twinga

How to cook Chicken Biryani in Germany

This past weekend Tobse and I visited my long-time friends Teasy and Biene who live about three hours from here at the beginning of the foothills of the beautiful Odenwald. I’ve known them for probably eight years or so, I freelanced for their respective companies, and since they are both “always-online-workaholics” and super fun to boot, we’ve stayed in touch while I was in London, India and San Francisco. Back in Germany, I decided it’s time to go visit them. B has a cooking blog called Koch-Banausen, and so it was clear that we need to come up with a fancy recipe for our Saturday night hang out.

They wanted to cook something Indian, so I decided to try something I hadn’t tried myself before: Chicken Biryani (here’s some history, if you are interested). Tons of different ingredients go into it to make it taste the way it’s supposed to taste, and I’m proud to report: We made it! It was super yummy and tasted almost like the Biryani at RR in Bangalore. Ok ok, I said "almost" … :-) Thanks also to Tysonice for passing on the Raita recipe through his younger brother. It was delicious.

To check out the original two blogposts in German, click here and here. The latter one makes fun of me giving “commands” to my fellow cooks. So unfair, I had also chopped stuff before AND, given it was such a complicated affair, someone had to pay attention the right ingredients go in and the right time, right? Ok ok, that’s so German :-)

Here are some pics:

Tobse making Biryani

The "Indian" chefs

Making and drinking Indian Chai

Stay hungry, stay foolish

A very good friend of mine and I had a long chat today. While he was trying to finish work at 1 a.m. in the morning West Coast time (btw, he worked until 6 a.m.), and I was trying to begin work in Germany, we were discussing dating matters, housewives vs. career women (and the "I can do it all mums"), ADD drugs and other important topics such as inspirational speeches, PowerPoint slides, Buddhist wisdom, etc.

Here is some inspiring reading material that he sent to me and that I thought you would enjoy as well. The links will take you to the actual websites with complete texts. It's worth reading, believe me :)

KVonnegutJr.'s MIT commencement speech (which was not actually his at all, but is very entertaining)

Excerpts:

• Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.
• Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
• Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Steve Jobs commencement address (which is supposedly real -  You just have to read the whole thing, it's great)

Kipling's "if"

Ehrmann's "desiderata"

It begins with...

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

Enjoy!

Schmap guide San Francisco

About a year ago, when I got my new camera, I went on a photo trip through the Mission. I took a whole bunch of photos that, for me, are typical Mission scenes. This particular photo was discovered by Schmap guide San Francisco. You can find it on the Web and now, that's new, on the iphone! :) So, in case you ever feel like buying some drag queen clothes at Retro Fit on Valencia, here's your guide and photo...

Hiking weekend in Waidring

Here are a few pics from the recent weekend in Waidring ... enjoy :) Also see the related blogpost "Snowboarding in Waidring". More soon.