Guy Fawkes mask...why so creepy? |
Bodleian Upper Reading Room, where I spent my weekend |
Early modern studies can be sexy too! |
Ah yes, I see the yawns. Yes, I know my work is boring to those of you who aren't early modernists (aka everyone). So let's move on, shall we? I think it's time to share some of the results of a personal challenge I have embarked on here in Oxford: The Great Ethnic Food Quest. Here we will define "ethnic" as anything that's not British, American, or western European (although my friend Meagan from Canada has informed me that in Ontario Italian food is considered "ethnic"...America's hat indeed). So far I have sampled the cuisine of three establishments that could fall under this category, so let's just get to it:
The Great Ethnic Food Quest
1. Mexican food: The Mission
This place touts itself as "the best burrito in Oxford." Actually, as they themselves are forced to admit, it is the ONLY burrito in Oxford. Self-described as "Cal-Mex," what it actually is is a poor man's Chipotle. And I mean a very poor man. Like, broke, 1929 status. Everything in the restaurant is a rip off of Chipotle: the menu, the tortilla press, the assembly-line style service, the little red baskets, even the font on their sign looks like the Chipotle font. The only thing that was not a carbon copy of Chipotle was, unfortunately, the taste of the actual food, which was mediocre fare at best. During my first week in Oxford someone actually pointed this place out to me and told me there was Mexican food there, but it "wasn't as good as Chipotle." I was like, dude, if Chipotle is your standard for great Mexican food I am going to be sorely disappointed by this place. And so I was. The pathetic thing is I'd totally go back anyway because I miss tortillas and this is literally the only place in Oxford to get them.
hmmm...similarities? |
2. Chinese food: Cafe Opium
I was really missing potstickers so I decided to check this place out a few weeks ago. The upside was that it seemed fairly authentic and there were real Asian people in it. On the downside, I didn't love the food. The menu was huge but a lot of it was seafood, and Chinese seafood and I aren't the best of friends. And you know what was not on the menu? That's right, potstickers. Frickity frick. Also, they didn't include steamed rice with entrees...what the heck!? AND, the rice was kind of soggy. If you're a Chinese restaurant and you can't even get the sticky rice right, I can't approve of you. I probably won't go back here, so my quest for some legit Shanghai-style Chinese food continues. If anyone knows of anywhere in Oxford where I can get some xiao long bao, please reveal your secrets.
3. Pan-asian noodles: Noodle Nation
Meagan and I checked this place out last Thursday, and I was hoping for some quality noodles, since I'd heard good things about this place. I finally got my potsticker fix here, though they called them by the slightly less appetizing title of "meat dumplings," and they were deep-fried...why do the Brits love to fry everything? I also had beef udon. Pros: potstickers were surprisingly delish. Cons: udon was bizarre. Instead of having things I expect in my udon, like mushrooms and seaweed and fishcakes, it had shredded carrots and cabbage: what the what? It wasn't really udon, but it was still decent I guess. Oh, how I miss Noodle Planet! Meagan had something called "chicken balls" in sweet and sour sauce--that's right, I said chicken balls. Apparently this is something that passes as Chinese food here and also in Canada, the land where Italian food is considered ethnic. Basically they are little chicken nuggets that are battered and fried, and then covered in sweet and sour sauce and called "Chinese." I didn't believe they were real when Meagan first told me about them, but having first looked them up on Wikipedia and now having witnessed them with my own eyes, I have to concede their existence. You win this time, Canada. But I still don't think it counts as Asian food.
"Chinese" chicken balls, apparently. |
♫ ...we built the pyramids! ♫ |
1. What are the first names of all four Hogwarts founders?
2. When confronted with a Weeping Angel, what is the one thing you should absolutely NOT do?
3. "Hagaren" is an abbreviation for the title of what popular anime/manga?
4. Name Andrew Wiggin's two siblings (and, for bonus points, their pseudonyms).
5. Who shot first, Han or Greedo?Bonus: Name Asimov's three laws of robotics in order.
Hopefully some of you will take a stab at those, or else my feelings will totally be hurt since I went to the trouble to make them up JUST FOR YOU (*sniffle*). You know you guys miss me being all kinds of geeky around the House o' Pi ;). And speaking of Hogwarts founders, the seventh movie is coming out soon! Who's excited? 'Cause I am!
Well it's about time I wrapped this thing up and got back to stuff I actually should be doing, like researching. Same time next week?
KQ
I know I usually put Takuto here but this week was all about Sugata. I also realize none of you know what I'm talking about. |
I'm going to eat all kinds of chicken balls. I hear it and I don't care.
ReplyDelete1) Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, Salazar Slytherin, Godric Gryffindor
ReplyDelete2)DO NOT make eye contact with the Weeping Angels!
3) Full Metal Alchemist?
4), 5), and the bonus, I have no idea where those are from.
Can I be a part of your geeky life? I miss you!!
Love, Janet
1) What Janet said
ReplyDelete2) Don't blink
3) Gurren Laggen?
4 and 5 I have no idea
Bonus: 1) A robot cannot harm a human being, or by through inaction, allow that person to come to harm
2) A robot must follow the orders of a human, except when in conflict with the first law.
3) A robot may not harm himself, except when in conflict with the first or second law.
1) What Janet said
ReplyDelete2) What Drew said
3) What Janet said (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi)
4) Peter/Locke and Valentine/Demosthenes
5) Han!
Bonus: What Drew said
I have been trumped Miss Kelly Quinn. I knew #1 and nothing else :_( BUT I am thoroughly entertained by your blog, and I look forward to your next post. P.S. It has become tradition for me to read your blog during my boring film class occurring RIGHT NOW on Tuesdays haha. What a fine education...miss you!!!! xoxo
ReplyDeletei only new # 1 too!! and like ms. laurie noyes i also thoroughly enjoy your blog :) I am soooooo excited about HP, but NOT A SINGLE PERSON I KNOW HERE LIKES IT! seriously, im gonna have to go by myself :(
ReplyDeleteand Kelly, compared to some of the people here in good old new haven (and prob oxford as well) you seem like the coolest person around :)
miss you!
Aha! the bonus question- what Drew said tis correct. that is the only one I knew. Thanks for the entertaining update Kelly. I am delighted you are getting a fine education!
ReplyDelete