It’s Restaurant Week – In NYC!

“It’s Restaurant Week!”

Isabella's: Isabella's Restaurant serves casually sophisticated, market-fresh Mediterranean cuisine on the Upper West Side, New York City.

Chocolate!

Our menu!

When Sex and the City – an openly guilty pleasure of mine – was in season, one of the episodes opened with Carrie discussing restaurant week in New York. In retrospect, I wouldn’t have ever predicted that I would in the near future dine during Restaurant Week in New York. Five months ago, I was living on the West Coast and all of my future endeavors circulated around the focal point of life in Vancouver. Last week I was in New York for Womensphere -where I was mildly persuaded to contemplate a career in finance since the organizers and the sponsors were mainly all from major investment banks – and it just happened to be the very much anticipated Restaurant Week. A few of the girls who were living in the same suites as me at Columbia University were discussing reservation plans and of course… I had to go! Amongst the recommendations that they gave me: Lincoln Center Restaurant, LUPA, Db Bistro Moderne, a mere handful of the extensive list of available choices, I ended up on the Upper West Side for lunch.

One of my current classmates, Nabil, has a twin brother at Columbia, Danial, and he made a reservation at Isabella’s, which we expected to be a Mediterranean joint, but it ended up being a rather contemporary-classic (paradox, I know) American restaurant. The interior of the restaurant was fairly minimalistic, well-lit with plenty of natural lighting from the wide windows. We were lucky to have seats next to the windows and us two were the youngest customers in the restaurant. It was a wonderful lunch!

Restaurant week allows one to sample a restaurant with a three-course meal for $24. Traditionally, many of the restaurants on the list are rather expensive to dine at, so the week gives New Yorkers and tourists the opportunity to sample a myriad of restaurants and to be able to book a reservation – book early because lunch and dinner times are highly coveted as I soon discovered – at some of these highly-sought after places to eat with friends and family!

Interested: ISABELLA’S: 359 Columbus Avenue New York, NY 10024-5103
(212) 724-2100

ENJOY PHOTOS

Blood orange salad with almonds!

Danial eating his Cream of Mushroom

Danial's chicken!

America... oh America

Danial's chicken!

The most zesty dessert that I have had in awhile: delicious orange sorbet with a creme brûlée filling!

Triple shot espresso chocolate bar!

BIS,
M

Family (Pham-i-Lee) – Oh how corny!

It wasn’t until I moved away to college that I began to truly conceptualize the importance of family. In an environment where I am truly a minority – ethnically and nationally – I have had the opportunity to reflect on how much of an influence my family’s values have had on me and in many ways, I have regressed to my roots.

For example, I took it for granted that everyone removed their shoes at the door before entering the home. When I started living in a residence hall, I realized that this wasn’t the case for most people. To remove one’s shoes at the door is a cultural practice that is widespread in Asian households. That’s the way I was raised and undoubtedly how I will continue to do things in my own household. At a holiday dinner during Christmas with my extended family, we had a discussion on why we removed our shoes at the doorway. Everyone agreed that it was simply a hygienic and respectful gesture. Beautiful shoes generally take you beautiful places, but on a day to day basis, your shoes are treading everywhere: public washrooms, soccer fields, steps of stairs where many other soles have touched. To then step all over your home in that same pair of shoes is simply unclean in concept and in reality. However, wearing slippers or socks is also very common practice in Asian families. When we enter the home, we slide into our slippers. My Mom holds that wearing slippers in the household will reduce your risk of arthritis. Whether this is true, I have no basis, but she would always nag my brother and I to wear our slippers in the household whenever she saw us barefoot. I think I must have had at least 10 pairs of slippers throughout my teenage years.

Additionally, I miss Asian food quite a bit in the United States.

I’m happy to be here though. Bates is contrary to much that I know and I’m learning more than I ever would have if I had stayed in Vancouver. At times, I am so occupied that I forget that I am living abroad.

I’m going to New York tomorrow to attend Womensphere – a conference at Columbia University! I’m excited for a mini-break.

You can also listen to WRBC (91.5 FM) to hear my radio show – Phamjams, West Coast Lovin’ – on Saturday at 12-2! Listen in for some great guest stars and more surprises!

Bis,
M

My cousins and I

Mom with some Christmas gifts I gave her.

Maine Winterscape

Here’s to new experiences: It’s -12 degrees Celcius and I can’t walk for more than 5 minutes without my ears freezing and my face numbing. This is the coldest weather that I have ever witnessed! Yesterday, as I was entering the Grey Cage to play some soccer and basketball, I noticed that there were icicles that were as long as 3/4 of a meter hanging along the lining of the building. These are things that I have only seen in National Geographic or movies!

I don’t understand Fahrenheit. Why the United States is still on the system when the rest of the world is mainly on Celcius! The US likes to be special. When I was coming out of work this week, I saw a TV screen saying the weather would be 26 Fahrenheit the next day. I was quite excited and surprised that it would be so warm but my gullible self didn’t realize that it was F and not C. Le grand sigh. Here’s to another three months of guaranteed winter.

