Free Parking in Vancouver

It has been a while – almost a month – since I last perused over some of my earlier thoughts, and a lot has changed since then. For starters, the pre- and post-exam blues have long since disappeared, washed away by what I hope are the last of May’s showers. We may constantly cringe and complain about the ceaseless cloudburst, but little do we acknowledge how such insipid weather is irrefutably important in sustaining Vancouver’s verdure. Which brings me to my point: Vancouver is truly a park-lover’s paradise!

To begin with, there is the ever-famous, overly-touristy yet surprisingly-pristine Stanley Park. And it is all that for numerous reasons. For instance, this respectably sized patch of evergreen forest is located on it own island of sorts, forming a narrow isthmus between two cities across the river-mouth, connecting two metropolises. What’s more, this park is surrounded by an idyllic seawall, with a splendid biking path overlooking a rocky shore and short stretches of sandy beaches. Though the image this description conjures may seem cliched or even contrived, Stanley Park is a much loved destination for outsiders and locals alike. Why, parts of X-men were filmed along this very seawall!

I could spend all day simply sitting here, reading, feeding the swans... but where is the time?

Had this been October, there would be more red and orange amidst the yellow.

In the heart of Vancouver lies another hidden gem – Queen Elizabeth Park. Located at a slightly higher elevation in the middle of suburbia, this park boasts some of the most bountiful botanical achievements, especially considering that this park was developed from the site of an old quarry, which explains some of the more geometric projections of its promontories – but nothing beats the spectacular panoramic views of the cityscape from atop some of the cliffs. It was while witnessing this particular view with a particular friend, while visiting Queen Elizabeth Park on a particularly tempestuous night after a particularly tumultuous month that I had an epiphany, one that forever changed the way I viewed things, and life itself. True story!

It is hard to believe that about a century back, all this was nothing but rock and mud!

A water body and fowl = the quintessential addition to any arboreal backdrop.

Outside of Vancouver, amidst an ancient evergreen forest on the western edge of the North Shore lies Lighthouse Park. Its relative remoteness makes it an ideal location for a convenient getaway from the hustle and bustle of the urban atmosphere. After traversing through the woods, one finds numerous ravines and cliffs, overlooking the Burrard Inlet. One could spend endless hours just sitting on these rocks, conversing with friends about anything and everything under the sun – and we did spend almost an entire day, lazing around on one such cliff, despite the bear warnings issued earlier. One particularly mellow fellow amongst our group reasoned that any bear that chose to cross our path that day could be easily encouraged to join him in enjoying a little bit of BC’s green goodness… and that we would be long gone before the bear would acquiesce to his munchies!

If you had a telescope, you could see UBC, just a few nautical miles across from this lighthouse!

If only I had this as my daily view...

Last, but not the least, is Buntzen Lake Park. The strangest thing about this park is that it is actually the property of BC Hydro. To the untrained eye, this would come across as just another ordinary park, but in reality, the ‘lake’ is a man-made reservoir, created as a result of constructing a hydroelectric dam. Nonetheless, this lake is surrounded by hills and mountains, full of charted and uncharted trails catering to all levels of cardiovascular fitness, ranging from the lame and tame lake-shore trails to longer lung-busting paths, such as Diez Vistas, which takes one to an elevation of 1000m in some spots. While traversing through this particular trail, one can get up close with the snow-line on some of the mountains – but nothing beats the once-in-a-lifetime experience of witnessing an adult bald-headed eagle teaching its young one to fly!

One of the many vistas on the Diez Vistas trail

Walking alongside one of the lake-shore trails

Last, but not the least, is UBC’s very own Nitobe Garden. The very name immediately brings to mind ideas of harmonious natural elements, cherry blossoms, a serene waterfall or two, rustic wooden bridges overlooking, wizened old monks sweeping patterns in the rock gardens, and all other such images one would associate with a limited exposure to Japanese culture and aesthetics, thanks to Hollywood – but this garden goes above and beyond! While delivering the stereotypical components, Nitobe Garden also offers one the luxury of truly experiencing a moment of Zen – the much needed peace of mind, which is especially appreciated when one decides to scale the Garden’s walls after hours, seeking a refuge from the ‘madding crowds’ of the adjacent dormitories, or campus security (if one was partying with the aforementioned dorm crowds). Here’s to the countless days (and nights) spent at Nitobe!

