NFL Week 8: Indian Food

Ah, Indian food. It took me a while to really fall in love with this cuisine. I started liking it when we first moved to Cincinnati - and Janice's brother lived in Clifton (near the University) - and there was an excellent Indian restaurant near him. We'd go there, and I instantly loved it. Chicken Tikka Masala, Tandoori Chicken, even a Saag Paneer... most everything is good. And Nan....oh! The Nan! I could eat Nan for a whole week (and yes, I will capitalize Nan for this whole post).

When we lived in the suburbs in Cincinnati, there was a local Indian joint that was good - we went there to eat in or carry out about once a month. The boys started liking it too (especially the Nan).....oh, and they had the best Onion Nan .....wow, I miss that place....... The highlight was heading into the restaurant after both Freddie and Warren had Little League games - so all the Indians in Mason, OH were gathering on a Friday night, and this family walks in with two kids covered in dirt...... now that's multiculturalism!

When we first moved to China, some of our ex-pat friends were Indian fans as well - our first family get together was Indian - an Indian family told us the best place in Guangzhou for Indian, and we've been there numoerous times since being here.

I travel to India frequently for work - I've been there 4 times so far - and, let's just say, the experience is not exactly the same. The dishes are very similar - lentils, chicken, sauces, the Nan is great - but ends up being unsettling. How do I put this nicely? I don't get sick or anything, but.....I don't excrete anything solid for the the next 7 days. When I'm in the plant, I get a 10 minute warning from my body and it's "uh, excuse me, where is the bathroom?".

The taste - great. The after effects......that's where the problems are. Why does the authentic version cause so much suffering? This is a case where the foreign imitation is better than the real thing.

I don't want to compare the Browns to diarrhea - Lord knows that joke has been done over 10 million times in the past - but that's where we are. The team looks good on paper. Offense - we actually have players that people want to start in Fantasy! The defense is average; we have a stud kicker (since our offense stalls at the 30 regularly, it gives Dawson opportunties for multiple 40+ yd FGs every game....)

But we are 1-6.

And that goes to one person - the head chef, Shurmur.

I feel this week is an elimination challenge with the two bottom chefs in the league - Shurmur and Norv Turner. If you are outcoached by Norv, you should be fired immediately.

On to the games:

Chi 17, Car 13. A letdown game for the Bears after a divisonal win on Monday night.

NE 27, StL 20. I can see the Rams winning, but just can't pull teh trigger on the upset.

Ind 27, Ten 23. The question here, of course, is Chris Johnson. Is the Colts' run D as bad as the Bills'?

GB 27, Jax 10. What's the motivation here for the Packers?

Det 23, Sea 17. The Lions are slowly playing better - their D was impressive last Monday night, and this is a team desperate for a win - and at home.

Phi 27, Atl 24. Why, why, why, do I think the Eagles will show up for this game?

Mia 23, NYJ 13. The Dolphins - off a bye - facing the Jets,who came off a tough divisional loss.

Pit 31, Was 20. Have you seen the Steelers offense recently? It's all passing. And the Skins don't do well in the pass D department. And I think LeBeau willhave something cooked up against RG3.

KC 27, Oak 13. I can't trust Oakland on the road. So - I'll ride Romeo and Brady again,just like it was 2008.

Dal 24, NYG 17. I think Dallas's D matches up well against the Giants.

Den 31, NO 21. This is a classic back door cover game here, but I like what I see in Denver against the NO defense, especially off a bye.

SF 17, Az 16.  The last stand for Arizona - at home - if they want to contend this year.

Best bets: 15 of them. Last week: 6-8. Overall: 55-48-4.
Car +7 1/2
Car/Chi under 42 1/2
Ind +3 1/2
Jax/GB under 45 1/2
Det -2 1/2
Mia +2
Atl/Phi over 42 1/2
Pit -4
Was/Pit over 44 1/2
KC -1
Dal +2 1/2
NYG/Dal under 48
Den -6
Az +7
SF/Az under 38 1/2

Supercontest: Last week: the dreaded 0-5. Overall: 19-15-1
Det -2
Mia +2
Pit -4 1/2
KC -2
Az +6 1/2
 

We have our fourth!

