All posts by J. Stern

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The Path Unknown

 

Photo by Muzzamil Soorma on Unsplash

Changes, changes, change is good.  And here we are, everyday changes.  Dramatic change full of upheavals and high emotions and a wave that is thrusting mankind forward.  Whether we want to go or not, we are going and no one really knows where. There are those of use who are full of confidence.  They know their path that they will follow and there are others that will flow with the tide. There is a pandemic, it’s seems to be relenting. In my part of the world it is not.  There is also revolution.  The abused have had a enough and mankind is joining together to create change that is good.  So all can live without fear and terror.

Photo by Derick Mckinney on Unsplash

We had an earthquake the other day and I didn’t even care.  It seemed trivial to the new way of life that was settling upon us.  People are craving socialization, but fearful that this may lead to a surge of new cases and then the Pandemic will never end.  We mourn the many that we have lost over these last six months.   Our loved ones, our friends, our elders.  We are realizing that there is most likely no going back and that our lives are now forever changed.  The masks, now everywhere are a constant reminder. I miss seeing smiles.

Photo by Colin D 8 Corwhl on Unsplash

Most of all, I see courage and hope.  I realize that we have to  let go of fear and forge ahead.  Because if we just sit and let disease and injustice loom over us, we will never be free, we will never have joy. I watch the brave first responders and our brave protestors march to their assignments, to somehow change the world for good.  It’s beautiful to see the human spirit rise and soar for justice and to save others.

My first experience with protest was in the 60’s.  Now, memories of the marches,  Martin Luther King’s and Kennedy’s assassination, are so clear it’s as if these events happened yesterday.  The Black Panthers, Angela Davis, The Women’s Lib movement. Woodstock. Protest was everywhere and it filled a dull black and white world with technicolor and opened the doors to new ideas and experiencing a new way of living.  Many sacrifices were made that made life better for us all.

It’s not the end, this is the beginning, just like many beginnings before this one. Tough, scary and the unknown and a challenge to the human spirit.

So, I’m not sure what tomorrow will bring, but I know that if I wake up tomorrow, I will be looking for answers and learn to live well with what life gives me.

Photo by Aaron Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash

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Survival Tea

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Photo by Branimir Balogović on Unsplash

 

It’s a gorgeous Sunday, the sun is shining, the birds are singing.  Yet, there are layers.  Amidst all this beauty, people are dealing with a Pandemic and putting forth heroic efforts to thwart catastrophy.  Overall there is a great success and it has come with a cost, but will ultimately, most likely result in huge steps forward in many arenas.  Healthcare, Crisis Response and building unity in times of a massive assault on the population as a whole.  We have all had to sacrifice to some degree.  We’ve had to scale back in thousands of ways, but are learning to find new paths to follow our nature to succeed, live and grow.  We are now getting ready to emerge from quarantine and learn to live together in a new and healthier way that will be good for all. Summer has hit this part of the world and people are heading out of their homes.  Walking trails and parks are now open again with social distancing laws in effect.  Beaches in Orange County are opening with the same rules.  

I wrote this a week ago, but it was never posted and it’s a screenshot of the height of quarantine and my perspective of it, I’m including it here, because I want to remember this time. A big thought on my mind right now is survival.  A pandemic is circling the globe and we are now quarantined to decrease exposure, stop the spread of the pandemic  and increase survival rates.  Most of us are shocked by the turn of the events and feel a sense of displacement and disorientation due to the complete disruption of our normal every day lives.  I go out for walks with my mandatory mask and no one is about.  I wonder if I’m doing something wrong? The streets are barren, except for a random vehicle that speeds by every few moments. It’s as if the world is asleep, taking a long nap. I wonder how can everyone be so quiet? Are they really in there, in their homes? Can children, teenagers, husbands out of work stay so still and silent?

So I keep walking, getting exercise, focus on health, strength. California is a great place to do this. We are a state of natural beauty and a place of healing. For more than a century America and the world has sent their ill here to heal and rehabilitate. Long ago, trains filled with TB patients in the last stage of the disease came to hospital spread across the Southern California as a last hope for a chance at life.  Many died on the train, but there were those that survived and lived into old age settled in the warm arid client of the Southern California high desert.  

