Coffee Shops in Newport, RI Friday, Jun 10 2011

Granted, since I’m 9 months pregnant, I haven’t had coffee in a long time. But, generally, for the 4 years I’ve been living in Newport, I’ve enjoyed a specialty latte or cappuccino every now and then. And I frequent coffee shops for their non-caffeinated drinks, sandwiches and of course pastries!  Mostly, I love having a place to go.

This isn’t an extensive list of what’s offered in town but here is a review of what I consider three major competitors in the area of the European style coffee shop.

The People’s Cafe

I couldn’t help but be intrigued when I first noticed this cafe was opening in an old bank. The People’s Cafe on Thames Street is spacious and utilizes this advantage to have charity fundraisers, mom’s group meetings, Sunday brunches, etc. What also caught my eye was the lunch menu with plenty of hot sandwiches, soups and specialty salads. “Could this be the local answer to Panera?” I thought. And “Will this replace Hendricka’s Cafe or Bliss Grocer in my heart?” (Both Hendricka’s Cafe and Bliss Grocer were great breakfast, lunch and coffee spots on Broadway. Well, the coffee was okay but the food was good.)

I tried it a couple of times. The first time, it was newly open and I went in the evening for a pastry. The staff was helpful but there was no offering to be had, as the croissant was moldy (yes, moldy). I turned away disappointed, but remembered that it was difficult to find a cafe which was open in the evening, let alone still stocked with fare.

I gave the spot a couple of months to find it’s business groove and returned at lunchtime. It was very clean, though it was crowded. The clientele was older but hip. The menu was not quite so ambitious as it was originally. My small companion got a yogurt parfait and I got grilled ham and cheese with a cup of tea. (There are baristas with a limited repertoire of espresso drinks but for aforesaid reason I couldn’t try any at the time.)

My two-year-old son couldn’t say much for the parfait, as he didn’t finish it, but, hey, toddlers are fickle. As for my grilled ham and cheese, it wasn’t as good as home and was overpriced. In fact, the total for our meager meals (my sandwich did not come with chips or even so much as a pickle) was around $15. The parfait was probably around $5, the tea around $2 and the sandwich around $7.

Not wanting to have absolutely no reason ever to return to the People’s Cafe, I ordered a cookie. It was like eating hardtack.  I haven’t given it a second glance.

Starbucks

I have a love/hate relationship with Starbucks, also on Thames. Here’s what I love.

The people. The baristas are the best. You’ll never meet any more interested in you personally. They talk to you like it’s their job, because it is. The more they get to know you, the more they know what you like and how you like it – also, the more likely you’ll return because you that welcoming feeling you get is part of the third place experience.

The clientele of Starbucks, excluding the tourists, are good, salt-of-the earth New Englanders and community-oriented Newporters.

The coffee. I rarely get an espresso drink from Starbucks that isn’t good. Generally, the machines are calibrated at regular intervals, the beans fresh and the baristas well-trained. The recipes are standardized and easy to modify. Also, the brewed coffee is the best anywhere. In fact, the only other place I like a cup of coffee is at Ma’s Donuts. Only Starbucks and Ma’s brews coffee in the correct proportions and have the heartiest flavor beans. But this review is focusing on places to hang out with your cup of coffee, so no further mention of the truck stop will be made.

Here is what I hate about Starbucks.

The atmosphere. If I’m going to be completely honest, I have to say that Starbucks is filthy. Yes, it is probably the busiest coffee spot, but crowds I can handle – filth, I cannot abide. During busy times – which is almost always – the counters are encrusted with dried milk; trash bins are overflowing; tables littered with papers, crumbs, spilled drinks and the bathrooms – well, let’s just say that unless I was cleaning the bathroom when I worked there, I used the public restroom in the parking lot instead.

Another thing I hate about the atmosphere of Starbucks is the advertising. Since Howard Schultz has come back onto the scene, it hasn’t been as bad, but sometimes I feel like my eyeballs are bombarded with glossy cardboard signs. They’re hanging from the ceiling; propped up in the display cases; leaning on the counter; taped in the windows; the fabric of the menu; on packaging, cups and napkins and even standing in line on posts bigger than traffic signs. It’s as if Starbucks thinks I just wandered in and have no clue where I am or how to begin to order. If that last bit weren’t the case, it certainly could be; just give me one place to look for my options, please!

The food. Not that having great food is one of Schultz’s goals, but the stuff is trucked in, stored for a few days and warmed, if desired, in a microwave/toaster. The selection is severely limited, very difficult to modify and overpriced.

Empire Coffee and Tea

Empire Coffee and Tea on Broadway is difficult to write about because I love it so much and it’s difficult to give an unbiased review. Or is it that I need to review it separately in order to give it just praise? It’s also hard to write a critique when there is nothing to critique. Those two complaints I have had have been resolved either by mere hint or the foresight of its owner/manager. For example, although Empire is the only coffee shop I know of that is child friendly, it just replaced a rickety changing table with a new changing station. (When you’re a parent of a small child, your life kind of revolves around poop so anytime you don’t have a potential crisis looming over your head, it makes your day that much better.)

