Seventh All-Media Biennial Art Exhibit in Hollywood, Florida

This year my uncle was chosen to take part in the Seventh All-Media Juried Biennial down in Hollywood, Florida. So my mother, Nana and I loaded up into the car and drove down for the weekend. My aunt was also moving back from the Bahamas so all my cousins on that side of the family were in one place for the first time in, I want to say, years, thanks to my being in Japan.

Timing was also on my side and it turned out to be my Nana's birthday weekend. I also ate so much Mexican and Cuban food I was in bed with a stomachache before midnight. Welcome to American cuisine after eating the delicate Japanese diet.

Anyway, the Biennial was held at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, which is nestled in a great section of town surrounded by bars and tiny restaurants. On the way home my aunt stuck her head out and attempted to sing along with a mariachi singer...

Here are some photos I took of the show. If you'd like to check them out yourself in person, it'll be going on until November 1st!

That's my uncle's piece. ;)

This one was my favorite.

Tastiest Travels #2

It's Wednesday and that means I get to share some more tasty travels. If this is your first time seeing a this post (it's only the second so I wouldn't be surprised) you can view the first one here! In short, every Wednesday I will feature two different bloggers and their three favorite foods that they've eaten while traveling the world. Who doesn't love food, especially good food?

This week I have foods from Asia, Europe, and the US of A! Even the first upscale dishes for those of you who live to pamper yourself!

Shandos Cleaver

http://travelnuity.com

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Sacher-Torte

Where you can find it: Vienna, Austria @ Hotel Sacher Wien

Upscale

How can a chocoholic go to Vienna and not partake of the original Sacher-Torte cake, a cake so famous it has its own day?  Originally invented at the Hotel Sacher back in the 1800s, the Sacher Torte has since been the subject of legal battles over the “copyright”.  At the Hotel Sacher, just behind the Vienna Opera House, having a slice for afternoon is a fancy affair.  Firstly, you may need to queue, before checking in your coat (at a cost), then ordering in the splendidly opulent café rooms.  The price is similarly opulent.  Now that I’ve had the “original”, I’ve meant to since with the many equally wonderful copies at cafés all around the world.

Ricepaper Rolls

Where you can find it: Hoi An, Vietnam @ Red Bridge Cooking School

Budget

On my first ever trip to Vietnam, my boyfriend and I were travelling on a budget from the North to the South.  About halfway through the trip we stopped in Hoi An, the site of the Red Bridge Cooking School, recommended by a friend who had recently visited Vietnam.  While it didn’t cost that much (about $12 USD at the time), it was a splurge on our trip, and it was a treat to spend the afternoon in the more luxurious surrounds of the restaurant on the riverbanks.  While I had probably already eaten rice paper rolls on the trip, it was there that I learnt to make them, and have made them regularly at home since (although without making the rice paper rounds from scratch!).

Black Risotto

Where you can find it: Dubrovnik, Croatia @ LADY PI-PI

Mid-range

Whilst walking around the walls of Dubrovnik, my boyfriend and I spotted an lovely looking restaurant with outdoor terraces, that would be wonderful to lunch at in the late Spring sunshine.  It was a bit tricky finding the exact location when back in the alleyways down below, but we finally found Lady Pi-pi, with its rather frank fountain (after whom the restaurant is named) in front of it.  I jumped at the chance to try black risotto for the first time, a Croatian specialty, made similarly to regular risotto, but with the ink of cuttlefish or squid added, along with the meat, to turn the entire dish black.  I love a good risotto and it was delicious, especially alongside a glass of local Croatian white wine, although it is a must to visit the bathroom afterwards to clean your teeth that end up turning equally black!

Majesta Zea

www.thereandbackwithsnacks.com

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Creole Cream Cheesecake

Where you can find it: New Orleans, Louisiana @ Commander's Palace

Upscale

I know this seems like a such a safe and basic answer. But allow me to defend myself. For starters, I love cheesecake. It’s my favorite type of cake if I can be honest! However, it’s difficult to find one that isn’t bland and also isn’t so sweet that you become a diabetic on the spot. So the one from Commander’s Palace in the Garden District of New Orleans is the best one I have ever had. They said it was made in a traditional Creole way with slightly different creams and you can taste the difference. It was so rich and flavorful without being too heavy. Every bite was magical and I haven’t been back to New Orleans in almost two years, but I still drool just thinking about that cheesecake!

