Brookfield Wannabe

I'm not talking about beauty.  I'm talking about what offends you.  Two interesting situations came up recently.  I'd be interested in knowing what you think.  (As always comments are being moderated.)

Situation 1 

I was shopping yesterday at a grocery store in the Brookfield/Elm Grove area.  While waiting in line, I scanned the magazines at the checkout.  I noticed that one magazine was almost fully obscured from my view by a black, rectangular piece of something like light plywood.  I couldn't tell what magazine was behind it, so I pulled it out. After seeing what was on the cover, I did a quick check of the other checkout lanes.  The magazine was covered up in all the lanes that it was in.

The magazine was "People".  On the cover, a picture of Clay Aiken holding his new baby.  The headline, printed in bold letters, was "Yes, I'm Gay". 

Situation 2 

The Spouse's company has been running a series of radio ads.   A recent ad, written by one of the ad agency's employees, used the word "gypped." In the ad, it was  used as a synonym for the word "cheated."  After about a week, a message was left on the company's voice mail.  The caller, offended by the ad, called the Spouse's company "idiots" and "bigots," with one or two expletives thrown in for good measure.

The problem?  The word "gypped" is a racial or ethnic slur against gypsies, which the Spouse discovered after googling the word.  Here are some of the links found:

Defective Yeti and Houston Chronicle

The Spouse didn't know this and, that night, asked me what I thought of the word "gypped," without telling me about the offended caller.  I answered that I might have just used the word "cheated," but the basis for my answer was because I wouldn't use "slang" in the ad, not because I knew it was offensive.

The Spouse's company has pulled the ad. 

Another interesting point is that someone at the ad agency flagged the ad for the reason outlined above, but after discussion, the powers that be at the agency decided that the flag was just an "overreaction". 

I had the pleasure of eating at Wasabi, the newest addition to the Asian dining scene in the Brookfield/Elm Grove area.  By my count, Wasabi is now the fourth Japanese restaurant on the Bluemound Road corridor.  Gone are the days when you had to trek down to the venerable Izumi's on the east side for quality sushi.  Wasabi is located in a strip mall at the intersection of Moorland Road and Bluemound, the same mall that houses the Vitamin Shoppe and Starbucks.

As with most of the newer restaurants, the decor at Wasabi is contemporary.  The large sushi bar dominates the room, with tables at the center and small booths and banquette seating to the sides.  Wasabi also has a small regular bar.  It bills itself as having a "lounge" atmosphere, but I am not sure what that means.  Maybe it means "dark" because the lighting was a tad dim the night I was there, which made reading the menu difficult.  

Surprisingly, there was no beef/steak teriyaki on the menu, even though Chicken ($16) and Salmon Teriyaki ($18) were both offered.  This disappointed us because beef teriyaki is our "go to" dish for our daughter in Japanese restaurants.  Upon the advice of our server, we chose the Braised Prime Short Rib ($18) as a substitute, after being told it had a "sweet" flavor similar to teriyaki.   Although not really like teriyaki, I'd describe the braised short rib as a kind of sweet pot roast.  The sweet taste was subtle, and the meat was not dripping in sauce, as is usually the case with teriyaki dishes.  It got the thumbs up from the little one.  The portion was pretty big for a child, but it made for good leftovers the next day.  The entree did not come with rice but was served with a sweet "bread", similar to what encases barbecued pork buns, if you're familiar with dim sum.  (I'd write the chinese name for it but I doubt the software would allow it.)

On the night we were there, the restaurant was out of shrimp dumplings, which are my favorite and are generally more complex in taste than beef dumplings/pot stickers, if done right.  But since I was in the mood for dumplings, we ordered the beef ones, Gyoza ($6).  You can order them steamed or pan fried.  My preference is pan fried for beef dumplings.  I'm not sure why I ordered the Gyoza that night because I am not a big fan of pot stickers.  Generally, the filling always strikes me as bland, and they turn out "gummy" more often than not when pan fried.  But the ones at Wasabi pleasantly surprised me.  Delicately shaped, they retained a crispness around the edges.