When Steve, Kermit and I play golf over the summer, we usually are lacking a 4th to go along with us. I need to get this guy's number and invite him to the US for a few weeks - just for the comedic value......

(Please God, let my swing never look like this in 40 years....)
 

NFL Week 7: Pad Thai

Ah, Pad Thai. I've had some bad memories with this dish over the years. It all started when I got my first job in Dayton out of school. About the 2nd month I was there, some of the guys were going to the Thai/Vietnamese restaurant in a suburb....so I went along. At that point, in 1994, the most experience I have had with Asian food was Chinese (and a lot of it!)

So I ordered the Pad Thai - noodles and meat? What could go wrong?

It was disgusting. It was drowned in fish sauce, which I thought (and still do) is the most vile sauce to cook with. It was drenched in it, and I couldn't finish it. I never joined the group again when they went back to this place in Beavercreek.

Fast forward 10 years in 2004 - when we lived in Iowa; again, I joined a group as we went to the Thai/Cambodian restaurant on the outskirts of Iowa City; again, I tried the Pad Thai. The dish was a bit better - less flooded with the sauce - but the pungency of the entire restaurant soured the dish for me. How can you enjoy it with the fish sauce in the air? I think I went back once or twice - but no more - in our 2 year stay in Iowa.

(That place was near the river; the big flood of 2006 pretty much directly hit the plaza where the restaurant was. I wondered if it reopened.....in the same place? )

Then we go to earlier this year - February - when we went to Thailand for Chinese New Year. We went to a local, outdoor restaurant one night; as I walked in, I saw somebody at another table eating Pad Thai?

"That's Pad Thai? That looks delicious!" So, I tried it again for the third time.

As you can expect, having Pad Thai done by the natives is 100000% better than a Dayton or Iowan version. Perfectly fried, no mystery fish sauce on it - noodles, bean sprouts, chicken/shrimp....Excellent. Just like it is advertised!

It's now in my top 10 dishes I get over here when eating at a hotel or traveling for work. It truly is amazing the difference in the dish and how it is prepared. I know, I shouldn't be surprised.

I think the national media is having the same feeling when it comes to Brandon Weeden. All they remember about Weeden is the awful game 1 performance against  the Eagles. Make no mistake, he was awful in that game.
But weeks 2-6 have been solid - but not spectacular. Yes, there are some rookie mistakes resulting in interceptions...but the arm is there to deliver the long passes to Gordon and others. And he is developing in reading through the progressions and finding the tight end, or the 3rd  receiver. The stats have been very good in the last few weeks.
Slowly, some are starting to realize that Weeden is not the disaster they saw in week 1. Simmons actually had some good things to say this week in his preview column. In a few more weeks, the memory of the Dayton Pad Thai will wear off and a new impression of Weeden will emerge. This guy could be the Browns QB for the next 5-7 years.

This week? The Jeff Zahn magic continues in Indy, as my dad will be there in attedance again and the Browns will win again, 27-24.

To the other games:
Buf 24, Ten 16. Less a vote for Buf but against Tennessee. I think they are one of the worst teams in the league......how do we explain last week then? See below.

Dal 27, Car 17. Yes, I am falling for this. I can't see Dallas losing this game - they are desperate.

Hou 27, Bal 24. Clearly, the two best teams in the AFC. I think they are evenly matched.

Min 23, Az 10. The Vikes are a solid team at home.

TB 27, NO 23. The Saints had a bye last week - but I'm thinking that the lack of a coach prevents them from getting the full benefit of the bye. And their only win was against Norv....does that only count as 1/2 a win?

GB 24, StL 20. I do like the Rams here, but something tells me the light has clicked on in the Packers after last week.

NYG 31, Was 27. Should be a shootout - and the Giants should be able to move the ball easily against the Skins D.

