WRITING CULTURE 2012: Film, Food & Beyond

Listening to Katherine Vaz tonight was like being transported to a different realm.

The power she has with words and with creating scenes makes it very easy to feel as though you are a part of them. I enjoyed her reading from her new book that is soon to be published, “Below the Salt”.  A few quotes that really stuck out to me included “for every 5o notes about fright, there are 30 about joy”, “so much of love is not worrying about what happens next”, and “happiness is simply the purity of not wanting anything else.” I think these are amazing and a testament to the range of emotions she conveys through her writing, it describes her ability to showcase love in the midst of tragedy.

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Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and what better way to start the day but with eggs. Did you know that eggs are the only source of food that contains vitamin D?  Eggs are also high in sulphur content which can promote healthy hair and nails. There are many other health benefits of eggs, but this is not what I’m here to talk about. What I want to talk about is how something so simple like an egg can transform into a something so creative and different!

Omelettes are my go-to breakfast in the morning. Making omelettes allow me to apply my creativeness and create a variety of tastes and textures in one meal. To make an omelette is really simple. Take two beaten eggs and incorporate your favorite fillings. Now the best thing about this dish is the variety of cheese, meats, and vegetables that can be mixed in. With the right ingredients and the right cooking time, omelettes can bring your taste buds to a whole new level. Experience various flavors and taste by trying other cultures omelettes. Making omelettes take time, so for me to have this dish, I must have at least an hour to spare to just sit and enjoy this fluffy creation. But in this 21 st century, omelettes  are now on the go and in a roll!

I recently had my first omelette on a roll at the Gramercy Grill. I went with the classic Western omelette that contained diced ham, green peppers, and onions. It is often a platter served with a side of hash browns or homemade fries, but not this omelette. I purchased this omelette for on-the-go, therefore the omelette was tucked between a warm roll.

When I took my first bite, the heat of the omelette instantly warmed my body up. After chewing past the light and airy roll, I discovered a nice layer of ketchup and mayonnaise dressing. Now, that may sound disgusting, but it surprisingly works! I thought the cold was a refreshing surprise from the heat of the omelette and that the ketchup married well with the egg. Soon enough, I got a crunch from the green peppers, a sweet taste of the onions, and the saltiness of the ham. The experience was not only satisfying but filling, for only $2.75. I would definitely go back, but perhaps I’ll try something different, like their Egg White Omelette.

Upon entering Emperor Japanese (96 Bowery St, NYC) I got the feeling of a very homey and even communal experience, in a good way. This place is not ragged or run down like most small mom-and-pop joints I have, for various reasons, landed in. There is a certain hustle and bustle, humming with indecipherable conversations all around.

One menu is handed to each group. Going green? Probably not. I was not bothered by this, however, those that intend on ordering less or not sharing the bill might be, as unconsumed orders are charged extra, per lb. You can always order more though, so take it easy.

Each diner is seated by an electric hot plate which will hold the broth of their choice (see menu) at their desired temperature. Patrons use a slotted ladle to submerge the various raw proteins and vegetables into the flavored broth, to be cooked.  The menu is varied from what most people would consider “regular” to “exotic”, from Chicken to Pig Blood.

I had Shrimp (whole, shell on), sliced chicken, sliced beef, fish tofu, fried tofu, chicken dumplings, Bok Choy, Bean Sprouts and Green Tea.  To accompany them I chose the spicy Szechuan broth, soy sauce with scallion, Hoisin sauce and sweet chili sauce. There is an empty bowl and white rice provided if you choose to drink the broth. Everything was very flavorful except the broth. It was spicy, which should be obvious by the name, but lacked depth, was under seasoned and especially deprived of salt.

The experience is interactive and personalized. I found the price to be reasonable but not cheap and assume they make bank in the winter time. If you are prepared to smell like multiple types of food to please your eyes and belly then I recommend you pay them a visit (easily accessible by MTA: B,D,N,Q,J,Z and M15,M22,M103).