Eggplant Sandwich!!!

In terms off eggplant, I am definitely not an egghead. Sure, I've helped my parents flip eggplant on the BBQ grill, and I often eat Chinese stir fries with eggplant. I've just never truly cooked eggplant before. Or baked it. Or boiled it. I'm not really sure how to cook eggplant without usurping it of its nutrients, or adding a lot of oil (like my mum does when we have stir fries).

I don't want to make eggplant stir fry mainly because the eggplant from Chinatown looks so darn fresh (though it's definitely not "organic" in any sense of the word! I can tell they sprayed it with ethylene gas, because the surfaces underneath the leaves are still white). I also don't have any oil. I know, this sounds really stupid; oil/butter/other fats are a staple in a kitchen, especially when cooking, but I'm someone going to survive these two months without them (I think). One week down.

These are "cylindrical" eggplants...not the "teardrop-shaped" ones.

Apparently, eggplant can be eaten raw, although it may be bitter. I tried a chunk before I baked these, and they weren't bitter at all; they were actually kind of sweet and spongy, with a bit of moisture. I prefer them cooked, though.

After doing some research and reading a recipe, I figured that I should just slice my eggplant, salt the slices (yeah, I have a lot of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian Pizza Seasoning, but no oil.), rinse the slices, and stick them on a cookie sheet for 20 minutes at 375F... and just see what happens.

I learned a few things:

1. I feel very self-conscious when I prepare and cook food in front of strangers. I felt very shy cutting eggplant while another girl in the apartment was waiting for her mac and cheese to bake.

2. Eggplant should be sliced at an angle, not cut like cucumbers.

3. Salting and rinsing sounds easy, but actually is really annoying because you use a ton of paper towels. After using three segments for four slices of eggplant, I decided to just stick everything on the cookie sheet and just bake it and see what happens. I should've added some pepper, but oh well.

The methodology for neophytes like me is this:

1. Do not peel eggplants. Evenly slice eggplants at an angle. Unfortunately, my slices ranged from 1 cm to 3 cm.

2. Pour some salt/pepper on your hand/plate, dip both sides of the eggplant flesh into it, and place the slice of eggplant on the cookie sheet. You do not need aluminium foil.

3. Repeat.

4. Bake at 350F (the oven was preheated due to the mac and cheese) on the bottom rack for 10-20 minutes. Since there is no baking soda/powder in this recipe, you can open the oven a lot to prod the eggplants.

5. Poke eggplant with a fork to see if is squishy and gooey yet (If it still looks white, it's not really done, but it's edible).

6. Turn off oven and let sit for however long you want, if you want something more sludgy.

7. Stick in sandwiches!!

Notice that there is NO OIL INVOLVED.

So I made a spinach, cheese and eggplant with herbs sandwich, which I stuck on the sandwich grill/press that we have in the apartment. It's a really efficient non-stick grill. It's amazing!!!

The Spice Corner!

I'm sure you've all encountered that incident in which you spend $2+ for some tea at a restaurant, and all you get is a teacup of boiling water and a Lipton tea bag. It's a complete rip-off and doesn't make you "fit in with the group" because everyone else is also getting shoddy tea. Let me tell you about a place that gives you at least 20 teacups of blueberry tea for one dollar (hot water not provided).

The Spice Corner, a little bit off of South St., at 9th Ave. A large, what appears to be handmade sign directs all visitors to the small front door. On one side sits a restaurant that has a human-esque cut-out that boasts "Never trust a skinny Italian chef", and on the other side is a street alley. Today, a group of men were performing with guitar music. Cosy little nook.

The firs thing I noticed was the baskets filled with zip-top bags that were filled with a variety of herbs. The baskets were sitting outside the store; evidently, the store-owner, a woman who looked sort of Asian, trusts people won't steal her herbs. As I approached the baskets, another woman opened one of the bags for her husband to smell. They seemed pleased with the smell - and who wouldn't be pleased, given all the choices? Hazelnut, chai, raspberry, chocolate, spearmint, and names I had never heard of - these little packets of herbs (for tea) were only $1 a bag.

Why did I run to 9th, all the way from 41st? Well, I've decided that I can run errands while running, because it not only gives me a distance goal, but also allows me to explore Philadelphia, since I didn't have time during the year. Next semester, I've decided that my grocery shopping will be throughout a whole list of places so that I get to literally run errands, instead of feeling bored in a gym. After all, each food place specialises in only a few aspects. E.g.