A culture of survival is forming now due to the pandemic. It’s bringing the best out in us and forcing us to focus on what is really important in life and why we are here.  These thoughts are overwhelming at times and I find it helpful to focus on coping mechanisms and find a new way to live that may be even better than what I was doing before.  Everyday I can see Spring blossoming and exploding into life all around and it’s an amazing show. The birds are singing from sunup to sun down, playfully doing tricks in the air with other birds they are trying to attract. They are enjoying Spring to it’s fullest. The birdsong is a blessing at this moment and a reaffirmation of life.  It’s too early to tell what will happen.  If we follow other countries that are now finally healed of the spreading virus, we will hopefully enter the same phase soon. It’s difficult to stay informed about what will really happen.  All the news sources have conflicting stories, some of them out right exploitation of the current situation and confabulating statistics that we will only be able to verify when this whole thing is done. 

Photo by Kate Trifo on Unsplash

And now, here we are, one week later.  We are more hopeful, more full of fight and determined to live with hope, faith and celebrate life no matter what.  Our world is beautiful and nature will always carry on despite our continual assault on our own world health and our precious resources.  Hopefully, we will come out of the Pandemic, wiser and more willing to work harmoniously with our environment, rather than destroying it. It’s a complex and difficult task, but not unrealistic at all.  We can all see what staying at home does. We can now see what being careful and be kind with each other can be like.  The cleaner air and the peaceful environment. We are seeing that we can live peacefully together and work together for success. 

Part of this blog,  Tea Travels, is comprised of posts about travelling locally and around the world to experience the tea traditions and teas of the world. It’s more relevant now than ever due to the quarantines around the world.  I love to write about tea around the world, because it reflects human kind’s ability to harmonize and elevate themselves together via the simple routine of taking tea.  Tea, how it’s made and enjoyed are direct reflections of the many beautiful and fascinating cultures of human kind.  Tea brings people together in a very simple way for bonding, sharing history and planning for what’s ahead.  Personally, I have never enjoyed tea more and been thankful for this simple beverage, than during this quarantine.  I’ve taken tea with my Pod, I’d explored herbal teas that support immunity and health and used the time during quarantine to delve deeper into the journey of exploring tea.

Last year we travelled throughout Southern California and even to Paris, France.  It was an amazing journey and we are hoping there will be many more.  World travel has been a part of human civilization since it’s inception and hopefully it will go on. It’s important that we explore and get to know our world and to become friends with all people of the world. I want to thank everyone who checks in and reads these posts. I hope that they have provided some light and entertainment during these trying times.  I’ll end this post with a great tea from Teavana(this post is unsponsored, I just really like this tea),   for relaxation and to make you smile. Teavana Citrus Lavender with pineapple, orange and notes of sage. Caffiene free.  Here’s a bit about the ingredients: Pineapple;  a tropical fruit grown in South America for centuries.  Sweet, packed with Vitamin C and explosion of flavor. Health benefits include decreasing inflammation, energizing and boosting immunity. Orange, another South American export, a catalyst of an industry that made the US wealthy.  Sweet, tangy and juicy-packed with Vitamin C. Health benefits include boosting immunity, maintaining skin and bone health. Sage-oh Sage-now that’s a lot to write about.  Sage,  utilized to clear away bad karma and spirits. Packed with vitamins and minerals.  Boosts brain health and cognition, reduce blood sugar, ease menopausal symptoms and protect against cancers. Lavender, reduces stress, anxiety, pain, promotes calmness and wellness and is a super attractor. 

 

 

And to end this post,  on this lovely day, full of promise and hope:

We live on this speck called Earth – think about what you might do, today or tomorrow – and make the most of it.