NE 31, NYJ 24. The Jets are slowly getting better, and should keep this close.

Oak 27, Jax 17. The weak link for the Raiders is the pass D - but Jax doesn't have the offensive fire power to take advantage.

Cin 24, Pit 21. Two desperate teams here. I think Pit is overrated. It was amazing to see Ten - and before, Oakland - move the ball at will against them. Cin needs this win here....and being at home is the difference.

Chi 27, Det 13. I watched most of the Lions game last week - their O looked awful for 3 quarters. Hard to see them finding a rhythm against the Bears.

Best bets: 14 of them. Last week: 6-8-1; overall: 49-40-4

Buf -3 1/2
Ten/Buf under 46
Dal -2
Bal +7
Min -6 1/2
Az/Min under 41
TB +1 1/2
Was/NYG over 51 1/2
NYJ +10 1/2
NYJ/NE over 47 1/2
Oak -6
Cin +1
Chi -6 1/2
Det/Chi under 47

Supercontest picks: Last week: 3-2; overall: 19-10-1
Buf -3 1/2
Bal +6 1/2
TB +2 1/2
Oak -4 1/2
Cin +2 1/2

 

NFL Week 6: Hong Kong Cuisine

I have to admit, I have not had too much experience with true Hong Kong food. Whenever we get there, it's an escape from the life in China - so we head to the 24-hour breakfast diner to have pancakes and eggs, the Mexican restaurant for Vanilla Margaritas (cue Dan Hicks: "Expect anything different??" - ed), the Italian restaurant right next to our hotel, or the English fish and chips places on Stanley on the other side of the island.

It's rare that we walk the street trying to find food - but that's the situation we found ourselves in in February, when Freddie and I went to Hong Kong for his birthday. The father of his best friend from Cincinnati is a pilot for Northwest, and the dad and Freddie's friend came in for a quick 3 day weekend. It was wonderful, and a great treat for the four of us to run around Hong Kong - and to see the city through the eyes of 10 year olds.

Most of our meals were Western-based; Freddie's dinner the next night for his birthday was at the Italian restaurant above (where his poor friend couldn't keep his eyes open due to the jet lag), and the next night dinner was at Dan Ryan's Steakhouse, where I told Freddie: "You will get the Petit Filet Mignon and you will LIKE IT!"

However, when the plane landed, we got to the hotel, and it was 9 pm; Freddie was wide awake and excited to see his friend, so all of us went out walking the streets in search of.....nothing in particular.

And then we found a street stand that was selling fried foods. These 14 inch fried bread sticks caught our eye - "ooooooh, we must have them".

They didn't even need sugar. It was pure fried, airy dough for $7 HKD - less than $1 USD. Yes, it was leaking grease while we were eating - but no matter. It filled a need and seemed like comfort food for all of us - even though it was 100% Hong Kong.

God, I hope the Bengals are like the fried dough sticks for us. We need a win. We have been playing tough and hard over the past 5 weeks - with nothing to show for it. Yes, we are young, and yes, that means we will do dumb things (although shouldn't a coaching staff take care of that???). But we have been in every game (for the most part). However, if we don't get a win soon, I feel things will start to implode here. It's been 11 games since a win. 11.........and that win was a 14-10 ugly one vs. Jacksonville last year. We need the fried dough---- a satisfying win. Today. 28-20, Browns.

On to the games:

Atl 31, Oak 17. I know, too easy. But Oakland can not play on the road - and Atlanta has a decent defense.

Dal 23, Bal 21. Just a hunch here. Dallas off a bye, and they should be able to move the ball vs. the Ravens. The question is how many turnovers will Romo have?

Mia 24, StL 13. Bradford was horrible at home against the Cards last game. I don't see them competing well on the road.

NYJ 30, Ind 20. Indy is off a very emotional game (with their coach issues), and the Jets showed last week they can move the ball a bit.

Phi 21, Det 20. Which to pick? The offense that self destructs, or the defense that can't stop anyone? The offense that can only pass, or the D that can stop the pass?

