Delighting the Mind with Eclecticism

The physics studying still continues, and at this point, I am looking for distractions. I keep convincing myself of the lie that the last week before the test is easily not the most vital week of preparation. At least I started off the morning with good intentions, studying at a local coffee shop, but towards the middle of the day, I instead found myself on the top of a parking deck joining the crowd to watch the solar eclipse. I do have a major test coming up, but this event could not be missed! Of course there is also the next solar eclipse in April of 2024, but still I recognize priorities when I see them.

After watching the eclipse, I turned to my friends Tracy and Sam for the next diversion. Studying was tiresome, painful, and was slowly growing to be overwhelmingly depressing. We all three knew, whatever distraction that was to come, that somehow it must involve food. After all, as Hippocrates was so wise to state in 400 BC,

Let thy food be thy medicine.

Much to the relief of the trio, we found ourselves headed to a nearby food court.

Pizitz Food Hall - Birmingham, Al

Logo from The Pizitz website

There was nothing to prepare me for the experience behind those large glass doors. Upon first glance, it looked like any other food hall with rows of different restaurant stalls and customer tables and chairs set up neatly through the long hallway. It was, however, the diversity of food selection and uniqueness of fresh dishes that made this place so appealing. Tracy, Sam and I started our full tour by taking in each vendor in all of their splendor, considering our different meal options, and smelling the distinct aromas that met us around each corner. 

At first, I felt frustration. How in the world could I choose when everything looked so delicious and smelled so taunting? I eventually settled on MoMo, an authentic Nepalese restaurant that was opened by Abhi Sainju, a man originally from Nepal who spent his young years at a boarding school in India. Chef Sainju is the owner of the local downtown Bamboo on 2nd, another place on my list to eventually visit. I ordered the vegetable momo ('momo' being the Nepalese word for 'dumpling') which was served with a tomato based broth. I am unsure of other specific ingredients, since at this time, I am not as familiar with Nepalese cuisine. Regardless, I thought the dish was delicious; it had a calm and sweet flavor from the tomato but a bit of a hot bite from some spices in the sauce. I let my friend Sam try a bite of these little dumplings, and though I do not feel she was smitten as much as I was, she did still express an interest in the flavors and labeled it 'good.'

Sam ordered the pork belly ramen from Ichicoro Imoto, a Japanese ramen restaurant, and was greatly pleased. She was sweet enough to let me sip a spoonful of the broth in her dish and try a bamboo shoot from the soup. The bamboo shoot was prime, still firm enough that it had a bit of a crunch. As expected, the broth categorizes the dish under salty and fishy labels, both of which are flavors the partaker must be craving.

Tracy ordered a Parisian sandwich from Busy Corner Cheese and Provisions, which consisted of madrange ham and Brie cheese on a French baguette. As usual, Tracy's choice of food made me jealous. He was equally as pleased with his decision and proceeded to hand out samples of his sandwich for both me and Sam to try. Superb! But how could I stop here? How could I, a cheese lover, pass up an opportunity to savor more?

As usual, I gave in to my inner crazy voice of addiction and once more returned for additional food. I am happy to say that what next entered our mouths was the highlight of this entire day. I ordered a cheese board from Busy Corner Cheese and Provisions. On top of that, I instantly felt a connection with Brian McMillan, the owner of this business. He worked so hard to make our experience enjoyable and even proceeded to write down all the names of the cheeses that we were sampling. Without a shadow of a doubt, I trusted this man and his knowledge of cheeses. If anyone takes the opportunity to visit this small deli cafe to speak with Brian, they will not leave disappointed. In fact, I extend my hello to Brian through any reader that drops by this wonderful cafe stop.

The cheeses we were privileged to sample included: Bearded Lady goat cheese from Prodigal Farm in North Carolina, Wilde Weide cheese from L'Amuse in Holland, Tunworth cheese from Neal's Yard Dairy in England, Thomasville Tomme cheese from Sweetgrass in Georgia, and Nickajack cheese from Sequatchie Cove Farm in Tennessee. We could pair the cheeses with quince preserves, fig jam, or a drizzle of rosemary honey from the Savannah Bee Company. 

Tracy, Sam and I spent the next half an hour at least savoring each cheese in its smell, texture, and relish. Some were more pungent than others (ahem, goat cheese), but each one I appreciated to its fullest capacity. Needless to say, studying for the rest of the day was downhill. It is only natural after such a mountaintop experience. What a memorable moment! Though this week's test stands looming over each of my brain's neurons, this delightful food experience broke down the walls of terror in my mind. If nothing else in my life ever succeeds, I will forever know that God blessed me with one last celebrated occasion at the Pizitz food hall.