Neil deGrasse Tyson

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A Hero A She

It’s women’s history month and it’s so exciting to see an abundance of media about woman who have made significant impact on our world culture and the evolvement of our society as we know it today.  Women have held many roles throughout history.  Traditionally, women act as anchors for any society, due to the fact that we bear children and need to create a safe home for our offspring. While acting as anchors, we also go out into the world to earn a living and feed our families. If we are fortunate and have a partner that is a teamplayer that burden is shared.  We don’t usually hear about women adventurers and their amazing accomplishments.  Most girls aren’t encouraged to be hero worshippers.  Historically, we decide what we are going to do and go about accomplishing it without a lot of fanfare. Things have changed now and there is media everywhere, that is funneled towards us in a myriad of ways.   It’s thrilling to hear about  women who have really made a difference in technology, sports, business, the arts and more.  

The dictionary’s definition of a hero, is a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character.  In this world,  heroes are important.  We are all together on this life adventure and it takes all of us to create the best world possible.  It’s a collective effort, as we put forth the best we have, to create a better world and lives for all of us. We are faced with challenges because that is what is life all about. It’s about meeting your challenges and learning from them that creates growth and hence, we evolve.  There are particular instances where we shine and we become heroes because we climb the mountain and we overcome obstacles.  We persist through adversity.  Some heroes are noticed and some are not. You don’t have to be famous to be a hero. You can be your own hero.  In fact,  in a perfect world we would all be our own hero.  Counting on ourselves and finding our inner strength and utilizing it.

This month, The Inlandia Institute in partnership with Riverside Artswalk, Stevie Taken  and The Riverside Downtown Public Library, presented ‘Sheroes’; quirky, hilarious, one of kind true stories told by live storytellers.  I was fortunate enough to have the privilege to tell a story and hear the fascinating stories of my fellow storytellers about our female heroes. It was an amazing and unforgettable  night of sharing.  I told a story about my farm girl sheroes.  These women were my sheroes because they had to do heavy manual labor for the majority of their lives, but never gave up on their hopes and dreams and kept the faith that life was good even in times of severe hardship. I admire women like Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie and Rosa Parks. Hearing their stories as I grew up, made me realize that women could contribute great things to the world besides having a family. 

One of my favorite sheroes is Louise Eugénie Alexandrine Marie David. She is little known to people today.  She was a French woman with an outrageous and uncoventionable sense of adventure.  She was known as Alexandra David-Néel,  born in French Belgium,  152 years ago.   Alexandra David-Neel was many things.  She was an artist, an explorer, a spiritualist, a buddhist and an accomplished writer.  Her most groundbreaking work was her journey to Lhasa in Tibet and she’s known as the first woman to have ever entered the Forbidden City. 

Alexandra David Neel was born to educated parents and to a life of priviledge.  Her father was an activist and ensured that his daughter understood man’s inhumanity to man at a young age and that it was unacceptable to be inhumane.  The purpose of life was to change society for the better.  During her childhood she began studying and  practicing rituals to spiritually evolve and as a young teenager would frequently set out on her own to explore the world and find her own answers to her burning questions. By the time she was 15 she had travelled alone to several countries in Europe. At the age of 21 she became a buddhist and delved deep in to spiritual studies.  Eventually her parents guided her towards the world of opera, to learn a profession and have a regular income, despite the fact that she was a heiress and had ample resources to carry on her travels and study. Her music career brought her to more exotic locations where she immersed herself in Grecian and African cultures. This is where she met her husband, who became her back up and support, handling her finances and allowing her to continue her journeys around the world to study religion, meditation and human spiritual evolvement. She travelled to Tibet to forbidden regions to gain knowledge of the arcane and studied  how to survive at the higher altitudes on Earth.  Eventually, Alexandra David Neel decided to settle in France and build a center for meditation and esoteric study. She brought the knowledge she had garnered  living in the Himalayas and traveling through Asia during times of war and famine.  Her dream was to  foster compassion and love and to spread this to all mankind. 

Alexandra David Neel lived a life defined by quest for knowledge and adventure. The willingness to take the road less travelled and find answers to the questions of life. She was not defined by her role as a woman, but as a person of genuine thought, study,  and obtaining knowledge for the betterment of humankind.  She adventured by foot through freezing mountains ranges, often without food for days.  She knew her strengths and had confidence in her abilities.  Her biggest strength was her spirituality and she understood how to conserve her body strength for long and arduous journeys.   She thrust herself into the unknown in order to challenge her very being so that she could change and grow and continue to gain understanding of the spiritual dimensions of our universe. Today, she is known as one of France’s greatest heroes. 

