Experiencing Japan Through Candy: May Japan Crate

For the past few months, my sister and I have been subscribed to Japan Crate, a monthly surprise box of Japanese snacks and candy.  Our May Japan Crate came on Tuesday and I wanted to share a little about what the box was about.

Just-opened box, neatly assembled with the information booklet on top.

We've been getting the Original Crate, which includes about 10-12 items per box.  The Premium Crate generally comes with a few more items and a drink.  I love Japanese drinks, as they're generally fruit-based and milkier in texture.  And of course, without fail, every month after seeing the drink item in the Premium Crate, my sister asks me if we should upgrade.

This month, some of the items we got were panda-shaped chocolate wafers, nori-flavored potato chips (I am so excited for these), caramel corn balls, sour cider gum, and even a tiny neko (cat) in a cup.

But wait, there's more!  The Original-level crate also comes with one DIY snack item.  They generally require you to work for your snack, usually by melting chocolate into a mold, creating a play on a s'more, or in this month's box, mixing jelly powder with water to create a melon jello snack.

It was as gelatinous and refreshing as you would expect melon jello to be.  We always look forward to the crate and I'm pretty excited to try out the other snacks this month.

Currently listening to: "Naughty" Trignal

Shirlington Brunch at Palette 22

While trying to come up with a topic for my next blog post, I'd completely forgotten the fact that a few weeks back, a few friends and I went to a newly-opened restaurant/artist studio in the Shirlington neighborhood, Palette 22.  I had heard a plug for the opening of Palette 22 from a radio DJ on the way home from work one day, describing the restaurant as a restaurant that would feature a rotating set of artists in residence at the restaurant.  Additionally, it would serve small plates and drinks.  So I dragged a few of my friends along to check in out.

An artist quietly working at easels set up throughout the restaurant.

Drinks are apparently their specialty.

Because Palette 22 is more of a tapas restaurant, guests were encouraged to order several small plates and share them among their party.  Had my friends and I not have gone for brunch, we may have tried this out.  But alas, we ordered just one plate each, giving their globally-inspired menu a try.

I ended up getting the Tacos al Pastor.  Verdict: ehh, the meat was pretty dry and the flavors, I didn't think, had incorporated well.

While I will say I did sorta like the vibe and aesthetic of the space, with the murals and artist loft-feel, I don't think I'll be paying Palette 22 another visit.  I wasn't particularly a fan of the food or the prices, but I do love the concept.  Supporting and giving exposure to local artists is, I think, a great idea.  I'll be curious to see how Palette 22 fares.

Currently listening to: "Bird" Oldcodex

Tea and Real-World Advice at A Baked Joint

On the recommendation of a friend, I visited A Baked Joint in DC yesterday for a coffee date with a colleague.  When I say coffee, I really mean tea.  And when I say date, I really mean a very adult, real-world meetup with a WM alum I met late last year.  He currently works as a field service engineer with Agilent Technologies and introduced me to the idea of pursuing that career myself.  It was honestly such a mind-opening realization when I first met him, to learn that I could make a living of installing, servicing, and maintaining analytical instruments.  It probably sounds boring, I know, but right now, it's at the top of my five-year plan.

So in keeping contact with him, we met up in a super trendy, recently opened coffee shop to talk shop; giving career advice, catching up, and swapping stories about our analytical chemistry lives.  The sister store of Baked & Wired in Georgetown, A Baked Joint, in the Mt. Vernon Square area of DC, offers freshly baked breads and a wide variety of coffee and teas, all in a beautifully open space, complete with an open kitchen.  I've been told the breakfast biscuits are the must-get item, but that'll have to be for another time.  In my sickly state, I only ordered a jasmine tea.

Apologies for the plagiarism, but these photos were taken from A Baked Joint's instagram, found here:

It was a nice change of pace, getting out of Northern Virginia and seeing someone outside of my normal circle.  He heavily emphasized not becoming stuck in the job I have now and pursuing the career if it was what I really wanted to do, so I'll be sure to keep that in mind when I decide to change jobs.  Also, I might have to start to take my tea presented as they do.  I have a glass teapot and I thought I had a small wooden tray.  If not, that's always something I can find at a nearby Goodwill.

Currently listening to: "Fire and the Flood" Vance Joy

Hot Pot and Pumpkins Galore

Why is it that my trips home revolve around food?  I'm not sure, but I'm not going to question it.  Fall break at home, while still rainy, was spent with family and food.  My sister and I baked two pumpkin recipes: Pumpkin Poppers and Pumpkin Bread.  Both came out really well, if I do say so myself.

For dinner one night, we had hot pot.  The dish revolves around a boiling pot of broth in the middle of the table and all types of accoutrements; noodles, vegetables, meats, and seafood.  As always, it was amazing.

Another day, my parents and I visited a small farmers market nearby.  I just can't stay away from a farmers market and the autumn vegetables.

Currently listening to: "Alone Together" Fall Out Boy

Farm 2 Fork

I'm beyond excited to write a post about the amazing dinner I went to yesterday.  Our campus held their 2nd annual Farm to Fork dinner outside on the Sunken Gardens.  The idea of the dinner was to take food produced and grown in local farms and put together a big, family-style dinner for a couple hundred foodies and people who want to feel good about knowing where their food is coming from.

