whittiest title ever: new food critic review: Malaga

Hola amigos, yesterday night I went to a favorite Spanish restaurant of mine, and I thought I would share the experience with all of you. Vamos:
Malaga
406 E. 73rd St.
New York NY
4.5 out of 5 stars
Ah, the wonders of garlic. It can be an incredible ingredient (in my opinion, but I’m right). Is it delicious? Yes. Is it good to eat while trying to be social? No, Listerine or scope would not have even done the trick. Nevertheless, I really enjoy garlic and that was the key element of the dish which I planned to order here. When I entered Malaga, I appreciated it’s laid back ambiance: it was crowded but not loud, the Spanish music in the background added to the atmosphere but was not overpowering, and the restaurant just felt very relaxed. For the record, I don’t think that you can go wrong here, everything on the menu is tasty, from the paella to the tortilla omelet, I have never had a bad meal at Malaga. However, I knew exactly what I wanted so I ordered shrimp ala chef grilled: the menu offers no description for this dish, and it is true that it is extremely difficult to describe the goodness known as shrimp ala chef. This dish essentially consists of sautéed shrimp and numerous pieces of crunchy and fragrant garlic. I could smell it coming and could hear the dish because it was served on a sizzling platter. My first taste was heavenly, my senses were in overload and therefore were going crazy. The succulent shrimp paired with the delectable garlic made an incredible combination of flavors. It was nice to have a side of broccoli but it didn’t really matter in the end, I was just there for the amazing shrimp.
If you are reading this blog, then you should be aware that I was also drinking sangria (a Spanish wine-based drink) at the time, but I believe that my positive review of this establishment is based on reality and not on the alcohol. I would wholeheartedly recommend that all of my readers visit this great Spanish restaurant. However, there are two issues which I must address. First, Malaga is not wheel chair accessible (there are two steep steps before you arrive at the front door). In addition, a meal can be a little pricy, so I hope you understand that your experience might result in good food and a big check. Restaurants in Manhattan can be expensive, but at least the Spanish food at Malaga which you pay for is high quality. Thanks for reading, adios!
Dan

I hate my scale (the mystery of the 4 pound gain in 24 hours)

I hate my scale! Yes, I really do. Is it wrong to despise an inanimate object? Oh well, it’s true, it is my lifelong enemy. How can it be that I gained four pounds in one day? Yesterday I was feeling good about myself: I came to the false conclusion that I had lost 2 pounds, and I was in a positive mood. Today, my scale says (allegedly) that I have gained 2 pounds. (A four pound gain in only one day, from a loss to a gain of 2 pounds) How is this possible? Here was my day of eating yesterday: Breakfast: fiber one cereal, lunch: low fat cold cut sandwich, dinner: small lean hamburger with sautéed vegetables, and an apple. Does all of this manifest a four pound gain? I don’t think so. Now I feel confused and frustrated that I gained weight in the last month despite working out 4 times a week and eating a (mostly) healthy diet.
I don’t understand the art of weight loss. My body just does not want to give up the fat (my doctor even told me that). How many calories must I eat in a day, how many times must I work out in a week, in order to obtain my desired results? This is an ongoing struggle for me and I feel that I am losing it. No, seriously, I am losing it. Here are some possible factors: 1. I have a large bone structure, 2. I drink numerous glasses of water each day, 3. I take several different types of medication which could affect my weight. However, if these reasons do not change from day to day, then I cannot figure out this puzzle. I need some help: Any advice? I know that I always ask for comments but I really need some support, or just some tips, thank you all.
Dan

I'm on a health kick (not literally)

