my buddy/bandmate phil sent me a link to an article this morning where a guy attempts to recreate the goodness of a ‘Shake Shack” burger in his own home. all it did was make me crave a burger at 10am. and while shake shack is definitely amazing, i will have to argue that “Five Guys” from my hometown which was even voted the Number 1 and Number 2 reasons in GQ’s “reasons not to lose hope in 2009” takes the cake as best burger around. i mean, seriously, just look at this thing!
ps. did i mention they offer bacon on their burgers? TAKE THAT shake shack and in ‘n out!
look at me, i have officially entered the tumblr realm.
and it has been awhile since i’ve blogged. nearly 9 years have gone by since my blog “reflections” on the old geocities pages was active, before wising up in 2005 when i started blogging on myspace and blogger.com. but even those stints were short lived. so lately i’ve been impressed with all these ‘tumblr’ blogs. the many options, ease of use, variety of templates and customization features has lured me back into this form of digital expression.
but before i start writing entries, i do have some questions:
1) where did the name ‘tumblr’ come from and what does it mean?
2) why is there a vowel missing between the ‘L’ and ‘R’?
3) and how on earth did this terrible misspelling manage to be ok with perhaps hundreds of thousands of bloggers that decided to join?
i suppose i could just google or wikipedia for the info..
alas, fuel for my 2nd entry!
[video]
half of it was created by the Italians, and had been securely documented by Marco Polo well before 1295.
the other half was created by the English, and has been around since 1170.
but the two never successfully merged together until the 19th century, in America.
Casual observations indicate that Thomas Jefferson may have been the genius behind it all.
But its undeniable rise of popularity during the Civil War cements its place in history.
The great creation that I speak of is Macaroni and Cheese.
That’s right, cheddar cheese and elbow macaroni.
You see, I’ve recently been on a major Macaroni and Cheese kick. But not just any kick. I’ve been in search for the best macaroni and cheese out there.
Now I’m not talking about your everyday mac ‘n cheese in a box or “easy mac”. And while we can thank Kraft Foods for introducing the first ‘boxed macaroni and cheese’ dinner in 1937, it’s not what I would consider a high quality product.
So no, not Kraft. No, not Annie’s.
No, not even Stouffer’s Macaroni and Cheese (which, in my opinion, is arguably the best tasting macaroni and cheese you can buy out of a box)
I’m talking fresh, quality Macaroni and Cheese.
And restaurant chains that serve macaroni and cheese as a side item just don’t cut it.
KFC? Theirs tastes like the styrofoam they package it in.
Boston Market? Way too runny. And spirals?? Come on! It’s MACARONI and cheese. Not SPIRALS and cheese.
Plus, I wanted macaroni and cheese as a standalone MEAL.
A meal where if someone asked,
“What are you eating for dinner?”
and you say,
“Macaroni and Cheese.”
They’re not like,
“Oh…I see. Anything else?
..or just mac ‘n cheese?”
(as if too imply you don’t have a REAL appetite)
I knew I couldn’t rely on any chain restaurants or mass food companies to fulfill my wishes, so I initiated a more delicate search, one aimed at smaller, family owned establishments that take more pride into what they do.
I went to various restaurants in Northern Virginia, California, and the Boston area. And while I devoured some great dishes in the process, including ones from “Common Ground Grill” in Allston, and “Noodles and Company” in Northern Virginia, I still hadn’t found exactly what I was looking for.
I began to think that I never might.
That is, until I came to New York City.
You see, this past week I was in town to perform at The One Love Show, (which was a blast) and the next evening I was hanging out with my friend Luke, who you all know.
Having eaten mostly junk over the past few days I wanted something different. That’s when I recalled reading about a place in NYC that served macaroni and cheese. It was calledS’Mac. Short for Sarita’s Macaroni and Cheese. I was curious.
I then watched the following video and FREAKED OUT:
(CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE VIDEO)
**WARNING**YOU MUST WATCH THIS VIDEO BEFORE YOU READ ON TO GET THE FULL EXPERIENCE**
Ok, so now that you’ve seen the video, you know what i’m talking about.
I immediately urged for us to go so off we went to S’MAC in the east village.
Upon arrival at S’MAC, my eyes widened as I looked over their menu.
First of all, they had a very extensive menu.
Second of all, EVERYTHING on their menu was Macaroni and Cheese!
I began to salivate just reading through these menu items..
“The All-American”, “The 4-Cheese”, “The Mozzarella”, “The Cheeseburger” “The Cajun”, “Goat Cheese”, “The Manchengo”, “The Garden”…etc etc.
They had so many different types. I was in awe. I didn’t know what to choose. I wanted to try them all.
In addition to that, you could even create your own macaroni and cheese, by picking from their extensive list of ingredients including various cheeses, veggies, and meats. All customized to your liking.
So without taking too much time deliberating, and out of respect for the cashier that was being very patient with my indecisiveness, I had narrowed down my choices to the following: (complete with official descriptions)
“The All-American”- Just the way you remember it as a kid! Nostalgia at its finest - a tasty blend of American & Cheddar cheeses.