Melodious Malady

For the last few months, I have been so enamored by this particular song that I can’t quite fall asleep peacefully without having listened to it at least once during the course of each day. Call this an obsession if you will, but the need to listen to it so compulsively isn’t a conscious decision on my part! This is particularly unusual for me, since I never really pick favorites – there is far too much good music out there to limit yourself to a handful of bands and genres – and yet, this one song manages to outshine the rest, so much so that it practically demands to be heard daily!

When it comes to a new band or a new song, we go through the usual phases – the eagerness of  curiosity upon initial discovery, the content familiarity of recent recognition, the ebbing enthusiasm upon maturing (not the same as boredom!), and finally,  unquestioned obscurity. However, this particular song did not go through the same waxing and waning as any other ‘flavor of the month’ or ‘chart-buster.’ Frankly, I’m glad this song isn’t nearly as popular – or it really wouldn’t have had the same appeal when I first chanced upon it.

Before I get to the song itself, here’s a little bit about the people that I ought to blame for my incumbent insomnia. This particularly talented Turkish band is called ‘maNga,’ as a tribute to the art form of its namesake. I happened to discover them a few years back, way before Eurovision 2010 propelled them into world-wide (err… Europe-wide?) popularity… and in my opinion, coming in second in that competition was the greatest act of injustice! Then again, in comparison to other brilliant songs in their repertoire, they chose to go with a fairly weak number, and that too, in English! For the record, their Turkish songs are much, much better! Even though I don’t speak a lick of that language (while I CAN recognize some words occasionally – Indo-European roots = linguistic similarities), their lyrics sound that much better in Turkish… almost as if it comes to them naturally!

I like them for a variety of reasons:

1) They are very original, and their music is diverse, straddling many genres – but a simple distinction would be ‘Rock.’

2) Their songwriting, musical arrangement and album production is quite polished, without being overly studio enhanced – their live performances speak for themselves!

3) They blend in Turkish influences smoothly, without making this juxtaposition of eastern elements sound contrived, like many other artists’ formulaic ‘fusion.’

4) Their lyrics (transliterated, of course) are poignant and poetic without being pretentious – also a rarity among many newer artistes.

5) The band members are all well educated people – despite fulfilling their academic ambitions, they have the time and the energy to write great music, record, and tour!

Just when I was thinking that they would get better and better, I found out that their next album would feature songs in English – and immediately, my hopes crashed just a little bit. I guess it makes sense that they are trying to widen their fan-base, and why shouldn’t they? But truly, most of their allure lay in the fact that their Turkish songs sounded much more genuine than the one English song they wrote for Eurovision 😦

And finally, the song that has been positively plaguing me for the last little while – “Cevapsız Sorular” (Unanswered Questions), from their 2009 album, Sehr-i Hüzün (City of Sadness). I know I could go on and on, but words alone would not suffice to describe just how hauntingly good this song is – musically, as well as lyrically. This is one of those songs which you can truly appreciate by simply listening to it, getting lost in the melody, the multiple meanings… etc. Despite having heard this so many times by now, I still manage to discover something new each time, be it a new subtle layer of instruments or a previously overlooked interpretation.

Nonetheless, there is a particular part of the verse and the chorus that really stands out:

“… Sustu bu gece, karardı yine ay
Kaldı geriye cevapsız sorular
Uyandığında onu ilk kim görecek
Bıraktığım düşü kim büyütecek?

Her sabah kaybolup giden
Bir rüya gibi oldun artık geceleri beni bekleyen;
Gündüzlerimi zehir eden…”

Which, after some loose translation and modification, means:

“… The moon turned its back on me, not replying to me in the darkness,
Leaving behind only unanswered questions
Who will see her first when she awakens
Who will nurture the dream that I have left unfulfilled?

You have become a dream that disappears every morning
That haunts me every night
That poisons all my days …”

Whatever or whoever Ferman seems to be talking about here, this song certainly has been haunting me for the longest time… but in the good way. Listening to this song and many others by them would be my antidote against anything Microbiology can do to poison my days… but not for long anymore!

"...Sustu bu gece, karardı yine ay..."

Caribbean Coconut Chicken Stew

Before I ever had the chance to truly experience Caribbean Cuisine, the only things I could relate to were Jamaican Jerk Chicken, which is amazing if the the marinade is made just right, Rice and Peas, and derivatives of Indo-African ‘curries.’ Fortunately, I increased my otherwise rather limited exposure because of two major events:

1) I surreptitiously stumbled upon Tyler Florence’s recipe for Jamaican Corn Porridge.  Do not take the name at face value! Despite the simplicity of its ingredients, this ‘porridge’ is sumptuous! Whoever thought hominy corn and coconut milk would go so well together! When I’m old and toothless, I wouldn’t mind being sloppy over such a scrumptious meal!

