Challenge # 6 : Eat Ethiopian Food

I drive by Gojo on my way to work everyday. I've been meaning to try the restaurant for over a year now but Ethiopian food doesn't exactly come to mind when I'm craving something good and familiar. The first and only time I had Ethiopian cuisine was in Chicago; back when I still had use for hair gel and hair dryers. Needless to say, it's been awhile. So as part of my Month of Living Challenge for August, I invited my good friend and squash partner, Don MacKenzie, to join in the experiment.

Gojo is located in a brick strip mall occupied by small businesses and a popular breakfast joint in Eastown, about 2 miles SE of downtown Grand Rapids. The restaurant is simply decorated with palm fronds resembling thatch huts or Go Jo in Ethiopian and tables with painted bamboo bases made of metal drums - something I didn't notice until Don pointed it out.

The personable husband and wife team of Sam and Sharon Terfa share duties on the restaurant floor and open kitchen. Having shared with Sam "our challenge," he kindly walked us through Gojo's menu, specifically pointing out the items on the buffet.

Injerra is the Ethiopian equivalent of naan bread. It is made of teff, wheat flour, water and yeast. Unlike naan, injerra also functions as the utensil for your meal. Ethiopian food is meant to be shared as an act of brotherhood and of loyalty. Along with the injerra, we had Siga Watt, a spicy beef stew made of rich and tasty berbere; Misir, a vegetarian dish made with stewed lentils simmered in spices; Atkit Alicha, a combination of cabbage, potatoes, carrots, pepper and mild spices; Gomen, collared greens with just the right amount of African spices; Bakela, a stew made of fava beans and spices; firfir, a shredded and spiced injerra in chicken sauce; curry rice; and curry rice with shredded chicken. Sam presented us with a tasting of Sharon's homemade sweet potato pie to finish off our big lunch.

Clad in our French cuffs and ties, Don and I tore off a piece of injerra and dug in; scooping a sampling of each dish and repeated the same technique until the rolled injerra was gone. The technique, according to Sam, is to tear off a small piece of injerra in order to fully taste the dish. While I appreciate the suggestion, I was not about to get my fingers stained with food, so I went about my technique and before I can say Addis Ababa, I felt like a stuffed goose ready for the foie gras tasting at Taillevent.

I must say that the Gomen was the best collared green dish that I've tasted. I also enjoyed the siga watt which resembled a Bolognese ragu. But it was the curry rice with shredded chicken that really made my dining experience worthwhile.

Give Gojo a try. Tell them George and Don sent you. But take it easy with the injerra.

"Big Daddy" Don digging in - cuff links and all

Sharon and Sam Terfa - the proud owners

Gojo's facade on Norwood Street

Challenge # 5 : Write a Story Worth Sharing

JW Marriott Grand Rapids Associate Saves Girls From Drowning

Without any regard for his own life, JW culinary associate, Matt Varley, threw himself and his surfboard from the elevated concrete pier into the rough and chilly waters of Lake Michigan last Saturday to save three girls screaming for their lives from the dangerous conditions that engulfed them.

Matt quietly does his work in our banquet kitchen each day. He's one of those associates one might just miss when doing your rounds. We exchange courtesies whenever I see him in the kitchen, however, I don't believe that I've actually spent any time to get to know him a little better. He caught me by surprise today when he asked me if I saw the article posted in the kitchen bulletin board. I walked towards the bulletin board and upon reading the first paragraph of the newspaper article about his heroic act, I couldn't believe that I was just hearing about it four days after it happened.

I stopped by Matt's station to congratulate him and tell him how proud I was of his actions.

"I heard the girls cry for help so I grabbed the life rings (which sounds the alarm) and my board," says Varley. "I just knew I had to do something." He sure did.

A brave police officer wearing a life jacket jumped before him to attempt the rescue, but the credit goes to Matt's courageous action and quick thinking for getting to the girls in time to help them hang on to his surfboard back to shore. True to his character, he just faded away from the crowd that gather on shore and went about his own way.

