Author Archives: mourningdove

Alternative Careers and A Day in the Life of Chef David Yoshimura at Nisei

“So, you ready to run away and join the circus?” David Yoshimura asked me as we stood side-by-side in chef’s whites in the kitchen of his Michelin-starred restaurant, Nisei, watching our hard work that day come to fruition as the first plates went out to dinner guests. I just chuckled because the answer to thatContinue reading “Alternative Careers and A Day in the Life of Chef David Yoshimura at Nisei”

Cartoons for Grown-ups/I Have Notes for…Fena: Pirate Princess

Honestly I don’t know why I even have notes for this show, it was so bad. Yes, I do: just look at those guys! They’re the Goblin Knights, and they are awesome. And, Production I.G does know how to make a pretty anime. So, let’s give this a shot. Fena: Pirate Princess follows Fena Houtman,Continue reading “Cartoons for Grown-ups/I Have Notes for…Fena: Pirate Princess”

Wednesday’s Child: ADHD

Yup, I’m finally admitting it: I have Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. I figure you don’t need a professional diagnosis if you’re willing to admit it 😉 Kidding, obviously: please do go get a professional diagnosis if you’re struggling with focus, attention, and anxiety issues. I’m just lucky to have a pretty mild case and to haveContinue reading “Wednesday’s Child: ADHD”

Friday Favorites: Old-School Web Comics

From the early days of the Internet, where things either didn’t move or were animated with Flash (remember Flash?): Homestarrunner: Everybody! This wholesome and very funny web-comic was all the rage among my students when I got my first tenure-track job back in 2003. You should read the story about how the “Brothers Chap” createdContinue reading “Friday Favorites: Old-School Web Comics”

Grits v. Polenta v. Cornmeal v. Atole v. Chaquewe v. Masa: What’s the Difference?

TL;DR: not a whole heckuva lot—it’s mostly about the fineness of the grind and whether the corn has been nixtamalized or not. But for the fine print, read on…. If you try to cook even a little bit outside the box, you’ve run into this issue before. You’ve found yourself staring at a recipe thatContinue reading “Grits v. Polenta v. Cornmeal v. Atole v. Chaquewe v. Masa: What’s the Difference?”

ESC #41 and #42: DessArt Night (ft. shibori dyeing)

My friend Gina asked me when I got interested in shibori, and I couldn’t remember, but I love the graphic simplicity of it and the rich color of the indigo. Indigo dyeing always intimidated me, though—until I found Yamato Indigo’s instant dye vats. It’s a mix of organic indigo with the agents you need toContinue reading “ESC #41 and #42: DessArt Night (ft. shibori dyeing)”