Local food

“Do we really want to travel in hermetically sealed popemobiles through the rural provinces of France, Mexico and the Far East, eating only in Hard Rock Cafes and McDonalds? Or do we want to eat without fear, tearing into the local stew, the humble taqueria's mystery meat, the sincerely offered gift of a lightly grilled fish head? I know what I want. I want it all. I want to try everything once.” 
― Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

I first heard of Anthony Bourdain watching T.V.  He is an American chef who has travelled the world, and tried almost every dish imaginable. The critique he provides on dishes and cuisines may perhaps be biased, but it always seems like he encourages people to get out there and open their minds when it comes to food.

Trying a new dish in a foreign country may be a risk for some people. You can never be sure how spicy it is, if it suits your taste, and if you will like it all. Often one is afraid that a face expression of disgust might offend the host who has presented one with this dish. It becomes a complicated matter.

Travelling in “hermetically sealed” transportation and eating only in “Hard Rock Cafes and McDonalds” may seem like an appealing option to many people. You get to see the countryside without having to step too far out of your comfort zone.  You still meet the people of the country, and have the opportunity to devote your attention to your surroundings, or do you?

Food is a vital part of any culture. It gives an outsider another perspective on the traditions, values, and beliefs of a foreign society. In India, for example, beef is not part of any traditional meals as the cow is believed to be a holy animal.  Travelling to a new country and not eating the local cuisine is slightly pointless.  Imagine going to Italy and not eating pizza. It is true that you can find pizza in almost every imaginable corner of this world, yet real Italian pizza, in Italy with Italians, is different.  

Missing out on the opportunity to taste a new food item, just because it means taking a step out of your comfort zone is no excuse. Whether you like the new food item does not matter, what does is that you open your mind and try it. It allows you expand your horizons and critique food, just like they do on cooking shows.

Trying a new dish will give you the opportunity to tell stories, and bond with the locals. Locals are usually amused by foreigners trying their traditional dishes, but it also shows them that you respect their culture and traditions. You do not have to eat the local cuisine every day, but try it at least once.

If one goes on holiday on a foreign country, one should not have predetermined opinions. Once one has been there, seen the country-side and the cities, met the people, and tried the food, should one form an opinion. Imagine if Europeans had never been willing to try the potato when it came from America. The world would be a very different place.

Word count: 538

Oh pasta Bolognese!

In the article " Italian chefs tell world how to make correct Bolognese"

for the Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/7017565/Italian-chefs-tell-world-how-to-make-correct-bolognese.html), Nick Squires brings to light the controversial topic of pasta Bolognese.  This dish has been adopted throughout the world as an easy meal to make, yet “spag bol” is not the true pasta Bolognese that originated in Bologna.

The real pasta Bolognese is made with pancetta, carrots, celery, onions, tomato paste, and minced beef. Neither is it served with spaghetti, as most of the world believes. The pasta, tagliatelle is the correct company to the “rich meat and tomato sauce”.

According to the article, gourmands believe that pasta Bolognese should not be mistaken for a simple dish. Chicken or turkey should not be used to substitute for minced beef. In 2010, 450 Italian chefs in 50 countries cooked the real thing using a standard recipe for pasta Bolognese written by the chamber of commerce in Bologna (the home-town of this great dish).

This article seemed bizarre at first; after all it is about pasta. Yet as I read it, I realized that there was more to it than a perspective on cooking pasta Bolognese. This article showed how a simple dish has spread around the world, and changed.

An authentic meal of pasta Bolognese must be wonderful, but who is to say that an adaptation of this dish, perhaps with a little bit of chilli and maybe some lemon-grass, wouldn’t taste delicious either! Sure, this dish might not be entitled to the name “pasta Bolognese”, but it isn’t a new creation either.

It is a blend, as so many things in today’s global world are. It is multicultural, and creative. Its roots may be “pasta Bolgonesian” but it has added its own twist to tradition. It is important for traditional recipes to be remembered, one should never forget what the real dish was, but change is good too.

The traditional pasta Bolognese has history; it is part of the identity of a town and nation.  Purists have every right to be snobbish towards the strange mutations that have appeared on global menus.  These mutations may misinform the public about the dish, yet if they taste good and fill an empty stomach, does it really matter?

