Thursday, December 13, 2007
Cheez Whiz -- it’s back
by Dan Verel, [X]press Online
The culinary gods have returned to the Cesar Chavez Student Union recently, where the lack of a specific product had at least one East Coast ex-pat wondering if the happy days would ever be rekindled. Cheez Whiz, in all its yellow, gooey glory, has returned to the once-mighty cheesesteak -- and it is good.
Update: Nearly three weeks ago, the fine folks at the Gold Coast Grill let a disaster go ignored when the Cheez Whiz warmer broke and was never replaced -- until now, that is. The problem was finally addressed shortly after the Thanksgiving break ended.
During that stretch, one student said he was forced to try all sorts of alternatives to replicate the authentic Philly cheesesteak, which, despite protests from the fooderalis in the Bay Area, contains… you guessed it… Cheez Whiz.
“I tried nacho cheese, four slices of cheddar, extra mayonnaise, but nothing ever came close,” I said to myself. It was a long three weeks, to be sure. So long, in fact, that I began to have conversations in my head and even remembered some of the quotes, like the one you just read.
But it was during those three weeks that my love for the Cheez Whiz cheesesteak was cemented. To be honest, I needed the break, and actually grew accustomed to ordering other delicious-but-not-very-healthy lunches, like turkey melts, pastrami sandwiches and Polish sausages.
Then, the Whiz came back -- I hadn’t even known. One day, when I ordered a pastrami sandwich, one line cook gave me a simple nod. I nodded back, and before I knew it, he was smearing the yellowy goo on what was supposed to be pastrami and Swiss! Well, too late now, I said, this is the price I must pay. The pastrami and Whiz combo wasn’t all that bad, either; a bit salty, but not terrible.
I returned the next day, eager to sink my teeth into the gooey beef, mayo and Whiz concoction, and it did not disappoint. Although the gentleman behind the grill put way too much mayo on the Philly classic, the Whiz reminded me why the cheesesteak is perhaps the most venerable sandwich in all of America. The Clogger comes close, as does the Monte Cristo, but nothing is quite as powerfully simple as lean beef, Cheez Whiz, grilled onions and mushrooms on a nice toasted bun.
I have learned to enjoy this gelatinous snack in moderation lately, though. Whenever I order something other than a cheesesteak, the kind sirs behind the grill first look shocked when I say, “No, really, I just want a tuna melt.” Then they nod, perhaps grateful that I’ve become less of a pain in the ass, and just a tiny bit healthier.
For more information on the Clogger, visit: http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=4282
For more information on the Monte Cristo, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Cristo_sandwich
The culinary gods have returned to the Cesar Chavez Student Union recently, where the lack of a specific product had at least one East Coast ex-pat wondering if the happy days would ever be rekindled. Cheez Whiz, in all its yellow, gooey glory, has returned to the once-mighty cheesesteak -- and it is good.
Update: Nearly three weeks ago, the fine folks at the Gold Coast Grill let a disaster go ignored when the Cheez Whiz warmer broke and was never replaced -- until now, that is. The problem was finally addressed shortly after the Thanksgiving break ended.
During that stretch, one student said he was forced to try all sorts of alternatives to replicate the authentic Philly cheesesteak, which, despite protests from the fooderalis in the Bay Area, contains… you guessed it… Cheez Whiz.
“I tried nacho cheese, four slices of cheddar, extra mayonnaise, but nothing ever came close,” I said to myself. It was a long three weeks, to be sure. So long, in fact, that I began to have conversations in my head and even remembered some of the quotes, like the one you just read.
But it was during those three weeks that my love for the Cheez Whiz cheesesteak was cemented. To be honest, I needed the break, and actually grew accustomed to ordering other delicious-but-not-very-healthy lunches, like turkey melts, pastrami sandwiches and Polish sausages.
Then, the Whiz came back -- I hadn’t even known. One day, when I ordered a pastrami sandwich, one line cook gave me a simple nod. I nodded back, and before I knew it, he was smearing the yellowy goo on what was supposed to be pastrami and Swiss! Well, too late now, I said, this is the price I must pay. The pastrami and Whiz combo wasn’t all that bad, either; a bit salty, but not terrible.
I returned the next day, eager to sink my teeth into the gooey beef, mayo and Whiz concoction, and it did not disappoint. Although the gentleman behind the grill put way too much mayo on the Philly classic, the Whiz reminded me why the cheesesteak is perhaps the most venerable sandwich in all of America. The Clogger comes close, as does the Monte Cristo, but nothing is quite as powerfully simple as lean beef, Cheez Whiz, grilled onions and mushrooms on a nice toasted bun.
I have learned to enjoy this gelatinous snack in moderation lately, though. Whenever I order something other than a cheesesteak, the kind sirs behind the grill first look shocked when I say, “No, really, I just want a tuna melt.” Then they nod, perhaps grateful that I’ve become less of a pain in the ass, and just a tiny bit healthier.
