Cold Haiku

I will shake this cold.
My secret weapon aids me.
It's Emergen-C.

This Valentine's Day

I have one true passion and drive in life and that is to travel.
To see the world, and experience new destinations. I am celebrating
Valentine's Day with my true love of traveling in mind. It is time to make
my dreams come true... and book some flights!

Last Weekend.

Yesterday, was a very busy and pleasant day.
In fact, this whole weekend was really nice and on-the-go. Saturday night,
I went down to the North End (Italian section)
and sipped on sambuca. Then went to a party in the oldest and
wealthiest neighborhood in Boston called Beacon Hill. We didn't know
the person who lived at the apartment and was invited by a girl in my program.
We played trivia while some dudes were playing guitar and violins.
This apartment was so fancy, and it had its own elevator! It had a dazzling rooftop
view of the city. I'd never seen an apartment like that before.

Yesterday during the day, I went to this funky craft store and made cards out of fabric. It soundsreally bizarre, but they came out pretty neat. This woman from Brooklyn, who is an author of a retro sewing book guided us through the art project. I felt
like I was in first grade, cutting the fabrics and playing with glue.

Then I went off to a super bowl party at this really small apartment. I again didn't know anyone there, except for a friend of a friend. Even though the game was awful for the
Pats, the party was fun. I don't watch football or care that much about it, but it was really painful to watch. The defense was horrible. I wonder if it was rigged. On our drive home we saw so many riot police with their night sticks out after the game. I've never seen so many cops in one night. Luckily, no riots broke out.

Tomorrow, I have a job interview at this animal rights organization called NEAVS. I would get to write, edit, and update their website. Its kind of ironic, everyone in the organization is vegan and its right above a McDonalds.

New Goals

I'm applying for a bunch of interesting jobs that make me so excited just thinking about them. They are all over the map, but I don't care I'm allowing destiny play a role in what job chooses me. I applied for a communication job at NEAVS (New England Anti-vivisection Society- www.neavs.org) This job entitles updating the website, writing, and fact checking for an animal rights nonprofit. I applied to Bloomingdales, a really kitschy modern craft store, and a job in technology and sales at Harvard. Fingers crossed with all other superstitious acts... I hope I get a great job soon!

The Publik House, Brookline, MA

Dear PH,

I thought I loved you Publick House, until yesterday when you treated me oh so poorly.

You made me wait for an hour and 20 minutes for a table at 8pm on a Wednesday. Your server wasn't that friendly and the food took another hour to prepare.

I still remember the good old days. Your delicious macroni and cheese is like no other. You offered me eclectic add-ons (like truffle oil or asparagus) to my already superior mac and cheese. I always appreciated your giving nature.

I have to admit to you, you were really good last night. You impressed me with the fish of the day (written in your crazy old timey Belgium print). My salmon was succelent, with sliced potatoes cooked in loads of olive oil and sprinkled with gruyere cheese. The dish was costly ($16) but worthwhile. And the lumpy gravy beer ($5) you served me paired nicely with the light fish dauced in a beer mustard sauce.

I will give you another chance Publick House. Only if you promise to show me the respect I deserve. Tell me what beers go nicely with what dish. Act interested when I tell you my stories of climbing up a snowy hill in Munich to try one of your delicious beers that you offered to me last night on tap. And please don't make me wait around... because I won't. Next time I will leave your ass and go off to other breweries in Boston. You are warned my beloved Belgium bar/restaurant.

Love,
Meliska

Dinner at the local Tibetan joint

Rangzen Tibet Restaurant

Category: Himalayan/Nepalese
Neighborhood: Central Square

The first dinner I ever ate at Rangzen was not ridiculously delicious, but could be described as being rather simple. My consort and I, bought two entrees- his with chicken and mine vegetarian.

The bf said his Chhasha Solo ($12.55) white chicken meat with red & green pepper, onion, and tomato cooked in chili sauce & herbs had a particularly exotic aftertaste perhaps of cilantro.

My veggie dish the Po Tsel ($11.95) had bok choy sauteed with ginger & garlic, tomato, onion & spices with my choice of tofu, mushrooms or potatoes. I added chura (tofu). Po Tsel had a soupy buttery sauce combined with familiar Chinese flavors. Possibly this entree would work better as a side, since it wasn't very substantial.

I challenged my inner daredevil to try the traditional poecha tea ($2.50) made with salt, milk, and yes butter. Though, I pictured a hot buttered rum consistency and failed to take that gastronomical chance.

The restaurant was small, cozy, wooden, and a bit enchanted with Tibetan accents and a huge poster of the Himalayas.

A sign lay over the empty lunch buffet saying- "Respect the Food, Don't be Wasteful"

You might think this simple statement would cause a huge uproar of old teenage angst about eating my veggies. On the contrary, it worked! I ate all my greens and didn't want to be wasteful.

Even though my food was bland, I still enjoyed my first experience with Tibetan food.

I look forward to getting familiar with the dishes from this culture. I'll be sure to try the tea on my next visit.

Millennium in San Francisco

The new Millennium residing near Union Square has received a makeover. All grown up, Millennium explores conscientious design with its new fishnet chandeliers, faux lizard skin seats, and recycled seat belt bar stools.

This fancy vegan restaurant is appealing to those who eat a produce-based diet.

If the freshly made artisan bread with nutty hummus spread doesn't start your dining experience off right, then try one of their reasonable priced appetizers. Try the herb olives ($5) marinated in rich organic olive oil. For a more heartier appetizer try the black bean torte ($9.95) whole wheat tortilla, black bean puree, and pumpkin habanero salsa verde.

Millennium's entrees are made with local and mostly organic produce, prepared in an array of different cuisines from around the world. Try their seared Emerald Rice Cake Indonesian red coconut curry with winter root vegetables, lemongrass tofu, bok choy & shiitake mushrooms, pineapple sambal, toasted peanuts ($22.95).

Dessert is a must have so make sure to leave some room. My personal favorite is their creamy Chocolate Almond Midnight ($8.75) with
almond cashew crust, mocha chocolate filling, raspberry sauce, white chocolate mousse. Wash it down with one of their classic cocktails with a healthy twist. Try the Chai Manhattan ($11.00) Maker's Mark Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, Chai Spiced Tea, Ginger-Chamomile Syrup, Bitters.

From their greens to their recycled upper-crust decor, Millennium truly has something for everyone... even if your not vegan.