Ballard Farmers Market

The problem with farmers markets is mainly we can see but can't buy. Grrrr. We don't have a working kitchenette; although we could grab non-perishables of canned products as well as jars of preserves and whatnots. I'm also determined to transport a whole pack of late-season morels home. On a happy Sunday out with the friends, we finally could satiate our shopping cravings by watching them stock up on groceries at Ballard Farmers Market. Hahaha.

The tourists haven't flooded Ballard Farmers Market because it's a distance away from downtown. But Seattleites flock here to the open-air stalls for its decent choices, less claustrophobic vibe from the Pike Place Market. Well, you ain't gonna find fish and seafood here, but there're meats and vegetables. Those, and flowers at such unbelievably low prices. SIGH. Almost keeled over at how cheap peonies are. I quite like the whites that blush a light pink in the center.

This is how Veraci Pizza does awesome food-trucking.
Their brick and mortar in Seattle has just opened on 35th Ave NE.

The man is pleased to have breakfast and lunch on Sundays at the farmers markets. Good food aplenty! Oof. The man found another pulled pork sandwich to eat. This one's from Sea Breeze Farm that does a whole lot of meats and dairy. We ought to head out to its farm on Vashon Island for dinner at its La Boucherie. It's only a 1.5 hour drive from downtown Seattle. Truly farm-to-table.

Patty Pan Cooperative's quesadillas smelt great sizzling on the grill. Bought a vegetable quesadilla. In the cloudy grey 13°C late morning, the piping hot grilled vegetables and corn tortilla were super welcomed. I have a weakness for sparkling sodas. There're some good bottled options in Singapore now, but of course there're more here. Hurhurhur. Oddly, the sparkling sodas I've been quaffing here hold no more than 11g of sugar. I regretfully give up those that have 30mg of sugar. I'm kinda done with tasting all the ginger beers. It's all about lemonade on this trip. Firefly Kitchens' Lemon-Aid with caraway probiotic brine ain't bad at all.

The man is also on a cookie blitz this trip. He has been eating so many cookies! The gigantic ones. Spotted Pinckney Cookies. They pop up at various farmers markets in WA. I didn't mind one piece of dark chocolate oatmeal, but being an American cookie, even if it's from WA (which makes desserts less sweet than the average Cheesecake Factory uhh crap), it's still too sweet for me. *shudder* They have a 'brown butter brown sugar bourbon spice with Woodinville bourbon'. We packed a whole dozen to-go. :P

Harmony Black

Came across Kindle Unlimited's offer of Craig Schaefer's 'Harmony Black' series. It's all about mysteries, FBI black ops, occult, supernatural, demons and the sort. Like Agents of Shield or X-Files.

It follows FBI agent Harmony Black, who is also an accomplished witch, and her new team Vigilant Lock led by maybe-werewolf Jessie Temple, and includes scientist April Cassidy and young hacker-turned-computer-security expert Kevin. It also introduces Harmony's romantic relationship with her childhood friend and Talbot Cave cop Cody.

Book 1 is titled 'Harmony Black'. It wasn't fantastic, but the plot was arresting enough. Kinda curious to see how it goes. Downloaded Book 2 'Red Knight Falling' too. These are books that I want to read but won't bother keeping. Happy they're 'free'. :P At least this series runs on the narrative of 'one mystery per book'. It's not a continuation, thank goodness. I needn't scream in frustration if Book 3 isn't out now.

Book 1 'Harmony Black' introduced us to Harmony and the team Vigilant Lock. The team dealt with demons and bogeymen, and solved the long-standing mystery of disappearing children in Talbot Cave which occurred like a plague once every few decades. A parallel arc suggested a government conspiracy 'Operation Cold Spectrum', but left it as is till the next book elaborates.

"What Jessie means is," I said, "somebody just put a bomb in Douglas Bredford's trailer, not long after he dropped a name that triggered government back-channel chatter all over the country. There's no way that's a coincidence." 

"It's a hot potato,"April said, "and his dying act was to drop it square in our laps. Lovely." 

"Until we know exactly how Linder is involved, and what Cold Spectrum is, nobody says a word to him," Jessie said. 

April flipped through the pictures, one after the other, like a handful of puzzle pieces that just wouldn't fit.  

"It appears," she said, "we've just become a conspiracy inside a conspiracy. Welcome aboard, Agent Black. Look on the bright side: at least you'll never be bored."

Book 2 'Red Knight Falling' dealt with a banished God in outer space, a satellite named 'Red Knight' that held a warding talisman since 1954, before any known space technology or Sputnik in 1957, secret well-funded organizations, and the egos of billionaires turned talented powerful and wayward wizards.

We hear of Operation Cold Spectrum again, and how the team ran secret investigations and believed their handler-boss SAC Linder Wendt was involved. But nothing further is revealed. Till the next book I suppose. Book 2 hints at Book 3's storyline, which is likely to be another catastrophe befalling earth courtesy of an evil organization The Network, and them co-opting billionaire-wizard Robert Maurius 'Bobby' Diehl to wipe out Vigilant Lock.

"Yes. We crave their obliteration. The entire organization, every trace of their existence, down to their very last operative. And we would like for them to suffer. You will do this for us. Make their destruction a fitting tribute to the kings, and you will be welcomed into our fold." 

Bobby's response was a trembling, furious whisper.  

"With great pleasure." 

"Good," Adam said. "Always remember: we'll be watching."

To Kedai Makan For Some Chili

At some point, a chilli craving will arise, and I'll need to go drink a bottle of chilli sauce. Sriracha not counted! BUT, there's Kedai Makan up on the Hill. WOOOOHOOO. And I do like their sambal which holds a lot of heat.

Kedai Makan has adopted the Nowait app, making it easy to gauge waiting time and get in line. The app is great for dining at restaurants that don't do reservations. And plenty of Seattle restaurants still don't take reservations. I really like the app. Don't have to mooch around waiting for a table. It'll be so useful in winter.

Got into the virtual line at Kedai Makan before we left the hotel, and halfway in our Lyft car, the text message came in to inform us that we've got a table. Hurrah! However, Nowait only works in US and UK for now, probably with a local number, and you need to be within 10 miles of the restaurant to join the waitlist. Laughed quite hysterically at the 10-mile radius thing. In Singapore, that covers like half the island. Heh! If this app gets to Singapore, it needs to cut it down to like...four miles.