For entrees, the spouse and I stuck with sushi, but the restaurant offers a variety of non-sushi selections.  For meat lovers, there are three different kinds of steak entrees with an asian twist:  New York Strip ($21), Filet Mignon ($27), Rib Eye ($18).  For seafood lovers, in addition to the salmon teriyaki mentioned above, there is Chilean Sea Bass ($20), Spice Garlic Shrimp ($18), and Scallop and Crab Cake ($18).

Wasabi also offers a variety of fried rice, ranging from $5 to $8.

For sushi eaters, there are "wraps", cone shaped hand rolled sushi: Spicy Tuna ($4) and Negi Toro (fatty tuna) ($8), to name a few.  Wasabi also has many different rolls.   The spouse and I shared the Black Dragon roll ($16), which consisted of soft shell crab, avocado, and cucumber, topped with eel.  It was very good but didn't differ greatly from other dragon rolls that I've sampled at other restaurants.

We liked Wasabi.  The prices and portions are comparable to other Japanese restaurants in our area.  The Gyoza was the biggest hit, far better than other "pot stickers" I've tasted in both Japanese and Chinese places.  As for the sushi, I was impressed with the number of "signature rolls" that Wasabi offers, but the roll I had, while good, was nothing unique.

We had no qualms taking our younger daughter there.  There were more than enough non-sushi items to choose from. There were no problems with service when we were there.

With all these new Japanese restaurants, it's important to remember that "sushi" doesn't mean "raw fish".  So, if you don't care for raw fish sushi, that doesn't mean you can't try out these new places.  For example, the Black Dragon roll I ordered has all "cooked" ingredients, including the eel, which is delicious for all you uninitiated out there.  There are also vegetarian rolls available.  Just carefully read the menu and ask your server for his/her recommendations.  Sushi is a great alternative if you don't feel like eating a heavy meal.

(Neither the owners or management/staff of Wasabi knew we were coming nor did they offer me anything in exchange for writing this blog.)

My blog today is about Michael M. Taylor, a man I don't know. His name was provided to me by Project 2996.

Founded two years ago, Project 2996 pays tribute to the victims of 9/11 by asking bloggers to blog about a victim and then post the written tribute on September 11.  A blogger can choose a specific person or, as in my case, write about a person that the website selects.

Michael ("Mouse") Taylor was 42 years old when the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center, his workplace.   He grew up in Pennsylvania, was a graduate of Duke University and UCLA, and was working as a bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald when his life was tragically cut short.

At the time of his death, he was survived by his parents, a brother, two sisters, and a fiancee. 

There is one story about him that I particularly like.  In the 90's, he bought a Porsche Carrera.  The car was a stickshift, but he didn't drive stick.   So, he got his buddy, a professional NASCAR driver, to teach him how to drive stick in exchange for golf lessons.    Why do I like that story?  First, it shows that Mr. Taylor had great taste in cars.  (The Porsche Carrera just happens to be my dream car.)  Second, he had the good sense to know that the only way to drive a Porsche is by stickshift. 

I wish that I had more time to write this tribute.  As it happens, I only found out about Project 2996 at around 5:30 p.m. on September 10 and am writing this at 11:10 p.m. so that I can post it on September 11.

The bits and pieces I've related to you about Mr. Taylor were gleaned from other sources.  In addition to the nytimes.com article linked to above, here are the other sources I found:

Duke Magazine 

Elsie's Yoga Class  (Seriously -- Elsie blogged about Mr. Taylor as part of the 2006 Project 2996)

There is a poem by Pearl Cleage called We Speak Your Names.  It was recited as part of Oprah's Legends Ball.  Although the poem was recited in order to pay tribute to African-American women pioneers, the power of the poem was in their names -- after every verse, the names of several women were pronounced slowly and solemnly.   In a single name, there was weight, substance -- reverence.

So today, on September 11, 2008 -- MICHAEL M. TAYLOR -- I speak your name.

*****

To see a list of the 2008 bloggers and the people they have chosen to honor and to learn more about Project 2996, click here.

H/T to Cindy Kilkenny at Fairly Conservative for the info on Project 2996.

The statue of the "Bronze Fonz" was unveiled Tuesday.  Here's a link to a short jsonline article.

