Look mom! Choco Boy!Look mom! Choco Boy!
Mitsuwa, like H-Mart, gives me a different perspective on things, the perspective I miss living in a very diverse but segregated city. Ask anyone in Chicago, I have yet to hear anyone deny it yet. And so, it both irks and amuses me that I drive to the suburbs to get Asian groceries. Ok, I don't necessarily HAVE to as we do have a Chinatown, but it's past downtown and takes just as long to get there if not longer. Same goes for the Little Saigon neighborhood. So the perspective I speak of? Different languages being spoken, different faces and races in the same place looking for the same thing: food. I see mixed couples and their children, neighborhood folks picking up staples for the week. It's an exposure we don't have in the city, a void I need to fill now that I have kids. A void I need to fill for myself as an adult. My kids love the snacks I pick up on those trips. My older son asks specifically for Choco Boy for his camp bento box and my little guy loves the crispy onion snacks. I'm discovering the joys of fresh, thinly sliced beef that is inexpensive, REAL ramen noodles, Abura-age for making Inarizushi at home, large bottles of saki and bento supplies, some of the latter I've put up on my ecrater store. I love seeing new babies on these trips, babies that remind me of what my two toddlers looked like as babies because they have similar skintone, hair color and almond shaped eyes. It reminds me of how amazing genetics are and how beautiful children of mixed race always seem to be. I feel like our family has gotten the best of many worlds. And so I suppose that is my void--a lack of clear instructions on how to keep culture alive in our household on a day to day basis. I suppose the easiest way it seems is through food and that is what sends me 17 miles out of the way every couple of weeks in order to make that happen.
Labels: Asian Food, bento boxes
-------- AUTHOR: MM TITLE: Catching Up DATE: 6/23/2008 04:20:00 PM ----- BODY:I've been amiss about not keeping up so it's time to get back on track! The back is doing better thankfully but taking the painkillers lasted all about 24 hrs. I had EVERY side effect possible which was all very strange since I had taken it after both c-sections. I guess that tells you about the power of pregnancy and how much your body changes post-partum. It was quickly back to Advil, hot showers and limping about the house for the rest of week (note again, without any outside help!). Thankfully, hubby didn't have to work too much that weekend and I'm now working with a physical therapist. Still having back spasms a lot so I'm definitely down to about 2/3rd my normal speed. On a great note though, Bubs is now potty trained so that has helped a lot! He still wears a pull-up at night but it's not longer a source of stress! Speaking of normal. Summer has finally arrived in Chicago and the weather has been anything but normal. Usually, hubby and I try to get to as many street fairs as possible. This year, it's been a challenge with thunderstorms and rain every weekend! Our landscaping looks great and it's keeping the water bill down but it's a bummer when we want to escape from the house and spend time outdoors as a family. On the other hand, rain or shine, I've found myself making what are usually dreaded trips to the suburbs for Asian food supplies. I was so spoiled growing up in SF without even realizing it. Here, I plan my trip around traffic.com and Cubs traffic. There, I could just walk blocks and everything I could have ever wanted was right there. Now, it's a little more complicated. However, I have discovered some good places to shop.
Mister influenced my 1st purchase. He tasted it, liked it and well, I figured if a 16 month old will eat squid, why not! The pork buns are perfect for Bubs lunches--perfect bento box sized and the last photo is the drawer in my fridge that now houses Asian goodies. Just because of the tendency of strong flavors, it made sense to give them their own space. In the bag, Kimchee for my neighbor. I'm not a fan personally but she is so there you have it (and no, she is not Asian for that matter). {06/24 Update: She loved it! Her husband and mine, not so thrilled by the smell!} Now, after all this shopping done, what to make for dinner tonight...
Labels: Asian Food, Chicago, Summer
-------- AUTHOR: MM TITLE: Asian Persuasion DATE: 7/14/2008 12:35:00 PM ----- BODY: I love Asian food stores, but I hate traffic so my shopping trips which seem to have become more frequent are weekend morning field trips as I attempt to foil the reprucussions of what is known as "Construction Season" here in Chicago. My kids and I pulled up to Mitsuwa yesterday morning right after it opened, the smells of fresh rice and soy immediately greeting us. Mitsuwa is a 17 mile drive which can take anywhere from 15 minutes up to an hour travel time, depending on the time of day. My boys have now been there several times and know the definitive difference between Mitsuwa and Whole Foods or Trader Joes. Mitsuwa has bento boxes, Choco Boy and Thomas the Train snacks. They also get a lot of attention at Mitsuwa from other customers and the cashiers who coo at Mister and smile and wave to Bubs. It's far different from anything they are used to and despite the adventure bringing them ensues (hubby has yet to venture on this field trip with us), it makes the trip much more pleasant, even if we're sitting in traffic.Look mom! Choco Boy!