2) Of the many noteworthy ethnic cuisine based restaurants in Vancouver, ‘The Reef‘ continues to make it to the top of my list. Initially, I used to fill up on their amazing appetizers and their complimentary Johnny Cakes, which, together with their coconut and orange butter and their truly out-of-this-world in-house hot sauce, would be enough to overwhelm even the most robust of appetites, and not in a bad way! Nonetheless, the one time I decided to forgo the appetizers to try something new, I ended up trying their “Island Thyme Chicken” – which was spectacular! Nothing too complicated – tender chicken breast, marinated in coconut milk with Jamaican thyme and other herbs and spices – but it was this particular combination of flavors that truly makes you go “mmmmmmmmm…” wanting more and more with each bite…

Having thus developed a craving for such tastiness, while realizing the impracticality of frequenting ‘The Reef’ and looking for hominy corn in the markets close by, I decided to combine the best of both influences by creating my own Caribbean influenced Coconut Chicken Stew, as given below. Once again, my recipe does not use precise proportions for any ingredient, so feel free to make your own approximations based on your own preferences.

Ingredients (To serve 4):

– 4 Large boneless and skinless chicken breasts (or 8 – 10 chicken thighs), cut into bite size pieces

– 2 cans of coconut milk

– 1 large Spanish onion (or regular yellow onion), diced

– 1 piece of ginger (4-5 inches), finely grated

– 2-3 celery stalks, finely sliced

– 2-3 tbsp cumin powder

– 2-3 bay leaves

– 2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme (or 2-3 tbsp dried thyme)

– 1-2 tsp allspice

– 2 cups frozen Golden / sweet Corn (or peas, if you prefer)

– 2 cups pre-soaked Black beans (optional – I use these here, so it becomes a one-pot meal. You can serve the stew with rice instead)

– LOTS of freshly ground black pepper

– Salt

– Oil (Olive oil is not recommended, since the flavor would be lost / overwhelmed)

Directions:

1) In a large pot, add just enough oil to coat all the onions and celery, and cook on medium, till onions have softened.

2) Add bay leaves, ginger and cumin powder. Continue cooking and stirring for a couple more minutes on medium.

3) Add thyme, allspice and coconut milk, and continue cooking for another minute, stirring constantly. Add plenty of pepper, and salt to taste (This step is crucial, since most of the ‘tropical’ flavor here depends on the freshness and quantity of herbs/spices being used… but feel free to add more/less as you please)

4) Add chicken, cover, and cook for 8-10 minutes, until it is almost fully cooked, but still tender.

5) Remove lid and continue cooking on low, to let the stew thicken. Add the corn (or peas) and beans at this point (the salt content would cause the beans to harden, if added earlier), and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

6) By this time, the coconut milk should have reduced down to a thick, rich stew. Garnish with more fresh thyme and pepper, and serve (with cooked rice on the side).

I came up with this recipe somewhat accidentally, since I did not have everything on hand to make a proper Thai Red Curry with chicken… but remembering my previous cravings, I combined together the Caribbean flavors I was most familiar with. In my opinion, the onions and celery, along with cumin, lend an almost Cajun influenced mirepoix (you could consider adding some green peppers and carrots to this mix to complete the experience) like flavor. The slight pungency of ginger and allspice, along with the neutral notes of thyme and bay leaf balance the subtle sweetness of coconut milk. Seasoning this creamy base with plenty of pepper spices up the stew, while the salt allows all other flavors to come to the surface. As if comforting aroma of the cooked chicken, pepper and coconut milk is not enough, the juicy sweetness of the corn and the earthy mouthfeel of the black beans makes this meal truly appealing for all the senses – taste, aroma, texture and colors! Try this out, and I’m sure you’ll be sinking into a satisfied food coma with every spoonful 🙂

 

My ‘Perfect’ Peanut Sauce

I once stumbled across noted Food Network chef Michael Smith’s signature peanut sauce recipe, and I was quite disappointed – I know he has traveled and tasted many great things across the world, and his recipe seems like an utter injustice to all his training. Personally, I’m not a big fan of his culinary concoctions – to me, his recipes seem to lack in boldness and character, possibly because he is catering to a North American audience with limited, if any, exposure to flavorful food ;p I never understood how he has achieved so much acclaim in Canada, especially considering how people here are becoming increasingly adept at appreciating ‘exotic’ influences, even in the most remote and rustic (redneck) realms. Nonetheless, there is something very refreshing in his approach towards cooking – “A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook.”  In comparison to flashier foodies, I may call him lacklustre, but what he really lacks is pretentiousness – and therein lies his undeniable charm. Simplistic though his words and recipes may seem, there is something very profoundly pleasing about his manner – “Remember, words have no flavour, you have to add your own!”

