CHIK-FIL-A & GREEN CURRY EGGPLANT

Yesterday I decided that I'd spend my gloomy Saturday doing the randomest things ever. I decided that I'd run to Target and pick-up a few necessities: trash bags, foil, mixed nuts (don't ask)... and the DVD set of One Tree Hill Season 3. OK, so that last item was not in my original laundry list of things to pick-up, but since it was on sale for $18.99, I couldn't pass on it. $45-later, I left Target -- once again defeated; I never win when I go there (and I never spend under $20 there either).

Damn you, Target!!! *fists-in-air*

Since I was already in Manhattan Beach (because I didn't want to go to the Target closer to home in Culver City), I thought that I could swing over to the next town (Redondo Beach), and peruse the South Bay Galleria.

Truth: I went to that mall just because it's the closest one that has a Chik-Fil-A in the food court. I hadn't had Chik-Fil-A since I last went to Ontario Mills, and that was probably back in 2005. (Chik-Fil-A is obviously not as big a thing out here as it is back East.) From Target, I got onto Sepulveda, busted a left on Artesia, hit the mall, marched up to the food court, got my #1 original (w/sweet tea), and walked right back to my car. Yes, folks, I effin' went all the way to Redondo Beach for Chik-Fil-A. It was one of my not-so-high moments (But at the same time, Redondo isn't super far from Santa Monica either. I digress.). I made a pit-stop at Albertson's on the way home to pick up ingredients for the dish that I was planning to cook: green curry eggplant.

So I bought eggplant from Trader Joe's last week; it came in a pack of two. And these were not your ordinary eggplants. They were each the size of my forearm (almost), and I was afraid that they'd sit in my fridge until they went bad (as is what usually happens to my veggies). I decided that I had to do something about it. I was craving curry at the time, and so the plan was born.

These are the ingredients that I used:

1 can of coconut milk
1 tbsp of Thai green curry paste
patis (fish sauce)
pepper
garlic powder
basil (not fresh, although fresh basil would work even better)
ginger powder
light brown sugar
water
eggplant (chopped into small pieces)
one whole yellow onion (chopped)
carrots (julienned)
baby spinach

Since I wasn't really following a recipe (per se'), I pretty much eye-balled everything as I went (something I learned from my mom). This is what I did:

In a medium sauce pan, I heated up a can of coconut milk. Since it seemed a tad too thick, I added half a can of water into the sauce pan. Then I took the tablespoon of Thai green chili paste and added that to the pan. I stirred it up. I then chopped the onion as the milk mixture slowly simmered. I added the onions, pepper, garlic powder, basil, and ginger powder, then gave it a stir. I allowed the mixture to bubble slightly before adding the eggplant. After mixing everything together, I let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then I added the carrots and baby spinach (more or less for texture and color). When it was close to finished, I gave it a taste; the curry was mild, but then it gave way to a slight tabang-ness (blandness). I realized, then, that it was missing patis. So I reached for the bottle, and started to pour... making sure I didn't use too much (since Philippine fish sauce is a lot stronger and saltier than that of their Southeast Asian neighbors'). I gave it a mix, and allowed it to simmer. It tasted great, but still with a hint of tabang-ness, although not as bad as before. I remedied it with more patis, and this time it was right on.

I spooned some sauce and eggplant over a small bowl of rice, and it tasted awesome. I wish I took a picture, but I was being way too lazy (and my arms were sore after working my bis and tris - ahahah). So you're going to have to take my word for it that it looked amazing, and tasted great.

Side note: One of our friends was over as I was cooking, and she made a note that it was a major "turn on" to see a man in the kitchen, with something in a pot simmering. Take note, fellas. Take note. (Ha.)

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING WITH MY LIFE!

This past week, it has been made public that the company I work for is leaving Beverly Hills, and headed to the East Coast; the Metro DC Area to be exact. The whole company was called to a meeting Wednesday morning (Jan. 21st). Our CEO treated us to a quick run-down of "great things" that the company is experiencing, cluminating with his news of restructuring. So Hilton Hotel Corp. will be closing shop in the 90210, and heading to what is soon to be known as the "hospitality industry hub of the United States." As obvious newcomers, Hilton will find a home where other industry giants have already set-up shop: Marriott and Choice among others.