I don't care what anyone else thinks; I think it's art.  Why?  Because when I look at it, it inspires feelings in me.

Laughter: Because it's a Bronze Fonz for goodness sakes!

Nostalgia: Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley were some of my favorite T.V. shows growing up.  I think the shows were on Tuesday nights at 7 and 7:30 respectively. Much better than the rather short-lived spin-off Joanie and Chachi (But then again what pre-teen/teenage girl didn't have a crush on Scott Baio?!)  Funnier than Mork and Mindy, IMO.

Melancholy:  Oh, for the days when my only concern was getting my homework done, so I could watch T.V. before I went to bed.

So, some may look down their noses at it, seeing it as just a cheesy statue, but it makes me smile, it makes me think, it makes me feel happy, it makes me feel wistful.  I'd say that's art.  (As a bonus, I don't have to contemplate what my "perception" of the piece is.)

Christmas card photo op?  Hmm...

By now, you may have read that John Edwards, after vehemently denying tabloid reports of an affair, has admitted that it is true and that it occurred during the time that his wife has been battling cancer.  What a ***. 

I reacted strongly to the admission because I read Elizabeth Edwards autobiography, Saving Graces, last fall, and I found it to be one of the most touching and powerful books that I have read in recent memory.  The original book was published in 2006, when it appeared that her breast cancer had fallen into remission.  A postscript chapter, published in 2007, revealed that the cancer had returned, had spread to her bones, and was now classified as incurable.

I don't know her, but she seems like a remarkable lady based on what she's been through:  the death of her first son in 1996, birth of twins after infertility treatment while in her 40s, breast cancer diagnosis with two young children, and then incurable bone cancer.

Despite all that, she managed to write an extraordinary, even uplifting, book.  Her text resonates with grace, strength, and dignity.

Elizabeth Edwards: a class act.    John Edwards: Not so much.
 

My niece, who is only 2 1/2, thinks it's funny to dance around and then say to me, "Shake your booty."  Last night, I had to tell her that I couldn't because my booty was too sore from exercise class.

I'm still taking Zumba class, and the last 5 minutes of my last session almost did me in.  Here is the update I promised regarding my instructor's new studio in Brookfield.*
 

The Pilates-Yoga Connection

19700 W. Bluemound Rd.

Brookfield, WI  53045

Instructor:  Lisa Eurich-Bolter/ registered yoga teacher and certified personal trainer

Email: lisaeurich@yahoo.com/ Phone: (262) 565-7071

The studio is holding a series of free Saturday workshops.  Different studio instructors lead the classes.

8/9 - 9:30 -- 11:00 a.m.  Dance Fitness  (a dance workout that combines West African dance, salsa, hip-hop and kickboxing moves)

8/16 - 9:30 -- 11:00 a.m.  Zumba and demo on the Pilates Reformer

8/23 - 9:30 -- 11:00 a.m.  YogaFusion and Meditation

9/6 - 9:30 -- 11:00 a.m.  Sole Motion and Mat Pilates (a blend of t'ai chi, yoga, dance, and martial arts moves, the last 1/2 hour is mat pilates)

Although these classes are free, advanced registration is required. 

Contact Lisa Eurich-Bolter by phone or by email to register for the free sessions or for more information on other classes.

* No one at the Pilates Yoga Connection offered me anything in exchange for writing this blog. 

I saw this video on "The View" this morning.  It made me cry.  I must be getting sappy in my old age.

Christian the Lion 

While in line at McDonald's at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, the Spouse and I witnessed the following exchange.  The people involved were a young cashier and an unhappy customer of Indian descent.

Customer:  (holding an uneaten salad in his hand)  I wanted a salad without any meat.  This has meat in it.

Cashier:  That's not meat.  That's just bacon.

Yep, that's what she said. The customer, after a second or two of stunned silence, decided that it was going to be necessary to state the obvious.

Customer:  Bacon is meat.  I can't eat meat.

Cashier:  (in an irritated tone) So ... does that mean you don't want the bacon?

I did a very brave thing last night.  I went to a Zumba exercise class. 

