Mark L. Van Name's Blog, page 218
February 2, 2012
On the road again: Portland, day 3
I love this hotel, but I hate its bandwidth. I rarely bother to write or contact the manager of any establishment with my concerns, but I believe I'll make an exception in this case. Slow bandwidth means more time to do all online tasks, which in turn means less sleep. Bandwidth thus matters greatly to me.
Aside from that drawback, however, it is a lovely place.
Lunch today was at one of Portland's many food trucks. I love the food truck scene, and wandering among them to choose a lunch is a great treat. I opted today for a Hawaiian barbecue, which was tasty and spicy and entirely delicious.
Dinner was at the sublime Castagna, where Chef Justin Woodward merges local ingredients with serious modernist cuisine skills to create compositions that are lovely to see and wonderful to taste. I recommend this place highly--but save up first so you can do the tasting menu. It's worth the price.
Now, I'm outta here. A very late book beckons me yet again today.
Aside from that drawback, however, it is a lovely place.
Lunch today was at one of Portland's many food trucks. I love the food truck scene, and wandering among them to choose a lunch is a great treat. I opted today for a Hawaiian barbecue, which was tasty and spicy and entirely delicious.
Dinner was at the sublime Castagna, where Chef Justin Woodward merges local ingredients with serious modernist cuisine skills to create compositions that are lovely to see and wonderful to taste. I recommend this place highly--but save up first so you can do the tasting menu. It's worth the price.
Now, I'm outta here. A very late book beckons me yet again today.
February 1, 2012
On the road again: Portland, day 2
Lunch today was at one of those Mongolian grill places in which you put a bunch of stuff in a bowl, ladle on some sauces and spices, and hand it to someone to grill on a huge round metal grill. I don't eat at these often, but I always have fun when I do, just because I like mixing a bunch of stuff and grilling it--or, in this case, watching someone else grill it. The result is always tasty, though never as cleverly delicious as I have tried to make it.
Dinner, on the other hand, was both clever and absolutely delicious, as I expected it to be because we ate at Le Pigeon. As long-time readers know, Chef/Owner Gabriel Rucker's original restaurant is one of my favorite places in the world. Small, funky, and dedicated to pursuing its own vision, Le Pigeon is one of the many culinary beacons that light the Portland night. I relax the moment I walk into it.
I normally don't post meal photos on these trips because the crappy hotel bandwidth makes the cost too high, but I decided to pay that cost tonight and show you a few things.
The main menu gives you a sense of the variety and sensibility of Le Pigeon.
Click on any image for a larger version.
For my starter, I chose the foie on ramen.
It was an odd combination, of course; this is Le Pigeon. The slab of perfectly cooked foie gras sat atop a cake of ramen noodles that was topped with a seaweed salad and surrounded by a light broth with a very delicate taste of fish. I know, I know: it doesn't sound good. It was.
My main was the rich and tasty beef two ways.
The celery root puree provided a light, delicious starch counterpart to the strong, rich flavor of the short rib meat and the equally tasty but lighter steak slices. It was a great take on the classic steak-and-potatoes main.
The dessert options also reflected the Le Pigeon spirit.
I've already eaten all of the classic desserts, but even if I hadn't, I would have been drawn to the banana cream pie. I didn't expect it to look or taste anything like any BCP I've had before, and indeed it didn't.
Nonetheless, it was delicious, a light and sweet variation on the classic dessert that I love so much.
What a fine meal. Le Pigeon never disappoints. If you live here or ever visit here, eat there.
Dinner, on the other hand, was both clever and absolutely delicious, as I expected it to be because we ate at Le Pigeon. As long-time readers know, Chef/Owner Gabriel Rucker's original restaurant is one of my favorite places in the world. Small, funky, and dedicated to pursuing its own vision, Le Pigeon is one of the many culinary beacons that light the Portland night. I relax the moment I walk into it.
I normally don't post meal photos on these trips because the crappy hotel bandwidth makes the cost too high, but I decided to pay that cost tonight and show you a few things.
The main menu gives you a sense of the variety and sensibility of Le Pigeon.