So what does this mean for Wen, since many of you are wondering...? Well, it definitely could mean a lot of things, but this is what it all boils down to:

Our Memphis (TN) corporate offices currently houses two of our limited-service brands (Hampton Inn & Homewood Suites), and one of our full-service brands (Embassy Suites). The Hilton Garden Inn brand, which is currently housed in BH, will be joining its limited-service siblings in Memphis. Likewise, the rest of the IT department, as well as Purchasing, will be moving to Memphis. I work in Supply Management, which would be lumped together with Purchasing.

The Metro DC area's corporate offices (to be) will house the rest of the corporation, which includes all of the full-service brands (sans Embassy): Hilton, Doubletree, and the new Hilton Prestige Portfolio brands (Waldorf Astoria, Waldorf Astoria Collection, and Conrad).

I haven't truly made a decision on what I will do. Personally, if I could go to DC with the corporation, then I would. I like the company enough to follow it, and I've invested the past four years of my life with it. BUT -- it won't be so easy. Being that I'm not in a position to be relocated through the company, I would have to go through re-applying (as a DC resident), and going through the whole interview process back East, which could mean starting over from scratch. (But at least I already have a place to live at home if I did go back.) I haven't decided whether or not I'll go to Memphis, and that's IF I'm even offered the move. The option to stay in Los Angeles is also at the top of my list, even if the job market here is crap.

Once again, I find myself at a crossroads. I am not at all ready to leave L.A., although I am not one to stop the flow of my life, especially if opportunities lead me elsewhere. Sometimes I truly believe that God enjoys seeing me flinch a little. I know that there are people out there who are outright amused by my "I don't know what I'm doing with my life" moments.

Well, stay tuned.

NEW PRESIDENT, NEW FOODIE CULTURE

With all of the fanfare that is going on back in Our Nation's Capital today, I am hoping that the Washington, DC restaurant network will wreap some rewards... if not from today's crowds, then at least by the Obamas as they settle into their new home. I had read that George Dubya had only wined and dined in the city about twenty-something times during his eight years in office. TWENTY-SOMETHING TIMES DURING HIS EIGHT YEARS IN OFFICE? The poor guy not only missed his mark with many of the issues that our country faced, but he obviously missed out on the excellent "foodie" culture that the DC area has been enjoying in the last few years.

For a long time now, the DC dining scene has remained in the shadows of its more popular counterparts (New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles). This is more than likely due to the city's long-time reputation of being an uber-conservative city. But as up-and-coming "foodie" talent meshes with the old standards (and classics), the DC area's dining atmosphere is bourgeoning into one that is clearly attracting the cooking world's "new school." While talents such as Michel Richard (Citronelle, Central), Jose Andres (Cafe Atlantico, Mini Bar, Zaytinya), and Robert Wiedmaier (Marcel's, Brasserie Beck) have been dazzling Washingtonians for years, new-comers such as Enzo Fargione (Teatro Goldoni), Rahman "Rock" Harper (Hell's Kitchen Winner/Season 3), and Spike Mendelsohn (Top Chef Contestant/Season 4) have embraced the capital city, and are each making their own marks on its ever-evolving palate.

Now, more than ever, Washington, DC welcomes more and more restaurants to cater to the evolving cultural landscape. And with change being an immense proponent of the Obama administration, change in the city's dining culture is sure to continue on as well.

Check out these new digs in DC:

SEI
The new, sleek sushi joint brought to you by the owners of Oya, offers special creations (and popular standards) by Chef Noriake Yatsutake. Penn Quarter. 444 Seventh St., NW, 202.783.7007.

1905 BISTRO
Cozy French cuisine at a seemingly retro-style French bistro. U Street Corridor. 1905 9th St., NW, 202.332.1905.

