Monthly Archives: November 2009

Thanksgiving Twists

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It is interesting how different cultures have various twists on Thanksgiving meals. Several years ago, my friend Kristina and I went to Puerto Rico for Zulema’s wedding, another college friend who lived with us in the international dorm. It was during the Thanksgiving holiday so Zulema’s parents invited us over for dinner. They had the traditional turkey; however, I remember the sides included Spanish and Puerto Rican dishes. In addition, Zulema’s parents, who are from Spain, are not fluent in English so I also remember speaking Spanish and in general really enjoying the food.

This year, I spent Thanksgiving with my family in Baltimore; therefore, our meal was influenced by African-American and southern cultures. Our menu consisted of turkey, ham, glazed sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, “yellow” potato salad, corn bread dressing, giblet gravy, creamed onions, salad, cranberry sauce and rolls. For dessert, we had apple pie, pecan pie, pumpkin cheesecake and a pound cake. As usual, the food was scrumptious, and we had a lot of fun talking about family activities, politics, sports and how much weight we may have just gained.

I’ve learned that while Thanksgiving meals may have cultural twists, they tend to have the same purpose: to enjoy fellowship with family and friends and to be thankful for all of the blessings in your life. Next time you are invited to a Thanksgiving meal that may be different from your traditions, go and let me know what was on the menu.

Delighted Taste Buds

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Within the last week my taste buds enjoyed a world wind of flavors at various ethnic restaurants. It started this past Wednesday, when my husband and I went to Oyamel before the Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game. Oyamel is an authentic Mexican restaurant that serves antojitos (small plates or snacks) and tacos served in hand-made corn tortillas. My meal consisted of familiar antojitos and not so familiar tacos that were made with goat meat marinated in chilies and spices. The flavors were incredibly intense and reminded me of meals I had in Guadalajara and in Monterrey, Mexico. 

For the weekend, I went to New York City to spend time with college girlfriends, Barbara and Stephanie, and Gerold, Barbara’s husband. On Friday, we went to an Italian restaurant in Brooklyn called Saraghina, which served pasta dishes and wood-burning oven pizza. We found the place to be very lively and enjoyed listening to the staff talk in Italian to one another. We decided on a few pizzas and red wine, which was the perfect choice after a three and half hour train ride from Washington, DC. We ended the evening at The Chocolate Room, a chocolate boutique and dessert café also in Brooklyn. The desserts are made with chocolates from all over the world and are perfectly paired with international wines. I ate their delectable signature chocolate cake, which was paired with a Framboise. Let’s just say that I slept very well that night.

On Saturday, during a shopping spree in Soho, we spontaneously went to Boqueria, a Spanish restaurant that serves tapas (small plates). Once again, I ordered familiar dishes but also decided to try lamb meatballs with sheep’s mild cheese for the first time. With a glass of sangria and great conversation with my girlfriends, this turned out to be the perfect afternoon meal. 

In the evening, we went to Sazon, an authentic Puerto Rican restaurant in Tribeca. This place had a great bar and lounge, played pop, hip-hop and salsa music and celebrated several birthdays by having its staff sing Cumpleanos Feliz to patrons. The drinks were named after hot spots in Puerto Rico. I ordered the Loquillo margarita, which is named after my favorite beach outside of San Juan. For appetizers, we decided to share chicken empanadas and yuca crabcakes, and for dinner, I ordered ropa vieja (shredded beef stew with black been rice and sweet plantains). I also could not resist a sample of Gerold’s pargo entero con arroz de coco, which is whole red snapper stuffed with seafood in an enchilado sauce with a side of coconut rice. I left this place with happy taste buds, and once again, I had another good night’s sleep.

What I love about large cities like New York and DC is that they offer an endless variety of ethnic restaurants. However, if you do not have access to a big city, I encourage you to find your local, authentic restaurant to give your taste buds a flavorful, international experience. And don’t forget to be adventurous by trying something new!

Bollywood Dance Instructions @ Your Fingertips

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One of my favorite scenes in Slumdog Millionaire, the 2009 Oscar Winner for Best Picture, is the great Bollywood dance scene during the movie credits. Every time I hear the dance song Jai Ho, I pretend to move like a Bollywood dancer. However, honestly, I have no idea what I am doing and probably look a little silly.

