Life Begins at 30

Six years old ...

This little blog turns six years old this week. I was being interviewed for a project recently and was trying to describe why I started my blog. At the time, there were very few food bloggers, and I started because I needed a creative outlet. I always thought that I didn't start with any specific purpose, but looking back at the beginning, it's obvious that I was destined to write about food and farmers and farmers markets.

The most remarkable thing about starting Life Begins at 30 is how much it has infiltrated every part of my life. Even when I'm not writing here on a daily basis, things I do each day are some way related to the fact that I started this blog.

When I sat down to write this post, I went through every blog post I've written to find my favorites. The posts you see quoted below may surprise you -- they are not necessarily the most popular, or the most important. But to me, they played an interesting part in the life of this blog.

Thanks friends and readers. You are the reason this blog is still going.

Year 1
My first hint that something was very different about this coffee is when I saw their booth at the Ferry Building Farmer's Market. Instead of large carafes of already made coffee, customers were standing around for approximately 5-10 minutes to wait for their coffee as it was individually dripped by a woman who poured hot water through a filter by hand. We ordered cafe au laits, and the addiction began. The coffee was full-bodied and wonderfully flavored, and not burnt-tasting, overly roasted or scalding hot. We almost went back 15 minutes later to get another. (Blue Bottle Coffee Company, 02/2004)

Year 2
We wrote them a note. R wrote it on the back of a Chez Panisse postcard and it said something to the effect of "Dear Six Apart people, congratulations on the new release. We love it (actually we drew a heart here). You are our celebrity blogger sighting of the week. You rock (yes .... we did write you rock)! From two loyal Type Pad bloggers." (This is where I geek out, 11/2004)

Year 3

At the end of the session, she said to me, "In Chinese medicine, they say that whatever you are deficient in, you should eat it.  Now I'm not telling you to go gnaw on a bone, but do you cook?" "Oh, I cook.  And I have a bunch of chicken carcasses in my freezer." (Two Day Chicken Soup, 08/2006)

This week I shopped for myself for the first time. And I was stopped cold as I was in the store trying to figure out what I wanted to eat ... not what I should eat, or what I'd like that he liked, but solely what I wanted for the next week. No tofu went into my basket, no jam, no rice, and no fat-free yogurt. I found cereal and cheese and popcorn and (gasp!) boxed macaroni and cheese. (September Changes, 09/2006)

Year 4

I am eating the most amazing things.  Yesterday, I ate five fruits that I had never eaten before ... The best thing I ate today was grilled pork from a street vendor wrapped in "la lot" -- a pepper/betelnut leaf.  Wrap that all in lettuce and add spices and fresh herbs, and it makes for an amazing snack.  I also have had to learn to be comfortable with having the locals laugh at me, because we Americans trying to eat local food seem to be their entertainment. (Day Four, Hanoi, 01/2007)

I'm back to defaulting to happiness, and it's the most amazing feeling. I have to catch myself from saying to a line up of strangers at the local coffee joint, "I'm happy -- do you understand what a miracle that is?"(Defaulting to Happiness, 07/2007)

Year 5
Recently on a trip to the Taco House alone, I tried to assess the taco. It's a seasoned hamburger patty, grilled and cut into three pieces, with a slice of cheese ("What kind of cheese, Grandpa?" "Yellow cheese."), diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and a spicy chili gravy all wrapped with a fried taco shell that is more soft than crunchy but with a fried flavor. (The Tacos that Built a Family, 10/2007)

"You know," she said, "the drama is always there.  And you can opt out of it at any point.  You can just let it wash over you.  And you know what?  If you decide that you want it back, the drama will always be there." Since that day, when she spoke those words I needed to hear, I have really been trying to "opt out of the drama" when possible -- not completely succeeding yet, but at least trying. (Word Retreats, 04/2008)

Year 6
I know, without a doubt, that starting a blog five years ago changed my life. The friendships that have come out of it, and the ways that it has expanded my life -- personally and professionally -- would not have happened without my blog.(Girl Geek, Through and Through, 02/2009)

Station Fire Smoke from San Pedro

Station Fire Smoke from San Pedro, originally uploaded by jen_maiser.

