This semester has proven to be a very interesting one. After choosing a Microbiology LC as my first choice, and then being put into LC 13, I was extremely nervous for my first semester of college. I was not sure what to expect. Wanting to become a nurse, I’m not sure what the food history of New York City would provide me with. However, the semester has deemed itself very insightful. I am grateful for all of the interesting things that both the Psychology class, and the history class has taught me. I was fascinated to learn why we eat and drink the things we do, and how eating disorders come about. Being a native New Yorker, I was shocked to learn how vital oysters were in New York City’s food and goods exchange. If it was not for oysters, New York may not be as popular as it is today. I am extremely grateful for all of things I have learned this semester, and now I can learn ways to apply them to my everyday life. Thank you LC 13!

Recently for a paper that I wrote in psychology class, I studied the plant, Garcinia Cambogia. I chose Garcinia Cambogia because of how popular the product is in the media, in health food stores, and how heavily promoted it is by celebrities. I thought that this product had to work due to its popularity or “hype” by the media, and brand names like GNC Health store, and the Dr. Oz Show.  I even considered buying the product at some point to help me lose those extra five pounds I have been struggling with losing. So, I thought it would be a great product to research, potentially finding a resource to help me lose some weight!

So I began to search for some information and I what I found was very disappointing. Using Medline and PsychInfo databases, instantly several articles came up on Garcinia Cambogia’s ineffectiveness. it is astonishing how the media could portray this plant as a weight loss god meanwhile it may even have terrible side effects to your health. Although some research came up that Garcinia Cambogia may hinder obesity-promoting genes, it is  not true as the media promotes that it will make you lose all of your excess fat.

After listening to the rest of the classes projects on “super foods” (for those of us who are trying to lose weight) I have come to the conclusion that no food, or diet plan will make all of the fat disappear! Rather, in order to lose weight we need to eat a balanced diet, and exercise daily.

Always having a catering business, my family and I have never been home for Thanksgiving. Every Thanksgiving, my parents are up all night preparing turkeys, and setting up the store for the incoming rush the next day. I began staying up all night helping my parents, starting in the fifth grade setting up the bakery, and making sure everything runs smoothly in the morning.  By the time we got home from work, it would be 7pm Thanksgiving Day, and we all went right to bed, being up 48 hours, exhausted, overworked, and sore from running around like crazy people

We never had a Thanksgiving tradition nor did we cook our own dinner (the store normally prepared us our meal). Some might think we had it easy (a delicious meal prepared for us), but I feel that we have suffered a great loss of not being able to create our own meal, and create traditions that will last a life time. This year, is the first year we will be home all day (of course not me, because I will be at work) to cook our own meal, and spend the day with one another.

For the past two weeks, my family and I have been trying to figure out what we should do for the holiday. Should we visit Grandma? Should we eat at our house? Should we go to my Uncle’s house?  Surprisingly, Saturday, my family and I were invited to my boyfriend, Dominick’s house for Thanksgiving. Every year, since Dominick’s parents bought their house, they have hosted Thanksgiving. I can’t think of a better family to show us what Thanksgiving should be like. Every year their whole family, immediate and extended, gather at his house, eat, watch football, build gingerbread houses, and just share the day together. I can’t wait to be apart of their tradition (and eat all of the delicious food). I am thankful for having my wonderful family, and now getting to share Thanksgiving with both my family and the wonderful people we have met, and now consider family as well.

During my first visit with Omar, my mentee from Port Richmond, I was delightfully excited to learn about his food culture. I was surprised how passionate his family and he was about the foods that they eat, and how selective they are about where they get their food from. I learned that Omar is Muslim and cooks primarily with a Muslim influence. He eats a lot of steak, and rice, and teaches other students in his culinary class what he eats and how he makes it. I was surprised at Omar’s enthusiasm and willingness to try different foods out of his food culture. He learned that I was Italian, and shared with me that his Mom cooks spaghetti frequently, although it has a Muslim twist. He shared that his Mom uses unconventional spices (he didn’t say which) that I wouldn’t be accustomed to in my spaghetti. He also shared that would like to own a restaurant after college, and plans on majoring in business in college. I was delighted to hear that he plans on further his education after high school.