So, here is to women adventurers and their courage to carry on.  To live life believing in freedom and love and believing in our future. Here’s to our Sheroes. 

“To the one who knows how to look and feel, every moment of this free wandering life is an enchantment”-Alexandra David Neel

 

Photo by Tom Tor on Unsplash

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Cold And Refreshing

Photo by Federica Giusti on Unsplash

It was a winter night and I  walked out into the night air. I was wearing a light trench coat over a sweater with a tank top underneath. The cold frigid air flashed against my warm skin and promised an unrelenting assault on my person.   It was a cold winter.  Snow capped the surrounding mountain ranges.  One range to the North high and mighty, the range to the South low and manageable.  The perfect conditions combined to create a living freezer.  A combination of darkness, a clear sky and cold earth.  I barely noticed the bright and glimmering stars above me, I was so taken aback by the intense cold.  I took off my coat and my sweater and let the cold cover the hot,  bare skin of my arms and neck. To much clothing had created a warm environment that didn’t jive with what was going on around me. It felt good to equalize the sensations and let the cold even out what I was feeling. I walked over to the tea shop to meet my friend. I imagined that I left an invisible trail of warm steam coming off my body that would soon be exhausted as my body temperature began to descend and merge with the night air.  First, my skin would become cold and then the superficial blood flow found in the underlying capillaries.  The cold would not stop there, it would penetrate and stiffen my muscles and then get to my bones.  But I arrived at the coffee shop before that happened. I entered the warm fragrant store front and the cold air was replaced with warm currents flowing across the room from bodies and the running equipment in the room.  

“Aren’t you cold?”, my friend asked me.  

“Yes, that’s the point.”, I replied.  

My friend didn’t press the issue. We ordered our hot drinks quickly, chose a table. We turned to the matters at hand and for a short time forgot about the cold.  But when the discussion was over, it was time to go outside again.  This time I put back on my sweater and coat and headed out.  The cold was still there and it was there through the night. I lay in my bed and it still did not subside. I would get up and turn up the heat and the air would temporarily warm, but as soon as it clicked off, the cold returned. I shivered under my blankets and pulled the sheet over my face to warm my cheeks and the tips of my nose. I tried to think of places that I could move to that wouldn’t be cold in the winter, which was ridiculous, because I already lived in one of the Southern most regions of my country. I realized I would have to immigrate to somewhere closer to the equator if I wanted to stay truly warm in the winter.  

I can only write this now, because I’m finally warm.  It took a few weeks. Here in Southern California, winter hits fast. The temperature drops overnight and then stays low for a few weeks to let you know winter has come.  But then after a few weeks,  things even out, the sun continues to shine and it gets warm again.   It’s colder inside than out.  I found myself huddling under blankets, with the heat blasting and taking hot showers, only to realize after having to run an errand, all I had to do was walk outside to get warm.  This Winter began with torrents of rain.  The precipitation took the form of snow  up on the mountains and created a gorgeous scene worthy of a masterpiece portrait. So, how cold was it?  44 F during the day.  Quite balmy compared to some parts of the world, but the rainclouds blocked the sun and cast a dark, gloomy shadow across the normally bright blue skies.  But at night the skies would clear and the sky would glitter with stars.  The cold seemed to polish the diamonds that hung in the sky and make them brighter.  And then the clouds spent themselves, the skies cleared and the afternoons became warm. We were back to tee shirt weather in January.  There would be a few more rounds of chilly blasts that would eventually evolve into a persistently warm Spring and then a nice hot summer. The heat would persist past October and then we would begin  the cycle again.

And now we are on the Eve of March.  February is a full month this year and tonight the planet Venus and the Moon have a love rendezvous in the sky.  This night is supposed to be auspicious for lovers.  More importantly, it’s a warm night-81 degrees and humid and feels as if a soft rain is making it’s way in. The frigid days of December are a distant memory and my night of reveling in the cold. I decided to go outside and gaze at the sky. The trees and small animal life hummed in the backdrop and above us lie a night sky strewn with sparkling diamonds. To the West was the brightest of them all, Venus, just hanging out with the lovely crescent moon. In love, warm and promising the summer.   