There is only one barista who can’t seem to make a cappuccino for beans (You guessed my other complaint! But when this drink’s done right, which is most of the time, it’s one of the best. I will only have my favorite espresso drink from either Starbucks or Empire.), but of course I have my favorite – CJ, the owner himself. CJ takes a keen interest in what I’m interested in and offers samples of new recipes, to concoct something for me on the spot or even to “test” my cappuccino before declaring it “perfect.” Then CJ gets me interested in what he’s interested in – all the changes to Empire that I will be seeing soon.

And here is where Empire really has an edge over any other local business or even corporate Starbucks – constant and quick improvement, from new artwork and furniture to new machines and recipes. If it’s not already your favorite spot, I promise it will be soon.

Notes on Empire

Clientele: the college crowd or professionals

Food: the standard offerings – such as breakfast and deli sandwiches, muffins and scones – plus decadent desserts and mochi ice cream

Coffee and tea: the most original and extensive menu

Cleanliness and overall atmosphere: the occasional need to wipe the table or toilet seat; the most spacious and artsy, yet the most homey and conducive to hanging out

Price: the most reasonable

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Product Review: Cami Secret Thursday, Apr 28 2011

WARNING:  In this post I review a product made for females called Cami Secret.   For those of you dudes who don’t know, camisoles are what gals wear for modesty.   Hence, this review is not safe for the opposite sex (especially dads)!

At first it seemed like the perfect solution and I needed one.   Being pregnant adds curves everywhere, but maternity clothing does not seem to account especially for the fact that you are not just growing a baby in your uterus but you are also growing the Twins.  IfyouknowwhatImean.   Maternity dresses such as this wrap dress

are comfortable, versatile (you can wear it as a nursing mom)  and — very revealing.   The solution?  Camisoles, of course.  But not so fast.

First, you need a maternity camisole to accommodate that baby bump.  Plus sizes will be cut too wide on the top.   But not just any maternity camisole will do.  Nursing camisoles

have a shelf bra, a.k.a. the teeniest, tiniest, flimsiest bra known to womankind.   I mean, isn’t the whole point for the shelf to go, you know, under the boobs?  And again, you can’t simply buy a larger size, because the cut won’t be right.

That leaves us with just a plain, old maternity cami.

Great –  problem solved, right?   Maybe, if you’re lucky.   But even if you’re so lucky as to find one with adjustable straps, the stretchiness of the cami will mean that it just gets tugged down into a revealing position anyway.

I’ve tried layering with tank tops, but all that fabric under a plunging neckline just doesn’t look right.   Sweaters and scarves are okay, but not for the summer.  You really do want a cami, but just can’t find one to work for you.

Cami Secret promises to do that.   It’s not a full cami, but basically a modesty bib that you clip to your bra.   You can adjust it to the perfect height and then, viola — it just stays there, right where you need it, in the amount of coverage you want.   It sounds like such a good idea, I bought a pack.

Then I discovered that Cami Secret, despite it’s claims that it is perfect for both “petit” and “full figures,” is not adequate for full figures.

Here’s why. Add some curve to this woman’s figure and as that gap between her bra and the cami becomes larger, you have more and more of a problem.   Although your bra might not show under your dress, that gap does and the cami scrunches up in the middle, too.

Long story short, there’s not enough fabric.   When I held up the cami to my husbund, I said, “What’s wrong with this?”  His immediate reply, “Your cleavage is bigger than that!”

Oh well.  It was a good try for $9.99, I guess.  At 7 months pregnant, I’d really like to wear some nice spring dresses, though.   Any other ladies have a problem with finding modest maternity wear?  Have you found any solutions?

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Babies Wednesday, Mar 30 2011

Babies is a visually stunning, intellectually intriguing and emotionally moving French documentary not quite as well-known (it grossed less in the box office and won no Academy Award), but more potentially appealing than March of the Penguins. Babies is both intimate and familiar; it follows a year in the life of four babies, whose names we know, homes we enter, successes which we celebrate and frustrations with which we empathize. Even though Hattie is from San Francisco, Ponijao is from Namibia, Bayarjargal is from Mongolia and Mari is from Tokyo, they are unmistakably, universally all things baby. Their environments might be different and their parents’ methods might be different but they do the same things: fight with peers over toys, seek comfort in their mothers’ bosoms, express curiosity about pets, explore and learn.