What Matt and the police officer didn't realize is that the beach surveillance camera captured their heroism on that gloomy day in Grand Haven beach. Fortunately for us, their heroism doesn't go unnoticed.

So next time you're dining at the JW, give a shout out to a hero who is quietly chopping the parsley for your next order.

Here's to Matt Varley. Your team at the JW is very proud of you.

Challenge # 4 : Do Something Patriotic

Filipinos all over the world are mourning the recent death of former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino. Her peaceful "People Power Revolution" toppled the Ferdinand Marcos regime in 1986. Cory was the first female president of the country and also the first female president in Asia. She was named Time Magazine's "Woman of the Year" that same year. The plight of the Filipino people for democracy was restored when Cory came to power. She brought back a sense of hope and freedom to the proud people of her country. This is her legacy.

While we Filipinos continue our daily struggle to find meaning in moving forward despite the tribulations we bring upon ourselves, it is my hope, through Cory's death, that we are able to take a small step towards a more prosperous Philippines.

In Cory's honor, I asked my daughter to make me a yellow wrist band (instead of a ribbon) - a wonderful suggestion by my friend Michelline Suarez. It is through this simple gesture of respect that I wish to show my pride in my people and embattled country. Mabuhay and Pilipinas!

Challenge # 3 : Make Salsa Verde

Yes, I have to admit that I have never made fresh salsa before. I buy salsa like everyone else - Jack's Special all natural salsa is our house favorite. I also judge Mexican restaurant by their salsa. As previously posted, I love the salsa at El Granjero for it's kick and freshness. However, many restaurant salsa's in the US have been tamed to the milder American palette.

It's really silly to spend $5.00 on a 16-ounce grocery salsa when you can literally get more bang for your buck by making it yourself. And there's nothing better than homemade salsa. Just imagine how much money I could have saved!

So here's how I made my salsa verde:

Tomatillo Salsa Verde

8 to 10 Jalapenos

1 Medium Onion

2 Medium Tomatoes

2 Medium Tomatillos

Juice of 1/2 Lime

Salt, Pepper and Oregano to Taste

1 Cup of Water

3 Tablespoons of Sugar (optional)

Add chopped onions to the Jalapeno Chiles

Then Chopped Tomatillos

Tomatoes and Lime

Salt, Pepper and Oregano

Yum...

Quickly boil with water until chiles are soft

Blend in a food processor

The finished Salsa Verde!

Challenge # 2 : Take 20,000 Steps in One Day

I have a goal of losing 20 pounds to get back down to my wedding weight. As most of you know, it's not easy especially if your work revolves around partaking in fantastic food and wine. I refuse to run because I hate it and I can never go on a diet because dieting turns me into a hungry and crabby Asian beast.

So last month, I signed up for my club's Virgin Health Miles program which rewards participants points for any activity, and with the help of a pedometer, the program also keeps track of all my steps in a simple online format. I'm determined to lose these last 20 pounds by being active - squash, walking when playing golf, walking and lifting weights.

I take about 4,000 steps on a typical work day. While the goal of 20,000 steps is not necessarily difficult if you live in a pedestrian city like New York and Paris, 20,000 steps in Grand Rapids takes some effort and creativity. We have a treadmill at home, but that's off limit for this challenge.

Here's what I did to achieve my goal. I also took my camera along to highlight some of the sights I discovered during my walk.:

In the morning, my wife and I took a walk around Reeds lake by our house which counted for 10,850 steps. Instead of driving to our favorite Indian restaurant for lunch, we walked to the restaurant with the kids which accounted for another 6,500 steps. In the afternoon, I took my daughter Francesca to the driving range for some daddy-daughter bonding - another 1,500 steps. With a little over 1,000 steps to go, Francesca accompanied me to Gaslight Village to get my favorite coffee. Mission accomplished!