Filipino BBQ

Where you can find it: Manila, Philippines

Street Food

Filipino BBQ triggers a soft spot in my heart for growing up in the Philippines. It’s so authentic Filipino and there must be something in my blood that calls out to it! Even if I can just smell it, I get excited and want some immediately. The mixture of the meats, bbq sauce and smoke is a delicious scent that’s hard to pass up. The selection of meats is definitely different from the typical American bbq, but fear not! Everything is excellent and taste a hundred times better than it looks. You can be as safe (regular pork and pork fat) or brave (pork blood and intestines) as you want. I personally love the pork and liver the most. It also helps that you can buy about five sticks for the cost of about $1.50.

Chocolate Terrarium

Where you can find it: Las Vegas, Nevada @ Rose.Rabbit.Lie.

Upscale

I love dessert. This is the ultimate chocolate lovers dessert. There is dark chocolate cake and brownie mixed with a milk chocolate fudge sauce that gives the appearance of dirt and is served with edible flowers as a garnish and decoration. How cool is that? Yes, this dish is exceptional in taste, but the real reason I love it is because of the presentation. It’s so unique and fun and is something that I haven’t seen anywhere else as of yet. It’s large enough to feed four to six people, but the chocolate isn’t overwhelming and I believe in my heart of hearts, the next time I order this item, I am going to finish it solo.

This entry was full of some of the most amazing looking desserts I have ever seen and now my sweet-tooth is nagging me a bit. Thanks again to Shandos and Majesty for submitting things to my series! Be sure to check out their blogs and follow them on social media!

Next week I will have two new bloggers to feature, so be sure to check back! If you'd like to be featured yourself, please send an email over to communuicationisdifficult@gmail.com with the subject "Tastiest Travels" and I'll send you all the info you need to submit!

My First Two Weeks of Food in America

Tomorrow marks two weeks since I got back in America after living overseas for four years. It has definitely been an adjustment being back in America, especially since I now have access to all of the foods that I longed for on a regular basis back in Japan. In my first week in Japan I ate a piece of pizza all but one of the days. Though already there are foods I miss from my second-home-Country and I've made a trip down to one of the Asian markets in town to get some goodies.

Before I left Japan I told my parents that I wanted a Papa John's pizza waiting for me. Papa Johns isn't even my favorite delivery pizza I just hadn't had it in years and had a craving. The sausage is unbeatable in my opinion and I ate on that large pizza (and some of the meat lovers my parents got for themselves) nearly every day for the next week. Also their cheesy bread was fantastic.

For my second night back we headed out to a newly opened local sports restaurant called Friendly Confines. It was a sort of overwhelming experience for me (and prompted this entry) , and the wait staff was less than stellar. The restaurant seems to be going for a young college vibe, but has really just ended up hiring a bunch of cute young girls who appear to lack the proper training. The burger was very "meh" as well. Nothing special. Unlikely to go back.

After a few days of home cooked meals we had plans to meet up with family friends at this Italian restaurant over near Disney and Universal Studios, Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza. The pizza claims to be "well-done" but it is really about 30 seconds from being burned beyond eatability. 

The toppings themselves were great, and if you got a less blackened slice it tasted great! We also ordered some side dishes and they were completely phenomenal! The meatballs were some of the best I have ever had and the marinara sauce was fantastic. The big dollop of ricotta was a perfect compliment. Not to mention it just looked beautiful.

We also ordered their chicken wings, which were a great light herby taste and perfect after being cooked in the coal oven. Their beer list is also great, featuring a nice variety of craft brews that I am still trying to wrap my head around after years of the one-note Japanese lagers.

The following day I made my way out to Chipotle for the first time. With my new eating habits I was able to enjoy something other than their tacos, and I can now say that I really do understand the love the place gets. I always enjoyed my barebones chicken tacos back in college, but getting a bowl loaded down with everything is even better.

Orlando has a few Asian markets. There is a rather large Vietnamese population due to the Air Force base that was here prior to Disney World. I drove way out down Colonial Dr. to visit the Eastside Asian Market. It had a nice selection of snacks and even a few surprising finds. Now I have what I need to make a few of my favorite Japanese dishes. They were also cheaper than I expected them to be!

Yesterday I met Suzy of The Kawaii Planet for brunch over at Dexter's. I actually met her years ago when she was dating a good friend of mine who lives in Sapporo! It's such a small world that she is now living in Orlando, my hometown, when she herself is from the Czech Republic! My uncle actually had his art on display at Dexter's years back so it was nice to return to the small, busy restaurant. Even though it was busy we didn't have to wait long for a table, and the food was amazing. My eggs Benedict were to die for, and Suzy's salad was beautiful.

