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stixasia · 2 months

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Discover Asian Culinary Paradise at Stix Asia: Unveiling Waikiki's Premier Food Destination

Experience Authentic Asian Cuisine at Waikiki's Premier Food Court - Stix Asia

Discover a culinary paradise at renowned Asian Food Court Waikiki's. Indulge in a diverse array of flavors, from sizzling stir-fries to savory noodle dishes. At Stix Asia, our food court offers an unparalleled dining experience, where every bite transports you to the bustling streets of Asia. Whether you're craving traditional Japanese sushi, mouthwatering Korean barbecue, or aromatic Thai curries, our food court has something to satisfy every palate. Join us at Stix Asia and embark on a gastronomic journey through the vibrant flavors of Asia, right in the heart of Waikiki.

Unparalleled Asian Dining Experience at Waikiki's Premier Food Hall - Stix Asia

Elevate your dining experience at Asian Food Hall Waikiki's . Located at Stix Asia, our food hall brings together the best of Asian cuisine under one roof. From street food-inspired snacks to exquisite gourmet dishes, our food hall offers a tantalizing selection of culinary delights. Savor the authentic flavors of Asia as you explore our diverse array of vendors, each offering their own unique specialties. Whether you're in the mood for steaming bowls of ramen, fragrant bowls of pho, or crispy Korean fried chicken, you'll find it all at Stix Asia's Asian Food Hall.

Savor the Flavors of Asia at Stix Asia's Signature Restaurant - Stix Asia

Welcome to Stix Asia, where culinary excellence meets Asian-inspired innovation. As Waikiki's premier destination for Asian cuisine, our restaurant offers a sensory journey through the diverse flavors of the East. At Stix Asia, we're passionate about crafting unforgettable dining experiences, blending traditional recipes with modern techniques to create dishes that delight the palate. From our signature sushi rolls to our mouthwatering noodle bowls, each dish at Stix Asia is a celebration of flavor, texture, and artistry. Join us and discover why Stix Asia is the ultimate destination for discerning food lovers seeking an authentic taste of Asia in Waikiki.

Discover the Culinary Treasures of Asia at Stix Asia's Asian Food Hall

Step into a world of culinary delight at Stix Asia's Asian Food Hall. Nestled in the heart of Waikiki, our food hall is a vibrant hub of gastronomic exploration, where the sights, sounds, and smells of Asia come alive. From the sizzle of the wok to the aroma of freshly steamed dumplings, every corner of our food hall beckons with the promise of culinary adventure. Whether you're a seasoned foodie or simply seeking to tantalize your taste buds, our diverse selection of Asian delicacies is sure to satisfy. Join us at Stix Asia's Asian Food Hall and embark on a culinary journey like no other.

Indulge in Authentic Asian Cuisine at Stix Asia's Asian Food Court

Craving the bold flavors of Asia? Look no further than Stix Asia's Asian Food Court near me. Conveniently located in the heart of Waikiki, our food court is your passport to a world of culinary delights. From traditional favorites to innovative fusion creations, our vendors offer an extensive menu sure to please every palate. Whether you're in the mood for spicy Sichuan noodles, fragrant Vietnamese pho, or crispy Korean street food, you'll find it all at Stix Asia's Asian Food Court. Join us and discover why we're the go-to destination for Asian cuisine aficionados in Waikiki and beyond.

Delight Your Taste Buds at the Ultimate Asian Food Court - Stix Asia

Embark on a culinary adventure at Stix Asia's unrivaled Asian Food Court. Nestled in the heart of Waikiki, our food court is a bustling hub of gastronomic excitement, offering a tantalizing array of Asian cuisines to satisfy every craving. From savory Chinese delicacies to mouthwatering Japanese favorites, our vendors serve up authentic flavors that transport you to the bustling streets of Asia. Whether you're in the mood for spicy Sichuan dishes, comforting bowls of ramen, or flavorful Vietnamese pho, you'll find it all and more at Stix Asia's Asian Food Court.

Indulge in Authentic Chinese Cuisine at Stix Asia's Food Court

Craving the bold and flavorful tastes of China? Look no further than Stix Asia's renowned Chinese Food Court. Located in Waikiki, our food court is a haven for lovers of authentic Chinese cuisine. From crispy spring rolls to succulent Peking duck, our vendors offer a mouthwatering selection of dishes sure to please even the most discerning palate. Whether you're dining solo or with friends and family, our food court provides a vibrant atmosphere and delectable flavors that will leave you craving more.

Explore the Fusion of Tradition and Innovation at Stix Asia's Asian Food Market Restaurant

Experience a culinary journey like no other at Stix Asia's innovative Asian Food Market Restaurant. Combining traditional flavors with modern flair, our restaurant offers a unique dining experience that celebrates the rich diversity of Asian cuisine. From bold Chinese stir-fries to delicate Japanese sushi, each dish is crafted with care and precision to delight your senses. Join us at Stix Asia and discover why our Asian Food Market Restaurant is a favorite among food lovers in Waikiki and beyond.

Dive into Authentic Chinese Flavors at Stix Asia's Chinese Food Court

Satisfy your craving for authentic Chinese cuisine at Stix Asia's vibrant Food Court Chinese Food. With a diverse selection of dishes ranging from spicy Sichuan specialties to comforting Cantonese classics, our food court is a culinary paradise for lovers of Chinese food. Whether you're in the mood for dim sum, noodles, or delectable dumplings, our vendors serve up flavorful dishes made with the freshest ingredients and authentic recipes. Join us at Stix Asia and treat your taste buds to an unforgettable dining experience.

Experience the Best of Japanese Cuisine at Stix Asia's Japanese Food Hall

Immerse yourself in the art of Japanese cuisine at Stix Asia's exquisite Japanese Food Hall. Located in Waikiki, our food hall offers a curated selection of traditional Japanese dishes crafted with precision and passion. From sushi and sashimi to hearty bowls of ramen, each dish is a celebration of flavor and technique. Whether you're a sushi aficionado or a ramen enthusiast, our food hall provides a welcoming environment where you can savor the authentic tastes of Japan. Join us at Stix Asia and experience the culinary wonders of our Japanese Food Hall firsthand.

Dive into Japanese Culinary Excellence at Waikiki's Premier Food Destination - Stix Asia

Experience the epitome of Japanese culinary artistry at Stix Asia's exclusive Japanese Food Hall Waikiki. Immerse yourself in a world of exquisite flavors, where traditional techniques meet modern innovation. From delicate sushi rolls to hearty bowls of ramen, our food hall showcases the best of Japanese cuisine in a vibrant and inviting atmosphere. Join us at Stix Asia and discover why our Japanese Food Hall is a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts in Waikiki.

Bario: Where Fusion Meets Tradition in Waikiki's Asian Culinary Scene

Step into a realm of culinary fusion and innovation at Bario. Nestled in the heart of Waikiki, Bario offers a unique dining experience that blends traditional Asian flavors with modern flair. From inventive sushi creations to bold Korean barbecue dishes, our menu is a celebration of diversity and creativity. Join us at Bario and embark on a gastronomic journey like no other.

Explore the Best of Asian Cuisine at Asia Hall - Stix Asia

Indulge in the rich tapestry of Asian flavors at Stix Asia's vibrant Asia Hall. Located in Waikiki, our hall is a melting pot of culinary delights, offering a diverse selection of dishes from across the continent. Whether you're craving spicy Thai curries, savory Chinese dumplings, or aromatic Vietnamese pho, you'll find it all and more at Stix Asia's Asia Hall. Join us and experience the true essence of Asian cuisine in an energetic and welcoming atmosphere.

Savor Authentic Japanese Cuisine at Honolulu's Premier Food Court - Stix Asia

Treat your taste buds to an authentic Japanese dining experience at Stix Asia's renowned Japanese Food Court Honolulu. From freshly prepared sushi to savory yakitori skewers, our food court offers a tantalizing array of Japanese specialties to satisfy every palate. Whether you're dining solo or with friends and family, our food court provides a vibrant and lively atmosphere where you can enjoy the flavors of Japan without leaving Honolulu.

Discover a Gastronomic Wonderland at Honolulu's Premier Food Hall - Stix Asia

Embark on a culinary adventure at Stix Asia's acclaimed Food Hall Honolulu. With a diverse selection of vendors offering everything from Asian street food to gourmet delicacies, our hall is a paradise for food lovers. Whether you're in the mood for bold Korean flavors, classic Japanese dishes, or spicy Thai cuisine, you'll find it all and more at Stix Asia's Food Hall. Join us and immerse yourself in a world of culinary delights in the heart of Honolulu.

Experience Shanghai Chic at Stix Asia's Vibrant Bar Lounge

Transport yourself to the glamourous streets of Shanghai at Stix Asia's stylish Shanghai Bar. With its sophisticated ambiance and innovative cocktails, our bar is the perfect destination for a night out in Waikiki. Sip on expertly crafted drinks inspired by the vibrant flavors of Shanghai while soaking in the bustling atmosphere. Whether you're catching up with friends or enjoying a romantic evening, the Shanghai Bar at Stix Asia promises an unforgettable experience.

Discover the Essence of Japanese Tea Culture at Nana's Green Tea

Immerse yourself in the serene world of Japanese tea culture at Nana's Green Tea. With a menu featuring an exquisite selection of matcha-infused beverages and delectable desserts, our cafe invites you to unwind and indulge in moments of tranquility. From traditional matcha lattes to indulgent matcha parfaits, each item is crafted with the finest ingredients and meticulous attention to detail. Join us at Nana's Green Tea and experience the true essence of Japanese hospitality in the heart of Waikiki.

Indulge in Authentic Japanese Cuisine at Stix Asia's Japanese Food Court

Embark on a culinary journey through Japan at Stix Asia's authentic Japanese Food Court. Located in the heart of Waikiki, our food court offers a tantalizing selection of Japanese specialties, from sushi and sashimi to tempura and ramen. Whether you're craving a quick bite or a leisurely meal, our vendors serve up delicious dishes made with the freshest ingredients and traditional techniques. Join us at Stix Asia's Japanese Food Court and experience the rich flavors of Japan in every bite.

Delight Your Senses at Nana's Green Tea

Treat yourself to a taste of Japan at Nana's Green Tea. With a menu featuring a diverse range of matcha-infused treats, our cafe is a haven for lovers of Japanese cuisine and culture. From refreshing matcha lattes to indulgent matcha parfaits, each item is crafted with care and precision to delight your senses. Join us at Nana's Green Tea and experience the true essence of Japanese hospitality in the heart of Waikiki.

Explore the Finest Asian Foods at Stix Asia's Market & Restaurant

Embark on a culinary adventure at Stix Asia's unique Asian Foods Market & Restaurant. Combining the convenience of a market with the ambiance of a restaurant, our establishment offers a diverse selection of Asian delicacies to satisfy every craving. From freshly prepared sushi to flavorful stir-fries, our menu showcases the best of Asian cuisine in one convenient location. Whether you're dining in or grabbing a quick meal to go, Stix Asia's Asian Foods Market & Restaurant is your ultimate destination for Asian culinary delights.

Experience the Flavors of Hong Kong at HK Cafe - Stix Asia

Journey to the bustling streets of Hong Kong without leaving Waikiki at Stix Asia's authentic HK Cafe. From aromatic Cantonese dishes to decadent Hong Kong-style desserts, our cafe offers a taste of the vibrant culinary scene of Hong Kong. Whether you're craving silky smooth congee for breakfast or crispy roasted meats for dinner, our menu has something to satisfy every appetite. Join us at HK Cafe and experience the rich flavors and warm hospitality of Hong Kong right here in Waikiki.