It's been difficult to explain what the Station Fire looks like visually. Most of the time, fires in Southern California are accompanied by high winds, so the smoke and ash spreads throughout the Southland.

This week, there has been no wind. So the Station Fire smoke is pluming straight up and most days it's looked like a volcano eruption. Other than the fires, the skies are clear blue.

This photo is of the smoke from 40 miles away in San Pedro. The photo hardly does the drama of this justice.

1. grandpa, father's day, 2. grandpa, father's day, 3. {116} first time they danced in years, 4. grandpa, christmas eve, 5. Grandma + Grandpa in the Smart Car, 6. grandpa, trying on hats, 7. {253} A heck of a banana split., 8. me + grandpa, 9. {030} #87 on his 87th

Related: The Tacos That Built a Family

Ante's, where everybody knows your name.

It's been a very busy week for me and my family. We were all in San Pedro together and wanted to eat dinner together, but were dealing with some logistical issues (I needed to get to the airport, my sister needed to drive 60 miles home), so we caravaned from my grandparents house, not totally sure when we were headed. My Aunt Pam called up to the front car, "How about Ante's?" she asked. We all looked at grandma, who has the ultimate say on restaurant choice. She nodded and said, "sounds good!"

Ante's Restaurant is a Croatian restaurant in San Pedro that I have been going to since I was a child. Grandma and grandpa used to take my sister Annie and me and we always felt like it was a special dinner out. Diners sit in high, red leather booths and are served crisp, cold crudites before their main meal. For years, we've used Ante's for family events -- we had a party for my sister's first communion at Ante's and three years ago, we celebrated my grandparents' 60th anniversary there.

Tony Perkov, the Ante's owner, greeted us warmly. "Mrs. Silva," he said sadly and gave my grandmother a hug. My grandfather is sick, which is the reason we were all in San Pedro, and in chatting with Tony it became clear that he had heard the news. A customer had been in a few days earlier and had told Tony about grandpa. San Pedro, despite its proximity to Los Angeles, has an incredibly small town mentality. It was no surprise that he'd heard about grandpa. We reminisced with him about grandpa's restaurant and he brought me an ice-cold martini, and brought the others at the table a liter of red wine.

"To Hank," we all toasted and began our meal.

Grandma, with good reason, has been eating very little for the past couple of weeks. As she settled into her fried chicken dinner, however, you never would have known that she'd had little appetite.

Mom ordered fried shrimp, and the vegetables that came alongside the shrimp seemed to be frozen, pre-fab vegetables, but as we looked closer we realized that they were fresh vegetables cut to look like a frozen mix. They were deliciously comforting, as was the entire meal. Ante's is known for Croatian dishes such as mostaccioli, cabbage rolls and salumi, and comfort foods like pot roast and prime rib.

The food at Ante's is good, but as I reflect upon it, I think that the experience is meaningful to me because it's a part of our family history. Sometimes nothing takes the place of going to a restaurant where you're treated like family and where everyone knows your name.

where i've been ...

I've been:

• backing up my computer.
• taking lots and lots of pictures.
• basking in the sunshine.
• reflecting on nine years here.
• poring over a new list.
• cooking with jenn.
• laughing at bethenny.
• looking forward to some music and food.
• voting for kris and adam and allison.
• eating dumplings.
• looking forward to some seasonal cocktails.
• riding a ferry boat.
• licking the bowl clean.
• playing julie the cruise director.
• spending time with my amazing friends.
• falling in love with a shallot.
• looking forward to hearing from a hero.

Hope this finds you all well.  I'm hopping on a plane this afternoon to go celebrate with the family - it's my grandmother's 90th birthday!

(List inspired by the amazing Andrea at Hula Seventy)

4am self-portrait

{094} April 4, 4:29 am (4am self-portrait), originally uploaded by jen_maiser.