We were curious about the whole mackerel stuffed with rempah (chili paste, lemongrass, galangal) served on rice and kerabu taugeh. But no more stomach space. Also curious about the Malaysian style nasi biryani ayam which promised basmati rice cooked with spices and ghee, but we weren't ready to pay US$14.50 for this version. You know it isn't quite about the price per se. Picked the US$12.50 nasi goreng kambing which was GOOD. It came with kecap manis, curry, sprouts, greens and a fried runny egg. EGG. Yummy. Well, the lamb was tender and lovely. The rice held no wok-hei of course, but it was fine. Asked for a side of sambal and it was properly spicy. Perfect.

The duck egg gado gado was strange. I love the poached duck eggs. They were awesome. The crackers were great, but as far as gado gado goes, this one is a fail. The vegetables were drowned in a gravy that is completely odd, even if this is a re-interpretation. Did they use too much tamarind and lime? It's too salty, too sour, too wet, and there were only four miserable rectangles of tofu. This dish requires a whole lot more tofu!

The restaurant recently started making their own wheat noodles. Yay. That's a selling point to me. Ordered the chili pan mee. You know what, I love this version. It's so much better than what I've tasted back home. Never mind about Kuala Lumpur. Kedai Makan does it so much better. The minced pork used here was properly lean, not like the fatty nonsense at home. The sauces were done well, and the chilli mix was beautifully spicy. The egg, of course, was gigantic and tasty. I didn't take so much of the pork, but I happily slurpped up the noodles.

Salmonberries

I can probably identify only about 20 types of edible fungi growing in the wild with 100% certainty. With berries, I can identify many more. Also, you die slower if you randomly pluck one to taste. :P Well, not really. You could get quite sick from poisonous berries if you eat them in large quantities. But if you're not accidentally stranded or cast in a survival reality show, there's no reason to be eating berries in the wild especially if you're unsure about them.

At the very least, we ought to know never eat mistletoe or holly berries. They're deceptively evil. Those fat Jerusalem cherries that look like tasty tomatoes? AVOID. Don't touch anything from the ivy plants.

I'm not foraging on the trails. Not totally noticing the mushrooms either although morels are still sprouting and fairy ring mushrooms are plentiful. The rest of the mushrooms appear in summer or after heavy rains since it's hot now. Mushrooms have to be cooked before eating.

On many forest trails, I spotted the berries! It isn't exactly the season for berries. But the warmer temperatures have ripened many. I couldn't resist plucking a few off the stems to nibble, like bunchberries and huckleberries. Some tart, some sweet. All were lovely.

One afternoon on yet another trail at Fauntleroy Park, I was pleased to stroll by an overhang of giant bushes of red and yellow berries. YUM. The man was all like "Oh look! Raspberries!" I took a look. NO. He continued with "Blackberries!" Zzzz. These were SALMONBERRIES lah. They're found in the Pacific Northwest and in season from May to July. We trekked through Cumbria and Surrey a few years ago and found the same berries. Because, similar climate. Plucked a few salmonberries, rinsed them, and offered them to the man. He didn't think I would poison him. He gamely ate all. LOL.

'A Rap on Race'

Watched Seattle Repertory Theatre and Spectrum Dance Theater's new work 'A Rap on Race'. Read the book a long time ago, and happy to see it staged and interpreted in dance movements. This 80-minute new work by director and choreographer Donald Byrd, and actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith, centers on the 1970 recorded three conversations (totaling seven hours) on race between writer James Baldwin (black, living in exile in France, then 46 years old) and anthropologist Margaret Mead (white, liberal, then 68 years old). Margaret and James have never met prior to this project.

The stage set-up was simple. Split into a loft-like set, the floor was taken by the dancers, the upper level was occupied by the speakers/actors. Donald Byrd plays James Baldwin, and Julie Briskman plays Margaret Mead. All the dancers clad in black leotards and tights. Speech alternated with dance. I wasn't familiar with the music that the movements were set to. Had to google furiously- jazz composer Charles Mingus and his 1963 'The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady'.

What does it mean to disagree to disagree? Why do we have to agree to disagree? Everyone has to pay a price.

I enjoyed the performance immensely. The dance and the lines. Lots of push and pull. Cooperation and coordination, and conflict. Trust issues stood out prominently. The US discussion on race is something I understand academically, but not culturally because I didn't grow up stateside or live here long enough. While the 1970 conversation isn't that ground-breaking—people do talk about the same topics openly too—it's interesting and painful to see how relevant it still is.

I recognize that this discourse on race must still be taken today. (In Singapore too, where many matters or debates about race are veiled with a 'racial harmony' justification.) World affairs and current situation have changed, but some fundamental issues remain. Especially with #BlackLivesMatter and the entire affair of trigger-happy cops, and questionable deaths of African-Americans. Also, listen and check out those lyrics to Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp A Butterfly'.

Discovery Park

It's nice to meet friends for a walk or a run, and chat along the way. You could see it as an optimal use of time, but I see it as quiet time with people I like. Glad that with my closest friends, we can do this, even in hot hot humid Singapore—just slap on mozzie repellent.

Hit the trails on Discovery Park thrice so far. It's a really convenient Seattle park that offers gorgeous views. It's still located within the urban sprawl in the residential estate of Magnolia, across from Ballard. But its proximity right next to the bluffs creates a beautiful space and jogging/walking trails that gives you the feeling of 'getting away from it all'. I love this park!

I definitely like running on trails a lot more than on the treadmill, elliptical or pavement. There's something magical about sprinting through the woods pounding on mud. So instead of a slow hike, run. Clearly demarcated, the trails are more urban than wild. Muddy at most. Loop around the park. The elevation is gentle. Once you hit the lookout point, those views of Puget Sound are glorious.

We always loop down to the beach where the West Point Light stands. It's literally the most western point of Seattle. First lit in 1881, the lighthouse was automated in 1985 and it's still active. From the beach, you'll see the still snow-capped Mount Rainier on the left and the Olympic mountain range on the right. There's so much beauty. No wonder the county is determined to preserve park access via footpaths and trails and not let vehicles cut through.

The beach is where we stop for a long drink and a sandwich. The weather's been marvelous and it's extremely enjoyable to sit under the sun, feel that breeze on our skin, and carry on with the food. There's no shade at the beach, but caps/hats should be worn, so getting some sun in our faces isn't an issue.