TB 16, KC 13. Brady Quinn 2.0 begins! I didn't realize the Chiefs had Brian Daboll as well. Good luck with that!

Az 20, Buf 19. I think we need to discuss how good Arizona truly is. And the Bills can't throw three stink bombs in a row, can they?

NE 24, Sea 17. Yes, yes, a sucker pick. I just don't see Seattle being able to score if needed to keep up with the Pats.

Was 27, Min 20. Even with the status of RG3....Minnesota has not been tested on the road.

SF 31, NYG 27. How much revenge is on the Giants' mind?

Hou 30, GB 21. Green Bay has been a bit off, and this place - a rockin' Sunday Night crowd against a good D- is not the place to get better.

Den 24, SD 17. If not for the fumbles last week, the Broncos would have been in the game vs. the Pats.

Best bets: 14 of them. Last week: 8-6; total: 43-32-3.

Atl -9 1/2
Dal +3
Mia -5
NYJ -3
Ind/NYJ over 44
Det/Phi under 47
TB/KC under 40 1/2
Buf +4
NE -3 1/2
Was pk
NYG +7
NYG/SF over 46
Hou -3 1/2
Den pk
Den/SD under 48 1/2

Supercontest picks: last week: 4-1. Overall: 16-8-1
Mia -3 1/2
Dal +3 1/2
NYJ -3
Hou -3 1/2
Den +1 1/2

 

When Central Planning goes awry

As I alluded to in the last post, last week was an official holiday week in China. It was called "Golde Week", as the mid-Autumn festival fell on the dar before the National Holiday week - so everyone in the country had 7 days off.

In general, this week and Chinese New Year are the only times where regular working Chinese people can actually travel and see the sights of China. It is a very busy time, and most local businesses are closed....that's why the advice to ex-pats for these holiday periods is to just leave the country.

The government wanted people to enjoy their time off, so in order to generate interest for traveling, they declared that all toll roads would be free. The tolls are quite expensive; for example, a toll road from downtime to the airport is about 20 km and costs roughly 20 RMB - about $3. that's a lot for normal people.

So - we have a national holiday, with 1.3 billion people celebrating, and the toll roads are free - what could go wrong?

Plenty.

Record crowds were seen at all the national attractions. How about these for the Great Wall?

 

 

And the traffic? 12, 14 hour delays were reported as routine. Some pictures are below.

What's that saying? "Be careful what you wish for......"

Eric the romantic

As many of you know, Janice's birthday was on Saturday (Oct 6th). I really outdid myself for her birthday dinner this year!

2010: Sunset dinner on the beach in Malaysia
2011: Dinner at an intimate French restaurant in Vietnam (this was an excellent meal).

2012: Well, we flew home that night into Hong Kong from Bali, and we were making the 2 hour drive home after the flight (starting at 10 pm). So - since Burger King was closed - I got 15 Chicken Tenders, Cajun Fries, and Popcorn Shrimp from Popeye's in the airport for our dinner in the car for the ride.

Let's just say that the fries taste awful after sitting around for 15 minutes.

 

NFL Week 5: Indonesian Cuisine

Back at home again after a week of vacation in Bali for the China National Holiday week. It was nice to get away for the week - I'll have more on that in the next post - and great to have Don, Mike and their wives spend the week with us!. Taking a week listening to the waves crash is not a bad way to live.

Also, I got the slingbox working correctly on Monday morning, and I was watching the end of the 1 pm and 4 pm games while sitting outside on a lawn chair on the grass in the moonlight with the waves in the background. Yes, I was wearing a 2 inch layer of "Off" while doing that.

