British Invasion: The Scotch Egg, Part 2

Last week, I waxed on about the awesomeness of the Scotch egg. Don't get me wrong, I still believe they're delicious but I'm not one to just leave things alone without screwing with it (I just can't help myself!). Enter: The Japanified Scotch egg. Hunh? Yep. A hard-boiled quail egg wrapped in gyoza meat, coated in panko and fried. I know what you're thinking: Fried Meat Happiness. Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking!

It's a little early for my coming-of-age period but I'm Turning Japanese by The Vapors seems appropriate for today's British Invasion post. So pop over to YouTube and pop back. We've got some tasty quail eggs to make.

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Menkui Tei - satisfying a ramen craving

It didn't start off this way but a few weeks ago, Mr. Mari and I ended up on a mini Lord of the Rings quest to eat some ramen. We walked to Rai Rai Ken and Minca only to be greeted on the sidewalk by so many people loitering in front of each restaurant that we knew the wait would be at least 45 minutes per place. We didn't even bother with Momofuku. We were wayyy too hungry for that so we went to our fall back spot: Menkui Tei. Think of Menkui Tei more like a ramen diner dive - a beer postered, glaringly bright high gloss walled and fluorescent lighting kinda place. It doesn't have a pedigree chef or sous vide eggs. They haven't even updated their website to include their downtown location, which has been in existence for at least four years. But never mind those facts. You're not there for finery; you're there to satisfy your lust for a solid and simple, traditional bowl of noodles.

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Black Ivory Coffee: The new Civet Coffee?

At $50 a cup, I don't think I'll be drinking a lot of elephant poop coffee but I'll try it at least once. Funnel Mill in Santa Monica carries kopi luwak (civet poop coffee). Do you think they'll carry this too? What do you think - would you try a cup? 

i-Pic Movie Theaters

When I met Mr. Mari, we used to go to a dinner and a movie with friends but eventually he grew to loathe going to the movies in New York because of the audience. He wants to be swept into the movie but whenever some audience member yells at the screen, stays in their seat with a crying baby on their lap, answers their audibly ringing cellphone - and has a conversation - it takes him out of the immersive experience. Last year, we saw only four movies that we deemed "had to be seen" on a big screen. However, I sense a shift in our future...

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Comparing, Conscious Incompetency, Ira Glass and Soloflex

Last week my friend Joy wrote about not comparing herself to others as something that she should always be working on, not just as a New Year's resolution. In the Comments Section, Carlene wrote the quote, "Never compare your beginning to someone else's middle." Wow. That so resonated with me, especially at my current juncture. 

Many years ago, I went through a really rough patch and upon a friend's urging, I started seeing Susie, a therapist. Susie helped my crawl out of my black as tar chasm up onto the side of a grassy hill. One of the things she'd say as I'd struggle, was that for every new challenge one takes on, one goes through four phases: 

1. Unconscious Incompetency
2. Conscious Incompetency
3. Conscious Competency
4. Unconscious Competency 

To decode her, in the beginning of any new challenge, you start off just doing - you don't realize that what you're doing just isn't very good. Then you move to a phase when you realize, oh - this isn't very good at all. If you stick with it (and this part is key), you will get better at it. Then at some point, you're so good at it, you don't even realize that you're doing it. And if you're the growing type, a new challenge will appear and you'll get to start the entire cycle all over again.  

As a new blogger, it's hard not to constantly doubt myself and wonder if I should be pursuing this path. "Her photos are so much better than mine" "Her posts are so much more eloquent than mine" "She has so many more readers than I do". So between the eloquent and simple quote Carlene shared to what Susie has drummed into my head, it's okay. I'm okay. It's just part of the growing process. If you haven't seen the terrific video that David Shiyang Liu created based on Ira Glass' inspiring video on storytelling, click here to watch it because - to quote the Soloflex slogan from my childhood, "No pain, no gain."

(Video still via David Shiyang Liu; ridiculously buff guy image via Soloflex, circa 1983)

British Invasion: The Scotch Egg, Part 1

The Scotch egg. Never heard of it? Well, sit back and let me wax on about how awesome this foodstuff is. Simply put, it's a hard boiled egg that's been wrapped in sausage meat, breaded and deep-fried. It's the handheld proto turducken. Can you imagine getting two breakfast-flavor bites in one, while lounging on a picnic blanket? Or while you're standing in a bar with a pint in your other hand? Yuh-hum!! It also has a real caveman-like, visceral appeal to it - like biting into an apple but it's all meat! ARRR! Scotch eggs are typically take-out or pub food, since it's meant to be eaten with your hands. What makes it "Scotch" is that the sausage is Banger sausage. I purchased the one above at Myers of Keswick but it's pretty easy to make at home with this recipe from Bon Appétit. Top it off with a little Branston pickle and get your Caveman on! Yeah!

For today's British Invasion song, I thought Billy Idol's Rebel Yell was manly enough for the post. Enjoy, Happy Friday and see you on Monday!

Cooking with Talia: Zoku Pops and More

While Mr. Mari and I were in Florida for the holidays, our niece, Talia, wanted to bake something with me. What she didn't know was the Christmas present Mr. Mari and I were giving her would end up being the project we worked on together.

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A New Year, A New City

Happy New Year, Everyone! I'm not one to really come up with New Year's resolutions but this year, I decided I'm going to do and/or try the things that I resist the most. In that vain, the biggest thing I've avoided or wouldn't even consider is leaving New York City. I love it here but Mr. Mari's never quite embraced NYC like I have. After much soul searching, he figured out that going back to school to study visual effects is what he wants to do. And since I love Mr. Mari more than I love New York City (gasp!) we're heading to Los Angeles at the end of February. 

What does this mean for me? In a nutshell, it means new restaurants and food stores, super fresh produce (Sumo oranges, baby!) and time to eat everything out of our fridge and freezer. There are probably a few things that I'll pack on ice and take with me but me thinks the Hellman's mayo and Heinz ketchup will be left behind. Am I nervous, excited and freaked out? Oh, boy howdy, I am. I'm not very good with change but I do like adventures and this is probably the biggest adventure of my life. So far.

(Image of dinosaur taken at Nick Metropolis Collectible Furniture)