This is a Bust

Ever wonder what happens to a foodie after her refrigerator and boiler system decide to shut down within the same week?

Refrigerator down = black coffee, by default. Not bad.

On the other hand, heater down = cold showers, no laundry, no washing dishes (not sure whether to be grateful for that).




Some thoughts on lo-tech living:

Concerned readers should be somewhat relieved to hear that I haven't been subsisting on ramen and nutella alone, though I really do love nutella. Back in the old days (think wayyy back, before refrigerators were invented), people stored their food in caves, cellars, snow and even ice. Goods were packed up in canned jars to preserve the freshness.

When ice boxes came onto the scene in the early 19th century, explosive methyl ether, ammonia and zinc were all used as refrigerants before more energy efficient alternatives were invented in the 1970s. Then, in the late 1800s to 1929, toxic chemicals (methyl chloride and sulfur dioxide) took a turn for the worse. After a methyl chloride leak that led to several fatalities, three American companies combined their resources to discover Freon, which is used in most standard compressor refrigerators today. General Electric and Gibson were influential in the refrigerator market.

Electrolux introduced the first electric refrigerator in 1923.

Refrigerators have now become a necessity. It is the No. 1 most used appliance in America and more than 99.5% households use one.

The evaporative cooling box caught my eye. You can create this with just 5 dollars or so, using everyday items lying around the house. It's especially handy for camping trips. Take out your hammer, scissors and staples and get ready to drill!

Pics from when the refrigerator was still working:

Koryodang Cream Pan, $1.25 (H Mart)

Old Fashioned Plain Cheesecake, $34 for whole (Pocono Cheesecake Factory)

Locations:
H Mart
400 Hillside Av
Williston Park, NY 11596
516.699.0270
www.hmart.com

Pocono Cheesecake Factory
Rte 611
Swiftwater, PA 18370
570.839.6844
http://poconocheesecake.com/

'Hood Food

Fried rice made with leftover char siu (barbecued pork), eggs, scallions, soy sauce and spam. As you can see, spam is getting a run for its money in our house.

Baked ziti with fresh ricotta cheese and Bertolli olive & garlic tomato sauce.

Bronx. Straight up.

You may call it Vandalism. I call it Street Art.

Starbucks Cafe @ Barnes & Noble

English Breakfast Tea & Co.

This entry originally took place on March 10.

I love bookstores. As a self-professed bibliophile, books transport me to magical locations and unusual situations. I can explore the bustling markets of Marrakech, sip afternoon tea with the Brits and take surfing lessons in New Zealand, all without moving an inch. There's so much to see and hear: Colorful book jacket covers and journals on display, ambient music, folks from every background -- all within 100 square feet. And the aroma of house blend coffee fills the nostrils.

I packed up my books and braced myself for some hardcore work at Barnes & Noble. My favorite is the one in Union Square, but this one was in Carle Place, Long Island. In any case, my stomach began to rumble three hours into reading my notes. I decided to try the daily special: Balsamic Chicken Breast 1/2 Sandwich with Wild Rice & Chicken Soup. I waited about 5-7 minutes for my order. The lady in front of me who had ordered the same thing was impatiently harrying the waitstaff.

The sandwich itself was fine, but what I had a problem with was the portion size. A half sandwich here is not like one at Panera's -- it's more like 1/3 of the size of a regular sandwich. I crunched into a sliver of cheese and chicken breast (which was tender, thankfully). The soup was a pleasing medley of hearty wild rice, soft chicken chunks, broccoli and other vegetables.




My sister had a Spinach & Artichoke Strata. It was hot and eggy, but if you look closely, a strand of black hair was stuck in the middle of the globular structure. Not cool.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars -- Nothing extraordinary here, but the soup's texture rocked. I want to give it more, but the portions aren't worth the price (upwards of $7 for the sandwich-soup combo).


Location:
Country Glen Center
91 Old Country Road
Carle Place, NY 11514
516.741.9850

Like Water For Vases

It's cardboard-chic. Liquid cardboard, to be specific. This line of eco-friendly, recycled furniture is perfect for environmentalists. If you're hip on sustainable living, you'll be thrilled with cardboardesign. The 'liquid cardboard' name is derived from the pliable, free-flowing movement of the double and triple wall fluted recyclable cardboard, which is then transformed into different shapes, ranging from a vase to candle holders. All products are made in the U.S.A. The company even has an amusing cartoon column.

If you're a parent, why not indulge your kids' imaginations with a portable rocket or teepee? Personally, I'm a fan of the playhouse, though something tells me I could never fit inside it.

America's Favorite Cities 2008

"The results are in!

For our 2008 America's Favorite Cities survey, Travel + Leisure teamed up with CNN Headline News and asked travelers to rank 25 top U.S. cities in 45 categories, ranging from food and shopping to people, culture, nightlife, and more. More than 125,000 opinionated travelers voted—find out how your favorite city fared!"

No surprise, New York scored No. 1 for "people-watching," and received high honors for shopping, classical music and theater, stunning sights and skylines and its well-dressed, diverse people. Downside? Well, they don't say "the city never sleeps" for no reason. New Yorkers don't expect peace and quiet, and did I mention it's expensive?

As far as farmers' markets go, San Francisco is the one to beat. Foodies, take note: San Francisco is abundant with cafes and coffee shops, as well as a smorgasbord of restaurants, including ethnic/cheap eats. San Franciscans were ranked No. 5 in the "Intelligent" category. Plus, the city is environmentally active. But again, San Francisco (and California in general) is not the most affordable place to live.

While Los Angeles has some pretty good-looking people, its traffic is still the worst. At least the sunny weather compensates for it somewhat, eh?

Of course, I take CNN reports with a grain of salt, but this was still an entertaining read, if nothing else.

How did your hometown fare?

Imbibe Magazine

I can't believe I discovered this just now. For fans of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, Imbibe Magazine's got you covered with the latest in liquid culture. There's an in-depth article on the "Anatomy of a Leaf" that's a handy manual for all things tea-related, with a cursory overview of tea made in Asia, from Japan to Sri Lanka.

There's also fun summer recipes, like the refreshing Shady Creek Cooler, made with white peony tea, blueberries and lavender syrup (yes, lavender syrup). And Imbibe Unfiltered, a blog celebrating "wine, spirits and beer to coffee, tea and beyond."

Alice would approve.

Photo by CoffeeGeek.

Silver Anniversary

Happy 25th Anniversary, Momma & Papa I.! (Sorry, I'm a day late.)

March 10, 1984.

I remember those pictures well.

Snapshot one: Mom's blushing moon-shaped face emerging from the black Lincoln bridal pick-up car, her petite frame swathed in layers of white tulle and lace. In fact, she is wearing long sleeves because it's still in the heart of winter, 30-something degrees with snowy flakes falling all around.

Snapshot two: Family portrait at the church. Dad's summoning up the most un-Chandler smile ever (a first). Grandma's got her purple cat-eyed glasses on, looking smart. The bridal train spreads out over the steps. The groomsmen stand in height order, the bridesmaids clutching their small bouquets.

Snapshot three: Cake-feeding time. Dad goofily picks a huge slice and Mom has difficulty getting it in her mouth. A wad of white frosting smudges her rose lipstick. She is still beautiful.