Photo below by JoelValve on Unsplash

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Time For Adventure

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Life is a gift. When we open our eyes each day, the day that lies before us is filled with possibilities.  It’s a chance to revel in the beauty that surrounds us.  A cocktail of nature, human chaos and many times order. I like being human and having choices. I like that I’m not perfect and that I can’t predict what will happen next.  No matter how many plans I make, things will change and challenges will come. 

It’s through these challenges that we learn to grow and survive.  To enjoy each moment, savor it for it’s own uniqueness and what is being offered.  Life teaches us that it’s never too late and then sometimes that it is.  But if you find a door closed, look ahead because another door lies open and is waiting for you with a new  adventure. Change is good, for without it, how would we ever have or next adventure?

When the door opens to change, enter that door no matter what.  It’s life beckoning you, it’s offering you to take the chance, to leap and grow.  Yes, those journeys can be frightening, tough, difficult.  But work through it the best you can and you will find yourself on the other side wiser and with skills you never realized you had. It’s like a hard workout, you are in pain, you can’t breathe and feel that your heart may burst out of your chest.  But your heart  doesn’t and you suddenly realize how strong your body really is and what it is capable of. If you hadn’t pushed that limit, you would have not have known.  You now have deeper knowledge of your body and built spiritual confidence in your abilities.  A gift from the Universe. 

I know, it’s scary, but it’s ok. We are all human and we know that fear.  It’s what we decide to do with fear that creates growth and abundance, or not.  So, here’s to adventure, growing, learning and finally knowing.  Knowing the gifts that change can bring. 

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Tea With Your Mom

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Photo by Sai De Silva on Unsplash

Ever go to tea with your Mom? Or had tea with your Mom? Maybe you don’t have a Mom, but maybe there is one person that is very special and you vibe with that person no matter what.  You may have known them for a long time or maybe just met them, but you have a connection.  This connection is a sensation of knowing that this person is in your life for a reason. They bring good things, lots of smiles and release from the routine of life. They enhance life, always enhance and that’s why you love to do things with them. Maybe go out to dinner, shopping, for a walk, just hang out and share.  

You keep coming back and they do too and you really don’t question it, it’s just a good part of your life. So, that’s what tea with Mom is.  We didn’t really “go to tea”, the plan was to have lunch and there happened to be tea too.  The tea was really good, so that’s how this became a Tea Travels post.  I had just returned from my tea traveling trip to Europe.  I was also going there for a reunion at The Lido, renowned cabaret in Paris, France, but that’s a whole other post and will most likely be revisited again sometime soon.  It happened to be my birthday and my Mom wanted to celebrate and she asked me to lunch.  I was really excited and thought the perfect place would be The Mission Inn Restaurant in downtown Riverside located within the historic Mission Inn Hotel.  First of all the food is delicious and the setting is magical.  When you enter the doors of The Mission Inn you are transported to another time and a place. And that is because the founder took the best of California culture and history and created a unique experience that combined everything that people loved about California during the era (1850 to 1935). It’s the perfect combination of Spanish, Mexican and California Gold Rush folklore.  We do know that the arts were celebrated here, important political relationships were developed and great business was practiced.  There is always ambiance and the best food and drink.  It’s human socialization and culture at it’s best.  

We headed off to The Mission Inn, Mom and I.   We posed for the traditional photo under the Campanario, a beautiful arch inspired by the Mission San Gabriel that graced the path that led to the front entrance. From the Campanario hung a collection of vintage bells of various shapes and sizes and a healthy growth of climbing ivy provided a lovely green backdrop.  

Once we entered the Inn, we went left towards the Mission Inn Restaurant which is open daily and is the main restaurant for guests staying at The Inn.  We were seated by a lovely host with a kind smile. The restaurant walls were inlaid with gorgeous blue tiles and mosaics.  I was reminded that Frank Augustus Miller, the founder of The Mission Inn, loved the color blue and had named his own grocery store, The Blue Front Grocery.

