December 1, 2017

A visit to an old favorite, now reopened: Hwa Yuan. Still the best Cold Sesame noodles ever. My friend and I were treated like royalty, given a tour of the kitchen and a special treat from the chef. Peking Duck was superb. The first time I encountered two sets of chopsticks, one for serving, one for eating.



Did a quick tour of Chinatown. Went to Wo Hop for some Shrimp and Black Bean Sauce. Forgot that they served tea in water glasses.



Statue of Lin Zex.



Chi-na-town, my Chi-na-town
Where the lights are low,
Hearts that know no oth-er land,
Drift-ing to and fro.

October 29, 2017

$10 win !



Never had Bucatini,the name comes from Italian: buco, meaning "hole." The sauce sticks to this pasta.



One of my all-time favorite Chinese restaurants has reopened. Their Cold Sesame noodles don't taste like peanut butter. I don't see Shrimp with Black Bean Sauce but maybe they will cook it anyway.



Day of Dead coming Wednesday.


Marjo Guzman /European Pressphoto Agency

Mexico City had their parade Saturday. The movie Spectre inspired it and it is now a yearly event. La Calavera Catrina is a constant presence.

October 1, 2011

Wall Art in Williamsburg.



Smorgasburg in Williamsburg is worth the trip.



Right on the East River, that is the Yogi Berra Ferry arriving.



Shorty Tang's features Cold Sesame Noodles from the old Chef at Hwa Yuan on East Broadway. They are spicy and delicious.



Bocata has a great sandwich.



As long as I was in Williamsburg, a Brooklyn Brewery Tour was mandated.



Lots of new machinery, big upgrade.

Brooklyn The Companion, an American-Style Wheat Wine Ale , 10.0% ABV, was sampled and judged excellent.

From the Reinheitsgebot (German Purity Law) adopted in 1516 by Duke Albrecht the Fifth of Bavaria:

"Furthermore, we wish to emphasize that in future in all cities, markets and in the country, the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be Barley, Hops and Water. Whosoever knowingly disregards or transgresses upon this ordinance, shall be punished by the Court authorities' confiscating such barrels of beer, without fail.”

Beck’s uses cultured yeast as an ingredient, which was later approved in an amendment to the original purity law. Modern brewing techniques do not need these purity laws, though nice marketing ploy by Beck's.



Lets Go Yankees !



From Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post:

"Red Sox, report to the River Styx at dawn.

These days, there’s no boatman in a dark cowl to take you over to the other side where the souls who wail for eternity are found. They’ve got an elevator now. Just push the “down” button. Don’t worry; you can’t go too low. Pick any rung. Mr. Dante has fine punishments arranged at every level. New rules: No more eternal damnation. They let you out next opening day to try again. Excuses, fine, they’re permitted, too. But for now: Go to hell. "



Well, if I'm going to read Rumsfeld's memoir, I should include the Darth Vader of VPs. A review in the LA Times quotes Col. Jessup from "A Few Good Men":

"We live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns… my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall."