Dasa book cafe

When Dasa Book Cafe claims that they are the 'best secondhand bookshop in Bangkok,' I believe them. Not only am I a frequent customer here; I have also visited other secondhand bookshops in the city but I like Dasa best of all.

Their site has a page that explains the name Dasa, and I quote:

"dāsa" came from the name of the late venerable Thai Buddhist Monk called "Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu".

The word "dāsa" itself means "slave" or "servant". It's the word from an ancient language called "Pali" which is the language that Buddhist monks use in chanting and in their regular rituals or ceremonies. We chose this name because it conveys the meaning that all book lovers are "slave" in the sense that they can't live without books or reading. The name also has a nice Asian touch to it and is also quite catchy.

Even though the place may not look attractive on the outside, I'd still say it's one of my favorite haunts. 

 

Inside it's cozy

and conducive to browsing.

Sometimes I would climb up the second and third floors and browse some more

Often I just stay in this area where the English-speaking assistants are. A white guy (I'm guessing the owner) works quietly near the coffee corner cataloguing books in his computer.

Inspire Me * ABC * Our World

Cherry chocolate cake

 

Check out the spoon: beside the color which is my fave, it's obviously disposable. But this is something sweet with a double meaning. Latdawan, a Management major gave this little treat to me. When I smiled at her, "what's this for?" she shrugged, "nothing" then browsed her book. I'm a bit chary about accepting gifts from students; don't want to be compromised come evaluation time. Fortunately, I didn't have to with Latdawan. She's one brainy student.

When it comes to cakes, I always love it moist. Here's a recipe from Linda Larsen that you may want to try.

Ingredients:

1 (18- oz) package chocolate cake mix                        1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract                            1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar                                                               1 (21-oz) can cherry pie filling
6 tablespoons butter                                                     1/3 cup whole milk
1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips         2 eggs

 

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13x9" pan with nonstick baking spray containing flour and set aside. In large bowl, combine cake mix, cherry pie filling, 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract, and eggs. Beat until well mixed, then beat 1 minute at medium speed. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until cake is set.

While cake is in the oven, combine granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, and milk in large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add chocolate chips and vanilla. Stir with a wire whisk until the chips are melted and frosting is smooth. Pour over warm cake and spread to cover. Let cool on wire rack before serving.

Note: You don't need to refrigerate this cake because of the milk in the frosting. There's so much sugar and fat in the frosting that the milk doesn't present a safety hazard even when left at room temperature.

Rednesday * Color Connection

 Foodie Friday * Food Trip Friday * Food Friday

On loan

In this post: Booking Through Thursday and Thursday Thirteen

Do you lend your books? Are any out on loan right now? Do you have any that have been loaned to you? Do you put a time limit on these? Do you think people should make an effort to read the loaned book quickly? 

I loan books. They disappear. They never get returned or it takes years for them to be back. I currently have two books that would have to be shipped sooner or later. Former college friends who lent them have moved back to home country. Expat life.

Back to those books on loan - I'm learning to be firm on having them returned. When I fly home I take time to do a little inventory of my books, especially those of the kiddo as they have some real price tags, and I am hearing reports of Neighbor A and B borrowing this book and that without any talk of when to return them. I also encourage my mother to keep track of her own books. She lends them and is rather lenient with those who don't return them.

Time limit is a good idea especially with books that one wants to keep. I think people should take advantage of the books they borrow by reading them before the return date is up.

Thursday 13: Random words from Pride and Prejudice

Two hundred years! How grand is that? Happy anniversary P&P!

1. celerity - a rate that is rapid

2. importune - to beg

3. disengage - release from something that holds fast, connects or disentangles

"Then taking the disengaged arm of Mr. Darcy, she left Elizabeth to walk by herself."

4. iniquitous -  characterized by iniquity; wicked because it is believed to be a sin

"It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mr. Bennet, "and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn."

5. asperity - harshness of manner

* I remember this in the film when Mrs Bennet assured Mr Collins that "we are able to keep a cook."

6. supercilious - having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy

"For, though elated by his rank, it did not render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention to everybody."

7. abominable - unequivocally detestable

8. expostulation - exclamation of protest or remonstrance or reproof

"Miss Bingley warmly resented the indignity he had received, in an expostulation with her brother for talking such nonsense."

 9. disconcert - cause to lose one's composure.

* This must be when Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley came suddenly to Longbourn. Mrs Bennet was disconcerted.

10.  affront - a deliberately offensive act or something producing the effect of deliberate disrespect 

"There was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody; and Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman..." 

11. threadbare - having the nap worn away so that the threads show through

"... Mary had some extracts to admire, and some new observations of threadbare morality to listen to."

12. interpose - introduce

 "... without having paid yourself and Mr. Bennet the compliment of requesting you to interpose your..."

13. upbraid - express criticism towards  

"You will not thank me for detaining you from the bewitching converse of that young lady, whose bright eyes are also upbraiding me."