Good food is good food, no matter whether it is the original pasta Bolognese or “spag bol”.  Yet the idea that 450 chefs came together to make the authentic dish is fascinating. Italians are clearly proud of their food heritage and their authentic dishes that have been globalized.

Word count: 419

My book

23. If you were to write a book, on what theme or subject matter would it be based, and why? (Stanford/93)

As a high-school student, you have to write essays or paragraphs all the time; either for English assignments, history tests, or even mathematic projects. Writing surrounds you. But for some reason, never have I ever truly considered writing a book.

I doubt anyone can know the number of books written by human beings. They are infinite, not only in number but also in the stories they tell. Some books become bestsellers; others lead more private lives, only ever being read a few people. It all depends on the fate of an individual book, along with its story and writing. I do believe that there are brilliant books which simply never made their way to big publishing houses.

If I were to write a book, I think it would be a children’s book. Children have an imagination that seems to disappear with age.  This is not to say that adults do not have an imagination, of course they do. But the imagination of child is different; it is bigger with more dimensions.

If you tell a child that there are dragons in the back of your garden, they will not question your mental state or burst out in laughter at the apparent absurdity of your statement, they will believe you. They might even check in the garden to see if they are lucky enough to encounter one of the magical dragons.

My tale would be a magical tale.  An adventure in which the protagonist, a brave young girl or boy, has to overcome difficulties, encounter dragons, fight off goblins, drink tea with fairies, and make new friends. The plot would be to save a town or the world from doom.

Stereo typical one might say to the above description. Yes, this story would not be revolutionary in any way, nor will it be a new genre. Yet, this story would, hopefully, teach children about the choices one may have to make in life, and the way to go about making them whilst remembering that your imagination is always there to support through times of difficulties.

I grew up reading these tales, and I believe that, to a certain extent, it is my duty to pass on such stories. These books made my world a lot more interesting. I learnt that you had to stick your friends and help them, that you sometimes had to make tough decisions in life whose benefits only became evident after a while, and that adventure exists.

A garden was not just an eco-system inhabited by different plant and animal life, or as Oxford dictionary says “a piece of ground adjoining a house, used for growing flowers, fruit, or vegetables”. A garden was an adventure; it was the playground of imagination. It was home to fairies, to dragons, to every possible creature I could imagine.
Perhaps being shorter made the whole world more intense, and gardens in particular. What I now look at as a flower beds were once jungles, or tall grasslands.  I believe imagination is vital to having a happy childhood, and it is important to utilize the imagination children are gifted with.

While doing this, children’s books also help shape individuals, their beliefs and values, thus shaping the future of this world. One day a little child will grow-up to become a world leader, and if that child read a children’s book that taught him or her value of integrity, loyalty, and that the end doesn’t really have to be the end. There is always more to life, all one has to do is keep on going and looking towards the brighter future. This child will be able to be optimistic in times of trouble.

It is instances like these where one’s imagination can help, and hopefully bring back the happy memories created by a certain special children’s book, a certain book, hopefully, written by me. Word-count: 663 

Food that makes you happy

          In her article “Eating your way to happiness in the Philippines”(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17471626) for the BBC, Kate McGeown writes about a new happiness promoting restaurant in the Philippines. The “Vincent van Gough is Bipolar” restaurant in the Philippines claims that its food can make people happy. The restaurant’s owner, Jetro Rafael, has crazy dishes that combine ingredients (such as turkey and green apple) to create a diet that will may you happy.  Mr. Rafael developed his recipes from his own experience with depression and mood swings.

There is scientific evidence that backs the idea that certain foods (such as dark chocolate, cranberries, or omega-3) can “improve a person’s mood.” Unfortunately there is no evidence that food can have a long term effect in changing or improving a person’s mood. Guests at restaurant say that this does not bother them; the ambiance itself makes them happy to be there.

Food has always had powerful properties. Some people believe that certain flowers, if added to a dish, can bring luck, love, or happiness (this is popular in some of Shakespeare’s plays).  Chocolate is one food that has had an ever more increasing fame as a mood improver. This claim can now be backed by scientific evidence, but maybe each individual responds to food items differently.

Dishes from childhood memories, such as pancakes or French-toast, can put a smile on one person’s face while not conjure up any particular feeling in another person. I believe it is the memories attached to certain dishes or food items that make them a mood improver. Even if someone forgets a certain memory, seeing or eating a dish connected to it might just change that person’s mood.

