Spice Dish

Creativity Sparks

Dali Themed Street Art. Creative.

I went to a book club a little while ago. It was full of strangers. I’ve never, in my life, done that before. We had an amazing conversation and I left completely creatively energized. It wasn’t just that I was using my critical thinking skills for the first time in months, but that I was trying something new. I realized that I needed to do lots more of this sort of thing--  not in the interest of 'self improvement' but simply for the sake of experience. For fostering creativity. For enjoying life. So I came up with a list of “Creativity Sparks” (i.e. stuff I’ve never done before but am going to try in  order to keep  my brain excited and to experience new things) Hey if Stephen Fry can get pierced, I can find things I've never done!

I’m not calling it a ‘bucket list’ because I don’t care if I do or don’t do these before I die. Dying is not the point. Some are little things, some are big life altering things. Some are free and some make me thankful I have no kids in need of a college education. 

I think I know which one I’ll start with, but I’m not sure. I don’t even know how closely I’ll be keeping track, hell I don’t even know how many items are on this list! (Just counted... 64) Here I go. Here’s to creativity!

Ride in a hot air balloon
See the northern lights
Take a sailing lesson
Write a book
Have a conversation in a language other than english
Send a message in a bottle.
Ride a camel (or elephant) etc
Take a ballroom dance class
Learn to play a musical instrument
Take a singing lesson
Make a complete fool of myself
Eat at the French Laundry
Learn to juggle
Learn to drive a stick shift
Spend three months getting my body into athletic shape
Go fishing and eat my catch
Ride a motorcycle
Work on a farm for a day
Learn a new skill (no idea what yet)
Make soup dumplings
Run a 5k (not walk)
Find a food I've never eaten and eat it
Go to a jazz show
Play a game of ice hockey
Go horseback riding along the beach
Learn to ski
Take a fencing lesson
Go on a helicopter ride
Sleep overnight on a train
Collect fresh chicken eggs from a nest
Go to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Try a new restaurant in San Francisco
See the Parthenon in Greece
Go to Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
Read Moby dick
Visit the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy
Spend an afternoon in El Prado in Madrid, Spain
See "Guernica" by Pablo Picasso at the Museo Reina Sofia
Spend a week in Bora Bora
Attend a Japanese tea ceremony
Learn to sculpt
Learn how to perform a magic trick
Learn to knit one thing
Make cheese
Watch lawrence of Arabia
Face a fear (not sure which one)
Become financially literate
Go to an auction at Christie's or Sotheby's
Sleep in a castle
Create a well-stocked pantry
Go to a yoga class by myself
Become an 'expert' at something
Write an article and have it published
Register for NaNoWriMo and write a novel in one month
Do NaBloPoMo for one month
Write a cookbook
Audition for something
Travel to another city to go to a concert/show (performer TBD)
Try fugu
Get a tarot card reading
Get hypnotized (for what I have no idea)
Eat something I've grown
Travel solo (even a day trip)
Get rid of 100 of my possessions

 

So what about you? You have a list? 

EB

Time To Run

You see those ladies right there? Those are the amazing ladies of my family who got together in Paso Robles this weekend for a 1/2 Marathon and 5k. 

We wine tasted, we carbo loaded, we talked about lost family members and caught up with younger ones.  It was a great weekend and I know how lucky I was to share in it.

Thanks ladies. I wouldn't be who I am without you.

 

EB

Flea Market For The Win!

I love San Francisco (I mean I don't think I'm shocking any of you by saying that), but every once in a while a girl just needs to get out of Dodge. I was feeling restless a few weeks ago when I got an email from a friend asking if I was still up for the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market. The what? Where? I emailed her back wanting to know how intoxicated I was when I agreed to this mission. I then immediately emailed her again, to say "Screw it, I'm in!"

http://www.rgcshows.com/

To say the place is massive would not begin to describe it. This thing is HUGE. There are maps, there are sections, there are thousands of vendors. You will get lost (and you will buy a 1$ hot dog and 6$ beer because you don't know when you'll make it out). It happens on the 2nd Sunday of every month and it's the worlds largest flea market! I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into when I said yes. We exhausted ourselves wandering the aisles. I picked up some vintage fashions and a few amazing cooking pamphlets (more on those later) and my friend got a pair of foo dogs she just couldn't live without. My most fabulous purchase of the day? These:

Kitschy, creepy and perfectly at home in the bathroom. So, if you have one too many and agree to a weekend road trip to Pasadena, don't question it... just go. You won't be disappointed. 

Happy shopping!

EB

Resolutions 2012!

Happy New Year's!

Again, I'm not a New Years resolution kind of gal, just never have been. But lovely Marisa, of Food In Jars inspired me this morning. Just because I don't do personal resolutions doesn't mean I can't make some bloggy ones! So here goes, my Blog Resolutions for 2012:

1- To post more vintage cookbooks (you guys seem to like those)

2- Maybe a little re-design (change is good right?)

