Recipe of The Month- Filipino Fried Lumpia

By Lu

Well, it seems when we're in streak talking about food, we are really on a roll! After toilet talks and all that good stuff, it is time for our first ever "Recipe of the Month!" I'm excited, are you? *big smile*

We received some interesting recipes and we are in the process of testing them. Ri and I are really having fun testing the recipes! I've been so lazy to cook lately, and this gives me every reason to start using my kitchen again. I forgot sometime how great it is being in the kitchen. I encourage you readers to send us your recipes too! If you have an incredible recipe you are sure will wow every one, do share it! Not  only you get bragging rights if it is chosen as The Recipe of the Month, but you can also extend great tasting food to a lot of people all around the world. Surprisingly, when we see our blog stats, our readers are scattered every where and it would be nothing less than awesome if we can get a hold of some fantastic recipes from around the globe and share it among us. I, for one, will never turn down an opportunity to try and taste delicious food. So, please...send us an email at mailto:thingsonmytopshelf@gmail.com with your recipe. We look forward to it!

My friend, Marilou

This month's bragging rights go to my friend, Marilou Gervacio. We call Marilou our smart friend as she is a successful attorney as well as a lobbyist. On top of that, she's also a food enthusiast and not a shabby cook! Every time there's a get together and Marilou is coming, I can count on that there will be these super delicious Filipino Style Egg Rolls. Marilou told me she learned to make these lumpia or egg rolls from her mom. Of course! Who can be a better teacher than mom? I know I learned everything I got from my mom. Well, the recipe she learned from her mom did not disappoint in the least!

I tried to make them two times, and I adjusted the recipe I  got from Marilou to fit my liking. However, I will give you her original rendition:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 package of frozen spring roll skins/wrappers
• 1.5 lbs ground beef (you can also use ground pork)
• 2 stalks of celery, finely chopped (I added one more stalk, as I like more of the texture)
• 3 stalks of green onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 (half) yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 egg
• Soy sauce to taste (about 3 to 4 teaspoon)
• Garlic salt to taste (about 1 teaspoon)
• Black pepper to taste (about 1 teaspoon)
• Frying oil

Spring Home Tyj Spring Roll Skins

First thing you do is defrost and separate the lumpia/spring roll wrappers. They're available in most grocery stores' frozen section, and most definitely available in all Asian grocery stores. The brand in the picture is my favorite. Their skins are usually very easy to work with, smooth, and very crispy when fried.

Using a food processor or mini chopper, chop the onion, celery, and green onion. We want them chopped very finely so they can be easily and smoothly incorporated to the meat mixture later.

In a mixing bowl, add ground meat, and the chopped vegetables, as well as the egg.

Add seasonings. Be very conservative at first as you don't want to overseason it. If you the sprinkler type like I am, be very moderate with the garlic salt as it is not there just to add garlic taste, it will make it salty as well! You can eliminate this issue if you're not sure by using garlic powder, and stick to soy sauce for the salt. For those of you Asian who likes the taste of MSG but do not like the bad consequences, you can add a little sugar to balance the taste.

Mix all ingredients together. Hands always work great as Marilou testified (see, she's a lawyer :D). If not, a wooden spatula works good too. Make sure all ingredients are incorporated nicely.  Work your hand through the ingredients and mix them well together. When everything is mixed, try the flavor of your mixture by frying a small patty for tasting. Then, make adjustment accordingly. Remember, you can always add seasoning if it's underseasoned. But when it is overseasoned - you have to go to grocery store and get more meat! When the taste is to your liking, we are ready to roll it.

On a clean cutting board or other flat surface, place a single lumpia wrapper. Add 1.5 tablespoon of the meat mixture across the bottom end leaving some space on each end. The meat should be about an inch wide or a little less. Don't add too much meat as it needs to be rolled tightly.

Start rolling the wrapper, and roll it tight forming a nice narrow pipe-like lumpia. Knead it occasionally as you roll so it will keep a nice round shape.

Dip either your finger or a pastry brush in water and brush the other end of the wrapper to help seal it. The water will act as a glue. Some people also use beaten egg or flour and water mixture. However, it really depends on the wrapper type. Water works just fine with the type of wrapper I use. If your wrappers are heavier and won't stick using just water, then you can resort to egg or flour and water mixture.


Repeat the steps and roll more lumpias until all meat has been utilized. Once they are all rolled, cut the lumpia into three pieces. Try to cut each piece uniformly for a better presentation. You can use one as a template and then use it as a guide when cutting the rest of the them. If you have excess skin at each end, you can trim the edges for the sake of neatness.

Heat up frying oil in a deep fryer or the ugliest pan you have. Make sure you add enough oil to submerge the egg rolls in it. Once the oil is hot, fry the egg rolls until crispy and golden brown. Fit as many as you can but don't overcrowd them. When they're overcrowded, they won't get crispy and you want them crispy, believe me. Regular (non-teflon) pans or anodized pans usually work better as well for frying. When they're golden brown, remove them from oil and place on a collander lined with paper towel to remove excess oil.

Serve while hot with sweet and sour sauce if you prefer (you can get at grocery store). I like them just they way they are!

Thank you, Marilou for sharing your killer lumpia recipe! They're so good and easy to make. It will make a perfect appetizers for any party and it will be a sure hit. You can also freeze these egg rolls and fry them whenever you have craving for it. Once you had them, I know you will crave them!

I hope you will try this recipe! Let me know how it turns out!

Classic Steamed Chicken Rice

By Crivenica

My favorite meal of the day is breakfast. I can eat breakfast type of food for lunch or dinner and I often do. I love the American breakfast of eggs, bacon or sausage, with toasts or pancakes and I definitely enjoy the European breakfast of bread, pastries and cheese, but I have a weakness when it comes to Indonesian and Chinese breakfast items.