Click on any image for a larger version.
For my starter, I chose the foie on ramen.
It was an odd combination, of course; this is Le Pigeon. The slab of perfectly cooked foie gras sat atop a cake of ramen noodles that was topped with a seaweed salad and surrounded by a light broth with a very delicate taste of fish. I know, I know: it doesn't sound good. It was.
My main was the rich and tasty beef two ways.
The celery root puree provided a light, delicious starch counterpart to the strong, rich flavor of the short rib meat and the equally tasty but lighter steak slices. It was a great take on the classic steak-and-potatoes main.
The dessert options also reflected the Le Pigeon spirit.
I've already eaten all of the classic desserts, but even if I hadn't, I would have been drawn to the banana cream pie. I didn't expect it to look or taste anything like any BCP I've had before, and indeed it didn't.
Nonetheless, it was delicious, a light and sweet variation on the classic dessert that I love so much.
What a fine meal. Le Pigeon never disappoints. If you live here or ever visit here, eat there.
January 31, 2012
On the road again: Seattle, day 3 and Portland, day 1
When you see a small shop named Haute Dog Girl in a little strip mall, what do you do?
Head right for it, of course!
That's what I did for lunch today in beautiful downtown Kirkland, Washingon. Once inside, I found a perky young woman who pointed me to this menu:
Click on any image to see a larger version.
The young woman looked remarkably like the woman on the menu, so much so that I wondered if I might be in the presence of the Haute Dog Girl herself. Some things are best left mysterious, however, so I did not ask her.
Instead, in the interest of science, I ordered two of the odder dogs.
The Seattle Style Dog.
Yes, that's cream cheese, and, yes, those are grilled onions.
The Pastrami Reuben Dog.
All beef hot dog meets classic sandwich; what's not to like?
Somewhat to my surprise, both hot dog concoctions were quite tasty.
If you're in the area and are a fan of the noble tube steak, you should definitely visit this little place.
Now, I'm nestled into my favorite Portland hotel and quite happy to be here. Tomorrow morning starts insanely early, however, so to work and then sleep I go.
Head right for it, of course!
That's what I did for lunch today in beautiful downtown Kirkland, Washingon. Once inside, I found a perky young woman who pointed me to this menu:
Click on any image to see a larger version.The young woman looked remarkably like the woman on the menu, so much so that I wondered if I might be in the presence of the Haute Dog Girl herself. Some things are best left mysterious, however, so I did not ask her.
Instead, in the interest of science, I ordered two of the odder dogs.
The Seattle Style Dog.
Yes, that's cream cheese, and, yes, those are grilled onions.
The Pastrami Reuben Dog.
All beef hot dog meets classic sandwich; what's not to like?
Somewhat to my surprise, both hot dog concoctions were quite tasty.
If you're in the area and are a fan of the noble tube steak, you should definitely visit this little place.
Now, I'm nestled into my favorite Portland hotel and quite happy to be here. Tomorrow morning starts insanely early, however, so to work and then sleep I go.
January 30, 2012
On the road again: Seattle, day 2
Work filled most of today's hours, and I can't talk about that, so this one's going to be short.
Lunch was a surprise: very good Thai food at a mall restaurant, Thai Ginger in Redmond. I tasted a few dishes, and each was quite tasty. I'd definitely eat there again.
After lunch, I was lucky enough to catch a few minutes of blue sky--cloudy, yes, but blue. When the sun shines here, I find the whole Seattle area to be one of the prettiest places I visit.
One of the best things about working in the tech industry in general and my job in particular is the opportunity to talk and work with smart people who are passionate about what they do. Today's meetings, like most of those I have on these road trips, were all interesting and informative. I love the way the tech world is constantly evolving; nothing goes stale.
Tomorrow, more interesting meetings, and then an evening drive to Portland, one of my favorite cities.
Lunch was a surprise: very good Thai food at a mall restaurant, Thai Ginger in Redmond. I tasted a few dishes, and each was quite tasty. I'd definitely eat there again.