Hattie and Mari’s experiences are very similar, probably because they are both from First World, urban environments. Although none of the families are notably affluent or impoverished, they have advantages – if you want to call them that – over Ponijao and Bayarjargal, who live in rural Developing or Third World nations. However, through ingenious juxtaposition of similar scenes the film subtly conveys the idea that perhaps, despite outward circumstances, babies grow up on a more or less equal playing field (sometimes literally, since Bayarjargal’s play yard is his family’s entire cattle farm). It suggests that nature, not nurture, is the domineering factor in child development. One minute we might note that Bayargargal seems to be alone quite a lot or bullied by his older sibling and yet he is undeterred in his exploration and extremely happy in his discoveries. In the next scene, we might be surprised that Mari is surrounded by toys and yet is frustrated by every single one of them after one attempt at making them work. This particular series of events might even lead one to conclude that all the doting the First World babies get is more harmful than good, but I think that would be reading into things a bit too far.

My companion viewer did note that Hattie and Mari are disadvantaged in regards to socialization. Their parents need to take them to various music classes and play dates in order for them to be around peers, but Bayarjargal at least has his older sibling. Ponijao has the best family/community life, with not one, but two women, nearby and what seems like a dozen playmates in the village children. In his village, the kids look out for one another and for the most part get along very well. Maybe it doesn’t take a village to raise a child, but it does seem like a pretty good idea.

Being accustomed to certain things – particularly a certain level of cleanliness – I will interject that considering the options from every angle, I would always prefer to raise my children in a First World country, thankyouverymuch. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t learn a great deal from how other parents raise their kids. Mainly, it’s a relief that no matter my parenting style or mistakes, it’s likely that all you really need is love.

This film is not only interesting to moms-who-love-babies or obsess about every detail but enjoyable for the whole family.* My husband discussed it with me and my 2 ½ year old son was interested the entire length of the film making it the first full length feature film he’s watched start to finish. Personally, I found it so enthralling that a second viewing only kindled a desire to watch it a third time and perhaps a fourth and almost every day of my life. Though that may seem like quite an overstatement, I’m not quite sure it is. Since there is no interviewing, narration or English subtitles, every piece of information, every feeling is conveyed visually or tonally. I could become an obsessed observer, like an anthropology student. At the very least, it has become one of my favorite films in any genre.

Have you seen Babies?  What did you think?

*I suppose I should throw in a disclaimer here. Uncle Orson disagrees with me because of the potential problem of parents with bare nursing breasts and what I can only guess to be his discomfort with undiapered baby boys. I suppose it has to do with the age of your children and parenting approach.

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Wharf Pub & Restaurant Friday, Feb 18 2011

Here is another post this month to make up for last month.

It was warm (and by warm, I mean not 15 degrees below the temperature of your freezer) today so I decided to go for a walk downtown. If I went on a walk, I wouldn’t have time to make dinner, so I planned on eating out. I hadn’t been to Wharf Pub and Restaurant in a long time but remembered that I really enjoyed the Reuben sandwich a couple of times. Yelp said it was kid-friendly, so I took my son on a date since we were a duo tonight.

Also since we weren’t our usual trio, I splurged on an appetizer. Eleven dollars is kind of expensive for nachos but the piling plate placed on our table could have fed a dozen:

We both enjoyed them very much but could not finish them!

As to being kid-friendly, Wharf Pub & Restaurant is one of the most kid-friendly restaurants in the city (Pub 99 and probably Pizza Hut being the others in this category). The establishment didn’t have any problem with my bringing in the stroller and as soon as the host saw his little guest, he provided a coloring place mat and a four pack of Crayola crayons. (Crayola is a big deal as any mom knows.) The candles on the table are LED so your toddler can find the button to turn them off but not blow them out. The kids’ menu is included in the regular menu and lists about four “Fun Pack” meals, about half the price of an adult sandwich platter.

Elijah had the grilled cheese with french fries and actually ate as much of the sandwich as the fries. I had to admit, it was grilled to golden perfection and looked pretty good to me as well. It helped that it is made with American cheese, as cheddar seems to be too sharp for the little guy to take in large doses.

The Wharf Pub does have a limited dinner menu of seafood, pasta, steak and ribs but specializes in sandwiches. I was in the particular mood for a sandwich tonight and also happen to sort of despise Panera Bread (I don’t like having someone microwave my pre-made meal, tossing it up onto the counter, yelling at me to come get it and instructing me on everything — even where I put my elbows.), the only other sandwich-for-dinner place. Instead of having to settle for the one of the two hot sandwiches at Panera that doesn’t come with mayonnaise and picking the Cuban because every time I get the Bacon Turkey Bravo it is as dry as a desert, I found I couldn’t easily decide among one of the turkey sandwiches, one of the roast beef sandwiches, the pastrami or the Reuben. The Philly cheese was also tempting. I finally settled on the hot roast beef sandwich on focaccia bread and got mustard instead of mayo.

Yum! The roast beef was thoroughly warmed through but not overdone; it was still very juicy. The focaccia was really soft and the green leaf lettuce, tomato and red onion were crisp and tasty. If I hadn’t just eaten about a fourth of the nachos, I’d have finished my sandwich, but I figured the sandwich would keep as a leftover and set back to work on the nachos until I had eaten half of them.

Our waitress was attentive (though we were the only table for most of the evening) without hovering and took care to clear our appetizer, refill our drinks and ask how our meals after we had a chance to try them.