#HK cafe #nana's green tea

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food123sblog · 6 months

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Finding Takeaway Restaurants Near Me: A Culinary Adventure Awaits

In a fast-paced world, where time is of the essence, the convenience of takeaway restaurants near you has become a lifesaver for those who seek a delicious meal without the hassle of cooking or dining out. Whether you're too busy to cook, craving your favorite comfort food, or simply looking to explore new culinary horizons, these establishments offer a wide array of options that cater to all tastes and preferences.

Takeaway Restaurants Near Me - A Modern-Day Necessity

Modern life can often be chaotic, leaving many of us with little time for the pleasures of a sit-down meal. In such moments, the phrase "takeaway restaurants near me" becomes a soothing mantra. It conjures the image of piping hot, scrumptious dishes that can be savored in the comfort of your own home. But how can you find the best takeaway options close to your location? Let's explore.

The Power of Technology

Thanks to technology and the widespread use of smartphones, finding takeaway restaurants near you has never been easier. Apps and websites dedicated to food delivery and takeout services provide a convenient and user-friendly experience, helping you discover a multitude of local restaurants and eateries that offer takeaway options.

The Culinary Odyssey Begins

Takeaway restaurants near you can open the door to an exciting culinary adventure. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you find the best takeaway options in your vicinity:

1. Mobile Apps: Utilize food delivery apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and Postmates. These apps have become incredibly popular for ordering takeaway food. They offer a diverse range of cuisines from local favorites to international delicacies.

2. Google Maps: Open Google Maps and type in "takeaway restaurants near me." The platform will display a list of nearby restaurants that offer takeaway services, along with ratings, reviews, and contact information.

3. Social Media: Tap into the power of social media. Local food bloggers and influencers often share their experiences with nearby takeaway options. Check out Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for recommendations.

4. Online Directories: Websites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Zomato are valuable resources for finding takeout restaurants in your area. You can browse through user reviews and ratings to make an informed choice.

5. Word of Mouth: Don't underestimate the value of recommendations from friends and family. Reach out to your social circle to get firsthand feedback on the best takeaway places in your neighborhood.

Diverse Culinary Options Await

From classic pizzerias to exotic Thai restaurants, the world of takeaway is incredibly diverse. Here are a few examples of the culinary delights you can discover when you search for takeaway restaurants near you:

1. Pizza Parlors: Enjoy the mouthwatering combination of a crispy crust, rich tomato sauce, and an array of toppings from your local pizzeria. Whether you're a fan of pepperoni or prefer vegetarian options, there's a pizza for everyone.

2. Chinese Takeout: Satisfy your cravings for General Tso's chicken, sweet and sour pork, or a comforting bowl of hot and sour soup from your favorite Chinese restaurant.

3. Sushi To-Go: For a healthier option, indulge in fresh, hand-rolled sushi or sashimi from your nearest Japanese eatery. Enjoy the art of sushi in the comfort of your own home.

4. Indian Delights: Experience the vibrant flavors of Indian cuisine, from butter chicken to spicy vindaloo. Local Indian restaurants often offer a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

5. Gourmet Burgers: Sink your teeth into juicy, gourmet burgers with a variety of toppings, from classic cheese and bacon to exotic ingredients like truffle aioli and portobello mushrooms.

The World of Takeaway Awaits You

Takeaway restaurants are a gateway to a culinary world waiting to be explored. With the convenience of modern technology and the diverse culinary options available, you can embark on a culinary adventure that satisfies your taste buds without leaving the comfort of your home.

#takeaway restaurants near

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robert-smith · 3 months

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Close and Delicious: The Ultimate Guide to Food Delivery Near Me

In the bustling rhythm of today’s life, food delivery has become more than just a convenience—it's a lifestyle. The ability to summon a diverse array of dishes from the cozy confines of our homes has transformed how we experience dining. Whether you're craving a late-night snack, organizing a spontaneous brunch, or simply too busy to cook, the quest for the best "food delivery near me" has never been more pertinent. This ultimate guide aims to navigate you through the delectable world of local food delivery, ensuring your next meal is both close and delicious.

Step 1: Leverage Technology

The cornerstone of finding great food delivery options is leveraging technology to your advantage. Apps and websites like Uber Eats, Grubhub, DoorDash, and Postmates aggregate local restaurants, providing menus, reviews, and delivery times at the tap of a finger. Don’t overlook the power of a simple Google search or the insights offered by Yelp, which can guide you towards the highest-rated eateries in your area.

Step 2: Explore Local Flavors

While big-name restaurants might dominate the delivery scene, there's unparalleled charm and quality to be found in local, independent establishments. Exploring local flavors not only diversifies your palate but also supports the community. Many small restaurants partner with major delivery apps or offer their services independently, ensuring you receive a meal prepared with care and local flair.

Step 3: Consider Your Cravings

What are you in the mood for? The beauty of food delivery is the vast selection available at your fingertips. From savory sushi rolls and piping hot pizzas to gourmet burgers and fresh, vibrant salads, your cravings can guide your search. Utilize app filters to narrow down your options based on cuisine type, dietary restrictions, or even specific dishes.

Step 4: Read Reviews and Ratings

In the digital age, we have the luxury of learning from the experiences of others. Before placing your order, take a moment to read reviews and ratings. Look for comments about food quality, delivery speed, packaging, and customer service. This little bit of research can dramatically enhance your food delivery experience.

Step 5: Look for Deals and Discounts

Who doesn’t love a good deal? Many food delivery apps offer first-time user discounts, free delivery options, or special deals during certain hours. Keep an eye out for promotions that can make your meal both delicious and economical. Following your favorite restaurants on social media can also alert you to exclusive offers.

Step 6: Customize Your Order

One of the perks of ordering food delivery is the ability to customize your meal to your exact liking. Don’t hesitate to specify your preferences when it comes to spice levels, dietary restrictions, or ingredient swaps. This ensures that the meal delivered to your door is exactly what you were craving.

Step 7: Build a Go-To List

After experimenting with different restaurants and dishes, start building a go-to list of your favorite food delivery options. Having a curated selection of dependable, tasty choices makes it easier to decide on your next meal, especially when you're short on time or energy.

Conclusion

The quest for the best food delivery near you is a journey of discovery, flavor, and convenience. By leveraging technology, exploring local offerings, and tailoring your choices to your cravings, you can unlock a world of culinary delights waiting to be delivered to your doorstep. Remember, the ultimate guide to food delivery is about finding the perfect blend of proximity, quality, and taste—happy dining!

#my writing #kitchen #dinner

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isefoodsindia · 2 years

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Tips For Finding the Best Sushi In Delhi NCR

There are hundreds of different cuisines in the world. Different regions in the world have distinct food preferences. In the last decade, it’s become easy to find all types of food in the Delhi NCR region. Sushi is one such traditional Japanese food that is a hot favourite of many Indians.

When it comes to the Japanese delicacy known as Sushi, people are polarised in their opinions. There is no middle ground, likely because Sushi is composed of raw fish and other components that produce strong feelings of either love or hatred. Those who like Sushi concur that some guidelines will assist novices to have the most incredible possible experience while trying sushi near me. Follow these criteria, and you may find yourself in the camp of sushi enthusiasts.

Start by researching the best sushi in Gurgaon and Delhi. Google is a good place to type sushi restaurants near me and have a look at the reviews and the chef’s reputation.

How to Choose a Sushi Restaurant

For many who are new to this cuisine, choosing a good sushi restaurant in Gurgaon or Delhi can be a little intimidating. So here are a few easy tips to follow to guarantee a perfect sushi experience.

As a general rule, always choose a sushi restaurant with a good reputation for sushi. Price is not always a good indicator of quality. Check the chef's reputation and reviews.

“All you can eat” sushi is never a good idea. It might be tempting but can never be high quality.

Sushi means raw. So if most items look cooked not raw, it is a pointer that the fish is old or of poor quality.

The rice needs to be fresh and perfect too. Sushi rice temperature needs to be at room or body temperature. Cold rice is a sure no-no.

Avoid mushy seaweed. If the hand rolls and Gunkanmaki are fresh, the seaweed will be crispy and have a pleasant toasty flavor.

Every good sushi bar needs to have a display case. The display case of the fish must look clean, hygienic, and organized, never untidy.

Chefs and waiters must know about what they are serving and should be able to expertly answer your queries.

The fish should never smell fishy or old. If a sushi restaurant has any fishy smell just turn around and leave.

A high-quality sushi restaurant gives equal importance to taste and hygiene. After all, it is a gourmet delicacy in its own right, not Japanese fast food.

Just a tip – if you do not like the idea of raw fish try egg sushi – it’s delicious!

#egg sushi #sushi #best sushi near me #Japanese food #best sushi in Gurgaon #sushi restaurants near me

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chefpinhomecooked · 2 years

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Order In Delicious Ghar Ka Khana From These Home Chefs In Delhi - Chef Pin

Taking too many orders can slow you down, so why not order from chefs near your home? You’ll get a homemade meal that tastes just like home without the hassle. These chefs offer a healthy and personalized take on a traditional Indian experience to ensure a diverse dining experience.

Whether someone is craving a proper Italian feast or just wants a good old burger or even dal makhani, we’ve got it all in one handy list that you should bookmark. It’s not difficult to find healthy and delicious options out there: here are ten of the best home chefs in Delhi!

The chefs have put in measures to ensure the food is raw meat free and meets Covid-19 prevention guidelines.

Garniche-Chef At Your Doorstep - Delicious Ghare Ka Khana At Your Doorstep

Have a real craving for Covid Meals, Mutton Galouti Kebabs, Amritsari Fish, or Chef Special Mushroom? Order in from these home chefs in Delhi and be the envy of your friends.

Dine at home with a gourmet Indian, Italian and Thai Chef from Garniche with their deliveries of delectable dishes. French cooking is known for flavors such as madeleines, mousselines and quenelles among many others.

This Delhi-based service offers affordable, mouthwatering dishes from home chefs every day!

have some different healthy choices of various kinds of pastas, click here to order

PeeCeee\'s (Mughlai, North Indian)

Pawan Chugh is known for cooking the best Mutton Korma , Mutton Kofta , Cream Chicken , Aloo Meat etc.

Ordering food from home chefs in Delhi is easy, affordable, and can spare you many time constraints. These home chefs are famous for providing amazing meals cooked with fresh ingredients where each dish will be unique depending on the type of palate or occasion desired.

They\'re currently only available for takeaways and pick up from Vasant Kunj.

This neighbourhood in Delhi will offer home-cooked food

Accidental Chef by Ramola Bachchan

Middle Eastern, Sushi, Italian, French, Lebanese, Asian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Desserts

Ramola Bachchan is known for cooking the best Mezze Basket etc.

"I call myself The Accidental Chef because I never knew that I would enjoy it so much and fell into by accident during the lockdown."

Bageechi by Venu Mathur

North Indian, Biryani

Venu Mathur is known for cooking the best Khade Masala Gosht, Biryani, Shami Kabab, Badam Parsinde, All Biryanis etc.

Home Cooks Near You - Here are the best known food cooks in Delhi to satisfy your hunger for Indian cuisine.