Sam Choy's Poke

Dunno why I'm obsessed over poke this trip. It's an Hawaiian import and pretty much our version of chirashi-zushi or bara-chirashi. Raw fish salad with or without rice. There isn't a 'right' way to make it. It just has to turn out tasty, and it's all in the seasoning.

I could easily churn this out at home and add on more ingredients, or hop into any Japanese eatery to eat it. But hey, this is great weather. I want to eat poke at the food trucks and delis, outdoors. In Seattle, there's the much raved about newly opened 45th Stop N Shop & Poke Bar. It was GOOD. But I gotta try Sam Choy's Poke to the Max. They've got three food trucks running across Puget Sound and it isn't difficult to catch one at lunch.

Sam Choy's Poke to the Max truck was right there at Westlake Park (off Macy's) for lunch service. Eh, it isn't as though food trucks are cheaper than restaurants. The good ones are definitely not. They average about S$19 for a bowl of something. S$12 if it's just a simple sandwich. I haven't had to use much cash in King County. Even if the smaller stores don't take Amex, there's ApplePay. :P Most food trucks take credit cards anyway. YAYY! Although it's always a tussle whether to tip that additional US$1 or $2 for take-out.

The man has been on this blitz of eating pulled pork sandwiches all over town. He continued with it at lunch. He went for the US$9 portion of 'Big Kahuna Kalua'- a slow-cooked Kālua pulled pork layered with house slaw and namasu (pickled vegetables), green onions, cilantro and wasabi aioli with Filipino bun. He declared this one a winner too. Apparently it isn't difficult to find a good pulled pork sandwich in Cuban or Hawaiian style in King County.

I was there for poke and nothing else. That 20-minute queue in the sun (with a cap) was so worth it. Added an egg and slices of avocado to my US$12 bowl of salmon poke on a mixture of white and brown rice. There were plenty of onions, sea salt, soy, sesame oil, etc. Oddly familiar Asian flavors. Umami aplenty. Ridiculously delicious. I was so pleased.

Shopping for Sportswear

Singapore shops have a really strange perception of customer intelligence. Landlords have an unrealistic perception of how much tenants are willing to pay to secure prime rental spots. I understand if shops have to mark up final prices. But many items are almost three times of US retail prices. That's really annoying. Has globalization not normalized retail prices of some brands?

Shopping online solves the issue, but of course our Customs won't be pleased. Hence we get the S$400 cap per shipment on inbound purchases via post, and they're finding stupid ways to tax us even more on shopping overseas. Not mincing words here because I find it ridiculous for Customs to impose a S$600 cap per person on overseas shopping, which includes gifts from friends or relatives. How on earth do I pay GST on gifts?? WTF. Ask the friends how much my gifts cost? As long as you're going to 'consume' these purchases and gifts in Singapore, technically, you gotta pay GST if you bust S$600. How many analysts did it take to reach that magic number? How about upping it to S$1200? GRRROWWL.

I rarely hit the shops unless it's to buy gifts or try out sizes for sportswear. Singapore is so damn humid that I live in dri-fit and whatever sweat-wicking clothing all day. Shopping in Singapore is unpleasurable. Never mind the crowds, its prices are off-putting. Didn't bother with Niketown in King County. They've upped their prices so much that it matches whatever Singapore stocks. Unless you buy on Finish Line or something. Anyway Nike shoes don't fit me, so I simply tagged along when the man went to look for track shoes. He gagged at the US$225 price tag (excluding sales tax) of the impractical Air Max range (not to be risked on trails and rocks).

Pleased with the US prices at Lululemon. Mostly ordered online since the stocks are better controlled than their physical stocks at the stores. BUT I still went to all three Lululemon stores in Seattle. Heeeeeee. Well I didn't intend to, but I was getting stuff at The North Face and Lululemon was just a few doors down at these locations... Was kinda thrilled when I chanced upon many items at marked-down prices in-store which were in mint condition in my size.

杜平的《平心论》

A good friend in Seattle passed me a collection of essays and comments published in July 2015. It's written by Du Ping (杜平), a veteran Chinese-language journalist and presenter of current affairs and politics at the Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television (鳳凰衛視). Du Ping's columns also used to appear regularly in Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报).

杜平的《平心论》。Not even going to attempt translating the title. The title is a word play on the author's name, which can also subtly mean 'discussions from the heart', i.e. the writer's honest opinions. It's not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing with Du Ping's thoughts and opinions. I read it to check out his point of view written in a different language. Any titles in English written here is a rough translation by yours truly.

The writer touches on various political topics of interest, ranging from Ukraine to Russia's militant moves, USA, and of course what's happening in East Asia especially in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. Fairly enjoyable. The story 'None of Your Business' sounds hilariously vulgar in Chinese－《关你屁事啊》. It certainly makes a point. The writer notes how noisy people are in public in the south (presumably China)- in the trains, planes and shared spaces in general. They talk really loud to one another and especially over the phone, and no one should tell another to 'keep it down'. :P

这段时间，南方地区金是大雨天，飞机总是延误，着实令人很烦。但比这更烦的是，那位得理不饶人的爆脾气老兄，隔着柜台冲着服务员无休不止地纠缠，搞得整个候机室都不得安宁。你走上前去，轻声地恳请他放低音量，他转过头来，怒不可遏地送你一句 “关你屁事啊！” 哇塞，太威武了，外交部没派他去对付阿基诺三世，实在太屈才了。 

在飞机等待起飞命令的一个小时里，这位男神用语音和电话那端的女性，竟然不知疲倦地逗了大半个小时，旁若无人。注意哦，不是用耳塞，而是用电话免提功能，你能想象到从手机发出来的刺耳语音。什么有趣的东东让他们如此投入呢？我也想知道，可惜是方言，抓不到任何有用的情报。我再也不干涉了，关我屁事啊。 

好吧，不关我屁事。下次等你想要安静的时候，老子也拿出手机谈一笔大生意。

Three of the essays invariably mention Singapore and Lee Kuan Yew in the same breath, and ponder on what next after the death of the statesman. My eyes kinda glazed over at those. Of interest, is the essay on Lee Hsien Loong- simply titled 'Lee Hsien Loong's Smile', 《李显龙的微笑》. The writer shares his observations of Singapore's Prime Minister while he was at a grassroots event at Tanjong Pagar in early 2015. The writer was there in his capacity as a journalist, and he was stunned that PM simply shook his hand as he would have done to any resident or Singaporean. The writer is obviously more used to being shoved away by political minders. The point of this essay is to highlight what the writer thinks of the trust between a country's political leaders and its people.

