:: Life on Planet Dan-E ::

:: Back to Work ::

I've finally rejoined the ranks of the employed. The new job is at a placed on Ocean Drive called the Colony Hotel and my position is that of server in the restaurant they have on the first floor. A buddy of mine from school who works there was kind enough to let me know that a few more openings were available so I jumped on it as soon as I could.

The Colony is apparently some kinda of Miami Beach Landmark since I saw the marquis on a few postcards as well as being famous for having had a few scene of "Scarface" filmed there. I guess it didn't really matter too much to me since I was happy to just to be working again.

I've just completed my second weekend there and it's been alright. So far I only work on weekend mornings, which is great since it allows for a lot of flexability with my school schedule. It helps that most of the people I work with are pretty good people and the customors who eat here are usually friendly tourists who are typically from area with much colder climates (Canada, Sweden, Germany, and Boston for example) and are only too happy to be in the warm sun of Southern Florida.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 6:47 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Mmmmm Fooood ::

One thing that I appreciate about my neighborhood is the abundance of good cheap food. I'm typing this right now at a place called Taste Bakery Cafe. It's great that they have free wireless access for us 'puter nerds but the food there is pretty good. They have really good coffee and muffins but they specialize in sandwiches, specifically the grilled "panini" types. I just polished off an excellent roast beef, roasted red pepper, and provolone panini. My favorite is a prosciutto, mozarella and tomato panini that’s also excellent. Wraps are also available but I'm not very big on wraps but I liked them in their original form back when they were called "burritos." My only complaint about this place is that they really should put more meat between the bread for what they charge.

One of the signature foods here is Cuban cuisine (stone crabs being the other, which I've yet to try) and there's a myriad of places to visit. They range from cozy hole-in-the-walls to somewhat upscale, almost-fine dining establishments. I've visited a couple of places already and both places provide large portions of some pretty good stuff. Like most Latin cuisines, their expertise is in meats and both places I went to really know how to work with their pork. And I don't know where else in the country you can get a decent Cuban sandwich but if you ever find yourself seeing it on the menu, give it a try.

The other thing I've noticed is the area is saturated with pizza shops. You go up to Washington and it seems like there's a pizza place on every block. I've sampled a few and discovered a couple that really stand out. But if you were to ask ten different people what their favorite pizza place is, chances are you might get seven or eight different answers.

I did try my hand at fine dining a few weeks ago when a friend visited. We went a place called "Touch" on Lincoln Road. (Lincoln Road is South Beach’s version of Santa Monica's 3rd St Promenade, except bigger and cleaner.) It's one of those terminally hip places where everyone who works there, whether male of female, looks like they stepped out of a fashion ad; where the interior architecure is alternately fascinating and garish and form takes precedence over function; where said employees attend to your needs with near-surgical precision while sporting only two facial expressions, impassive and less than impassive; where the restaurant turns into a club afterhours and there’s usually a seemlingly interminable line weaving its way out onto the street. In other words, places I tend to avoid (I only went upon my tourist friend's insistence, and besides, he was buying). It's also where the food, while rather expensive, is exquisitely appetizing.

My friend had an osso bucco dish which I thought was good but don't remember much else of since I was so engrossed in my own dish. I had a duck breast and leg cooked in some type of wine reduction and served with a side of veggies... er.. excuse me, sauted vegetables. This, I should point out, was my first time eating duck outside of a chinese restaurant. How was it? Pretty freakin' good. I'm not used to eating meat with a fruity tasting sauce but this was simply amazing. The duck breast was meaty and flavorful while the leg was tender and juicy. I think the sauce was red-wine based and complimented the duck without being cloying. Dessert was an incredible chocolate tiramisu and my reaction after the first bite was a rather gutteral moan, which if anyone had heard it, would have mistaken the sound for something completely unrelated to food. Fortunately, it was crowded and everyone was talking loudly, trying to make themselves heard over the music being played.

