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Thanks to everyone who has read this blog over the past year. This has been a fun way to chronicle our transition from Austin to Boston. Now that we’re settled, it’s time to end this blog and try something new.
So, if you’re so inclined, please follow me at my new site: huevolution.com.
Ingrid made pork the other night and tonight I chopped that pork up and turned it into tacos de carnitas. Of course, carnitas are usually made with pork shoulder, but these were still yummy with salsa and corn tortillas.
I made the salsa out of green chilies, tomoatoes, onion, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, cilantro and lime. The recycled pork tacos were delicious. We had great sweet corn on the cob earlier in the week too. We had to cobs left, but one of them had already dried up so we had to share our split our last one. Still, I’d say it was a successful meal.
papas con chouriço
I’ve been thinking about home a lot lately. Usually, when this happens I wind up cooking since so much of my childhood memories are filled with the home-cooked goodness of my mom’s kitchen.
So, last week I went to our nearby grocery store to find chorizo to make one of my favorite dishes, papas con chorizo (potatoes with chorizo). One of the things I love about our neighborhood is that so many immigrants have made their homes in the Boston area so it’s usually very easy to find foods from all over the world. In particular, folks from Portuguese speaking countries (Portugal, Brazil and Cape Verde) have immigrated and remained here in large numbers. In fact, the second most commonly spoken language in the entire state of Massachusetts is Portuguese and not Spanish like every other place I’ve lived.
Naturally, I found chorizo, but it wasn’t the Spanish or Mexican variety that I’m used to. Instead, it was the Portuguese version of this delectable pork sausage–chouriço. I thought I’d give it a go and try to make papas con chorizo chouriço. I knew this simple (but delicious) breakfast food wouldn’t be like mom’s, but I had to try it.
The results were surprising. First, the consistency of chouriço is much tougher than the mexican version. Also, Portuguese chouriço is far less oily than it’s fatty Mexican cousin. The Portuguese chouriço has a much stronger smokey flavor, while the Mexican chorizo has a bit more of a chile kick to it. I like the flavor of the Portuguese chouriço with potatoes, but it’s not the same as the mushy, fatty stuff of my childhood. Still, this newfangled culinary mixed breed has done the trick and satiated my taste for home, for now.
Here’s a photo of the version I’m used to along with a link to a site that has a good recipe for papas con chorizo tacos.
papas con chorizo recipe courtesy of taste of home.com
My last post stole from a Curtis Mayfield song so this one will too. Given the Sunday coverage of the Henry Louis Gates story, it seems that the media is ready to move on from GatesGate. According to most reports, all it took to soothe racial tensions was a phone call from the president and the promise of beer. While I suspect there are many unresolved issues for both Crowley and Gates, it’s good to hear both men are now willing to speak to one another on more civil terms.
As the media spotlight dies down there are still important discussions about race that need to take place. Yesterday afternoon my wife and I walked by Gate’s Cambridge residence. The news vans were mostly gone but we noticed that the area in front of the house was peppered with a couple signs that illustrated clearly that this incident has struck a nerve. Here are the two we could read:
“Playing the RACE CARD when there’s no RACISM just breeds contempt and division.”
signs in cambridge 1
“Groundless RACIAL accusations promote RACIAL division!”
signs in cambridge 2
There were a few more signs resting by a tree, but we didn’t bother reading those. We had read enough to get the point. While the anonymous author of these signs was nowhere to be found, the message was loud and clear. There is still much work to be done with regards to race. This piece in the New York Times by Glenn Loury gets to some of the issues underlying this case.
…and finally, a short clip (including a conga solo at 3:27) from the late, great Curtis Mayfield.
pear, gorgonzola, walnut pizza
We ate every well tonight. Ingrid and I made this pizza with bosc pears, gorgonzola, candied walnuts and caramelized onions. Ingrid has become a master at making the dough and I can crumble cheese. We make a good team.
We had several notable meals in Seattle too. They weren’t all deep fried, but it sure felt like that. Here are a few of the highlights.
deep fried goodness at ivar's
dim sum at jade garden in the international district
fried donughts at tom douglas's dahlia bakery
what a cool blog looks like
Hopefully the rss feeds don’t pick up the 889 changes i just made to this blog’s layout. If they did, I’m sorry. I couldn’t find a theme that made me happy so I’ve settled on this for now. Of course, if I really wanted something I liked, I’d dust off my css/html skills and give it a go by hand. I’ve been very inspired by Jason Santa Maria’s blog experiment, and I’d like to do something like he’s done, but I’m no JSM, so I’ll leave that cool stuff to the pros, and stick with this simple layout for now.
Besides, many web designers say content is king, so with that in mind, I’ll be adding more content soon on our recent trip to Vancouver and Seattle.