走出祈福室，李显龙依然不时地和身旁的民众握手寒暄。当听到我的问候时，他转过头，向我伸出手，面带微笑地看着我。我告诉他，我是因为李光耀资政特地从香港赶来的，他说 “很高兴见到你”。我相信他并不知道我是谁，他的几名警卫也想必以为我就是这个区的居民。
这正是此地很多中国新移民感到不可思议而又极其羡慕之处：新加坡领导人是如此地相信自己得国民，以至于任何人都有机会接近他，以至于他们身处人群之中却毫无戒备之心。 

......... 

我是这样想的：在任何一个社会，政府和人民之间不那么相互防范，才是这个社会经久不衰的最重要保障。我当然很清楚，新加坡在这方面并不完美，人民也有不少怨言，但它能够做到今天这个样子，就足以让其他国家刮目相看。

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse Bellevue

I've never tried Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in US or Singapore. Had to google to find out why it has been named as such, apparently you gotta trace it all the way from four decades ago in New Orleans. I didn't mind one meal of steak. All the beef quota for the quarter would be given to this meal that turned out good. Went to the quieter outlet at Bellevue.

Had fresh broccoli that was simply steamed, a perfect foil to all the salt and butter, and heavy meats. There was no way I could squeeze in a lobster mac and cheese. Settled for a just-as-pleasing creamy garlic mashed potatoes. Wondered why the fire-roasted corn sautéed in butter and topped with salsa verde cost US$10. Beamed when it arrived. The kernels were already off the cob. Fantastic. A nice big bowl!

I've no interest in its USDA marbled ribeye, or striploin, as good as it sounds. I can't deal with marbling. I don't even mind my steak a little dry if the cut is lean. Took a petite 8oz fillet. It's a lean cut of midwestern beef. Perfectly done medium. Added a side of crunchy lobster tail to the meat. Gorgeous.

Holy Mountain Brewing Company

So many taprooms and beers, so little time and stomach space. We've been so busy that we haven't had much time to hang out for beer. Ballard Beer Company is always awesome, and has become the default chill-out joint. Also, we've burnt so many calories that we loathe to put it back so quickly. However, we made time to visit the still-newish Holy Mountain Brewing Company.

A year on, the brewery still lives up to its hype of wanting to brew what it wants in order to meet bottomlines but without having to suffer the huge pressure of being answerable to investors. The three partners started the brewery by themselves and borrowed monies. No other investors. The brewery chooses to experiment with different hops and flavors, including white wine saisons.

That includes making some unbusinesslike decisions, like refusing to brew a flagship IPA, a standard Seattle beer that pays the bills for many breweries. 

Holy Mountain believes IPAs are overdone. Instead, the brewers make lagers, a time-consuming and difficult beer to perfect because it’s so hard to mask any defects occurring during brewing. 

[link to article in The Seattle Times]

Grinned at the names of the beers. Very metal. Dawnbringer, Empirium, Heartwork, Tower of Babel, Somnium, Sundrown, Shadowlifter, etc. Ordered a tasting flight of six beers. The Tower of Babel is a dark farmhouse ale aged on cherries. Kinda a Belgian strong ale. The man loved it; I didn't like it at all because I couldn't appreciate the sour endnote. Didn't know what to make of Sundown, which is a white wine barrel blended saison. I'm generally not hot about sherry cask things, wine or whatever oloroso stuff for whisky. Except for port. I'm partial towards port-matured single malts. Same goes for beer. That white wine blended saison is strange.

I totally enjoyed the Kiln & Cone as a familiar American pale ale, and Shadowlifter as an oatmeal coffee milk stout. The second time we visited, I simply ordered pints of these two beers which I like. Although at most breweries, I'm adventurous enough to try most beers, but I keep coming back to my palate preferences of a pale/golden ale or a chocolate/coffee/oatmeal stout.

From left: Tower of Babel dark farmhouse ale,
Heartwork blonde ale aged in oak tanks with Brett,
Sundown white wine barrel blended saison, Somnium barrel fermented hoppy saison,
Shadowlifter coffee milk stout, and Kiln & Cone house pale ale.

At The Pilates Studios

Signed up with two pilates studios in Bellevue and Seattle. It's always such a relaxing thing to hang out at the studio, work the core and stretch out the body. This trip, I've got a ton of cardio done reluctantly, and pumped the arms and quads hard. To be honest, matwork is easily done in the hotel room or its gym. I want those pilates machines.

At the studios, I requested to work on the back. While I don't mind warming up on the reformer, I specifically want to get on the Cadillac for at least 30 minutes out of each 55-minute session because my arm strength is at a three-month peak now. I'd be able to hang off the bars properly without falling off, and can easily concentrate on getting form and posture correct for each movement.

Very happy the studios' instructors accommodated me. I had two instructors over the first five sessions at each studio. All four spotted my weaker left side, and the tendency to have 'dead feet' and not keeping the hips squared. :P Although the instructors here seem fixated on telling me (and others) to "scoop scoop scoop" and do those hundreds. As a result, the abs curled much more than usual for every movement because my muscles kept scooping, even when climbing up a rock face and running on the trails. Hahaha.

One instructor is such a hoot. She's turning 40 (my age), and she's serious when she says she's "coming into psychic powers" and is strongly attuned to the energy and aura from humans around her. I don't doubt her words, but I certainly can't feel what she can. I let her talk while I stretch. Quite calming. :P She's a good instructor though. She "loves working with the body". She could tell straightaway if I was 'cheating' or forgot to use the correct muscles and compensate with others.

'Sherlock Holmes and the American Problem'

As long as there isn't the wooden and annoying Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes, I'll watch that production or television series. Seattle Repertory Theatre's newly commissioned 'Sherlock Holmes and the American Problem' definitely held more palatable (not about eye candy) actors.

Written by R. Hamilton Wright, and directed by Allison Narver, the play meshed together the American Wild West and Victorian England and tossed up a mystery in the streets of London during the Queen's Jubilee. American sharpshooter Annie Oakley (Christine Marie Brown) crosses the pond to London in June 1887 with Buffalo Bill's Wild West extravaganza. Of course there're mysteries to be solved, and we see Sherlock Holmes (Darragh Kennan), Dr Watson (Andrew McGinn) and Mrs Hudson (Marianne Owen).