There are many Indonesian dishes eaten as breakfast that I can talk about for days like nasi uduk (rice cooked in coconut milk), bubur ayam (chicken porridge), gado-gado (mixed steamed veggies coated in peanut sauce) or ketupat sayur (rice cooked in a woven palm leaf pouch served in a veggie coconut milk based broth). They are all so yummy and I ate them almost every morning when I was still living and working in Jakarta. That’s why I got so heavy!

But there is actually one “breakfast” dish that surprisingly not many people outside of the Chinese descendant population in Indonesia know much about. Though I’m sure anybody who’s exposed to a lot of Indonesian Chinese cuisine would know about this dish, but when I talked about it to my Indonesian friends here in Kathmandu, they had no idea what I was talking about. I had to explain it to them in details. 

Nasi Tim Ayam & Telor Pindang

It’s called Nasi Tim Ayam (Steamed Chicken Rice), a rice dish steamed in chicken broth, topped with ground chicken meat cooked in soy sauce. This dish actually can be found in many local neighborhood Chinese restaurants in Jakarta and can be eaten for any meal of the day. But a lot of the Chinese people in Jakarta would go to the Muara Karang market (north Jakarta) on a Sunday morning to eat at a famous Nasi Tim Ayam stand there, including our family. If you want to get your share of Nasi Tim there, you better wake up early because people would actually stand around waiting for a table and the supply doesn’t last much.

I know I talked about living a healthy lifestyle in my last post, but it doesn’t mean I can’t indulge in eating my favorite dishes once in awhile. And it just happened that I suddenly got a craving for Nasi Tim Ayam. So what else could I do but to call up my mom and asked her how to make it. It turned out to be quite easy. Here is the recipe if you’d like to try it yourself!

A - the chicken broth:
Boil some chicken bones to make some chicken broth. You’ll need about 3/4 to 1 liter of broth. Add some slices of ginger and adjust the taste with some salt.

B - the chicken topping:
250 gr  ground chicken
2-3       shallots, chopped
2-3     cloves of garlic, chopped
2 tbs    soy sauce
1/2 tbs sweet soy sauce

In a wok or pan, saute the chopped shallots and garlic until aromatic, then add in the ground chicken. When the chicken has changed color, add the soy sauce for taste and the sweet soy sauce for color. Adjust the taste with some salt and pepper. It should taste savory with a just a touch of sweetness. Cook until the chicken is cooked all the way through. Set aside.

C - The Rice & Final Assembly:
In a wok or pan, heat up a little oil and saute a cup or so of washed uncooked rice for about five minutes, just until the rice are covered and a bit dry. Set aside.

Prepare your steamer while you’re assembling the rice in half-quart bowls. I use tin bowls that I got from Indonesia, but you can use any type of small bowls that can stand heat.

In the bowl, put a good layer of the cooked chicken and pat it down. On top of the chicken, put about four tablespoons of the sauteed rice, then put about two-ladle full of broth. Use your judgment. The broth should just a little bit over the rice. There should be space in the bowl for the rice to expand. Then steam the filled bowls for about 30 minutes. When they’re done, the rice should be fully cooked, juicy, but without excess water. 

You should get about 4-6 bowls of rice if you're using an individual size type of bowls, which I recommend. But if you don't have small bowls and just want to make one big bowl for the family, go for it! Just make sure, it fits in the steamer.

To serve, cover a bowl of rice with a plate, flip it and carefully lift the bowl off. Some restaurants serve the steaming hot rice with a raw free-range egg on top. When mixed, the heat from the rice will cook the egg. This makes the dish even richer. 

However,  I never eat it like that. My mom usually serves it with Telor Pindang (eggs cooked in soy sauce). Below is the recipe for Telor Pidang. 

Ingredients:

5            boiled eggs, peeled
1-2        shallot, chopped
1-2        clove of garlic, chopped
3/4 lt     water
1.5 tbs   soy sauce
1/2 tbs   sweet soy sauce
1/2 tsp   Chinese five spice   

Saute the aromatics until fragrant, and add water, soy sauce, sweet soy sauce and the Chinese five spice. Add the eggs and cook on low heat until the eggs turn brown.

You can serve these eggs with the Nasi Tim Ayam, Hainanese Rice or simple Chinese boiled chicken.

Note:
A lot of these measurements are estimates because my mom cooks by feel. So please be cautious when putting in the soy sauce and taste as you cook. Enjoy!

Toilet State of Mind

By Lu

I begged my sister earlier in the day to do another post this week on my stead. I've been traveling quite a bit lately and I am a little worn out. Frankly, I didn't have the faintest idea of what to write either. There was a time when I thought I would never run out of things to write about. Let me rephrase - I can always come up with something to write, but it doesn't mean it should be published.

I had a terrible traveling day at the airport today. Started my day at 4:30 AM, and was at the airport at 7:30 for a 9:40 flight to LaGuardia, New York. It was delayed until 11:10 AM. Not too bad for O'Hare. We finally boarded the plane just to sit on the tarmac as they found leakage in the last minute. After almost two hours sitting inside the plane, they told us that we had to change to another plane as this one we were in was declared out of service. Two hours later, we finally took off. The two hour flight turned out to take all day! I didn't get to New York until almost 5 PM. All the time I was waiting around for the flight, I didn't know how many times I made the trip to the bathroom and waited in line.

Just wave, the plastic cover will change

Let me tell you - Chicago O'Hare Airport has the nicest bathroom (s) ever. It is not the nicest because it is fancy. It is not particularly beautiful in any means. However, they're the only one who implemented the coolest invention of making toilet seat sanitary. They use this automatic plastic cover system that changes by the wave of your hand. So, the plastic cover will move like a conveyer belt and change the old one with a new one. In Indonesia, perhaps you can say - well what about if they just recycle that old one? Not in the US. That is called a lawsuit.

