I ♥ NY

I left my heart...

Today is my last day in San Francisco. My flight leaves in a few hours. Cue Tony Bennett.

It's been a wonderful and tumultuous seven years. On one level, I've felt that my time here would be temporary. But the longer you are in any place, the more connections you develop. I really do wish that I could have stayed. After all, I just finished business school and all my connections are in the Bay Area.

I'm off to seek my fortune elsewhere. It's with a great deal of sadness that I am leaving the place that I love so much. However, I couldn't find a job that I wanted. I do have to be optimistic (at least as much as I can muster). I don't know what will happen next. It depends on how you want to look at it, but the end or the beginning is near.

Macaroni & Blue Cheese

In my never ending and delicious quest for the perfect macaroni and cheese, I present Macaroni and Blue Cheese. I happened to have a lot of leftover blue cheese from a wine tasting event. This recipe does not supersede the Marian Burros mustard kissed, bechamel based macaroni and cheese for best mac & cheese recipe, but it is pretty tasty. I used Maytag blue and Cabot white cheddar and left off the chives. I also used crème fraîche instead of whipping cream. The recipe is from epicurious.

Macaroni and Blue Cheese with Chives

1 pound spiral tube-shaped pasta
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1 cup whipping cream
3 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups crumbled blue cheese
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain.

Meanwhile, melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly (do not allow to brown).

Gradually whisk in milk and cream. Simmer until mixture thickens slightly, whisking occasionally, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add grated cheddar cheese and 1 cup crumbled blue cheese. Whisk until cheese melts, about 2 minutes. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper.

Add cooked pasta to sauce; stir to coat. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup blue cheese. Bake until sauce begins to bubble, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle with chives and serve.

Bahn Mi 4 me

After reading about bahn mi in the New York Times and New York Magazine, I had to go out and get one for myself. San Jose is probably the epicenter for bahn mi in Northern California, due to the large Vietnamese community. In San Francisco, there are many bahn mi shops on Larkin Street. My favorite is still Saigon Sandwich. The combination of hot grilled chicken with cool pickled vegetables, jalapeños and cilantro on a warm crispy baguette is incredibly delicious. It's also incredibly cheap at $2.75.

I'll drink to that

Today is the 75th anniversary of the passage of the 21st amendment. It's my second favorite constitutional amendment.

Goofy dancing guy

This is my current favorite video clip. It doesn't need any more publicity, since it already has 13 million hits. But there's a reason why it's so popular. Somehow Matt makes a video about goofy dancing guy into a heartwarming video about how everyone around the world can be friends.

Dear Messrs. Bernanke & Paulson

I, too, will need loan forgiveness for my foolhardy investments. Higher education, feh! If the Fed & Treasury Dept can spare $700 billion for all that sub-prime mortgage disaster, then surely they can show me a little love.

From Letters to the NY Times Editor

To the Editor:

Dear Mr. Bernanke and Mr. Paulson:

My student loans are too big and it is hurting the economy. Can I have a bailout, please? I need $92,000.

Thanks.

Nathan Kottke
St. Paul, Sept. 17, 2008

Art of Glass

My sister and I went to see the Chihuly exhibit at the de Young. The exhibit does have its detractors, but I thought it was pretty cool.





















And there was dancing in the street.

Around the city

Things I saw while walking around the city today.

Let me think about that

Strawberry fields forever

Cherries

Poisoning pigeons in the park (well, not really)

Pears

Lavender

"Haters don't get ice cream"

Monday was the first day that same sex couples could legally marry in California. The scene in front of the San Francisco City Hall had people both supporting and protesting the couples who were there to be married. The supporters included Ben & Jerry's, which was the first company in the country to recognize domestic partnerships. They handed out free ice cream to the newlyweds. When some protesters tried to line up in front of the ice cream truck, they were told, "Haters don't get ice cream."