We, at Bageechi, provide our customers healthy, hygienic, tastefully crafted Home cooked Mathur food. We use the same ingredients as we use for ourselves on a daily basis. The food is cooked fresh for the order using branded or fssai approved ingredients. We specialize in famous Mathur food cooked with utmost love and care.

Tahir Sultan Food

Arabian, Lebanese, Persian

Hire a home chef in Delhi to cook a meal in a style of your choice! Tahir Sultan Tahir Sultan Shares His Delicious Recipes.

Order your favorite Indian food from one of his many cooking specialties, including Vegetarian Fetah, Warak Anab, Fatoush Hummus Bomb and Iranian Kebabs from Tahir Sultan.

Tahir Sultan, half Kuwaiti and half Indian, started the brand Tahir Sultan Food. The company offers an array of Arabic dishes to cook at your home for private parties. The dishes are Authentic Levantine, Arabic, and Persian cuisine with a moderate twist--using fresh produce for presentation that is beautiful. Features of Tahir Sultan Food include flavorful meals without disturbing the part design. Whether you are craving Arabic Cuisine or fancy trying something new, this is the place to check out!

Meri Rasoi by Preeti Sarna

Find north Indian dishes with home chefs in Delhi

Preeti Sarna, Chef In Delhi To Prepare Delicious Ghar ka Khana.

Bring to you from MERI RASOI (Kuch Halka Kuch Shahi) to your plate, the few dishes that I believe are my best @ reasonable prices. Home food which is made from hygienic and quality ingredients and has a shahi twist to it. For me food is not just a source of nutrition but also a medium of togetherness. Of spending happy times with friends and family. Over my twenty years of cooking, this is what has given me the most fulfilment, even when I was working in the corporate. And that’s my endeavor. To spread the same happiness to many many people.

One Right Bite by Snigdha Sheel

Bakery And Confectionary, Bengali, Health Food, Contemporary Continental. Order delicious food from these five different delicious cuisines for you to have at home

Snigdha Sheel is known for cooking the best Chingri Malai Curry, Cannoli, Vegetable Chop, Mutton Chop, Mutton Rezalla, Scones, Kosha Mangsho, Plum Cake, Bengali Sweets etc.

You can either choose to order from your favorite chef or find the perfect dish with the easy search filter.

Snigdha, who was inspired by her grandmother's robust recipes, has managed to create a balance between East and West BENGAL cuisines and best known for her experience with Bengali home food and Contemporary Continental dishes. She has more than 50 recipes to her credit and is best known for these, as well as her desserts.

Nisha Arora Food

North Indian, South Indian, Health Food, Desserts, Burger

Discover the Meals Cooked By A Delhi City Chef

Nisha Arora is known for cooking the best Guacamole Toast, Idli etc.

Arpita believes in taking care of everything from scratch. She started from convincing her kids to let her cook for them, to inviting their friends and relatives over, and eventually serving a maalish of delicious dishes. Now she's got her own restaurant with a full location in New Delhi, India!

Marwadi Khana by Abhilasha Jain

Indian Cuisine, Rajasthani

Try cooking like Marwadi Khana by Abhilasha Jain

How to Order In Delicious Ghar Ka Khana From Outside Delhi.

Delhi is the land of many delicious dishes. From authentic Punjabi Chole Bhature, to our experience in Delhi sought-after Thai cuisine, there are endless ways to explore the city through food. Let's also not forget traditional Indian staples like Mumbai Chaat Bhandar, Jama Masjid's Hartalika Chat Corner.

Meri Rasoi by Preeti Sarna

North Indian Home Chefs

Cooks Creatively For Her Family, Preeti's Food Brings Together Individuals From Different Religious Backgrounds

#best home chefs in delhi #best home cooked food delivery noida #food #foodie #low cal lunch #best homemade food delivery noida #best online homemade food delivery noida #order from home cook #homefood nearby #home chefs near me #homemade dinner near me #home made foods online delhi

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deja-you · 4 years

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times new roman | headcanons

t. jefferson x reader

profiles | part one

A/N: This isn’t another chapter, sorryyyyy. i promise i’m working on it, but then this popped into my head and here we are. so this is all stuff that Thomas and y/n would do as a couple. we’re not quite there yet in the timeline of TNR, but we’ll get there. maybe.

+ Thomas and Y/n love having movie nights.

+ Thomas always wants to watch old classics: Casablanca, Singin’ in the Rain, Citizen Kane, you name it. He likes old movies, old cars, old music. Y/n teases Thomas for having such dated taste.

+ “Okay boomer.”

+ “For the last time, Y/n, I’m not a boomer. I’m only five years older than you.”

+ Y/n does most of the cooking. Not because she’s a woman and the kitchen is ‘her place’ or anything like that. One time Thomas made a ‘gourmet’ meal of macaroni and cheese. With a twist. The twist was adding alcohol.

+ “Adding alcohol makes everything better.”

+ No, it doesn’t. Y/n doesn’t let Thomas anywhere near the kitchen since the Mac ‘N Cheese Fiasco of 2020.

+ Y/n only buys superhero or Disney princess band-aids. She’s very proud of them.

+ Thomas finds this out when he gets a paper cut while reading at Y/n’s apartment. She thinks he’s being dramatic, but he insists paper cuts are the worst. Regardless, Y/n comes back with two boxes of band-aids.

+ “You want Ant-Man or Cinderella?”

+ “Those are your band-aids? Why am I dating a child?”

+ “If you’re going to make fun of my band-aids, I’ll let you bleed out.”

+ Madison and Hamilton both tease Thomas for his Cinderella band-aid at work the next day, but he wears it as a badge of pride now.

+ Washington gives Thomas the whole “if you break my daughter’s heart” speech, but secretly he loves Y/n and Thomas as a couple.

+ One day at work, Washington overhears Thomas make a “that’s what she said” joke.

+ “That’s what who said? I know you did not just make a sex joke about my daughter, Jefferson.”

+ Thomas melts where he’s sitting and wants to die. Alexander wishes he had brought a camera to film it all. Y/n hears all about this when Thomas gets home and can’t stop laughing.

+ When they’re out in public, Thomas always likes to have his hands on Y/n. They’ll walk hand in hand. Thomas will wrap his arm around her waist, or while Y/n is talking to one of her friends, he’ll sling his arm around her shoulders and rest his chin on her shoulder.

+ Although Y/n thinks it’s too much, Thomas will often buy her expensive gifts. She’ll come home to find a bag on her kitchen counter with the pair of heels she was eyeing in the store the other day or a statement necklace that reminded Thomas of her.

+ His eyes light up (and Y/n could swear he drools a little) when he sees her wearing the items he bought for her.

+ Y/n likes to wear Thomas’s old college sweatshirts from William & Mary. He’ll complain about her stealing his clothes but they both know he loves seeing her in them. Unless she’s only wearing his sweatshirt. Then he’d be happy to see her without it.

+ “Y/n Washington. Take that off.”

+ “How about you come over here and take it off for me?”

+ He does.

+ Yes, he decided. She looks much better without the sweatshirt. Y/n looks her best when her hair is all messed up and she’s sleeping soundly next to him in his bed.

+ Thomas makes Y/n coffee in the morning. He memorized just how many creams and how much sugar she likes the first time she told him.

+ Y/n likes to watch Thomas play his violin in his magenta bath robe on Saturday evenings. It’s the highlight of her week.

+ Y/n thinks Thomas’s apartment is lacking something and decides he needs a pet.

+ “I don’t need a pet. I don’t want a pet. They take too much work to take care of.”

+ “What about a fish?”

+ “I’m not getting a fish, Y/n.”

+ He gets a fish.

+ Thomas names the fish Monticello but he just calls him Monty. Monty is Thomas’s pride and joy, he carries pictures of his fish in his wallet and shows him off to his coworkers every chance he gets.

+ “No one cares about your fish, Jefferson.”

+ “Fuck you, Hamilton. Henry Knox asked how Monty was doing, for your information.”

+ After a week, Thomas decides Monty needs a bigger tank. And some plants. And a little sunken ship to play in.

+ Y/n finds Thomas cleaning out Monty��s fish tank when they were supposed to be going on a date.

+ “Are you really choosing a fish over me? I can’t believe it.”

+ She can believe it. She’s really not that surprised.

+ “He needs me, Y/n!”

+ “And I need food. Come on, let’s go get something to eat. I’m thinking sushi, thoughts?”

+ “How dare you.”

+ Thomas takes Y/n out to Broadway shows. He has wealthy and famous clients, so he ends up taking Y/n backstage on multiple occasions to meet the casts of the productions.

+ Y/n completely fangirls over every actor she meets and Thomas apologizes on her behalf. But he doesn’t complain when she asks him to take a picture of her and the actor.

+ She belts out the songs from the show all the way home, and Thomas can’t help but watch her with a smile.

+ Y/n swings by the office on Wednesdays and they go out to lunch together.

+ “Do you think I can order off the kid’s menu?”

+ “I can’t take you anywhere, can I, Y/n?”

+ But he takes her everywhere with him. Charity galas, business trips to Seattle, home to Virginia to meet his family.

+ Thomas’s family loves Y/n immediately, and his sister’s seem to like Y/n more than they like Thomas. His sister’s take Y/n out for a girls night. They talk about all his annoying habits and stories from their childhood.

+ At night, they’ll spend an hour in bed reading before they actually go to bed. Y/n wears reading glasses, and Thomas doesn’t know if she really needs them or if she just wears them because she knows he thinks she looks hot in them.

+ When the lights turn off, Thomas will pull Y/n to his chest and let the sound of her breathing rock him to sleep.

+ When Y/n thinks Thomas is asleep, she’ll whisper “I love you” into the cotton of his shirt.

+ He hears her.

Tags: @dovesgrangers @lovelymrvl @wiffle-snuffles @thisistrashperson @comingupwithacoolnameishard @wordvomit-foryourmind @newtonslawoffuck @isharemydeathdaywithfeanor @i-know-i-can @imperial-martian @fangirling-central @dannighost @ateliefloresdaprimavera @justahappylilblog @fanfic-addict-98 @a-hopeless-fan @and-claudia @nicolemelton @youtxbemusic @reidcult @eirenism @fantasy-of-fiction @iamsuperconfusedallthetime-dead @a-midwinter-night-dream-86 @rycbar-221b @bethanymccauley @fanworrior @gggamingz @nemesis729 @ibeaesthethicc @yodas-padawan @sabbrriiinnaa @micaiahmoonheart @beautifulfound @moondustmemories @ct-salad @teenwaywardasgardian @bj-is-a-graduateof-julliard @ruebx @katierpblogg @speedypartyducksuitcase @fangirling-central @idkkbaleighh @ballerinafairyprincess @spn-pogues @gryffin-claw @elegantbutedgy @1elysium @sierraisnotreal @ssanjuniperoo @collectivefandom @lilbabyhoneypot @lunariasilver @justcallmemama

#hamilton x reader #hamilton #hamilton imagine #hamilton fanfiction #lafayette x reader #lafayette imagine #daveed diggs #marquis de lafayette #daveed diggs x reader #thomas jefferson x reader #TNR #times new roman

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lions-arch-chronicle · 4 years

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Issue 10! Double Digits of this silliness!