I do so appreciate this. I was the girl that carried my own toilet seat when I lived in the dorm in college. No way I would plant my tushy in the same seat as every body else. Yep, I carried my own toilet seat in college.

The Advertising Board/Mirror

So, I do really appreciate this system and I wonder why no other public bathrooms adapt it. I am sure it costs a lot of money but damn, I think they should make it a law. Toilet is one of the dirtiest things ever, and I always wondered how to make it safe for every one. The answer has been right here as O'Hare has this system in placed for years and years. Also, they just added this cool everchanging mirror. If you're not using the mirror, it was a canvas for an advertising. Once, you stand in front of it, the picture disappears, and you get to see your own reflection. Nifty, huh?

Why am I talking about toilet? Because, some of the most brilliant ideas came when you're in the toilet. Yeah, you all need to admit it that some of the most celebrated thinkers got their Nobel prized ideas in the crapper. So did I.

After spending some time with the sister asking her to take over the writing for the week, I ended up thinking I could do my own writing.

I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately as well. At times, it made me brilliant with so many different ideas and goals to reach - being in the toilet or not. At times, it made me melancholic. At times, it made me sad. However, lately, all my soul searching has made me a sturdier person I am proud of. I might be down. I might be sad. I might be wanting things I couldn't have. Yet, I am enjoying life and I am thankful for what I have.

I don't accomplish this on my own obviously. The hardest thing about living so far away from family is that you do get lonesome at times. That gets me down most of the time knowing that my loved ones aren't reachable by a car ride. I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have my friends here. Yet, I can't be with them 24-7 nor do I want to impose on them.

But again, I didn't obtain this new found strength on my own. If my sister talked about a support system to lose weight, I am talking about a support system just to live.

I didn't realize for a long time that I am actually feeling great because I have my support system through my family and friends all along. They're always here with me 24-7. How? Through Blackberry Messenger (BBM).

A lot of people made fun of me as I am still in the Blackberry bandwagon and have not made the shift to iphone. For the life of me, I can say that I really can't live without my Blackberry, not right now. It is not because of the device - but for the people who are in it. Blackberry somehow is a phenomenon in Indonesia. Almost every one there uses it. Thus, why I do.

In my BBM Groups, I have one group that consists of the Alam family - my aunts, cousins, uncles, parents, sister. We talk and share information about family gatherings and how grandma is doing after her fall several weeks back. It was so cool to be able to see and hear what's going on back home. I love my grandma so much and it hurts to see that she's ailing and took a tumble on her birthday. We also make fun of each other and make wise cracks, especially about my crazy aunt Anna!


Our Conversation (in Bahasa Indonesia)

However, there's nothing toilety about that group. My aunt Tina would censor any pornographic materials in a flash! I am not writing this about the BBM function or anything like that. I am talking about the people. My other group consists of my childhood friends. There were 30 of us in the group and we went to the same school since grade school. Before technology, of course we lost touch for years. However, it is crazy how we picked up where we left off so easily.

We talk all the time. It was a continuous string of conversation about nothing but it is usually in the direction below of the belly button. Toilet area! It could be about crap, but mostly about genitals. We talk like little kids and laugh about underwear, nipple, and penis. Nasty. Oh yeah, you have to read some of the stuff that was said. It could get pretty rowdy. Yet, it was so hilarious they keep me entertained all day.

When we were kids.....how cute!

My friends: Desy Natalini, Suprapto, Baim, Leslie, David, Nelly, Sandy, Joshiana, Martha, Ivan, Aditya, Toar, Henky, Winston, Heryawan, Dandy,....hahaha OMG, they are a crazy bunch. I could wake up one morning and saw the conversation from the night before, and I just bursted out laughing. One guy could post a picture of a sexy girl, and the other guys commented. I would comment she's a transvestite and they tried to convince me and the girls, she's not a transvestite. Yeah - this is a total inside joke, but you got the idea. Tell me a dirty joke you understand the humor and doesn't like.

Last year in November, I was able to go home and we made a point to get together. I was able to see so many of them. I felt so blessed that they all made time to see me after almost 20 years have passed. They all looked the same like when we were in school. They still treated me the same way as before - kind, sweet, and at the same time the roasting continues! It makes it so much fun.


At the Reunion in November 2010

After I came back to the US, they still manage to stay close to me through BBM. I can't imagine a day without laughing on Ivan's joke or Baim bragging about something naughty. However, they are all in good fun. I also bond and talk in a more girly tone with Audrey and Peggy through BBM, or Chika and Daniella through Facebook. We talk and listen to one another about any curve life throws at you. At the end of the day, we are just a bunch of childhood friends who care about one another and make time to keep each other in our lives.

At times, things in life will get you down. Some friends might disappoint you to no end. I know I had my share of those.Yet, realizing I have tons of other friends who actually are real friends and keep my days colorful with laughters, I can't help but feel thankful to God. He keeps things balanced somehow. It doesn't take much to be a good friend to other. It just takes you being one.

This past Easter, all my friends who talk daily about south of the border topics all greeted each other with Happy Easter and some even quoted scriptures from the Bible. Some made suggestion in order to honor Easter, we would refrain from talking dirty for one day. Some complained that their Blackberry kept buzzing while they were at Mass. When they checked it, they had to read about profenity while they were saying Hallelujah. It made me smile as people who did not know us may think we are just a crazy bunch; but these people are kind and God fearing. Despite having fun, they know that there's more important things in life - friends, family, and God.

Funny that I got an idea to write from being in line in the bathroom all day. Funny that I found peace and everlasting friendship through toilet and genital talks with old friends.