3- In general, just be more consistent with my posting (I can do it!)

Sound good? Ok then. Happy 2012!

EB

How to Eat Like a San Franciscan (In 5 Easy Steps)

San Francisco is a truly unique place. We have beautiful scenery, world-class cultural events, utterly unique residents and a reputation for knowing a thing or two about food. We San Franciscans take food pretty seriously. We know what’s good and we know where to get it. We like to think that we’ve got something special here, and we do, but really you can eat like a San Franciscan in any city, in just 5 easy steps.

#1- Know your ‘hoods. San Francisco is a small city made up of neighborhoods as distinct as red and blue states. Even though only a block may separate neighborhoods, they can be worlds apart. From the Orange County flair (and blondness) of the Marina to the dim sum-palooza that is the Richmond, each neighborhood tends to specialize in some sort of regional cuisine. You want perfect handmade noodles? Go to Japantown. You want a gut busting plate of pupusas stuffed with zucchini flowers? Head to a pupuseria in the Mission.

#2- Know your history. While it may not be trendy, hot or of the moment, some of the city’s best food can be found in joints as old school as Swan Oyster Depot (over 100 yrs old) or Tadich Grill (160+). Sure the menus haven’t changed… in ever… but there’s a reason. Not only are these places good, but they are where any city’s culinary soul lies.

#3- Know the rebels. One you know the history meet the rebels, the ones who stood up and did something different. Alice Waters and Chez Panisse? Yeah she’s an institution now, but she used to be a mouthy little upstart who thought we should be eating fresh, local foods. Mission Kitchen? Some of the best food in the entire country and it started out of a taco cart! It’s still a unique, rebellious space in that it still shares space with a ‘regular’ Chinese joint on a grubby little block. Sometimes the troublemakers have a pretty good point to make. Give them a shot.

#4- Ask yourself, “Meat or Veggie?” Know what you want and go for it. San Francisco is made for carnivores... and vegans. You know who knows meat? Amazing steak houses and neighborhood butchers. If you want good meat go to where it’s butchered with love and aged to perfection. If you don’t want to eat anything with a face you don’t have to try and find something at some middle road joint. Hit up one of the totally amazing vegan joints in the city. You know what will make you happy? A vegan tamale smothered in fresh salsa and stuffed with the season’s bounty.

#5- Think “local, local, local.” In this city, we spout “local” as a mantra for pretty much everything: clothes, music, literature, booze, and especially food. Find a farmers market, a local supperclub, artisan cheese makers and ice cream shops. Find events like the Underground Market or Off the Grid where small scale makers of all things “local food’ get together and sell their wares in one spot.

You want a little of our San Francisco magic? Give the 5 steps a shot. These might be easier to do in some cities than others but not impossible by any means. If you do just a little homework, you too can eat fresh, local, specialized and completely San Franciscan.

Enjoy!

EB

Of Anniversaries and Things

My first picture posted

I started SpiceDish four years ago. FOUR. It’s strange where life takes you in four years. I’ve never been a diary keeper (too embarrassing) but I realize now that SpiceDish is a diary of sorts. Looking back on past posts I can see when I was happy at my work (fewer posts), when I needed escape (more posts), when I was engaged with the blogosphere (lots of comments), and when I was playing recluse (no comments).

I can see when larger life issues, very personal ones, took precedence over posting or when I was compelled to post by those same issues.

I have met some truly amazing people because of SpiceDish. People like Bethany, Victoria, Sarah and Jessie.  I have been let into many other worlds in the past years and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

Like a lot of you, I’m at yet another crossroads in life. The ‘what’s next’ type. The ‘can I really make that happen’ type.  I have no idea where I will be come next October’s blogiversary, and that’s a bit scary. I do know that I’ll be able to look over the year’s posts and see where I’ve been. And that is comforting.

Here’s to another year.

Enjoy-

EB

 

Freezing Cold Tourists

pier39.com

I have a new job. I do. And it’s at the corner of pasty Wisconsinite and tourist Hell, aka Pier 39. Pier 39 of the bad chain restaurants, Duck Boat tours, $4.95 corn dogs, Hooters and very few San Franciscans. As I look out my office window at large tourists in pedi-cabs on their way to eat at Bubba Gumps (and shivering in the cold June fog) I have to wonder why. There are so many amazing places to eat in this city… why that? How did this bastion of overpriced tourism come to represent “San Francisco”? Where did it come from to begin with?

Pier 39 was not an organic creation.