Twist on Fast Food

Many people can relate to those family arguments in the car when each member tries to find common ground about where to eat. For my father, the first choice is always Burger King with their cheap and filling cheeseburgers, but what follows is usually a train of moans and groans and utterances of disgust. I am not at all a fan of fast food. One will occasionally find me at Panera Bread or Chick-fil-A (because, well, it is Chick-fil-A), but that is about all.

When my friend Anthony called and said he wanted to grab a quick bite before we ran over to 2nd & Charles to pick up some comics, he knew that I would not settle for anything but at least a step-up from general fast food.

Baha Burger in Hoover, Al

Logo from Baha Burger's Twitter account

With the desire to be a fair food critic, I tried to keep an open mind. This restaurant is unique to Hoover and is known for their slightly gourmet twists on burgers. Anthony assured me before we walked in the door that they had tasty salmon burgers, so I was willing to cautiously wade in the shallow end. I ordered the baby salmon burger with a regular side of sweet potato fries while he went with the salmon burger in its regular size with a side of onion rings.  

The walls were lined with decorations supporting their surfer theme: swimming trunks, bikini tops, pictures of beach scenes. I still remain confused about the couple of skateboards that hung from the ceiling. Surf board... skate board... same difference, right?

The food was mediocre. Although the salmon patty was a bit too breaded for my taste, I must commend them for their choice in aioli sauce - great flavor! The owners I suppose also tried to make the sides a bit more distinct by the handful of fried okra they tossed in with the fries and onion rings. To be honest, this left me more puzzled than anything but if food is indeed an art, I must allow for some freedom of expression.

Overall, the entire experience was okay - just a casual day at a casual restaurant. Although I would never turn up my nose at this place, it still indeed does fall under that category of fast food. For those fast food lovers out there, this location might switch up the menu a bit. When schedules get heavy, an occasional rushed lunch is understandable. But to enjoy food takes time; it takes focus. So, the fast food industry unfortunately will most likely never be for me.

Efficiency of a Caffeine Distraction

To say it has been raining in Birmingham the past few days would be an understatement - flooding is more like it. Unfortunately, I and a number of my fellow graduate students have a very important test coming up; although studying is our top priority at the moment, all I truly want to do is to crawl back under those bed covers and pretend the world does not need another brain. But as the Proverbs (10:4) say, "Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." Though I may never reach that status of actually being monetarily rich, I still let motivation be my guide and caffeine be my distraction in pulling me out of a state of laziness.

Neighborhood Brew in Hoover, Al

Logo from Neighborhood Brew's website

It smells right as soon as you walk in the door. That is always the best sign for coffee. Having grown up in Europe, I am extra particular about my coffee being made just right. I ordered a regular cup of their featured coffee, which on this particular day was Caffe Umbria. More information about this specific brand and their different blends can be found on the company's website: https://caffeumbria.com/.

Before my study partners Tracy and Amanda showed up, I wanted to just take it all in. I sat down at a long, wide table which was perfect for scattering papers and books - an opportunity we did in fact take advantage of. Looking around the open room, I saw neat little corners the owners had designed for cozy conversation. The wall art was definitely unique, almost child-like in nature and color which only added to the casual ambiance of the cafe. 

Upon arrival, Tracy ordered a traditional mocha which had me a bit jealous, as I eyed that swirl of foamy whipped cream and chocolate syrup floating on top. Amanda desired a bit of a 'pick-me-up' but was not ready for the caffeine frenzy and instead settled on the decaf coffee. Remembering that she generally enjoyed coffee with more cream or milk, I was ecstatic to hear that she added this dark roast cup of joe to her list of favorites. She is also recognized for having a sweet tooth, so it came as no surprise that she dived right in to those homemade cinnamon muffins that greeted her at the counter. 

Our study session was a success, lasting in fact for about four hours. We covered some basic physics concepts introduced in our undergraduate courses (which in fact always turn out to be the most challenging to remember) as well as those complex electrodynamics problems we have studied more recently in our graduate career.

This small midwestern family-owned place definitely gets a thumbs up from me. It is not my favorite spot to seek out coffee, but it is definitely a place worth checking out. It does well for study sessions and even is convenient for meeting up and enjoying a casual hang out with some friends. I am absolutely certain this location is on my list of places to return.

Post Picture Pizza 'n Pasta

When I go to the movies, I am not generally in my healthy mood. My goal and purpose is to relax and feel laid-back and comfortable, perhaps even a bit lazy. I think most people would agree that movies and pizza go hand in hand. Though I would generally head for the more upscale pizza restaurants that the Birmingham area has to offer, I had thick dough and stringy cheese on my mind.

After my friend Connor and I left the movies, having just watched Wonder Woman in all her glory and strength, we proceeded to a pizza place for food and a good time.