I'd say - whatever works.

Thank you all for being my friends!

Feel Good! Get Back In Shape!

By Crivenica

Summer is just around the corner, people! Soon, it’ll be time to break out the summer dresses, tank tops, shorts and bikinis for us girls. And now it is the time to get serious if we want to lose any extra pounds that we might have gained to survive the winter cold.

How many of you had made a new year resolution to get in shape? I think any of us have tried making that commitment once or more times and kept breaking it. I was no different. Ever since I was in my 20s, my weight fluctuated and after I got married, it got worse. And to my annoyance, my mother kept pointing out to me that I had gotten heavy. And I kept telling myself, “I’m not fat. I’m big boned!” and that “my husband loves me the way I am - chubby or not.”

Yes, I was very good at deceiving myself, until about a year ago. I was getting frustrated that even my newer clothes didn’t fit me anymore. Shopping had become a dread because the store attendants would go straight to find me an extra large size or simply told me that “8” was their largest size. I was at my heaviest: 84 kg (185 pounds) at 175 cm (5’ 7.5”) tall, with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 28. I was overweight bordering at obesity (people are considered obese if their BMI is at 30 or higher). At that moment, I told myself enough is enough. I made up my mind to get healthy which meant I had to change my lifestyle.

I’ve tried severe dieting, but the only result I got was hunger, which led to bingeing. And there are many products out there that promise to burn fat fast, but we know that those products are not safe. At this stage in my life, I know that there isn’t any shortcut to get healthy and back in shape. The only right way to do it is through exercising and eating a healthy balanced diet daily. So, I bit the bullet and did exactly that. Due to discipline and being resolute, I lost 16 kg (35 pounds) within six months. I am proud to say that I now have a 22 BMI, which is right in the middle of the normal BMI range, and have been maintaining my weight at 68 kg (150 pounds) and my new healthier lifestyle ever since. And I manage to do that with splurging on my favorite food once in a while.

L-R: Me in Aug 2009 - Oct 2010 - Mar 2011 (in a size 6 dress!!) ^_^

Many people have asked me how I managed to accomplish my weight loss goal. And when I told them that I did it through a rigorous exercise program and strict healthy diet, they all groaned. It’s understandable. I’ve done my share of groaning, too. But let me tell you, the key to a healthy weight loss is perseverance and when you reach your goal, you will feel so much better and happier.

Now, if you made a decision this year to get in shape or simply need to lose a few pounds before summer, I’ve listed down some tips that worked wonders for me. I hope they will do the same for you.

Get Inspired!
When I first decided to start this weight loss journey, I really didn’t have much confident on my ability to reach my goal. But it all changed after I watched The Biggest Loser. Watching the contestants in the weight loss competition struggle in the beginning, but then succeed in losing  up to and over 100 pounds in the end was more than inspiring. It gave me the boost I needed. If they could lose that many pounds, I could lose a mere 30 pounds or so.

My other inspiration is my sister-in-law, Michelle, who has been committed to living a healthy lifestyle for years. I’ve never known anybody who is more disciplined about her work out and eating regime than she is. And now in her early 40s, she is in the best shape of her life and I can safely say that she is in better shape than most people in their 30s or  20s! Now, if I can maintain my healthy lifestyle, I’ll be happy if I can look as good as she is when I turn 40.

Do Your Research

I didn’t know the first thing about losing weight in a healthy way when I first started. For my exercise program, I worked with a trainer in my first month. I learned basic training from him, but since a trainer does get pricy, I then continued researching for the best exercises through the internet and books. And I was lucky to be able to meet up with a nutritionist once and learned about planning my meals. But if you don’t have access to a good nutritionist, there are plenty of books on the subject that you can get.

I personally like The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps that provides me with lots of eating tips and good healthy recipes. Another good book is Food Rules by Michael Pollan that gives easy to remember rules for choosing what to eat. This book was a gift from my friends, Jeff and Betsy, whose commitment to feeding their family healthy diverse unprocessed homemade meals is a great example for any parents.

Set A Realistic Goal, Exercise & Eating Plan And Stick With It!
In the beginning, my goal is to reach 70 kg (154 pounds) and I’d like to do it by losing 1 kg a week. If you’ve seen The Biggest Loser, you know that 1 kg or 2.2 pounds a week is not a too ambitious goal, but you won’t be able to do it if you don’t have a plan that you stick with. Though there were tough times, I managed to do just that by doing a cardiovascular exercise for 30-40 minutes followed by another 30 minutes of weight and strength training for six days a week. This exercise program was supported by a low-carb diet heavy on lean protein, vegetable and fruits. I also had to train myself to eat three small-portion meals with two small snacks of fruits and almonds a day, rather than eating three big meals and unhealthy snacking throughout the day. The first three weeks were the hardest, but once I passed the first 21 days, my body had adjusted to this new routine and it worked out well.

Have A Support System

Shilla - L: Nov '09 R: Mar '11

We didn’t plan this, but when I started doing the program, my best friend, Shilla,  also started a weight loss program by just eating right and exercising. Though we live so far apart, we discussed our progress daily, shared tips, encouraged each other and cheered together when we accomplished our goals. Until today, we continue to support each other in staying healthy, keeping up with our exercise routine, and eating well because with all the temptations out there, we need all the support we can get. Until today, Shilla has lost around 23 kilograms (50.7 pounds) and looks great!

Other Little Tips

• An interval training exercise works wonder in burning calories. If you have been exercising regularly on, for example, the treadmill in the same pace for 30 minutes, try picking up the pace with this exercise. Warm up for five minutes, then do a sprint for one minute followed by a 90-second break of regular pace. Continue doing this 1-minute sprint and break for six times. Finish with a 5-minute cool down.