Therefore, wanting to learn a couple Bollywood dance moves, I did an Internet search and found a great online instructional. I had a lot of fun learning this cultural dance in the confines of my own home, and I am now inspired to take an actual class.

Now it’s your turn to try a few Bollywood moves. Click here and get moving!

What is Bollywood dancing?
According to Bollywood World, “Bollywood dancing is a commercial name for modern Indian dancing. It’s a combination of classical Indian dance (which is the base), folk dancing such as Bhangra and sometimes has a Latino and Arabic influence. It’s fun and very expressive and there’s a lot of deep meaning behind music in the films. You can actually express what the music means, through the graceful movements of the body.” To learn more about Bollywood, click here.

National Museum of the American Indian Visit

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moccasin makingdeer-hide tanning

Today I visited the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and came across incredible exhibits that were historic and modern. The museum is celebrating American Indian Heritage Month so there were demonstrations on deer-hide tanning, bead working and moccasin making. It was interesting to see craftsmanship created centuries ago that is still used today. Unfortunately, I missed the drumming and dance performances, which I am sure would have enhanced my cultural experience.

AGO totemsPrototype for New Understanding #23Luckily, I saw two fascinating exhibits that were highlights of my visit. The first was an amazing modern exhibition by Brian Jungen. This artist took objects that were sports related like Michael Jordan sneakers and golf bags and turned them into life size American Indian artwork such as masks and totem poles. The second exhibit was titled “Indivisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas.” This exhibit of photos, writings and video revealed conflicts African-Native Americans had from slavery to present due to racism, government policy and laws. It also explained how the blending of Native and African American cultures influenced food, writing, music, dance, storytelling and visual arts. This exhibit was thought provoking and very educational. 

IndiVisibleFinally, as I worked my way through the museum, I also found a resource center where one can research genealogy, hear panel discussions or find information about Native peoples as well as the museum’s collections. And of course, my visit ended at the gift shop where one can take a piece of the culture with them by purchasing American Indian music, art, jewelry, books, clothing or other items.

Museums such as this one, brings culture to life and allows you to feel like you traveled to a foreign place. If you are looking for a similar trip, take advantage of local cultural museums in your community.

 

Lunch at Argentinean Cafe

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Today I had lunch at El Patio, an Argentinean restaurant in Rockville, Maryland, which is a suburb of Washington, DC. During the week, this place has English and Spanish speaking patrons. However, on the weekend, the patrons mainly speak Spanish, and the restaurant tends to be a gathering of friends and family. I noticed that several people walking in greeted restaurant workers or other patrons like old friends. From this, I gathered that this restaurant had to be a special place for expatriates of Argentina who are looking to feel connected with their native country.

The restaurant offers a wide variety of homemade Argentinean delicacies such as traditional empanadas, steak platters, quiches, sandwiches and pastries. In addition, there is a small grocery section filled with Argentinean beer, wine, CDs with South American music and food such as pastas, sauces, juices and desserts.

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When reviewing the menu, I noticed that several of the dishes come with eggs and onions. For example, there is a platter called Pique-a-lo-macho that comes with sautéed flank steak and sausage with jalapeños, french fries, eggs, olives and onions, and an empanada that comes with ham, cheese and hard boiled eggs. Not feeling super hungry but wanting an Argentinean experience, I settled on a cheese and onion omelet (tortillas espanoleas queso y cebolla) and a spinach, onions and parmesan quiche (tartas espinacas). For dessert, I had a cookie filled with a milk caramel spread (alfajores de maicena).

As I ate lunch, I had a great conversation with a man from Argentina who lives in Washington, DC. He told me that he found this place through a soccer buddy of his and continues to come to El Patio for authentic food that reminds him of home. We also talked about his vacations to Bahia, Brazil, a place I am dying to visit one day, and the wonderful people who live there.

All in all, the people were friendly, the service was great and the food was delicious. This small lunch experience gave me a taste of Argentina and has intrigued me enough to want to add it on my wish list of places to travel.