Chinatown: eggplant, 白菜 (bak choi), fruits and vegetables

Farmer's Market @ Clark Park: fruits and vegetables

Wawa: milk.

Fresh Grocer: carrots. I need to find a place that sells cheaper bread.

The Spice Corner: Wish I could buy the store!

Reading Terminal Market, Wholefoods, Trader Joe's: I'll see.

What was the errand? Well, my mum wants juniper berries and lemon balm. As a believer in alternative medicine, she thinks that they will help her heal because she's been feeling kind of frail for the past few months (I lean towards the scientific method, but after taking Comparative Medicine (great class!), I've realised that I shouldn't question other people's beliefs, because I'd feel terrible if everyone I knew kept telling me I was wrong).

To my surprise (not really), juniper berries aren't sold at the spice rack of Shoprite. Lemon balm was found as an ingredient in a tea at Shoprite, so I got that for her a week ago. After Googling for places to buy juniper berries in Philadelphia (after unsuccessfully wandering around Chinatown in a half-hearted attempt to find some), I ended up with Wholefoods and The Spice Corner.

So, I ran to Wholefoods, tried a sample of kiwi kefir and tea, and found organic juniper berries in a glass container at the spice rack for $3.66/ounce. They didn't have pure lemon balm, so I decided to run to The Spice Corner. I'm so glad I did, because it's so much better than the spice rack at Wholefoods, Shoprite, or anywhere, really (except perhaps that herb store in NYC, at which I only glanced).

"Can I help you?"

"Do you have lemon balm?"

"No."

"Do you have juniper?"

"Juniper berries?"

"Yeah!"

"Here. 1.39 for one ounce."

OH YEAH. Sure, it's not organic, but it's cheaper, more "local" (not a company like Wholefoods), and in a small zip-top bag so I can run back with it in my hand, sans problem.

I also bought a small packet of spiced chai for $1, and tried a piece of espresso biscotti that the woman had on the table next to the cash register. It was stale from sitting outside all day and made me really thirsty. Oh well. Then I ran to Fresh Grocer to buy some bread. Sigh. I have to get used to living in the city. A loaf of packaged whole wheat bread for 4.49 isn't that cool. Maybe the Farmer's Market will be cooler when I go next Saturday (as opposed to going on Thursday).

I used about a teaspoon of the dried herbs/spices and about 400 mL (i.e. more a teacup) of boiling water and added a packet of sugar. It's pretty refreshing and smells nice. There's no milk in it, so it tastes a bit watery, but flavourful.

Most impressive.

The Spice Corner, 209 S 9th St. Philadelphia PA

Beijing Restaurant (大学城)

When my dad was driving me here to my internship, we passed by Beijing At Penn, an American-Chinese restaurant. My dad said, "这里有个大学城！" which translates into "There's a University City here!"

So, for the first time, I shifted my gaze away from the neon "Beijing" at the window, and read the Chinese characters beside it. "大学城". "University City".

Apart from the fact that the name in English and Chinese are inconsistent, the cuisine is also American-Chinese-Taiwan. First, of course it's mixed to tingle "American" taste buds. It's situated at Penn! In America! People don't want authentic Chinese restaurants here! (Authentic = Chinatown, for sure). However, the hint of Taiwan is the bubble tea.

When TBowl opened next door and started selling bubble tea for some $3+, Beijing suddenly decided that they also sold bubble tea, for $2.15 (tax is 15c). This is pretty shocking to me, because in NY, bubble tea is at least $2.50, and if you want a cool flavour, you'd better have at least $3.50 with you! The fact that Beijing sells bubble tea cheaper than Chinatown in NY definitely means that something is up.

Today, I asked the friendly waitstaff for a mango bubble tea.

The best part was that the bubbles were perfectly cooked; they were soft and slimy on the outside (pardon the negative connotation of "slimy", but that's how I would compliment them. Yes, I mean this positively), and chewy and gelatinous in the center. I also liked that there wasn't too much ice.