NEXT DOOR
It's the new, sleek and chic little brother restaurant of Ben's Chili Bowl. U Street Corridor. 1211 U St., NW, 202.667.8880.

KITCHEN
Mauricio Fraga-Rosenfeld brings Southern-style cuisine to the former Ceviche space on Wisconsin Avenue. Georgetown. 2404 Wisconsin Ave., NW, 202.333.3877.
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The inauguration festivities continue on with the parade and the numerous "inaugural balls" that are scheduled to last through the wee hours of the morning. I, for one, am astounded by the turn-out. I'm sure it was all amazing back home in DC.

In all honesty, however, I was a little disappointed in Pres. Obama's speech after the swearing-in ceremony. I guess I had braced myself for something so touching as his acceptance speech in Chicago. Not so much. Still, though, he gave a very level-headed speech; very real and to the point. It lacked the panache that I had come to expect from inaugural speeches, and I waited and waited for that one line that would stick out in my head for years to come. It never came. Oh well. But hey, Prez Obama has the next four years to wow us all.

We have to remember that while he's one man, we still have to do our part to help him out. The country cannot, and will not, run itself after all. Congratulations, America, for doing the right thing and choosing our first bi-racial (let's not forget that he is) president!

ROCKSUGAR, ROCK MY WORLD (OR NOT)

A re-post of my recent Yelp review of RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen:

As an Asian American, at first glance I already knew that RockSugar would be a glorified version of PF Chang's or Big Bowl. I, personally, am not an avid fan of over-Americanized Asian cuisine served in overly-chic settings, but I'll find myself dining/drinking at these places if and when someone else actually wants to (or if it's my first time trying the place out of curiosity).

Honestly, restaurant interiors with mood lighting, clean lines, modern furniture, and pseudo-vintage images of Buddha scattered all around does not make the cuisine "high end." In fact, it often times turns original Asian culinary masterpieces into watered-down dishes that are either too sweet or too salty. But what's to be expected from the sister restaurant of The Cheesecake Factory and Grand Luxe Cafe?! Obviously, not so much.

I decided to give RockSugar a try when a friend was visiting from out-of-town. On a whim, she asked if I was free for dinner one night, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to give this place a chance... at least I had good conversation and company to look forward to in case the food sucked.

Upon entering, I almost got the feel that I was walking into something so stylish as say STK. But that was only because I was momentarily taken aback by the outrageously high ceilings, and uber-dimmed "waiting room" where I met my friend. We were seated soon after I arrived, and we were taken through the bar/lounge area, which is right behind the host stand. It was packed, and abuzz with chatter. We then walked through the main dining room, and I was (again) taken by the high ceilings. I almost felt like I was walking through an NYC supper club. We were finally ushered to the back dining area, which is somewhat of an "outdoor" terrace over-looking Santa Monica Boulevard; not the best of views, but the waterfall-wall that we were seated next to was both calming and visually stimulating. So far so good.

For dinner, we kept it simple by starting with an order of the Indian Stuffed Flatbread -- which was flavorful in a way that American tastes would surely appreciate. This is most similar to Murtabak, which is an Indian-style "pancake" filled with ground beef, onions and a curry sauce; very popular in Malaysian restaurants back East. While RockSugar's version worked, it still doesn't hold a candle to some of the versions that I've tasted at more-authentic places. ON THE FENCE.

For our vegetable dish, we had the Nyonya Sambal Eggplant -- which was pretty standard. The eggplant was nicely cooked in sweet soy and chilies (sambal sauce). Honestly, the only thing that could've gone wrong with this dish would've been over-cooking the eggplant. Thankfully it wasn't. PLUS.

For our main dish, we had the Singapore Hainan Pork -- pieces of pork cutlet simmered in a spicy chili sauce with sweet onions and peas. Thankfully, the pork was tender and flavorful, although I couldn't help but compare it to my mom's version of apritada --- except with pork and chili sauce (it must've been the peas throwing me off). Again, it was obvious that this dish catered to a more general palate. ON THE FENCE.