For more information on the Clogger, visit: http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=4282
For more information on the Monte Cristo, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Cristo_sandwich
Monday, December 10, 2007
Tattoos leave more than just a permanent mark
By Pamela Bryant, [X]press Online
In a city such as San Francisco, tattoos have become the norm, and I’m not talking about within the Hells Angels. Your waiter at a five star restaurant has full sleeves; your dentist has a little flower on her ankle; your DAD has your mom’s name in cursive on his neck. Ok, I’m just kidding about that last one, but tattoos today, are barely glanced at as different as we’re approaching 2008. Or are they?
In my Ethical Issues in Journalism class last Tuesday, my teacher, whom I greatly respect and adore, made a reference to how his generation paved the way for change regarding appearance in the work place. He brought up how people with tattoos are getting the jobs their parents complained they would never get due to their appearance. Yet, when he reminisced about a time when he sent a disgruntled letter to an organization, he made a joke about attaching a picture of someone covered in tattoos to give it a menacing intent.
That got me thinking about how a large, urban city such as San Francisco or Manhattan contains only a small percentage of the remaining “judgmental” human race. And it would seem this minuscule portion is immune or desensitized to the stigmatisms that accompany tattoos.
When traveling home to visit my parents this past Thanksgiving, in the lovely, yet astoundingly slow city of Davis, I noticed people staring at me, and not in that, “oh, her outfit is so cute,” way. People in a location just shy of two hours from the city I call home, were making presumptions about me because of a few tattoos. My father himself refers to me as an “inmate,” despite his being in the military, where traditional sailor-type tattoos were the norm. He of course never embarked down that path, since only “gang members, prisoners, and people with low IQs would be dumb enough to do it.”
I also recall one of my friends making a statement that she later recanted, due to my open mouth reaction. She stated that she would feel more comfortable having a doctor with no tattoos, than one who had them. I asked her how the two differ, if they both received their medical licenses, and completed the same lengthy duration of time in college. She was silent.
I started researching tattoos and came across a CNN video clip of a couple who were refused housing, based on the amount of tattoos the husband had. The building actually has a no tattoos policy that did not violate the fair housing act. How is this legal?! Don’t get me wrong; I am not referring to obviously disturbed individuals with swastikas tattooed on their foreheads. There are extremes to every culture and lifestyle. But this was a couple that wasn’t even given a chance to be good or bad tenants based on their affinity for art.
As biased as I am due to my own personal admiration for tattoos, it still baffles my mind that people view others (myself included) with dissent. Can you really look at my tattoo of a teddy bear and think I rob banks or worship Satan? The negative connotation that comes with having permanent ink has made no hint of leaving, and as much as it saddens me, I have to admit, I myself, am just like them. I make my own judgments of others based on their outward appearance and just because it’s not a tattoo, doesn’t make it any better. People will always make judgments of others based on anything and everything and there’s nothing you or I can do about it, except maybe get a tattoo on your neck (or other highly visible place) that says, “STOP JUDGING ME.”
In a city such as San Francisco, tattoos have become the norm, and I’m not talking about within the Hells Angels. Your waiter at a five star restaurant has full sleeves; your dentist has a little flower on her ankle; your DAD has your mom’s name in cursive on his neck. Ok, I’m just kidding about that last one, but tattoos today, are barely glanced at as different as we’re approaching 2008. Or are they?
In my Ethical Issues in Journalism class last Tuesday, my teacher, whom I greatly respect and adore, made a reference to how his generation paved the way for change regarding appearance in the work place. He brought up how people with tattoos are getting the jobs their parents complained they would never get due to their appearance. Yet, when he reminisced about a time when he sent a disgruntled letter to an organization, he made a joke about attaching a picture of someone covered in tattoos to give it a menacing intent.
That got me thinking about how a large, urban city such as San Francisco or Manhattan contains only a small percentage of the remaining “judgmental” human race. And it would seem this minuscule portion is immune or desensitized to the stigmatisms that accompany tattoos.
When traveling home to visit my parents this past Thanksgiving, in the lovely, yet astoundingly slow city of Davis, I noticed people staring at me, and not in that, “oh, her outfit is so cute,” way. People in a location just shy of two hours from the city I call home, were making presumptions about me because of a few tattoos. My father himself refers to me as an “inmate,” despite his being in the military, where traditional sailor-type tattoos were the norm. He of course never embarked down that path, since only “gang members, prisoners, and people with low IQs would be dumb enough to do it.”
I also recall one of my friends making a statement that she later recanted, due to my open mouth reaction. She stated that she would feel more comfortable having a doctor with no tattoos, than one who had them. I asked her how the two differ, if they both received their medical licenses, and completed the same lengthy duration of time in college. She was silent.
I started researching tattoos and came across a CNN video clip of a couple who were refused housing, based on the amount of tattoos the husband had. The building actually has a no tattoos policy that did not violate the fair housing act. How is this legal?! Don’t get me wrong; I am not referring to obviously disturbed individuals with swastikas tattooed on their foreheads. There are extremes to every culture and lifestyle. But this was a couple that wasn’t even given a chance to be good or bad tenants based on their affinity for art.
