You might be wondering what happened durring last week when I did not post this eairlier. I was there a week but not many people showed up and the protest did not happen that night. Luckly this week, the protest did happen and we rocked out there. People were complimenting us with and joining our circle with pride to support our cause to protect workers rights.
I have been also spreding the good word of the R.O.C though out my college for any of my culinary freinds to join the orginazation. They have been very supportive and I think that this organization can truly change the resturant world for the better.
I have also been assigned some very creative projects, not only in the R.O.C but with the college. For the past few days, I felt as though I was Mozart in the movie "Amadeus" with creativity floating in my head like bees in a bee hive. Im working on 2 power point presentations, a song and essays for the website. I have bee working durring this afternoon trying to come up with ideas and grabbing inspiration anyway I can.
Which brings me to my "postal" question for this week. What creative projects you like to do in your spare time? It could be a painting, a song or anything that you think is original. If you want to answer, leave a comment below.
I also want to share a peice of my travle writing with you, known as "A Chicagoan in New York." Its a piece I worked on for one of my speech class and I think it could be an inspiration for anyone who wants to be a writer. For now, enjoy the peice and read to your hearts content.
A Chicagoan in New York
By Chef Kyro
New York is a city of opportunity, dreams, and for the culinary world; it is a chance to be the best. From December 26-31st in 2011, I was there not only for vacation and sight seeing, but I was there to take an alternative approach to seeing a city. Instead of seeing the usual tourist attractions, I would see my own "attractions." You might say, that I would explore, eat, and write my way through the Big Apple.
The hotel I stayed at was called "On the Avenue" on the corner of 77th and Broadway in the upper west side of the city. It is a hip and square like hotel with the basic amenities in a stainless steel, modern sanctuary for the creative mind. Every morning, during my trip, I would sit by the lobby with my Starbucks coffee, a copy of the New York Times and a small notebook to write this piece for all of my readers to enjoy. After waiting for my family to get ready for the day, I was always ready to go with my pen and notebook in my hand to record and intemperate my surroundings for the day.
On the first night of my adventure of the city, me and my family went to Le Halles Bistro in midtown. At first, we were lost by the Grand Central Station with no idea were anything was. We try searching on GPS with my sisters iPhone, but we just ended up getting more lost. Then, after winding around the night, I located a bar called "Desmond's," were Les Halle was just a few doors down.
As we entered the crowded, dark bistro ,illuminated only by the glowing orbs on the front of the restaurant, I felt so star stuck to be in the same restaurant were the book Kitchen Confidential was written and were a few special episodes of No Reservations were shot at. As the night progressed, we ate some of the best french cuisine in New York with steak tar tar, baked brie with honey and walnuts, and the best boeuf Bourguignon that would transport your senses to the beautiful country side of France. At the end of the night, I felt so fulfilled to eat at the restaurant of my hero and to eat the food that inspire the great writer to write the book of the joys of cooking professionally.
The next day, I went through central park to meet up with another Chicagoan who was visiting her relatives in Brooklyn. After the day of walking, talking, and eating; I traverse back to my hotel in the damp, rainy night. I tried to hail a taxi to get back to my hotel, but the taxi pass by me like a shadow of the night. As I walked to my direction to the hotel, I ended up at the entrance of central park.
There had been stories of murders, cults, and madmen who kidnap people in Central Park in the middle of the night to never been seen or heard from again. So as I stand out in the rain, I had two choices: I could stand by the gate, trying to get a taxi cab in the rain and catch pneumonia or I could go through central park and possibly never be heard from again. I chose to go through the park. It was a desperate move but it was the only move I had left. As I walked through the dark, urban forest, I constantly look behind me for anybody who wanted me gone. I felt the cold rain drip on my neck as I reached to the other side and the unsettling feeling of seeing nobody else around. I finally made it back to my hotel where I collapsed on the soft bed. Five minutes later, my cell phone was ringing but I was so exhausted from my walk of soaked terror that I muffled from my pillow "Im too tired!"
The last full day was a culinary tour of Manhattan with my brother and sister. We took the subway from the upper westside to the lower east side, were the famous Katz Delicatessen reside in its aged glory. We waited in line for nearly an hour, but our wait was well worth it, like waiting in line of the best roller coaster in a big theme park. Inside of the eatery, the history of the new york deli came alive with pictures of famous celebrities on the wall and the table were the famous line "I'll have what she is having," was filmed for When Harry Met Sally. When we made it to the counter, we ordered sandwiches of pastrami and corn beef as the staff hand cuts the meat into thick, juicy slabs. When we got our mile high sandwiches, we find a seat in the crowded hoards of tourists and foodies to enjoy the meal of meat, rhy bread, mustard and sour pickles. The meat was so juicy, you might be asking yourself if this a meal or a carnivores dream.
After Katz, we headed back to the upper west side to make one more stop before returning to chicago. Big Nicks was just across the street from our hotel and as you walk in you might think that this place was a regular pizza parlor in the middle of the city. Although it is famous for its gourmet burgers, the most significant part of Big Nicks was not the funky decor or the casual night crowd or the friendly staff. It was the pizza.
As a true chicagoan, I was taught that New York pizza was somewhat inferior to Chicago style; but from that night, I discovered that new york pizza could be a good thing. Its not really a question of quality when some on ask's "Who has the best pizza: Chicago or New York?", it is more of a question of different attributes between the two. New York style pizza is more of a travelers pie. It is more handheld that chicago pizza and it has a certain crunch from the water used to make the dough. There was also a different way to eat a slice of this pizza. Known as the "brooklyn fold", it was a style were you fold the slice for more balance and control to eat the slice. All you have to do is fold it in half and insert slice into the mouth to enjoy its cheesy wonders.
As I folded and prepare take a couple of bites of the delicious and comforting pie the feeling of eating through New York was somewhat accomplished, like I could possibly live there now if I wanted to. It is a place were food can become more than just fuel for our everyday lives. It can inspire us to travel and discover what life true pleasures can be. As I watched the high skyline of city behind me from my planes window, I only envision when I would return to the city of culinary brilliance.
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