Hi everyone, well after all of the bad eating choices I have made lately (who me?), I have decided to start eating more healthy foods. Are you disappointed that I will no longer be able to enjoy those delicious treats such as pizza, hamburgers, fried foods, and oh no—chocolate? Don’t fear, I prefer the philosophy of moderation. I have attempted to diet in the past, sometimes being successful and sometimes… not so much. A couple of times I tried to eat just healthy foods, like egg whites, fruits, vegetables, and grilled chicken and fish. However, this meant cutting out 100% of the foods which I loved very much,(carbs and sugar used to be two of my best friends), therefore I eventually quit those diets.
How am I doing? I have not consumed any red meat since my last hamburger review, (it’s in the archives, check it out), I did eat pizza (but just once last week and it had mushrooms, so come on!), and am limiting my fried food intake. In addition, I have been keeping my chocaholism under control, so no worries. I also have been using a service called “create a salad”: I go to a local restaurant or deli and tell them exactly what I want in a salad and they make it for me specifically in that way (did I ever tell you about my selective nature A.K.A being picky,, well, I am very picky). Anyway, this phenomenal concept of salad creativity allows me to eat several servings of vegetables in a day and enjoy it too!
I have replaced the red meat themed polls with healthy related ones, please participate. Feel free to say hi or share your comment because I’m now on twitter:
www.twitter.com/blindblog
Dan the healthy man

sleep: so elusive

Hello everyone, I am so very tired today. I am finding out that getting a full uninterrupted night of sleep can be one of the most elusive problems in the world. I believe this is true because there is no all-inclusive cure: if you want to lose weight, you go on a diet and exercise, if you have an addiction then you can use a program like AA, but if you can’t sleep then what do you do? I have tried taking over-the-counter sleeping pills, ambient, going to bed at the same time every night, cutting out TV before bed, even an extensive sleep study (not all at once, of course). One technique might work once or twice, but eventually its effectiveness wears off and I am left back at square one. I don’t know what to do, at this point I am happy just venting electronically (silly, I know). This last week I have been running on caffeine (don’t knock the iced mochas), but I need to get back on track and on a regular schedule of obtaining successful sleep. This mysterious and intangible problem needs to be solved, so here’s my plan:
Good night!
Dan

red meat overdose: my review of Burger Joint

Hi everyone, my recent diet has included way too much red meat so I am going back to a more moderate and healthy regimen. However, I figured if I was going to be “bad”, I might as well try out another restaurant which my friend said makes excellent hamburgers. That is the story behind my new food review:
Burger Joint
119 W. 56th St. (inside Le Parker Meridien, really? Yes!)
New York NY
4 stars out of 5
I would have never thought that this crowded restaurant for an inexpensive but tasty meal would be located inside of a fancy New York City hotel, but I was incorrect. It was extremely hard to even find it: the burger joint is hidden behind curtains in a hallway leading from the lobby. The menu is very simple: “if you don’t see it, we don’t have it!” This is the exact message on their menu and they mean it: the list of available food and drinks are short but cover all the bases, which are hamburgers, fries, and shakes. Therefore, I decided to be old-fashioned and simply ordered a plain hamburger (yes plain, no lettuce, tomato, etc.) and a chocolate shake. While waiting for my meal, I found the last available seat in the cramped dining area. The burger joint’s ambiance was laid back: people from all over the city gathered together, a variety of music was playing, and it felt very comfortable. When the food arrived, my mouth was watering and I felt relieved that it did not disappoint me. I bit into the hamburger and was reminded of old summer time barbecues, sitting on the grass and feeling the warmth of the sun. By this I mean that the hamburger was well cooked, delicious, and consisted of a patty of high quality beef (it had a distinctive grilled flavor). I wouldn’t call it a “top ten” burger, but I was very satisfied and it met my expectations. The shake was thick rich, and sweet, it did not meet the excellence of Shake Shack but was still a real treat.
The burger joint is a place that I would recommend to try out once. It’s atmosphere was unique and the food was of a superior quality. Please do not be dismayed by my comparisons of this to other establishments, it is simply my mental way of ranking restaurants in order to determine their merits. I would be curious to hear your feedback about my review, or of this restaurant, please leave your comments below. Until next time… I will try to eat better and I look forward to hearing from my great readers.
Dan

This is it: the review (I'm serious, this is it!)

