EJ

1110- things I still don't understand

Jan. 9, 2003

 

 

I don't understand why it's OK for my coworkers (and me) to chitchat
for a half an hour at a time,but not OK for me to surf the net or
send email except on lunch or breaks.

I don't understand why I have to spend 8 hours here, when I could get
my quota in 4. Why pay me and someone who does half what I do the
same? Why keep me here when I've already done my part? Why not let me
go?

I have been up for a raise since my last review in july or aug, but
of course none is forthcoming, so again...why should I be compensated
at a rate that is admittedly less than I'm worth, and still be
expected to perform as good or better than my coworkers?

It's a mystery. But...if there are no rewards for good, at least
there are no real punishments for bad, unless you count snippy email
from the boss.

My 'numeroscope' says not to let it bug me. hahaha.

=========
Anyhow, I'm going to work on a patchwork cape at HFS craft day on
sat, in addition to making an onion & cheese pie & some beef ribs.
should be interesting. I was gonna buy more fabric, but I think I'll
use the couch covering we bought for xmas/decemberween. hopefully by
next Decemberween, we'll have a new couch. And if not, that fabric
was only $1.99/yd and I can get more.

Tonight is poly dinner. according to the 'scopes, it should be fun.

Friday nite I'll work on the cape & getting stuff for the 2 dishes
I'm making. There is some pre-work involved that I want to have done
before I go to Valerie & Chris' (chopping onions, grating cheese,
cooking the ribs, etc.)


-----------
scopes
Taurus

Horoscope (by Astrocenter.com)
Your warmth and good nature draw people to you like a magnet today,
dear Taurus. Of course, you are used to this occurring, but today
these aspects of your character are especially enhanced. You will
find that encounters with other people leave you feeling full and
satisfied. After all, it is our loved ones who truly make life worth
living. The time is ripe for romantic encounters.

Gemini

Horoscope (by Astrocenter.com)
It's another potentially anxious day ahead, dear Gemini. But you have
the power to soothe your ruffled feathers. Physical activity of any
sort will calm you down considerably. Even a quick walk around the
block will be of benefit. A calmer disposition in the afternoon makes
it easier for you to handle favors and requests with your customary
grace. If you need to, you can "disappear" for a few hours early in
the afternoon and take in a movie.


Erika
Sun Sign: Taurus
Rising Sign: Sagittarius

Too many outside responsibilities coming your way at once could have
you temporarily at odds with a current love partner, Erika. At one
point your beloved may seem to be demanding a choice between your job
and the relationship. Don't read things into the situation that
aren't there, and don't be too proud to talk about it. At this time
pride can actually come before a fall. Communicate! Explain the
circumstances in detail, and all should be well.

Your Rising Sign

You may notice that there is a great shift of energy today, and as a
result, things are going to get less intense and more lighthearted
and adventuresome. This change in dynamics is courtesy of Venus, the
ruler of love and romance, who is moving forward in the zodiac. Be
aware that this change is likely to give more strength and self-
confidence to your relationships in general, and one in particular.

Daily Numeroscope - January 9, 2003
Life Path Number: 6
If you hadn't realized before that some of your work relationships
tend to be more superficial than any thing else in your life, Erika
you most definitely will today. On this 9-Day you will clearly see
areas in which your time has been monopolized, or where you have
sadly been taken advantage of. Let it go though, Six, for if you
allow it to weigh you down for any length of time you might see it
have a detrimental effect on your health and home life.

 

•  

1111Saturday

 

Jan. 9, 2003
-- Original Message -----

From: me
To:  Chris
Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 7:25 AM
Subject: Saturday


Hi. Just wondering if it's too late to RSVP? No problem if you're
already full-up :)

If not, what time do you want people to show up & start cookin'? And
I think I lost the directions to your place, so I'll need them again.

I can't find my onion/leek soup recipe :(

So I am thinking of one of these, from http://www.godecookery.com/

Mushroom Pasty (mushroom-cheese pie)
http://www.godecookery.com/goderec/grec21.htm

Tart in Ymbre Day (onion-cheese pie)
http://www.godecookery.com/goderec/grec20.htm

Stwed Beeff (beef ribs baked in a sauce of wine, currants & onions)
http://www.godecookery.com/goderec/grec72.htm

Let me know which of these 3 sounds best to you, or if I should
concentrate on something more dessert-ish, or whatever.