I suggest the Wharf Pub over Panera for sandwiches in Newport anytime. (It doesn’t offer as many soups — mostly chili, chowder and bisque — but does offer a substantial variety of salads.) The prices are comparable, the selection is better, the food is fresh and the service is great.

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SAPo Freaky Burrito Saturday, Feb 12 2011

I didn’t intend to take a hiatus last month and had a few blog ideas, so since I had a new restaurant experience today, I thought I’d review it while it was still fresh in my mind.

I had a few errands to run.  Our car is on the fritz and the sidewalks looked mostly clear (Finally!  After at least six weeks of snow or ice.) so I decided to go downtown.   It was so nice to get out for a walk again, and my son, who was with me, asked to go to the end of the street.   There was SAPo Freaky Burrito still waiting to be discovered by us.   I’m not sure why the small “o” in “SAPo” or the choice of “toad” in a name (There were no toad burritos, unless that’s what my chicken was.), though that’s not why I had previously avoided it.   It is difficult to see past the dingy windows and it appears dark inside.   From what I could tell, there was bar seating and bar height tables and chairs.  I thought it would be an adventure best left to adults and I really don’t get many adult-only adventures these days.

But this time I thought, “What the heck.  The worst that could happen is I find out is that I’m right and there is no seating for a 2-year-old.”  We went in and there was a bar and one bar height table and chairs but mostly regular seating.  Besides, Elijah didn’t want a high chair this time anyway.  He only fell off the chair once and was thereby warned of the consequences of excessive squirmy-ness.  I wish I had found whether there were high chairs, but the owner/waiter was very friendly towards his young guest.

The atmosphere did feel a little dingier than I initially preferred, but as I looked around, I noted it was clean and only proper lighting was lacking.  Although, Elijah especially enjoyed the coconut lanterns over the bar.  We also enjoyed the Pandora station that was playing upbeat alternative music, so much we both started dancing in our chairs.

I wasn’t at all sure what to expect from the menu, but the prices were comparable to the breakfast/lunch cafes on Broadway we had patroned and much lower than the other lunch/dinner restaurants we walk by because of the prices on the menu.   Elijah had one soft taco for $3.00 and I had a taco platter for $8.00.  Other than tacos, our choices ranged from of course burritos, the expected nachos and quesadillas and the traditional mole plate to the unexpected (for the hours of operation) breakfast selections and creative chicken BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato) with chipotle sauce and served on a tortilla.

As you may know, my criterion for a good Mexican restaurant is authentic rice and beans.   I really didn’t expect a place that sold itself on a burrito being freaky to be authentic, although I did expect a good fusion restaurant.  However, it was authentic, with homemade refried beans and non-sticky rice!  I’m also pretty big on the salsa and the fresh cilantro lime salsa was a deal sealer for me.

I later learned that everything is made fresh daily and all the produce is organic.   The later bit of information was a surprise, since if I had known that, I’d have expected the prices to be higher.  Our fresh squeezed orange juice was made on the spot (Elijah loved watching the process.) and homemade lemonade is also served.

Speaking of serving, our waiter seemed very busy between the three tables that were occupied and didn’t give us as much attention I’d have liked in the beginning but we got more attention later, when the first table left.  And he was very welcoming and accommodating,  just as a server should be, and not the kind to roll his eyes or sigh when asked for more napkins or to discard the lemon that fell on the floor because your OCD toddler can’t handle things being out of place or would be tempted to eat it if it were kept on the table.   That’s ultimately the kind of service that makes a place kid-friendly.

Although I’m not yet sure I’d return to SAPo with a younger child in the future, I know I’d like to.  I’m glad I got over my first impression to give it a try and would highly recommend it to most.

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Nikolas Pizza, Sunrise Restaurant and Ruby Tuesday Friday, Dec 3 2010

Nikolas Pizza

A few weeks ago, Micah found a door hanger promoting a local pizzeria called Nikolas Pizza. It listed several specials, including family dinners with a large pizza and a salad or wings. We had been there once before and thought the food was good. So last week while I was shopping in the evening, I called in an order to pickup dinner and bring it home. To my surprise, the cashier did not know what promotion I was talking about when I asked for the “Large one topping pizza, large salad and four sodas for $14.95 Special.” I modified my order and brought the door hanger with me when I picked it up. I was probably 20-30 minutes early, but I waited maybe 10 minutes, and thankfully, a waitress showed the cashier how to ring in the special I wanted. I went home happy and enjoyed the best quality pizza for such a price around here. The salad was also good; it wasn’t just chopped lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers but also had peppers, onions, pepperoncini and kalamata olives. And the soda wasn’t just cans; they were from the fountain.