• If you don’t like the gym, you can do all your exercises at home. I made a little gym out of my office at home by investing in an elliptical machine, an exercise ball, elastic band, free weights, and a yoga mat. With these items, I can do numerous exercises that train all parts of the body. And sure, not everybody wants or can invest in an exercise machine, so better yet, go for a run or speed walk around the neighborhood for your cardio. It’s free!

• Do try exercising first thing in the morning because you'll be burning those excess fat in your body. I know it's hard to force ourselves out of the bed to exercise, but think it this way: once you're done, you know that you have accomplished something even if you don't accomplish anything else that day.

• For the ladies (especially Indonesian ladies), don’t skip on the weight and strength training. Many Indonesian ladies I talked to are worried that they’d get bulky if they did any weight training and that notion is so incorrect. These exercises are important for our bones’ health and they help tone our bodies.

• Eat fruits instead of drinking fruit juice for the fiber! However, since fruits are full of sugar, you’ll need to balance the sugar with an intake of protein so it doesn’t turn into excess fat in your body. So eat a bowl of fruits with a cup of low fat yogurt for breakfast and when eating a piece of fruit for a snack, have a handful of almonds with it.

• Eating healthy does not mean not eating delicious food. Now, I am simply smarter in choosing what I put into my body, though I still enjoy going to nice restaurants or have a donut or two. But because I exercise quite rigorously, now my body allows me to eat anything in moderation and that is a great feeling!

There are tons of information about weight loss out there, you just have to select them intelligently and choose what works for you and keep at it. Envision yourself looking and feeling great this summer!

If you have other good tips to share, please feel free to do so here. We always love to learn something new.

My Steakhouse Adventure

By Lu

I've been in a very good mood lately because I've been eating really well. Other parts of my life like my gym membership has suffered quite a bit. Some people live to eat and some people eat to live. You can guess which kind I am. I have a lot of great friends whom I knew or met through other means, but we bonded through food. Let's face it - it is one of the oldest traditions that people use to bond with each other. Guys and girls go out to dinner for a date to get to know each other. Friends break breads and talk over supper. Families have the best time communicating on the dinner table as well.

I have many rituals with various friends on dining. Sandrine and I go to brunch to celebrate each other's birthday. Helen and I go to our weekend lunches almost every weekend. I have a food club with numerous friends I go to every month. Eve and I talk over lunch every day at work, and she misses me inviting her and Carol to come over in the Spring where I cook dinner and Carol planting flowers  for me. Paul and I have to go to Asian Noodle House every couple of weeks or so to get some wonton noodle fix. Lastly, Tina and I have our steakhouse ritual yearly.

Last weekend was a steakhouse weekend for me. I went to Gibsons for lunch with Helen on Saturday, and then to Mastro's for dinner with Tina. I have never even researched on that diet by your blood type because I am definitely afraid to find out if eating red meat would be a total no no for my blood type. I usually eat red meat in moderation; except last weekend.

Gibsons


The Sliders and The Soup at Gibsons

We discovered that eating lunch at Gibsons is pretty affordable. When you hear the classic name of this Chicago steakhouse, you will assume right away that it's big bucks. It's a good assumption. I myself would never think that I could have a great meal there under $30. Guess what? We did. So folks - if you're looking to have a fancy great lunch that is under $30 for two people - think Gibsons. Unfortunately, they only have 3 locations and they are all in Illinois (Chicago, Rosemont, and Oak Brook). Many celebrities eat here when they're in town because their steaks are great obviously. My ex, Mark, used to take me there all the time. My only complaint about the place is that they don't serve warm bread. They're known for great steaks, big lobsters, and gargantuan desserts!

Helen and I bond over food for years and years. She is probably the only friend I know who likes food more than I do. I go explore good places to eat in the suburbs with Helen and her husband, Michael, as they rarely will go to downtown Chicago. There are quite many places in the suburbs that serve good food too and I usually will find out about those places from Helen.

Well, Helen and I discovered a nice lunch place in Gibsons. They offer a lunch plate consisting of a bowl of their soup of the day and 2 slider sandwiches. You can choose from three selections of meat: turkey burger, filet mignon, or salmon BLT. I had all three and they were great! However, I did prefer the filet and salmon over the turkey burger. The filet mignon slider was so good the meat felt like it was melting in my mouth. It was so tender and delicious. The salmon BLT was served with an aoli sauce that complemented the salmon very well. Their soup of the day was Gumbo. The server informed me that the soup du jour is always the same for that particular day. So, it will always be Gumbo for Saturdays until they decide to change it. The Gumbo was filled with all kinds of fish, and Andouille Sausage. I wish they would put some lobster chunks or shrimps though. Still, I couldn't say it was bad. The server told me that they serve Cream of Mushroom soup on Tuesdays. Oh, I have to make it there someday on a Tuesday so I can have my favorite soup. This plate costs $10.25. Not bad at all!

Mastro's

Tina and I have had a ritual of taking each other out for dinner for our birthdays for years; and then, one year we decided to do steakhouses. We would like to try all the steakhouses in town and to see which one's the best. We're only doing it for a special occasion as we all know it's not going to be cheap. We used to go to two steakhouses a year - one for each of our birthdays. Now, we alternate and do it once a year. First, because we eat out too much. Second, we are running out of steakhouses to try in the city of Chicago.

Through the years, we have visited Morton's, Ruth's Chris, Gene & Georgetti, Keefer's, Smith & Wollensky, etc. With my work, I also have gone to many many steakhouses - Gibsons, Chop House, Sam & Harry's, Fogo de Chao, Texas de Brazil, etc. I also have gone to some steakhouses in other cities. I must say one of the best steaks I had was in Omaha. My friend, Albert, treated me at a steakhouse there called "Anthony's" and it was so good. It was not pricey and fancy as the Mortons of the world, but it was definitely yummy. Albert said Warren Buffet frequents that steakhouse. I wouldn't be surprised if he did. It was yummy!