Salvatore's Pizza and Pasta - Birmingham, AL

Banner from Salvatore's restaurant website

The restaurant setting was quaint, and a nice smell greeted us at the door. It was not polished in any respect, but it did provide a comfortable seating and atmosphere. I had semi-good expectations after reading reviews of the standard for pizza being that of New York quality, and that the owner himself grew up in New York (his father apparently was from Italy). Recognizing this and the fact that we were though still indeed in Alabama, I kept an open mind. We ordered our food at the counter and made our way to a wide booth, placing our table number at the edge for the waiter to see. 

I ordered the garden veggie calzone but received the general veggie calzone instead. Obviously, I was not too disappointed - I got my vegetables in, and I got the cheese and sauciness that I was looking for. Though I was hoping for more of the pesto and tomato flavors that night, it was not worth sending it back. Connor, however, went the pasta route, ordered the fettuccine chicken alfredo, and was not pleased at all. Honestly to me, his dish did not even look appealing so I was not surprised to hear that the taste did not meet his expectations. I did not get too many details, but I am sure it was pretty bland. Unlike what they say, when it comes to food, looks are usually not deceiving. 

Obviously, not every food experience is spectacular; that of course is part of the culinary journey. For someone looking for some casual cheesy goodness and thick tasty dough after a movie, this might be the place to visit. Otherwise, I advise steering away from the dishes with an "Italian twist" for it may not end up as flavorful or authentic as one would hope. This is Alabama after all. 

Girls Just Need a Night Out

The evening was coming on fast, and I was desperate for some tasty goodness. Specifically, sushi. And when one craves sushi, there is no arguing. It starts as a cry in the stomach and becomes an obsession of the mind. Following the will of the inner sushi caller, I dialed one of my girl friends Micah and told her to get cute and to get ready fast because we were going out that night for some fancy sushi. Needless to say on the other end of the line, I heard a squeal before a note of assent; within half an hour, we were off.

Jinsei Sushi in Homewood, AL

Banner from restaurant website

Looped arm in arm, we made our way into this modern hot spot of Homewood, AL, and were seated in the dim restaurant lounge, an eating area alive with urban music. We were comfortably seated side by side on a cushioned bench before breaking out in nervous giggles at the trendy vibes. The miniature table in front of us would adorably be the platter supporting our upcoming meal.

Having had steamed edamame in the past, I wanted a bit of adventure. Micah had never had edamame at all and generally had an aversion to the texture of any bean. But with a mission for her and myself to try something foreignly familiar, I ordered a starter of grilled edamame. I love edamame, but the introduction to a char-grilled, sea-salted version of this firm soybean left me licking my fingers. Not one was left in the bowl.

For the star of the show of course, we settled on two rolls of sushi: the ginger albacore roll made with maguro and hamachi (both Japanese names for bluefin tuna and amberjack) and the suteki roll made with smoked salmon. The waiter expected the prize winner to be the ginger albacore roll, and although it was absolutely delicious, the cream cheese in the suteki roll had us ladies hooked. Serious life discussions mixed with light-hearted comments found its way through our girlish evening banter; although the noise level was higher in this chic atmosphere, the intimacy of seating still allowed for close conversation.

We finished off our dining experience with baby bites, small bite-size cake pops with caramel and red velvet cake dough. The portion size was perfect - we were not looking for too much sweetness to overpower those salty and fishy flavors we had just savored.

The night was fabulous. Great company, a unique restaurant experience for the Birmingham area. It is definitely a place to which we will be returning. In fact, Micah has already made her birthday plans!

If an opportunity arises for a visit in the future, I hope the reader finds this place to be equally as memorable. Feel encouraged to comment and share those experiences with me.

Joy in Shared Experiences

Most of my friends already know of my passion for exploring food, of my enthusiastic palate, and of my spiritual connection to the culinary arts. Strangers might find me sitting alone at a fancy restaurant, simply content to enjoy the ambiance of a fine dining experience. I am spotted often in the kitchen, scrambling through cabinets for bare and basic ingredients to produce a magical gourmet dish that will bring me to tears. While many people ride roller coasters or jump out of airplanes to send their heart through a moment of thrill, I cook and prepare my food in suspense and savor each flavor with equal surprise. I think about food, dream about food, take pictures of food, decorate my food, smile and laugh about food, form lasting relationships over food. And now, with encouragement from a friend, I seek to share my memories of edible glory with you. Food is an art, a lasting experience. As a person of faith, it causes me to turn to my God in praise, thanking Him for this connection. I want to move beyond simply cooking for people or going out with friends or chatting with restaurant waiters about how I feel. I want to share my joy of these adventures with my readers, take them through the crazy side of my brain, and inspire them to open their eyes to a world of newfound memories in the art of food.