There was lots of laughter in the audience as the Britons talk about how the Americans have 'invaded' London during this Jubilee year and how Americans are 'gun lovers'. LOL. I wasn't really following the mysteries or how they're being solved. It was rather confusing and more than a tad incoherent. I was more interested in how the play captured the character traits of Holmes and Watson, and how the actors fleshed those out. Those were nicely done. Darragh Kennan is reprising this role of Sherlock Holmes and he has sunk into it really well. I like his Sherlock. Andrew McGinn's Watson pairs well with this Sherlock. Great chemistry on stage.

The Seattle Times wasn't that impressed with it, and explained the plot as such,

But he’s intrigued by a forthright American (Oakley, he soon discovers) who begs him to search for her missing brother, and by another accomplished female Yank (played by Cheyenne Casebier) — an engineer who’s lost track of her “mole,” a burrowing, earth-moving machine. (The humorous resemblance to Bertha, the tunneling device that has given Seattle construction delays and municipal headaches, is no accident.)

Seward Park

Sited within the south Seattle and next to Mercer Island, Seward Park is a pretty decent green spot within the urban sprawl. They have a multi-purpose amphitheater too. There's the tiny rocky beach on Andrews Bay of south Lake Washington that's okay for a chill-out.

A quick sprint along the perimeter works (only 2.4 miles or 4.8 miles up and down), and if we feel like it, we stroll into the very polite and gentle paths in the old growth forest with lots of ferns, red maple, red oak, Douglas fir, Norway spruce, London plane, et cetera. I love all the cones of fir, pine and spruce, and couldn't resist touching them lightly. Collected a few fallen ones to take home.

We sat in the trails and closed our eyes, listening to the sounds of the forest. On a week day, there're fewer people stomping through. Considering this is like a park where residents head to, it isn't even that crowded on weekends. Seattle only has a population of 653,000 people and the city has so many parks that aren't just green patches next to the freeways. Much envy!

Sizzle Pie Comes To Town!

Portland's Sizzle Pie is in town and the man couldn't be more excited about it! It's pizza. Zzzz. The Portland-based friends have raved about how fabulous it is and sent photos of their food. The flavors sound fun, but hey, it's STILL PIZZA. Zzzzzzz. Trudged up the Hill to check out Seattle's Sizzle Pie.

'Death to false pizza!' The man simply likes Sizzle Pie's idea of music, metal, hip, beer, pizza and beer. Hahaha. He chose 'Rudimentary Penne' of vodka cream sauce, roasted garlic, goat cheese and fresh basil. He took a huge slice of 'Karp' with kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, ricotta and house red sauce with creamy roasted red pepper pepita spread. He proclaimed them all delicious. He wanted to try them all, but well... there was another tiny cut of chorizo-something he managed to stuff into the stomach.

Grinned at a pie named 'It's Always Sunny In Portland'. Taking a dig at Seattle are we! I wasn't hungry. One slice was more than sufficient for lunch. Some great options on the shelves. Picked a vegan slice of 'Nectar Sector' which was full of creamy roasted red pepper pepita spread, mandarin oranges, baco bits, tofu cheese, a Thai sweet chili spiral and fresh Arugula. Love it. Gotta admit- the dough is great, one of the good ones. Nothing in Singapore comes close. Sigh. Maybe the ones at La Pizzaiola at Jalan Riang for the now, which even provides surprisingly spicy chilli flakes.

OH. I have come to prefer vegan pizzas. I hate to say this, but pizza tastes so much better without cheese. Really. LOL. It's probably healthier too. *cue horrified shrieks from the friends*

Re-wilding Wolves In Cumbria

Of course I picked up this book based on the cover and its summary. Sarah Hall's 'The Wolf Border'. About wolves, Cumbria, conservation, sabotage. Sold. It seems to allude to the idea done at the Alladale Wilderness Reserve in the Scottish Highlands which is currently owned by English multimillionaire Paul Lister. (Reviews here, here and here.)

British-born zoologist Rachel Caine finally returns to England from a wolf-conservation project in an Idaho reservation, half fleeing a botched relationship which has resulted in her newborn son Charlie, and half intrigued by the work offered by The Earl of Annerdale- Thomas Pennington. Lord Pennington wishes to re-wild wolves on his estate in the Lake District and re-introduce the grey wolf to England.

The breeding program of was successful and resulted in a litter of pups. The wolf pack escaped, not entirely due to the lack of security. We follow the public's opinions and encounters with the wolf pack. The border issue between Scotland and England is mentioned, but this is fiction, so it isn't dwelled upon, merely used as a source to lend further development to the storyline. The issues of public acceptance and protests are included as well. There's also this matter of Rachel not entirely liking her boss Lord Pennington, or his methods of achieving his goals.

Although there's the side arc to the relationships with her colleagues, and with her recently deceased estranged and emotionally-exhausting mother Binny and half-brother Lawrence, the story is less focused on the humans, I feel, than just Rachel herself. The story is more about Rachel and her work, and wolves, and broadly, the acceptance of the current state of things in her personal life. Totally enjoyed the author's narrative and voice through her words.

At reconnaissance altitude the view was spectacular, distracting him from his fear. Snow on the Grampians, rank after rank of hard white peaks stretching out, a serious version of the Cumbrian uplands, steel-blue tarns and lochs, trout and salmon burns. Here and there, tucked-away settlements, a miniature white palace with towers, the old Glencoe ski lift looping up and over to the runs, and the winding roads made famous by song. 

The transmitters were still working; the telemetry signal started beeping ten minutes into the flight and they were quickly found, cutting through a narrow valley, strung one behind the other. Dark-backed and long-legged, their tails shaggy. The plane flew over, looped around, following their trajectory. She and Lawrence watched as the four wolves loped onto the outskirts of Rannoch, its turf still bloody from autumn, as if battle-worn; the red bracken beginning to disappear under the first low-lying drifts. The pilot had looked over his shoulder and put his thumb up. 

Fàilte, he'd said.

The Wandering Goose

Popped into The Wandering Goose for its 'Fried Chicken Friday'. Southern food. The only reason I did it because I found its name cute, and the man really likes biscuits and good fried chicken. I have no love for either food.

We got the standard US$25 plate of three pieces of buttermilk fried chicken with a choice of three sides served with house hot sauces and a biscuit. I'm no fan of chicken. Literally nibbled on the strings of meat to taste, munched a corner of crispy skin and I was done. The huge piece of biscuit, served with thick jam and a slab of butter was great, but I'm always weirded out by it. It's like a scone, except crunchier. The man ate it all up. He loved it. He said they do buttermilk chicken and biscuits for breakfast in the south. I was like...WHUT. I dunno if it's so. I think he's bluffing.