After lunch, I was lucky enough to catch a few minutes of blue sky--cloudy, yes, but blue. When the sun shines here, I find the whole Seattle area to be one of the prettiest places I visit.
One of the best things about working in the tech industry in general and my job in particular is the opportunity to talk and work with smart people who are passionate about what they do. Today's meetings, like most of those I have on these road trips, were all interesting and informative. I love the way the tech world is constantly evolving; nothing goes stale.
Tomorrow, more interesting meetings, and then an evening drive to Portland, one of my favorite cities.
January 29, 2012
On the road again: Seattle, day 1
I'm never going to be a big fan of a day that requires me to wake up before nine a.m., but so it goes; that's what I had to do today.
Most of the long day went to travel, with an extended layover in O'Hare. Lunch there was quite good, courtesy of Rick Bayless' Tortas Frontera, which served quite good (though in my opinion too salty) and very fresh dishes. I enjoyed a Cubano and tasted some guacamole they were making as I watched. Very nice.
The rest of the day went to travel, work, and a late dinner in the hotel restaurant. Ah, the glamorous life of the business traveler!
Today is the birthday of my late stepfather, Edmund D. Livingston. He passed away many years ago while on the family beach house vacation. He served in the Marines in WWII. While in the Corps he went ashore at Okinawa, was injured severely twice, spent time as one of the first of the occupation troops in Japan, and came away from the experience profoundly changed, as all are. He loved my mother fiercely, loved my brother and sister as if they were his own, raised them, and took care of them. He had a ready smile and a bad joke always at hand. He waved to strangers as he drove by. At his memorial, many people appeared whom my mom had never met, and it turned out that in his personal time he was out quietly doing charity work, bringing food to some, driving others, all without telling anyone. He was never my father, but I would have been proud had he been. I underestimated him when I met him, but as I grew older, I realized how foolish I had been.
I miss you, Eddie. Always will.
Most of the long day went to travel, with an extended layover in O'Hare. Lunch there was quite good, courtesy of Rick Bayless' Tortas Frontera, which served quite good (though in my opinion too salty) and very fresh dishes. I enjoyed a Cubano and tasted some guacamole they were making as I watched. Very nice.
The rest of the day went to travel, work, and a late dinner in the hotel restaurant. Ah, the glamorous life of the business traveler!
Today is the birthday of my late stepfather, Edmund D. Livingston. He passed away many years ago while on the family beach house vacation. He served in the Marines in WWII. While in the Corps he went ashore at Okinawa, was injured severely twice, spent time as one of the first of the occupation troops in Japan, and came away from the experience profoundly changed, as all are. He loved my mother fiercely, loved my brother and sister as if they were his own, raised them, and took care of them. He had a ready smile and a bad joke always at hand. He waved to strangers as he drove by. At his memorial, many people appeared whom my mom had never met, and it turned out that in his personal time he was out quietly doing charity work, bringing food to some, driving others, all without telling anyone. He was never my father, but I would have been proud had he been. I underestimated him when I met him, but as I grew older, I realized how foolish I had been.
I miss you, Eddie. Always will.
January 28, 2012
Haywire
Because so many people seem to care about it, let's address the elephant in the room: is the voice in the film of Haywire's star, Gina Carano, really hers?
Yes and no. Director Steven Soderbergh said the following in an interview here:
No. Hell no.
What matters is that Gina Carano kicks ass, and Haywire is a fun ride in large part because of her menacing (and occasionally sexy) presence. She strides through the movie beating the living shit out of one Hollywood male star after another, a larger than life avatar of the power of women in film today, should we want to go there.
Nah, let's not go there.
She's a great female action lead in a fun B movie that has all the cool camera work of any Soderbergh film. Her acting is on par with that of most action leads, which is to say that she has few expressions and uses one, her scowl, most of all. I can live with that.
Haywire won't win any awards, but if you're in the mood for nonstop action with a new, fresh star, see it.