I assumed that Omar learned his cooking techniques in his culinary class, but I was wrong.  Omar teaches most of the students in his culinary class his techniques. He talked about making stew and steak in his classes, but prefers to cook outside of class, where he can infuse his Muslim spices, and special ingredients into the food.

Omar is a determined young adult, and I hope he is as successful as he is working towards. I loved hearing about his family, the way his family and he eat, and his cooking techniques. I can not wait to observe him in his culinary class.

The New York Ranger game was on, and my boyfriend wanted to go to his family’s favorite place to watch the game: the Molly Wee Pub. Being extremely neophobic, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and join him this weekend.

Traveling into Manhattan, taking the X1 to Madison Square Garden, I was extremely nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. All I could think about was: “What would  I eat? Would the smells make me nauseous? Would there be salad there? Chicken? I despise red meat!”  All I could think about was my trip to Astoria, and how I almost passed out from the site of the meat hanging in the BZGrill! I was terrified that something of the sort would be hanging in the Irish Pub! We arrived, and to my liking, the pub had no meat hanging from it’s ceilings! Completely decorated with Ranger’s plaques, and every single person there had a Ranger’s jersey on. I immediately knew I would love this place (I wasn’t sure yet about the food). The atmosphere was great, everyone was cheerful, and welcoming. We stepped inside and a women with an Irish Brogue met us at the door and showed us to our table. I had never heard an authentic brogue before so I was mind blown.  Following that, our waitress came to our table, and what do you know, SHE HAD AN IRISH BROGUE TOO!  I later found out that every employee is actually an Irish immigrant, therefore all had Irish brogues.  I immediately knew this place would be great, like my family’s deli and catering business, we are actually Italian from Italy and cook authentic Italian food, so I knew this place emphasized the same values in their business as we did.

The menu seemed average to me, about the same you could get anywhere, but once we received our food my thoughts changed completely. All of the food, although they seemed American, had an Irish twist! For example the Caesar said dressing had an Irish influence to it, so, the salad didn’t taste like your average salad, it tasted better! Besides the dressing, he chicken on top was moist and extremely fresh. The croutons were home made and the tomatoes and cucumbers were  ripe! The food was great!

I found connections from both our History, and Physcology classes to my experience this weekend! I am slowly overcoming my neophobic ways, and I ventured out to a restaurant that was founded by Irish Immigrants (once not accepted in society, as we learned from the Moore family). It is amazing to see the progress Irish-America’s made from being frowned upon, and their food looked at to disgusting, to successfully owning restaurants!

Chicken Pot Pie

During our visit to Astoria Queens, we very delightfully surprised as to how vibrant, and busy the neighborhood was. We saw young children playing in the streets, and adults of all ages walking around the neighborhood (mostly ranging from 25-35 or senior citizens). Among all the different shops, within a span of two blocks, we saw an Italian bakery, a French bakery, multiple Greek restaurants (fast food, and sit down), and multiple Mexican restaurants. When it was time to eat dinner, we had too many options we did not know where to go! We decided on the BZGrill, a New York Times top rated authentic Greek restaurant! It was a small shop, and everything was cooked right in front of us! It was absolutely delicious! Never having eaten a gyro before, I was delightfully surprised as to how fresh, and delicious the food was!

Besides eating, we drove around the neighborhood looking for possible flaws the neighborhood may have. A few things that may be problematic is the large power plant located on 20th Avenue, a sanitation problem (build up of trash bags, and trash on the street), and perhaps heavy traffic problems. Although we all left our trip with feelings that this city was running quite efficiently, we still have some more investigating to do.

Besides looking for the problems in Astoria, we focused a lot on the good. The city was thriving! All of the shops were filled with costumers, the large recreational center was located very close to the homes, apartments, and town center. There were practically no homeless people sitting on the streets, a large super market was located within walking distance of the lower income area of Astoria, and the power plant did not let off any bad odors! I am very happy we chose to study Astoria, because I just found a new neighborhood I would like to visit!

Lamb and chicken being cut up right in front of you!

Greek french fries – Feta cheese, oregano, oi

Chicken Gyro