I realize it's been a while since I've posted, so I thought I'd fill in those of you who read this on some snippets from my life of late...
Books: I just finished a fantastic book called Lost City Radio, by Daniel Alarcón, a Peruvian-born author who now resides in Oakland (and from his description of the neighborhood, probably not far from me). I'm not really in the game of writing literary reviews, but I would say the book is an excellent, though at times, difficult read. The story is set in a fictional South American country that bears many similarities with Peru: a dry coastal capital city, a mountain region and a jungle area. The book delves into the violence and disappearances that tore the country apart during a civil war. Of note, the author does an incredible job weaving recollections into the storyline. I highly recommend reading in; in fact, I bought the book, so if you're in the area, you're welcome to borrow it.
Hikes: I've spent some time during the past two weekends exploring the beautiful Mount Tamalpais region. It's a great place to hike and camp.
Food: In search of the best pupusa. For those of you who've never tried one, a pupusa is a Salvadoran specialty that is basically a thick, handmade, stuffed tortilla made of masa and cooked on a griddle. Its' contents can include some combination of beans, cheese, chicharrón (fried pork skin) or loroco, a Salvadoran vegetable with a taste somewhat akin to asparagus. I almost always get my pupusas with loroco, queso y frijol, since I'm not a big fan of pork skin. Pupusas are served with a delicious side of curtido--a mildly fermented cabbage salad that often includes carrots, onions, oregano and chili flakes--as well as a usually mild tomato sauce (Salvadoran food does not seem as heavy on the chilis as Mexican cuisine). One can find a pupusa at a pupuseria, of which there are many in the Bay Area, especially in San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond and Hayward. I had my first pupusa at a place called Los Guanacos, located on Mission Street in the Excelsior district of San Francisco, and have also enjoyed many a pupusa at Panchita's restaurant on 16th between Mission and Valencia. Since I don't live in SF, I've dined at more pupuserias in the East Bay, my favorite of which is Los Cocos, located on Fruitvale Avenue near International. In Fruitvale, there is also a Pupuseria Mi Lupita on Foothill that is decent, and a Pupuseria y Tamales Lupita truck in the parking lot next to the aforementioned restaurant that is actually a separate business. Other good spots include Taqueria La Bamba where San Pablo Ave. goes under 1-80 Richmond. There are two in Hayward, both on Mission: one that has a long name I can't remember right now and another one near the Cheese Steak place on Industrial called Los Cocos that is not related to the one in Oakland (I asked the owners). So, dearest readers, go out and enjoy a pupusa, and let me know what you think.
Politics: Frustration over the primary campaigns. Can't Hillary just drop out and save us all the anguish?
For those who have read this far, here are some assorted photos from my house and its' surroundings and from hiking (it should be easy to tell what is what).
Books: I just finished a fantastic book called Lost City Radio, by Daniel Alarcón, a Peruvian-born author who now resides in Oakland (and from his description of the neighborhood, probably not far from me). I'm not really in the game of writing literary reviews, but I would say the book is an excellent, though at times, difficult read. The story is set in a fictional South American country that bears many similarities with Peru: a dry coastal capital city, a mountain region and a jungle area. The book delves into the violence and disappearances that tore the country apart during a civil war. Of note, the author does an incredible job weaving recollections into the storyline. I highly recommend reading in; in fact, I bought the book, so if you're in the area, you're welcome to borrow it.
Hikes: I've spent some time during the past two weekends exploring the beautiful Mount Tamalpais region. It's a great place to hike and camp.
Food: In search of the best pupusa. For those of you who've never tried one, a pupusa is a Salvadoran specialty that is basically a thick, handmade, stuffed tortilla made of masa and cooked on a griddle. Its' contents can include some combination of beans, cheese, chicharrón (fried pork skin) or loroco, a Salvadoran vegetable with a taste somewhat akin to asparagus. I almost always get my pupusas with loroco, queso y frijol, since I'm not a big fan of pork skin. Pupusas are served with a delicious side of curtido--a mildly fermented cabbage salad that often includes carrots, onions, oregano and chili flakes--as well as a usually mild tomato sauce (Salvadoran food does not seem as heavy on the chilis as Mexican cuisine). One can find a pupusa at a pupuseria, of which there are many in the Bay Area, especially in San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond and Hayward. I had my first pupusa at a place called Los Guanacos, located on Mission Street in the Excelsior district of San Francisco, and have also enjoyed many a pupusa at Panchita's restaurant on 16th between Mission and Valencia. Since I don't live in SF, I've dined at more pupuserias in the East Bay, my favorite of which is Los Cocos, located on Fruitvale Avenue near International. In Fruitvale, there is also a Pupuseria Mi Lupita on Foothill that is decent, and a Pupuseria y Tamales Lupita truck in the parking lot next to the aforementioned restaurant that is actually a separate business. Other good spots include Taqueria La Bamba where San Pablo Ave. goes under 1-80 Richmond. There are two in Hayward, both on Mission: one that has a long name I can't remember right now and another one near the Cheese Steak place on Industrial called Los Cocos that is not related to the one in Oakland (I asked the owners). So, dearest readers, go out and enjoy a pupusa, and let me know what you think.
Politics: Frustration over the primary campaigns. Can't Hillary just drop out and save us all the anguish?
For those who have read this far, here are some assorted photos from my house and its' surroundings and from hiking (it should be easy to tell what is what).
Comments
Also I am making a note of your book recommendation and adding it to my "list."
Love your blog!