Read more below cut

Title: Despite tensions all-legion rally still going strong

Story: With the recent events that have transpired for the United Legions one would think that the All Legion Rally in Grothmar Valley would have calmed down, or would have at least postponed festivities until a better more celebratory time. However, either the charr put in charge of managing the festivities haven’t been made fully aware of events outside of the valley or they may just not care. With festivities that rival Meatoberfest with food and drink in a constant flow, thanks to the help of willing adventures to keep things running there have been little to no slowing of traffic to the Rank ‘n’ File Pub.There are some speculations that the festivities remain in full swing due to the opportunities that the Ooze Pit allows for Gladium charr to join the ranks of other Legions after having lost their warbands. It may be viewed that in the interest of keeping soldiers on the front lines to stand against the Dominion and Frost Legion that keeping this pathway open via the Rally this benefits the United Legions in the long run.If planning to visit the valley to get a chance to participate in the seemingly neverending festivities we here at the Lion’s Arch Chronicle can recommend the food and the effigy burning are top quality and well worth checking out. We also recommend avoiding the Doomlore Ruins because nothing ruins a vacation faster than angry ghosts covering your clothing with ectoplasm and your own blood if you aren’t careful.

Title: Kuritata’s Fashion Review: SO SHINY AAAAAAAA

Story: AAAAAAA BLOG FRIENDS HAVE BROUGHT ME THE MOST SHINY. Okay okay okay, skritt must keep it together. Boss Courica said skritt gotta focus and not stare at the shiny so long that skritt misses deadline again.AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOkay that’s out of skritt’s system, ahem, friend who sent this in is so pretty and soft looking even her skin is shiny!? Can skritt have that? Skritt would like to have shiny shiny fur. The horns are pretty too, looks like those sky dragons but more sparkly. Do they hurt when you get poked by them? Plant friend also has good taste in clothing very soft looking, looks good for mobility. Overall 12/10 would you please adopt skritt so skritt can always see your shininess?

Title: The Boasting Hall Too Much Meatober?

Story: With Meatoberfest going strong into its eighth year some people have been asking if it’s time to give it a rest. To be fair eight straight years of eating Tryia’s best meat nonstop may be a bit much for some so I’ve come up with an alternative!We take a month to appreciate the cheeses of Tyria! Cheese is of course included in Meatoberfest in general but it’s never been the main focus. There is a rancher near the Village of Butcher’s Block where we can source the cheese so that the celebration doesn’t have to stop.Think about all of the potential options! Cheesecakes, cheese platters, cheese-covered meats! We could potentially create an entire celebration to cheese to go with Meatoberfest. I suggest the name Cheesember but I’m willing to listen to other ideas.No potatoes though, that ruins the spirit of the fest, meats and cheeses are the ideal celebration food.

Title: Visiting Amnoon: the ideal travel destination despite the sand

Story: Where does my journey take me as of late? The driest city in tyria i reckon. I’ve been finding sand in my hair for days! I will say the one great thing about this place is the Grand Sahil Casino! You can gamble all day long and not get bored! And who knows you may end up with way more money than you went in with. You can also meet all kinds in the Casino! If you like fishing check out the Amnoon Harbor! Its pretty much the only place that isn’t completely sand. The fish markets even have all kinds to try! Let me just say, when it’s this fresh the sushi is gourmet. All in all check out Amnoon if the sand doesn’t bother you!

Title: World Boss Fight For My Heart: Behemoth Vs the Wurm

Story: Big, tough enemies are the latest trend among our best and bravest warriors, but as I’m sure you can tell, I am a lover, not a fighter. (This is what anyone who knows me would say. No need to ask them! When have I ever lied to you?) So while I’m sure we would all love to know who would win in a gargantuan showdown between Queensdale’s favorite specter, the Shadow Behemoth, and Caledon Forest’s own Great Jungle Wurm, I have a different theoretical competition in mind. Who would be better suited to a romantic candlelit dinner with yours truly? The Behemoth is obviously pulling into the lead immediately, since they have limbs and can pull out my chair for me, pour me a glass of wine, use cutlery and so on. But to keep things fair, let’s say the Wurm can perform these basic tasks with their great big wiggly mandibles (though the Behemoth gets a point here, as drool would be less involved in the process). The Behemoth is, according to all academic sources I could find, classified as a “Nightmare”, which is a strike against them, since I have had enough “nightmarish” dates for several lifetimes. It’s a tie, which means a tie breaker! Write in and let me know who you would break out the nice tablecloth for. For me… Well. One of them has ‘great’ right in the name, but I am such a sucker for a pretty smile.

#Lion's Arch Chronicle #Guild Wars 2 #gw2

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fanfictiondreamscape · 4 years

Text

Watching Hedgehogs Forming an Army

Title: Watching Hedgehogs Forming an Army

Genre: C O M E D Y. (seriously, that is what it mostly is. I could write something romantic in this, but the title is just-)

Pairing: Izaya/Shizuo/Masaomi/Mikado x reader (all separate)

Notes: Okay, so before you start reading, do note that this whole idea is coming from a random thing I sent out to my friends on Snapchat. (Remind me to proceed with caution if I ever decide to do this again.)

Otherwise, I had been wanting to write something for DRRR for a while, and this gave me the most in depth idea for the specific characters and just- ugH, IDEA GOLD.

Below the cut!

Izaya Orihara

the fact that you and him got together was a mystery to the whole of Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.

seriously, this man is notorious for playing with people’s emotions and desires

so how the hell did he snag someone as nice as you?

no clue, but what they didn’t know is that you played with him

turn the game on its head, y’know?

that said, you two rarely ever went out on dates that weren’t at more upscale places.

one date? five star restaurant, VIP room. managed to snag free drinks for the both of you while he was at it.

another one? laying low at one of your homes, though there was a plethora of gourmet foods that he had shipped from out of country

(by some damn magic - you didn’t know, and didn’t care to ask)

otherwise, when things as simple as this happened, things came easy to the both of you

some ice cream for you, a black coffee for him, and the two of you skipping through the park happily.

this particular day, though, you saw something very sus

there was an outrageous amount of hedgehogs gathered.

no reason, no purpose whatsoever, just gathering in a corner of the park.

izaya didn’t notice the meetup until he noticed that you weren’t beside him.

with his eyebrows raised, shocked

he then saw you, slack-jawed, watching a hoard of hedgehogs

the general image just drove him to laugh, but you heard him

and you jumped to stop him.

“shut up, don’t say a single word.”

“i wasn’t planning on it, but now that you mention it-”

cue you shoving a hand over his mouth to stop him from doing anything

you both just watched the group

nothing more, nothing less.

there was the odd sip of coffee or spoonful of ice cream, but otherwise?

just staring.

“do you think they’re getting ready to fight someone?”

“i don’t know, s/o, are they?”

“no seriously! are they teaming up to go to a fight, or are they doing this to defend their nest or something?”

“again, i don’t know, s/o. but that is a good question.”

...silence...

“maybe they’re trying to climb on top of each other and form a mega-bot or something.”

“i highly doubt that.”

yeah, there wasn’t much else to look at.

your theories were brushed over in favor of watching the group gather closer.

people stopped to stare at you two

they even tossed the idea that you two were oddly placed statues

but they recognized izaya

they knew that no, these are not, in fact, statues, but people standing scarily still

watching something intently.

they just walked off, eventually, but the thought never left.

and yes, you two were still staring when shizuo spotted the sight while looking for someone to pay off their debts.

and, of course, at the sight of izaya, he flipped his shit and screamed.

that was the cue to leave before you both got crushed.

luckily, after being with izaya for some time, you got used to the chase and were able to evade the tall blonde

you both made it to your apartment, and had jumped to conclusions

“they were trying to fight someone by forming a gigantic robot-like figure!”

“no, they were forming an army to fight back!”

“or maybe they were doing that to defend their den!”

“or they were gathering together to have an or-”

“don’t you dare finish that sentence.”

the ideas kept getting thrown back and forth

though what you two didn’t know was that they were gathering for a ritual

calling upon their hedgehog gods and completing their personal little summoning

(it went well, for anyone wondering).

Shizuo Heiwajima

you and him?

you’ve gotta be shitting me.

you, an outgoing and happy smol bean (who was actually lacking any instinct to care about someone)

and him, the big angry tol bean that could care less about anyone (though that was a lie)?

yeah, can’t happen

unless...

so, this was a date.

normally, they stayed in the realm of indoors.

eating dinner together? at his kitchen table.

movie night? on your couch, in your apartment.

seriously, you both rarely had dates outside of the comfort of your homes.

so this date was a blessing in disguise.

it was nearing noon,

shizuo had come by your apartment around 11:30 that morning

a cup of coffee in his hand for you, a blush on his face

from there on, you two had spent the day relaxing together (though it was a fairly short time)

you two were walking past a park around this time

and you were watching the sunlight peek through the trees with wonder

of course, a few people waved to you and you waved back,

but when you spotted something odd, everything just seemed to freeze.

hedgehogs, gathered beside a bush, almost climbing on top of the other

almost as if to fight for something among each other.

your gasp is what drew shizuo out of the euphoric state he was in just by watching your eyes light up.

straight outta the gate, he would probably be visibly confused.

and pissed.

but he’d let it slide.

maybe.

it wasn’t until you exclaimed that there were more that he had an outburst.

“the hell’d you say?”

“there are more going to the bush, shizuo.”

silence, upon silence, upon silence.

until one of the children in the park shout at you to say hi.

you responded of course, but it still annoyed you

but it annoyed the blonde beside you even more.

“hey, leave her be!”

“dammit, shizuo - ignore him, have a nice day, you two!”

the child’s mother laughed and brushed it off.

you pulled shizuo back and went back to watching the hedgehogs.

though he was initially bothered, the sight was interesting to watch.

you two had been theorizing why they were gathering

“maybe they’re watching over one of their children.”

“or, maybe they are trying to build their den there.”

“well, yeah. but they’re climbing on top of each other.”

“good point, babe.”

(yay pet names! coming from him, that meant a lot!)

this continued for around fifteen minutes before they up and left.

you two went about the rest of your days nicely, dropping the topic

but it did come up when you were talking to your friend over lunch the next day

and also when shizuo was at work - tom was trying to figure out the reason as well.

otherwise, it was ignored.

the whole story, though:

the hedgehogs were gathering for something private

something that the humans would call a ‘meme’.

a fight club.

and the first rule of fight club?

you don’t talk about fight club.

Masaomi Kida

you and him?

that was expected.

for this long?

that was not expected.

people thought that you two would just call it a fling, and you’d be done

not the case, and you two were ready to wreak havoc all over school grounds if the time called for it.

but otherwise, you two were pretty tame with each other

also very flirty

but that was a different story.

otherwise, dates with him were very much everywhere

if you wanted to get some food, you two would go to russian sushi and then more

a movie? great, let’s hit up the bowling alley afterwards!

dates like this one were both odd and normal

it was expected that you’d do something following the first part (breakfast and gaming videos with him)

but doing something as simple as walking through a park was almost unheard of unless there was a big event going on

but you weren’t complaining

sometimes you just need some calm, and that is exactly what was going on

until, in a fit of giggles, masaomi had spotted a large group of hedgehogs in a secluded corner of the park

“whoa, look at that, s/o!”

“huh, what do you-”

you saw them.

you also noticed that they were almost expressing something.

whether that was anger, simple frustration, or whateverthehell, you didn’t know

but you noticed it and brought it up.

“kida, they’re moving. what do you think they’re doing?”

“a game plan? something to get food?”