I personally find Mr. Rafael concept brilliant. Who doesn’t want to go to a restaurant where the food will make you happier?  But more than it just being the food, I think it is the concept and thought behind each dish that helps make a person happier. The ambiance is definitely key too.  The lighting, colours of the walls, company and music affect a person’s mood greatly as well.

None the less, just wanting to make people happier through food is a wonderful idea. Whether there is scientific evidence to back the long-term effect of such a diet does not matter, after all it is the thought that counts. What helps one person may not help another, but trying never hurts. 

Word count-400

Total word count:3002

The end of a topic

All of the blogs on this page have a thread connecting them. They all (well expect one) have something to do with famous British women.

Why British women? The first news article I read after being given this assignment was the one on the “Iron lady”. It inspired me, and I thought why not just blog about famous British women.

Women are not just powerful or influential as politicians, or queens. Models, feminists, and journalists are just some of the examples how women make a difference in this world. Despite the common held belief that being a woman has its disadvantages in a mainly male dominated society, the people written about in this blog show the opposite.

Sometimes it may mean having to put up with criticism for one’s choice or clothes, words, and actions; but times change.  People adapt themselves to new ideas, what once was seen as scandalous can soon become the norm (take Lennox and suits).  If one is strong enough, and brave enough to stand tall and continue to fight for what one believes in, nothing is impossible.

Yes, it all sounds very cliché. Not always does a new idea manage to triumph the odds working against it. Sometimes one just has to admit defeat. The idea that it is possible to make a difference in this world, no matter who you are, is comforting and encouraging. 

Is the world not a nicer place if you believe that maybe one day you can be the one to create a new fashion trend, or even bring peace to turmoil?  The point is that what you do does not have to make a global impact for it to make a difference in this world. Even just saying “hello” to someone can brighten up their day.

Word count:297 

Love and Freedom

Love and freedom are vital to the creation and upbringing of a child. 
Sylvia Pankhurst 

Few can disagree with this quote. This world may be large, and have many different approaches on how to raise children, yet love is universally accepted as a “vital” component in the “upbringing of a child.”

The component of freedom is usually more debated upon. Some cultures believe that children should be allowed to grow and discover themselves without too many external opinions shaping their perspective on life. The “Montessori” school system exemplifies this concept.

Other cultures believe that children should be given freedom, yet no too much, as they are only children. How can one expect a little being that is inexperienced to be able to make decisions? Yes, experience teaches, yet sometimes is it not better for the child not to undergo hurtful experiences and instead be guided or informed of the consequences by an adult. If this is the case, then it is better for adults to limit a child’s freedom as to insure the child’s safety. Sadly this too has its extreme. Sometimes children are not given any freedom to become individuals, and are instead moulded into the creature their parent want them to be.

I believe that the major debate that may evolve out of this quote is based on the definition of “freedom”. What freedoms and the degree to which one should allow children to have the choice to make their own decisions is a decisive factor for me.

I do believe that children need to go out and experience life for themselves. Burning ones finger on a hot stove teaches a little child not to touch hot objects. Climbing trees, and running around gives children an opportunity to discover the eco-system in their surroundings. Freedom allows children to become their own people and not just fill in a mould created by their parents.

Freedom must have its limitations as well (in the case of the “creation and upbringing of a child”). Children are not adults. They need rules and regulations to guide them, and help them lead a healthy life. Most children love sweets, and if it were up to them, they would live of sugar (at least I would have). This would create various health problems for them, and most likely rot all their teeth. Fortunately, adults exist to curtail a child’s access to sugar.

Of course there is a counter-argument to this example: if a child is given the freedom to eat as much sugar as they want, they will eventually become sick of it, and stop eating it. Sadly though, the consequences of eating too much sugar may come before this realization (and often be the reason for the realization).

“Love” is definitely “vital to the creation and upbringing of a child”. It gives the child the support and confidence it needs to grow-up and face the wide world. It makes a child feel special and cared for. It lets a child know that it is wanted. Yet “freedom” needs to have its limitations. Freedom is most certainly a “vital” component. It is needed to discover oneself, but too much freedom may have consequences.