On Tuesday, I woke up to a blanket of white on the President’s roof (my room is adjacent to the President’s home). As I was sitting in my constitutional law class, my eyes began to drift to the white droplets of snow falling and apologetically, I was completely entranced by what was occurring outside. There’s nothing quite like a New England winter. I’m told that the temperature will only continue to drop.

I can’t wait. Four more years of Bates winters ahead!

Lake Andrews, affectionately known as The Puddle

Nick Flynn playing hockey as the sunlight begins to dim.

Nick Flynn and Ali Jones on the ice!

The view from a Page Hall window!

The rocks.

Commons and Roger Williams!

Bis,
M

Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon Laser Show!

 

One thing I love about living in the city is that there is always an over-abundance of things to do and places to see. During a lifetime, one may never be able to experience the plethora of offerings that a bustling and happening city has to offer. Boredom does not and should not exist in the city if one goes out into the wild to make or find some fun. 

 The H.R. MacMillan Space Center has hosted laser light shows for these past few years and I was completely unaware of this! Before I left for Maine, my friends, my Aunt and I headed down to the  Space Center to see a laser light show to Radiohead’s latest album ‘King of Limbs’ – which I will add, was absolutely incredible!

   Laser light shows originated in the 1970s and Pink Floyd and The Who were some of the high-profile acts who utilized laser lights in shows. It’s a bit of a hypnotizing and high-powered experience. You’re in a slight trance but you’re also being constantly jolted by the random bursts of lights and flashes. We usually lie down with our pillows and look up at a huge dome with moving projected images of the starry night. As the album and night progresses, colorful swirls of red, blue, green and every other neon color imaginable appear sporadically. When I watched the show in August, there was a rushing waterfall scene that lasted for two minutes that was entirely breath-taking. If you ever have the chance to, go out and see a laser light show at the Space Center. The end of this season marks the permanent closing of the shows. Come early because the shows are usually sold-out quickly due to the high demand! If you come early enough, get a spot to lie down on! 

    Tonight, the acoustics of Pink Flyod’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ album were fantastic!

Try it sometime!

Bis,

M

P.S. I’m taking my flight back to Maine tomorrow. A grand ‘le sigh’ …

 

There really is no place quite like home.  

2012! Adventures in Vancouver and Whistler!

Happy 2012! This is the first official blog of the New Year!

For the second year in a row, I spent New Years with my affectionate group of 6 + more at Nicky’s. Next year, I think I may be spending New Years in New York – since I’ll be living in the East Coast with my family – or Downtown Vancouver (three cheers for being legal in Canada). My family is officially moving to the United States now! We have yet to establish an official residence since we haven’t bought a house yet, but my parents plan on keeping our Vancouver home! I suppose I don’t have a permanent residence anymore since my family and friends are scattered all over the place. I’ll find reason to come back to Vancouver.

I recently went skiing in Whistler! The weather and views were SUBLIME up there. There was barely any fog compared to my 2011 trip up to Whistler. I don’t know if anyone ever encounters this problem, but when I wear ski goggles, it’s difficult for me to see the changes in slope or terrain making it difficult to make on-spot turns. Subsequently, I didn’t wear my goggles for the first two runs. Big mistake because by mid-day, my eyes were bloodshot from all the rain and wind. Don’t do it! Wear the goggles! I contemplated bringing skis back to Bates with me but with all the luggage I have, I think I’ll buy skis in the States and keep them there for the winter. I’m bringing back ski boots and my ski wear though! Hopefully my neighbor Becky and I will be able to go up a few times!

New ski boots I bought yesterday!

The view was incredible!

In action!

Chairlift ascending to the peak!

One of my favorite pictures from the trip!

Winter wonderland

I also applied to the 6th World Youth Congress as a journalist. Hopefully I’ll see all of you from Istanbul in Rio de Janeiro?

Happy New Year!
Hope that you all have a sensational year to come!

Bis,
M

Every kid wants a Siamese Fighting Fish!

It’s the holiday season which means that Michelle has to sit down at her desk, draw out some lists of lovely names, take many trips to the shopping mall while comparing prices to online merchants and then finalizing on gifts to give. By the end of the holiday season, she feels very happy!

Now Michelle will halt referring to herself in third person.

Today, Andrew, David, Aaron and I had hotpot! What’s hotpot? It’s not related to hot boxing or anything related to a very natural green plant.

Hotpot can be described as a very traditional and healthy way of Asian eating in which fish balls, lobster balls, vegetables such as lettuce and spinach, mushrooms (my favorite), tofu, beef and fish are immersed into a boiling pot of soup or broth. It’s a very communal manner of eating. There are many variations of the stew and the ingredients cooked within the stock, but the above are some that my family enjoys whenever we have hotpot. As the stew is simmering, raw food is put at a good pace. Once cooked, a dipping sauce containing soy sauce or hoisin sauce with a dash of chili is used to accompany the meal. Since everyone eats out of the same ‘pot,’ it is quite a close-knit gathering. Be warned, you will have to scoop and dive out for your floating pieces of food. It’s every man or woman for his or her own in the pot! I’ve had hotpot for dinner three days in a row. It’s time for me to return to sushi again.

