we drove up to sonoma county last weekend for a lavendar farm, a getaway, and food exploration, particularly gravenstein apples. evidently, the gravenstein apple is at risk of becoming an endangered species: "from a peak of 14,000 acres in '45, by '09 there are only 943 acres left." they're a dying fruit because they are weak, small, do not keep/travel well, and grapes (vineyards) are generally much more profitable in comparison. they exist only 3 weeks out of the whole year. they are delicious apples. we came back with some apples, apple pies, and a jug of apple cider which was really fantastic.
[misc]
[sea otters]
[seinfeld]
(Rachel walks down hall, walks in on George changing out of his swimsuit)
Rachel: (She screams) Oh my God! I'm sorry, I thought this was the baby's room. I'm really sorry. (She exits)
REILLY: You know, George...The ocean called. They're running outta shrimp.
Everyone around the table laughs. Except for George, who looks triumphant. He swallows, and uses a napkin to clean his fingers.
GEORGE: (standing) Oh yeah, Reilly? (smugly) Well, the jerk store called. They're running outta you
REILLY: (unperturbed) What's the difference? You're their all-time best seller!
Reilly and everyone else laughs even more than they did before. George looks angry and frustrated, even on the verge of tears for a second, then something occurs to him.
GEORGE: Yeah? Well, I had sex with your wife.
George looks round, smiling arrogantly, expecting laughter. But there is a deep, uncomfortable, silence. Reilly, looks stony-faced. McAdam stands and leans over to speak in George's ear.
MCADAM: His wife is in a coma.
[酸菜白肉鍋 - slice pork with sour cabbage, in a hot pot]
it was ingrained in me at a very early age that this dish (酸菜白肉鍋) was something really special. actually, i never knew that it was a legit "dish" until my early-20s when my parents took me out for it in flushing, queens. i thought it was just something we'd put together and eat at home, while growing up. finding out that it's primarily a northern chinese thing made me connect with my northern roots even more. since then i've had it in many other places, including taipei (which you see right here in this very picture). this place in taipei made a FANTASTIC version. it was so good and sour there, that we ended up going 4 times during our 2 week trip in taiwan; we actually went twice in one day. it's more than just a tasty dish for me; there's definitely a nostalgic and sentimental feeling i get from eating this, no matter where i am. ever since i moved to SF, i've been on a hunt for this. haha it's like searching for a family member or something. i've had it at a few places throughout the years and although they were decent, it still never really hit the spot for me. but i'd still go back once in a while and "scratch the itch" as my friend would say. i'd even try to make it at home, but it wasn't the same.
you'd be happy to know that after this weekend, i think the hunt is over (well, until this place goes completely downhill or closes on me). and this place makes it pretty damn good. nice fresh slices of both lean and fatty pork (generous portions) with chopped sour cabbage and beautiful transparent ground bean noodles boiling in a hot SOUR pot (with a dab of cilantro on top to bring out the pungent flavor). ahhhh i am so happy.
does anybody have that kind of sentiment towards a dish/meal?