If you already have enough people RSVP'd, no worries, I'll catch ya
on the next craft day!

-E

=============================================================
Never too late to rsvp. Show up at mid-late afternoon. make what you
will.
my house: north on 35. Take the 79 exit. Stay on the frontage road.
turn just after the arby's. go through the light at the 7-11. about
0.8mi. down the road turn right on Mesa Park. My house is ----. my
number is 218-----. my sign is cancer. my birthstone is ruby. my
accent is southern.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I am thinking of doing the onion/cheese pie & a half-recipe of the
beef ribs.

:)

•  

1112 Austin Chronicle's top 10 savory bites

 

Jan. 9, 2003

 

 

Tasting 2002
January 3, 2003:


Virginia B. Wood's Top 10 Savory Bites
1. Lamb Ribs at Gonzalez Food Market: Out of all the delicious Texas
barbecue I tasted in preparation for the Southern Foodways Alliance
Taste of Texas barbecue field trip last summer, Steve Lopez's smoky,
toothsome lamb ribs were the most outstanding bite of barbecue by
far.

2. Roast Chicken at Lambert's: Thank God the low-fat police haven't
found this dish. Suffice it to say that after one robust serving of
this moist, tender chicken encased in expertly seasoned, perfectly
crisped skin, you'll realize that boneless, skinless chicken breasts
are an abomination that should be banned.

3. Lobster Heaven at Demi Epicurious: Big, sweet chunks of lobster
meat bathed in buttery golden broth as Lobster Shooters to open the
meal and then a few more folded into the voluptuous mashed potatoes
as a side dish. An embarrassment of riches.

4. Saffron Supper at Vespaio: From the first mouthful of velvety,
saffron-scented lobster bisque to the last creamy spoonful of Saffron
Risotto with seared diver scallops, shrimp, and crabmeat, it was a
spectacular meal.

5. Summer Garden Salad at Asti: The summertime farm-to-table dinner
honoring Deborah Madison featured a wonderful salad that was fresh,
simple, local, and organic: whisper-thin slices of cucumber and vine-
ripened tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, and crumbles of salty ricotta
salata dressed with good olive oil and lemon juice. The best of
summer.

6. Rellenos en Nogada at El Mesón: Marisela Godinez served this
national dish of Mexico as a special the entire month of September,
and I made several visits to enjoy big poblano peppers stuffed with
savory pork and dried fruits, fried in a delicate egg batter and
napped with a creamy sauce of goat cheese and ground walnuts,
garnished with pomegranate seeds.

7. Brillat-Savarin Cheese From Grape Vine Market: Cheesemonger Ike
Johnson chose this extravagant triple-cream for the Eat, Drink, Watch
Movies Babette's Feast cheese course, and its richness was just the
right contrast to a tart endive salad in tangy pomegranate
vinaigrette.

8. Gorgonzola Dolce, Honey, & Candied Walnuts on Grilled Sourdough at
Schlotzsky's: Renowned artisan baker Nancy Silverton was in town
promoting the joint venture with our homegrown local sandwich chain,
demonstrating many remarkable sandwiches from her new book. This one
was my favorite.

9. Pane Pugliese at Sweetish Hill: Austin's original French bakery
makes the best Italian breads in town for my money, and this hearty,
round, 3-pound loaf with the crackly crust is my favorite by far.


10. Corn Soufflé at Jennifer's Thanksgiving Dinner: A friend named
Judy brought an elegant corn soufflé made from a colonial
Williamsburg traditional recipe. It was uniquely American,
historically correct for the holiday, and absolutely fabulous.

•  

1113 Chronicke's top 10 sweet bites

 

Jan. 9, 2003

 

 

The year in food
Tasting 2002

January 3, 2003:

V.B.W.'s Top 10 Sweet Bites

1. Pomegranate Sorbet at Demi Epicurious: Absolute puckery
perfection; thinking about it still makes my mouth water.

2. Miles of Chocolate: A friend showed up on my porch one day with a
chunk of Miles Compton's decadent chocolate treat that's a cross
between a brownie and a truffle. I'm not even a chocoholic, but it
was love at first bite.

3. Peach Cider at Burg's Corners: Torrential summer rains all but
ruined the Gillespie County peach crop, so the members of the county
fruit cooperative made peach cider instead. It was like drinking
liquid sunshine.