Thus inspired by Smith, I once set off on a mission – “In Search of Peanutty Perfection” – a la Heston Blumenthal (who is at the opposite end of the culinary spectrum). I have tried many different variations of peanut sauce in a variety of venues – restaurants, hawker stands, local night markets, supermarket products, friends’ mother’s cooking, to name a few – and every single variation had something unique to offer. Needless to say, in Southeast Asian cultures, where peanuts comprise a characteristic component of local cuisine, it is inevitable that each household will have its own rendition of something as ubiquitous as peanut sauce. After about a year of experimentation, I discovered that each cultural influence incorporates unique ingredients within this earthy condiment: for instance, while traditional Indonesian and Thai recipes necessitate the usage of galangal, the Chinese and Vietnamese can easily substitute the same with ginger and ginseng… the list of preferred ingredients is thus endless. Each regional variant seems to successfully complement the respective dishes and delicacies. Since I do not have nearly as much time or money at my disposal as Heston Blumenthal, instead of engaging in further research, I arrived at the premature conclusion that there is no such thing as ‘the perfect peanut sauce’ – presumed perfection is relative, at best.

That being said, to the average North American (read as non-urban, and thus a slight contradiction of my aforementioned defending statement), the words ‘peanut sauce’ may connote something sweet and gloopy, potentially the product of microwaved processed peanut butter (yeuch!). An over simplification, or even a stereotype on my part, but I have actually witnessed inexcusable culinary crimes of this sort while living in college dorms. Perhaps I am being too harsh on my fellow students, who, while subsisting on a steady diet of instant noodles for time and budgetary concerns, are willing to forgo all sense of taste and nutrition, but come on, could one not add even a dash of soy sauce, hot sauce and vinegar… perhaps I am asking for too much from this segment of the student population, whose ambitions lie in challenging not their tastebuds but their livers by consuming copious quantities of beer (I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised that contemporary college culture puts precedence on alcohol). Not being able to withstand such blasphemy any longer, I have renewed my mission to create a recipe for a peanut sauce so ‘perfect’ that it would make even the most putrid protein (canned fish, ugh!) taste great.

From my experience, an ideal peanut sauce is all about balance of flavours. One can find recipes on the internet that range from using as few as 3 ingredients to as many as 30 – but it really does not have to be as complicated, so long as a few essential components have been properly combined. After a few trials and errors, here is my ultimate recipe (the proportions are approximates, and guided by my preference):

1)      In a saucepan, lightly sauté shredded ginger, finely chopped garlic + green onions, lime zest and  in about 1 tbsp sesame oil on medium heat.

2)      Once sautéed, add 1 tbsp soy sauce (or ½ tbsp fish sauce) and 1 tbsp honey. Reduce heat to low and mix. You can also add more lime juice for more tang.

3)      Add 3-4 tbsp of all natural chunky peanut butter (not the processed kind, since it has too much sugar and other crap in it). Stir gently to achieve smoother consistency.

4)      Now add ½ – 1 tbsp of Sriracha hot sauce (the one you see with the rooster logo).

5)      For a lighter consistency, add about 1-2 tbsp of water. For a richer flavour and creamier texture, add 1-2 tbsp of coconut milk. Keep stirring on low heat, and avoid separation.

6)      Turn off heat and let it cool.

Hopefully you will be able to taste what I have deemed a ‘perfect confluence’ of flavours – sweet (from the peanuts and the honey), smokey (from the sesame oil, and the Sriracha sauce), earthy (peanuts, garlic and ginger), slightly pungent (green onions and fish sauce), sour (lime zest and lime juice) salty (fish sauce, soy sauce), spicy (Sriracha hot sauce), and umami (if you use coconut milk). This sauce can be used as a dip on the side for satays, as a base for cooking vegetables and meats, or even poured on top of cooked noodles – just throw in some bean sprouts for even more freshness and crunch! I’m quite sure Michael Smith would be proud!

