tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53487557639143487692011-12-09T22:27:46.429-06:00Food, Botany, Art, and an eclectic mix of fun in Oklahoma City, and around the world.Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.comBlogger171100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-44384270631448702402011-12-04T17:50:00.001-06:002011-12-04T17:51:31.262-06:00

Forward And here I sit, several months after deciding that I would update at least onece a week, perhaps on a Thursday... It has occured to me that the purpose of a blog is to post subjects of interest to at least one other person besides the author (and my last post perhaps did not fit the bill).  I intend to do better in the future, and baring the occasional hiatus caused by vacation or

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-17514792971590758352011-08-03T21:10:00.003-05:002011-12-09T22:27:46.442-06:00

I drink a lot of tea.  My favorites run toward the Oolongs, though I prefer Puerh for late-night homework sessions, but you can never go wrong with a nice, comforting cup of sencha. Now, living in the middle of the US as I do, the best kinds of tea are oft' difficult to find.  The best sencha outside of Japan is Yamamotoyama brand hands down.  You can buy bags of loose leaf or boxes of tea bags

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-10852311923292794922010-09-09T23:34:00.002-05:002010-09-09T23:36:29.683-05:00

     Sakura, cherry trees famous in Japan for their beautiful floral displays and organic form, can also be appreciated for their bark.  In northern Honshu, within the area known as Tohoku, craftsmen gather cherry tree bark and use it to carefully craft small household items of beauty.  Often encountered are the canisters used to store tea, tea scoops, and jewelry boxes; prices range from around

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-84378421856513387062010-09-07T19:40:00.002-05:002010-09-07T19:46:17.176-05:00

     I spent a day in Tokyo a few weeks back.  It was my run-around-until-you-drop-to-adjust-yourself-to-the-timezone day.  It was a very long day (VLD), and what few pictures I have will follow.  Think of this as an introduction to the subjects of art and architecture to follow. Amazing street performer at the Tokyo Dome complex.    Odaiba, an island created from dumping enough trash into

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-49246397911863426942010-09-06T21:37:00.000-05:002010-09-06T21:37:02.605-05:00

Introducing, the new tsukemono press (and friend)! 1.6 Litre Picre, 1300 yen Finding your own press seems so much easier than finding a bucket, an appropriately-sized plate, and a weight.  I picked up this little wonder at a store in Yatsushiro. Having misplaced my Quick & Easy Tsukemono: Japanese Pickling Recipes book, I've decided to launch my tsukemono press using a made-up recipe: 3

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-35250771714431794382010-08-18T09:53:00.001-05:002010-08-19T22:04:36.807-05:00

Any readers of this blog will have noticed a certain lack of activity over the past few months. The author (me) has recently had a change of schedule which should allow him to update more frequently and with new and exciting topics! For instance, the state's Sugar Art Show is coming up again, which means more crazy gingerbread creations, and Hyperbolic Yogurt will be hosting more topics of

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-85253341293266877162010-03-27T06:54:00.003-05:002010-03-27T06:56:06.635-05:00

I realized I had the means of spreading this video of a musical genius... So, here's the video... And Enjoy!

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-4365792290000087862009-09-27T11:00:00.020-05:002010-09-06T21:42:10.705-05:00

Over the last few weeks I've been heavily involved with a firm of wee folk, the Gingerbread Artisan Company, LLC, Est., in the creation of a gingerbread house. True, most gingerbread houses do not warrant a full construction crew, but this house (or "haus," as they prefer to call it) is to be an entrant in the Oklahoma Sugar Art Show at the Tulsa State Fair this next weekend. Rather than bake

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-92026201077744220352009-08-14T18:26:00.010-05:002009-08-14T19:09:55.074-05:00

Within San Francisco's Chinatown, there is one deli everyone should try -visitors and locals alike.Have you ever eaten chicken feet? I have not yet found another restaurant nor recipe that produces the chicken feet sold at Duk Hing. Also known as 德興雞鴨肉食公司, Duk Hing Chinese Deli & Meat Inc. is located at 1151 Stockton Street.德興雞鴨肉食公司If you are in doubt, look through the front window upon arrival.

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-89112404676026457352009-08-12T21:17:00.006-05:002009-08-13T08:09:19.464-05:00

Good day to you, my friendly blog reader!You may have noticed a lack of blog posts over the past several days. Mostly this is because of my work, which has nothing to do with culture, architecture, or food, and much to do with geometry... but I digress.In the last few days, I feel I have made up for all of that. Over the next several days, you will be able to see what I did with my vacation to

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-30739221331822404082009-07-20T18:42:00.007-05:002009-10-01T08:43:47.442-05:00

...And they did, sort-of. Today, I visited Pho Lien Hoa (901 NW 23rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK -Open 9AM to 9 PM all week long). If you know where the infamous Miriwa Chinese Restaurant is, Pho Lien Hoa is just to the west of that place. The store always seems pretty busy. Of the 30 or so available tables, most were packed. A word of advice: they do not accept any credit cards. The atmosphere

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-16238636677292766942009-07-11T09:18:00.019-05:002009-07-11T11:47:28.507-05:00

I enjoy what can generally be considered, at least for the majority of the US, non-traditional foods. In particular, fishing cultures are my favorite.The problem is that I also want to share my appreciation with others, while at the same time others do not want to eat strange foreign grub (literally or otherwise).Potlucks in particular can be a useful tool. A "potluck" is a gathering of people at

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-37876006451263096172009-07-09T20:13:00.023-05:002009-07-23T18:29:24.192-05:00

One of my favorite features found within the Japanese Stroll Gardens (Edo) is the Yatsuhashi.As can be seen in the above picture of Shohinken in Yatsushiro, Kumomoto Prefecture, the yatsuhashi takes the form of a bridge composed of 8 planks wandering through a bed of iris, though not finishing very far from its beginning. The iris found in Shohinken are a special variety known as Higo Iris (肥後花菖蒲

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-73832761413390573202009-07-07T18:44:00.016-05:002009-07-07T19:59:02.963-05:00

Have you ever wondered where to find a really good bowl of Phở in Oklahoma City?There are quite a few places that serve the soup, and many of them quite good, but I generally go to Mr. Phở. Located in the Super Cao Nguyen Center (the large glass and brick building attached to the Super Cao Nguyen Supermarket) at 1133 NW 25th St, this shop is always busy at lunchtime. Two entrances: inside &

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-55890874816681308382009-07-06T21:12:00.012-05:002010-01-03T14:19:15.965-06:00

If you like traditional Chinese cooking, Grand House is the restaurant for you! Located at 2701 North Classen Blvd, in Okc, it has been a good food standard for years. Every weekend from 9 am to 3 pm, Grand House serves an amazing array of Dim Sum to their adoring fans. Standard Fare Ahhh, Grand House, let me count the ways: 1 squid curry; 2 steamed pork buns; 3 delicious dumplings; 4 roast

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-57402912042386794702009-06-26T19:01:00.004-05:002009-06-26T19:24:12.588-05:00

In Towerblaster (available at http://www.y8.com/games/Tower_Blaster), a fun and somewhat difficult online game, you are pitted against your mortal enemies, the Viks, in an attempt to build a numerically stable tower. The Viks' objective is the same, but they are hidden behind a tarp, and shout things like "we're almost done," and "just a few more pieces!" Sadly, your side seems to have a few

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348755763914348769.post-13827740556279867962009-06-24T18:54:00.002-05:002009-07-07T20:00:36.053-05:00

Welcome to my new blog!It is at the moment, alas, fairly empty... But what about that nice, fresh blog smell, eh?-Content Coming Soon-

Botany Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346810937261646520noreply@blogger.com0