Today at work I ate:

Steamed mussels, clams and shrimp in a red chili soup.  Mixed greens salad with goat cheese, apples, toasted sliced almonds all tossed in an olive oil vinagrette.  And french fries sprinkled with sea salt on the side. What a delicious job. :)

Cheese Factor and Weddings

I wish I meant, literally, cheese.  But I don't.  For once, not a food related cheese reference.  *gasp*

Actually, I was just shocked to find out an old classmate is now MARRIED.  Uhm, you're 22.  That's CRAZY!  Maybe not for everyone, but it happens.  So my whole weekend was full of sappy Hallmark and Lifetime movies about weddings, marriage, and all that complicated adult relationship business.  The cheese factor was to the extreme in all those movies.  I could hardly stand it sometimes.  Major cheese!

I'm angry the Giants lost to the Dodgers again.  I ooze with hatred for the Dodgers!  Grr!  That aside, I was thinking about weddings and large celebrations in general.  I have my best friend's graduation in June and I hope to make it easier to find me by making a very large arrow pointing at me and her family.  Like really, I'll be hiding in a sea of tall blondes.  Can you blame me??

I mentioned before that I'm probably, most likely, fairly certain though not medically proven, that I'm hypo-glycemic.  I have to eat.  Well, snack.  So during my graduation my mother made me a candy lei and an apple lei for eating during the 3-hour ceremony.  She knows I get cranky if I'm not munching on some food and even angry if I'm out in the sun.  It was a HOT day.  But ever so delicious.  My leis caused such a stir that we nearly had a picnic in our row.  And I was thinking, weddings are pretty long too.  At least the church ones are.  As a bride, you probably didn't eat in the 24hrs leading up to the big day.  Who does that?!  So I propose (haha, pun)  an edible bouquet for the bride and bridesmaids.  YUM.  Of course, mix in some flowers but place fruit shaped like flowers too.  So good. And while the priest is going on about spending eternity with each other, the bride can be nibbling on some delicious fresh fruit.  I don't know about you but that's what's going down at my wedding.  It'll be a delicious day indeed. :)  Cheers!

Yes, I'd like some pineapple daisies in my bouquet as well. Thanks.

K.I.S.S.

Keep It Simple, Stupid!

I had a recent craving for In-N-Out burgers but then I wondered about their marketing for such a brilliant, delicious product.  There is no marketing! There is no PR.  There are (thankfully) no commercials to taint its image.  Local to California, the ingredients won't travel far to reach its restaurant location.  However, what makes this product so brilliant is the simplicity of ordering.  Everyday we are subjected to decision-making.  Companies with the newest product developed for consumers to try and shoving it down our throats.  Standing in the grocery store aisle staring at multiple versions of fiber healthy cereal, I am annoyed and overwhelmed with so many choices.  Have you ever experienced waiting in line at the fast food counter and someone ahead can't make a decision to satisfy your impatience?  Yes. Or maybe that's you.  You're not to be blamed.  Freedom of choice comes at a price, even if you are selecting from the $1 menu.

So In-N-Out; Thank you for making my life simple.  And even though the secret menu exists, it's made perfect for selecting the perfect burger for each lifestyle.  Why can't all decisions be this simple?  In-N-Out has mastered this technique and instead concentrate on the quality of their products vs. diversity.  What a confusing world we live in.  Just K.I.S.S!

Speaking of the industry, I am currently reading Best Food Writing 2008 and found a quote I would like to immortalize on my blog.  I could not agree more.
"I'm so sick and tired of how awesome it is to work at Google or *ucking Apple or one of those tech companies," he says. "Why can't it be awesome to work for a food company? Why can't we create an environment where people are trying to push each other to do great things, and we're not trying to steal from anybody, we're trying to be good to our farmers and run an honorable business, if there is such a thing anymore?" -Chef David Chang, Owner of Momofuku Ssam Bar.
(Chef on the Edge by Larissa MacFarquhar)

Think about that food manufacturers.  What are you doing to the greater community? No amount of philanthropic could make up for a farmer out of business.

On another note, a kindergartener tried to kiss me yesterday.  That was awkward. haha.  Good thing I'm great at dodging!  Who knew I was loved so much! One thing they all need to learn: self control. lol. the end.