Mitsuwa, like H-Mart, gives me a different perspective on things, the perspective I miss living in a very diverse but segregated city. Ask anyone in Chicago, I have yet to hear anyone deny it yet. And so, it both irks and amuses me that I drive to the suburbs to get Asian groceries. Ok, I don't necessarily HAVE to as we do have a Chinatown, but it's past downtown and takes just as long to get there if not longer. Same goes for the Little Saigon neighborhood. So the perspective I speak of? Different languages being spoken, different faces and races in the same place looking for the same thing: food. I see mixed couples and their children, neighborhood folks picking up staples for the week. It's an exposure we don't have in the city, a void I need to fill now that I have kids. A void I need to fill for myself as an adult. My kids love the snacks I pick up on those trips. My older son asks specifically for Choco Boy for his camp bento box and my little guy loves the crispy onion snacks. I'm discovering the joys of fresh, thinly sliced beef that is inexpensive, REAL ramen noodles, Abura-age for making Inarizushi at home, large bottles of saki and bento supplies, some of the latter I've put up on my ecrater store. I love seeing new babies on these trips, babies that remind me of what my two toddlers looked like as babies because they have similar skintone, hair color and almond shaped eyes. It reminds me of how amazing genetics are and how beautiful children of mixed race always seem to be. I feel like our family has gotten the best of many worlds. And so I suppose that is my void--a lack of clear instructions on how to keep culture alive in our household on a day to day basis. I suppose the easiest way it seems is through food and that is what sends me 17 miles out of the way every couple of weeks in order to make that happen.
Labels: Asian Food, bento boxes
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:
bokumbop
DATE:7/18/2008 08:12:00 AM
Very cute kids ... thanks for commenting on Kimchi Mamas. It does seem very counter-intuitive that you'd find more "mixed" families out in the suburbs, doesn't it? (I'm also in Chicago, well, west suburbs now, but spent a lot of time in Albany Park where my dad had a medical practice for many years, and after college I lived in an apt in North Park for five yrs) I find that the city, although statistically diverse, can be quite segregated. I was at a playground recently with friends on the NW side and did notice that families were diverse as far as there being arab kids, a black kids, white kids, etc., but none of mixed race (except for mine and said friends). And everyone kind of kept to themselves, playing well alongside each other, but not together, really. Not to say that the 'burbs are any closer to being ideal - you must assimilate completely (at least on the outside, not bring up any 'racialized' topics, bite tongue when one of the white moms or dads says something completely ignorant - have to pick your battles), and even then I have a hard time fitting in and making friends (but that's a whole 'nother topic!). I have to restrain myself when seeing other families like us at the Costco, etc., running up to them and asking, where do you live? Are there more like us there? :-) MM
DATE:7/18/2008 03:48:00 PM
Kimchi Mamas is awesome! What a great forum-you will definitely be hearing from me again soon!I've been amiss about not keeping up so it's time to get back on track! The back is doing better thankfully but taking the painkillers lasted all about 24 hrs. I had EVERY side effect possible which was all very strange since I had taken it after both c-sections. I guess that tells you about the power of pregnancy and how much your body changes post-partum. It was quickly back to Advil, hot showers and limping about the house for the rest of week (note again, without any outside help!). Thankfully, hubby didn't have to work too much that weekend and I'm now working with a physical therapist. Still having back spasms a lot so I'm definitely down to about 2/3rd my normal speed. On a great note though, Bubs is now potty trained so that has helped a lot! He still wears a pull-up at night but it's not longer a source of stress! Speaking of normal. Summer has finally arrived in Chicago and the weather has been anything but normal. Usually, hubby and I try to get to as many street fairs as possible. This year, it's been a challenge with thunderstorms and rain every weekend! Our landscaping looks great and it's keeping the water bill down but it's a bummer when we want to escape from the house and spend time outdoors as a family. On the other hand, rain or shine, I've found myself making what are usually dreaded trips to the suburbs for Asian food supplies. I was so spoiled growing up in SF without even realizing it. Here, I plan my trip around traffic.com and Cubs traffic. There, I could just walk blocks and everything I could have ever wanted was right there. Now, it's a little more complicated. However, I have discovered some good places to shop.
Mister influenced my 1st purchase. He tasted it, liked it and well, I figured if a 16 month old will eat squid, why not! The pork buns are perfect for Bubs lunches--perfect bento box sized and the last photo is the drawer in my fridge that now houses Asian goodies. Just because of the tendency of strong flavors, it made sense to give them their own space. In the bag, Kimchee for my neighbor. I'm not a fan personally but she is so there you have it (and no, she is not Asian for that matter). {06/24 Update: She loved it! Her husband and mine, not so thrilled by the smell!} Now, after all this shopping done, what to make for dinner tonight...
Labels: Asian Food, Chicago, Summer
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