I’m admitting to ordering again this week, yes. I have plenty of excuses, trust me. Let’s just stay focused, though, shall we? Eh hem. Anyway, I was really excited to have another great experience at Nikolas but I was disappointed. Yet again, the cashier could not find my special. Finally, after I kept pressing the issue, the cashier asked someone in-house for help and I heard the same waitress exasperatingly tell the cashier what to do. I took a deep breath and said thank you when I completed my order. It was supposed to arrive within 30-40 minutes. After an hour, I called back and the only response I got was, “Well, it’s not here so it should be there, shortly. Sorry!” Bewildered, I hung up the phone. What was I supposed to do? I didn’t have the driver’s number. He never called me. The waitress apparently did not intend to call him, either. So I just waited another 10 minutes. Now our pizza was twice as long in getting here. It was cold. And they forgot to include salad dressing with the salad. At least it wasn’t wilted and at least our soda wasn’t flat. But when you pay for something, you don’t want to say, “At least I didn’t get screwed THAT badly.” You want what you pay for. In my case, it was a hot pizza in 40 minutes. I didn’t get it. Nor did I get a discount or coupon or any kind of compensation.

When I came to think of it, when we dined in at Nikolas over the summer, the service WAS slow, but at least the waitress was conscientious of it and apologetic and attentive to our toddler’s needs while we were waiting. Seems as though the cook and wait staff are on the ball but despite the promotion, the delivery staff just doesn’t, well, deliver. Needless to say, it will be another few months before we give Nikolas another shot. Then, I’m sorry to say, he doesn’t have another chance.

Sunrise Restaurant

Speaking of promotions, I got another one in Valpak. It was for Sunrise Restaurant, a Vietnamese Restaurant. I thought it was new because I had never seen it promoted before (In fact, I still can’t find it in Google.), but apparently, it’s been tucked away in the back of some plaza on West Main Road for ages. Remembering a delicious dish called Beebong that a friend picked up in Providence – more like I’ve been thinking of it ever since and desirous of getting my hands on it again – I rushed to try it at Sunrise Restaurant. However, the cashier had no idea what I was talking about. “Beebon?” she said “I have no idea what that is.”

“Curious,” I thought. “It IS a Vietnamese dish. This IS a Vietnamese restaurant.” And got the Pho instead, along with some fried rice.

My husband had heard from co-workers that the soup from Sunrise Restaurant was really good. But I found it to be just okay; it was better than the fried rice anyway. But everything had a bad, smoky, oily, fishy taste to it. I had had the same experience with Bankok City on Valley Road. Normally, I love Thai and have since found some good local Thai, but I couldn’t get over the pervasive sense that what I was eating had been cooked with seafood, old seafood – maybe octopus – and that I was going to smell like it for days. Gross. Just gross. Sure, my soup only had a tinge of this disgusting flavor, but, again, you just don’t want to say, “It’s not as bad as it could be” when you’re trying to eat something.

I won’t be going back to Sunrise Restaurant ever. But I really want some Beebong, so if you know of a restaurant in my area or of a recipe, please send your recommendation along!

Ruby Tuesday

As a general rule, I like to support local businesses. And as a general rule, they are better: they offer more unique wares, more variety (arguably as a by-product of being more unique but it’s still to be noted) and better quality, as more care goes into the selection and preparation of goodes. But I hate to say it, rarely is the service better, which is why I cling to local businesses that also provide good service like Empire Tea and Coffee. Yes, cling is the right word. It’s a kind of security, an anchor in the chaotic marketplace, knowing what to expect each time you walk in someplace. Am I the only one that finds many local business owners have a soup Nazi attitude? Don’t get me wrong; I’m surprised to find good service anywhere. Chains at least have corporate standards but I still expect the “What’s it to me whether you’re happy or not; you’re paying, anyway, sucker!” treatment.

Which is why I was really shocked at the amazing – what should be normal – treatment we’ve been receiving at Ruby Tuesday lately. One time, my husband and I both ordered the salad bar and soup, but as the restaurant was out of our soup of choice, we weren’t sure which to order. We explained that the chicken chili was too salty the last time we had had it, so our waitress said, without hesitation and matter-of-factly, “Try it this time and if you don’t like it, I’ll take it off the bill.” So we did, and it WAS too salty, and it was not only taken off the bill, but the restaurant manager came over to get our opinions. Here is a place where the company really does care about improvement like it says and the management backs up it’s employees so they can say, with confidence, that they will do such-and-such to make you happy. Wow.

We returned and had no problems with our meal, but was most pleasantly surprised with the service from our most recent waiter. He was so polite, welcoming us back, and attentive, bringing extra napkins for our son. He even made sure to tell us that the drinks and biscuits were free refills. Micah and I both looked at each other in shock each time he left the table. “Is it just me,” he said, “Or do you feel like service this good is almost patronizing?” “Yeah,” I agreed, “But there’s no attitude. It’s definitely not condescending. I just feel like I am an adult and can get my own damn meal, thankyouverymuch.” Then we had a good laugh because that’s just how you cope with the horrible service here in New England.

I still don’t know if I can quite come to terms with it, but if I ever feel like being pampered again (They do everything but put the napkin in your lap, the service really is a first class, fine dining experience.) I WILL be returning to Ruby Tuesday.

