The Sweet Life

Of course you know you're a Foodie when most of your birthday gifts are food related. Yes, it's true. I got a cookbook: Fran Bigelow's Pure Chocolate , and three culinary inspired books: Letters to a Young Chef by Daniel Boulud, Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton, and The Herb & Spice Companion by Marcus A. Webb, Richard Craze. I did get some jewelry, a charm necklace from pagliei . The charm? An apple turnover! I discovered the site on Chubby Hubby's food blog. The highlight of the day was my dinner at Kevin Restaurant , where I'd done a stage for a part-time gig back in November (before I got the job I have now). My friend joined me and I was happy that she was able to join me. The restaurant itself is gorgeous, and the food was executed to perfection. We shared the Tartare of Tuna, and she had the White and Green Asparagus Salad while I had the Corn Chowder. Our entrees were Sauteed Yukon King Salmon for me and Grilled Buffalo Ribeye and Roasted...

Yes, today I'm another year older. No, I won't tell you how old I am. It's been a busy week. I've been off for three days, back to work tomorrow. Not sure I'm quite ready though! But I'm happy I was able to take time off. It's been really nice. Wednesday I tried to clean the house, and I started on my birthday cake. Thursday I spent with one of my friends. We walked and shopped, had dinner out. Got comped desserts, though we didn't say anything about my birthday. The things you can get when you wink at the server (thanks to my friend!). He brought us a white chocolate cheesecake with an Oreo crust and a flourless chocolate slice. Both were more wedges than slices though. My parents mailed me gifts, which arrived as early as yesterday and I'm still waiting for one. I was quite tempted to open it, but I waited until today. As I took photos of my presents I got a little sad. I wish that they were here to celebrate with me. I'm surrou...

I think maybe so. Something happened this past weekend at work, and anger, for some reason, was a catalyst for me. I couldn't sleep that night (I saw the sun come up Sunday morn') and I made meringues. But not just any meringues, something I'd conceived in my mind wanderings and nurtured with daydreams in the kitchen. My first batch, though not perfect in shape, were perfect in taste. And every day since, I've nibbled on 2, or 3, or 5, just to keep the dream alive. I went to the store to buy cream of tartar, you know, that stuff you use to help stabilize whipped egg whites? One tiny bottle was more than $7 and another was more than $6! Coming out of my price daze, I took a glance at the rest of the spices; $10+ for some of them, not even the exotic ones! Since when did the price of spice skyrocket? Did I miss something in my misty food "depression" or whatever it was? Are they trying to shock me into a coma? Perhaps if I'm mentally well enough, ...

It's after 5:30 in the morning and I just got home. They're starting to set up for the Farmer's Market and I hope I get up in time and am in the mood to go out and see what they have. I was excited about the Market a couple of months ago. It's raining and is supposed to rain all day, so I may not get any photos this week. There's always next week, right? * * * * * * * * * * Can't sleep, so I'm adding on to this entry. Anyway, the major club street is blocked off on Saturday mornings, and the Market starts at 7:00 am until about 2:00 I believe. It's nice because the quiet is what wakes me up, isn't that funny? They block off a couple of blocks on the major street and people from as far as Michigan come and set up and sell their produce and flowers. I discovered this quite by accident a couple of years ago. My roommate and I had gone out and she'd lost her wallet, so we went back to the club the next day and that's how I came to know the...

I miss food. I mean, I miss it more than anything else. I miss our "intimate" moments, those of pure bliss where my taste buds explode from the wonderful flavors and mouth feel! Tonight I had a burrito and cheese fries and for the first time, I wasn't sickened by food. But that could be the fact that I'd had something to drink earlier tonight. I dunno. But my friend took me to get something to eat. I've been visiting my favorite food blogs and it just isn't the same. Something is missing and it's quite disappointing. My birthday is coming up and I have the day off. Usually, I'd go to Maggiano's and then to the Ale House, but this year, I'm thinking of trying out a new place, but I don't know where. Part of the reason I'm not sure is I'm not really in the mood for anything, but I had tuna and wasabi with soy sauce yesterday and the wasabi actually cut through the apathy and made me feel something. . . But that was then. ...

No, not a good one. I'm taking some time away from the blog. I'm suffering from something called food sickness, which is different from food poisoning. I have misplaced my passion for cooking. I don't have much of an appetite, and even when I do come up with something exciting to try, it doesn't get past the initial brilliant idea phase. I will start blogging about food as soon as this passes. Sorry for the inconvenience.