“maybe they’re building something?”

“nope, they’re not holding anything.”

the whole situation, contrary to anything else that would have happened, came and went

after you two stared at the slowly growing crowd for almost fifteen minutes.

you sat down to do it, though!

(yay to less foot pain!)

either way, you two had started to toss back outlandish theories.

“trying to form a fight club?”

(haha funny-)

“or maybe a hedgehog ritual?”

(haha funny number 2-)

“possibly they could be having an or-”

(i wanna commit die for the amount of times i’ve pulled this shit istg-)

“kida.”

yeah, things got quiet after that.

you two were still watching the hedgehogs do whatever they and their expressions were doing,

but when you both hit a head and couldn’t conjure up anymore crazy ideas

you just shrugged it off and left the park.

it didn’t come up again, not even when kida dragged you from your shift at a nearby bookstore after it ended to do something in the city.

anything, really.

the night ended calmly, though.

the hedgehogs, though?

yeah, their night didn’t end that way.

that crowd of them that you two had seen was a hedgehog acting troupe, and thei performance schedule was outrageous.

the horror play’s lead was covered in a mess of honey, the comedy lead’s day was prolonged due to the original lead being sick, and the romantic lead had tried to avoid snapping the neck of her male co-lead.

yeah, clean-up for them didn’t go well.

Mikado Ryuugamine

you and mikado had been friends for a while

considering that you are kida’s (older) twin, you two got along fairly well

you and him were able to bond over dealing with your brother’s antics.

so the connection you two had grown to develop was easy to be expected.

and, seeing as you were the mature one of the twins, you attracted mikado very quickly.

otherwise, you both found over-the-top dates to be unnecessary.

so you both basked in the time that the both of you spent privately.

study dates were normal. get your work done, get some quick food, all was good.

sometimes you two would lay back and watch your current television obsession together.

so with things as simple and somewhat cliche as that, park dates were normal.

and since you both wanted some fresh air (and a break from your brother), you jumped at the chance to take a walk.

it was late afternoon, you had stopped by russian sushi and were finishing some dollar-drinks you picked up from a convenient store.

you two held hands, deciding to run the rest of the day through somewhat peacefully.

kida was out, though, so you were both on guard.

which also meant that when you two spotted him, you hid

you found a bench that was covered by trees and shadows, and decided to sit down

mikado was panting, you were still peeping and hoping that the dyed-blonde sibling of yours was gone

and he was, so you relaxed.

while you were watching, you noticed some movement from the corner of your eye.

it was slightly dull against green, so you found it a little hard to miss.

“hey, mikado, what’s going on in that corner?”

“huh? uh, i don’t- i don’t know.”

you got a closer look, and saw that they were hedgehogs.

there was two crowds of them, facing each other

your eyes may have been deceiving you, but you could have sworn that one of them was glaring at the frontman of the opposing group

and that their lackey was gracing an expression of calm

but hedgehogs don’t express emotions like that so you tossed that thought out the metaphorical window.

mikado, though, was trying not to let any of his wild ideas slip.

he had a filter, though, so he didn’t say anything.

you could notice when this happened, though.

“say it, mikado; you’re not good at hiding what you’re thinking around me, y’know.”

“well, what do you think they’re doing?”

silence

(yet again.)

“i...don’t know, actually.”

the silence hung high, but neither of you were willing to spill any odd theories you had.

some of the time that you were watching was spent theorizing, though.

just internally.

(seriously, if internal dialogue was going to be mentioned in depth, this portion of the post would be outrageous)

eventually, you just settled for watching them.

any conversation that you two had was about something other than what you were staring at, but that didn’t stop you.

soon enough, it started to get dark and you got a message from kida.

he was struggling with dinner, and since you didn’t want to burn down your living, the you had to hurry.

you had made it clear that you had to leave, took mikado’s empty drink and pitched it on your way back.

mikado left not long after you, eyeing the hedgehogs in confusion

but leaving nonetheless.

you brought the event up to kida (without mentioning that it was to hide from him, of course), and he made a huge deal out of it.

mikado brought the topic up to him over the phone as well.

but it was generally just left up in the air.

rarely ever came up between you and anyone else, but it still hung over your heads.

otherwise, the events between the hedgehogs was very new.

in fact, one side of the hedgehogs were squirrels in disguise.

they were having a conversation about how to invade and seize the squirrels’ home, and one of the disguised squirrels had said something to provoke the leader of the hedgehogs.

they were planning an attack on the other, and there would be blood not matter what.

it was a damn turf war, of course they would want their enemy’s heads on a platter.

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dem-khuya · 3 years

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probably because right now i’m feeling the worst i’ve felt since university, i’m remembering all the foods i ate in taiwan, specifically in 2019, because i think everything i ate there at basically the worst year of my entire life made me feel like life was worth living when i had it. i remember the vietnamese lunch box i bought from yue lian the day after my flight for 4$ including delivery. egg roll, rice, egg, pickled carrots and radish. i remember the rice ball stuffed with egg and chinese sausage. i ate those in my humid apartment in da’an park i think. garlic chive dumplings, pot stickers, spicy ban mian. once i got homesick for shitty pizza, and i ordered a small bit of pizza crust pie that i ate while calling my academic adviser. ugh the spicy ban mian though, i had that every day for breakfast, usually with a side of something that i don’t remember anymore... i liked getting it vegan but ordered pork slices when i felt really thrifty. i know that was gross but that’s what it was! my 3$ meal from that sushi to-go place in guting. so much salmon nigiri and miso soup there. mimi’s cafe, rooibos tea and apple pie while looking out at gongguan. soy milk, youtiao. i ate out almost all the time there because i couldn’t stand the kitchen lol. salmon onigiri from seven eleven, instant ramen, dorayaki snacks. scrambled eggs and rice too. garlic bread for 25 cents. gongguan too of course. then spicy pasta from kafka’s, god, almost every day because i loved that place. bibimbap from the korean restaurant near prince dorms. the noodles i bought when i went out with sylvia i think, the girl i’d met at the convention in university, and boba tea on top of it all too. the bougie vietnamese restaurant i had lemongrass tofu at too… that was also guting i think. god… everything tasted so good, i never felt like i ate something that tasted bad in taipei, really. at home these days i’m spoiled by my mother’s cooking. i remember when i first got home from taiwan, i had her food and i felt filled with so much happiness, because for all of the food i had in taiwan nothing tasted like the way she’d made tofu. i have rice and pork cutlet with spicy peppers and pickled carrots and radish and for a second all my worries are gone. i could never go vegan with the way my mother prepares meats. thit bo luc lac, cubed beef sauted and seared, rice, a bed of salad. of course too, with rhys, i have rice and tomatoes and eggs, spicy and tossed together. when i was looking for a job winter of 2020 and visiting my grandmother earlier in the year and we ordered cheap italian food from stella’s. god i wish i could have the discipline to make a food blog. the food i have when my mood is bad… it’s gourmet baby i eat like a king.

#xiaoshuo

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suhijoes · 3 years

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Sushi Restaurant Near Me

Best Sushi Las Vegas

Gourmet Sushi Las Vegas

Japanese Restaurant Near Me

Sushi Place Near Me

Sushi Restaurant Las Vegas

http://www.sushijoes.com

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loulougoingsolo · 4 years

Text

Little tang in the Bang

I stood in front of a stack of Oreo boxes at the supermarket on Saturday, thinking about whether I should buy some to have at hand during my social distancing period. Eventually, I didn’t. I figured that I’d just end up eating all of them the same day. It’s only been a couple of days of this new normal, and I’ve already noticed that the need for comfort food in my life has increased. If I’d buy all the cookies I crave, catching a virus would quickly be least of my health worries. But I admit, I regretted my decision today, after watching Rhett and Link enjoy all the cookies on GMM’s “Will it Oreo?” episode.

I’m a fan of the Bon Appétit channel’s Gourmet Makes series (I mean, I adore Claire Saffitz), and I remembered watching the episode where Claire made gourmet Oreos. If I recall, one of the specific requirements she had was that you should be able to split the oreo in half, so that the filling would only stay on one side of the cookie - because, obviously, that IS the right way to eat an Oreo. (I’m not a fan of dipping them in milk, because I don’t like milk, but I acknowledge that some people think THAT is the right way to consume these delightful cookies.)

The first thing I paid attention to with the potential Oreo candidates that Josh made was that they didn’t seem to be as neatly splittable as the originals. I’m not going to let that affect my judgment, but just so you know, I think that is a requirement for a real Oreo - so if any of today’s innovative flavours go into production, I think they should fix this. But on a prototype level, I’m gonna let that slide.

The first Oreo to try today is Bangeo. These pretty, blue cookies have been flavoured with Bang energy drink, and they come in a packaging that could probably fool even the folks at the cookie factory. As someone, who was briefly addicted to (sugarfree) energy drinks, before switching to coffee, I can imagine these would be a huge hit, if they became available for reals. I also can think of quite a few good reasons for banging. Oh, Rhett meant Banging, as in drinking Bang. Ok. Nevermind. Bangeo will Oreo. Let’s just move on.

The next candidate is Nacho Oreo, which is not your typical Oreo, because it’s savoury. Quacamole cookies, pinto beans, cheese and salsa cream - and a hot sauce milk for dipping. I want the recipe. These would make a brilliant party snack! And they’re almost as pretty as the blue ones!

Rhett mentions learning from Shepherd that the ancient Greeks didn’t eat beans because they believed beans contained the souls of dead humans. Because one thing I’ve learned after watching all these GMM episodes is to always fact check everything presented as a fact on this show, I did a little googling of my own. I did find that Pythagoras, and his followers, didn’t eat meat or beans, but this was not a common thing for all ancient Greeks. There are many articles about Pythagoras and his diet online, and apparently there is no consensus of why he didn’t eat beans - a quick search produced all kinds of reasons from flatulence to beans being phallic. Apparently, there is not even concrete evidence of him not eating beans to begin with. But,on GMM, there is a consensus of nachos (with beans and all) making a great Oreo!

Domino’s Oreos are next in line, and since everything pizza flavoured is always good, there was no way Domino’s wouldn’t Oreo. Fun fact: In Finland, we have our own brand of cookies very similar to Oreos, and it’s called Domino. I actually prefer them over Oreos, because they are not quite as sweet, but for some reason, Oreos are much more affordable here. If Oreo ever decides to make Domino’s Oreos a reality, they’ll need to bring them to Finnish market with a different name. A pizza flavoured Oreo needs happen! (But I think a regular Ranch without the milk might be more pleasant to look at.)

I know GMM has really been trying to make ramen noodles happen in all kinds of different Will it..? forms, but right now, I can’t remember, if any of the versions actually have (willed?). The problem with instant ramen is that it’s already a perfect product, and turning it into another perfect product, while maintaining the essence of ramen isn’t easy. I’m sure there is a way to dilute the salt and MSG content to a palatable level, but for some reason, they never do. And I imagine the flavour of monosodiumglutamate can clash with a sugary cookie.

Rhett talking about his college eating habits reminds me of something my brother did recently. There was a campaign for a veggie burger for a euro in the local fast food restaurant, and more than once, my brother went to buy 5 burgers at a time. He didn’t freeze any of them, but ate them all at once. I suggested him to buy a salad with his 5 euros next time. (He’s diet also includes instant ramen and energy drinks.)

But, if you see deer in Burbank in the near future, now you know where they are headed. Josh, please don’t make venison oreos!