Well, our last steakhouse visit was Mastro's. It is a new steakhouse for the city of Chicago. I saw it driving by a month or two ago. I recognized the name knowing that they're represented elsewhere before. I also read an article on People's Magazine on how Emmitt Smith loved their chocolate cake. So, instantly I wanted to try it. Tina, surprisingly, also had the same hunch. It didn't take a lot of efforts to make it happen.

The place was definitely high-end. It was modern and chic. We were seated in the lounge area and it was cool, but so very dark. This would be one of the first chances I had to use my new camera. Oh, was that a bad venue for it! So, pardon me - my pictures still suck even with the new camera. It was really hard to fiddle with the camera when your food arrived on the table. I now realized why I didn't take the time sometime.

Chopped Salad

We started with a chopped salad. Nothing much to say except it was delicious; yet, nothing special. Next, we got our meat. I chose a bone-in filet. Tina went for the bone-in rib-eye. It's so funny - she wouldn't even eat red meat not so many years ago. Now, she ordered a 22 once rib-eye! Don't fret! She couldn't possibly eat the whole thing. She brought home over half the steak. Another thing Tina and I would like to know by doing the steakhouse adventure is to find out who has the best rib-eye. So, one of us must always order the rib-eye.

The bone-in filet, pardon the ugly picture

We ordered Mastro's signature side dish, lobster mashed potatoes, as well as sauteed mushroom. We loved our steaks and sides. I liked my filet, and Tina thought her rib-eye was much more flavorful compared to my filet. I agreed. I will always suggest to people to order a bone-in rib eye or New York strip over a filet, except if you're in Asia. Asian steakhouses do not get the idea of bone-in rib-eye.

I usually prefer dry aged beef as I think the flavor is more intense - as long as they trim the meat well. However, Mastro's wet age their meats and I loved it. It has a really good flavor. I liked the sides as well. The mushroom was meaty, thick, and had good texture and flavor. Tina liked the lobster mashed potatoes, but I'm usually not a big mashed potatoes fan. The lobster was good, and if you like butter, you won't be disappointed. I got confused for a second looking at the mashed potatoes whether I was eating at Mastro's or Paula Deen's house.

Losbter Mashed Potatoes, that is a pool of butter! Scary...



Butter Cake

To close, we ordered another of their signature items for dessert, the butter cake served with vanilla gelato and a big serving of homemade whipped cream! Paula Deen..seriously, you should call Mastro's and establish a partnership in butter. The cake was huge. I took home the leftover and it was my dinner for two nights in a row!

Compared to the chain steakhouses, Tina and I both agree that Mastro's was up there. The food was excellent. The service was exceptional from the waiter to the guy cleaning the table. They were so nice and personable. Tina said they called her to confirm the reservation, and then they also called her a couple days after our reservation to follow up on our experience. Now, that has never happened to me before! It's the WOW factor for sure. It deserved a point.

Before Mastro's, I thought Ruth's Chris had the best service. Morton's had the best bread and their Shrimp Alexander was delicious. Gene and Georgetti's had the best flavored meat. Smith and Wollensky? Baaaddd. We didn't like it.

Another thing to mention on Mastro's - everything was served extremely hot! The plate was sizzling hot - it literally sizzled when you put some of the side dishes on the plate. Now, Ruth's Chris made a fuss about how hot their plate is. However, my experience there, the heat went away so fast and then it was cold. At Mastro's, it stayed hot to a point that I had to blow on my steak so it wouldn't burn my mouth. Obviously, the steak had a nice crust on it and it was juicy when you cut into it. Thus why it's up there on our list!

I thoroughly enjoy my ritual with Tina. I don't know where we're going next year - there are still a couple we have to try. I look forward to it. Tina is one of those friends who are always fair to me. We have a friendship that feels easy and always balanced. She taught me that as friends it is so important not to take the other for granted and to show appreciation. I appreciate her for it. Every year, I also feel that our friendship each year is better than the year before. Same goes with the steakhouse. Let's hope next year steakhouse will be even better!

My pilates teacher said that our body will naturally come out of hibernation in April. April is the time to be serious in dieting and exercising to get the optimum result. Believe me, I am hitting the gym soon, just right in time to shed the fat that kept me warm in winter months. Time to get ready for summer body!

Beauty Shots of Kathmandu

By Crivenica

My sister’s last post on her photographer friends was an inspiration. These ladies are so talented and I’m sure most of us who looked at their pictures wished that we had their eyes for seeing beautiful things in our sometimes chaotic world and possessed a tad of their talent in capturing that beauty in photographs.

I love photographs. I love looking at them. I love taking them and I love uploading them onto Facebook. However, I do not have the talent of making them look beautiful. Even so, Audrey, Daniella and Peggy made me want to take beautiful pictures. So, as David and I took our friend, Marcy, who is visiting from Boston, sightseeing around Kathmandu, I tried capturing parts of the city that I think are beautiful.

Early Saturday morning, David, Marcy and I walked through the old Patan city toward the Patan Durbar Square that I've written about in an earlier post. This is one of my favorite sightseeing routes in town because in this part of town is where you see how people live their daily lives. There are women lining up for water at their courtyard waterhole, kids playing, or old men drinking tea. This area is also rich with old architecture and little temples that are just begging to be captured in pictures.

Here are some pictures from that day, but please don’t compare them to Audrey’s, Daniella’s or Peggy’s! These pictures are just to show that these gals can inspire others who don’t even know them.

Women waiting for water at their community watering hole

A community Buddhist shrine

An alley under brick houses leading to the next courtyard.

