Giving Thanks

A certain snarky friend of mine once called Thanksgiving a "bullshit holiday" because it glorifies that time in American history when, according to her, "The colonists were all like - 'Hey Native Americans, why don't you just bend over and take it while we overrun your territory!'" I'm no historian, but I'd say this is a pretty fair assessment of what happened, oh, everywhere that European colonists landed? But I digress.

This is the first Thanksgiving that I've spent away from home, and while I may question the validity of the origins of the holiday, I do appreciate the other values that it stands for - namely family, traditions and food. I miss my family, but they're coming to visit me in a month so instead I'd like to take a moment and reflect on things that I am thankful for.

The first is that, by happy coincidence, I did not go to Israel last weekend as originally planned, and that the friend who I was supposed to visit was safely in the US. As I understand it he has since returned now that the cease-fire is in effect and is staying with family in another part of the country. My thoughts go out to all those whose lives have been affected by the violence. 

I'm thankful for having a family that supports me doing that which makes me happy and who has never pressured me to figure my life out when I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. You are rare amongst parents, much less Asian ones, and I love you for it.

And, of course, my friends. From the new ones here who organized one of the best Thanksgiving dinners ever (that's what you get when everyone you know is a culinary school student) to the ones at home who promptly respond to emails regarding everything from new music to boy problems. I promise I will try harder to stay in touch.

Celebrating 22 at the Mojito Lab, Paris

On Saturday I turned 22, and for the second time in a row celebrated my birthday away from home. Last year I was at the Toronto International Film Festival, so I went out for drinks with some newfound film buddies. This year, I went out with my French roommate and some friends from LCB.  

The main event of the evening was a visit to the sleek Mojito Lab in the Bastille neighborhood. As the name suggests, the bar exclusively serves mojitos (20 variations on the menu, I believe), grows their own mint, etc. But we weren't there just to drink - for €35/person, the Mojito Lab offers mixology classes for small groups. So after a harrowing taxi ride from the 15th (during which our driver nearly hit and subsequently swore at every cyclist we passed), the four of us descended to the basement 'lab' below the normal lounge and bar area.

So for the next couple hours our bartender and instructor for the evening, Florian, taught us how to make classic mojitos, a virgin passionfruit variation, and a syrupy raspberry-based version. Having gotten my bartender certification last summer, I already knew the basics of free pouring and what not, but it was a treat to play with the lab's fancy barware and ingredients - particularly the wide variety of pre-made fruit syrups that I haven't seen stateside.

And because it was my birthday, Florian concocted this lovely strawberry basil mojito and some shooters. A good start to a great night.

One of the other bartenders stopped by to give us a juggling demonstration. Video below.

bartender at the Mojito Lab in Paris shows off his skills. all goes well until the end. unfortunately i didn't catch it from the beginning, but you get the idea...

 

Bastille Day

Met up with a group of friends from class for a picnic on the Champ des Mars while we waited for the fireworks to start. Truly a French experience with baguettes, cheese, fruit, chocolate, bottles of rosé that we managed to smuggle in and, of course, a French flag courtesy of A’s “five finger discount.” The fireworks were pretty impressive themselves - a solid 30 minute program set to disco music. Festivities ended close to midnight, and the mass exodus from the park afterward was enough to convince me it was a better use of time to walk home than try to force my way onto a packed train. I probably would have been fine going it alone, but two friends kindly walked all the way back with me, even though one lives in the complete opposite direction.

Overall: good people, good times, good weekend.

 

Of Rainy Nights and Partying with Firemen

Friday night after baking a kilo of brioche dough in various shapes and sizes for practical, a couple friends and I met up in the 6th for a strange Bastille Day tradition: the fireman’s ball at the fire stations. Apparently the night before and of the holiday, fire stations across the city open their gates and host what basically amounts to a huge dance party complete with DJ and drinks.

I think I mentioned before that the weather’s been pretty un-summery, and Friday was no exception. Pushing your way through the station’s packed courtyard was made even more difficult by all the umbrellas. (I gave up pretty quickly and accepted the fact that I would get drenched over the course of the evening).

I don’t usually enjoy club/frat-like environments, but the party was actually pretty fun. The firemen didn’t engage much with the crowd, mostly staying behind the bar and serving drinks. But the few that we talked to seemed very nice, not to mention ridiculously good-looking.

We left around midnight in search of some hot food to warm our rain-soaked exteriors, ending up at a little Italian place where we shared penne carbonara and lamb skewers. Definitely a step up from my usual drunk food of choice, chicken nuggets.

Sometimes the best nights are the ones that are most spontaneous.