“The Cheeseburger” - For the Hearty Meat Eater! Ground Beef done to perfection with onions, garlic and a hint of ketchup and mustard. Don’t forget the best part - a combination of American and Cheddar cheeses.
Initially, I wanted to go with the “All-American” but the carnivore in me wanted something heavier, so I opted to go with the Cheeseburger, which was essentially The All-American with a nice, meat lovers twist.
Each selection came in 3 sizes, Nosh, Major Munch, and Mongo (From smallest to largest).
I then walked to the counter
“I’d like a Major Munch Cheeseburger, please”.
“Break Crumbs on that?”
“Yes, sir.”
Apparently each dish is cooked fresh and baked to order, as Luke and I waited nearly 15 minutes in anticipation.
And then, the moment of truth came. Placed in front of me now was a deep iron skillet pan, still hot to the touch, and filled with ingredients that were still sizzling that you could hear it.
A layer of bread crumbs and cheddar cheeses were baked into the top of the entrée.
I thought to myself, Could this be THE ONE?
Using my spoon, the outer layer crackled like a thin crust before it dipped into the soft and creamy center.
And then..
it happened..
I was tasting the tang of the cheddar.
I was tasting melty American cheeses.
I was tasting freshly boiled al dente macaroni.
I was tasting flavorful yet extremely subtle hints of sweet and spicy.
The seasoned beef was mouth watering.
My taste buds were literally on sensory overload.
I was tasting the soft and the crispy.
I was tasting the piping hot and the creamy.
I was tasting Italy.
I was tasting England.
Dammit, I could even taste the American CIVIL WAR!
I was tasting past, present and future.
I was tasting every ingredient and every magical combination in between.
It was true.
I was tasting the best Macaroni and Cheese I’ve ever had.
So, after conceivably hundreds of years in the making, I envisioned the ghosts of Marco Polo, King Henry II, and Thomas Jefferson sitting down at a table and enjoying a bowl of this wonderful creation that they helped bring into our world.
And at a table across from them, was this overzealous individual..
“Ah..the cheesy taste of VICTORY!”
“More than anything, I just try to not lose my motivation. Sometimes, you have to be creative. Sometimes, you have to fight through it. Sometimes, you have a lot of fun. The basis for everything is working hard, making a plan and setting goals for yourself. Not just working and hoping that your improvement is made. You have to work with a purpose.” — Steve Nash
[video]
REUNITED and it TASTES so good!
Current mood: 
cheerful
first of all, i’d like to say thanks to everyone for leaving their comments, writing me messages and suggestions during my whole “tea tragedy”. not only were they a joy to read, but they were also inspiring. it gave me hope. it gave me strength. i began to believe that somewhere out there, whether it be from an old warehouse in a neighboring state, a small cafe in a distant country, or even on ebay, “Borders Chai” still exists and is still very much alive; being sought after by many around the world, and not just by me.
as most of you may know, The Symphonies just took a trip out to California, not only to play a show, but to hang out. Me, Gavin, Pete, and Chris got in some good chill time on the west coast (ohh ooh whoa!). sorry..haha. had to do it.
but anyway, we got to spend a day hanging out in san francisco, watch pete devour an 8x8 from In-n-Out Burger (yes, that’s 8 patties and 8 slices of cheese), rock the hell out of “The Blank Club” in downtown San Jose, and of course, go to the beach. it was truly a blast. but almost more importantly, it gave me the chance to search various borders locations in northern california for my beloved borders chai.
it was tough, but thanks to everyone’s help…alas, i have emerged victorious:
that’s right. i have successfully smuggled 8 pounds of california-purchased Borders Chai mix to Boston.
and i am one happy camper.
special thanks to meg and jasmine for their extensive research, and extra special thanks to amy for “the list”. i tip my borders chai-filled tea mug to you all. :)
stay tuned for a short “video diary” documenting our trip to california..edited and done up by none other than our very own Gavin! till next time..
=eric=
Current mood: 
determined
everyone has their rituals. whether they take place daily, weekly, monthly, annually or even sporadically..whenever, whatever they may be. you name it. one of the things that i like to do whenever i get the chance is drink tea. but not just any tea. chai tea. and not just any chai tea. Borders brand chai tea. (insert trademark sign)
this fine drink was first introduced to me in the summer of 1999 and i’ve since been hooked. after moving to boston for school, i’ve introduced it to many of my friends/roomates. we all became hooked. this hot, creamy, cinnamony, spicy, sweet vanilla flavored drink was only available in Borders brand book stores, and the only accessible location was in a shopping mall in cambridge (which wasn’t very close to where we lived). so on occasion that we were in the mall, we would always make it a point to stop into Borders to grab a steamy cup full of this wonderful concoction.
after receiving our chai, we would stand in a circle and give a “toast” in honor of what we were about to enjoy. after our first sip, a collective sigh would generally follow.