The beautifully carved windows of Newari traditional house.

A random painting on a wall that I thought was so out of place, it was cute.

A tiger & a tigress guarding the entrance of the Golden Temple

A little flower girl selling offerings for the Gods

Patan Durbar Square getting ready for the tourists to come

Two ladies preparing to give Pooja (offerings)

Our friend, Marcy

The temples of Patan Durbar Square

We stopped at Garden of Dreams to enjoy some peace & quiet.

This arch always makes me think of J.R.R. Tolkein's The Shire.

What Lies Beneath a Photograph

Beautiful Flowers by Daniella Tjahjanto

By Lu

Photography has always been something dear to my heart; yet, I have never fully embraced it. It is one of the strangest things for me. I can say with conviction that I am passionate about food. I can say with no doubt that I love traveling the world. One thing that binds food and travel has been photography. That is what I like to do with food and when I travel. Yet, I can't say that I have put all my heart and mind into photography though it is a huge part of who I am.

I remember vivid memory going on my first trip to Europe with my grandma; and, my uncle let me borrow his Minolta film SLR camera. I had a ball with the camera and took so many pictures. Later on in life, I spent years working with photography - taking pictures, doing editing, and various other media tasks. One of my favorite jobs ever was when I had to take pictures of food and create presentations for the company I worked for. It was so much fun! Yet, I realized I love the cooking, the styling of the food, and editing more, than actually taking the pictures. I just didn't have the confidence in my photography skills. However, when I took a beautiful picture, I could just stare at it for hours with such satisfaction.

I have been staying away from photography several years now. I have gotten by using a pocket camera and my Blackberry camera. Yes, it is kind of sad that many of pictures I took for this blog were taken with a phone camera. I can say I am a whiz at Photoshop. Then, I realized... Perfecting my photography skills would be one goal I should achieve this year. I want to improve on the quality of my pictures - if it's not for the blog, it is also for me.

So, I have invested in a new camera. It was such an ordeal in deciding what camera to get. It was not easy to find a camera that has everything you want, fits your needs, and within your budget. No such  thing like a perfect camera as no such thing as a perfect man (or woman). After weeks of researching, I finally found my baby.

I didn't realize that I wanted to improve my photos here just because I had a eureka moment one day. In fact, I was looking at my friend Peggy's picture on Facebook - it was a cup of coffee, and it looked so good. Then, it dawned on me - my pictures sucked.

My Rock Star Friend, Baim

There are so many things I hate about the social networking sites; but, one thing I am grateful of is that I get to learn and be inspired by so many people even those who are far away from me. Because of Facebook, I was able to reunite with so many of my childhood friends. Last November, I was able to see so many of them. I promise my oldest friend whom I knew since kindergarten that I would write about him here. My friend, Ibrahim Imran, better known as Baim, is a very successful musician and actor back home in Indonesia. He's also an accomplished photographer through his Miharbi Photography. We had a blast taking pictures at the reunion. The funny part also was he just knew when to pose and which camera to look to when he was the object. Talking about a professional!

I am so grateful to be able to preserve friendships with so many of my childhood friends. Each of them means to me in a different way. They keep me young and laughing! However, one thing I realized - girlfriends are exceptional. Not only you can share stories, gossips, and had fun together; but, they can also share your sadness and be there for you when you need them.

They can also inspire you.

There are three girlfriends of my childhood in particular that I would like to showcase on this post. They are terrific photographers and they inspire me every day. Opening up Facebook every morning and see new pictures from Daniella is just pure joy. I'd like to show you how these women inspired me. It has been years since we saw each other; however, it is stellar that through photographs we bonded again!

Audrey Widyanata

Audrey and her Nikon

I was so happy to see Audrey in November of last year. It was so much fun to see her and rekindled our friendship. We have been talking back and forth a lot about photography, blogging, as well as life in general. She's such a kind person and she even shared a prayer with me to hope for a better future tomorrow. We promised we will pray for each other.

I was really impressed with the photographs she took at concerts. She's a big Jazz buff so she goes to many Jazz concerts. I thought it had to be really hard being in a low light situation and trying to capture a moving object! Yikes. Check these out!

 

 

This is Audrey in her own words: "Since I was a kid, I admire photographers because it seemed so cool to be able to capture pictures and create a great artwork out of it.  But I knew that it was just beyond my league since I thought photography would be so expensive and looked so complicated.
 
When the era of digital camera began, photography became more affordable to me, especially at this time, I've had a job and my own savings. I bought my first camera about 7 years ago. It was a Sony DSC-P8,  pocket camera with 3.2 mega pixels.  I really had lot of fun with it. Instantly, it became my new hobby. I loved to snap a picture of everything I saw, and I learned just by constantly taking pictures. Surprisingly, I got a lot of compliments on my pictures.  I was so pleased to hear it, and it motivated me even more to take better and better pictures. For sure it was also a reason for me to upgrade my camera again and again.

I bought my first DSLR last year and really fell in love with it. I love this camera and I can express my passion through it.  Last year was also the time when I thought a lot about myself, my career and what I really wanted to be.  So, after careful thought, I decided to take my hobby in photography seriously and would love to evolve it into a professional career.  I am currently taking private lesson in NV Akademie Jakarta to enhance my knowledge in photography art & technique while at the same time pursuing my career in photography as a freelancer."

Well, I hope Audrey's aspiration become a reality. Check out her photography blog here: http://audreywidyanata.wordpress.com/

Daniella Tjahjanto

Pretty Mommy- Daniella

I was totally bummed that I didn't get to see Daniella when I went home last year. We found each other on Facebook a couple years back and it has been fun to see all her pictures every day. I remember her as a tomboy in grade school with long legs. She grew up to be this beautiful lady with so much grace and charm.