It was a brave act on many fronts.  First, I probably haven't done any real cardio exercise since Ms. Kemp's aerobics class at Burleigh Junior High.  Second, I attended the class with my sister-in-law who is a decade younger than I am.  Third, the class was open to anyone 16 or older, so there was the nagging fear that I would be Zumba-ing amidst people more than two decades younger.  Fourth, have I ever mentioned that I have an artificial hip joint? 

What is Zumba?  Zumba is best described as latin dancing aerobics.   Here's a clip from The Today Show, featuring the man who created Zumba.  The first few minutes of the clip showcase testimonials.  If you want to just watch the demonstration, you can skip ahead to about 3:45 in the video.

Needless to say, I was a bit nervous about the class.  I had only two goals:

1. To Not Hurt Myself; and

2. To Not Throw Up

I am proud to say that both goals were achieved. 

Both my sister-in-law and I really enjoyed the class.  We both like to dance, and it was a lot more fun than regular aerobics.  What I really found beneficial was that I could "tone down" the intensity of the moves to a level that was comfortable for me and still work up a pretty good sweat.   Apart from a few twinges on either side of my waist, due to all the hip-swiveling action,  I emerged relatively ache-free, although I do admit to downing some Tylenol as a preventative measure before I went to bed.

Interested in giving it a try?  I know that a few health clubs do offer Zumba classes, but the instructor who taught my class will soon be opening a studio in Brookfield on Bluemound Road.  It will offer yoga, pilates, and dance fitness classes, in addition to Zumba.  The studio is still undergoing construction, and the website is not up and running yet.  I'll post the information when I confirm that the studio is open.

As with any other type of exercise, check with your physician before beginning an exercise program, especially if you have any health problems or concerns.

I did, and my ortho doc gave me the greenlight, so long as I didn't do any hardcore jumping.  I of course was happy to comply. :-) 

Hello, I'm back!  And now that I'm back, unfortunately, I've got nothin'... and it is all The Spouse's fault. 

I've been writing this blog for two years, and in all that time, The Spouse has never asked that I refrain from writing about a particular topic.  Until two days ago.

So, a "situation" has presented itself that for me falls under the  "I don't want to do this but I'll suck it up and do it anyway" category of marital duties.  Then, I was struck by inspiration and thought, hey, this would make a darn funny blog.  I mentioned it to The Spouse.  This is how the conversation went.

Me: You know, this topic would make a really funny blog.  I could write about...

The Spouse:  I'd rather you didn't.

(So, then my hackles are up because (a) I'm basically going to be forced to do something that I don't want to do and (b) now I can't even write about it on my own gosh darn blog.)

Me:  (incredulous) Are you actually forbidding me to write about it?

The Spouse:  I'm not forbidding you to do anything.  I'm just saying that I'd rather you didn't.

 
Now the thing about writing out this conversation is that I cannot convey to you the way in which The Spouse made the above statement.  He used THE TONE.  So, although he technically did not forbid me to blog about it, the use of THE TONE was meant to indicate that a whole lot of bad would rain down on my head if I so much as typed two words about it. 

And of course my first inclination was to do it anyway with thoughts of "well, you're not the boss of me" running through my head.  But I didn't.

It did, however, get me thinking about how far I would be willing to go in writing a blog.

When I first started blogging two years ago, I only had vague notions of what a blog was.  What was supposed to be a blog about Brookfield has become less about the city itself and more about my life in the city and its surrounds.  And that is where the problem lies because my life is not just about me -- it's about my husband, my children, and my friends.

When I first started, I didn't fully grasp the reach and permanency of putting something into cyberspace.  Nor did I realize the phenomenon of "anonymous intimacy" that takes place between bloggers and their readers -- a relationship that can generate sympathetic comments as well as venomous ones.  

It comes down to a question of exposure.  How much information is too much? 

I've engaged in a little self-censorship.  I purposely don't identify my spouse, kids, and friends by their full name, and I still hesitate to post pictures of my family on the blog, although I kind of go back and forth about that.  

Wondering if there was such a thing as a "code of ethics" for bloggers, I googled just that, and sure enough, here's a sample of what I found.

