Post 43.1: Running Late with Cupcakes (BUR-SJC: WN 1876)

Arms full of guava cheese rolls and red velvet cupcakes, Jessica and I walked out of Porto's Bakery at 7:50 a.m.  Boarding was in 10 minutes.  



Luckily, in the next fifteen minutes, I managed to arrive at the airport, check in my bags (filled with Cactus Cooler for the Bay Area kids who lack this delicious pineapple flavored soda), get through security, run to the gate, hop on the plane and buckle myself in... just in time.  Thankfully, I made it.  How we managed to do all that in fifteen minutes... I'll never know (thanks Jessica).  But flying down Hollywood Way while polishing off chicken croquettes in order to catch a flight to San Jose for a birthday brunch is not something I ever want to do again.  Ever.

I wanted to bring some of Porto's finest pastries up to the Bay for Vickee's birthday.  Seeing Vickee, Aparna and two fully grown men gleam at how moist and soft the red velvet and dark chocolate cupcakes were made the morning panic completely worth it.  

Tip: let the cupcakes sit out of the fridge for at least 10 minutes for best taste and texture.

Side note: San Jose Airport's newly remodeled terminal is gorgeous.  And I say that relative to LAX and Bob Hope Airport.  The natural sunlight from the skylights and wide windows gives the terminal a bright and clean look... although the long walk from the gate to baggage claim (or security to the gate) really should include a people-mover.

Happy birthday, Vickee!

Next post: San Tung Korean-Chinese food

ML - 20101227/20101211

Post 15.3: That's Not Tomato Juice!

The one thing I will always remember about my first flight with United Airlines (LAX-SFO) was the unexpected Bloody Mary Mix.

I have a habit of ordering tomato juice as my in-flight beverage.  Strange, perhaps... but there's something about the saltiness of the juice mixing with the quickly melting ice that gets me.  I'm not sure it's that I like the taste as much as I like seeing the nano-sized bubbles blend with the liquid tomato and sink in swirls to the bottom of the plastic cup.  It's art, really.

So sitting in the aisle seat of row 27 (the very last row) on the plane, I was patiently awaiting to be served my highly anticipated ice cold Da Vinci in a cup.

FA: Sir, what would you like to have?

ML: Tomato juice, please?

Without saying a word he placed a can of Mr. & Mrs. T. Bloody Mary Mix on the tray table.  Immediately, he called a few rows above to the other flight attendant, "Done!" 

He began locking up the cart while the female attendant served her final passenger.

FA: Ma'am, would you care for a beverage?

Ma'am: Tomato juice, please.

FA: We're all out of tomato juice at the moment.  We have a Bloody Mary Mix though... it's like a spicy tomato... would you like that?

I was speechless.  Just 3 rows up was a completely different world.  I know I was sitting in the last row of United Economy, but I am damned sure that row 24 was not part of First Class.

It's not like I requested anything too crazy, right? I mean, I didn't ask the flight attendant to go Starbucks crazy with the skim milk + extra foam + half a shot, etc.  My first inclination was to switch the Bloody Mary Mix out for a more standard apple or cranberry... or even ask for a shot of vodka, but I thought I'd try the "spicy tomato" for the sake of trying it.  

And you know what? The taste grew on me.  The more I swiveled the cup, and the more the ice melted between the velvety, red liquid... the better it tasted.  No aftertaste or anything.  As long as I didn't stare at the stalk of celery on the can, I was fine with it.  Would I order it again? Probably not.  But if it were ever carelessly substituted for a V8 or a plain tomato juice, I think I'd just pop open the can, let the pour melt the ice, and... swivel away...

ML - 20100412/20100314