One can only envy looking at her gorgeous family and the fun they seem to be having every day! She talked to me through my hardship last year losing someone I loved, and she is always willing to lend a hand even though she's so busy dealing with her four children (plus a niece on loan!).

When I asked her if I could showcase her work on my blog, she was so humble about it. She told me she didn't even consider herself as a photographer. In her mind - she was just a mom having a blast taking pictures as a hobby. She just didn't completely realize that she's absolutely fantastic at it. How lucky her four daughters to have all their childhood memories captured so beautifully by their mom? It's like in a movie - when a person looking back and opening a photograph box and looking at old pictures. I can't imagine how wonderful it would be for Daniella's daughters and grandchildren to have her so diligently preserving each moment of their lives in the most captivating way. Plus, she's also teaching them on the art of photography. Some of these pictures are taken by her young daughters! Now, that's amazing!

 

Daniella's photographs are also so stylized. I couldn't imagine the preparation she had to take care of for each photograph - from the wardrobes, color, accessories, props, etc. Plus, I love how her children are so in-tuned with their mom and they co-operated! Can you imagine the bond that she forged with her daughters? I have 2 sisters myself and I love the bond that my sisters and I share with our mom. There's nothing like a mom-daughters bond.

I think any women or men lucky enough to have time to be at home with their children should take up photography as a hobby. Daniella told me she started like most photographers with a simple point and shoot camera. Now, she is using professional photography equipment and still refuse to call herself a pro. However, what a fantastic hobby and skills to obtain. Children grow so fast. Day is gone  by a blink of an eye. Memory fades. Photographs, like Daniella said,  are "Moments that capture." It captures love, friendship, events, and it is something you can share for years and years to come.

Peggy Muliadi

Peggy, The Pro

I haven't seen Peggy in years. Yet, I still remember things we've done when we were kids. I played at her house many times and I admired her mom's sink that looked like a giant clam shell. I also thought her loft-like bedroom with her mattress laid on the floor without a bed frame was so cool. I hated my bunk bed after playing in Peggy's bedroom.

She lives in Auckland, New Zealand now and what landscape she has to work with! I admire her pictures I saw on Facebook. It was one of the reasons that I wanted to improve mine. I depended on editing photos in post-production a lot because I always had to deal with a mediocre camera. No more. I know I didn't buy a top of the line Leica or Hasselblad, but it will be so much better than Blackberry phone camera. Though I do love to manipulate pictures; I would like to be able to just take a good photo and not mess with it. I am taking lesson from Peggy.

Here's what Peggy had to say: "My first love is street photography and photojournalism. When I shoot, I try to be "in" the shot without getting in the way. I don't want the viewer to merely see what I see. I want them to feel, to relate to, to smell, to be in scene of what I shot. That empathy and emotional connection is important to me. I don't know if it makes any sense. For example, on this photo below, I want the viewer to feel how tough and tired the tukang becak (rickshaw man) is and how he has to competes with the car and motorbikes. 

Tukang Becak (Rickshaw Man)

I want them to smell the coffee and the old books in that Bondi second hand bookshop. I want people to feel like you're sitting opposite the rails and see those 2 girls in the party mode, the guys reading papers and waiting for the train to go home, feel the "TGIF" atmosphere. If I can be the "invisible agent" that stand between the object and the viewer, then I'd consider it to be a successful shot in capturing and putting the message across. 

Bondi Second-hand Book Store

Freedom, honesty and truth are important to me. That's probably why street and photojournalism suit me. I respect the freedom of the subject of my photos to do whatever they want to do, whatever they want to portray, whatever story they want to say. I do not want to betray the trust that's given to me by portraying something untrue and stray from the truth.

I don't like "staged" and edited photos. I rely on natural and on site lighting. I don't even own an external flash :p  The most editing I'd do is to desaturate a photo into black and white or sephia and stamp a watermark. Although, in saying that I don't like "staged" photography, every now and then I do product photos. But even when I do, I don't do post editing. In fact, perhaps I should improve on my Photoshop skill. It's pretty minimal. 

Window Cleaners

Why street and photojournalism? It is because they constantly provide me with the challenge I need. As it is unstaged, it is very unlikely you will get a second chance in shooting what you see and feel in front of you. When I go photo hunting, you'll see the camera in my hand all the time, ready to shoot. You only have a split second to decide and shoot. You can't turn back the clock. You cannot ask someone to laugh the same way again. The emotion will be different. The sound will be different.

The best part of street photography is, it is full of surprises. On that Glebe photo, the can of spray paint is what attract my attention in the first place. But just as I shot, I noticed my friend walked out of the shed. I could wait for her to clear, but I decided to snap and just take that shot. I also took a shot without her in it, but this one is more interesting. By the way, she has given me the permission for you to publish it if you want. 

Glebe

When I was sitting on the opposite site of the rail in that Circular Quay station, I had no idea that the party goers would walk into my view finder. Again, I could wait until they finish and took the shot without them. But they add more emotion to the shot. I guess the unpredictability of street and photojournalism that keeps me hooked."

Circular Quay

If you would like to see more of Peggy's work, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/93401263@N00

Hope you enjoy my friends' photographs as much as I do. Thank you girls for opening up your life and sharing your beautiful photographs. I admire your work as much as I admire you as a person. As for me, I am committed to be better at photography and to showcase even better pictures here on Things on my top shelf. I am loving every single minute I spent with my newly arrived Leica V-Lux 2. I am looking forward to capture beautiful memories in photographs and cherish it for the rest of my life.



*All pictures are courtesy of Audrey Widyanata Photography, Daniella Tjahjanto Photography, Peggy Muliadi Photography, and Miharbi Photography. All pictures are used with permission.