 The mosaics were gorgeous and colorful and rose up the walls to the curved arabic ceilings that shared common architectural elements with the Hagia Sophia. The walls embellished with hand painted murals by Tiffany Brooks, whose work is featured at the Biltmore Historic Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. 

Our waitress came over quickly and helped us decide on the daily buffet, which probably should have been called The Daily Feast.  The buffet was laid out with an array of choices that would satisfy all dietary preferences from Vegan to Hearty Meat Eater and Seafood lovers.  As usual, I ordered tea and this is where having tea with Mom actually begins.  The featured tea that day was ROAR HUMBLY EXQUISITE TEA. So ROAR is a brand that hails from the South and has quite a history. The company was founded in 1896 by Henry T. Batterton in Alabama. He started the company specializing in coffee.  In the 1950’s William E. Smith bought the company and has brought ROAR into the future with responsibly sourced coffee and tea.  They also know the lineage of all of their coffee beans and tea leaves and donate to charities that protect the environment and help communities around the world. The company has now been existence over 100 years and is a force in the world of fine coffee and tea. 

We had a great meal and chat.  The tea was steaming hot and relaxing and cleared the way for engaging conversation.  The waitress had brought out the organic green and spearmint blend.  Organic  teas are grown without pesticides or genetic modifications. The green tea produces energy and focus and the Peppermint leaves are know to soothe the stomach, have a cooling effect, freshen the breath and relieve stress. When steeped, green tea releases energizing levels of caffeine. A cup of green tea can contain around thirty-five mg of caffeine, half the amount found in a cup of coffee. It also contains catechins that are scientifically proven to improve cognitive function and possibly decrease the risk of dementia.   ROAR recommends on their packaging that the water be 185 degrees Fahrenheit and that the tea bag steep for three to four minutes. It’s important to use the right water as well.  Minerals in water bring out the flavor of the tea leaves, purified or distilled water will result in a bland tasting tea.  I didn’t think to ask the waitress what water was utilized, but the tea was full of flavor and refreshing.

We caught up on our adventures and admired the vintage beauty of The Mission Inn and how well-preserved it was.  It was heart warming to be in a beautiful setting that celebrated the past and all of the fantastical and wonderful events that had shaped the state of California. 

Photo by 童 彤 on Unsplash

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It’s Real At Myke’s

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Are you looking for the most delicious latte ever made with Intelligentsia coffee and the thickest, most juiciest burger ever to go along with it? Do you crave food that hits the mark and ticks all the boxes for a fabulous burger? Well then, if that sounds like what you have been dreaming of; then head on over to Myke’s Cafe in either Pacoima or Sherman Oaks.  These are two very intensely populated areas with hard working people and great locations for Myke’s.  Myke’s  has been around for quite awhile. It’s a great cafe with great food and eclectic artwork by up and coming artists.  They have a grill where the food is made to order and an espresso bar for cappuccino, espresso or lattes.  They describe their food offerings as Wild Pancakes, Crazy Burgers and Tantalizing Mexican Food.  That was enough to make we want to have a meal there immediately. It was a call to my inner gourmand that loves all new types of food strange and wonderful. 

The store front is unassuming except for the black and white hand painted sign in a cartoonish font. It’s located in a mid-century modern type mini strip mall  right next to a residential area. The location is modest and not at all exciting. Nothing really to do around there but eat and live. Which actually makes it perfect.  It’s very easy to focus on your food.    There’s a big A in the window which is something I always look for as well and I find quite comforting.  For those of you who are curious and would like more information, please email me or DM me on Instagram at Victoriagoodsandtradingcompany.com, my partner and affiliate. 

The vibe is relaxed and it’s a great place for meeting friends and working on projects. The counter help is friendly and make you feel at home with their genuine smiles and questions to make sure they get your order just right.  The menu has creative dishes that I’ve not seen at other cafes such as banana pineapple pancakes with chocolate sauce, which was decadent and delicious and there is plenty for meat lovers too. The burgers are made of a high grade beef thats grilled to perfection and comes out hot and oozing goodness. 

