so yesterday erick & i went to thai temple brunch at about 10:30am
i didn't even notice the temple until we actually walked to it & i saw colorful adornments on the building with gold and a walkway into the back that reminded me just of taiwan night markets
there was fast talking in thai behind the stands but confused Americans wandering around looking at each food & sign trying to understand
we first went to convert our money to "the local currency" as erick put it which were aluminum tokens imprinted w/ thai temple donation and pictures (1 token = $1)
then we proceeded to stare at everything because we really didn't know what anything was called & even when we ordered we just pointed & said "that"
erick got a "rotie," some sort of sugary coconut thing in a tub, & yellow curry (which was vegetarian by accident (we were observing carefully enough)) & i got the rotie & curry & this other sweet thing that was made of sugar, coconut milk, & taro & we both got thai ice tea
sweet things: $2/each
curry: $4
thai ice tea: $1
the yellow curry was good & filling
the rotie was basically a pancake w/ many many layers filled with sugar & condensed milk & then rolled into a long shape & wrapped in foil
it was like a really really oily & sweet & never ending doughnut we agreed
erick said, "next thing you know all the police will be walking around with these" & we both pretended to look like tough police people
& my taro coconuty things were good..they kinda were like a harder mochi texture...i gave the rest to my mom to try
they unfortunately didn't have the coconuty pancake things everyone seems to talk about & erick is sad cuz the last two times he's gone they haven't had them...
but it was super yummy & highly recommended
......
great china
i've been wanting to go for a while thus it being on my list & since my parents are probably better at knowing what to order i went with them today to celebrate my birthday
i ordered what chowhounds said to order (duck & double skin)
so...we got the tea smoked duck (because it was a half & we didn't want a whole)($12.95), double skin($11.95), honey walnut prawns(?), and seafood dumplings($6.95)
there was complimentary hot & sour soup that tasted really fresh
the double skin was a thick clear noodle w/ shreds of egg & cucumber & carrots & sea cucumber & shrimp & squid & wood ear & pork...it was then tossed at our table with sauce & hot chinese mustard...it was very good...(it was a cold salad)
the tea smoked duck was fab...it was garnished w/ oranges & served w/ two steamed buns...the skin was crispy & the meat tender & you could definitely smell the tea smoke
the honey walnut prawns were not as lightly fried as the more chinese places but we agreed it was still good because the prawns were so big
oh yea & the seafood dumplings were soo good...handmade wrappers (haven't had that since my grandma still lived with us) & it was filled with pork & all sorts of seafood & it came with a garlic chili soy dipping sauce that was light & yummy
& the fortune cookies as "take as many as you want" because there's a basket above the fish tank
it was really yummy & i'm glad i went w/ my parents cuz otherwise i wouldn't have ordered so much & tried so many different things
it's more of a korean-chinese or san dong cuisine
i will definitely be going back for dumplings for myself!
.....
yesterday chris & i had a very food nerdy conversation about food network
we talked about who's life we wanted the most out of all of them & we both agreed on barefoot contessa's ina garten
as the commercial says "she's a caterer, a partygiver, and a hostess who knows how to have fun!"
to describe her life briefly...she's a caterer w/ what looks like a rich husband (& they're totally cute together) & she has all these gay friends that help her do a lot of the decorating if needed (she's great at doing it herself too) & she's always having friends over for parties & she makes everything look soooo simple & she goes to beach picnics & what not & she has a garden w/ all sorts of veggies & fruits & herbs...ANYWAYS
so we decided we wanted to be her friend & chris said it would suck too though because when it was our turn to cook she'd just laugh at us cuz we suck!
& i said she'd say "these are my good friends chris & connie & they're always good for a laugh!"
& then we started saying all sorts of stuff she'd say (cuz after watching too many shows you just know)
& then we got to dessert & chris said she'd make something reminescent of our childhood..ice cream sandwiches! w/ scharffen berger chocolate
& then she'd say "this one is for chris, the big messy one!" (she always seems to give the guys the big pieces)
& after this convo was over chris said, "i wonder if this is what sports fanatics do...sit around & dream up a hypothetical situation in which him & his favorite player are playing"
me: "probably not..."
.....
& then a few minutes later i had the funniest image of a show on food network about the other food network stars
like paparazzi photos of them leaving their house & then footage of them at the gym!
& chris said "it could be called 40 sightings a day! or stalks on the street"
& then we both agreed that we would have too much footage of sandra lee, giada delaurentis, & michael chiraello because they're all in california
wow...we really are losers...actually i'd rather be called a food nerd:P