It was built specifically as a tourist attraction to accompany the goings on at Fisherman’s Wharf. Restaurants weren’t always the main “attraction” at the wharf, apparently “In the early days of the fishing fleet, the homes of the Italian fishermen boasted the area’s finest cuisine. But, even before there were any sidewalks or restaurants at Fisherman’s Wharf, some of the fishermen set up cauldrons of boiling water for cooking the freshly caught crabs, dispensing them in paper cups as a crab cocktail to be enjoyed by visitors.”

                                                                                      www.letseat.at/cioppinos  

Those fisherman also got together and created "cioppino." The origin of the name is little fuzzy but the fact that this is a distinctly San Franciscan dish created by immigrants (supposedly “chipping in” ingredients) is such a San Franciscan way to do things.

These  days a lot of that fish stew comes with a hunk of Boudin sourdough. A bakery that started in 1849. As in the Gold Rush 1849, as in the namesake of our beloved 49ers. There is a museum on the wharf dedicated to the bread and to it's motherdough. A starter that is older than most other institutions in this city.

While doing this research, I didn't come to love Pier 39 but I did come to understand how the wharf itself drew visitors. Food. Always food. Hot steaming crab, swarthy fisherman cooking with garlic, tangy sourdough and an ocean view. What's not to love?

 

EB

Southern Fried Chicago

table52.com

I've been away the past few weeks. Off to Chicago. A place I can now say I really, really dig! The Art Institue? Amazing. The shopping? World class. The drinks and views from famous skyscrapers? Unforgettable. And then there was the chicken.

There was fried chicken, braised short ribs, fried chicken, goat cheese biscuits, fried chicken, deviled eggs with caviar and oh yeah... fried chicken. So... the chicken. I was invited to Table 52 by a friend who had made the reservation months in advance and figured she'd find some people to go with. The reservation was made for a particular night of the week. The night they serve... you guessed it... fried chicken. It was amazing fried chicken I must say. Our group was super sporting and ordered basically one of everything so we could all try everyone else's dishes... but the chicken won out. Hands down.

The place was cozy, charming, noisy and warm (due to the closeness of a brick oven). Upscale southern food on white linen, that somehow wasn't stuffy at all. All served up in a super cute space in Chicago. If you find yourself in the windy city anytime soon I say after a cocktail on the Wit rooftop, head over for mac n cheese, grits, fried chicken, pork chops, fried chicken...

Table 52

52 West Elm Street
Chicago, IL 60610-2769
(312) 573-4000

 

Enjoy!

EB

Of Pimentos and Cheese

Wright Bryan, NPR

Do you know of the substance called Pimento Cheese? Do you? No? Then you’ve clearly never been to the Carolinas. I visited North Carolina for the first time last week and on my first, just rolled off the plane, morning I was taken to a café for an iced coffee and a bagel only to see that “pimento cheese” was the featured spread.  When I asked what it was my New Yorker friend whom I was visiting looked at me with a wrinkled nose and said something along the lines of “it’s kind of a cheese thing that is toxic orange in color.” She readily admitted she had not been brave enough to try it though.

I figured, “native” foods? I should honor that and give it a whirl. They were sold out! Sold out. Apparently it really is a loved food. Throughout the week of my visit I quizzed a few locals on the food who couldn’t readily explain the product or its appeal yet each time I tried to purchase some… it was SOLD OUT! Until my very last morning on the way to the airport when we stopped at a Whole Foods sort of joint and I was finally successful in procuring a “Pimento Cheese Sandwich.”

I hate to admit this, I do. Truly. I spit it out. Not demurely either. It wasn’t pretty. I’m sure it’s one of those acquired taste things but wow. Not my bag. I'm not condemning all pimento cheese ever, but at least the bit I tried. Otherwise the food in Asheville was fantastic. Absolutely delicious.  Great restaurants, abundant farmers markets. It was very Berkeley of The South.

That's the line folks...

One of the best meals of the week was takeout from 12 Bones Smokehouse, which is apparently Obama’s favorite BBQ joint. With good reason. Brown sugar crusted ribs? Sage cornbread and sweet tea? Sign me up for daily delivery please.

Besides the small um… flaming “incident” of the home kitchen (another post perhaps), I can’t remember when I last ate better and was surrounded by more congenial company. However, all the food and humidity does make you want to slow down a bit, which is just fine by the porch kitties.

Thanks to my darling hosts and to Asheville for proving me (a little bit) wrong about the "South."

EB

How Do You Know It's Christmas in San Francisco?

You Know it's Christmas in San Francisco When:

1. You're watching men frolic in tights.

2. You're dodging drunken Santas.

3. You're trying to figure out just how many NYE house parties you can hit before you will be too drunk to go on.

4. You're listening to SomaFm's Xmas in Frisko.

by MooHaHa
5. You're asking your father to buy you a month's garage parking as your big Christmas gift. 

Happy Holidays!

EB