Nurturing my inner... escar-no

I recently wrote about being daring in the new year.  But I felt that I only showed the successful side of that.  (I'm like the media - it's all in the spin.)  So here's a little flashback to present the other side of the story.  To be fair.

Last fall when my cousin came into town, we went to a little French place.  We ate goose liver pate, cheeses, bread, cornichons and many other typical Parisian foods.  It was all good.  Then things went on a strange tangent for my liking.

She is a big fan of escargot and I've never really been brave enough to try it.  (I've always said it's like a slug in a condo.)  It's not that she gets out often enough to a restaurant that has it, so I figured that day was the day to take the gastric leap and join her!  Sometimes you can't over think daring or you'll talk yourself out of it.  (Legal notice: I reserve the right to say that speed of action is not the best course when considering acts such as jumping out of an airplane, when you should, indeed, and with great generosity, give your wise inner voice much time to talk yourself out of it!)

Full disclosure, I had to work up some serious courage to be able to palate a snail.  (You can see where this is going.)  Even when it had been cooked in butter and herbs.  You might think that is a recipe for sure success.  (Pay careful attention to the use of "might.")

They looked harmless enough. In fact, you can
barely see them under the other tasty stuff.

1... 2... 3... down the hatch.  And I have this to say after that outrageous experience - yuck, yuck, YUCK!  I did not care for it.  I do realize it was probably mostly a mental thing, but this is just one path I loathe to tread down again anytime soon.

I don't regret trying it though.  Honestly.  (Dramatics aside.)  I want that to be clear.  It did take some serious fortitude to get past the idea that I was going to eat any form of any animal in its entirety, seeing as I think about becoming a vegetarian at least once a week, but I'm still glad to be able to say that I gave it a fair shot.  For every 25 things I try, I bet I like 24 of them.  Those odds are pretty good to encourage me to keep making the effort to branch out and partake in the many wonderful and exotic things this world has to offer.  (Minus bugs.  No way will I dine on a creepy crawly.  I will not eat anything they show on those extreme foods TV shows.)

Though we were too full for dessert, I think our waiter was flirting with us because he brought us a lone profiterole on the house.  (At this place they normally come in a set of three.)  Who can't make room for a cream puff filled with ice cream and covered in chocolate fudge sauce?  (That was rhetorical.)

Oh sweet remedy.

It cured what snailed me.  Uh, I mean, what ailed me.  All bitter memories of things that I believe are not meant to be consumed by humans (think Styrofoam peanuts or tree bark) was quickly replaced with the sweet memory of luscious, chocolate, creamy, pastry-covered induced amnesia.  Ah, mind wipe!

So don't let a failure here and there get you down.  You're unlikely to have a perfect track record when you start branching out of your comfort zone, no matter what you do.  You may not finish a race, feel a total failure at a craft, regret a job change at first, or find out you don't even like learning a particular new skill you were "oh so sure" you would love.  But I'll bet you if you keep it up and you keep putting yourself out there, or give yourself time to adjust when you do, you will happen upon something that you are either remarkably talented at or at least enjoy.  You'll know when you find it.  And I want to hear about it.  Maybe I'll even feature you and your interesting story one day!

Keep in mind that it's good to fail sometimes.  Then when you do succeed, you'll know how to appreciate it.

Nurturing my inner... bubble tea drinking spy in Ethiopia

My cousin came to visit me for Labor Day this year and I hadn't had a chance yet to document our day.  But we did some fun things you should definitely check out for yourself, so here is a little photo tour of some of the weird things we did.

1.) The Cereal Bowl.  My cousin saw this on television.  So we took the metro down to Cleveland Park first.  http://www.thecerealbowl.com/  (I like the crunching sound the website makes.)



Fun outside sign.


Inside, there are many bins with all your favorite childhood cereals.  And then containers of toppings like fresh fruits, dried fruits, nuts and sweets.  They have either predesigned combos you can order outright or make your own.  I was tempted to get the "Give Me S'More," but in the end, decided I had to make my own.  If I was going to pay over $3.50 for a bowl of cereal that I could really make at my own house for less than a dollar, I wanted it to be my very own personalized creation.  Everyone has to do this at least once.




Cereal on tap, so to speak.