Do you know Genie at The Inadvertent Gardener? Last June, my friend Kalyn emailed me to say that Genie was moving to the Bay Area from Iowa City, and that she thought we might like each other.

I was in a hurry that day, and didn't think much of shooting an email off to Genie inviting her to a group event that I had planned for the next week. I didn't really think Genie would show -- I probably wouldn't show up to hang out with a group of people where I knew no one. Well, Genie showed up, and she has been showing up ever since.

At some point, a blogger friend asked his wife, "Who is this person named Genie?" The wife answered, "I'm not sure, but I think we need to know her because she seems to be great friends with all our friends now." And it's true. Genie has charmed us all and been a great cohort in our Bay Area adventures.

A testament to Genie's influence, and the general spirit of our group of friends, is that she convinced several of us to participate in the 4 am project this weekend. On April 4, people around the world woke up at 4am and took photos.

At first we all grumbled a bit. "Why can't it be 4 pm?" one asked. We all talked about September 9, 2009 at 9 am being a better fit numerically. But we did it anyway.

And something interesting happened: I learned about the magic of 4 am. I learned that it's a time like no other. Most late night partiers have gone home, and most early birds are not awake yet. It's the quietest hour.

Genie and I explored Oakland, taking some photos at the produce market and near the Tribune building. Meanwhile Anita climbed Bernal Hill (with a very fashionable headlamp light that her sleeping husband insisted she wear), Jennifer checked out 13th street, and Dottie took this fantastic photo on Market Street. We all met up afterward and sipped 5 am bloody marys and shared our experiences.

Kudos to the 4am project for encouraging us all to leave our warm beds to take photos. It was a blast to explore that time of the morning with a photographer's eye.

Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County

"Do you want to go check out some wildflowers today?"

I was visiting some friends last weekend near Paso Robles and Anna asked if I'd like to trek out "about 45 minutes" to see some flowers.  I've known Anna since I was fresh out of college, and she and her husband and kids live in San Luis Obispo county.

I was game, and we all crowded into a car to drive a windy road to the wildflowers.   I was sitting in the back with the kids (ages 7 and 3) and had to make strange rules for them like "do not put toe funk on me" and "don't get me wet." I won't lie -- it was cramped and I was feeling nauseated by the time we got out of the car nearly an hour and a half later. 

But friends, this drive was so worth it.

We went to the Carrizo Plain, which has been a national monument since 2001. The wild weather, the yellow of the wildflowers, and the majesty of the area made for a really fun photo day.  If you don't regularly check out my flickr stream, I thought I'd bring the photos to your attention.

The white lake bed that you see in the photos is called Soda Lake and it's a mostly dry, alkali lake that was dramatic to view.  Marc of Mental Masala went to the Plain last year and has more photos and explanation of the area on his site.

I left feeling wind weary, happy, and astonished.  It amazes me that I have been a Californian my entire life and that really beautiful, vast expanses of the state exist that I have never explored.  I can't wait to go back.

Reducing Food Costs: Cooking with a Friend

I have started a fun new project with my neighbor Jenn.  Both of us were frustrated that, as single people, it's only possible reduce food costs a certain amount.  The best way to save money while cooking is to cook a larger amount, but I get bored and my freezer gets full.  So we're meeting up weekly and cooking together -- then we have a lot of food options for the week.  We've already completed our second week of cooking, and it's going swimmingly.  Serious Eats caught wind of the project (via my Twitter feed) and asked me to write about it.  You'll see a post from me there every Wednesday.  So far, they've published two installments.

Reducing Food Costs: Cooking with a Friend
Cooking with a Friend: Week One

You can always keep up with my Serious Eats writings by checking out the column on the right-hand side of my home page.

(Also, if you haven't noticed, check out the nifty Farmers Market Finder by Culinate on my home page as well).