There are all sorts of variations I would like to try within this recipe itself – such as using freshly roasted and self ground peanuts instead of peanut butter, red chilli powder or chilli flakes instead Sriracha hot sauce, palm sugar instead of honey, orange zest and orange juice instead of using limes… etc, but for now, this shall suffice. I know that this ‘pursuit for perfection’ does not even compare to Heston’s calibre, but hey, I’m doing what I can to keep my tastebuds alive!

I didn't take this picture... but I'm sure my dinner would've looked just like this, if not better!

“No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after eating one peanut.” ~ Channing Pollock

The Beginning of All Things to Come

It is that time of the year, yet again, for all those who are currently still slaves to the grind… the world of Academia, that is. I am currently passing through the throes of springtime, and although the weather gets better with each passing day, I find myself becoming more restless for a number of reasons.

1) There is no such thing as ‘Spring Break’ for us here at UBC, this time of the year, even though elementary and high schools students all around us are currently making the best of this weather. While we trudge to classes with our books and our bags, we can’t help but feel envious at these kids traipsing around in their parks and playgrounds. And even though we get a 4-month long summer break, which is a much more desirable option, its at times like these that the grass certainly seems greener everywhere else. And who isn’t susceptible to turning green with envy these days?

2) Speaking of green, spring time certainly can be a double edged sword. Everyone is generally appreciative of the rapidly improving weather and verdure, but none more so than pharmacists and apothecaries. Each blooming bud presents them with new opportunities to peddle their array of anti-allergens. Each year, we are bombarded by advertisements through all forms of media, with some or the other big brand touting its ‘new and improved’ formula. Amusingly enough, some hippies I know too have chosen this time to metamorphose into their inner yuppie selves – I have seen them make a killing overnight by marketing their ‘100% organic’ remedies and playing on people’s conscience and gullibility. It doesn’t matter if importing their ingredients from across the globe increases their ecological footprint, so long as they are ‘100% organic.’ After all, helping their pill-popping brethren turn over a leaf with natural, herbal products helps everyone feel better about themselves. Except perhaps the average (read as jaded) microbiology and immunology students, who will debate endlessly on this issue. But I’ll spare you that 🙂

3) With all major midterms, assignments, term papers and all other flotsam finally out of the way, one finally gets some time to breathe (pollen!) and unwind for a bit. Sadly, this ‘bit’, regardless of it being a week or two, or even four in my case,  doesn’t feel  seem to satisfy my need to recover fully from the delirium of times gone by. I guess my problem is that I get too used to a routine. First, the anxiety surrounding each successive wave of midterms and submissions becomes a norm. I feel considerably relieved after crossing each such obstacle, but I can’t help thinking about what I will do with all that ‘extra’ time, now that there is no need to study and revise regularly. Like any other normal person, I use that time to catch up on guilty pleasures that were previously forsaken. So now, self-indulgence too becomes a routine. And when this period of cerebral ceasefire between the end of midterms and impending exams approaches sundown, a sinking feeling begins to dawn on me – I should have been using this time to start preparing for the finals… but who wants to stay indoors and study, when the weather’s getting so much better! That, and/or I have utterly exhausted all opportunities of watching my favorite shows online during this new found free time.

Which brings me to my main point: Is it just me, or is it common for most people to be indulging their most obtuse distractions enthusiastically around this time of the year? In the wake of exams, I find myself overwhelmed – not with academic pressure, but with the sheer multitude of creative ideas – and every passing fancy seems more all the more appealing as the exams inch closer and closer. Never before have I wanted to read as many books, cook as many random things, go for long runs, discover more new music and last but not the least, record all my thoughts, since I am most likely to forget all these exciting prospects as soon as the exams pass over. It is almost like all the time in the world seems to fall short in trying to accomplish such instantaneous objectives, only because following such fantasies seems more fulfilling than poring over microbial physiology and gene transfers. Considering that I have gone through such phases every single time immediately prior to my examinations, I am, for once, taking the initiative to pen (or type, if you prefer) my thoughts here, before all that remains of this rambling is nothing but a distant memory of regret. And no, I won’t hold any regrets for ‘having studied instead’ – I will certainly regret not having ‘seized the day’ when I could have. So here is my excuse, or rather, inspiration for blogging … Carpe Diem!