I especially love the vegan burgers, since I’m currently a flexitarian(got that from a good friend),  that are thick, juicy and so full of flavor that with one bite your mouth is infused with delicious sauce and natural elements that fill you up and make you feel good. When the food comes out, the presentation is appealing and the food is dressed to kill with the appropriate garnishes and sides you order.

My friend and I were able to easily hear each other and it was fun to take in the eclectic art that decorates the walls. My favorite was the huge black and white graffiti depicting all sorts of things, that made a statement and was eye catching.  There were other works in different metiers as well to peruse and discuss. 

Well, hopefully this short little adventure into tastebud heaven has got you curious and you will head over to Myke’s Cafe soon.  I’m so glad I did and I’ve now added it to my arsenal of amazing cafes to take family and friends for a delicious outing that’s fun and relaxing. 

Where latte magic happens-photo by J. Stern

TEA TRAVELS

Magic Matcha Oi Oi

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The whole world is discovering Matcha tea and it’s quickly becoming a staple of many tea menus.  Matcha originated in Japan and is full of  vitamins, minerals, catechin, theanine and many other nutrients.   Matcha powdered green tea has 137 times more antioxidants than regularly brewed green tea. Matcha is calming, relaxing, boosts metabolism, detoxifies and enhances mood and concentration. My opinion that Matcha was taking the world by storm was confirmed when I was fortunate enough to make a trip to Disneyland to celebrate my daughter’s birthday with her family and with my son. We are all huge fans of everything Stars Wars, so our first wish of the day was to see the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Land.  After changing and feeding the babies and getting everyone situated we made our way through the holiday crowds (our fellow Disney lovers)to take in Disney’s newest and most exciting creation. When we entered Star Wars: Galaxy Edge Land we were thrilled beyond belief. To see the characters and planets come to life was magical and transported us to the world of Star Wars.

When we decided to break for lunch we headed into Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo to Tugg’s Grub. Tugg is a Wookie chef who travels from planet to planet and is in high demand for his skills and delicious food. Due to the remote location of this particular planet where this Docking Bay was located, our chef utilized a farm to table concept to develop his menu. The menu had many healthy options that included plant based dishes and some lovely desserts. I was drawn to the Oi-Oi puff, described as a raspberry cream puff with passionfruit mousse. So, when in Disney, it’s important to enjoy everything you can, so I ordered the Oi-Oi Puff for dessert.

We waited at the counter and our order came out, served in cast iron dishes(very cool and very Starwarsish). It looked appetizing and the presentation was lovely. I was a bit perplexed because of the garnishes sitting on a swirl of frosting  which topped the cake and covering what lay underneath. The garnishes were a disc of creamy milk chocolate with a Blackspire Outpost Logo on it’s round face, flakes of chocolate and green sponge torn into small bits.  I couldn’t figure out the green and then suddenly it clicked-Matcha! Well, I love Matcha and am embarrassingly enamored with the flavor and all the wonderful things you can concoct with Matcha.  

The dessert descriptor is a round Matcha cake filled with raspberry mousse and topped with cream frosting and the garnishes mentioned above.  The dessert was delicious, light on sugar and left me feeling light and energized.  This didn’t surprise me, because Matcha always has this effect.   We sat and enjoyed, and took in the busy, noisy atmosphere of Docking Bay 7. The sights and components of the trade outpost were fascinating and along with the food, Disney delivered another unparralleled experience, that they are known for. 

It was an amazing day.  Spending time with family, being thoroughly immersed in Disney magic and having Matcha. With this thought, I leave you with a bit of Blackspire poetry taken from Wookieepedia: 

At the edge of the galaxy

So far away

Black was the spire

That called me to stay. 

A beacon for drifters

Forgotten and lost

The spires summoned those 

Broken and lost. 

Come stay here forever

Or just pass on through.