I've also read material from other bloggers who've struggled with the same issues. Take for example this local blogger: Fish Out of Water.

So, I've come up with my own code: 

Thou shalt thinketh before thou blogeth.  And then thou shalt thinketh again.

I think that should cover about anything.
 

Yeah, right. 

I will be turning 41 in a few days.  Turning 40 sucked.  Turning 41?  Pretty much sucks too.  But as they say, it's better than the alternative.

Once you hit 40, there is no escaping it -- you are middle-aged, baby.  And now I finally understand the "Mid-Life Crisis".

It's like juggling. 

In your late teens and twenties, and maybe even thirties, you set certain "life goals" for yourself. Those goals are the "balls."  In your twenties, you finish school and get your career going.  So, your job is the first ball that you have to keep in the air. 

Then, you add the second ball -- maybe that's marriage or simply a relationship or maybe even just owning your own home.  Now, you've got two balls going. 

Then, in your thirties, children -- that's worth at least two more balls.  If you're like me and have an aging parent or parents who need help, that's another ball.

Then, you hit 40 and you feel a little lost because you're not reaching towards anything anymore.  Your life is more about just keeping those balls in the air.

That is when the crisis strikes, and you consider dyeing your ever-encroaching gray hair and buying a black, convertible Porsche Carrera Cabriolet, so that at least you can look good and drive a hot car while you juggle all those darn balls. 

But really, is there any age that is the "golden" age?

Based on what I remember and what I've observed with my stepdaughter, being a teenager is certainly no walk in the park -- hormones, acne, braces, high school drama.

21 maybe?  At 21, I was still in school and living at home.  Money? Well, not much to speak of.  Love life?  Had a boyfriend, but he wasn't much to speak of either in retrospect. 

30?  Living in an apartment but still in early stages of career -- meaning I was working like a dog while being low man on the law firm totem pole.  Broke up with aforementioned boyfriend and had to start dating (!!) again.  

Every age of life has its ups and downs.  Middle-age is maybe not so much about moving forward as it is about learning to enjoy what we've accomplished.  And those balls that we juggle?  Those aren't things that drag us down; they are things that we should value and be proud of.

The moral of this story?

In living life, you gotta have balls. :-)

I have to thank Karen Waldkirch from WauwatosaNow for turning me on to the book Not Quite What I was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure.  The idea for this compilation is based on a legend.  Supposedly, someone challenged Ernest Hemmingway to write a story in six words.  This is what he came up with:

"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

I know.  Blows you away, doesn't it?  So, based on this legend, SMITH Magazine invited its readers to submit their own six-word memoirs, and the result is this fascinating book.  Here are some of my favorites.

"Revenge is living well, without you." -- Joyce Carol Oates

"Veni, vedi, but haven't vici yet." -- Meenakshi Nandini

"I still make coffee for two." -- Zak Nelson

"Girlfriend is pregnant, my husband said." -- Shonna MacDonald

"I live the perfect imperfect life." -- Paul Lore

The book is a quick read, and I was amazed at what people were able to come up with.  Side-splittingly funny, heart-breakingly poignant, jaw-droppingly shocking -- it's all there.

What would mine be?  Well, I've been mulling that one over since finishing the book.  Although I'm not sure it quite hits the nail on the head, here's what I've come up with so far:

 
"Still trying to find my purpose."

 
It's still a work in progress.  (Hey, that's six words too.  Maybe I should use that?)
 

SMITH is still accepting submissions if you want to give it a try.  (Or if anybody wants to share theirs here, feel free to comment.)

It's spring cleaning time in our house, and I am once again confounded by what to do with an old television set.  Then, this morning, I saw a commercial for an electronic recycling event in Milwaukee, and took this as a sign from God.  But excitement turned to dismay when I read the small print at the bottom of the screen that said proof of residency in the City of Milwaukee was required in order to participate.

So, I googled around for some local recycling options and came upon this interesting article.   Unfortunately, the article didn't address my T.V. problem.

But lo and behold, today, while perusing my blogging colleague Cindy Kilkenny's site, Fairly Conservative, I found the answer to my T.V. dilemma -- a Brookfield e-cycling event.
 

