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Ear Cleaners Beyond the Finger

I'm the first to dig in my (or my hubby-to-be's) ear for that ever annoying ear wax. And nothing feels quite like a good q-tip cleaning after a shower. This terrifying torture device is most certainly not my idea of ear cleaning.

Oh, look. They are almost sold out. Can you say punctured brain?

Hair Gel That's Recession-tastic

I love my local international market. It's always fun to see what you'll find on offer. Some things, not so much. Would you put this in your hair?

Kimchi Refrigerator for Sale

The coolest gift ever! Only if you LOVE Kimchi, however. Complete with compartments galore. Will wonders never cease? Look at what you get: Energy Star certified, ingredient storage compartments, cooling bins for easy transportation and plenty of fermentation areas. All for the low, low price of $2000. Interested?

 

SeizureTracker Needs You!

One of the pleasures of moving to a new place includes making new friends. I will say that for both Keith and myself this has been no easy task. However, the friends we have made are genuine and will always hold special places in our hearts.

One great friend I have made is Lisa Moss. She is a hard working co-worker who has an amazing, beautiful, life-loving family. Only one hitch; their 5 year-old son Evan has been suffering from seizures since he was an infant. After just getting to know Lisa, I watched her whole family go through the terrifying process of brain surgery to give Evan a life that is seizure free. No parent or child should EVER have to endure this.

Taking lemons and making lemonade, Lisa and her husband Rob created SeizureTracker.com. This FREE website is designed for those living with seizures a way to log their activity and provide detailed info to their doctors. Born from her son's battle with seizures, and launched from the waiting room of his brain surgery, this site is a much needed help to the 2.5 million people in the US currently affected by epilepsy.

American Express, iVillage & NBC Universal have started the "Shine A Light" spotlight award. This award is to recognize and spotlight local businesses who are inspiring. This is the real Main Street being highlighted with this contest, of which the winner will receive $100,000. SeizureTracker is a nominee for this award and I can't stress enough how much this would help the development of the site, of which Lisa and Rob completely pay for out of their pockets.

As great as Seizure Tracker is, they need your help! In order to even be considered to move onto the next round, Seizure Tracker needs a certain amount of votes. PLUS, THERE ARE ONLY 5 DAYS LEFT TO VOTE!!! Follow these simple steps to make a real difference:

1) Register - Click on the link below and then click on the blue hyperlink that says "register" on the resulting page. I have signed up with my real info and haven't been spammed. http://shinealight.ivillage.com/learn-more/

2) Vote - http://shinealight.ivillage.com/sbo-profile/?ProfileID=3513 After you register, click on this link here (SeizureTracker's profile for Shine A Light) and click on the blue box that says "Support this story, ENDORSE NOW" at the very top left of the page just below Seizure Tracker LLC. It will say something like your endorsement has been recorded.

3) Forward This To Your Friends & Family - If you know anyone affected by seizures or who is willing to help Seizure Tracker in its efforts to provide free help for those living with epilepsy, forward this on and urge them to vote.

By doing this, know you are making a difference in many lives. Thank you!

My Love Affair with Vietnamese Food

I love food for many reasons. Influences from my childhood range from my Dad's soupy-soup, my Mom's chicken and wine sauce, Nonny's cream puffs and Grandma's tamales.

Equally important were the culinary lessons I learned at my best friend (who I met in Kindergarten) PJ's house growing up together. We were the original frick-and-frack. Found one? The other wasn't far behind. This meant endless meals together, most cooked by her and her mom. These were lessons that inspired me to get to know Vietnamese cuisine a bit better and write about it.

Here is yet another lengthy C-School paper for your enjoyment.

Something for Everyone:
The Politics and Reality of Vietnamese Cuisine

Robin D. Aguilar
Food Writing
Instructor Marc Linquist
California School of Culinary Arts

September 25, 2004

How I Got My Food Writing Externship (Part 2)

Here is the second installment of "How I Got My Food Writing Externship". Every culinary school student (at CSCA at least) has to do a 12 week externship in a kitchen, food producing facility or other career oriented opportunity.

A buddy of mine in school really did say "All those cooking skills, and you're going to write?" A compliment to say the least. However, after hearing my protein chef tell a story about being burned by the Executive chef with a hot pan because he didn't get his dish up for a VIP 4-top in time, there was no contest.

The following was originally published in the CSCA newsletter. Enjoy!

How I Got My Food Writing Externship (Part 1)

Here is a funny one. Keep in mind that I was one driven m-f'er during culinary school. There was no test I wasn't prepared for. There was no restaurant fire (when class turns into a restaurant line with Chef calling out strange orders on the fly... nice!) that I couldn't surmount. However, I will never, ever as long as I live and breathe forget being surprised by what faced me trying to get my externship.

The following was originally published in the CSCA newsletter. Enjoy!

Gourmet's Adventures With Ruth

Ready for yet another foodie travel show? If it stars the eponymous Ruth Reichl we certainly are. According to Mediaweek, Gourmet Magazine has our beloved Editor-in-Chief jet setting between international culinary schools with film and television stars happily tasting and reacting along the way. Coming along for the ride is American Airlines who is spending beaucoup bucks for signage, 30-second spots, magazine ads, website road blocks and corporate sponsorship of the Gourmet Institute Cooking School.

Chef Paul Prudhomme

Every chef has a chef they truly love and admire. I am no different. Before culinary school I knew very little of the iconic Chef Paul Prudhomme. I had passed his spices in the local grocery store, but had no idea that his upbringing, background and influences led him to uphold a higher culinary standard to this day.

In all my travels to New Orleans, I have yet to experience K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen. For this reason, I am itching to get back to the N.O. to experience what freezer-less cuisine can offer. If you can't make it to the Big Easy, head to your spice aisle and pick up any one of Chef Prudhomme's Magic Seasoning Blends. Each one is outstanding, just like Chef.

Below is a project that a couple of classmates and I put together for our Organizational Psychology class about Chef Paul Prudhomme. See if you don't feel the same after reading.