I suppose the problem with this flavour is that it's not real mango, and there is no real tea. It's mango flavouring, and it tastes a bit like mango, but there is no mango pulp and no tea-like bitterness. The flavour is shallow and extremely sweet. In other words, the bubble tea is just a bubble drink, akin to drinking soda or MinuteMaid pink lemonade with tapioca (hmmm I wonder if anyone's tried sparkling water + real milk tea + tapioca?!!??!?! Sounds amazing!!). As S said (who I met today at the PennMoves sale), there's no real tea taste in Beijing's bubble "tea".

I think that I like this cheaper version of bubble tea though, and as I've yet to try the milk tea and thai tea flavoured ones (along with the other flavours) I can't really judge Beijing. I'm still pretty happy that it was only $2.15!!

Beijing Restaurant (大学城), 37th & Spruce St. Philadelphia

Krispy Kreme - Free Doughnut Day

June 3rd is National Doughnut Day in the U.S., apparently, to honor the ladies who made doughnuts to people during WWI. I was fully unaware of this.

TJ and I walked into Center City to check out First Friday, and to just explore. We got lost a bunch of times, found a gallery that was closed, ate some veggies at the Fabric Museum (they were also serving wine, which I suppose they would've given us if we had asked), found a cool store that sold expensive pins/fun junk, went to Trader Joe's (Well. I have to say, meh. Not as good as I had expected), went to Chinatown (AMAZING! I have to blog about all the food there!!), and had dinner at Qdoba. TJ and I trying to see which is better: Qdoba (she says) or Chipotle (I say). Technically, we can't judge yet.

On the way, we passed by a Krispy Kreme and TJ commented on how the doughnuts there are amazing. I've never been to Krispy Kreme before, although I've seen one on its grand opening at Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. I remember walking up to the store, which had giant wreaths of flowers next to the windows, and seeking the ridiculously long line of people, waiting to spend 10HKD on a molten doughnut. It smelled amazing. I recall watching the doughnut machines operating through the glass wall (novel at the time), and seeing a dude entertaining the crowd with his guitar. I even pulled out 10HKD, with half a mind to try the doughnut, but for some reason, I decided not to. I'm not really sure why, but I've never been a doughnut addict.

TJ looked closer, and realised that Krispy Kreme was handing out doughnuts! We stopped on our tracks, ran across the street - this is no exaggeration - lunged in and stood patiently in the short line while the lady gave us each one sugar glazed doughnut, normally-sized (i.e. not Costco sized or dining hall sized) and perfectly beautiful, although not hot and gooey (the glaze had dried and the doughnut was cold).

Later, we noticed the sign on the door that said that it was National Doughnut Day. However, we walked by at least 4 Dunkin' Donuts, and I saw no free doughnuts there.

For a cold doughnut, I was surprised at how easily it melted in my mouth. I think it had to do with the glaze; without it, the doughnut would've been more oily bread-like (read: plain and tasteless) rather than taste "fatty". It was a good doughnut. The glaze stuck an accent on everything. TJ and I sat at a table next to the doughnut factory part of the store, and we saw the doughnuts on the conveyer belt being smothered with icing. It was glorious, of course, but so terrible at the same time! I find it pretty cool I got a free doughnut, and of course, it's an advertising tool because I'm now blogging about it, but I don't think I'd make it a task to go to Krispy Kreme to solely buy a doughnut. It's not worth the effort; the doughnuts are good, but not phenomenal. I think I'm just trying to compare any doughnut I eat with the ones I had when I was 5 at Penrith Plaza in Australia, but that's probably more just for the nostalgia rather than the taste-receptor-induced response.

This just made me laugh. I suppose doughnuts do fit the average person's lifestyle. Fat and sugar! FTW! FTS - Fat, Tomatoes, and Sugar. I think I read that tomatoes are the most widely consumed vegetable in the U.S. (ketchup, sauce, and soup being the main players).

I also found it really surprising that there is organic oatmeal at Krispy Kreme. Who would go to Krispy Kreme to buy oatmeal?! That's like going to an all-you-can-eat buffet to drink coffee! Or like going to Whole Foods to buy Nestle Evaporated Milk in a can!

Also, the last line makes me laugh too: "Contents shown represent three servings".

Oh, at least it's three servings of whole grains.

So I've decided to list the physical address and weblink of places I go for food.

Krispy Kreme, 16th and Chestnut St., Philadelphia.