The menu is full of items -- each with origins stemming back to India, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand (South & Southeast Asia). I also noticed, by looking at the menu, the use of calamansi - a citrus fruit popular all over Southeast Asia, but most especially in The Philippines - in some of the bar's specialty drinks. The extensive food list can be quite intimidating (but aren't the menus at The Cheesecake Factory and Grand Lux Cafe equally so?), so unless you really know what you're looking for in terms of taste, you could be reading through its pages for a while. I just wish the cuisine also showcased some dishes from Burma (Myanmar), The Philippines, and/or Cambodia.

When I left, any sense of "grandeur" that was swirling in my head about RockSugar was no longer apparent. What was alluring and somewhat exciting as I entered, simply became vapid and dank as I left. Will I ever go back? If someone wanted to try it again, sure. Why not. Like I said - there are tons of other dishes I could try.

One thing's for sure, though... this place isn't on the top of my list. And I hope that patrons don't leave RockSugar believing that this is what "real" Southeast Asian cuisine is all about. If you're up for an evening of gussied-up Asian tastes, then this place (and PF Chang's, Big Bowl, etc.) is just for you.
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RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90067, 310-552-9988

(Photos from yelp.com)

FULFILLED (OR NOT?!)

I am re-posting my recent review of Fulfilled (from Yelp!) here:

I want to "love" this place, but after going for the first time last week I think I can only say that I "like" it. Yippie-skippie. (rolling my eyes now)

I work in Bev Hills, and my co-workers and I have been anticipating the opening of this place long after we kind of got over it's neighbor (Pinkberry). Some of my co-workers and I are self-professed foodies, and we were looking forward to having a "new kid on the block" to fulfill (no pun intended) our incessant need for sweets. Eventually the place opened. I actually waited until the initial buzz wore off. I tend to give new food spots some time to iron out their kinks.

We walked over during our lunch break last Friday, and found ourselves in an empty little shop. The store itself is very clean and minimalist. There is cool art hanging on the walls, the lighting fixtures are uber-modern and chic, and the knick-knacks behind the counter are trendy in a way that only Japan (and some of their Asian neighbors) can do.

What they serve up at Fulfilled is not only your classical ima(gawa-yaki): pancake-like pastry filled with azuki red bean paste. They've got non-traditional ima such as the Harajuku Monkey (filled with banana and nutella), the Fiji Sunrise (filled with a specialty custard creme), and even savory ima like the Spicy Samurai (filled with chicken apple sausage, pepper jack cheese, diced chili, fresh cilantro).

I was craving dessert, so I opted for the Nutty Buddha, which is filled with Ghirardelli chocolate, toffee, and crunchy peanut butter. My friends also got sweet ima as well. While mine was tasty, it definitely seemed a tad too contrived for my tastes. It's not that I don't appreciate the need to cater to the American palate, but at that instant I was actually wishing for something more traditional. Growing up Asian, I have come to appreciate the simplicity of red bean paste (no joke - ahhaha), and I kind of wish I had stuck with that instead. Additionally, the "pancakes" tasted too pancakey to me, and I felt like I was eating an even sweeter McGriddle.

Will I go back again? Probably. I won't discriminate, and I actually did like my ima for what it was worth. Do I think this spot will stick around for a while? In Bev Hills it's tough to say. I do hope that this place does well, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was gone tomorrow.

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Fulfilled, 9405 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310-860-0776

5 THINGS...

...I love Kate Winslett, and I'm glad that she's finally getting the recognition that she deserves. Two Golden Globes in one night?! I know that's right, gurrrl!

...I have rekindled my love for steak fries (with queso on the side) from Cabo Cantina.

...I spent the last three days drinking vodka on the rocks and/or vodka mixed drinks. I think my liver needs a cleanse.

...Today, January 11th, is the beginning of the end of fatness. Some of my cousins and I are starting our own 6-month "biggest loser" contest. Losers pay for the winners air-fare to wherever we decide to go after this madness is done. It's on, bitches!!!

...I want to see Slumdog Millionaire.