Wednesdays at A16

I have really been lying low for the past month or so, working a ton and not going out much. But today,  a good friend came to town for a little bit and I decided to take her to A16 for lunch. As usual, I asked if we could sit at the chef's bar -- which is by far my favorite place to sit in the restaurant. And we were treated to quite a show. It turns out that every Wednesday the crew breaks down an entire pig and preps the meat for the rest of the week. While we ate our Pizza Margherita and our meatballs, we were able to watch as every part of the pig was butchered and prepped. At least six staff used knives, a mallet, a saw, a meat grinder and other implements and really elegantly got the pork ready to be used. When we arrived at 1:15, the pig was already cut down somewhat. You can bet that next time, I will try to arrive a bit earlier to watch the process from beginning to end.

Girl geek, through and through.

A meme is making its way around my Facebook friends called "25 things about me."  I resisted it at first, but have so enjoyed reading the lists of my friends that I decided to participate yesterday.  Below, a taste of the things that I posted:

1. I've been a girl geek since the beginning of time. I went to computer camp when I was 8. The point of the whole week was to program the "turtle" - a small green triangle - to move around a computer screen.

2. I went to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama when I was 12. I really, honestly, wanted to be an astronaut. My mom turned herself inside out to be able to afford sending me.

3. I was a camper and a counselor-in-training and a counselor and a director all at the same summer camp. In so many ways, that camp formed who I am.

4. In junior high school, I used my computer class to write a "matchmaker" program which was basically a randomizer which matched the names of 8 guys and 8 girls (input)-- and then told us who our boyfriends were going to be. It didn't really work, but provided endless hours of entertainment.

5. I know, without a doubt, that starting a blog five years ago changed my life. The friendships that have come out of it, and the ways that it has expanded my life -- personally and professionally -- would not have happened without my blog.

6. The day I realized that I was more comfortable in San Francisco than I've been anywhere in my life was the day I knew I was home. And it wasn't until I was here for about four years.

7. I once sat 3rd row at the Coliseum in LA to see U2. We had gotten our tickets by being first in the wristband lottery at Tower Records in Long Beach. It was the best concert of my life.

8. The second best concert of my life was Dave Matthews Band at the Santa Barbara Bowl in 1995.

9. I am acutely aware of how lucky I am to have two grandparents still alive who are such an important and active part of my life. I am going to be devastated when they are gone, but at the same time I feel so fortunate to have had them here for so long.

10. I won a school-wide spelling bee in 5th grade because I knew how to spell parallel. Then I lost in the district-wide because I didn't know how to spell delicatessen.

11. In order to go to sleep, I usually take 4 to 5 digit numbers and factorize them down as much as I can in my head. So ... 12345 = 2469 x 5 = 823 x 3 x 5 ...etc. It's comforting that it takes all my brain power to hold the numbers in my head which means that I can't fret about anything else.

12. I really, really love living alone.

13. I don't think that my palate is that great when it comes to wine and spirits. I know what I like, but compared to my friends I couldn't tell you how a wine tasted a year from now, or much about its nose. And it's definitely not for lack of trying -- I've had some fantastic teachers and opportunities.

14. I have OCD about magazines. In stores, I won't take the top magazine (too many germs) and if there's only one left, I will rarely buy it.

15. And I hate when people read my magazines before me. I blame this on my college best friend who used to read my magazines before me in college and tell me all the juicy parts, so there was nothing left for me to read. :)

16. I can't stand entrees that have any sweetness. Keep your raspberry purees, your sweet marinades, and your honey glazes away from my proteins, please.

17. I decided last year that I don't like tripe. But in order to confidently make that decision, I forced myself to try it at four different places around town first. Yep, definitely don't like it.

18. I won't buy kitchen appliances on eBay that could have ever been used to process a body part. Blenders, cuisinarts, pots and pans are all out. I blame this weirdness on watching too much CSI.

19. One of the most fun, most joy-filled things in my life is watching some of my best friends have children. I am endlessly fascinated with, and in awe of, what amazing mothers they are all becoming.