potassium. Although they are high in cholesterol, there is still much speculation on the hazards of eggs outweighing the benefits.

So, I love eggs. Life would be a pale shade of what it once was if eggs were to somehow vanish from our lives. To the person who first saw an egg drop seemingly from the butt of a bird and said "hmm i wonder what that tastes like?", i have to say...what the heck were you thinking??? but then, i have to say, THANK YOU for being so stupidly brave.

countdown #5

2010-03-10T03:30:00.000-08:00

I'm going to kick off this blog by counting down my top 5 favorite ingredients/foods. these things are quite possibly the impetus behind why i am so passionate about food...

#5 Beauty of the Yeast

There are few things so overlooked and forgotten as the hard work that is put in by these amazing little creatures. The kind of relationship we have with yeast is like a person who gives and gives, constantly working at making the life of their loved one more comfortable, while they are forever ignored, mistreated, and abused-in which we are the heartless, dirtbags who care only for ourselves. And yet, the beauty of yeast, is that we use it, and abuse it and it doesnt care...cuz well, they are single cell organisms with no brains or feelings.

Its weird to think about this, but yeast waste, farts, and cycle of death, is what makes things like bread and wine taste good. In fact, the amazing, unmistakeable smell and taste of fresh baked bread is due to the high heat, baked death of these little guys. Basically, they give their lives so that you can eat well. The same goes for their roles in the production of wines and beer.

And quite possibly my favorite embodiment of this remarkable creature is--

You either hate it or you love it...but vegemite is loaded with yeast. its a graveyard of dead, exploded yeast, that makes the killing fields look like a nice vacation. i love it. and i love them. thank you little fellas!

first entry

2010-03-10T03:08:00.000-08:00

so this is my first entry...and i'm trying to figure out exactly why i've decided to start a new blog. i think its a combination of other friends of mine who have started blogs, the fact that my xanga is pretty much dead, and the frustration that 140 characters on twitter doesnt quite satiate the urge within me to express all my thoughts and opinions.

and food...why food? i think there is something about food(specifically, good food) that people from all walks, and in all stages, can relate to. while life is full of drama, ups and downs, heartbreaks, confusion, etc, a good meal can bring a moment of satisfaction that is unmatched-momentarily helping you forget, or bringing back a feeling you once had-familiar smells and tastes of a past life that was somehow simpler, if even just in memories.

so i'm going to write about meals i've had, things i've observed, heard about, experienced...or just a story of a memory that might float to the surface of my brain. in any case, i hope to entertain, inform, vent and share with my unique view of the world...ENJOY