4th of july fireworks
ingrid and i went to see the 4th of july fireworks this weekend. boston is a city known for this celebration so we had high expectations. the fireworks and the music from the boston pops orchestra lived up to the hype, but i found it odd that the orchestra didn’t play throughout the fireworks show; instead, the producers played recorded tunes of lesser-known country tracks. i couldn’t quite understand why these songs were played, but the explosions in the sky made up for those bizarre choices.
in addition to the fireworks, orchestra, and weird country songs, the event was hosted by “tv’s craig ferguson” and there was a live performance by neil diamond for a CBS live broadcast. unfortunately, neither ferguson nor diamond were given much time to shine. it felt like their performances were carefully measured and reserved for the TV-viewing audience instead of the nearly 500,000 people in the crowd lined up along both sides of the charles river in boston and cambridge.
lockhart and ferguson jig: photo by bill brett, boston globe
still, in spite of the limitations on the performances for tv, ferguson was a good host. he kept the evening rolling. diamond was also in good form for two songs (sweet caroline and america), but i didn’t think we got a full dose of either artist. to their credit, both performers tried to entertain the huge crowd. ferguson did a short jig with boston pop’s director keith lockhart during a commercial break, and diamond played another verse from sweet caroline but had to cut it short before the tv cameras went back on. speaking of “sweet caroline,” this song plays during every red sox home game and, apparently, was written with carolyn kennedy in mind. this might explain why this is such a hit in boston, but i still don’t understand how this is such a hit at every wedding in the country.
neil diamond and woman with crazy flag hat: photo by bill brett, boston globe
regardless of the limitations on the artists for the television production, the night was a rousing success and a fantastic reminder of what makes this country great. as we walked down the charles river looking for a perfect viewing station, we were surrounded by people of all shapes, sizes and ethnicities. once we settled on a spot, we were behind two elderly, white locals, who seemed to know when the fireworks were coming. they knew exactly when to stand up, and when to ready their lawn chairs so they could leave. in front of them were a younger, rowdier bunch of white, latino and african american kids. this crew, adorned in their red sox gear and tats, would break into chants of “USA, USA, USA” one minute, and “YANKEES SUCK!” the next. Just to the right of us was a woman with a thick Spanish accent who kept yelling, “VIVA USA, VIVA USA.” just to the right of her was a college student tying (very hard) to pick her up.
probably, our tiny corner on the banks of the charles was a microcosm of what went on throughout the city. we all sang along with neil through both versions of sweet caroline, we all oh-ed and aw-ed at the fireworks, and we all enjoyed celebrating another year of this country. it didn’t feel overly jingoistic or political, just communal and fun.
ingrid and eddie :: july 1, 2006
Just three years ago today Ingrid and I said our “I do”s in front of our friends and family. That day, we promised to have and to hold, to love and cherish, in sickness and health, for better or worse, etc. etc. Now, on the day of our leather anniversary, we are as committed to those vows as we were on that rainy Texas afternoon. It was a beautiful day, and Eric’s picture of us captures our feelings perfectly.
Here is a photo of my brother Eric and me in the 80s. I can’t remember exactly where we took this but I remember that Thriller shirt.
Like just about every kid my age, I thought Michael Jackson was the coolest man on the planet. I did anything I could to be like him. Thriller was amongst the first records I owned and in addition to the sleeveless fashion gem seen above, I also had a red “Beat It” jacket and, of course, a white sequenced glove. Eventually, I stopped trying to dress like the King of Pop, but, like most people, I remained a loyal (if silent) subject of his royal smoothness.
It was sad to hear about Jackson’s death yesterday. Now, the inevitable tributes and retrospective biopics have begun. Every element, the good and the bad, of Jackson’s life will be brought to light yet again. While there are certainly more important things happening in the world, it’s hard not to think about the this creative blur of a man who danced, sang, and made millions of us happy doing those things so well.
It’s hard to believe that graduation was just a week ago today. It’s harder still to believe that the program is over. The year flew by quickly thanks to great teachers, interesting classes and, more than anything else, a star-studded group of classmates. I’m thankful to have been a part of such a talented lot and I hope to keep in touch with many of these good people for years to come. I’m glad the future of higher education is left to these able hands, agile minds and compassionate hearts.
