I'm home!
Three great things happened today:
1.) I ate food that I didn't cook myself, hurrah!
2.) I got to meet my BFF's adorable dog! Charlie the yellow lab fits right in with his loving Asian family. He is playful, friendly, and will make a great meal one day if the economy keeps going at its current rate.
3.) My dad surprised me with a Pre! Yesssssss. I never get presents from my parents. "When I was your age all I owned was a rag and a dead cat." So this is pretty neat. I just have to call Sprint and see if I can switch my phone number over to this handset. If I can't, expect a Facebook group invitation sometime in the near future...apologies in advance.
Home is awesome. My bed is huge and I don't have any responsibilities. Those are pretty much the two criteria I need in order to be happy these days.
OK, I'm going to watch Law and Order: SVU until my brains fall out. Bye for now.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Food.
Is it just me, or has food become a really hot topic lately?
Maybe it's because of the hype from Julie & Julia. Or because this is the first time I've had cable TV and as much access to Iron Chef as I can possibly want. Or because the classiest dining establishment I've been to up until senior year was like, Chipotle.
In an effort to make myself like what everyone else likes, I started Googling some of the trendiest restaurants in Chicago and browsing their websites. And all I can say is wow.
You know it feels when you walk into an Abercrombie for the first time, see the douchey half-dressed mannequins, smell the douche-y beach perfume, and realize that the lighting is actually supposed to be this douche-ly dark? And then you look around at all the pre-pubescent teens squealing over fur-lined hoodies and think to yourself, "Really guys? You really buy into all this gimmicky setup and take yourself seriously for shopping here?" That's kind of how I felt looking at some of these menus and prices. Except I wasn't nearly as disapproving, just kind of awed by the extent to which these restaurants took their craft.
I'll focus on presenting you with snippets of Alinea's website, because it was Chicago's fanciest/snottiest/priciest restaurant by far:
"Under Chef Achatz’ leadership, Alinea has received worldwide attention for its hypermodern, emotional approach to dining."
What is that even supposed to mean? The only emotions I've ever incurred from dining are tears from cutting up onions and intense, gluttonous satisfaction from scarfing down a McDouble way too quickly.
"A programmable LED lighting system allows the walls to be tinted to fit the season or a particular course."
Right, because I'm going to refuse to finish eating this $145 meal because it's not the right tint of purple.
"Many of the staff are fit with the Z Zegna line of suits, cut in a slim fit, while the sommelier staff and Maitre d’ wear the more formal Sartorial suits and ties."
Yeah, that's right. The staff wear Ermenegildo Zegna suits that range in price between $2,000-$4,000. ...One of these suits can pay for an entire year of my rent. Moving on, here are some pictures of the restaurant:
Maybe it's because of the hype from Julie & Julia. Or because this is the first time I've had cable TV and as much access to Iron Chef as I can possibly want. Or because the classiest dining establishment I've been to up until senior year was like, Chipotle.
I'll never leave you for a snotty goat milk rhubarb, my love.
Suddenly everyone and their mom is now a connoisseur of the most exotic spices, the tastiest wines, and the most exclusive, celebrity-ridden restaurants in town. And here I am, scrubbing the burnt scrambled egg off the bottom of my pan, cursing myself for forgetting to use more olive oil and wondering if there are any more frozen burgers left in our fridge. In an effort to make myself like what everyone else likes, I started Googling some of the trendiest restaurants in Chicago and browsing their websites. And all I can say is wow.
You know it feels when you walk into an Abercrombie for the first time, see the douchey half-dressed mannequins, smell the douche-y beach perfume, and realize that the lighting is actually supposed to be this douche-ly dark? And then you look around at all the pre-pubescent teens squealing over fur-lined hoodies and think to yourself, "Really guys? You really buy into all this gimmicky setup and take yourself seriously for shopping here?" That's kind of how I felt looking at some of these menus and prices. Except I wasn't nearly as disapproving, just kind of awed by the extent to which these restaurants took their craft.