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El Tapatio and Fiesta Saturday, Oct 30 2010

For some reason, it is really difficult to find a good Mexican restaurant around here – at least not the way I remember Mexican through the experience of Monterrey in Columbia, South Carolina. But they are becoming increasingly popular, so we now have more options than Tito’s. Tito’s is okay, but it isn’t authentic the way it claims to be. The chips and salsa might be homemade but the chicken tastes like it was tossed with salsa in a crock pot. Call me crazy, but I don’t think that is how you make authentic Mexican chicken. This is more like it; that’s how arroz con pollo is made as well, which brings me to another point. Rice. Mexican rice must be cooked in tomato sauce and be very dry. If it tastes like this looks, it is wrong. But too many places make their rice this way – moist and seasonings and vegetables tossed in rather than cooked in. I couldn’t find a picture of decent rice; apparently it’s not just a local problem.

Fortunately, there are not just one, but two solutions in Southern New England on my radar so far. The first is El Tapatio in North Kingstown, RI. When I went on a weekday night, it was crowded with older well-to-do couples and young middle class families. Four adults and one child were with me and we received quick service. What also impressed me was the attentiveness given to my 2-year-old son. An ample pile of extra napkins, for example, were brought out without any prompting on my part. I dislike having to ask for more napkins at a restaurant, only to have them forgotten, not brought on time, or not brought in sufficient quantities. (Two, really? You think by extra napkins, I mean 2? How expensive are these napkins, that you have to be that stingy? Now I feel like an inconsiderate slob if I ask you yet again for more napkins.) While I’m on the subject of being child-friendly, how expensive is it to buy bendy straws? Now compare that to how necessary they are. Have you ever seen how impossible it is for a child to drink from a straw from a cup on a table without bending it? Unless it is a bendy straw, it doesn’t really work. And crayons. Crayons that have been in another child’s mouth and on the floor brought out in a cup is gross. How do I know this? Because when you get the crayons back, they are gross from being in MY child’s mouth and HIM throwing them on the floor. Give me a fresh pack of those cheap crayons. Thy don’t just come in fours; they also come in two’s for the more frugal restaurants.

Where was I?  Ah, yes. The food. First of all, the menu is way better than your average Mexican restaurant offering tacos, burritos, fajitas, enchiladas, chimichangas and perhaps taco salad and something made-up, like fataco, which is probably redundant. How to tell, in my opinion, if you have a good Mexican restaurant on your hands is if the menu includes chicken mole. (Yes, that is my favorite dish.) Mexican cuisine rarely features cheese, so you need at least a few cheese-less dishes on the menu!

I did indeed get the chicken mole from El Tapatio and it was good, but let’s face it – how can you go wrong with chocolate? So let’s focus on the side dishes. Coleslaw was surprising but good, the refried beans were homemade and – now the important one – the rice was perfect! That sealed the deal for me and I’d definitely return.

Your second option to excellent Mexican cuisine is Fiesta Mexican Restaurant in Swansea, MA, a smaller, more casual restaurant that offers take-out. I visited again on a weekday night, later in the evening. My son and I weren’t the only diners in the restaurant and there was only one waitress so I was a little nervous (If you had a countdown to when your toddler reached knife-throwing levels of boredom, you’d be nervous, too.) but our order was taken immediately. And although I had to leave my table to ask the host for another coloring placemat, he was happy to accommodate with not just one, but two. You bet I also noted the crayons were a box of four and he brought another one of those, too – just in case, you know, my toddler bit them in half or threw them in some obscure corner under the table, as he is wont. However, this did not happen because our food arrived so quickly. The kitchen staff turned out our meals quicker than we could finish our chips and salsa.

I ordered the burrito loco with chicken and though it wasn’t Mexican chicken per say, it was chopped grilled chicken, which, frankly, I’d rather have in place of watery shredded chicken. The vegetables were still a little crisp, which was satisfying, and the sauces were fun. Enchilada sauce lay on top of one side of the burrito, tomatillo salsa on the other, and queso in the middle. Yum! The sides of rice and beans were almost identical to that of El Tapatio, the lettuce was crisp, the tomato was ripe and the sour cream was cleverly placed in a fried tortilla cup to keep it from melting.

Speaking of melting, fried ice cream must be so difficult to do at home, which is why I love a Mexican restaurant that serves it! Fiesta serves its fried ice cream with not just whipped cream and chocolate drizzle on top but whipped cream and chocolate drizzle garnishes on the side. It impresses me that a small restaurant, not specializing in desserts, would take this effort. Also, the honey caramel sauce is the best I’ve ever had. Even though it’s more out of my way, I’d definitely return here, too.

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How to Grow a Gratsy Saturday, Sep 25 2010

Let me tell you about Sandy.  I met Sandy ten years ago at Columbia International University.  Although we were never bosom buddies, I knew then she was a kindred spirit.   Recently, we’ve reconnected and I have really enjoyed reading her blog, How to Grow a Gratsy.   As only a kindred spirit can do, she says things straight from my own heart.  Except that she is a way cooler version of me.