In addition to celebrating with friends, I was fortunate to have 6 family members in town for the festivities.
eddie, nick and eric
My two brothers flew in from Austin and traded in their comfortable beds for our hard floor to see their older brother graduate. This, I think, is significant, since they both love their sleep. It also isn’t insignificant to say that they are still the two “things” I miss most about Austin. Smart, easy-going, and funny, Eric and Nick always make me happy when they’re around. I thank them both for being great brothers and good friends in spite of whatever childhood torture they may have endured by me.
eddie and maggie
My 80+ year old Great Aunt Maggie made her first trip to Boston to see her nephew graduate. She and her late husband, Uncle Bob, were always there for my brothers and me. Aunt Maggie remains the most positive, cheerful, and vital person I know. At 83, Aunt Maggie gave most of us youngsters a run for our money by easily traversing the uneven streets of Cambridge in heels! I’m glad that she isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, and, I’m delighted to have her in my life.
carlos and eddie
My cousin Carlos and his two sisters have always been some of our closest (and coolest) cousins. That Carlos took time out from his busy schedule designing space treadmills in Houston is a big deal. As kids, we would read our grandpa Carlos’s National Geographics. He’d look at photos from space and I’d look at images of people in far away places. In some ways, we’re still doing a version of that. As Carlos looked up to space, I looked up to him. And, I still look up to him now.
eddie sr, eddie jr and sylvia
Mom and Dad have always provided Eric, Nick and me with their complete love and support. Dad has always instilled his unparalleled sense of justice and healthy skepticism in authority, while mom has always been the paragon of compassion and commitment to caring for others. If my brothers and I have taken just a tiny bit of these virtues from our parents, we’ll be in good shape. Beyond this, mom and dad are funny–they’ve taught us to laugh, and it was good to laugh with them all again this past week. I’m lucky to have them as parents, and I was happy to have them here last week.
ingrid and eddie
And finally, my wife Ingrid played hostess to this motley crew of Texans. She was gracious and composed, thoughtful and cheerful as always. She made the week go by without a hitch. Even in the face of 5 boys (and I include myself in this lot) living in her apartment, she kept her sincere smile. All of our guests, male and female, made a point of reminding me to thank my wife for her hospitality. And so, Thank you Ingrid for you hospitality, love and everything else.
black and white
The last post was about color. It was brief and impressionistic. I had more to say, especially about some of the great artists I mentioned, but I got distracted with thoughts about the past.
Over the past two days, I’ve been looking at old photographs and thinking about time spent at home and in far away places with strangers, friends and family. When done well, the best of these pictures capture unique moments in time–a shot of my lovely wife on my 30th birthday on a warm Austin afternoon, a summer vacation with my pensive brothers in Vienna, an aimless afternoon in Boston, and a forgotten alley in New Mexico. All of these are loaded with meaning or simple beauty.
Today, these images continue to stimulate a torrent of memories from my past. I’m glad these instants are captured forever in photos. And, as Henri Cartier-Bresson said so elegantly, photographs should satisfy the heart, the mind and the eye. I look forward to more satisfying shots, more memories, and more inspiration from moments and masters like Cartier-Bresson.
Speaking of inspiration, it’s time to lie back and reflect on a few of the many brilliant photos from the master himself.
Henri Cartier-Bresson. Hyde Park in the grey drizzle. 1937.
seeing colors
Ingrid has been busy capturing the many vibrant colors of spring on her blog. Her photos of flowers are loaded with color and life. She has nicely recorded mother nature’s elegant artistic expressions. In looking at her great snapshots, I’m reminded of some of my favorite artists who are now categorized as anything from abstract expressionists to color-field theory painters to post-painterly abstractionists. Regardless of what they’re called today, folks like Rothko, Newman, and Stella all used color in important and evocative ways.
Above (and below) I’ve posted a few photos where color steals the show. I’ve slightly tweaked the original snapshots, but, for the most part, I’ve tried to keep true to the original subject.
wall in amsterdam, 2007
a restaurant in el paso, 2008
walls at mit, 2009
a poster in spain, 2007
Ingrid's tulip
School is over so Ingrid and I have been able to enjoy some of the benefits of a New England spring. Although we miss the wildflower season back home, the flower show in Cambridge has been nothing short of stunning. Ingrid has snapped some beautiful shots of the flowers in our neighborhood and beyond. She has put many of her photos on her site, here.
I’ve also started a new project that I’ll post more about soon. For now, here’s a fuzzy teaser graphic.
El Paso at Night by Satxvike
This stunning photo of downtown El Paso was taken by a fellow El Pasoan who goes by the name Satxvike on Flickr. He has many other great photos on flickr and his profile pic is Shemp Howard so, in my book, he’s a man of fine taste.
I was born and raised in that city, and although I haven’t lived there for over thirteen years, I still consider it home. Lately, El Paso has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. CNN newsman Anderson Cooper spent a couple days there last week reporting on the drug-related violence along the US-Mexico Border. Most of Cooper’s coverage focused on the drug-trade, kidnappings, and, “how the violence threatens America.” The violence in Mexico is real and important, but there is more to El Paso than drugs and guns.