After a stressful and busy week, this event was great for getting my spirits back up.  The event started just before sundown and it was a perfect autumn atmosphere.  All guests that attended were given small jars of local jam to take with them; I took back strawberry and blackberry jam.  The table setting was a basket filled with autumnal vegetables and a mason jar with water and rosemary.  Throughout the dinner, there were various folk music groups performing.

Table setting.  The basket and pumpkin are looking great in my apartment now.

Most importantly, the dinner was phenomenal.  A picture of the menu is up above and I think my favorite course was the wild mushroom lasagna, with the crab dip a close second.  The combination of the incredible food and the meal being family-style resulted in a comatose-like state by the end of the dinner.

Roast Free Range Chicken with Assorted Vegetables and Seasonal Greens

 Five Spice Rubbed Beef Brisket with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables

 

Supporting local farmers and smart, healthy eating are both things for which I am a big proponent. Having learned about the food industry methods and the environmental effects, in addition to its effect on small and local farmers, has led me to "shop on the edges of the supermarket" and buy organic and seasonal as often as I can.  This dinner was the perfect mix of my environmental and food consciousness.

Currently listening: "Featherstone" The Paper Kites

An Untraditional Fourth and the Songs of Summer

I was fortunate enough to have a long weekend back at home for the holiday.  I spent some well-needed time with my family, saw some friends, and ate a lot of good food.  I've always enjoyed helping my mother in the kitchen, but I don't think it was until my recent health kick that I've really enjoyed cooking my own food.  It's the only way to know exactly what you're putting into your food and body.

Our Fourth of July meal was pretty different than the typical holiday fare.  My mom made a black sweet rice dish with coconut, peanuts, and sugar.  For dinner, we made gỏi cuốn, Vietnamese spring rolls.  It was light, refreshing, and perfect for the hot weather.  For dessert, I made a double layer cake, with pineapple, coconut, and a pudding filling.  It was my first time making a double layer cake and I think it turned out pretty well.  It was my mom's recipe, but I really wanted to bake something.  It's also a family favorite, so it was a winning situation for all.

The next morning, I made my own granola, with cranberries and almonds.  This might be my new favorite snack to make.  It's so easy to make, healthy and delicious.  :)

I think it was too relaxing of a holiday at home...it was definitely hard to come back to school.

The second part of this post is a music post.  Here are some songs for summer.

"Ooh La La" Britney Spears

"Chocolate" The 1975

Currently listening to: "Chocolate" The 1975

Fiesta Asia Street Fair in DC

Today, my family and I went to the Fiesta Asia Street Fair that took place on a few streets in DC.  It was a fairly small festival, but filled with vendors, performances, and crafts.  While there was a fairly constant sprinkle of rain, I had a good time.

The food:

The clothing:

The skills and abilities that are held by a shrinking few:

Fan calligraphy

Dough sculpting

Images made from carving the individual "negative spaces" into black paper

Currently listening to: Weenie Roast 2013 Livestream

S-T-R-E-S-S-E-D is just D-E-S-S-E-R-T-S spelled backwards

We've reached that horrible time in the semester; when the list of "things that stand between me and Spring Break" feels a mile long.  I have three exams, a PChem lab report, and a PChem problem set due before I can get on the bus home.  I wasn't feeling stressed about it last night, but after getting back an exam and problem set this morning...it's starting to get to me.  Grades..are not where they should be.  So I'm feeling the pressure for these three coming up.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel however.  I've been getting spurts of happiness from food blogs.  While I'm still on a health kick, I've found some sweet recipes that I need to try soon:

Strawberry Fruit Tart from Easy Eats (recipe)

 Strawberry Scones from Confections of a Foodie Bride (recipe)

 

French Toast with Berries from queen of quinoa (recipe)

 

Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Bars from Easy Eats (recipe)

So in the meantime, spending my study breaks on food blogs will have to suffice.

Currently listening to: "Madness" Muse

Year of the Snake

Happy Lunar New Year to all who celebrated this weekend!

I was lucky enough to be able to go home for the weekend to be with my family.  Based on today, this coming year will be full of eating amazing food and being in transit.  One new year tradition is that the first day of the new year will be indicative of the rest of your year; meaning you don't want to clean or cook food on the first day of the new year.

Here are some pictures from my New Year celebration.

"Traditional" new year food, canh chua and thit kho (links to recipes and absolutely gorgeous pictures from The Ravenous Couple):

All food, before it's eaten, needs to be put out for our ancestors.  You always have to remember where you came from.

Games (and gambling)!  This game's called "bầu cua cá cọp", translated from Vietnamese to "squash-crab-fish-tiger".  It's a game of chance and dice; you bet money on whichever picture you think the dice will roll.  I call this gambling for the children...

..and here's the gambling for the adults.  This is a card game that's been played at family reunions for as long as I can remember.  It's played with four players and to summarize the game in a sentence, you rearrange your cards in a group of three, five, and five cards, trying to create your best three "poker" hands.

 And pictures of the family!

Currently listening to: "Locked Out of Heaven" Bruno Mars at the Grammy's