The latest in the series of terrific restaurants from Beard Award-winning chef Jose Garces, Chifa blends Peruvian and Cantonese cuisines in unexpected and delicious ways.
We began with three different ceviches. First was bluefin tuna, served sashimi style, over coconut cream with cilantro-steeped tapioca pearls spooned on top like bright green caviar. The fish was tender and not at all fishy (in the bad way). Next was Ecuadorian shrimp, citrus-marinated in the traditional ceviche manner, served in a pool of yellow tomato gel with thin slices of avocado. Finally, there were savory spoonfuls of duck confit, topped with a morsel of foie gras and cherry puree.
We moved on to a crispy crab empanada, which was disappointingly mild in that crab way, but improved by a swirl through a reduction of sweet chile and a forkful of shaved cucumber.
Since the spousage doesn't eat pork, I got the pork belly buns all to myself. The ratio of pork to bun was perfect, and the hoisin glaze was rich and flavorful. Pickled daikon and carrot provided a satisfying crunch. Delicious.
Our noodle dish, duck wonton in Peking broth served with tender slices of Muscovy duck breast, was a wee bit salty, but so flavorful that all was forgiven.
Our final item, seared tenderloin with potatoes and wok-fried peppers and onions, was fine, but not a standout like the ceviches, dim sum and noodle dishes.
The only misstep was the peach nectar variation on the classic pisco sour; every single sip was a war between the sweetness of the peach and the tang of the pisco. Fortunately the Malbec rose I subsequently chose was perfect, and the spousage's Lima Bean Fizz (house-infused cucumber vodka, lima beans, and Thai basil) was surprising, light and fun.
#1 led me a merry chase through Alice's wonderland, where the spousage and a teary #2 caught up with us. #2 had reinjured his sensitive arm slightly, having decided while walking hand in hand with the spousage that he wanted to be going in the opposite direction, in which he then hurled himself. So I carried him upstairs, got everyone some food (unsalted soft pretzels are a great idea, particularly for those of us who generally brush the salt off otherwise, not to mention those of us for whom sodium contributes to painful diaper rash; the cafe also offers sandwiches served on rounds of baked pizza dough, and the grilled chicken with provolone, red onion, roasted red pepper and garlic basil mayo is really tasty), and held him close while he settled down.
#1 took the spousage for a ride on the carousel while #2 and I sat and stared at each other and laughed and snozzled.
After some faux Brio train action on the living room floor, #1 and I went off to dinner for a cousin's birthday, and I couldn't have asked for a better companion. He made conversation, ate nicely, and graciously served cake to all 16 guests.
I love my children.
I am sitting at a sidewalk table, under a shady umbrella, drinking the best decaf iced mocha latte I've ever had. And I've had them in a dozen countries on four continents.
My bagel was perfectly toasted, and if I deserve a reward later, they sell B.T. Brownies, which are locally-made, organic treats with a layer of chocolate chip cookie atop a layer of brownie.
And now, to work.
In the car on the way back, I put my head on his lap and he smoothed my hair.
A-!
He liked me. He really liked me.
- Poetry by Google auto complete.
- Optimus Prime does Letterman's Top Ten List.
- How to have more self-discipline.
- Love life, not stuff.
- Countries that get healthcare right.
- Best sticky notes ever. If only I could read Japanese...
- Recipe for rosemary grilled chicken thighs. Am I the only one who finds the word thighs rather erotic?
- I went to sleep last night, rather than finishing my homework. I was just that tired. I can catch up today.
- My early meeting was productive, even though more than half of the expected attendees didn't show. Two told us in advance (though if they actually used their Outlook calendars, I could have scheduled it at a mutually convenient time), one said she was coming but blew us off, and the others never bothered to respond at all. Sigh.
- Saw the dentist. She needs to replace two adjacent fillings she herself put in two years ago. Is this planned dental obsolescence, or what? The resin caps I got in 1998, however, are still going strong.
- The spousage came and met me for lunch afterward, sushi in the Comcast Center food court. Not inexpensive, but very tasty, and it was nice to see him. We then watched the wall for a while.
- We also gawked at the new Vaio netbooks. Man, are they slick! Small and sleek and light. But pricey - the lowest-end one is more than twice the price of my netbook.
- Here in the office, we are all half doing work and half gawking at the Michael Jackson memorial spectacle.
- I just cleansed my hands with antibacterial foam in Midnight Pomegranate. I keep wanting to put my hands over my face and just breathe a while. Yum.
Drift is the decision you make by not deciding, or by making a decision that unleashes consequences for which you don’t take responsibility.
Me, I don't drift. I paddle. I steer.
My husband? Is a drifter.
Makes it difficult, sometimes.
I thought I had til 12 midnight; the actual deadline was 12 noon.
I felt stupid apologizing, AGAIN, to the prof. Why should he believe me when I say I'm not usually such a scatterbrain?
Ugh.
And now I am feeling pressure (more than usual) to make my work perfect.
Ugh.
Short of preventing all deliveries during rush hour, this is a step in the right direction.
Now they just need pedestrian scrambles, since pedestrians and cars fighting for the road is another chief cause of gridlock.
And buses shouldn't stop at every single block.
Got #1 ready for his first week of summer camp. Sunscreen, check. Child-safe bug repellent, check. Change of clothes (in case of mud), check.