Sushi Oreo looks a lot like the strawberry flavoured Domino cookies (I’m sure Oreo also comes in strawberry flavour), and they are actually very pretty to look at. I personally love the taste of seaweed, and I think that turning it into a crunchy cookie sounds like a good idea. In mass production, the raw tuna filling might turn out to be an issue though. Also, soy sauce milk looks a lot like an oil spill - which, I suppose, actually fits the oceanic theme, but at the same time, is not very appetizing.

In More, the guys get to try yet another Oreo creation, an Oreo gummy, with thick milk (they haven’t registered thickmilk.org yet, so I guess that is not going to happen). I love that three men with almost accurate facts and a lot of opinions put together create an almost perfect search engine. Stevie sounded so confused, after the guys got the answers correct.

My favourite moment from More was, however, when everyone else was focused on the human search engine thing, but Link wanted to watch thick milk fall from the glass. I’m pretty sure that is exactly what I would have done if I was there. I’m always distracted by things like that, and forget to follow the conversation.

#gmm #gmmore #gmm 1710 #rhett and link #will it oreo?#gummy oreo in more #human search engine #thick milk

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stixasia · 2 months

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Savor the Flavors of Asia: A Culinary Journey Awaits in Waikiki and Honolulu

Delight Your Palate at the Vibrant Asian Food Court in Waikiki

Welcome to the bustling Asian food court Waikiki, a culinary paradise where flavors from across Asia come together in perfect harmony. From steaming bowls of ramen to crispy Korean fried chicken, indulge in a diverse array of dishes that will tantalize your taste buds. Nestled in the heart of Waikiki, this bustling Asian food court Waikiki is a must-visit destination for food lovers of all stripes.

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Taste the Flavors of Bario: A Culinary Adventure

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Experience Authentic Japanese Cuisine at the Japanese Food Court Honolulu

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Shanghai Bar: Where Elegance Meets Flavor

Immerse yourself in the chic ambiance of Shanghai Bar and experience the ultimate fusion of style and taste. Sip on expertly crafted cocktails while savoring the bold flavors of modern Chinese cuisine. Whether you're enjoying a night out with friends or a romantic evening for two, Shanghai Bar offers an upscale dining experience that is sure to impress.

Nana's Green Tea: A Tranquil Retreat for Tea Lovers

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Refresh Your Senses at Nana Green Tea Cafe: A Haven for Matcha Lovers

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Honolulu Food Court: A Culinary Kaleidoscope Awaits

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Discover Asian Food and Drinks Near Me: A Flavorful Expedition Beckons

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#asian food drinks near me #Asia Food Court #asian hall

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cam-the-orange-cat · 4 years

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Food in Fiction

I’m one of those American kids that grew up with Otter Pops and other sugar-water, artificially dyed and flavored frozen treats. A few weeks ago, however, I bought my first box of Helados-Mexico fruit and cream bars, and my whole world changed.

Yes - I know - store-bought paletas are nothing compared to the real deal. But damn, do I wish my mom had bought these for me when I was a kid. I’m paleta-obsessed. I’ve never been one to cook (my brother is teaching me how to use the blender), but I’ve been experimenting day after day trying to recreate this new magic (and, as a broke college student, recreate them cheap). Blueberry paletas are currently in the freezer.

Recently, this experience got me thinking: Do my characters eat? What are they eating? Why are they eating that? Were they raised on sugar-water popsicles? Or did they enjoy the finer things in life (like paletas)?

Writing food isn’t restricted to eating it either. Maybe Susan is trying a new recipe for her vegetarian boyfriend. Maybe, at a baseball game, Arnold is flicking mustard into the hair of the guy in front of him.

Food is so integral in our own every day lives, it just makes sense that it should play some sort of role in our characters’, even if it’s just in the background. So, what can writing about food do for our stories?

Food can give readers a taste of a character’s personality and insight into their state of mind. Samantha Downing explains in an article for Penguin Random House:

“Imagine two characters meet at a coffee shop to discuss a topic integral to your story. Maybe one lost a job, or their spouse is having an affair, or maybe they’re having an all-out war with a neighbor. The dialogue may be the most important part of this scene, but it doesn’t have to be the only important part.

“For example, if both characters order the same thing — say, medium lattes — that’s hardly notable. Or if what they order isn’t mentioned at all, it becomes irrelevant. But what if one character orders a plain black coffee, and the other orders a jumbo cinnamon roll with an extra-large salted caramel mocha? And which ordered which? Does the one with the problem order the food, or is it the one who has to listen? Either way, the scene just became a lot more interesting.”

Food can add to world building, give depth to a setting. Maybe you’re a fantasy writer. You’ve probably had the fleeting thought of how trade works in your world. Your cities along the coast likely have access to a vast menu of seafood. But what does it taste like? Does the cuisine lean toward spicy? Saucy? Do they grill the fish or eat it raw like sushi?

Imagine your assassin sitting down for a meal in a dark corner of a run-down, family resturaunt. The waitress sets down a bowl of a scallion stew. It’s steamy and pungent in herbs. The broth is red with tomatoes. Golden potatoes float near the surface. After a long day of chasing after an envelope, the meal is hearty and welcome.

James Beard, an American cook, once said, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” Food in fiction offers us, as authors, a chance to connect to our readers. Take advantage, and write more food!

For inspiration, check out these books and webcomics that feature food:

The Secret Ingredient of Wishes - Novel by Susan Bishop Crispell

Garden Spells - Novel by Sarah Addison Allen

Pomegranate Soup - Novel by Marsha Mehran

Cinnamon and Gunpowder - Novel by Eli Brown

Under the Cajun Moon - Novel by Mindy Starns Clark

The Wedding Bees - Novel by Sarah-Kate Lynch

Salty Studio - Webtoon by Omyo

Gourmet Hound - Webtoon by Leehama

#writing #write #writer #writingtips #food #writing advice

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lilithnewzealand · 5 years

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Outlasting the darkness: lessons of six Scottish winters

A view towards the Isle of Mull from its neighbor island, Kerrera--spring

I begin these winter musings in the final weeks of the American summer. Light is waning, and we splash one last time in the magnificent lake, pretending that the golden heat of this muggy, molten season will live on forever. In reality, the earth in its tilted run is already siphoning the minutes off the days. We can no longer reliably plan late evening BBQs around our garden’s shady oak tree, for it will already be dark by 7pm in these last weeks of August. Suddenly, we’re careening into the hectic, school-filled days of early September. One or two punctilious neighbors have already mutinously exchanged flip-flop door wreaths for pumpkins and gourds. I know that in the weeks to come, a veritable sea of hay bales and potted autumnal mums will sprout up in pleasant but unoriginal beatification of this dying season.

Chrysanthemums seem seductive envoys of death, cultivated to bloom only in hues mirroring those of a mature leaf’s swan song—pear-like yellows, burnt oranges, reds umbers, and even crackling browns. Flowers that are unwelcome and doer in the heady exuberance of spring find themselves the befitting adornment of atrophy and waning. Festive gourds, Halloween treats, and crisply weathered hayrides ease us like a conciliatory lullaby into the season that flows towards the utter darkness of the northern hemisphere’s agonizing winter solstice.

I will admit that It is not beyond me to pray, to beseech, to quietly plea for something as elementary as winter sun. Just as I pray quirky prayers that as a Western populace we’d forgo ease and profit for truly earth-honoring, nutrient rich, non-carenogenic farming, or that God would bring suffering children out from pain and fear this night, or for a friend who’s mother no longer lives, so I whisper this prayer for the mercy of winter light. I lift my voice in an entreaty that as the icy air stings our braced, pale faces, and layers panoply our bodies, that the far off winter sun with its weakened winter force would reign over our sky.

I come to these prayers with memories of winter’s capacity for mental woundedness. For six long seasons, I lived as a young adult through the insanity inducing darkness of west coast Scotland’s seemingly amaranthine, sodden winters. While before my travels I had known in theory that places such as Finland, Alaska, and Russia endured a departed sun for seasons together, I was wholly unprepared for the true, if somewhat functional insanity human beings endure when caught in the grip of a dark, far north winter. I had come to a country whose springs and summers produced some of the most stunning landscapes on earth, but whose winters’ lightlessness and wet stung the equilibrium of every cogent citizen. At ten steps beyond cozy indoor lounging, and peaceful snow-filled Saturdays, winter in the Scottish city I’d called home was, in my experience, something to survive, like an ancient, enveloping, heavy, returning foe. This is my small tale of everyday endurance.

When I left east coast America for Glasgow, Scotland in 2005 as an energetic, adventure-seeking twenty-two year old graduate student, I only vaguely considered British lore of generally omniscient rain and mist. If tea and scones accompanied that promised rain, I felt equal to its challenge. After all, I was no stranger to varieties of weather. We of the American Northeast gloried in the wonder of nature’s four faces, and cherished each one’s splendor.

Not we the soft, milk toast citizens of mild Florida, with its perpetual clemency like the slog of a meteorological purgatory, never proceeding from heaven into hell, or fleeing hell into the promise to heaven (apart from those apocalyptic moments of hurricane decimation, to be fair!). Nor were we the unfathomable folk who think it prudent to nurture community so far north as to warrant cars block heaters and homes with double heating systems. Surely a routine -30 F was nature’s indication, to western folk at least, that such landscapes as Alaska or Manitoba were not intended for human flourishing!

For all the variety of season, one reasonable constant was sunshine. From fifteen hours of committed, humid sunlight in the height of a suburban Philadelphia summer to a mere, miserable nine hours mid-December, with sunsets slipping down by 4.36pm instead of summer’s 8.32pm, the sun still at least shone weakly and cruelly in winter. How different it all was just across the pond where dramatic lochs lay and bagpipers piped.

In the beginning, my new young adult life in the art-loving, gritty, dually medieval and Victorian city of Glasgow proved mostly splendid. The beauty of nearby Hebridean islands, hill walking, and Harry Potteresque Edinburgh all soothed the longing I’d followed for vivid, three-dimensional encounter with everything I’d seen on the countless BBC murder mysteries and Jane Austen adaptions. With ceilidhs to dance, coffee shops to visit, curry to discover, and accents to unpack, the insidious impact of a profound lack of vitamin D3 upon my skin and in my body went under my radar. My mind perhaps registered the lack of sun, but only to complain or “winge” of its inconvenience, as the Scots would say. Surely, the November sky was darker than I’d ever known, but there was a jolly Burns night feast to attend, and a grotesque Haggis to address and devour.

Loch Katrine, July

Soon, alongside studies, I had found work at an inner city hotel’s vivacious restaurant. The job stretched my world from church and post-graduate university to the bustling business district of that medieval city. Working the evening shift at the flashy five-star hotel’s eatery, I saw business executives live in rooms week-to-week as their veritable second home, while lush, pleasure-seeking weekend holiday makers shifted the energy to indulgence come weekends. Often, I’d wake from a drug-like sleep the next afternoon in recovery from a previous night’s early morning finish. Weary from consecutive hours of cultivating restaurant elegance on the ground floor, while then frantically couriering steaming room service to more private, weary, or work burdened guests on upper floors, we topped long evenings with free beers and huge communal plates of greasy chips in the wee hours. Night after night, we sat like those participating in a greasy, ritualistic, pagan Scottish communion, where no one but me remembered Jesus’ body and blood.