But I want to review this blog for you on its own merits, so, first of all, let’s talk about the name.  How cool is it?  1.) Alliteration is my favorite literary device. 2.) It tells you exactly what the blog is about; it focuses on parenthood and 3.) as Sandy says herself, it is all-inclusive of parenthood; the Gratsy’s will be growing their son, Malachi, in many ways over the course of his whole life.

Now, the photography.  All good blogs have good images, and family blogs must have photography.  Not only is the header really awesome (Joshua, Malachi and Sandy lean into the camera on the ground and give big, cheesy smiles; the pose fits a header perfectly and it is really welcoming.) but there are visuals of everything — Malachi bonding with his daddy, Malachi looking cute in his cloth diaper, etc.   It really helps you connect and feel.

Content.  Sandy is an authentic author, offering pointed advice (such as “Just do it!” to cloth diapering) mixed with humility (“Hey, I do this, too.” and “This isn’t tried and tested.”).  She’s honest about things like being frustrated with a crying newborn and even trying a drop of Benadryl when all else had failed.   And she’s genuine in the sentimental post, “This is Life.”

Readability. This should be a given in any blog, but I honestly appreciate Sandy’s competence in introducing a topic and transitioning you to the main points. I also like her lists and can’t help but notice the way she wraps things up and leaves you with a feeling, not just information.

Involvement. Sandy’s pretty consistent about answering questions in her comments and provides plenty of opportunities to connect, providing links to her Twitter profile, Blogger profile and RSS feed.   Currently, she’s doing a giveaway to encourage more connections.  It’s been pretty effective for me: I realized I didn’t follow Sandy on Twitter or Blogger.  I didn’t think about reviewing How to Grow a Gratsy until just a few moments ago, but I also hope the giveaway encourages you to read Sandy’s blog.

I do know I look forward to reading posts from Sandy.  Recently, she challenged me to be more hospitable.  I told her, I’m almost ready to start working on that.  But I think I’d rather try cloth diapering first!    I can’t wait to see what other heartstrings she tugs/shows me how to be a cooler version of myself.

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A Million Miles in a Thousand Years Wednesday, Sep 15 2010

About a decade ago, I read books by Christian authors with Christian themes. Especially the popular ones, like In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado and I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris. The former was a cut and paste of legitimate authors like C.S. Lewis and St. Augustine and the later ruined my life. (Okay, maybe I’m still thinking from the perspective of a teenager prone to dramatic statement like that, but I would not recommend it.) After bad experiences like these, I gave up and basically swore never to read another so-called Christian book ever again.

However, my friend Becky is able to get me to try things I had closed my mind to, such as reading the Twilight series. Or even dressing up as a Twilight character. She recommended A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller, which I never would have even picked up to look at in the book store. Not that it is a Christian book per se, but his previous works were. What drew me to Miller’s most recent book, though, is the theme.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years is about editing your life. And as you know, if you’ve looked around my blog, I love me some editing. “Can you even do that – edit your life?” I expectantly wondered, when I saw the subtitle, “What I Learned While Editing My Life.” Well, yes and no.

Miller finds himself in a unique position of being able to edit his life story for a film memoir and writes about the process and his discoveries. The author is not some sci-fi geek who believes one can actually go back in time to change one’s decisions. (Believe me, I was severely disappointed he had not indeed made the discovery of time travel and was going to share the secret of how to truly edit one’s life.) But as Miller learns about what makes a good story, he realizes his current life is lame and needs a makeover.

What Miller essentially asks is, “If one can edit the story of his life for story-telling purposes, why can’t he apply those same principles to day-to-day living?” He tests his hypothesis and the results are very satisfactory: he pursues a girl he’s interested at the risk of a broken heart, goes hiking in South America, bikes across America, founds a charitable organization and meets amazing characters.

Not that I think everyone’s story will look similar, but let’s face it, if you are a single man in his mid-thirties or whatever and a flexible work schedule, shouldn’t you be doing stuff like this? Either Miller is totally honest and even as an already successful writer he really is a lame duck at the beginning of this book or he is self-depreciating. Either way, he is a fantastic writer because I began the reading of this book basically loathing his character. I’m surprised I even kept reading, that’s how much of a jerk he makes himself out to be. Don might as well be in his underwear eating Cheetos and watching a football game, that’s how much of a loser he seems. (Disclaimer: I do not condemn watching football. Or being in your underwear, as long as you also wear clothing. In fact, you should wear underwear. As to Cheetos, may I point you to the back of the bag? Or the orange fingers?)

But by the end of the book, I was thinking this guy is brilliant and has valuable pointers for my own life. Brilliant except for one thing – he seems to know absolutely nothing about story until he talks to the producers of the film about his life and goes to a writing conference. Is this another gimmick like the subtitle or self-depreciating descriptions? Or did he truly manage to skip all this English classes and know enough to publish in another genre? However and whenever he learns about it, Miller highlights the elements of story that can make one’s own life an exciting one to tell.