And yet... I'm looking forward to flying back to LA and sinking my teeth into a Double-Double or Tommy's chiliburger. Or a burrito or quesdilla from Amigos Tacos. Or even a Loco Moco from The Loft. Leave it to me to miss the food more than anything else. I'm food-brained or something. Dammit, I'm hungry again.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 9:22 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Gettin' Busy ::

Things have been really hectic around here lately, with only three weeks of classes left before finals week. That's one of the reasons I haven't been able to blog in the last week or so. Certainly, the amount of partying/clubbing/drinking has gone down (For most people anyway.) I forgot just how much time school can take up, being as it I don't seem to have much free time anymore despite not having a job.

I've lamented not have a TV ever since I've moved here since I can't catch my favorite shows (Ed, Letterman, SportsCenter) and I'm missing out on some pretty good new ones (Karen Sisco, Cold Pizza). It's probably been for the better since it forces me to focus on schoolwork whenver I'm at but at the same time, it cracks me up at my newfound capacity for goofing off when I should be working. Keep in mind that I don't even have an Internet connection at my apartment. But once again, I am nothing if not resourceful.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 5:01 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: I Attend a School of Lushes ::

My school seems to promote alcoholism. Okay, not really but hear me out. At the last few events the school has held (talent show, Halloween party) alcohol was served in the form of beer, wine, and wine coolers. It's probably worth mentioning that there were two kegs at the party and the partygoers bled them both dry. After which, naturally, they migrated to other places, be it bars, clubs or other parties in search of more alcoholic goodness (how the hell I ended up at the party I did is something I'm trying to play back in my mind in order to avoid any repeats).

It gets a little better. The school has a weekly soccer match every Sunday afternoon. The following Monday, just before guest lecture, they give out "soccer awards" to three members of each team for various on-field heroics, as well as an MVP award. The prize? Bottles of Heinekin. And the MVP gets an entire six-pack. I don't understand how but I've been the recipient of a bottle every week since week two. I even won MVP once. I don't know what to make of this other than that my initial reaction was "this is my kinda school. Somehow I've managed the entire time here without once getting drunk. I actually went all of last week without an a drink, which in this town, is something of a mild accomplishment.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 5:07 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Halloween in South Beach ::

Halloweeen this year was certainly a fascinating experience. The school had its annual costume party on Friday with the only requirement being "wear a costume." Being an art school one might expect the students to dress up with either really creative/unusual or elaborate costumes and it didn't disappoint. There were cheerleaders, an 80s prom queen, divas, witches, hula/belly dancers, etc. The women had pretty good costumes as well. There was a cop, a firefighter, a few cowgirls, Uma Thurman's character from "Kill Bill," a Bjork impressionist in her infamous "swan" dress, and one girl dressed as "Lt. Dangle" from the Comedy Central show "Reno 911." I went simple and dressed as "The Edge" from U2, same as last year. Not nearly as cool as the other costumes there but I received a few comments on how appropriate it was for me.

I don't know if this is something to be necessarily proud of but I attended and survived my first gay party without getting my salad tossed or anything. But our crowd being the way they are the moment the school party ran out of beer they were discussing on where to continue the evening. There's this one gay photographer in our quarter who told everyone about a party and a few people went along, not exactly knowing that we (men and women) were being invited to what was supposed to be a party exclusively for homosexual males.

If I may digress for a moment, have I mentioned that South Beach is crawling with gay guys? It's probably second in population density only to Frisco. Which is fine, they're generally harmless. I mean, at least there are a lot of hot women here to balance things out for us hetero guys. You take the good with the bad right? ;)

Now getting back on track, I tend to be more tolerant-minded than most so I didn't feel that uncomfortable there, and the hosts did provide plentiful free booze. Mostly I just stood around talking to the rest of the guys and gals in our group. I will say this: that night there were no bigger flames in the country than the ones on that corner of South Beach, San Diego wildfires included.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 6:03 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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