Insta-Cravings

We all get them.  They come at completely random times of the day.  There is no predicting when it will occur.  They are in fact, Insta-cravings.  And I have one right now.  DONUTS.

Back at Cal Poly, there was a 24-hour donut establishment that catered to the stressed college student studying at 3am, to the drunk post-party crowd, and to those random cravings.  I actually never visited the place until my final year at Cal Poly.  Who knew I was missing out on so much!  Therefore, on those insta-craving days at times that are far beyond anyone's decent bedtime hour, I would make a trip to the infamous donut shop.  That was then; this is now.

Being back in San Francisco, breakfast and snacks are no longer whatever I choose to eat at times I crave them.  And I have yet to find a decent donut shop.  No, San Francisco foodies, I'm not talking about gourmet donuts. (That words is being overused!)  I mean a normal person, stereotypical police officer-type donut.  Glazed, powdered, cinnamon sugar, filled, and holes.  Long before the days of saturated fats and high fructose corn syrup scares, my mother actually allowed us to have donuts every Sunday as an extra special treat.  We always went to Glaze Donuts in the Excelsior district picking out our favorites.  I always got the chocolate with sprinkles.  So sugary and sweet, it was a pretty donut to behold.  Yet, Krispy Kreme came along and then independent shops had some major competition.  With its location in near Daly City, it's not too far to go to satisfy both your donut craving and In-n-Out craving.  Whoever designed that small corner is a genius.  But I'm not in favor of Krispy Kreme.  It's just too sweet.

So while Glaze Donuts (Yay for neighborhood businesses!) may satisfy my craving for now, where will I go if that craving comes at 2am?  The search continues...

Flip-side

Oh Christ.  I have definitely let this blog fall to the way side.  I used to complain about not having anything to do.  And now I have too much to do!  My plate is overflowing and I feel slightly overwhelmed but even more motivated.  Yay for stress!

So why did I leave?  I've put my passion for food into the back corner of my mind because the industry clearly blacklisted me.  I'm slightly annoyed but hope the marketing field will come around.  In the meantime, I found what works for me.  Kids.  I've always been really good with them, or so I've been told. I don't really think much about it.  So why let the talent go to waste.  I'll teach.  I'll do something good and make an impact on lives in a classroom.  Teachers are the true heroes.  And after what I've seen in a kindergarten classroom, that is the absolute truth.  Now begins the true test of perseverance (yay I spelled it right!) in applying for a credential program.  Personal statements, CSETs, and FAFSA, oh my.

On another note, I was thrilled to hear the words, "We really wanted you for our organization! We feel you fit the role perfectly."  Not everyday that I get a chance to hear that.  I joined a non-profit fulfilling multiple duties from admin, event planning, to management soon.  It's great experience and though I'm not making $$, I am thankful to be in a supportive environment with amazing people.

And now when I've gotten more than enough on my plate, I get a response from a company I would love to work for.  But now that I have kindergarteners counting on me and actually cheer when I walk into the room, I don't know if experience is enough for me to abandon them.  I don't commit halfheartedly.  Especially when it comes to kids.  I have a feeling hard decisions will have to be made soon.  Like they say, you can't have everything.  But I'd like to try.

2011: More cheers, less tears, and no jeers.

Happy New Year!  Sorry I have been out of contact.  So many family members were visiting San Francisco that our house turned into a hotel.  Anyways! My holidays were filled with family love and lots of eating. haha. Best part of the holidays.

So my motto for this year is just as the heading says: More cheers, less tears, and no jeers.  2010 was a horrendous year for me.  Despite graduating, moving to Davis, and having fun with friends, I have never suffered so much rejection within a few short months.  Each met with disappointment, some tears, and a fierce headache.  I can only hope 2011 will involve less crying and more celebrations over accomplishments.  As it stands now, I have already been rejected yet again from another job and enjoy another week of freedom before I begin classes at CCSF.  Those who cannot find work, return to school. I think I'll go for my M.Ed. at SF State.  I just wonder how much is to be done to work in a 1st grade classroom.  I'll talk to the counselors there.  I rather play with kids who listen, understand, and love me than be reprimanded, yelled at, or insulted by grown ups in the workforce.  I cannot stand such seriousness. It gives me a brain tumor. Life goes on I guess. Now the cloudy weather matches my mood. This is just fantastic.