4. Xanath Cream de Vainilla Liqueur: For a vanilla lover like myself,
this handmade vanilla liqueur from the rainforests of Mexico was a
wonderful discovery at the San Antonio New World Wine & Food Festival
this fall. Great in coffee, over ice cream, as well as with
chocolates.

5. Brunch Pastries at Emilia's: Though pastry chef Elise Feinberg has
long since returned to San Francisco, the excellent array of brunch
pastries she prepared for Emilia's special Mother's Day brunch are
not something I'm likely to forget -- the tiny muffins, tea breads,
scones, and cookies were warm, delightful, and perfectly baked.

6. Afogato at Asti: Who could have guessed a scoop of gelato drenched
in a cup of espresso with a side of cookies would be so wonderful?
The good citizens of Genoa, Italy, evidently, where this dish is said
to have originated.

7. Spumoni at Ciola's: According to the menu, the Ciola's version of
this traditional multilayered, creamy confection is made from a
family heirloom recipe. It was worth a drive to the lake all by
itself.

8. Chocolate Chunk Gelato With Balsamic Syrup at Asti: Pastry chef
Suzann Garde's personal creation offered the most unique dessert
flavor combination of the whole year.

9. Owen's Eggnog: Not for the faint of heart or the heart healthy,
this truly voluptuous concoction of eggs, heavy cream, powdered
sugar, brandy, and bourbon kicked all other dessert offerings to the
curb after Thanksgiving dinner. A wee dram would do you.

10. Cannoli From Vespaio: Guests at our Eat, Drink, Watch Movies
screening of The Godfather were more than happy to "leave the gun,
take the cannolis," considering how delicious Vespaio's renditions
were: delicate pastry tubes filled with sweetened mascarpone,
chocolate, and pistachios.

•  

 

1114 top 10 dishes

 

 

Jan. 9, 2003

 

The year in food
Tasting 2002




January 3, 2003:

Claudia Alarcón's Top 10 Dishes
In no particular order (that would be too hard):

Quesadillas at Taquería El Mesón: The homemade corn tortillas filled
with huitlachoche (corn mushroom) or flor de calabaza (squash
blossom) and melted cheese remind me of snacking in the markets of
Mexico City. Dressed with a generous spoonful of Marisela Godinez's
excellent salsas du jour, they are a dish fit for an Aztec king.

Gyu Tataki at Mikado: Although Mikado is best known for their grilled
Robata dishes, this unique appetizer of thin slices of rare beef with
lemon Ponzu vinaigrette and radish sprouts, served in a martini
glass, is a refreshing and different taste sensation. Fireworks for
your mouth!

During this year's screening of Babette's Feast at the Alamo
Drafthouse North, chef Jean-Luc Salles and his students from the
Texas Culinary Academy prepared an amazing version of the movie's
pièce de résistance: Quails Stuffed With Foie Gras and Truffles in
Puff Pastry. As I told Chef Salles later, I am glad the lights were
out, so nobody could see me wiping the plate clean with my finger.

I cannot pick a favorite from the menu at Lambert's: Superbly grilled
meats, perfectly cooked fish, homey yet elegantly prepared vegetables
(the individual gratins of scalloped potatoes were almost my pick),
and unbelievable hazelnut chocolate ganache cake are all inspired
creations.

During the Southern Foodways Alliance Taste of Texas barbecue road
trip this spring, we wowed the out-of-town, barbecue-is-better-in-our-
Southern-state crowds with the ribs at Crosstown BBQ in Elgin.
Peppery, falling off the bone, with that spicy vinegar sauce I love
so much, this was the cherry on top of our wonderful, barbecue-filled
adventure.

On a recent special celebration, I enjoyed the most amazing pâté at
Jean-Luc's Bistro. Chef Shawn Cirkiel has brought this dish to
ethereal new heights with his melt-in-your-mouth, light as air,
flavorful Foie Blond pâté with a tangy strawberry relish with just
the right amount of sweetness. I can't wait to go back and have it
again.

The sandwich Cubano at Habana -- incredibly tender roast pork, ham,
and cheese piled inside a grilled crusty roll -- is a satisfying and
inexpensive meal. Get some extra garlic mojo sauce on the side and a
cold Cuban-style beer to wash it all down, and you'll be ready to
rumba!

Favorite sport of mine: sitting at the bar at Ranch 616, drinking a
Michelada or a Conchita (fresh Rio grapefruit juice and tequila
reposado, with salt on the rim) while feasting on their incredible
fried oysters and calamari with chipotle tartar sauce appetizer. Viva
South Texas!