As the sun glowed a very muted gray buzz across the daytime sky, I’d then half glimpse two hours of cloudy half-light before diving back into the murky cave of our sophisticated but windowless hotel restaurant. Here, I served Scottish rack of lamb to the lonely Welsh businessman, or waited upon the elderly far north Scot who kept the chefs in their windowless aluminum kitchen interested in life by routinely ordering the “special” of the day, chased down by an elegant but heavy triple Laphroig. We’d watch this distinguished man canter very intentionally, like a lad pulled over for his sobriety test, back across the street to the more budget hotel where he slept off this gourmet evening, ready for the following day’s to work on Scottish Educational databases.

When I’d dart out to the wide atrium bar for a diner’s wine or beer in winter, not a spot of sunlight could be seen after 3.30pm, despite the 25 foot floor-to-ceiling windows that invited every ray of lingering sun. Blackness framed the football (soccer!) fans zealously bedecked in their ribald sporting colors, marching drunkenly through the streets to and from pubs screening their games. Their glamor and serious fervor was like a shout of resolve against the depressing dimness.

As I raced along hotel corridors with my dented aluminum room service trolley and my tender, undying hopes of a small cash tip, I’d consume any glimpses of light or sky in passing windows. The mournful beauty of gulls swooping in the inky night’s electric semi-glow is my salient memory of visual grace on these long roomservice patrols along unrelieved gray corridors. Arriving at the penthouse suite on such a preternaturally shaded evening, burdened with the happy, hot, succulent roast chicken for Tony Bennett or hot chocolate and scrambled eggs for Jermaine Jackson and his shy, Caucasian girlfriend, I would sometimes pity the confusion I imagined these grand American stars must feel in our dark cityscape. Why would a civilization choose to stay and inhabit such a gritty and preternaturally dark island? On the surface of things, our commitment to this dim, soggy winter space seemed bewildering and foolishly patriotic.

Wrapped in the stalwart blanket of Scottish pride, Scots rarely discussed why they stayed at all, or how they survived. A tale of explanation that I once read was that in former generations the peoples occupying the coastal lands had found the atmospheric shoreline and islands habitable by aid of their vitamin D3 rich fish, seaweed, and cod liver oils. These they kept in a vat of fermenting sea fruits near the door of their mud-made huts. Oozing the invaluable nectar D3–liquid sunlight in food form--these earlier chiefs and clanspeople weathered the darkness abetted by foodstocks most natural to human survival in their particular climate. Did some of this impulse survive in the English and Scottish default to fish and chips on any possible occasion? In America, we grab burgers or sushi on the run. In Scotland, folk did a wee nip doon to the chippie, perhaps in an unconscious genetic compulsion back towards the fish liver oil origins enabling their earlier mental survival.

Modern-day Scotland offered not so much a supplemental strategy, as a mission of pitiable smothering —endurance through camaraderie and pub life. In short, we drank the winter away. The prevalence of alcohol, clubbing, and more alcohol, to forget or enliven the threatening, consuming darkness was farught reality. This turn to the wine, the jack and cokes, the gin and tonics, and what became gallons of hard cider was followed, inevitably, by pursuit of deliciously repulsive fried food. A vivid memory of a winter’s evening during my university years in Glasgow was standing with friends in a grease-filled chip shop at 3 am, where a sober, level-headed, but smirking shop owner in turban and mustache served the scantily dressed, blitzed, and literally tottering western “Christian” guests a zero nutrient meal of hot chips (fries), with the chip shop’s familiar grayish green anointing curry. Indeed, a mini industry had sprung around the predictable depression of winter-bound, partying Scots—that of chippies and fish shops, open into the wee hours of the morning. By the end of six years in Glasgow, I stood well aware of the national sting of alcoholism, but certainly, and sadly, not without understanding.

I paint with broad strokes here, of course. These are memories mainly from days spent among hotel friends and university colleagues. My church friends weathered the winter rather more sedately, but not without a wee nip to get through the days, and certainly with a lion’s share of fish and chips. West Wing DVD binges, evening parties of games and “chewing the fat” (fun, leisurely chat), and mini-breaks for those who could afford to flee the gray all sustained the less alcohol prone types, as we grinned and struggled to bear the black winter away.

For myself, winterizing our let Scottish flat remained central to my mental survival. There is such a thing as cutting off your arm to spite your face. And, there is such a thing as having no good choices. When the darkness of a Scottish winter crept into Glasgow like the angel of death looking for blood on the lintels of homes, I was living with two American expatriate friends in a grand West End Glasgow flat. A magnanimous blonde stone mansion that had once outfitted an oil or railway baron of sorts in one of Glasgow’s poshest neighborhoods had now been sequestered into four elegant westend Glasgow flats. By some beneficence I still thrall to remember, we three American post-grad students had obtained “letting” rights to this splendor over a small host of other applicants. During spring, summer, and into autumn, we were the envy of all we knew. Our sprawling lounge with its twelve foot high bay window allowed in light, images of foliage, and the sound of children at play on the grounds of their expensive public (private) school across the way.

As winter crept through, however, opulent settings that had once framed our elegant spring view transmogrified to the Achilles heel of wellness and peace. My male flatmate at the time worked part-time researching medieval and modern lives of the saints, and the other seventy percent of this time drinking Jack Daniels and coke and playing an internet based video game with brothers and friends back in the US. His perch was the delicious round table within the sweep of the elegant bay window. Come November, he and I would rather awkwardly heave out the hidden, original, indoor Victorian window shudders, painted black and capable of covering literally the entire span of the floor-to-ceiling windows in a complicated inter-working of hinges and panels. Assembling this indoor screen felt like the muzzling of a bulldog or the blinding of hero, Samson-style. But we did this because there was other way to keep warm. The meager oil heaters scattered here and there like tokens to modernity held no real efficacy. They were no match for the high ceilings and now-insanely tall windows, and this shudder system in effect double glazed the space, however imperfectly. Whereas with a modern home, one stood a chance of creating somewhat stable warmth with space heaters and extra layers, these old flats stood impotent against the softly insidious sting of that millions-strong army of wet winter water cells.

In western Scotland, winter was not the season of snow, but of the far worse dual enemy of damp and darkness. This was the place of clothes that took a week to fully dry on British drying racks, and Victorian floorboards that leeched cellular moisture perpetually. Continually running dehumidifiers, we found, was positively the most effective form of heat management. Would the yesteryear drying power of real fires in the tenement fireplaces proven the key to survival against the potency of this winter water cell army? I certainly hope so for the sake of our forefathers and foremothers!

When we were done securing the blackened panels across our lounge’s windows, I turned to my own small room, likely once a servant’s quarters. There, too, hung original wooden indoor shudders for my window. Around the awkward fitting paneling, I stuffed old pajamas and the summer shorts and tank tops I’d literally never worn in Scotland. Their summer lightness now served as plugs and sealants against my greatest enemy--winter. At last, my small space lay hermetically sealed and guarded against any speck of outdoor water, and indeed, any ray of weak winter sun. I slept, lived, and worked in a cavernous darkness at least three or four months of those years in which I resided in that flat of historic luxury. Night blended almost unnoticed into day, and a cell phone flashlight directed into my eyes each morning was the best means of indicating dayspring to my searching body.

Deeper into the stretch of the city’s west end, my husband-to-be, with a professional job, traditional office hours, and a somewhat larger bank account, battled the lows of the western Scottish winter more genteelly. His best mate, a distinguished Scottish surgeon, lured him into membership at the sleek and financially exclusive David Lloyd west end gym. Here was a gorgeous, artificial, perpetual summer of sorts—the chemical paradise of an indoor pool, ensconced safely within the glass. Here, eminent surgeon sat swan alongside high stakes IT programmer, property developer alongside Oxford-trained eye surgeon. Thus it was that Alistair and Chris swam their way through the sadness of winter.

Somehow, when I think of Alistair, quietly and dramatically insisting that the David Lloyd gym and the pool were the only places keeping him from actual insanity between the pressures of complicated, risky surgeries at a large regional hospital, estrangement with his brother, tensions with a difficult mother, and the memory of a dead, beloved father, I recognized a specter of my own mental workings–a reluctance to admit or inability to see that a beloved object or passion could actually be foremost implicated in my own harm. Was the west coast Scottish darkness the true force that exacerbated all other struggles beyond the point of endurance? Yet, for this Gaelic patriot, the Scottish winter’s almost unrelenting lightlessness never came to the fore as perhaps the central instigator of mental agony. Alistair loved Scotland deeply. The main fonthead of soul-reviving relaxation outside of the gym lay in his emotional involvement with the waves and rhythms of Scotland’s contemporary celtic music. For a man so somber and focused by day, it was spellbinding to observe him unwinding with dances, fast foot-tapping and a subtly rocking body at modern celtic concerts.

As I would think of those two friends, my mind would automatically contrast them, for some reason, with the astonishing scarred man I met at the Garnethill laundromat one Scottish summer’s day. It must have been the year after my own traumatic second degree burns to my feet—boiling kettle, rushing for church, tired and stressed, slippery hands–and my subsequent skin graft surgery at Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary. The scarred man was short, almost childlike in stature, as I found many Scottish men to be, but clearly aged. Almost up the rim of his chin, where neck and head met, danced plaited, pleated scars so complete and decorative that he almost seemed reptilian.

A thick, three-dimensional scar smiled darkly across the top of neck of where throat and chin meet, reminding me of the mark made by my great uncle, who, carrying the burden of PTSD from violence seen in WWII Pacific battles, and now in the first stages of dementia, had slit his throat with a huge metal saw. This gentle, kind, and tall music-loving man had once played the saw musically, eliciting its wobbling, otherworldly siren song with a cello bow against the flat side of the tool. The musical saw’s sound is piercing and otherworldly, finding its sound family with the glassy, wobbling chords of Benjamin Franklin’s glass harmonica. Two decades later, during my undergraduate years, that tall, German-American vet who’d lied about his age to begin serving before he actually turned 18, took that very musical blade slashed it across his neck. “Look what you made me do,” he cried to my usually strong, forceful Polish-American great aunt. He survived, but forever wore that same ring around his long, elegant neck.

Now, as I bid hello to this diminutive, thoroughly scarred man, I looked quickly away, resolved to appear oblivious to what seemed a very intimate tale of attempted suicide on his body. To my surprise, however, after polite greetings in the otherwise empty laundromat, he immediately commenced the tale of his body with strong Glaswegian inflections. Perhaps it was our isolation. Perhaps it was my conspicuous burns scars blazing through summer sandals. Whatever it was, I was so glad to know him, and moved hear his story. I’ll loosely translate from that lilting Glaswegian brogue into more comprehensible but less lyrical American style.

When he was no more than 5 years old boy, he began, his mother had spilled a full kettle of boiling water over her wee son in a horrible kitchen accident. He was taken to hospital, and almost died. These scars besmirching his flesh were the best doctors could do in skin repair forty years ago, and so he’d borne these ostracizing wounds for almost his entire life. Through no fault of his own, this scarred and anxious man stood thoroughly adorned by permanent markings of unintentional violence. He displayed on one frame forever, something of every person’s lifetime of wounds, internal and external, secrets which other bodies adeptly conceal.

He continued his story by describing a most isolated life, one that I can only attribute to the visual taboo of his grotesquely slashed and matted skin. His home was a single bedsit in the Glasgow city center, where he shared a tiny kitchen with four other single men. His trade, however, was sharpening knives and blades of all kinds. I was mildly surprised to learn that he worked, for it had become routine to me to meet men and women “on benefit” for an array of real mental and physical struggles. The delight he took in his labor delighted me.