I’m glad some attention is being paid to these darker issues, but it’s important to note that El Paso has more to offer than wicked tales of mass graves sites and beheaded police officials. In spite of the mayhem across the Rio Grande, El Paso itself remains one of the safest cities of its size in the US, and El Pasoans are amongst the most hospitable and generous folks I know.
Here are a few stories that don’t involve drug-related violence and will hopefully shed light on some of the brighter aspects of the Sun City.
Jem Ministries is a project started in 1996 by Jesus and Maria Ruiz. They have spent the last 13 years feeding thousands of poor children in Juarez. The Ruiz’s regularly make trips across the border into Juarez to make donations to the many poor children of that city. The Ruiz family was honored by CNN in 2008, and recently the family was the subject of an ABC Home Makeover.
Vanity Fair’s Andi Teran (another former El Pasoan) recently wrote a fascinating article on the budding music scene out in our west Texan town. Andi suggests that musicians have embraced El Paso’s “live and let live” attitude and made the city their home. Or, if not their home, at least a place to make and play their music. Everyone from Ministry’s Al Jourgensen to the Clash’s Paul Simonon, Conor Oberst, Beck, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Tom Waits have played/recorded/lived in El Paso, or in nearby Tornillo where Tony Rancich’s Sonic Ranch has been a comfy home to musicians for years.
Last year, my brothers and I made a trip back home to see Tom Waits. We were surprised and excited that he selected the Plaza Theater for one of the sites of his Glitter and Doom Tour. The show was a blast and local music writer, Doug Pullen had a one of the best post-show reviews. Pullen has a good take on the Vanity Fair Article too. He mentions some of the earlier musical heroes like the Bobby Fuller Four and HR of Bad Brains that Teran missed in her piece. Doug’s blog is a good one that I read often. It’s worth a look, here.
Finally, a post about El Paso, would not be complete without a note about food. Needless to say, I could (and probably will) go on forever about this topic. But, for now, I’ll make a mention of a few of the better places to eat in El Paso. Of course, the first place I go for soulful cooking is my mom’s house. Beyond mom’s cooking, Kiki’s is my favorite place for Tacos and Mexican food in general. The taco place most people mention is Chico’s. I was never a huge fan, but it seems inappropriate to have a post about food and not mention them. They have a facebook profile and even have a wikipedia entry. If I’m going to have fast-food tacos in El Paso, I much prefer El Taco Tote or Tacos de Don Ben (Ben’s Tacos doesn’t have a website, but I think they should). For steak, there is no place better than Cattleman’s at the Indian Cliff’s Ranch in nearby Fabens, Texas.
After visiting the Slacker Museum, Ingrid and I had a stroll down Quincy Street past the Carpenter Center for Visual Arts. This is the only building by Le Corbusier in North America, and it’s a real gem on campus. I’ve been meaning to take some photos of it, but the skies have always been a bit too grey.
This afternoon the sunlight danced down on the Carpenter Center particularly well. I think as the spring turns to summer and the sunlight begins to make a stronger appearance, this building will truly shine. Speaking of shine, snapping photos of this great building reminded me of my friend Rino’s work. I wish Rino could have been with us today–he can truly bring drama to his photos, and he’s a joy to be with at any time.
Spring has started and although it’s still a bit cold, Ingrid and i were able to take a lovely walk down Cambridge Street this weekend. Along the way from the Lechmere Station T Stop to our apartment, we usually pass an italian restaurant with this mural of Frank Sinatra.
I’ve seen this place before and I always smile as I walk by. Seeing (or hearing) Sinatra always reminds me of my Uncle Bob. Uncle Bob was one of those people who had a knack to make people feel happy and loved. It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly five years since he left us.
Uncle Bob’s wife, Aunt Maggie, continues to live her life to the fullest. I’m lucky to have a good chat with her every week and, although I miss seeing her smile, i’m always happy to hear her voice. Hopefully, we’ll get to see her in May for graduation.
I’ve been thinking about a new banner for this site for a few days. I tried a quick “spring” like banner a week ago. It’s here:
This one didn’t last very long. A few nights ago I was flipping through a few of my old photos and found some great photos Ingrid took at one of our boot shopping expeditions in El Paso. El Paso is the western boot capital of the world. And, whenever I’m in town I like to poke around in a few of the factory outlets next to my house. This year, my brothers Eric and Nick joined in the fun and bought their first pairs.
Anyway, I plan to make the next few postings about boots. Until I do, here’s the newest banner.
Now that the days are getting longer we get beautiful sunlight in our apartment in the afternoons. It’s especially lovely on the counter by our knives. I’d like to spend more time capturing the light but school has picked up, so there may be little time for that.
Our winter break in Texas is over. Ingrid and I both got to spend some quality time with our friends and (most especially) family. It was good to be back where the food is spicy, and the food and people are warm.
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