Said plate of buttermilk fried chicken.

What does an imp eat at the restaurant that offers mainly chicken? The sides! The portions weren't huge, but they were good for two and they were filling! We had sides of collard greens, Sea Island peas, mashed potatoes and pan gravy, and coleslaw. They were pretty good and I had two servings of coleslaw.

Owner and chef Heather Earnhardt also writes children's books; her cookbook is coming out later in the year. The Wandering Goose opens for lunch and offers brunch too. I spied veggie hash and granola that sound okay. Everything else is too heavy. Oily lah. Loved the freshly squeezed juices and smoothies that were available even at dinner. Ingesting sugar in those ways? Absolutely.

Bob Mould in Seattle

A few years ago, the man dashed onto a plane all the way to Brisbane in Australia for a long weekend to see Bob Mould play, happily moshing at the stage, describing it as the "tamest and oldest mosh pit ever". Riiight. He wasn't going to miss seeing Bob Mould in Seattle. I'm less enthusiastic, but I wanted to go too. Loved Husker Dü back then. 2016 is turning out to be the shitty year where all my childhood music heroes die. Gotta catch as many gigs as possible.

For the 15 to 20 minutes before the show began at 9.45pm, I was a little stunned to realize that there weren't many lit phones in the audience. People were actually having conversations with one another. Whoa. What mosh pit? In Seattle, it was really civilized jiving. There were children in the audience.

Bob Mould was joined by Jason Narducy on bass and Superchunk's Jon Wurster on drums. They recorded the previous three albums with him and toured as well. At 56 years old, Bob Mould carries an amazing presence on stage. His last two albums 'Silver Age' 2012 and 'Beauty and Ruin' 2014 are good again. His recently released 'Patch the Sky' doesn't miss a beat either. Have a listen to 'The End of Things'. What a great show tonight.

Early Rainier Cherries!

It's been a mild winter and it's warm this spring. Cherries are here!!! Very specifically, Rainier cherries. I've loved Rainier cherries since I was a little girl; I like them better than their more robust darker plum cousins. Now that I'm right here in Washington state, I'm so overdosing on it.

Rainier cherries are delicate, sensitive to temperatures and bruise ever so easily. That means more care has to be taken during growing, harvest and transporting. These cherries aren't cheap. They can go for anything between US$7.99 to US$13.99 per pound (i.e. S$11 to $20 per 453g), depending on which markets you go to, and the farms that supplied them. Picked up mine from Pike Place Market on a week day when there weren't crazy crowds like the weekends. There're a couple of fruit stalls. Take your pick.

Zoomed straight to the stalls to inhale punnets of in-season delicate Rainier cherries. Bought three pounds easy. Ate them all as snacks and dessert over two days. Not too shabby at all for something this early in the season. This batch was good- firm, little bruising and sweet without being cloying. Mmmmmm. Then I went out to buy some more. Heh. Next to the Japanese sato-nishiki cherries from Yamagata prefecture, Rainier's my favorite.

A Night of Pop Rock

I only know two songs from Bristol UK pop-rock outfit Coasts but their songs have been played to death at every hip cafe. It's got a sort of very 'Coachella and Laneway' sound that I'm not particularly hot about. Yeah, it's groovy and easy listening, and the chorus chords in every other song are erm...similar. But....yeah.

The room was filled with young screaming girls and boys. Ooh. We weren't exactly the oldest people in the room. But those older than us or perhaps slightly younger, came with their teenaged children and grandchildren. We struck up a conversation with an older couple. They said they came with their grandchildren to see what the hip bands nowadays were like, and made it a family outing. Okaay...

Supporting Coasts were Knox Hamilton from Arkansas and Los Angeles-based band Symmetry. I've heard Knox Hamilton's music, but know nothing about Symmetry. It's kinda cool to watch the bands and hear them play. That's always a treat. But I'm not a fan in that sense- this genre of music doesn't speak to me. :P

Happily bobbed along to Knox Hamilton. Their songwriting is a lot more attractive, although every other catchy melody line is also similar. Didn't mind them live. The thing about these bands- they've got great energy on stage. At least I know more than two songs from their 2014 album 'Work It Out'. Heh.

Jaunts to Alki Beach

The sun has been simply gorgeous. What a streak of good luck with Seattle weather. Between bouldering at the easy walls of Deception Crags, and hiking nearby trails and all that, we keep returning to Alki Beach to run and kayak, and mostly run. Kayak-ing that day was bonus because it was a super hot day that almost felt like I was back home.

Although protected from greater currents, waters can be choppy since there're water taxies and ferries going through the channel and the container ships in the far corner where the port is. There're divers checking out the artificial reef junkyard and around the I-beams. You get the nudibranchs, rock fish and small critters. Unlikely to spot harbor seals till summer, and even then, it's best to spot them in a kayak, and do not attempt to hug a pup.

The cooler climate really helps in making runs pleasurable. In fact, I unknowingly ran 8km on flat pavement and kinda walked an extra 2km. The friends said so. I don't wear any sort of tracker or watch that keeps tab of the distance. My phone doesn't have any running apps either. Not very keen leh. It's not as if I'm so on about running. It just happens to be a good way to discover a city. Runs are kept to no more than an hour tops, preferably 50 minutes. I love the feel of the breeze and the sun and how it keeps the cardio up.

I don't bother packing food to these jaunts except for two energy bars and a bottle of water. It helps that there's Marination Ma Kai right there to fuel up. Fast food that makes you think it isn't that processed. Well, fish tacos is certainly okay, along with its delicious cubes of tofu. And oh, helllloooo spam sliders! Hurhurhur.

The next visits involved more brisk walking rather than running, and on one hot afternoon, spontaneously played volleyball on the tiny strip of beach. Oh my. I haven't played volleyball at the beach for yonks! Forgot how tiring it can be to run about on sand under the blazing sun to play three sets, or two. :P Luckily I always pack a cap in the suitcase. A day after volleyball, I ended up with nice bruises on the wrists and the arms. Kinda fun!

Downtown Seattle in the distance. The Space Needle is to the left.