From the small, highly regulated and much rarer hunting knives that still circulated after the successful 2005 Scottish gang crackdown and knife amnesty, to larger industrial blades for manufacturing machinery, the man whose name escapes my memory, but whose face and form I’ll never forget, could sharpen them all. Here, with talk of his trade, his eyes finally shifted from their haunted anxiety to brightness. I was blessed to hear him speak with some joy of camaraderie among the gents who worked on site with him at the mechanic’s shop. While the rest of the team fixed tires and engines, he practiced his own highly tailored, solitary trade in a small corner.

Perhaps boldly, because of the safety of my engagement ring, I asked him about girlfriends and women, only to hear confirmed a lifetime of isolation and singleness. He sticks out to me among these contemplations of winter for perhaps unmatched mental resilience against outwardly imposed suffering—a human creating what order, purpose, and joy he could amidst day to day agony. It was the story of a lifetime’s Glasgow winter.

I longed for him was to experience acceptance and community across ages and genders. And so, I, not being one to routinely do so, invited him to stop in at our church in the center of the city, a place of community at the very least. I knew men like him there, faint bodily memories of times past —beatings, disabilities, and trauma—but now slowly flourishing, incrementally renewed, and even married against all odds.

At just that moment, my posh Oxbridge roommate arrived. In the wake of the awkwardness of that invitation and her aura which recalled both my connection with another social realm and his gendered isolation, he quickly scurried off down the road, bearing the burden of his laundry like Quasimodo returning to the tower. I have thought of him often since then, praying for love, for community, and great, new hope. As I write here of winter and mental survival, of Alistair needing the bright lights and chlorinated waters of the posh David Lloyd spa and fitness club, of drunken friends, and mentally suffering colleagues, I think of him. I think of the steady, determined living of the scarred, knife-sharpening man.

One late winter’s evening sitting before the artificial blue glow of my laptop in a room enclosed by the total blackout of a Glasgow winter’s evening, I purchased tickets to the romantic heart of Southern France to visit a childhood friend. I was going on mini-break! Think Van Gogh’s cafe by night painting, and you will know Arles, France, the actual location of that iconic coffee shop, and the Dutch master’s home while at the from February 1888 to May 1889. Late February, almost March, I flew from Glasgow to Barcelona, Spain, and from Barcelona to Grenoble, France, and then by train to Arles. My dear American friend’s smile and transcendent ruby curls greeted me, and together we sauntered like those who’ve reached heaven itself through her adopted hometown, a healing intellectual and aesthetic distance from the New Jersey suburb of her youth. I posed by a Baroque fountain, while an enthusiastic male youth, adorned in an expensive Chanel “merce”, man-purse, jumped in to cradle me and photobomb the shot. We paused at a cafe on a winding, cobblestone street resounding with gentle guitar music for coffee and cocoa--all my European dreams were coming true. We continued on to Arles’ ancient Roman arena, where I heard tell of jazz and opera concerts, and finally emerged before the pinnacle, iconic Arles sight–its mirthful 1900 carousel.

Each of Katherine’s overseas guests were brought here and invited to ride the most famous of all Arlesian beasts—the black bull—El Toro of the carousel. Arlesian voices, Katherine explained, cacophonied in a dynamic, regional debate over the beauty or butchery of the bullfight. When these people of Southern France craved societal momentum, their chosen form of activism was always the formation of a society–the Society for Perpetuating Bullfights, the Society for Ethical Treatment of the Bull, the Society for Ending all Bullfights, etc. Across the road from one such society in an elegant turn of the century building, I paid my euros, and we laughed as the little carousel propelled my postgraduate student body up and down like a child’s. I balled my hands into fists and extended pointer fingers into two playful horns for my own forehead. For one puerile moment, I embodied El Toro himself.

For all the charm of that exploratory, Southern France day, the moment that stands immortalized in my mind was a quiet one. Descending the bull, and resting on the cobblestone pavements between the carousel and the boulangerie where Katherine quickly ran to purchased dinner baguettes, I felt a warmth steal across my face, neck, and decolletage. What was this glowing orange heat descending from the sky? How was this mercy of a peachy, gentle heat present on a mere late February day? Soaked in the mild ecstasy of this magnanimous anomaly, I drowsily wondered again what was this golden orb was doing filling the winter sky so warmly. I am not one to anthropomorphize flesh, but in that moment, my assemblage of cells spoke almost audibly. They begged me to pause, to stop, to soak, to drink in every lingering ray of sunlight. They would not budge.

There can be tears for the relief of battle we barely knew we had. There can be weeping with the realization that we had unknowingly survived truly destabilizing insufficiencies for so long. And at that moment, tears literally sprang to my eyes as I luxuriated in the gentle fullness of a benediction so long denied—the necessary mercy of sunlight for my pale, deprived epidermis. Here was a long forgotten grace for both body and mind. Here was a reminder of an alternative world where sun reigned not as a far off, chance promise, but as an immanent, abundant love.

In 1971, John Denver, the American folk singer with a flaxen gold bowl cut sang, “Sunshine, on my shoulders, makes me happy…Sunshine almost always makes me high.” This racy line sat neatly memorized in my mind, snuck in among other more lighthearted folk fare from my parents’ 1970’s favorites. I vividly recall my parents discussing, with insufficiently hushed voices from the front seat of our gray airport limousine-style van on a trip west around America in the mid-1990’s, whether Simon and Garfunkel’s Cecilia was appropriate musical fodder for the mixed company of our family’s emerging pre-teens, teens, toddlers, and elementary students. “Makin’ love in the afternoon with Cecelia, up in my bedroom! Makin’ love!…” So little music did our parents bring, and so many long hours in the car made for a categorically memorized albums–beauty, revolution, salaciousness, and all. By the end of that month-long trek we kids had memorized much of Peter Paul and Mary’s In The Wind, John Denver’s Best Of, and Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Waters—all of which rotated like clockwork with an audiobook performance of Jane Eyre.

That day, standing in the long alien sun on that street in southern France, the line from John’s “Sunshine” filtered to the surface of long forgotten memories. To be clear, whether it makes me nerd or novice, I have never been “high” in the usual illegal, high school manner; yet, I have experienced the ebullience of a day out with friends and no obligations and money to spend, or the delight and honor of winning a grand, unexpected prize, whether first place in a the school wide coloring contest in kindergarten, or the university Presidential Award. This moment of sun’s mercy was like that—a shock of sheer biological joy, soaking in upon my skin, almost against my will or asking, and ushering with it, a deeply gladdened heart and endorphins. I no longer giggled and smirked at John Denver and his chillaxed, hippy musings. I sang alongside in fully realized understanding. How, oh how, could I return to dark Scotland?

Back in my little cavernous bedroom a week later, I distractedly ordered a large jar of encapsulated vitamin D3. Each small, smooth and marble-like tablet appeared so inane, harmless, even placebo. I tossed one in my mouth, In fact, I think I tossed 5 in my mouth for few days straight. I had no idea of their efficacy, but I reasoned that if in theory, I had been missing out on this necessity for five years, my body would require a small jolt of awakening to begin its journey into recovery. Chasing them down with water, I probably raced on with the movements of my busy life. And suddenly, a week or two later, as I turned up the circular staircase of our Victorian flat, I noticed that the unhinged sadness and chaos that had darkly plagued my inner world had calmed ever so subtly.

It was not the burst of what I imagine a drugged high must be, but the soothing calm of gently increasing stability, the slow, almost imperceptible release from the whirling bedlam of a blurred and muddied mind. The little blue pitch-forked demons of Disney’s 1959 Sleeping Beauty had ceased their authoritative dance and disappeared into a poof of nothing.

“Wow, I’m not insane anymore,” I muttered softly to myself. Gratitude, then annoyance flowed through me. Why, oh why, hadn’t I just tried it before? I would have liked to know that I was more than the “sweet” but distracted and zany blonde—that a measure of winter peace was possible, ever so subtly.

I’ve been a sun chaser ever since. I could not go back, could not slacken my pursuit of the gift of God’s best UV rays. My body and practices have grown more savvy, tailoring their thirst to the most vanguard research—10-20 minutes a day of obsolescence before the orbital rays on as much skin as possible in the prime window of lowest UVB rays—10am to 2pm. I respect the sensitivities of the face, neck, and shoulders.

For so long, I’d scorned the Glaswegian flight to crass, boozy Majorca, Spain, with what I deemed to be its tacky modern hotels and abundance of alcoholic loitering on the sands. Why, I mused, would a nation with such ready access to Europe’s innumerable cultural splendors and fine countrysides beeline in droves to a that tasteless resort landscape? I’d drunk the molding Kool-aid of belief in fading science—wearing sunscreen even on overcast days in cloudy Scotland, and trying to cover every inch of skin with fabric, even on warm far northern days, dreaming all the while of the crowning trophy of smooth, creamy pensioner (retiree) skin, coupled with a remarkable freedom from skin cancer. But now, after seven years of winter darkness and year-round mist, my snobbish disdain broke down with understanding for those I’d once slighted –you must fill up on sun and wellness before any culture becomes important. Pale and D3 deprived as I was, it dawned on me that there was grave logic to British comedian Michael McIntyre’s routine about the Glaswegian airport bombing attempt. Contrasting successful terrorists in London and Manchester, British born Islamic jihadists failed in their malicious bomb plots here in Glasgow, where a winter-beaten Glaswegian man tackled the physician- turned-jihadist in overweening determination to let nothing keep him from…Majorca.

When I next visited Glasgow seven years following our emigration, my friend Lindsey stood contemplating my Americanized postpartum body. She who had known me well in the Glasgow days observed, “You have some curves to you now, and some colour!” It was late October then, and so particularly gratifying to appear even remotely tanned! I reveled in my new hue, a sun-kissed peach, no longer the pallid, muted white linked to breast cancer and MS.

Now as a thirty-something year old scholar, mother, and partner, I look to photos of fellow thirty year old Scottish friends. Two Octobers ago, I sat with them in an ornate Victorian sandstone building-turned-Starbucks, drinking in the miracle of their lovely children, and seeing photos of their flourishing middle class lives. They worked as a professors, teachers, bank tellers, mothers, and volunteered with refugees, addicts, and international students. They lived day by day still in this cloud of gray, and theirs is a resilience I marvel to behold. I raise my glass of almond milk and another of kombucha to them, and salute their Scottish hardiness. My heart opens in prayer for the gift of mental wellness for them, and for those of us everywhere who find the shift to winter darkness an elephant of gloom sitting upon hearts. Let us fill our homes with green plants, keep connected in fun and kinship with friends, especially the lonely, pop our vitamin D3 with its enabling K2 buddy, and long for the lights of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Yule who offer bright, needful stars of hope and celebration against a black winter sky.

As we walk in darkness, visions of summer remains my close companion hope, a specter walking by my side, the dream, like heaven reaching close to earth. And if we have eyes to see, we raise our fragile fingers to touch the veil between this present world and the next springtime. Memories and testimonies from far across the equator where antipodean New Zealand and Australian summers reign alongside our winter become the motivating promise that at the culmination of this obligatory darkness, there will be my body glistening with sun and sweat by the sonorous utterance of the lapping ocean waves.

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