The spirit of Black Spire 

Will forever change you—An Old Batuan Ballad

Photo by Daniel Cheung on Unsplash

 

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Pug luck

Photo by Sneaky Elbow on Unsplash

Are pugs truly lucky? I thought so. I came across an older pug that needed a home. I was excited and couldn’t wait for the day when her kind and wonderful owners would deliver her to me. When she arrived, with quite a bit of equipment and belongings, I was surprised. She was a funny little creature with an energy that was sweet and loving. She was round and strong and moved with purpose. Her step was jaunty and happy. I almost laughed out loud when I saw her and had to restrain myself, because I didn’t want to offend anyone.

I soon found out why Marie Antoinette collected pugs and had at least three and most of her ladies in waiting followed her suit and carried pugs with them. Pugs may be the most loving breed of dog in existence. I’m sure that this can be debated, but this is what I found. Pugs make you the center of their life and watch you raptly as if you are the most wonderful thing they had ever seen in their life. They are the best companions, because they love what you love and wait anxiously for you to include them. They also have thick luxurious coats that were meant for sinking your fingers into. Their fur is like thick velvet and wonderful for sinking nervous hands into. As you pet them, their breath deepens, becomes rhythmic and sedating. Instant stress relief is received from petting a pug.

My pug was 10 when she arrived. She inserted herself quickly into the household routine and established her dominance. Her eyes were huge and bottomless and she followed me everywhere and stared at everything I did. She was the living definition of companionship. She quickly overcame her transition and became an integral part of our life. She was funny. Whirling and twirling when it was mealtime and running to the kitchen whenever I headed in that direction. She loved all food and I had to be careful not to overfeed her. She had transients episodes of thickening due to her tendency to eat, eat, eat.

In ancient china there was a legend that the wrinkles on the forhead of pug signified the triad. The number of energy-birth, life and death, the past present and future, and the trinity. Stroking the wrinkles on a pug’s forehead, would bring good luck and manifest abundance. So, everyday, time is set aside to spend time with the pug and have a love fest for the betterment of my world and everyone else.

TEA TRAVELS

Porto Me-Tea Cuban Style

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I found out recently that I was really out of the loop, despite having an opinion of myself that I was really well-travelled. I thought that I  knew most of the great places to go and the newest and best restaurants.  I was driving down the 10 freeway one day and I noticed that an old dinner theater in West Covina was being renovated.  The sign posted that Porto’s was coming to West Covina.  I was curious, what was Porto’s?

Well, it turned out Porto’s is this amazing restaurant that all began with a wonderful woman from Cuba that was a fabulous cook and created the most beautiful cakes and pastries.  She immigrated to the US with her husband, became known for her delicious and magical creations and eventually opened shop with her family. There are now five locations throughout the greater LA basin where you will find lines out the door on any given day.

By chance, I heard the name Porto’s being discussed at my work.  Everyone became really excited and each person had a Porto’s story.  Each person had story that centered around a favorite Porto’s dish or dessert.  No one was shy, they all volunteered why they loved Porto’s so much.  I heard the food was mouth watering and there was nothing quite like it.  

So, the next time I was on the 10 freeway, close to Porto’s, I pulled off and ventured in.  It was a loud noisy space, with lots of happy people, talking and laughing.  I scanned the interior and quickly found the cafe. I ordered a latte,  a chocolate hazelnut besito(cookie) and a strawberry shortcake individual.  When the cashier asked for payment, I was surprised at first and thought he made a mistake,  because the price was so low. I was doubtful that it would taste good at the prices they were charging.  Well, I was surprised again when I tried the besito.  It had just the right  balance of ingredients and was not heavy on the sugar, it literally melted in my mouth. The shortcake was much the same.  The latte was frothed to a reach creaminess and the espresso was rich and full.

To create further understanding of what my taste buds experienced, here is a descriptor for a Chocolate Hazelnut Besito cookie: Chocolate Pâte Sucrée (tart dough) filled with chocolate and hazelnut cream and drizzled with dark chocolate.

The Strawberry Shortcake individual: Thin, crispy puff pastry with layers of vanilla custard and whipped cream topped with flakes of puff pastry and powdered sugar.

I realized I was now a part of the Porto fan club and would definitely spread the word to others like me, that have been living in a Portoless world,  separated from Southern California’ most Devine food and pastries. 

So that’s my Porto’s story, until the next Tea Travels journey, Me Piro-as they say in Cuba!