I'll focus on presenting you with snippets of Alinea's website, because it was Chicago's fanciest/snottiest/priciest restaurant by far:
"Under Chef Achatz’ leadership, Alinea has received worldwide attention for its hypermodern, emotional approach to dining."
What is that even supposed to mean? The only emotions I've ever incurred from dining are tears from cutting up onions and intense, gluttonous satisfaction from scarfing down a McDouble way too quickly.
"A programmable LED lighting system allows the walls to be tinted to fit the season or a particular course."
Right, because I'm going to refuse to finish eating this $145 meal because it's not the right tint of purple.
"Many of the staff are fit with the Z Zegna line of suits, cut in a slim fit, while the sommelier staff and Maitre d’ wear the more formal Sartorial suits and ties."
Yeah, that's right. The staff wear Ermenegildo Zegna suits that range in price between $2,000-$4,000. ...One of these suits can pay for an entire year of my rent. Moving on, here are some pictures of the restaurant:
Dear God, please let me one day have a house that looks like this.
And finally, what would this post be without some mind boggling pictures of Alinea's cuisinary art? Can you match the title of the dish with the picture?
Titles:
a.) Watermelon
b.) PB&J
c.) Transparency
d.) Peanut
e.) Coconut
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
Answers: 1.) D 2.) E 3.) B 4.) C 5.) A
...I don't understand it either...but everything looks so pretty.
And finally, what would this post be without some mind boggling pictures of Alinea's cuisinary art? Can you match the title of the dish with the picture?
Titles:
a.) Watermelon
b.) PB&J
c.) Transparency
d.) Peanut
e.) Coconut
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
...I don't understand it either...but everything looks so pretty.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Bleh.
This morning, I was walking to my apartment when it started raining. The rain began as a pleasant light drizzle but within thirty seconds grew into torrents of fat, angry raindrops that literally hurt when they landed on me. I felt like God was punishing me with this spiteful downpour. "Pew pew pew! Take that, suckaaa!" Needless to say, I was drenched in a matter of seconds and arrived at my apartment disgruntled, freezing, and smelling/looking like a wet dog. Did I mention this all happened at 7:40 in the morning?
I toweled off, changed clothes, made lunch, etc. Before I headed outside again, I made sure to put on my galoshes and grab an umbrella so I could take on the rain like a boss. But when I stepped out, I was greeted with the most serene and picturesque scenery you could ever imagine, the type you see at the end of Disney movies. The sun shone in its full force, birds filled the air with their sweet chirping, and baby bunny rabbits snuggled and tumbled in the bright green grass. There was even a fucking rainbow draped across the now cloudless blue sky. And here I was, umbrella in hand, giant galoshes on feet, my hair still dripping freezing rainwater onto my shoulders.
Pwned.
Some other lowlights of my weekend:
- Food poisoning from overpriced sushi
- Disgusting weather
- My bike being stolen
I'm still in disbelief about the last one. Every time I walk into my apartment and see its empty place I just convince myself that my bike is on vacation and will be returning shortly.
I toweled off, changed clothes, made lunch, etc. Before I headed outside again, I made sure to put on my galoshes and grab an umbrella so I could take on the rain like a boss. But when I stepped out, I was greeted with the most serene and picturesque scenery you could ever imagine, the type you see at the end of Disney movies. The sun shone in its full force, birds filled the air with their sweet chirping, and baby bunny rabbits snuggled and tumbled in the bright green grass. There was even a fucking rainbow draped across the now cloudless blue sky. And here I was, umbrella in hand, giant galoshes on feet, my hair still dripping freezing rainwater onto my shoulders.
Pwned.
Some other lowlights of my weekend:
- Food poisoning from overpriced sushi
- Disgusting weather
- My bike being stolen
I'm still in disbelief about the last one. Every time I walk into my apartment and see its empty place I just convince myself that my bike is on vacation and will be returning shortly.
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