Spring at Art of the Table

This time, we took the 6pm seating by the window so that I could get enough light for photos. Hahahaha. I've had enough of the yellow hue for food photos that come with not wanting to turn on the flash since that would be really jarring and impolite. Need to see the colors of the food better without having to shine a torch at it. I like the cosy restaurant in sunlight.

Art of the Table's asparagus terrine was a total winner. Layered with radish, it sat on a confit of cap mushrooms, mushroom dashi and sprinkled with a few drops of curry oil. I loved it! The restaurant definitely favors Neah Bay's black cod. It's a star dish that features on every tasting menu through the years. I've eaten it so many times and love how every time the accompanying ingredients change and the flavors such a burst of pleasure to the tastebuds. This time, it was accompanied by polenta, marinated shiitake, grilled ramp relish, wilted mustard greens, carrot butter, and pickled mustard seeds.

The man was so intrigued by pastry chef Shannon Van Horn's dessert- an olive oil cake with spearmint ice-cream, rhubarb compote, mandarin marmalade, meyer lemon curd, almond brittle and lavender syrup. He was taken mostly with the spearmint ice-cream—He didn't know whether to go 'eioowww' or 'ooooh'. See, our idea of spearmint has been too cultivated by Wrigley's.

Glad that the restaurant has hired more staff. The wait for food wasn't as long as the previous visits. :P Art of the Table's tasting menu is still exciting. We've stopped by so many supposedly good restaurants in King County and we're inexplicably drawn back to Art of the Table. Chef Dustin Ronspies and his team still created magic for our dinner, showcasing the seasonal best of Pacific Northwest ingredients and his take on the best ways to present them. LOVE.

Searching For An Identity

Took it slow with Adrian Tomine's 'Killing and Dying'. It's too beautiful to rush through. Wanted to linger over the illustrations and slowly flip its pages. That tactile feel. (Reviews here, here and here.)

Am a huge fan of Adrian Tomine's drawings, ideas and words. 'Killing and Dying' holds six dark funny little stories about life, mortality, parenthood and comedy. Nobody murdered anyone. Everyone's looking for empathy and love.

The first story 'A Brief History of the Art Form Known As "Hortisculpture"' left me grinning. Not at all sympathetic of protagonist Harold. He's a gardener and is suddenly obssessed with making 'sculptures' that are a bit like bonsai plants stuffed into giant clay columns. It took him six years to wake up from the artist's dream. Awwww. His poor wife has to put up with his obssession and balancing household bills for six years, and even birthed their daughter during this period.

'Amber Sweet' is hilarious as it tells of how a college girl is mistaken for a porn star. Apparently they look alike. She allows this assumption that she's porn star Amber Sweet affect her life and all. Duh. Then she acquires a lousy boyfriend who never tells her he digs her for looking like Amber Sweet. Haizzz.

'Amber Sweet'. 

'Go Owls' reads just like a tv show about bad drug/alcohol habits and shacking up with new partners who aren't good for each other. Except that this couple don't live in a trailer. 'Translated, from the Japanese,' is a strange little tale re-told in the manner of a mother's letter to her child, trying to make sense of California and her husband. I couldn't quite tell how upset she is with the big move across the ocean. I can't quite pick a favorite story. They're different and all good.

'Killing and Dying'.

The title story 'Killing and Dying' tells of (to me), how a cynical (but loving) father crushed Jessica, his daughter's dreams of being a stand-up comedian and blames his dead wife for encouraging this 'hobby' when she doesn't have what it takes. We realize the mother is ill and passed away before the story ends.

The words don't say much regarding the transition. Scrutinize the drawings. Earlier encouraged by her mother, Jessica did well at a course for stand-up comedians. She delivers her scripted lines flawlessly. After her mother's death, Jessica cuts her hair and her stutter returns. She hangs out at open-mic night at the local cafe where she still tries out being a comedian. But her ad-libbing and lines fall flat. The father isn't cruel, but he's pragmatic. At least that's how I see it. That's the genius of Adrian Tomine- you're free to interpret the characters and their thoughts.

The last story 'Intruders' is kinda creepy in how the protagonist kept breaking into his old apartment after his divorce. It's brilliantly drawn in monochromatic color scheme. The only story in this collection not to have colors. He's staying in a hotel and somehow got keys to his old apartment from an old neighbor. He stalked the new tenant of the apartment for a week- a single guy, before using those keys to let himself in. He stole an egg and cooked it! Then he started bringing lunches over to sit for hours in there. All that stopped when on the last visit, an old lady (with suitcases, presumably visiting) is present, probably heard him come in, fell onto the floor and perhaps she managed to call 911. He left before the sirens come near. Eeeps. There's something heartbreaking about the story, and of the protagonist who's only trying to find meaning in his existence.

'Intruders'.

Motion City Soundtrack :: So Long, Farewell

Realized that Motion City Soundtrack has embarked on their "So Long, Farewell" tour, stopping in Portland first, then Seattle. The last one ever, they said. It's been 19 good years, my gosh. I grew up with their music. Of course we had to catch its Seattle show.

It was a packed venue at The Showbox, even for the two supporting bands- Microwave from Atlanta and The Spill Canvas from South Dakota. Happy to have heard both bands. Friends who have lived in Minnesota are fans of The Spill Canvas, and said they're really good. I've heard the band on the stereo but not seen them live. Tonight I knew why—They were hilarious. Good old alternative rock. Very enjoyable.

Motion City Soundtrack (MCS) came on stage just as the timetable indicated- 9.50pm. I liked that very much. Good old rock music. I must be getting old. All the bands I really like, are all these bands I grew up with. Loads of memories. Then again, I've never liked bubblegum pop.

Lots of dancing and easy moshing. Saw a bra thrown. Hahaha. It was super nostalgic lah. It's crazy hot in the area in front of the stage. I wisely stuck to the back where the bar was. We couldn't bring drinks out of it anyway. It's on an elevated platform, so I could get a decent view too. People don't usually wear the band's tees to their show, but this is a farewell gig, so there were plenty of old MCS tees and hoodies proudly worn.

Chasing the Sunsets

Sunset over Puget Sound.

Ah, glorious late spring, you've blessed us with fantastic weather. It also means spectacular sunsets across Washington state. The sun fully sets by about 8.20pm. If you can get out of the office before 7pm, you've still got a good hour to soak up the breeze and feel less like a robot.

Being so near the coast, we could drive anywhere to a quiet spot by the water for the view, a chat or a picnic. Found a few stops that look out over Puget Sound to admire the gorgeous hues of sunset and the still-snow-capped peaks of the Olympic Mountains, and Mt Rainier at the other side. Managed to stop by at a couple of these lookout points.