One of the highlights was biking down the "mountain" of Bali with the group. It was a great ride as we went through rice fields, small villages, and even passed a parade. At the end, we had a lunch buffet that "represented local Balinese cuisine". My (second) plate is seen above! Clockwise from the white rice:

- Steamed Rice
- Fried Noodle (yes, two starches...sue me)
- Some sort of chicken stir fry dish. I think it may have been a "bean Curd" chicken dish, but I can't recall. It was not memorable.
- Peanut Tofu stir fry. Delicious. The star of the show. As you probably know, tofu does not have a lot of flavor (if any), so it carries the flavors of the spices/sauces in the dish. Well, how can you go wrong with Peanut sauce? Instead of just scooping up the peanut sauce and drinking it with a sppon, this is a more elegant way to get your peanut sauce fill. Just fantastic.
- Smoked Duck and Smoked Chicken. Pulled off the bone as well as any BBQ joint in the US. Tender and wonderful.
- Indonesian mixed vegetables, which seem to be 90% minced green beans and some spices. Pretty good!
- Vegetable roll, which is the same mixed vegetables rolled into a cabbage roll. This was very enjoyable, especially with - you guessed it ! - the Peanut sauce in the middle!

You may be seeing the same dished repeated over again in a lot of the southeast Asia posts....Rice, noodles, stirfry, even tofu.......well, that's how the current season is going. I can guess how most of the Browns game will be played.  A lackluster 1st half with some mistakes causing us to be in a hole; then in the 2nd half, Weeden is unleashed and we make a few plays to score....and the defense does just enough to get our hopes up but then lets up the big play to have the win be out of reach in the end.  I think it will be the same way this week with the Giants....we will be down 17-6 at half; James Brown will then cut into your game in the 3rd to say "The plucky Browns are not going away!" as we make it 17-13; it will be 20-20 early in the 4th when Brown will again come in and say "In New York, the Giants are putting this game away on a 75-yd TD pass to Cruz, followed by a pick six from Weeden- who has 350 yards passing". Giants, 34-20.

I don't see how we win given that our two best receivers (Massaquoi and Benjamin) are out. We have Stone Hand Little, Decapitated Cribbs and 100% raw Josh Gordon as our receivers for today. At least this is the last game for Haden's suspension.

On to the games:

Mia 26, Cin 23. I have gone back and forth on this one all week over Vodka Tonics while overlooking the beach. Who has Cincinnati played? Any good defenses?

GB 23, Ind 20. I kept waiting for the Pack to put the hammer down on the Saints last week - and it never came. Maybe....maybe....they have slipped a bit. The loss of Jennings certainly hurts.

Bal 31, KC 21. Is this the week where Brady Quinn makes his reappearance in the NFL? Brady and Romeo, together again....

Pit 20, Phi 17. Don't underestimate the Eagles' D. It is good.

Atl 31, Was 27. Still don't have a good feeling of either team. But Washington is similar to Carolina, and I think the Skins will hang close.

Chi 23, Jax 13. I can't see the Bears letting down in this game with a bye week next.

Car 24, Sea 14. I am concerned about Marshawn Lynch vs. the Panthers' D, but the way to beat Car is through the air -and I don't think Seattle can do that yet.

Min 20, Ten 17. Two weak offenses here.

SF 27, Buf 24. SF's offense is average if you don't give them anything....and I am hoping that Gailey and the Bills will not have a repeat of last week.

NE 34, Den 27. Who will stop who in this game?

NO 27, SD 24. Your guess is as good as mine here. Which Saints team will show up? Will Norv actually coach a good road game?

Hou 23, NYJ 20, OT. I can't believe that Rex Ryan will let the Jets be embarrased - again - especially on Monday night. They will throw everything in the playbook at them - including Tebow - and still wind up a bit short.

Best bets: 14 of them. Last week: 9-6-1; overall: 35-26-3

Mia +3
Ind +6 1/2
GB/Ind under 48
Bal -6 1/2
Bal/KC over 46
Phi/Pit under 43
Atl/Was over 50 1/2
Chi -5 1/2
Car -2 1/2
Ten/Min under 44
Buf +9 1/2
Buf/SF over 45
Den/NE over 51 1/2
NYJ +7 1/2

Supercontest: last week: 3-2. Overall: 12-7-1.
Mia +3
Ind +7
Chi -6
Car -3
NYJ +8