Hello world, I am extremely excited to bring to you my latest movie review (popcorn time?):
This is it:
4.25 stars out of 5 stars
Have you ever watched a film that made you feel happy, sad, moved, and contemplative all at the same time? “This is it” was one of those films for me. Before delving into the details of this wonderfully crafted film, let me just get a thing or two off of my chest: I know where I was on June 25, 2009, and I bet that many of you do too. For any of my readers who are not aware, that was the day when Michael Jackson passed away, and I can recall coming home after a full day of summer classes and hearing the bad news. Most of us never took the time to understand the king of pop while he was alive, but then again the thing he wanted the most was his privacy. This movie demonstrates the true nature of his personality in different aspects. As a fan of Michael Jackson’s music while growing up, I learned a very important rule about viewing someone like him: you must separate the man from the music. No one will ever know the truth behind all of the legal matters with which he dealt, but I do know that there will only ever be one Thriller. “This is it“ was a profound movie, covering four months of rehearsals before Jackson’s untimely death (murder?) and it does a fantastic job of combining this footage into one cohesive work. This film portrays MJ as an extremely humble man, however he also manifested a tendency towards being a perfectionist. He performed several of his most popular songs, so please allow me to share my favorite five performances with you:
5. They don’t care about us: this moving song was improved by the creativity of Kenny Ortega, who not only directed this film but also was responsible for putting together this entire concert. He used the “green screen” effect; eleven dancers dressed up as soldiers were magnified to look as if there were one thousand one hundred soldiers on the stage. Originally written as a protest to discrimination, “they don’t care about us” was assisted by special effects which reinforced the point.
4. Thriller: I don’t think anyone would doubt that this is top five material, even if you have not viewed the film (I remember “watching” this video on MTV in the 1980’s). However, the astounding array of special effects really blew me away: it looked like a haunted house with dead bodies, rats and spiders, and plenty of other scary surprises to accompany Michael Jackson on stage for this classic.
3. Earth Song: I believe that MJ was ahead of his time when he wrote this song about saving our planet, and his vocals were pitch perfect. Certain images accompanied the song which enhanced the experience: they told the story of a little girl who wandered through a forest, fell asleep, and woke up to find the forest destroyed by man. Jackson’s voice is heard at the end telling of the dangers of Global Warming and the lack of time left, and I found it to be very moving.
2. Human Nature: I enjoyed this song due to the lack of the special effects which had dominated so much of his other performances. In the movie, he sings Human Nature first as an acapella, then acoustic, and finally through using the full band. He perfects his craft along the way and this was one of his most brilliant moments.
1. I can’t stop loving you: Mr. Jackson shined the most on this song which he sang with Judith Hill (one of his backup singers who was excellent herself). It felt as if he strived to hit even higher and better notes because of some imaginary competition between Judith and himself. My view of the way in which concerts should be performed can best be summarized as anti-special effects. Therefore, “I can’t stop loving you” fit the bill perfectly.
I recommend this movie to everyone, no matter how you feel about Michael Jackson or even about music in general. I do not believe that there will ever be another icon like Michael Jackson and this movie provides a unique opportunity to learn more about this musical genius.
Dan

My frustration with access a ride:

Access a ride: the best of times, the worst of times:
I am feeling extremely frustrated with access a ride after today’s debacle. I admit that access a ride can be extremely helpful to people with disabilities, it allows us to go to work, meet friends, go to doctor appointments, and travel from one place to the next in the same way as our nondisabled peers. However, after what I went through today, I am not so sure if it is the greatest solution for me. I do not use this service very often, I happen to be totally blind and therefore I prefer to take the subway as long as it is the most convenient form of transportation. However, my trip today, according to hopstop.com, would consist of over seventeen miles, three subways, and a bus. I believed that access a ride offered the best option for traveling so I booked my reservation far in advance. I waited patiently in front of my building for my 4:11 PM pick up. In fact, I waited a half of an hour until I became concerned that I would miss the meeting and decided to call to check on the status of my transportation. To her credit, the woman who assisted me was very helpful and friendly, but her news was anything but good: my driver was currently driving on an express way in queens and wouldn’t arrive at my location for at least another fifteen to twenty minutes. This information by itself indicated that I would be late for the meeting, but I became even more annoyed when I heard the next part of the story: the driver’s plan was to pick me up, then pick up another three people, drop them off at their destinations, and then finally take me to Kingsborough community college in Brooklyn. I understood at this point that I definitely would not be able to make the meeting, so I hid my frustration and nicely asked the woman to cancel both parts of my trip. Therefore, I am now sitting at home, feeling extremely frustrated, and am not able to attend the meeting which I was looking forward to. Thanks for nothing, access a ride!