Again, your life might not look like the adventurist/charity founder’s when you’ve begun to write your story, but I highly recommend reading A Million Miles… even if you already think you are living up to your potential – you might be surprised at some of his conclusions – and taking charge of your own story, that is, taking charge of your own life. Although writing such an epic can be daunting, I’m excited about writing mine. I’m still at the part where you figure out what makes your character tick, but that’s okay. Some great stories take decades to write. Maybe I can start a writer’s circle/support group. Or something.

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Park 51 and Anti-Muslim Sentiment Sunday, Sep 5 2010

As you are likely aware, there are plans for the community center/mosque being built a couple blocks away from Ground Zero. You are also probably aware of the controversy surrounding the issue and that national involvement that has ensued. Maybe you are a part of it. Maybe you’ve written letters, protested or simply been outspoken. I have become aware of the stances my various friends and acquaintances in different circles have taken regarding the matter. Maybe you are one of those who’ve made your voice heard or maybe you haven’t but have strong opinions, too.  But I haven’t heard what I’m about to say and that is why I feel I need to say it. This isn’t a political blog, but here is my assessment of the current political climate.

The above link is to an article that describes an observation that the current political climate is charged with anti-Muslim sentiment. I’ve personally seen a resurgence of such statements referring to the information in these e-mails, which state that Muslim terrorists could be deterred by the fear of going to hell and that somehow it is a good idea that we endorse utilizing this fear by dousing suspects in pig’s blood. Furthermore, it is a belief that the Muslims building and planning to attend the Park 51 mosque are suspect of terrorism. I don’t think it’s even necessary that I reference this; it is all over the opines and blogs and social networks and I’ve personally observed it on my own news feed. A couple of things that strike me as wrong about this sentiment are the misinformation about the nature and intent of the project and the wrongful association of all followers of Islam with terrorism. But I’m not even going to get into that in this blog post, because what saddens me most is who is saying these things because Christians are saying these things and I think it is totally inconsistent with the Christian philosophy.

I know I shouldn’t be shocked. I claim to be a Christian and don’t always live up to Christian standards, either. That is kind of the point of following Christ in the first place – you know, realizing we need Someone to follow. But the truth is these statements are meant to be shocking.

I’m just here to clarify, for my non-Christian friends that hate is not what Christ is all about. And I’m here to remind my Christian friends that they follow a God of love, not hate.

If you believe in a hell, do you really want other people to go to hell? Do you really want people to be scared of going to hell?

God’s desire is “that no one should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).” The Apostle Paul, who followed Christ, said that he wished he could be accursed for the sakes of those who rejected Christ (Romans 9:1-3). As the famous preacher Jonathan Edwards put it in the sermon The Character of Paul an Example to Christians, “How are those reproved by this, who, when they are abused and suffer reproach or injury, have thereby indulged a spirit of hatred against their neighbor, a prejudice whereby they are always apt to entertain a distrust, and to seek and embrace opportunities against them, and to be sorry for their prosperity, and glad at their disappointments.” (Read the full sermon here.)

When Paul wished he could trade places with others in order that they might be saved, he was exemplifying Christ, Who did just that (2 Corinthians 5:21). Christ told us to love our enemies (Luke 6:27-36), so what if the terrorists indirectly culpable for the deaths on 9/11 were building the Cordoba House and now want to send a different message?  We have to give them that chance.  What if the intent of the mosque turns out to be sinister after all?  Jesus said, “Turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:38-40).”

What an unbelievable thing to say! Precisely. Christianity sounds crazy. We inherently want justice. Jesus was a revolutionary.

For this reason, Rush Limbaugh and other Conservatives are popular. Jesus – the real Jesus – isn’t.

But popularity isn’t what matters. Don’t quote the talk shows because I can quote that many Bible verses that point towards forgiveness (Luke 11:2-4 and 17: 1-6 to name just a couple more passages).

“Okay, that’s all very well and good,” you might say, “but what about the victims?” You might concede that you do care about Muslims but ask “Why aren’t we being sensitive towards the victims of 9/11?” First of all, not all the families themselves of victims are opposed to the building of the Ground Zero Mosque. I agree that victims should be treated with sensitivity, but that idea has gone too far; it has led to the anti-Christian idea of vengeance. Recently I found this article, which suggested that victims can never be truly healed and in fact relive their torture until the perpetrators pay for their crimes so much they feel what they feel. This obviously goes against the whole concept of reconciliation, and Christians are given a ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Our relationship with God is the basis for how we treat others.

No matter which way your religious convictions sway or how you feel about a mosque at Ground Zero – say it is tasteless and tactless and totally insensitive and bogus – this is America and it’s supposed to be a free country. At the very least, Americans ought to acknowledge and respect the right of others to practice their religions.

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