Happy Earth Day. 

About two weeks ago, a few of the "moms" from my daughter's class and I had lunch at Cafe Manna, the vegetarian restaurant at the Towne Centre.  Mom #1 admits to occasional bouts of vegetarianism.  As she puts it, "sometimes we're vegetarian, and sometimes we're not."  Mom #2, although not vegetarian, does not drink soda of any kind and practices yoga.  Then, there is me -- the soda-drinking carnivore who thinks yoga is surely part of Dante's Third Circle of Hell.

But I was willing to give it a shot.  So, we decided to have lunch on a weekday after we dropped our kids off at school.  Although it was the noon hour, the restaurant was not that busy, and we didn't have any problems getting a table.  Finding a parking place, however, was a little difficult.  Two of us ended up parking in the Sendik's lot.  (Cafe Manna is in the same building as the Four Seasons Coffee shop.)

I'm not sure why, but when I walked in, I thought of California.  Maybe it was the colors -- beiges, greens, browns.  It was very bright, lots of light wood, all tables- no booths.   No soda or alcohol is served here, but there is coffee, an assortment of teas, caffeinated and non-caffeinated, and a variety of waters, including my favorite Izze, a blend of sparkling water and fruit juice in a range of flavors (grapefruit, pomegranate, e.g.), which can be found at Sendik's and Grasch's.

To start things off, we, along with the other diners, were served a small, complimentary appetizer, a small mound of cashew hummus, served with crackers and bread.  The cashew flavor was very subtle.

Mom #1 and I ended up ordering the same thing: the soup of the day - Asparagus and Mushroom Bisque ($6.25) and the Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Crostini appetizer ($8.50).

We both loved the soup.  The asparagus and the mushrooms had been pureed into a smooth bisque, and small bits of diced asparagus were added in.  I might have liked a bit more of the diced asparagus, but the soup was a hit. 

Although billed as a "Tasty Beginning," the mushroom and goat cheese crostini was pretty substantial in size; neither one of us was able to finish it.  The toasted bread was heaped with a "wild mushroom duxelle" and topped with an herbed goat cheese mixture.  Although I really liked the flavors, by the time I got to my third piece, the mushroom-cheese mixture had made the middle of the bread soggy.

Mom #2 had the Toasted Millet Vegetable Salad ($8.50).  Another substantial dish, the salad consisted of a mesclun mix with chickpeas, red and yellow bell peppers, Vidalia onions, carrots, sugar snap peas, topped with toasted millet and dressed with a curry-miso vinaigrette. 

Other salads that looked interesting were the Arugula Salad with Avocado and Pear ($10.75) and the Ribboned Zucchini and Herbed Salad ($8.25).

There were also a variety of sandwiches and entrees:  Baked Falafel and Citrus Tahini sandwich ($7.25), and the Sesame Encrusted Tofu with Asparagus and Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto ($14.75), to name a few.

There are also several "extras" (sides).  For example, Celeriac Whipped Yukon Potatoes ($3.75) and Wasabi Scented Spinach Red Potato Salad ($3.75).

I was the only one who ordered dessert.  I had the Ginger Macadamia Nut Carrot Cake ($5.75).  The slice I got was big enough to feed at least two people.  It was regular carrot cake but pumped up a couple of notches with the addition of macadamia nuts, coconut, and crystallized ginger.  It was yummy.

The website for Cafe Manna is still under construction, but it still provides a sample menu (without prices), directions to the restaurant, and its business hours. Take-out menus are available at the front desk.

Cafe Manna does not have a children's menu.  The ladies' room did not have a changing table, but it has an interesting little toiletry cabinet.  A quick check revealed what looked like mouthwash, accompanied by disposable paper cups, hairspray, and lotion.  Thoughtful. 

When it came time to box up the leftovers, mine were housed in biodegradable containers.  The bag that I carried everything in was recyclable.

Although I liked what I had, I have to wonder whether a restaurant like Cafe Manna will ultimately succeed in Brookfield.  On the other hand, I wish Brookfield had more of these small, independent restaurants that think outside of the box.

(No one at Cafe Manna knew I was coming nor did the owners/management of the restaurant invite me to dine there.)

