Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Home Cooking



Today, I had an awesome meal, but it wasn't at a resturant. But yet I can say it wasn't just a meal. It was an experience, a time of relaxation that helped me to get away from the stresses of life. I'm talking about home cooked meals, and me and my roommate had one today, that even though everything wasn't perfect, it tasted like I was at a five star restaurant. Ribs and Green Been Casserole. How can you go wrong?

I think there's something to be said when people actually take the time to cook a home cooked meal. Yet it seems that in the hustle and bustle of our lives, cooking is the last of our priorities. I'm guilty of this as much as any other person. I just think it's unfortunate that we don't do it as much as we can. I think when we cook ourselves, it's much more than just feeding our bodies. It's an opportunity to get away from all that life throws at us. It's an opportunity to experiment and try new things, whether for better or for worse. Ultimately, it brings comfort in a good day or even a bad day. There' just something to making food yourself that no matter how much you mess up or how much it deviates from the restaurant or how bland it is, it makes it taste that much better.

Home cooking requires some effort, but the rewards of those effort pay much more dividends than the original cost (which is a little money and time). My hope is that this will be a regular occurrence, not just a rarity. I also hope that other people will start cooking at home. You know those ribs and that green bean casserole may not be good in the eyes of a restaurant or a food critic, but in my eyes, they were perfect as perfect can be. The perfect 5 out of 5 rating.



Friday, September 25, 2009

Harlem experience


It's really unfortunate sometimes when our perceptions limit us in exploring some of the greatest unfound treasures in nyc. After our trip to the American museum of Natural History, we decided to finally venture into a place that many people I know deem unsafe. However, we made the trek Harlem to experience what it had to offer. What you find is a great diversity of people (friendly people at that), vibrant community, and of course, the restaurants. I had the awesome opportunity to go to Slyvia's and for what it was worth, it was quite the experience.

Sylvia's brought to me something I haven't had in a really long time, homemade comfort food. It's tragic how restaurants and people in general have resorted to processed and prepackaged foods, but Sylvia's showed how food from scratch, despite the increased effort, is still the best. In a world where people's lives are so hectic, it's nice to see people cook their food with love and it shows in their cooking. Having their smothered fried chicken with gumbo and collared greens was an experience all in itself. After the first bite, I was amazed at the difference in quality between Sylvia's homemade cooking and well, fast food giants. The chicken was not just chicken from a bucket, but rather chicken that you knew took days to make. The gravy smothering it was no ordinary gravy, but gravy that complemented everything from the cornbread to the collared greens with its suttle sweatness and immense flavor. The collared greens in itself was a whole story. The flavor in those collared greens was nothing like I've had before, and with every bite, I was amazed at how perfect it was. The spices, sweatness, the flavor of that stewed turkey leg, and the texture all worked in perfect harmony, resulting in a taste that not only made me devour my side dish, but left a mark that will forever stay in my mind.

If there's anything that Sylvia's reminded me of, it's that how a home cooked meal is still the best. What is it about comfort food that makes it so good? Is it the greasiness? Is it the flavor? Is it the memories? I believe comfort food brings us back to our past, the food that we loved as kids. Maybe it's that food that brings comfort and relaxation to us despite all the craziness that life can be. Or Maybe food can give us that break and let us enjoy time with friends and family. Whatever it is, food does something that we simply can't explain.

Will I give Sylvia's the five out of five star rating? Unfortunately, no, but I will give it 3.5 stars for the homemade comfort food that brought me such joy knowing there are restaurants that still make food from scratch. The food wasn't perfect, but it was made from scratch and more importantly, with love. But I have to say, the service was average at best, and the portions for the price could've have been bigger. Despite all this, the taste as I kept eating each and every bite kept me wanting for more, and in the end, was the trek to 125th St. and Lenox Ave. worth it? After the mean, I wonder what was I waiting for this whole time? What made me wait to experience a place like this? I don't think I have the answer to that question, but hopefully, this will be a start of a journey that leads me to experience new flavors, cuisines, places creativity, and in the end, a full and satisfied stomach.