ASIAN BUFFETS: THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE

Every single time I go back home for the holidays (or any time I find myself back East), I somehow end up going to an Asian Buffet at least once. And no matter how many times I try to divert any/all plans to go to the buffet, I am always defeated. But what can you do if your parents are major supporters of the Asian Buffet?

My parents are not the only ones who are plagued by this "problem." In fact, I think that 99% of my friends (well, the Filipino ones at least) experience the same issues with their parents. Filipino parental units are some Asian Buffet-lovin' fools!

As long as I can remember, my parents have been all about ABs; our family, and extended family, too. Almost every event is followed by some trip to a buffet restaurant: after a Christening, after a funeral, high school graduations, wedding rehearsal dinners, post-wedding luncheons, 60th birthday parties, 10th birthday parties, post bar and bat mitzvahs --name it. More than likely, after some family-oriented event, going to an AB is/was incorporated into the schedule.

I assume it's because my parents are Asian, and Asian parents tend to always live on the "economically safe" side of things. When it comes to buying cars, homes, or even seafood at the local grocery store, Asian parents will barter till the sun goes down. Food is no different.

Honestly, my parents would flip out if I took them to dinner at, say, DC Coast. The first thing that would turn them off would be the price. A sablefish filet for almost $30 would turn them as white as a bed sheet. My Dad would comment, "I can catch you a rock rish (bass) and cook it for you for FREE!" Secondly, they would cringe at the portions. Fine dining, as you know, caters more to taste than it does to quantity. I mean, DC Coast is no effin' Cheesecake Factory, but the food is sure as hell of a lot better! My parentals would probably scoff at the two asparagus spears sitting alongside a poached chicken breast on their plates.

At an AB, on the other hand, they find themselves in a bizzaro world of food. The orange beef is bottomless, as are the hundreds of other dishes that sit under heat lamps for hours. The fact that they can go back multiple times is priceless to them, and well worth the $11.95 per person.

Still, though, I don't get the draw. AB food is OK, I guess, for those times when you don't feel like ordering in, but don't want to splurge on a three course meal with wine pairings or glasses of Chopin on the rocks. But to make it a "constant" part of your "eating out" agenda is just not cool. And my parents know ALL of the ABs in their area. I feel like every time I go back home to visit, they've got a new place to take me to. They even tried to trick me once. They had ranted and raved about a new restaurant called "Green Olives," or something like that. I automatically thought it was a rip off of The Olive Garden (which I can't stand either), but I only gave it a chance since I figured it would be something different than the usual AB. But sure enough, as soon as I entered the doorway of Green Olives, that old familiar AB smell wafted onto my face.

I was duped.

Even when the parentals come visit me in L.A., I sometimes worry about where I should take them to eat. As much as I'd love to take them to Dolce or Yamashiro, the last thing I'd ever want to do is to disappoint them with mediocre food, or a restaurant that's all ambiance and no flavor. I always end up researching where the nearest AB is just in case.

Sometimes I feel bad, because the last few times I've gone home, I've been adamant about not going to an AB. Since then, I feel like my parents have been more cautious, and they only spring the AB on me when I am at my weakest: either when I'm starving to death, or if we're on some kind of time constraint. My acquiescence is painful (to me), but I know it's loads of sunshine for them.

I just don't get it. ABs make me cringe.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's official... 2009 is here!

I don't know about you, but I feel like 2008 kind of just swept right by. It left just as quickly as it came. Not that I didn't have a great year or anything, but I think that's just the thing -- it was almost TOO great that the days passed by without me being able to breathe it all in.

In retrospect, 2008 was awesome. Despite certain things, it really was a time filled with great experiences and nice memories. I honestly cannot complain. It's been a year of change, most of all... the biggest change (obviously) being that Barack Obama was elected President of the United States of America. Kudos to America for voting into office the first bi-racial Commander In Chief!

With 2009 already here, there really isn't more we can do, but just take it all in. This year we have another chance to do something special in our lives. No matter what that "special" thing may be, the bottom line is that we just throw all caution to the wind and choose our own destinies. 2009 is ours, and it's up to us to make it an awesome year.