“ahh..”
what a damn good drink.
a religious experience to say the least.
anyway, the drink was such a hit that Borders also offered it in powdered form, packaged in tin cans so that you could take them home and enjoy as much or as little as you wanted at your convenience. all you had to do was add hot water. pure genius.
we took full advantage of this. they came in 10 oz and 32 oz cans, and we would walk in and buy multiple 32 oz. cans at a time. we didn’t mess around. this drink was that good. my friend joe aptly described it as “liquid cinnamon toast crunch”.
anyway, last summer while in california, i stopped in a couple of the borders locations to grab a cup, and to my surprise, the cafes had transitioned into a “seattle’s best” coffeehouse. i thought for a moment, “ok, maybe the two chains just merged and are combining the best of both worlds..” WRONG! i ordered their chai and it just wasn’t the same. it was bland. it was boring. it just didn’t measure up. the same goes for starbucks, dunkin’ donuts and all those other coffeehouses. even all the nice, specialty type tea places. Borders chai just had a very distinct and unique taste.
upon return to boston i found, much to my delight, that the borders book stores out east were still in tact. and so i was enjoying borders chai as recent as earlier this year. but the nightmare became a reality when me and my friends went for another one of our “mall rituals” to Borders, only to discover that even it had officially transitioned to a “Seattle’s Best”. we asked them if they knew where we could find anymore borders chai, but to no avail.
so i’ve gone at least 3 months now without a cup, and as of late, i’ve been having cravings for it. it’s hard for me to believe that something so good (and popular it seemed) could just fall off the face of the earth. there’s got to be some place where they keep supply of this stuff. i’m determined to find it.
i’m presently in california, as i’ve already been to 3 Borders locations, each time hoping that one of them just might have some sort of remnant or artifact that can at least provide me with or give me clues as to the whereabouts of this seemingly extinct beverage.
unfortunately, with each attempt, all i find are bright red signs that read “Seattle’s Best”.
which leads me to my next statement:
if you, or anyone you know has any information regarding the whereabouts and/or recipe of Borders Chai, please contact me ASAP.
ahh, i’ve always wanted to say that.
anyone else ever watch “Unsolved Mysteries”?
robert stack was the man.
and may he rest in peace.
rock on,
=eric=
Current mood: accomplished
so i logged onto my school’s website tonite and clicked on my “registration profile” to view the following information:
Student Information:
Your Start Term: 1999FA
Semester Level: GR
Overall Academic Standing: GOOD
Your Appointment Time:
Current Time: 10:24PM 06/21/06
Restrictions:
You have no registration restrictions.
all i gotta say is i beat rivers cuomo by 4 years. :)
Current mood: calm
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23) We as people don’t normally take insults in stride without wanting to get a jab in ourselves. Our first reaction is to retaliate with words of our own. Insults are demeaning, they’re hurtful and the best defense to such things seems to be to make the other person feel just as bad. Last night, I uncharacterstlcally allowed myself to succumb to these temptations midway through the second or first quarter as I began to feel as though the world was crumbling around me. (see previous entry on “A Game Of Patience) I wanted to defend my previous victories, and here I was losing. I allowed many small things to get to me, and convinced myself that it was everyone else’s fault except my own that I was losing. Down by 8 at some point in the first half, I began to pay special attention to how Nate (who had forfeited a game to me (PHX) after trailing 34-8 after the first quarter) was cheering for my opponent, Shwin (MIA) throughout the game. This was discouraging as I believed that he was doing it to get under my skin. Then, whenever I was shooting free throws, Shwin would be rocking his feet back and forth, which I thought he was doing to try to distract me. I let it get to me, and missed free throws in the process. I proceeded to ask him to refrain from these things or move out of my line of sight because I found it distracting, and then things just got worse. Both Shwin and Nate laughed at the absurdity of my request and looking back, I can’t blame them. I found myself falling victim to the mental game, and I was showing it, much like Nate has in the past. I was showing my frustration. Once Shwin said “I’m going to do whatever I want.”, I realized there was nothing I could do, except just play the game. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” -Winston Churchill Following this altercation, I fell behind by even more, perhaps by 12 or more at one point in the second quarter. It was at this moment that I stopped speaking altogether and became completely focused. I realized that there will always be mental obstacles you have to overcome in a game. Nate can cheer all he wants, and Shwin can rock his feet all he wants. You just have to deal with it. It’s the game, and we all do our own thing. All up until the final buzzer, Shwin kept rocking his feet, and Nate kept cheering for Shwin. Had I continued to retaliate, I may not have been so lucky. Perseverance is king. PHX 101 MIA 99 Final
Current mood: calm
Shwin and Christian pick me up from work, and it’s Thursday evening. We’re headed back home. After a brief dialogue, the car stereo is the only thing that we can hear. We’re quiet, perhaps some of us still a little hungover from the previous evening. A mutual “sigh” ensues, and then i say.. “Man, last night was such a great night.” Immediately Shwin and Christian both acknowledge the statement with excitement. The feeling was unanimously mutual. But Wednesday night was not necesarilly great just because our buddies were back in town for one night. I think that in some cases, one can become progressively disconnected to their friends over extended stretches of not being around them. But not Imrie House. Things are forever changing in all of our lives, but the relationships and bonds that have molded us seem forever constant. It’s amazing how everything was exactly the same. Time stands still in the land of Imrie. highlight of the night: A tequila toast to “Imrie House is in the House” @ “Our House”, while getting free champagne on the HOUSE! vg.