********** 

 CORRECTION:  Per a reader, Cafe Manna does serve some alcohol.  See the Comment from KMB below.  Sorry for the error.

The family and I recently returned from a vacation in California, and I decided to take a short blogging break during the frenzied days before the local referendum/elections.  I was particularly interested in the results of the municipal judge race, where it appears that my law school classmate, Jeff Warchol, may well be on his way to a judgeship.  The recount, in case you haven't heard, is scheduled for Tuesday.

I'm currently still catching up on my laundry and other household tasks, while mulling over a few new blog ideas, including a restaurant review of my experience at Cafe Manna, the new vegetarian restaurant in the Towne Centre.

I hope to get something new posted in the next day or two! 

You have to take this test.  The Spouse and I both failed.

Do The Test. 

"And since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

Wait a minute... it's March right? This is supposed to be Spring?! 

I was watching the snow storm coverage on Channel 12, and according to meterologist Mark Baden, once this storm is done, this winter season will rank as the #2 snowiest season on record.  I guess we haven't had this much snow since the 1800's.

Happy Easter!

And why is Easter so early this year?  Here's the explanation. 

******** 

Speaking of Easter, last night, I asked The Spouse to stop at the drugstore after work to buy candy for The Preschooler's Easter basket.   When he arrived home, I asked what he got.  He said he got Hershey's Kisses and Dove Bars.

My Response:  Hershey's Kisses?  Didn't they have any chocolate eggs or chocolate bunnies?

The Spouse's Reply:  There weren't any.

My Response:  But we were just there this morning, and the Easter aisle was still full of stuff.

The Spouse's Reply:  There's an Easter aisle??

Apparently, the Spouse just went to the regular candy section and failed to spot the huge, pastel-colored stuffed Easter bunny marker two aisles over. 

Showing remarkable Easter/Christian spirit restraint, I refrained from sending him back there that evening. 

This morning was a different story though... a 24/7 drugstore is on his way to work.

 
To all who celebrate Easter, I wish you and yours a blessed holiday.
 

Just yesterday, I posted a review of the restaurant Umami Moto.  As a reader noted, they did know I was coming, so read my "review" with that in mind. 

The reader's comment about anonymity reminded me of a blurb I read about the new Journal Sentinel restaurant critic, Carol Deptolla.

Umami Moto occupies the same space as the former Monsoon restaurant.  As I stated in my prior blog, I was not impressed by the "fusion" cuisine that Monsoon offered.  I dined only once at Monsoon and found the food to be so-so.  I never went back.  So, when I heard that Umami Moto was being billed as an asian fusion restaurant, I had my doubts, but I was willing to try it.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, we were greeted at the desk by the requisite cluster of young hostesses, only one of whom appears to actually be seating people -- a phenomenon I've noted at newer restaurants.  The restaurant has been redecorated, and the bar, The Sake Lounge, occupies the front, with a wall separating the bar from the main dining room.  A smaller, partially-enclosed dining area at the west end of the building is connected to the main dining room.  With contemporary decor and artwork, the restaurant appears to be going for a hip, downtown feel.  For a weeknight, the restaurant was moderately full.

What is "umami"?  Umami (pronounced oo-mommy) is the "fifth" element of taste (the others being sweet, salty, sour, and bitter).  Discovered by a Japanese chemist, Dr. Kikunae Ikeda, umami means "deliciousness" or "savoriness," or  it has also been described as a certain "roundness" of flavor.   I was a little skeptical.  I'd never heard of this concept.  But I checked with my friend who lived in Japan for a couple of years, and she confirmed it.

Shortly after being seated, we were treated to the umami experience by Chef Mark Schmidt.  First, he presented each of us with a bowl of broth, which I found to have a complex flavor all by itself.  Then, he added a little fish sauce. Then, he added a touch of soy.  After each addition, we tasted the broth.  The end result was supposed to deliver the umami flavor.  The Spouse claims he could taste "something" but really couldn't put it into words, but The Spouse can be somewhat susceptible to the power of suggestion.  Although I could taste the different flavors after each addition, I'm not sure I was really wrapping my taste buds around the whole umami thing.  To be treated to the umami experience, I believe you will have to ask for it because I did not notice other diners being offered the presentation that particular night.  Here is the umami experience as it was presented on Fox 6.