Dollar Stroll and Spinach.

So, I've finally been living on my own in Philadelphia, and I'll be here for another two months with a Mon-Fri 9-5 job. Technically, it's an internship, and I don't get paid much (a lot goes to taxes too. Wonderful.), but it's still nice experience for my future in science.

I'm actually not even living on campus, so I don't go outside after it gets dark (not that I have any need to, since there are no things to study for at libraries). But, it's summer, so it's still light outside at 6pm (as opposed to January)! Today was the Dollar Stroll. A bunch of stores on Baltimore Ave (from 42st St to around 50th...that's how far I walked because it got really empty after 50th) offer smallish portions of food for $1 each. By "smallish portions", I mean one tofu slider, one cupcake, one samosa, one scoop of ice cream, or one brownie. Actually, maybe I take back the "smallish portions" part, because a cupcake certainly costs more than $1 in Philadelphia, and samosas probably cost around $6-$10 for a plate of 3 or 4 at any fine restaurant.

I didn't know that the Dollar Stroll was so popular; I saw lines of people that wound around the block, college kids chatting, slurping ice cream, eating kebabs, drinking juices, and even a woman rollerblading and chatting on her phone in the bike lane. According to college kids here, it's not a good idea to venture to West Philly alone, but there were so many people, it was interesting walking to 50th and back, because I've never gone past 43rd St. before. On the way, though, I realised that I didn't fit in at all; I was ethnically very very part of the minority, I was ignored/left alone, and the scene was just really different; it was exclusive in the sense that you had to know someone at the stores to feel comfortable (or I'm just paranoid). It wasn't like NYC, because NYC is literally lined with shops and stuffed with people everywhere. The reason the Baltimore Dollar Stroll spans some 10 streets is that each street only has one or two restaurants/stores. That's it.

I guess living on my own for the past few days has made me realise that food costs a lot. Okay, let me rephrase; it's made me realise that produce costs a lot. It's not like I didn't know this before, but now I've caught myself wondering how necessary vegetables are. They're vital, of course! But what if I eat Chipotle instead of buying a bag of carrots and celery?

It's kind of weird to be thinking in terms of Calories and % daily values. I think I'm becoming too reductionist in making food choices. However, how else do I make food choices? What if I had bought a samosa, a brownie, a kebab, and an ice cream? $4. A nice cheap dinner, but completely devoid of anything nutritious.

So instead, I went to the farmer's market at Clark Park (it turns out that the actual market is on Saturdays) for the first time, and bought a bag of spinach for $3.75 and I made acquaintances with the two girls who sold me the spinach. I'm not sure how much spinach is, generally speaking, in University City. With taking the reductionist approach, however, $3.75 for 6ish servings of iron and vitamin A etc. vs. $4 for one serving of not-many-nutrients seems to show that the spinach was a better choice.

I'm surprised I actually have 6ish servings of spinach, actually. Okay, I don't know for sure that it's 6 servings, but I took approximately 1/6th of the bag of spinach out today, ripped the huge leaves to smaller pieces, washed it, saw the water turn green due to the chlorophyll, and stuck the leaves with my (already cooked) bean & garlic spaghetti. Dude, this is fresh spinach. You don't eat this spinach cooked!

While I was eating, one of the girls who lives in this house (I'm just renting a room) walked into the kitchen and took a red pill and some coffee to her room. I don't really care what she consumed, but I'm kinda irked that she got a paper coffee cup with plastic lid for her coffee. She totally could have used one of the mugs (they have over a dozen mugs). She probably thought I was really weird eating cooked spaghetti with raw large spinach leaves.

I know that farmer's markets sell local produce (I can now say that this spinach comes from around Lancaster, PA), and it's supposed to be, perhaps, organic, right? The spinach I had today was lighter in colour compared to Costco baby spinach. It was also a different texture and shape. The leaves were huge, and they were definitely not the small dark ovals I'm used to. A Google search of "spinach varieties" yields pictures of the spinach I think I have - thick savoy spinach. I guess I've just been living on baby spinach ever since we moved to the U.S.

OKAY! Taste! It was really crisp. The leaves were thick. It initially was pretty tasteless and reminded me of lettuce, but after a while, that characteristic stay-in-your-mouth spinach taste was really overwhelming. Pretty simple.