(FBC3) The Magic of Coffee

Coffee is not just a drink. It is a reset-button for life. Ever since I was in the 5th grade, I have woke up and began each day with a cup of coffee. My long term relationship with this hot beverage has developed and become more complex throughout the years-- it used to just be a drink that provided caffeine and a soothing heat down my throat to wake me up in the mornings. Now, coffee carries those original benefits while also offering a chance to renew my spirit. It sounds ridiculous, but coffee shows me that it is a new day and that I can start over anew. The heat, the sweet, the aroma... all these things say "Addie, today is a new day and a new moment. Begin your day now-- you are ready to start."

Each day I prepare my cup mostly the same way. It depends on whether or not I've been attentive and kept up with my grocery list. I am a fan of Keurig coffee makers-- with my household only being my husband and I, and him not being a huge coffee fan, the Keurig serves its purpose well (providing me with a hot, single cup).

I like to use "donut-shop" flavored coffee K-Cups, generic or any brand name. McDonald coffee K-Cups are also tasty, in my opinion. 10 oz cups give me my fill. 

Beside our Keurig sits my "coffee station." I am a fan of powdered creamer, adding spices, and vintage sugar containers. Depending on the season, the spice of choice changes. Certain times of the year carry seasonal cravings of nutmeg, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice, or peppermint in my coffee. Coffee flavoring help to put me in the spirit of each holiday season! Each time seasonal creamers hit the shelves in grocery stores, I reflect on fond memories... pumpkin spice coffee on thanksgiving morning while watching the parade with my family, peppermint mocha coffee while opening presents Christmas morning, or hazelnut coffee gathered around the campfire at the lake on a July morning. Coffee is a drink that carries tradition, memories, and relationships for my family.

If I have had a hard day, and need something similar to coffee, I will make hot tea or cappuccino. They serve a similar purpose- refreshing and renewing me. 

My cup of Joe has two spoon fulls of sugar. Always. No more, no less. This is the perfect balance for me. 

My uncles like to joke that my sisters and I would "make a milkshake out of our coffee." This refers to our seemingly excessive amounts of sugar and creamer. I will not lie and say I use small amounts-- often times, my coffee coloring is on the lighter side of the color wheel. However, the flavorings you can add with creamer are too good to pass up-- their seasonal behaviors and creamy texture are
pleasing to me.

Powered creamer is a must, even if you have a liquid creamer also. The powder serves as a base of the creaminess of the coffee.

Fresh faced. Straight out of bed. Tackling the day with one cup a day.

My coffee criteria is a product of my parent's raising. As a kid, we always had multiple creamer flavors, sweetener options, and spices on handy. That black liquid is a blank canvas for my family-- each cup always being different and reflecting our personal preferences. To me, coffee is a reflection of self.

For now, I'll be sipping away and enjoying a tiny taste of renewal each morning. 

Till next time-- AR.

(FBC2) A Tiny Taste of Koreatown-- LA.

In the TV show "Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown," Anthony Bourdain explores various foodways across the U.S., diving into a different region or city upon each episode. I had the pleasure of watching the episode dedicated to Koreatown (Los Angeles).

The complexity in Koreatown culture was incredible; Anthony Bourdain's interest in the folk group sought to explain further their complexity by breaking down common stereotypes of the peoples, visiting the history that defined their region, and experiencing the traditions that no Korean man or woman would dare to change.

This episode focused on various foodways: food trucks, traditional Korean dining, and the small twists that a particular Korean folk group has adopted as a foodway of their own. This episode's dining made my mouth water; food trucks mashed Mexican flavor with Korean beef and vegetables, barbecue was cooked table side for the sake of Korean tradition, and a "meatball" taco was born out of a certain family's habit of "going big or going home" when dining out at Sizzler. This region carries more than a tiny taste of culture-- it reveals a gateway into what makes them so unique as a people.

Korean barbecue table-side style. Sourced from Google.

Sizzler restaurant sign. This was a popular place for David Cho's family to eat when they dined out on rare occasion. Sourced from Google. 

Anthony Bourdain discussed the history of Koreatown and their perseverance through the LA riots; they came together as a people to defend not only their shops and homes, but their way of life. This was especially revealing of their character, showing that the folk groups in Koreatown are a resilient people. I think the food in this region brings the people together; regardless of whether you are a "traditional" Korean, or a part of the new age breaking stereotypical barriers in food and careers.

This episode was a tease of the mysteries of Koreatown-- its culture carries not only great tofu bowls, but great insight into a people group functioning fluently together alongside it's own culture differences. All I know now is that I'm ready for more than a tiny taste of this region.

Till next time-- AR.