(Source)

Cabbages and condoms

Cabbages and Condoms is a restaurant "conceptualized in part to promote better understanding and acceptance of family planning and to generate income to support various development activities of the Population and Community Development Association (PDA)" in Thailand. (C&C Restaurant Bangkok)

Mechai Viravaidya, the restaurant founder who is nicknamed Mr Condom, is a former politician and activist who popularised condom use, encouraged family planning and raised AIDS awareness in Thailand. He believes that “birth control should be as accessible and as easy to buy as vegetables in the market.”

Set in a beautiful garden courtyard aglow with fairy lights at night, the restaurant is conveniently located on 10 Sukhumvit Soi 12 and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Everywhere almost everything you see has something to do with birth control. Its unique theme has attracted international attention. A sign around Tiger Woods' condom golf club says, "did you use them Tiger?"

I celebrated my birthday here a couple of years back with a girl friend. We explored fun visuals and items for sale, then peeped at their bar called Captain Condom

 

They claim their food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy. After paying for our meal I found something in our tab that at first I thought were mints. Chuckling at the condoms, my friend teased the server, "don't these things come with a man?!"

  

ABC Wednesday * Our World

My Snow White brunch

What could be more delightful

than a day off work

with Snow White and her merry Seven

the witch's apple now nut-laden 

secrets on the pages

waltzing with chocolate kisses?

Rednesday * Blues * Mellow Yellows

Scallops and mango strips

A meal that involves something deep fried and a salad is usually an automatic win for me. This was one of those spur-of-the-moment decisions to explore the menu of a restaurant that does not require a reservation. I then naturally chose my favorite combination of tastes in these fried scallops with mango strips in sweet and sour sauce.

I fancy those fresh sea scallops that are 'seared in thyme-infused butter and drenched in white wine.' But while the link for that fancy is broken, here's an alternative recipe from Southern Food, which I think is just as yummy. 

Ingredients:
1 cup flour                                                                         1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika                                                             2 eggs
2 tablespoons water                                                           fine dry bread crumbs
2 cups scallops, cut to about 3/4-inch cubes if large

Preparation:
If scallops are large, cut into 3/4-inch cubes. Dry completely with paper towel. In a bowl, combine flour, salt, and paprika. In another bowl, whisk eggs with water. Put bread crumbs in a third bowl. Dip scallops in the flour mixture, then dip in egg, then in the bread crumbs. Fry in hot oil at about 370° until nicely browned, about 2 minutes. Serves 6.

 Foodie Friday * Food Trip Friday * Food Friday

Soundtrack and Reading Challenges 2013

In this post: Booking Through Thursday and Thursday Thirteen

Do you ever try to pair music with the book you’re reading? Play the movie soundtrack while reading the original book? Find mood music that fits with your story?

Music is one love of my life that's rather separate from reading. The only time the two were together was when I provided (played) piano music to a reading in church long time ago. If I played a soundtrack while reading the original book my impulse would be to try to listen to the music while concentrating on the reading and I can not do both so it's a no for all three questions. I can multi-task in 3 different languages and 2 dialects, but music and reading at the same time is my limit.

Thursday 13: Reading Challenges 

I am having fun browsing reading challenges around. I am focusing in only one right now, the Just For Fun Reading Challenge, and I know I can not do all of these, but I can't help putting a list together. They look so much fun, yes, just when I need to sort out stock market stuff they all pop up; the temptation is tough. Anyway, details, rules, gift certificates and sign-ups are on the links. 

1. A-Z  "Simply read a book for each letter of the alphabet, using the book title."

2. Around the World  You 'read books that take place around the globe, has scenes set in different countries, or whose author is from a different country. Use each country only once.'

3 Winter Wonderland Spell  Main feature of this challenge looks like a game, and I like that. It directs you to "pick a word relating to winter and use the acronym to choose the books you'll be reading this month. One book for each letter. The length of the word you choose will determine your challenge level. You can use the book title, author, or series name." This is an example they showed on their site:

Use one of these or come up with your own!:
Cold, Snow, Sleigh, Winter, Freezing, Snowman, Wonderland

C- The Crossing by Joy Nash
O- Point Of Retreat by Colleen Hoover
L- Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione
D- The Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont

4. Debut Author makes me curious; interesting this one

5. Outdo Yourself  is reading more books than you did last year!

6. The Embarrassment of Riches "encourages you to read books in your To Be Read (TBR) pile that you owned prior to January 1, 2013."  This challenge will do my books some good. I buy each one of them.

7. Foodies "decide how many food books you would like to read during 2013. A food book is a book that is centered around food and/or drinks. This could be a cookbook, a food biography or memoir, or a non-fiction book focused around a specific food, wine, chef or restaurant. You can also include fictional stories in which food plays a major role." I'm considering this since I'm fond of eating.