Path to the lake

A nice garden

Mr. Toad's garden

From quaint lake side cottages...

...To majestic mansions

We even visited our family brick in the high school field

Garden on the way to Bombay Cuisine

Lunch buffet at Bombay Cuisine

We stopped by an antique store after lunch

and Francesca didn't hesitate to model this feather hat

We discovered these beautiful sunflowers on the way home

Walked by President Gerald Ford's family home

Francesca and I bonded on the golf course in the afternoon

The ultimate reward after 20,000 steps - a cup of my favorite coffee.

Challenge # 1 : Finish a Half-Read Book

Judgment of Paris

I am an expert in the field of half-read books. Non-fiction especially. I have dozens of half-read books in my shelf. I read a lot, but mostly magazines, blogs, websites and the online version of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and NPR. I can probably talk about most bestsellers because I have read the book jacket during an airport layover or through online reviews. I admit that I do not have the same appetite for reading for an extended period of time as my wife. She can read an entire book before going to bed. I, on the other hand, have a stash of unfinished books and magazines accompanying me on my five minute reading ritual before going to bed. To finish a half-read book is truly an accomplishment of seismic proportion.

My brother-in-law, Raph, sent me this book after our countless days of wine tastings in Buenos Aires. I read through the first 100 plus pages within days of receiving the book. However, with nearly 200 pages left, my short attention span syndrome kicked into high gear. Thus, the "Judgment of Paris" had to wait until today.

The soft droplets of rain outside my window was the perfect backdrop for a couple of hours of reading. As my first challenge, I wasn't going to suffer in defeat. As I turned each leaf, the excitement of actually finishing my first book this year was quite invigorating.

The book recounts the historic 1976 Paris blind tasting of 20 French and California wines. What was to be a slam dunk victory for the storied French wines resulted in its Waterloo.

Despite the request for press coverage of the tasting in the InterContinental hotel, only Times magazine writer, George Taber, witnessed first hand the stunning upset. Relatively unknown Chateau Montelena and Stag's Leap wineries stunned the world by outscoring signature first growth Bordeaux and Burgundy wines. To make the matter worst for the French - all the judges were esteemed French wine experts!

The book brought me back to my days at Le Ciel Bleu restaurant at The Mayfair Regent Chicago. The late 80's was a great time to be in the restaurant business. Our patrons at the Mayfair Regent were more than eager to drop the big dollars to enjoy a bottle of Margaux, Petrus, Haut-Brion, and Cristal. The site of a first growth on your table was the power sign of the times. I, along with my fellow restaurant staff, were fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of many tastings.

Jean Pierre Leroux, our French F&B director at the Mayfair at the time was my first mentor. He opened up doors which led to my decision to pursue hospitality as my career. Mr. Leroux instilled in me a true appreciation for food and wine. He used to tell me to taste all the sauces on the menu every day. Pretty soon, I was able to distinguish subtle characteristics in every sauce. Mr. Leroux also insisted that if I were to become an F&B director, I needed to study wines and make wine a part of my life. At Le Ciel Bleu, wines were so much a part of our daily lives that even the hispanic busboys fought over the few ounces of wines left over from unfinished French 1st growth bottles. Those were the best days.

I mention Mr. Leroux because about two thirds through the book, George Taber writes about Mr. Leroux as one of the young, uninvited Frenchman who snuck into the venue to take part in the historic event. Mr. Leroux was then the head of the dining room at the Paris Sofitel hotel. One of his heroes was chef Raymond Oliver of the Grand Vefour who was one of the judges for the event.

I was elated in reading about Mr. Leroux in the book, but even more intriguing, is to discover that he was one of the few people who witnessed this proud moment for American wines. Then again, as a Frenchman, I can understand why in the years I worked under him, he never mentioned his participation in the "Judgment of Paris."