My choices were: Cookie Crisp & Captain Crunch with Oreo Cookie and marshmallows.  This is every kid's dream.  They put it in a handy paper bowl.




Karen's Krispy Krunchy Kombo


2.) The International Spy Museum. This is a place I have been wanting to go to for some time.  Living in this area makes us locals keenly aware of super secret government stuff.  It's very real, yet we have little actual proof of what the brave people in our country who risk their lives in covert operations every day do to protect our freedoms.  I have friends in various government agencies, and I will never know what they do, but I like to joke with them by saying, "Did you save my life today?"  I have no doubt that in some way, large or small, they did.  (Though I cannot mention you, thank you my friends.  You know who you are.)

http://www.spymuseum.org/ Inside the museum they take you through decades of surveillance equipment, war tactics and notable persons.  I could hardly believe the tiny cameras and microphones that fit into buttons and post cards.  Lipstick guns.  The mini cyanide capsules in the ear parts of spectacles for captured spies to chew on and die, rather than give away their secrets.  It's serious business!  There was also an area that mentioned the spy movies we so love, like the James Bond 007 films.  They said that those films even inspired the government to copy some of their Hollywood cinematography magic and make it real.  So much for art imitating life.  Clearly, it's the other way around.

They won't allow you to take pictures inside,
just like the real government.

3.) Teaism.  (Yes, all my adventures involve, at the very least, a snack.)  Sheryl saw Rachel Ray go to Teaism in DC.  This wasn't the exact same one RR went to, but it worked for us.

In their shop next door they sell loose leaf
tea and other tea brewing paraphernalia.

There was a long list of teas that was very impressive, as well as great breakfast, dessert, sandwich and big dishes menus.  They even had Bento boxes, which I've been meaning to try... http://www.teaism.com/Restaurant/PennQuarterMenu7.html 

I needed several minutes to read
my options.

...but I had my eye on one thing that day - bubble tea!  For those unfamiliar with the fun that is bubble tea, let me introduce you.  I chose a black tea chai and they put in these large tapioca beads or pearls.  They were black in color and about the size of small marbles.  They even have to give you a large straw so you can get to them as they sink to the bottom of the cup.  Regular straws just won't do.  At first, it's odd to like, sip and then chew, but honestly, it's a lot of fun and I loved it!  I was very sad when my cup was empty.  (Sheryl had some kind of cinnamon chai ice blended thingie that disappeared just as quickly.)

You can see the "bubbles" in the
bottom of my cup. Mmm, chewy.

It was gorgeous out that day, so we decided to sit outside.  They've really spruced up the Penn Quarter in recent years and I'm darn proud of them for doing it.

Tea for two. Talking over secret spy
stuff. Sorry, I can't say what.

4.) Meskerem. I planned out the day perfectly so that it would end, as my cousin requested, with Ethiopian food.  She hadn't had it in years and I couldn't remember the last time I had.  I did remember a place I had gone a few times with a guy, when I was young and hip, so that's where we went.  In Adam's Morgan.

The decor won't knock your socks off.
Thank goodness the food will.

You have to be adventurous to go for Ethiopian.  In part, because you don't get any utensils.  Unless you count your two hands.

The vegetarian messob for two.

We went for the no meat option this time.  I've had them all in the past.  Including the seafood one.  The vegetarian one is spectacular though.  You won't miss the meat.  http://meskeremethiopianrestaurantdc.com/vegetarian.html

And how exactly do you eat it without a fork and knife?  Well I'll tell you how.  With this spongy bread that I can't begin to describe.  It comes to you in rolled up, napkin like pieces as well as under your dinner.

It really does look like a rolled up napkin.

You tear off a piece of bread and then scoop up some of the lentils or potatoes in it and you are ready with a well compartmentalized bite.



And that's how they did it in the old,
old (the really old) days.


Don't plan on being dainty when you do this,  you're there to absolutely kick back and enjoy yourself.  There is something very casually fun about eating with your hands.  Somehow, it makes me feel like the world traveler that I'm not.

Go for it, take a big bite! I sure did.

It had definitely been a weird day of strange adventures.  We tried to cram in as many peculiar things as possible.  I think we did well.  Cereals, spies, teas and dishes.  Some day you gotta make your own long list of bizarre places to visit and go for it!