Mom Phooey drove him there, since I have a regularly-scheduled meeting on Monday mornings. Only today's was cancelled at the last minute, so I could have gone along. ::kicks work::
I can't wait to hear all about his day! This week's program is Things with Wings: Come fly away with us, as we learn about birds, butterflies, and other things that fly. Children will enjoy a visit from some live raptors and an up-close and personal look at live butterflies.
Hundreds of thousands registered, but only a few can be in attendance.
Bloody hell.
#1 changed his mind about the parade (which was just fine with me), so he played, and Mom Phooey and I cleaned the living room. The sofa was scary. Inside and underneath was a carnival of crumbs and cat hair. I filled up the hand vac and then had to switch to the big Miele canister.
Some outgrown toys were given to the wee girl next door, and a trunkload of other bits and pieces are in the car for the charity shop. Clearing out meant we could actually see and easily get to the toys the boys wanted to play with; we ended the day by setting up a rather impressive Brio train route, complete with two bridges and three tunnels, covering the entire surface of the coffee table.
I've been watching the Independence Day concerts on TV while catching up on MBA discussion boards. Philly's lineup has been far better than DCs; Jeffrey Gaines, The Roots, and now Sheryl Crow doing a surprisingly good set - I'd forgotten how many hits she's had. Also, she's totally hot. WTF, Lance Armstrong? Schoolwise, the same people are late-posting idiots; as usual, I account for ten percent of the posts in a class of 20.
The last 24 hours have included some serious parent!FAIL. Yesterday evening I inadvertently pulled #2's arm a bit, while swinging him up and out of the kitchen so I could cook dinner unimpeded by toddlerific antics. He wailed and wailed, and kept his arm close to him; he responded well to some rest and the fractional dose of baby Motrin we got into him before he realized what we were doing, and spent his second wind bouncing about the bedroom like a crazed monkey. He slept like a log until past 10AM, but then made the mistake of reaching out for the spousage across the bed. Who then made the mistake of grabbing his hands and pulling him across the bed. There was more wailing, and more Motrin, and more recovery, but man is it hard to deal with your child's tears when you are, however inadvertently, responsible for them.
We're meeting friends for a playdate tomorrow, which should be fun for everyone. Must leave time en route to pick up a Very Large Latte.
ETA: Sheryl Crow's set is running a bit late; the fireworks were supposed to start at 10:30, but she's still playing. 10:30 was too late to begin with!
- Tried to do a test run to #1's summer camp. Kelly Drive was closed for the holiday one street before the one we needed.
- An SUV honked at us. I assumed it was because of Mom Phooey's decorous pace. But no, we had a flat tire.
- Dropped #1 at home and took the car to the garage. They were very busy, so we left the car and walked to Asia @ Cafe. No idea why they are called that, but their Malaysian and Vietnamese dishes were delicious. The owner and her husband are Christians (he's a pastor, even) who fled religious persecution by the majority Muslims in Indonesia.
- Picked up car. Drove around in circles in mad Italian Market traffic looking for an ATM (the cafe doesn't take plastic). Finally found one. Remembered to get enough extra for the housecleaners.
- Went to Target. Picked up long-overdue prescription. Forgot to buy a new hairdryer to replace ours, which is starting to spark and arc.
- Had to brave crazy Italian Market traffic yet again to pick up our weekly challah order.
- Came home and was embarrassed that one or more cats had again used the spousage's office as a litter box, and that the cleaners had cleaned up after them.
- Went to BJs for diapers and wipes and cat food and Barilla Plus pasta. Lines halfway down the store aisles.
- Home now. Tired. House clean! Ate leftover Malaysian sate - yum.
- Catching up on internet. Sarah Palin stepping down as governor? Please let this not mean she's coming down to annoy the mainland.
We had races back and forth across the shallow end. He always likes to win these races. At one point, I was swimming faster than he was walking, and he said, "Slow down, my little chicken nugget."
That's my boy.
I have no papers to write, and just minimal reading left; the only actual assignment is to create some mind maps for my oddball, in-lieu-of-six-sigma class. So that's good! I might even start on the midterm paper that's not due for three weeks. And I'd love to get scads of tidying/decluttering done, especially over the next 24 hours, before the house cleaners come.
I just hope the weather clears up a bit, as #1 is looking forward to family swim this afternoon. I have yet to try on the swimsuit I ordered from the Land's End sale - hope it fits. Ugh. And I am long overdue for a leg wax.
Which I just typoe'd as lex wag. Time for coffee.
- Finally received payment from the insurance company for our car stolen in September 2008 (which had reportedly been stripped and torched before it was found).
- Submitted rental receipts for reimbursement - had been told, wrongly, to wait until the other payment was approved.
- Found out why some doctor's visits were not being covered fully by our old insurance - they were being processed as out-of-network, even though the docs in question were in-network. The rep I spoke with couldn't figure out why this was happening, but has referred it on for correction. Which may take 10 days, or longer. And government-run healthcare will be worse how?
- Had postponed my twice-yearly dental cleaning while covered by COBRA in March (opted out of the dental coverage, which was needlessly expensive for just one month). Am now long overdue. Wonder how costly bleaching is? I feel like my teeth are too yellowish. Must call for appointment.
- Will see doc this afternoon for vitals check and labs to make sure the new BP med is doing it's thing (and only its thing). Tra la.
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