RTG Day 3: Hops & Hominy Review

Rediscovering the Groove, Day 3: Write A Review

I met AT for dinner at Hops & Hominy last night, a 3-week old restaurant on Union Square that hopes to satisfy the city's "down-home cookin'" palate.  We were part of the early evening crowd, arriving at 6p, and were promptly seated at a neat rustic table for two.  I had a good view of the bar -- where the tender seemed to be busy shaking drinks all night long -- and an interesting mural by Audra Knutson featuring bunnies and a peacock gathered around a cobwebbed tree.*

YAYs

• Complimentary cornbread and sweet butter.
• My order of lip-smacking buttermilk fried chicken, served on top of a bed of bacony brussell sprouts, plus a wonderful side of mac and cheese.
• They let us stay -- and replenished our water -- for the 5 hours we were there.
• Nice attentive waiter who thoughtfully labeled my to-go box with the contents and date.

MEHs

• Two different versions of the menu, which was explained as an "oops, we've only been open for 3 weeks, and the menu's been changing." 
• Our eager request for alligator bites was...denied.  Sorry, wrong menu.
• Our beignet dessert too closely resembled our own failed attempt at making beignets previously.  (Cafe du Monde, you've ruined it for everybody! No one can make 'em like you!)
• AT's rabbit fettuccine, which we agreed was tasty but wouldn't necessarily order again.  
• My $10 Whiskey Smash could have used more lemon and mint, the two other main ingredients in the drink.

While I did enjoy my dinner entree, we gave the place 3 stars overall.  Now..., where to next?

_________

*Photo credit: SF Eater.

Rediscovering the Groove (Day 2)

Day 2: Answer A Question.

How does one swallow?  Well, I'm glad you asked.  (And thanks for playing along.)

Ever since my 84-year old "Eema" -- or Mum's older sister -- had a stroke a month ago, I've become acutely aware of certain unconscious body movements that I would normally not think about.  My bodily function of interest for today is...the "simple" act of swallowing.

First of all, I thank God that my dear Eema was rushed to the hospital in time.  With an aggressive PT regimen and capable Singaporean doctors, she's making slow but steady progress each day -- re-learning what the right side of her body used to be able to do and, possibly the toughest challenge, realizing that some abilities may never be regained.

While we remain hopeful, she isn't able to swallow.  Dysphagia is what it's called, and until she overcomes it, she gets her nourishment through a feeding tube.  Medicinenet.com describes swallowing as a "complex action" and lists the 8 steps involved:

1. Food is chewed in the mouth and mixed with saliva.
2. Tongue propels chewed food into the throat (pharynx).
3. Soft palate elevates to prevent food from entering nasal passages, while the upper pharynx contracts to push the food into the lower pharynx, and the voice box (larynx) is pulled upwards so that the epiglottis can bend downwards, preventing food from entering the windpipe (trachea).  (What the...)
4. Pharynx contracts to push the food along.
5. Muscle that encircles the upper end of the esophagus relaxes, allowing the wave of contractions to push the food into the esophagus.
6. Wave of contractions continues from the pharynx down the entire length of the esophagus.
7. Another muscle that encircles the lower end of the esophagus where it meets the stomach relaxes so that food can enter the stomach.
8. After the food passes, the lower esophagus muscle tightens to prevent food from coming back up. 

Wow.

Through slurred speech, Eema tells me she dreams about coffee and ice cream and char kway teow (a Singaporean fried noodle dish).  My heart sinks as I join her in a forced chuckle.

Rediscovering the Groove (Day 1)

Exactly 3 1/2 months since my last post.  Now that's blog apathy.  So I Googled "need motivation to write!" and stumbled upon this intriguing project that I'm embarking on today.  Day 1: Write A List.  Here goes.

I found myself curled up in a fleece blanket on Sunday night, a Hornsby's Hard Cider in one hand and an iPhone in the other, watching the Grammy's while playing Words With Friends during commercials and the less interesting thank you's.  In the midst of all that "activity," I came up with...

Squeaks' Gimme Chills Mix
1. Arms (Christina Perri)
2. Almost Lover (A Fine Frenzy)
3. Someone Like You (Adele)
4. Glitter in the Air (Pink)
5. Hold My Heart (Sara Bareilles)
6. Cosmic Love (Florence + The Machine)
7. I Never Told You (Colbie Caillat)
8. Falling Slowly (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova)

Hard pressed to come up many non-operatic "gimme chills" songs by guys,... but I welcome suggestions!