A little bird cannot fly; it needs its mothers love and support to grow.  Eventually its confidence grows and it decides it can fly, the mother watches and may even decide that the little bird needs a shove out of the nest. The little bird tries but cannot fly, the mother bird will not just watch her baby fall to its death; she will go and save it. She gives her baby freedom but keeps an eye out to make sure here baby is still safe.

Word count:615 

That tree

How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.
Florence Nightingale
Read more:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/f/florence_nightingale.html#ixzz1p6NRlFfZ
Fear freezes humanity. What can you do if you are afraid? Once a fear it is overcome, it is easy to look back and mock the fear. Have you ever wanted to climb a tree, but you were afraid to fall? You cannot simply look past this fear and climb up. The fear prevents you from doing what you want. It plays out scenarios in your mind that exaggerate the consequences of your actions.
The tree might just be ten feet tall, but fear makes you believe that you have 100 feet to fall. The more you think about it, the greater the exaggeration becomes. 100 feet turn into 1000, and soon you are thinking that a bottom-less pit awaits you.
If you are lucky, you might have some friends around you. If these friends are encouraging and supportive, they might be able to convince you that climbing a tree will not be the last thing you do. Usually assurance that they will be there to catch you does the trick.
Maybe, just maybe, you are overcome by bravery. You dare to climb that ten foot tree!
You climb, and realize that you had nothing to fear. Your friends are there, and the tree is only ten feet tall, not 100 or 1000, and there is no bottom-less pit at the end.
Once you are safely back on the ground, you have the opportunity to reflect on the experience. You laugh at your fear. Yet, that fear managed to control your mind.
This situation is one where the risk is small, therefore (I believe), the fear is easier to overcome. This is not always the case. The risk might be greater, even death, and the fear is all the more terrifying. These are dangerous situations, as humans often resort to actions they would never think of in their right minds. They cannot express their true feelings under the control of fear. I believe WWII Germany is a perfect example of the power fear has over individuals. "Very little can be done" when fear rules the mind.
Fear freezes humanity, but once it is overcome, a world of possibility awaits.

Word count: 374

I was perceiving myself as good as a man or equal to a man and as powerful and I wanted to look ambiguous because I thought that was a very interesting statement to make through the media. And it certainly did cause quite a few ripples and interest and shock waves.
Annie Lennox

Read more:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/annie_lennox.html#ixzz1onCAlGLA

100 years ago, women were expected to wear dresses. Once in a while, there would be a woman who would wear pantaloons (the old name for pants, pants was considered an impolite word), but she was either eccentric or crazy. Today woman can wear pants, and no one will look twice. Yet when Annie Lennox began wearing men's clothes, it sent "shock waves" through the media.
The liberties gained by women over the years are many. They can vote, work, and run for political positions. But when it comes to clothing, women are still expected to stick to certain expectations. Men's clothing is one step to far. Or is it?
Ever since Annie Lennox made her bold statement, women have started wearing male apparel more often. The wall of confinement, when it comes to clothing, has been broken down, at least in general.
This makes me wonder why, and when did the apparel for men and women split. In the pictures of cavemen, it seems like they both wear the same fur garments. When did humanity decide that men should different clothes from women?
My guess is that it had something to do with the job distinctions that evolved for the both the sexes as civilization evolved. Even today, we wear different clothes for different jobs: you wouldn't go swimming in night-suit.
Maybe in 500 years, men will begin to wear skirts and it will become unacceptable for women to be seen in anything other than pants. When it comes to the future, imagine tends to run wild as the possibilities seem endless. It is fun to imagine all of the crazy things that could be, but perhaps clothing style will not change much. Who knows?
None-the-less, one has to admire people like Annie Lennox, who stand up against the norms of society and manage to change them.

*when it comes to the clothing norms of society, this piece is mainly based on western fashion trends.