Of the many excellent chocolate desserts in Austin, my favorite is
that decadent chocolate torte at Aquarelle. The soft, moist cake is
served warm, so when you cut into it, the rich dark chocolate center
oozes out. Candied orange peel provides just the right touch of
perfection. Help me somebody!

If there is one single reason for Schlotzsky's bakery to have changed
their own breads for those of La Brea bakery, it must be their
Roasted Garlic Sourdough Loaf, with its excellent crust and chewy
inside, studded with golden roasted garlic cloves that thoroughly infuse the dough with flavor.

 

•  

1115  top 10 austin restaurants

 

Jan. 9, 2003

Mick Vann's Top 10 Restaurants
1. Madam Mam's Noodles and More (2514 Guadalupe, 472-8306): My
favorite Austin restaurant, and it's right across the street from my
job! Thai food that equals or surpasses that found in the home
country, large portions for little prices, and many home-style dishes
not found on the standard Thai menus (and they've added about a dozen
new items lately). Ah-hâhn a-ròy!

2. Sunflower (8557 Research, 339-7860): Best Vietnamese, with the
best menu offerings. It's a nose hair in front of Tâm Deli (although
they're apples and oranges, because they serve slightly different
things). A platter of Shaking Beef and some Bahn Xeo and I'm in
heaven. Ditch the lunch special menu, and ask for the dinner menu,
where the serious treats are.

3. T&S Seafood (10014 N. Lamar, 339-8434): How fortuitous for us that
the best dim sum can be found at the same place as the best Chinese
seafood ... straight from the tank to your platter. Lively scene with
great service and open late. Love those salt and pepper soft-shell
crabs with a side platter of potstickers.

4. R.O.'s Outpost (Hwy. 71 W. at Hazy Hills Dr., 264-1169): These
kids knock me over with their superlative chicken-fried steaks and
quail, the smokified melt-in-the-mouth pork rib ends, a dazzling
array of sides (deep-fried corn on the cob's a must), and Kathy's
pies ... ohhhh, Kathy's pies! Mile-high meringue paired with real,
old-tech crusts. Believe!

5. Polvo's (2004 S. First, 441-5446): The comfort breakfast that can
nudge me out of any kind of funk: a steaming machacado and scrambled
egg platter, topped with queso and bathed in chile arbol sauce ...
with a plate of poblano rajas and cebollas riding shotgun. Excellent
tacos al pastor también. A fix of this and I'm good to go.

6. BackStage Steak House and Garden Bar (21814 Hwy. 71 W. in
Spicewood, 264-2223): Aged prime-rib eyes the way they used to be
before the lean freaks ruined our meat supply. Grill it medium-rare,
nap it with a little ancho chile sauce, and into the pie hole it
slithers with gusto. Best salad of the year: spinach leaf with smoked
bacon lardons, port-poached pear, and Stilton. Divine.

7. Tie: Wild Ginger (8108 Mesa, 343-8400); Hunan (1940 W. William
Cannon, 443-8848): If I'm landscaping at Dr. Turner's house, Wild
Ginger is right down the road, with the best hot and sour soup in
town and dynamite lunches. If I'm on the way home or doing laundry,
it's the killer ma po du fu (spicy pork and tofu) and sumptuous lunch
specials at Hunan. Both are first-rate, economical, and on my way.

8. Evita's Botanitas (6400 S. First, 441-2424): The majestic towering
basket of chips rising above the nest of superlative salsas below is
the perfect prelude to fantastic tilapia mojo de ajo, or go straight
comfort-zone with the mega El Rey Combo No.1. Evita's has been around
a long time because they've earned it. Great folks, great food.

9. Din Ho Chinese BBQ (8557 Research, 832-8788): Unctuous and
meltingly tender roast ducks that you grab and go, usually with a
slab of char siu roast pork on the side for good measure. Both are
top-notch, and when you get them home, there's an unlimited range of
delights they can be made into ... or you can eat them straight, the
way that Din Ho intended.

10. Pars Deli (8820 Burnet Rd., 452-4888): They're the relatively new
outlet for that ancient, incredible taste treat, the gyro. Pars does
them perfectly, and all of their other Middle Eastern items are rock
solid and above reproach ... fantastic folks that prepare their food
with respect. Up North, they get my nod (also Kismet for Campus,
Marakesh Downtown, and Phoenicia down South).