David Kim enjoying the hotpot!

Aaron, myself, David and Andrew!

While thinking about what to get for each individual person, I made an impulse decision to buy a very beautiful (the most beautiful) Siamese fighting fish for my friend Aaron. It’s such a work of art! The body is an orange while the tail is a flaming red with perfectly placed streaks of blue. My Dad and I liked it the most and so it was a quick five minute buy. It was love at first sight. Right now, Aaron, David and I are attempting to name the fish. All we have is the ____ Surfer. The sunset surfer? The scarlet surfer? The sapphire surfer? We haven’t concluded yet. Aaron and David are pondering about it and suddenly it is as if they were eight-year old boys again. They’re both excited, jittery and amazed by the fish. David wants to name the fish “The silver surfer,” while Aaron is saying: “Wow! Your tail is so pretty, you do have a weird face though. You are an interesting organism. I’ll pay you 200 dollars right now if you eat it David. There is very minimal blue. Just kidding David, don’t eat the fish.” Boys will be boys.

Awesome colors!

Fish in a tank!

All those colors!

The last time I had a fish is when I was eight. My parents took me to the pet shop and my brother and I picked out a Siamese fighting fish and another fish which I can’t pinpoint a name for right now. The next morning, we woke up (my brother and I) and found the other fish perished under a rock. The Siamese fighting fish had fought it to the death. My brother was very upset and cried and that was the last we saw of any fish in our household. My parents returned the fish to Pet Cetera since my brother and I were a bit too upset from the event. Since then, this home has seen hamsters, a dog and each time an unprecedented unfortunate accident would occur and four hearts would be broken. As a result, I haven’t had a pet in awhile.

I am thinking of buying a fish to keep me company in Maine though. It would be kind of pleasant to have something to look at throughout the day – “Mr. Nibbles?”

If you get a Siamese fighting fish, don’t keep it in the Peace Lily – Vase style. As in vogue as that may be, it’s cruel to the fish! A lot of the Betta Siamese species require nutrients and real food and the peace lilies cannot sustain healthy growth.The Betta also has a special organ that allows it to breathe air directly from the surface of the water. This organ is what allows the Betta to live in water that has very little oxygen, and when there is no open space at the top of the water, the fish may experience oxygen deprivation.

Pretty but unethical!

We’ll see! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!

BIS,
M

College Liberal Memes: Occupy Wall Street

It’s a dazzling Saturday morning in Vancouver. Skies are blue and the sun is bright. I love this weather! The weather in Vancouver right now is similar to fall in New England. There’s a crispness about the air that is so refreshing. I hear that Maine will be having a White Christmas! Happy Holidays to my fellow Batesies!

I have a few amusing college liberal memes to share today. I believe that my good friend must have found them on Reddit and he has claimed (falsely!) that they are reminiscent of me: “College liberal memes were made after you.” I was curious and googled these memes up and had a laugh.

Enjoy a few of them:

To be fair, while I find the OWS movement to be admirable in theory, I don’t see any strategies or policies that will propel the movement into long-term, sustained action. While at Harvard University, I saw the tents in the middle of the Harvard Yard inhabited by a handful of Harvard students. While the Yard is now locked to the public – a controversial decision ordered by the Harvard administration – (you can only enter if you are cleared as a guest or if you possess a Harvard student ID), the Occupy Harvard Movement is still in motion, albeit a bit lackluster with the impending winter. However, the students have accomplished a decent list of their initial goals which include contracts for janitorial staff and the determent of investment banking recruiters from JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley. In a sense it seems a tad bit ironic to be Occupying Harvard considering that much of the school’s endowment, financial aid and resources stem from money made from blatant and shameless capitalism. In many cases, alumni belong in that “1%,” enabling students to have the opportunities they do. Those opportunities then garner careers and the succession of Harvard students continue in the corporate world.

I do see where these college liberal memes come from. With all the celebrity drop-ins in OWS, it seems a tad bit amusing that those who are very wealthy – and whose wealth depends on the exploitation of others (at times) – are protesting against the unfair distribution of wealth. While I do think it is essential that some corporations reconsider their ethics, pay distribution, benefits and environmental footprints, I strongly believe that a country needs to have strong businesses.

Occupy Harvard

With that, I’m going to close my Macbook Pro and check my iPhone to see what’s happening tonight before choosing another English class for second semester. Everyone can appreciate satire (hopefully)…or at least, I don’t take myself too seriously. I can always poke some fun at myself.

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS EVE. The family is having dinner tonight!
Bis,
M