Sunsets, not sunrises, give me a sense of renewal, strength for the next day and poetically, for all that is to come. I suppose it's because sunsets precede a hopefully good night's sleep. Hahaha. I'm so pleased to be catching many sunsets at different spots in King County. Twilight is long here and there's a deeper sense of wonder as we quietly stare into the fading light of day.

Bring me the sunset in a cup,
Reckon the morning's flagons up
And say how many Dew,
Tell me how far the morning leaps—
Tell me what time the weaver sleeps
Who spun the breadth of blue! 

~ The first stanza of one of Emily Dickinson's poems about nature.

Kvelertak & Torche

Each time I head to a metal gig, I'm almost always surprised at how civilized it is. Hahaha. Tattoos are par for course. The band wears pretty normal clothes and almost no make-up. It's probably how the idea of 'metal' has evolved through the years. Or rather, I prefer the more goth and dark types. Was quite thrilled to catch Norwegian heavy metal band Kvelertak, and hear Miami sludge band Torche.

It was my first time watching Torche. They were really good! I don't know enough of the band's music and how its music has shifted along with the acrimonious departure of its guitarist Juan Montonya in 2008. It was only in 2011 when Andrew Elstner joined them and they began working on their new albums. Beyond 2012's 'Harmonicraft' and new album 2015's 'Restarter'. I'm still not too familiar with their earlier albums. Heh. Gotta do more homework!



The show also had supporting bands Wild Throne and Serial Hawk. Caught the last song of the former but totally missed the latter. The violent May Day anti-capitalist demonstration that began at 6pm in town kinda passed through our walking route to venue El Corazon. Haizzz. This wasn't the peaceful 2.30pm rally and a demarcated march route. The 6pm demonstration was separate; protestors called themselves 'anarchists' and seem to come armed with Molotov cocktails, rocks and poles, and even cans of pasta sauce. Last year they smashed up Capitol Hill. This year, the Seattle Police Department was better prepared, armed with many cameras, and had decent strategy to make the protestors go where they wanted them, minimizing damage to property and perhaps human injuries.

I missed Kvelertak when they played in Singapore in 2012 at the old Hood Bar when it was at Keong Saik Road. Saw videos of the band when they spilled out of the club and on to the road. Woohoo. What fun! That didn't happen tonight. But there was so much energy sizzling on stage. As usual, singer Erlend Hjelvik wore his flashing-lights owl mask and ditched his tee after the first song.

Eczema is here to stay

While the big toenail does have onychomycosis, that episode of Athlete's Foot wasn't Athlete's Foot. A week later when the same itch and angry red blisters broke out between my fingers and palms, behind the ears and around the lips, I hightailed it to the skin doctor.

I was like, "WTF, is it HMFD???!" It wasn't. It was a simple and annoying case of dyshidrotic eczema. The doctor suggested that it could be spring allergies. You should have heard how loudly I swore. Yeah, it was March and April, but I live in Singapore where it's hot and hotter. Flora and trees bloom all year round. What spring!!!???

A combination of antihistamines and steroid creams settled the outbreak. But it left tiny bumps all over the skin that won't go away and they continue to lurk and become irritated and itchy for dunno-what-reasons, resulting in them flaring to become liquid-filled 'eyes' that look like sago seeds. They won't go away if ignored. Gotta slap on moisturizers or aloe vera to soothe them, and if necessary, a thin layer of steroid cream. So humidity caused the eczema outbreak, and now a dry climate might irritate it if the skin isn't moisturized enough. GROWL.

In this climate, I use mainly body oil. Didn't bother to pack in a large amount of moisturizers or steroid creams. Simply brought the existing tube of steroid cream that's almost finished. It's sufficient for two days. Went to the nearest Target and Walgreens to stock up on the moisturizers to be used here. :( Filled out a local prescription of two extra tubes of steroid creams at the pharmacy and topped up on antihistamines. It's spring in the northern hemisphere. The pollen and dunno-what in the air are making the eyes swell and sinuses flare. But you know what, the eczema on the skin calmed. WTF. Boohoohoo.

No thanks to the cortisone causing the skin to atrophy, in this drier climate, all the climbing, walking and whatever, the skin on the fingers and palms, and bits of the feet have split. They don't hurt too badly lah. And I already use the creams very sparingly. Grrrr. Antiseptic lotion to the rescue! Nothing beats the mantra of 'moisturize, moisturize, moisturize'. Zzzz.

Kraken Congee

Had to see what the hype is about Kraken Congee. It used to be a pop-up and is now a year into its brick and mortar shop. What a fun name with interesting dishes on the menu, but it might end up being a novelty sort of food. Won't know till we eat it.

Swung in on a not-too-hungry day to try out its congee. Mainly congee of course. There're a dependable fried rice with spam, apples, egg, bean sprouts and green onions, as well as a curried prawn ramen bowl with sous vide egg, kai lan, and pickled vegetables. Lots of pork adobo stuff too. The man was keen on its pinch buns, which were always a familiar sight in Asian cuisine. Ordered the pork which was really well marinated and braised tender.

The man took a Five-Spice Duck Confit Congee with pork cracklings, bok choy, soy-cured egg yolk and beet-soaked mustard seeds. It was a tad salty, but tasty. He left the pork cracklings untouched. Hahaha. I was really curious about their version of Champorado, a chocolate congee with a hint of chili, longanisa sausages, caramel whip and fleur de sel. Tried that in Spain and Philippines and didn't mind it. But because champorado uses glutinous rice, it felt more like dessert to me. i.e. like pulot hitam. :p In the end, I stuck to the plainer sounding 10th Dragon Congee with fish balls, squid two ways, rau ram and yuzu drizzle. Those sous vide eggs were da bomb. It's difficult for me to fault eggs with runny yolks. Can't go wrong!

The menu and what came out of Kraken Congee's kitchen tasted very... Los Angeles. Oof. It's supposed to be influenced by Filipino cuisine. The congee is pretty good- creative flavors are the expected norms now. I like that. However, there's something about the rice grains used that I'm not fond of. I wish that their congee isn't so watery. It was literally 'rice soup' in arroz caldo style; a slightly thicker version would be 'lugaw'. But I'd prefer it thicker still, perhaps closer to 'oatmeal porridge' or Cantonese 'jok'. Heh.