Yes and no. Director Steven Soderbergh said the following in an interview here:
That's not really her speaking voice. We spent a lot of time in post working really hard on her voice, and we used every trick imaginable that's used on records today — in the editing, in the pitch. We combined five different readings in one sentence. We wanted her to sound different — not like Gina, but like her character, Mallory Kane. So that took a lot of work, and we worked really hard on it. That was the point of it. Everyone under the age of 30 is terrified of Gina, but Mallory is someone new.Now, to a more important question: does that matter at all?
No. Hell no.
What matters is that Gina Carano kicks ass, and Haywire is a fun ride in large part because of her menacing (and occasionally sexy) presence. She strides through the movie beating the living shit out of one Hollywood male star after another, a larger than life avatar of the power of women in film today, should we want to go there.
Nah, let's not go there.
She's a great female action lead in a fun B movie that has all the cool camera work of any Soderbergh film. Her acting is on par with that of most action leads, which is to say that she has few expressions and uses one, her scowl, most of all. I can live with that.
Haywire won't win any awards, but if you're in the mood for nonstop action with a new, fresh star, see it.
January 27, 2012
Music to fit my mood
Tonight and during moments of working on No Going Back, these two Snow Patrol songs are perfect.
January 26, 2012
Defining moments
Every single one is a barely altered repetition of the countless others that have preceded it for as long as humans have existed and that will follow it until we vanish.
That knowledge means absolutely nothing in those moments, for each one is ours, uniquely, personally, irrevocably ours.
When we're young, we should expect them, but we rarely do, for we are young.
As the years go by, we stop expecting them, because we are old and believe we have seen them all, but we are as utterly--though differently--wrong as when we were young.
At night, when I bolt awake as if struck by the hand of the past, they crawl after me, dark troops assaulting the last stronghold of my mind.
Yeah, such dramatic language, but they are the very essence of our internal drama, so they've earned that indulgence.
Strange where writing takes you. Or not strange at all, but rather the proper places writers, artists of all sorts, need to visit.
Back to them for me.
That knowledge means absolutely nothing in those moments, for each one is ours, uniquely, personally, irrevocably ours.
When we're young, we should expect them, but we rarely do, for we are young.
As the years go by, we stop expecting them, because we are old and believe we have seen them all, but we are as utterly--though differently--wrong as when we were young.
At night, when I bolt awake as if struck by the hand of the past, they crawl after me, dark troops assaulting the last stronghold of my mind.
Yeah, such dramatic language, but they are the very essence of our internal drama, so they've earned that indulgence.
Strange where writing takes you. Or not strange at all, but rather the proper places writers, artists of all sorts, need to visit.
Back to them for me.
January 25, 2012
Underworld Awakening
Let's see how this one stacks up to the previous film in this series.
The first four check marks, of course.
To be fair, the original Underworld actually had a mostly reasonable plot that you could follow without wanting too much to throw your popcorn at the screen. This one doesn't worry about maintaining a sensible, consistent plot--but it does give you naked Kate on the floor with strategically placed bits of mist covering her private parts. The filmmakers must figure that as long as you're absorbed by her awesomeness, you won't mind their many other failures.
For the most part, they were right with me. I wanted a bit of violent, stylized brain candy, and in Underworld Awakening, I got it. I can recommend it, though, only if you liked the previous two and are in the mood for more of the same.
Kate Beckinsdale in skintight latex and corset outfit? ✓So why did I go see this movie--and the previous two?
Vampires fighting humans? ✓
Vampires fighting lycans? ✓
Stylized gray-scale look? ✓
Illogical new powers for Kate? ✓
Illogical new powers for lycans? ✓
A plot you must never consider closely? ✓
Entirely expendable supporting characters? ✓
The first four check marks, of course.
To be fair, the original Underworld actually had a mostly reasonable plot that you could follow without wanting too much to throw your popcorn at the screen. This one doesn't worry about maintaining a sensible, consistent plot--but it does give you naked Kate on the floor with strategically placed bits of mist covering her private parts. The filmmakers must figure that as long as you're absorbed by her awesomeness, you won't mind their many other failures.
For the most part, they were right with me. I wanted a bit of violent, stylized brain candy, and in Underworld Awakening, I got it. I can recommend it, though, only if you liked the previous two and are in the mood for more of the same.
