Food and TV

I have a new favorite food show. We ran across it accidently on a local asian channel. Its called Cooking Showdown (Dotchi No Ryori Show).

Basically there are two teams and two featured dishes (usually regional specialties). Japanese celebs have to sit in a kitchen studio while 2 guys with 2 cooking teams make 2 different dishes- it's a battle of which dish wins. For example, last week was Katatama Udon versus Okinawa Soki Soba. The the hungry celebrity guests watch as a camera crew tracks down ingredients, and visits famous farms and restaurants, while chefs prepare the items in the studio.Then must pick one dish by pushing a button. The majority wins and gets to eat. The losers just get to watch. I can't find a picture or description of the Udon, but they kept calling it japanese carbonara. It was hot udon noodles added to a bowl with raw eggs and swishing it around and right before you ate it you add a swirl of soy sauce. I found this picture of Flickr and it looks like the noodles. I guess the place that originated this dish always has long lines out the door and usually sells out by lunch time.


The cool part is when the show travels to the places where these dished originate. For example, the Soba noodles are not buckwheat, instead they get their distinct flavor from wood ashes. The Udon uses soy sauce that is made from a type of black bean instead of soybean, and they show the area where it is made. The sauce is supposed to be sweet so these folks in japan also make ice cream from it.

It did not have subtitles, but it was fun to watch. It was also funny, so it wasn't as serious as Chairman Kaga and his Iron Chefs.

Right after the show we went out from some udon..mmmm

Faux Mexican Socialite

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.

A few weeks ago I went to Mexicali for a bridal shower and a baby shower (not for the same person). What I think is great (in a cheesy sort of way) is that when you have parties sometimes a newspaper photographer shows up to document whatever joyous occasion is being celebrated. So my cousin's baby shower made the party pages. While it's not the first time a family function ends up in the paper (or a family member ends up in the news), it is the first time I have been included in the picture! Yay for me!If you can't find me I am standing immediately to the right of the baby shower guest of honor. I showed one of my co-workers the picture and he asked: "are you from a prominent Mexican family?". Uh... no. If by prominent he means we throw a lot of parties because there are a lot of us, then ok. If he means prominent as in wealthy socialites...uhh....no. I actually think if you are prominent you get included in the paper in the actual news section of the paper. I think everyone else gets put in the "Sociales" section. Next time I go to Mexicali, which will be soon, i'll ask my aunt and cousin if they paid to be included or they gave the guy a tip because in Mexicali, everyone is always looking to make an extra buck.

Noah's baby shower

We had a small baby shower for Julie and Noah last weekend. It was cute but the boy slept through the whole thing! Here's Noah with my grandmother.
Of course the food was super good, plus I got to make choclate fondue, thanks to Caroline's pretty fondue pot and recipe. I didn't take more pictures because I was kinda busy the whole time, but whoever made the shower favors deserves a prize!

Christine's Donuts

Christine sent me this:I'm jealous. I want a donut place named after me.