Word count: 381

104. What is your favorite quotation and why? (Princeton)


“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” 
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
I cannot remember how many time I read, watched, or was told the story of Peter Pan as a child. Looking back at my childhood, the information about Peter Pan came in stages.
The first stage was the basic outline of the story: the children's parents go out for the evening, the children are visited by a stranger, they are taken to a distant land, they can fly! The distant land is filled with adventure. There are crocodiles, mermaids, more cool children like the stranger, natives, and an evil man. In the end the good people won, but then they had to leave and go back to their ordinary lives.
The second stage was putting names to the characters, and grasping the message of the story. Peter Pan, Wendy, Tiger Lily, Tinker Bell, and the cruel Captain Hook. I think the first major Peter Pan movie I watched was "Hook". This movie greatly helped establish a bigger picture of the story in my little mind. I began to take notice of the love, friendship, hardship, and fear that made this story so iconic.
As I grew-up, Peter Pan was always there beside me. I watched more movies based on the book. And then I watched "Finding Neverland". The book was no longer just another fairy tale. The movie gave the book new life in my eyes. I was touched by the life story of J.M Barrie, and I realized that Peter Pan was not a fantasy book written for money, it was a book with feelings behind it.
I never really understood the meaning of the quote “All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” But for some reason it has stuck to me, I just never seem to be able to forget it. 
The quote gives this world a sprinkle of the magic that makes Peter Pan such a wonderful story. On a dark and gloomy day when you loose confidence in yourself, this quote manages to bring the sun back into your life. Faith and trust is something that each human can have, pixie dust on the other hand might be a little hard to come by. But this is all besides the point, I believe this quote is so powerful because it shines light on the positive aspects of life. Faith, trust, and pixie dust have a happy connotations, they empower you.
The hidden meaning in the quote may still be hidden from me, but I don't care. This quote makes me feel like I can be superman if I want to. It brings up happy memories, and makes me think a magical place, of Neverland. It takes me back to the first time I heard about Peter Pan.


Word count: 482

Conflict zone women

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17288577
Today, 8th March, is International Women's Day. The BBC news website posted an article about safety tips for women journalists in conflict zones. Not long ago, a Sunday Times female journalist died in the rioting in Syria. Women are often regarded as the weaker sex in society, and each culture has different norms that are socially acceptable for women. This article is based on the advice of three female journalists who have experienced reporting in conflict zones. It lists everything from wearing respectful clothing, carrying some sort of self-defense weapon (like deo or a pin), wearing comfy shoes, going local and being polite, to having a "check-in" base. While reading through the list, I realized that being a female reporter requires courage. The list seemed rather obvious, but then again, the issues it tackled (such as-being kidnapped or having to run away) put their jobs into perspective. In the midst of discord and trouble, reporters appear to be oasis of peace, who manage to keep focused and calm. I have always had tremendous respect for journalists, but this article made it evident to me that they (mostly) deserve every bit of it, especially female ones. They put their lives on the line to keep the world updated with current events. I found the article very appropriate for International Women's Day as it highlighted real women, the dangers that they may face, and the jobs they do. It was inspiring to once again read about what the women of this world are up to. Happy International Women's Day!

word count: 258

The fashion in you!

A dominant figure in most women's lives is fashion. Whether or not you choose to follow it is your own decision. Fashion can be an individual matter of taste or social agreement on what garments are appealing. It changes from town to town, and nation to nation. It is a mean for people to express themselves, and thus, often, a reflection of the thoughts and behaviors of a place. As the world becomes more global, the fashion platform globalizes as well. Fashion shows and Fashion weeks dictate the style of the following season to a wide audience. New colors gain popularity, and new prints become the must-have. The entire system seems quite rigid and conservative. It is not often that someone dares to go against the current. A brave soul who does not keep to the confinements of society can change the world of fashion (at least around her). Sometimes all it takes is wearing red when everyone else wears black. Taking that bold step away from the crowd usually creates an audience, an audience that can at times be judgmental. A strong women can take this challenge, listen to her fashion sense, and if she's lucky, change the world (of the fashion around her at least). Yes, fashion is overrated, with all its glitz and glamour, but it is wonderful too! The intricate designs of dresses with their different cuts and patterns, the many shades that make jeans so versatile and wearable, the shoes from high heels to good old trainers, and of course the simple T-shirts that come in every shade and color imaginable. Fashion is not an inanimate object that can described, measured, and categorized. It is alive, always changing, full of soul, and indefinable as it is every individual's own creation. Fashion can be anything from Audrey Hepburn's iconic black Yves Saint-Laurent dress (in Breakfast at Tiffany's) to Vivienne Westwood's revolutionary punk inspired designs. Fashion is what you make it to be.

Word count: 326