Dining with Mindy

Jan 13, 2013 - Rover's
Amuse Bouche
Duck Confit, Preserved Apricot Puree
Braised Pork Belly, Parsnip, Apple Cider Demi
Escargot on puff pastry, Beet Puree
Mandarin Granite
Duck Breast, Lentils, Cranberry Bean, Thyme Sauce
Symphony of Desserts (apple spun sugar halo on citrus meringue, chocolate pot au creme)
Mignardises (Jam, shortbread with pecans)

Dec 9 - Quion (the bar at Revel)
Both: salty ramen, pancake with creme fresh and arugula, yummy cocktails. 
Server: nice cute waiter but not as good of service as Capitol Grille
Note: smelled fishy

Nov 18 - Tofu Korean House
Shared: pan tsan, tea
M: soon doo boo veggie
I: soon doo boo with everything
Server: unmemorable Korean man
Note: dined with Dan Tyler who picked up the whole tab

Oct 7 - Skillet Diner
M: grilled cheese with gorgonzola, peach bread pudding
I: red beans and rice (and a huge pork shank), hot fudge sundae
Server: sweet, understanding Raggedy-Ann

Sep 9 - Guanacos, U District
Shared: zucchini, beans and zucchini
Server: cute Salvadorian man who said the smoke was a sign they were closing
Note: dined with Luke, Laura, and Abner who told good stories

Aug 12 - Hing Loon
Shared: gai lan with snow peas and mushrooms, scallion pancake, ginger scallion lo mien
I: Congee chicken abalone
Server: efficient Chinese women
Note: loved the ambiance, felt like I could hang out forever

July 15 - Osteria la Spiga
M: rosary cocktail, primavera salad, tagletelle w truffle butter
I: rossini strawberry and prosecco, frisée salad, tagletelle w speck, sausage, tiramisu
Server: short bearded model man

May 13 - Terra Plata
M: bread and butter, grilled grapes, risotto
I: baked oysters (traded one for a blistered shishito pepper from neighbor), short rib
Server: nice freckled redhead 

Mar 18 - Revel
M: curry dumplings, spinach hearts of palm with miso dressing, coconut black rice pudding
I: pancake, crab noodle
Server: confidant brother with halitosis

Feb 11 - Sitka & Spruce
Shared: "guacamole", two orders of falafel
M: sunchoke soup, black rice ice cream
I: something w beans
Server: Ethiopian snob

Jan 22, 2012 - How to Cook a Wolf
M: bruschetta with chanterelle, squash soup
I: brussels sprouts with over easy egg, short rib, gelato
Server: handful of average young women

Five poems about Johnny

Crying about grandson Johnny's early death by the garage door closing

1.
Cactus orchid just in bloom, too hurried
Transcends this life, return to the universe
Thinking about you, in your whole life there was no sorrow
Go back to truth and simplicity, in the light of the moon

2.
Our most painful sorrow is when we part
Even sadder, is separating from your bone-flesh
When we relive our old dreams
Only then, dreaming, can I hold and caress my boy

3.
Upon hearing the terrible news, my heart broke
The whole night, hard to sleep, helpless inward wrenching
Baby calves should remain, white hairs should leave
Our family tree's next generation is missing a house

4.
You were given a good name, called Long Peace
Who knows: heaven's jealousy, lack of compassion 
A flower bud blossoming, blown off by the wind
With heavy regret, this good work's carving incomplete 

5. 
Today I hold a pen and mourn my recently departed
Remaining impressions of your voice and likeness, obscured
As time passes, fading gradually, like water flows
Someday, with enduring sorrow, re-write poem 

Notes:
- My cousin Johnny was five years old when he was crushed to death accidentally by the garage door. He was born the same year I was, and died the same year I went to Taiwan for the first time.
- The verb for carving (zuo2) is specific to jade
- My grandparents selected these characters: Cang Le Yong Kang Ning (Long Happiness Lasting Health Peace) for the names of their sons' sons. This cousin was the son of the fifth uncle, so they all have Ning in their name. Johnny was the firstborn so my uncle combined the character of the first uncle's sons, Cang with his sons' character, Ning. My other cousins of this uncle are Le Ning, and Yong Ning.
- The verb for rewrite (teng2) means specifically final copy, not a draft
- On my mom's side, the generational names go: ...Da Wen Zang Hua* Guo Ding...my great grandfather was Da Rong, my grandfather Wen Wei, my uncles were Zang Pei, Zang Jun, Zang Zen, my cousins are Hua En and Hua Ming, and my oldest sister is De Hua.

A pair of poems for a pair of shadows

Before Mrs. Fu left, she invited me to stay at her house for two days. I wrote two poems for her as a departing gift.

1.
The remaining light of the setting sun casts a pair of shadows.
Still water, quiet peaceful. The waves must be cold.
The green trees and red flowers compete for prettiest.
Geese flying in circles have not settled down.

2. 
In a foreign country, happily met by evening light.
Blink once, and already singing departing songs.
Across the lake, gazing at the sun, a pair of shadows.
The passing geese resounding, circling a tree, not wanting to leave.