This book is more than a news account of the Paris tastings. It's an in depth journey into the birth of California wines and the many characters who are credited for making this giant leap for New World wines. But for me, the genuine delight of reading about my mentor in the book and being able to reminisce my days at the Mayfair Regent makes this "Month of Living" already worthwhile.

The 1976 Judgment of Paris

Chardonnay

1st - Chateau Montelena, 1973

2nd - Meursault Charmes Roulot, 1973

3rd - Chalone Vineyard, 1974

4th - Spring Mountain, 1973

5th - Beaune Clos des Mouches Joseph Drouhin, 1973

6th - Freemark Abbey Winery, 1972

7th - Batard-Montrachet Ramonet-Prudhon, 1973

8th - Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles Domaine LaFlaive, 1972

9th - Veedercrest Vineyards, 1972

10th - David Bruce, 1973

Cabernet Sauvignon

1st - Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, 1973

2nd - Chateau Mouton Rothschild, 1970

3rd - Chateau Haut-Brion, 1970

4th - Chateau Montrose, 1970

5th - Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, 1971

6th - Chateau Leoville-Las-Cases, 1971

7th - Mayacamas Vineyards, 1971

8th - Clos Du Val Winery, 1972

9th - Heitz Cellars Martha's Vineyard, 1970

10th - Freemark Abbey Winery, 1969

"A Month of Living" Challenges

Mary Richardson, an American expat in Okinawa and a fellow travel blogger, embarked on a "Month of Living Dangerously" in her blog - Mary and Sean's Adventure's Abroad. Mary's daily blog entries of living "outside her box" inspired me to pursue my own month of personal challenges.

The premise of my adventures is to live the month of August by fulfilling the following:

1. Do something I've always want to do but was either too lazy or too busy to commit to;

2. Finish something I've procrastinated in doing;

3. Do something out of character;

4. Do something meaningful.

Most of my adventures are within the realm of eating, drinking or traveling, which many of you My Hotel Life followers could probably appreciate and hopefully find entertaining.

So, last Sunday evening, my kids helped me write down a few ideas on a piece of restaurant butcher paper (complete with food and drink stains). I will strive to complete most of these "adventures." I am also eager to receive any ideas from my blog readers.

Here's the list of adventures:

* Make Vietnamese Pho from scratch

* Take my daughter Francesca to a local farm

* Drive to small town and eat breakfast

* Finish reading a half read book

* Read Saveur magazine from cover to cover

* Discover a new late night place

* Make fresh pasta

* Go to a slaughterhouse

* Roll sushi

* Eat Ethiopian Food

* Take 20,000 steps in one day

* Spend a day of luxury with my wife

* No coffee for a week

* Go to a restaurant I've always wanted to go to

* Make a vegetarian meal for the family

* Take in the view of the city

* Visit my old homes

* Make shabu-shabu

* Photograph Millenium Park in Chicago

* Enter a photo contest

* Visit a local winery

* Bake a cake with my girls

* Go to Weiner Circle in Chicago

* Blog about my last meal

* Watch Food, Inc. with my daughter Margaux

* Take the wife to a museum she's never been to

* Cook a Filipino dish that I've never made before

* Read about the French 1855 wine classification

* Cook a tagine dish I've never made before

* Wrap 100 egg rolls and share it with friends

* Interview a local chef for my blog

* Find meaning in volunteering

* Rekindle an old friendship

* Photograph local city gardens

* Do something patriotic

* Make salsa verde

* Blog about a story worth sharing

* Eat only fruits all day

* Open a bottle of wine that I've been saving for a long time for that special occasion.

* Go to Waffle Queen in Grand Haven, Michigan, and try their Filipino waffle dogs

* Start a new blog

I refuse to call this a "bucket list" because most of these are not earth shattering adventures nor last breath wishes. This list is merely a challenge to complete something I've never done before with the hope that I discover something about myself through the fulfillment of "little" things each day - one month at a time.

I would appreciate your ideas and support.