8. Operation Deepen Faith  "is a wonderful challenge that offers several options for deepening your faith! Again, there are no strict guidelines or commitments to make – choose what you like then delve in. This is an awesome challenge for anyone who is serious about growing in their faith!" Ah... I'll pass this to Mama.

9. Off the Shelf "encourages you to read the books off your own shelves (2012 or earlier) that have gone unread for too long." Aha, I have several of those books. The dusty ones on the shelf.

10. Nerdy Non-fiction  I'm no nerd but this should be convenient for me. Loads of non-fiction at my fingertips. There's a list of non-fiction categories on the link. They encourage you to read a minimum number of books in at least 2 to 3 categories. It will be nice if they have Anthropology, Archeology, Forensic Psychology or any of Stephen Hawking books.

11. What an Animal  encourages you to read at least 6 books that have an animal in the book title, animal on the book cover, an animal that plays a major role in the book and the main character as an (or turns into)  animal.

12. The Classics "the point of this challenge is to read at least ONE classic novel in 2013." Sounds easy peasy to me. I got many classics after all.

13. Eclectic this one has an aim to push you outside your comfort zone by reading up to 12 books during the year from 12 different categories. I have been eyeing this challenge since 2012 but it looks like I'm going to pass 2013 as I struggle with Dystopian, Urban Fantasy or LGBT, and they're part of the requirements. Maybe for 2014 then.

Halibut karaage

Usually eating out alone, I'm a fan of set meals.  And of fish. And of Japanese cuisine. This is one of my recent brunches at Zen. It includes rice, miso soup, noodle cheese salad, Zen soy sauce and kiimchi.

Karaage is described by Wikipedia as "Japanese cooking technique in which various foods — most often meat and fish — are deep fried in oil. Small pieces of the food are marinated in a mix of soy sauce, garlic, and/or ginger, then lightly coated with a seasoned wheat flour or potato starch mix, and fried in a light oil — similar to the preparation of tempura."

I found this recipe from Feeding my Ohana. I'm attracted to the sherry in this recipe.

3-4 mahi mahi fillets or other white fish                  Sherry 
1T sugar                                                                1t curry powder
2T cornstarch (or potato starch)                             1T shoyu
1 egg scrambled with a little water                         Panko and Canola oil

Mix sugar, curry powder, shoyu, cornstarch and sherry. Marinate for about 30 minutes. Dip in scrambled egg and then dredge in panko. Fry in oil until golden brown. Flip once. Drain on paper towels.

 Foodie Friday * Food Trip Friday * Food Friday

Ambling along Asiatique

Perhaps the easiest, fastest and most cost-effective way to reach Asiatique is to take the BTS (sky train) to Saphan Taksin and then the free shuttle boat. This was my first visit and as I observed the surrounding sights I took this shot smiling to myself, 'Bangkok has a London Eye.'

When I was little I always wanted a ferris wheel ride, but the overprotective parents insisted a merry-go-round should be enough fun. Yesterday I thought, 'hmn... this time no parents watching like a hawk. What if I'd try? I kept moving toward it but changed my mind upon seeing too many kids queuing at the base.

Ah well... finding a fountain while ambling along isn't so bad

and the shop mascots are cute.

The temperature went down with the sun so I was happy watching business going on. It is what I love about night markets.

 

Asiatique is part attraction, part shopping. It has many restaurants, several alfresco dining, lots of international cuisine, and the Thai Calypso cabaret show

Goods are more expensive than those in say, Jatujak or MBK. But fine by me. I didn't buy anything except dinner :)

Asiatique business hours: 17:00 - midnight

Address: 2194 Charoenkrung Road 72-74, Wat Phraya Krai, Bangkolaem

Richard Barrow, one of Thailand's most influential bloggers has concise historical description of Asiatique on his Thailand Photo Map site.

Bangkok Post, one of (two) Thailand's major English newspapers, featured an article regarding Asiatique's pricing issues - something foreigners who are visiting for the first time may want to be aware of.    

***
ABCWednesday - Our World - Blue Monday

Bonjour pastries

Since watching Chocolat, I can't get 'patiserrie' off my mind.  The idea sounds even delicious with the way  Vianne (Juliette Binoche) enunciates the word. As I checked showtimes for Les Miserables in a mall on Wednesday, I passed by Bonjour and was reminded of things French and that I haven't had Bonjour goodies in awhile. So I picked some of my favorites: the coconut twist, the tiny muffins - banana, chocolate and pineapple; brownie, raisin cinnamon roll, cashew nut stick and chocolate stick.

There are three things I like about Bonjour pastries: milk is richly evident, sweetness is just right for my taste and cashew nut toppings are abundant enough. The only thing which was a bit off to me was that I could hardly taste or smell any cinnamon in the so-called cinnamon roll, but other than that, everything else is yummy as always.

Food Friday * Color Connection * Food Trip Friday