Umami Moto has a website, which features, among other items, a downloadable menu and pictures of the interior of the restaurant.  Click here to view. 

Based on prices, I would describe Umami Moto as an upper end restaurant, more suited for date night with your spouse rather than family dining.  I would also advise against taking younger children there, especially if you are working on the "we don't throw food on the floor" stage of child development.  There is no kids menu either.  A check of the restroom revealed no diaper changing station.

Because we were anxious to try something new, we did not order any of the sushi rolls available nor did we order any of the typical chinese dishes listed, like Beef and Broccoli or Kung Pao anything.

We ordered two appetizers: the Shanghai Pork Shumai and the Thai Chicken Wings.  Of the two, we liked the chicken wings the best.  The wings were marinated in coconut milk, which gave them a pleasant sweet taste -- but not overly sweet.  The wings were served with two sauces, a peanut sauce and a "volcano" sauce.  I liked the peanut sauce.  Although mostly sweet, it had a bit of heat to it.  The volcano sauce, although I found it slightly spicy, was not hot enough to satisfy my jalapeno-chewing Spouse.  The shumai dumplings were larger and juicier than what you find at Chinese restaurants.  The addition of coconut milk also imparted a Thai flavor to the pork, ginger filling.  Although we liked the filling, we thought the outer wonton wrapper was slightly undercooked.

We ordered two entrees, the Shitake Scallops and the Braised Pork Shank.  We also ordered two side dishes, the cold cucumber salad and the stir-fried eggplant.

I really enjoyed the scallops.  They were perfectly done, and the light shitake coating gave the sweet scallops an earthy richness.  I was especially intrigued by its accompaniment, "bamboo rice".  The best way to describe it is to imagine risotto formed into patties resembling small, fingerling potatoes and then fried until the exterior develops a thin, crisp crust.  Although I could have used a fork to cut it, I opted to eat it with my fingers.  Although I am usually a white rice purist, I liked the delicate taste of the bamboo rice.  It had texture without being too mushy.  The pork shank was huge.  The meat was done just right, fork-tender.  Although I liked the cherry reduction served with it, I didn't really taste the hoisin that it was supposed to have been braised in.  But I have to admit that I only had a few bites of the pork because I was busy devouring my scallops.

The cucumber salad was fine, although they could have cut back on the mirin vinaigrette.  It was kind of swimming in it.  Neither of us really liked the stir-fried eggplant.  It was overdone, and frankly, we've had better at other places.

Although we were both feeling pretty full by the end of the main courses, we couldn't leave without ordering dessert.  We ordered the Moto Bananas but told them to hold the ice cream because The Spouse is lactose intolerant.  Chef Mark, believing that just the bananas were just not enough, very kindly threw in some of the Mandarin Chocolate Spring Rolls.  Both desserts were good.  The chocolate spring rolls were very, very chocolate-y.  The Moto Bananas were like cinnamon, banana egg rolls.  If not for The Spouse's stomach, I would have enjoyed them better with the vanilla ice cream.

We had no complaints about the service.  Our waiter was attentive, and the meal was well-paced.  At the end of our dinner, our server informed us that because it was Thursday, it was Ladies Night.  There were drink specials in the Sake Lounge, and a DJ was going to start playing at 9 p.m.  When I was in college and law school, Thursdays were always a big night to go out, and I kind of felt that the restaurant was giving a nod to that social scene.  If that's the case, I'm not really sure how that will play out here in Brookfield.  But The Spouse had work the next day and we had a babysitter on the clock, so we couldn't stay to check out the bar scene.

Umami Moto has two strong things going for it: the intriguing umami concept and the enthusiasm of Chef Mark Schmidt.  We really enjoyed meeting Chef Mark.  When answering our questions about umami and the kind of fusion cuisine he was presenting, he was really excited about bringing something new to our area.

I found Umami Moto to be better than its predecessor, Monsoon. The restaurant is still fairly new, but I think it's certainly worth another visit.
 

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