As biased as I am due to my own personal admiration for tattoos, it still baffles my mind that people view others (myself included) with dissent. Can you really look at my tattoo of a teddy bear and think I rob banks or worship Satan? The negative connotation that comes with having permanent ink has made no hint of leaving, and as much as it saddens me, I have to admit, I myself, am just like them. I make my own judgments of others based on their outward appearance and just because it’s not a tattoo, doesn’t make it any better. People will always make judgments of others based on anything and everything and there’s nothing you or I can do about it, except maybe get a tattoo on your neck (or other highly visible place) that says, “STOP JUDGING ME.”
Friday, December 07, 2007
With less than a month to go, a presidential horce race
by Khari Johnson, [X]press Online
We are less than a month away from Jan. 3 presidential primaries in Iowa and the 2008 presidential scene has changed dramatically from what it was a month or even weeks ago.
Barack Obama seems to have found his stride… and Oprah. His campaign sold out an auditorium for a Obama-Oprah event in South Carolina on Sunday and moved it to an 80,000 seat football stadium.
The latest polls show Obama leading Clinton and Edwards in Iowa, the first primary state, by seven percentage points. Most national numbers show Clinton leading all Democratic candidates by around 20 percent.
Mike Huckabee is gaining ground too… and cool points with adding Chuck Norris to his election campaign. Norris sat in the front rows of last week’s CNN/YouTube Republican debate. He’s using Chuck Norris facts in his campaign ads! Definitely one of the best campaign ads I’ve ever seen.
Regardless of your politics or who you plan on supporting in the upcoming election, check out these presidential quizzes. I was surprised to learn that my political beliefs were considered most like Dennis Kucinich. It seems we have a lot in common politically but I don’t believe in aliens. Plus he looks like a weasel. But it's good to know where you stand based on
www.change.org/presidential_matchmaker
www.speakout.com/VoteMatch/senate2006.asp?quiz=2008#sec0
By most accounts and considering the current state of the world, this is an important election. Mitt Romney gave a speech yesterday to try and approach voters about his Mormon faith. Most every media outlet would compare him to John F. Kennedy's speech to a room full of Protestant ministers before his 1960 election. Most would conclude Romney is not Kennedy.
It's also the first presidential election since 1952 in which no incumbent president or vice president is running. Candidates are vying for both the presidency and the rights to redefine their party and the direction of the nation in unique times.
To learn more about presidential race visit the New York Times 2008 election guide. There you can find candidate profiles and recent articles about them, a calender of election events and breakdown on where each candidate stands on key issue. Their poll numbers are a few days out of late.
For up to date polling numbers from a variety of news outlets visit www.pollingreport.com , voted #26 in Time.com's 50 best websites of 2007.
YouTube's YouChoose '08 campaign is also a good resource for insight into the campaign and debate of the issues. Full Q&A between major Democratic and Republican candidates with questions contributed through YouTube videos is also available.
For details of California elections in 2008, visit easyvoter.org sponsored by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.
We are less than a month away from Jan. 3 presidential primaries in Iowa and the 2008 presidential scene has changed dramatically from what it was a month or even weeks ago.
Barack Obama seems to have found his stride… and Oprah. His campaign sold out an auditorium for a Obama-Oprah event in South Carolina on Sunday and moved it to an 80,000 seat football stadium.
The latest polls show Obama leading Clinton and Edwards in Iowa, the first primary state, by seven percentage points. Most national numbers show Clinton leading all Democratic candidates by around 20 percent.
Mike Huckabee is gaining ground too… and cool points with adding Chuck Norris to his election campaign. Norris sat in the front rows of last week’s CNN/YouTube Republican debate. He’s using Chuck Norris facts in his campaign ads! Definitely one of the best campaign ads I’ve ever seen.
Regardless of your politics or who you plan on supporting in the upcoming election, check out these presidential quizzes. I was surprised to learn that my political beliefs were considered most like Dennis Kucinich. It seems we have a lot in common politically but I don’t believe in aliens. Plus he looks like a weasel. But it's good to know where you stand based on
www.change.org/presidential_matchmaker
www.speakout.com/VoteMatch/senate2006.asp?quiz=2008#sec0
By most accounts and considering the current state of the world, this is an important election. Mitt Romney gave a speech yesterday to try and approach voters about his Mormon faith. Most every media outlet would compare him to John F. Kennedy's speech to a room full of Protestant ministers before his 1960 election. Most would conclude Romney is not Kennedy.
It's also the first presidential election since 1952 in which no incumbent president or vice president is running. Candidates are vying for both the presidency and the rights to redefine their party and the direction of the nation in unique times.
To learn more about presidential race visit the New York Times 2008 election guide. There you can find candidate profiles and recent articles about them, a calender of election events and breakdown on where each candidate stands on key issue. Their poll numbers are a few days out of late.
For up to date polling numbers from a variety of news outlets visit www.pollingreport.com , voted #26 in Time.com's 50 best websites of 2007.
YouTube's YouChoose '08 campaign is also a good resource for insight into the campaign and debate of the issues. Full Q&A between major Democratic and Republican candidates with questions contributed through YouTube videos is also available.
For details of California elections in 2008, visit easyvoter.org sponsored by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.