That about sums up my first couple of weeks of American food! There are still so many things I want to eat and I am discovering things I didn't even know I missed on an almost daily basis! Hope you all have a wonderful day and I'll catch you next time!

5 First Impressions About Being Back in America

Well, after traveling for an entire day I have made it back to the States. It's currently nearly 6am Thursday and I am laying in a very tall, very huge bed compared to the five or so futons I had laying on the floor of my Japanese apartment. I've been back for over 24 hours now, and it doesn't feel quite real yet. Got approved for my first credit card last night (travel rewards so I'll earn airline miles for purchases) and I have completely unpacked my suitcases.

I've noticed a few things since I have been back, and I thought I would share them. It's really interesting how my view of how things function in public has changed since I was in Japan.

1. Americans really do randomly talk to you.

In Japan I would get the occasional Japanese person who would come over to me and ask where I am from, I was given a tissue cover by an older lady while sitting in Starbucks once and told "thank you for coming to Japan", for example.

I had barely stepped outside the airport (and nearly fell over in shock at the humid heat of 11pm Florida) that a guy laughed and said, "Well this is Florida!" to me and my parents, my parents replied back that I had just gotten back from living overseas and he welcomed me home. I stood there silently not really used to a random person talking to me like that.

2. The random differences in public manners.

When I first moved to Japan a number of things surprised me, and once of them was how when checking out people don't talk outside of the few phrases needed to get the transaction done. In America the cashiers ask how you are and just seem really nice and polite and less like robots than they did in Japan. It makes me feel closer to people.

Also people really do always hold doors open. In Japan you'll just be in a line of commuters and when you all get to a door everyone just walks through it without touching it, the door closes and the people before you just skirt through it, turning to the side and slipping through just before it ends up closed in your face. It's such an infuriating thing because I was raised in a place where you make sure the door is open for the persons behind you. It's also nice to hold a door open for someone and just have them smile and say thank you rather than the frantic rush to get through and over the top, "Oh thank you I'm sorry" that Japanese people do when the door is held for them.

3. Servers talk a lot.

We went out to dinner last night and the server just talked a lot. It was weird. In Japan you don't really even have a specific server waiting on your group, but just people who work there. They are just background figures who take your order and disappear until you call them again or they bring you something.

Our waitress talked to us and shared things with us and I found myself thinking, "okay that's nice but I don't care just go away." It will definitely take some getting used to. I can see why foreigners think Americans overshare all of the time.

4. You can be who you want to be in America.

When I got off my plane in Chicago and made my way through the airport to my departing gate for Orlando I noticed just how many different types of people. Ethnicity aside, people just looks very different. There was a girl with a full upper chest tattoo standing ahead of a me a few people in line and I found myself constantly staring at her because I was so shocked to see it so plainly revealed, there was a family of two mothers and a young daughter waiting at my gate that just made me really happy to see.

In Japan you don't see these things. There is an acceptable range of social "different" that you'll see of course, younger people with colored hair, strange fashion choices, etc. But there is still a very strict line that they don't cross. You don't see gay couples at all, I don't think I ever saw a gay family with children whilst out in Japan. There's huge social stigmas around many lifestyle choices that just don't exist in America.

5. Everyone can understand me.

Living in a country where your native language isn't the main one leads to a feeling of isolation in positive and negative ways. I can have private conversations in public and it's likely that no one will understand what we're talking about. But it's also frustrating when I try and do simple things like cancel my cell phone and am met with a guy who just says, "I don't understand..." over and over again.

Yesterday I opened a bank account and talked to a cell phone company about my options until the new iPhone comes out and I had never felt so anxiety and stress free in my entire life. It's great to just be understood.



So those are my five first impressions about America. It's definitely going to be a huge adjustment going back, and I am already sort of over the reaction I get from people when they find out I have lived in Japan. I had a bank teller talk to me about how I ended up over there, and she said she is now going to Japan when she graduates.

Every other person I've met I have said, "So I have just gotten back in the States after living overseas and I am wondering how I can do..." to try and hide the fact that I lived in Japan for so long, because I am already tired of answering the same questions over and over. Sort of like how I got tired of answering the, "Where are you from?" "What are you doing in Japan?" questions while in Japan.