I hope that everyone spent their NYE with the right people, and - most of all - I hope everyone stayed safe. My friend, Carrie, is in town, and she was able to spend the holiday with me and my roomie (her cousin). We grabbed a quick NYE "dinner" at Ma'Kai in Santa Monica. The place was pretty packed, and there was an Asian chick on the turntables. She was seriously playing some HOT stuff; like nothing new, but totally hot late 90s hip hop, R&B and even dance hall reggae. The three of us felt like we were at an old skool (dare I say it) FIND party from back in the day (think BU's Fall Dialogue in '96, SUNY-Stony Brook's Spring Conference in 97', & GWU's Spring Conference in '98; shut-up, Leah). HA! It was HOT at Ma'Kai on NYE! We dined on sushi, and had a couple of drinks. But then we had to dip out for phase 2 of the evening. We ended up at Whiskey Blue at The W in Westwood; many thanks to Carrie's friend, Chester, for hookin' up the tickets! We had a great time meeting him and his friends, and ringing in the new year there.

Afterward, we stumbled out of the party, and onto the streets of Westwood... trying to hail a cab. We thought it would be a futile attempt (since the attempt to get a cab early on in the evening was unsuccessful; lame story), but some kind Armenian cabby came to the rescue, and we headed back home. Then I managed to drive our drunk asses to Norm's on Lincoln, where we indulged in breakfast food to help soak up the alcohol. I barely ate my food, and all I wanted to do was throw-up. All I wanted to do at that point was go home and pass out.

Ultimately, the celebration turned out to be really fun, and we definitely had a nice time. (Photos on the way...)
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Funny thing, though... So my friend, Carrie, made a comment about how much I've changed as a driver. Yes, I said "driver..." as in "car" driver. She's come to the conclusion that I have changed from a crazy-ass East Coast driver to some pansy-ass Los Angeles-area one. HA! I guess I can see where she's coming from.

Growing up back East, I was born with the menality that life is FAST. I was always the one who was "on the go..." My dad used to always call me out on it. He'd ask me, "Why are you always in such a hurry? You're always on the go?" I could never really tell what he meant by that since living the fast-paced life was what I've always known. I would get up super early to get to work (to beat the horrendous DC-area traffic into the city), then leave in the afternoon to rush home, get dressed/ready to go out for drinks or dinner or shopping, and then complete an almost never-ending list of things-to-do or people-to-see. That was my life ever since I left high school and went into college.

Moving out West has definitely changed that whole "landscape." Compared to L.A. standards, I am probably still the psycho East Coast driver who likes to drive 50 in a 35 MPH zone (big deal, I know). I am still the one who bitches and curses at people in the morning because they drive at a snail's pace (uh, L.A. area drivers are Sunday-morning drivers 24/7). I am still the one who seems to always have "something to do; people to see; or places to go." I guess I can't completely shake that.

I did notice, though, that when I was back in the DC area for the holidays, a lot of my driving-style has changed. The first few days back home it rained like crazy, and I honestly freaked out when I was driving on the freeway (errr, highway). I used to speed across the Wilson Bridge, and could make it to Tysons Corner from Maryland in about 15 minutes. This time, it took me about a half-hour to get there, and people were passing me on the freeway left and right. I used to piss myself off by never going fast enough to get where I had to be, but now I mosey along to wherever my destination is.

In a sense, I feel like a sell-out. But at the same time, I can't help it. It's just how it is with my meanness. While I strive to be the nicest person that I can be, I just can't find it in me to suppress any mean thoughts or actions. While I'm saddened that I've become "that guy" who drives around infected with sunshine all the time, I also kind of enjoy it. I can now take a little more time to "smell the flowers," and a little less time rushing as if my life depended on it.

In 2009, I hope to fully embrace the fact that I am on the not-so-slow road to recovery from being a frantic "city" guy. I am mellow (still mean, but mellow), and I think I like it.