Abby pointed out to me how I pretty much went from quarantine to quarantine (from China since January to the States since March, with a brief dalliance in Taiwan in between), and that is an accurate summary of my 2020 so far. Thankfully, I had a few weeks of respite when I first arrived back in Philly before shit hit the fan worldwide.
When I got back from Taiwan, I was itching to visit my favourite Philly cafes that I missed whilst abroad, so I ate out a lot in late February and early March, caught up with friends, and got it all out of my system well before Philly’s stay-at-home order. I started unofficially self-quarantining on March 12, and Philly’s stay-at-home order started March 16.
When I got back, I had to do groceries. Since I know better than to do groceries on an empty stomach (wow, such adult), I grabbed a quick bite from Chinatown beforehand.
Besides Philly’s cafes, I also desperately missed Philly’s secondhand bookstores. I didn’t buy any books whilst abroad, which was great for my attempt at a book buying ban, but as soon as I got back to Philly, I bought six books secondhand, spending $18 total. I didn’t buy them in one fell swoop though! It was across a few bookstores over a few weeks. Anywho, now that I’m self-quarantined, I won’t have to worry about the temptation of thrifting books anymore… although many people have been sharing about supporting small businesses (important!), including your local bookstore, and I’m definitely tempted to order a book online even though I almost never buy books new. There’s one specific book I’m dying to read ASAP, and I think it’ll be a dense one that I’d much prefer to read a hard copy of.
Plug: my bookstagram!
Brunch at Parc with Bomi. Bomi’s first Parc experience. We shared my favourite warm shrimp salad and some other stuff.
Dinner with Louise at Wm. Mulherin’s Sons. Louise’s first Mulherin experience. We shared my favourite speck and egg pizza (with caramelised onions, potato, fontina), and the pistachio garganelli (with mortadella alfredo, pistachio, black olive bread crumbs) was also mouthwateringly delicious. Best meal I had all month!
Redeemed a free coffee from Kayuh Bicycles & Cafe.
The weather started to warm up, which meant: gelato. Got some at Gran Caffe L’Aquila and paired it with a hot chocolate as well. The staff continue to be the sweetest. I had initially ordered a cappuccino, but when I was about to pay, I remembered that I already had a coffee earlier in the day so I switched to a hot chocolate. The barista had already added the cappuccino to the receipt, so instead of taking it out and putting in the hot chocolate, he just charged me for the cheaper cappuccino and made me the hot chocolate. Their hot chocolate is an Italian drinking chocolate, so, the super rich and super thick kind.
Breakfast at Miel Patisserie: coffee and a ham and cheese croissant.
Brunch at Winkel. Chicken waffles. So good.
Brunch at Louie Louie with Louise. Their dinner menu is better.
Stocked up on frozen foods and other groceries from Chinatown. I usually hardly ever buy frozen food, but it’s necessary for self-quarantining, as fresh produce won’t last forever.
This was March 12. I began my self-quarantine right after this grocery run. Because I started self-quarantining before the stay-at-home order, this grocery shopping experience was business as usual. The supermarket was pretty calm, but I hear that the Chinatown supermarkets are a good place to get groceries during quarantine anyway (at least in Philly), as they don’t have crazy lines like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods always do. I do miss Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi though; I have a good amount in stock (I went once since quarantine), but I’m trying to make it last because I won’t be going to Trader Joe’s again until the quarantine lifts. In early April I placed my first Amazon Fresh order in my life, and I plan to do all my groceries under quarantine via Amazon Fresh now.
When I was at the Chinatown supermarket—again, bear in mind that this was before the stay-at-home-order—all the grocery store workers were wearing masks and gloves. I felt like I was back in China in January and I felt so safe. Weird how I felt safer in China than I do now in the States, huh? Sure, part of it has to do with that I was in the suburbs of Beijing and was super comfortable with my family in our big house, whereas in Philly, I live in the city proper in a small apartment in a gentrifying neighbourhood. But it’s not the staying at home that gets to me. Most of it has to do with the level of incompetence in the States that I did not foresee, and additionally, not simply the racism (disappointed but not surprised; luckily I haven’t experienced anything personally, but it’s something I’m very anxious about, so no, I’m not jogging outside daily or ever), but also some glaring differences in Eastern and Western culture and mindset that have been frustrating me, regarding how the pandemic is being handled in the States, both on the government and societal levels. I also wonder if there’s an element of internet culture (?) that’s getting to me. *time for me to look for answers in Trick Mirror again? haha*
Anyways, as much as I can, I’m trying to keep off the topic of the pandemic, focusing instead on what I am doing in the present rather than longing for the past or grasping toward the future.
The quarantine doesn’t stop the food consumption, no sir. Now, for the very important segment on dalgona coffee:
- I used my packaged Vietnamese instant coffee and coconut sugar. It was the only kind of instant coffee I had. Spent 30 minutes trying to whip it up with a fork to no avail. Another 30 minutes trying to whip it up with an electric whisk to no avail. But at least it turned out light enough to sit on top of the milk. Wasted an hour of my life.
- I used more of the same Vietnamese instant coffee and coconut sugar, and less water. Used an electric whisk for 10 minutes and gave up. It sunk.
- I ducked into my local corner store down the block to buy some normal instant coffee (and also stocked up on other pantry items while I was at it). Coconut sugar. Used a milk frother. Looked a lot better than the sludge I made with the Vietnamese instant coffee, which was loaded with powdered milk and sugar—the wrong chemistry for this kinda thing. Sat on top of the milk, but definitely liquidy, pourable.
- Instant coffee, brown sugar, electric whisk. Similar to Attempt 3, but the slightest bit thicker.
- Instant coffee, white sugar, electric whisk. Accidentally poured a little too much water. The gradual improvement continues.
- Instant coffee, white sugar, electric whisk. Used the correct amount of water. Finally a passable texture. No longer pourable.
- Instant coffee, white sugar, electric whisk on high! Perfection in 4-5min!!! I was whisking on low previously for at least 10 minutes each attempt because the mixture starts off so small and I didn’t want the whisk to splatter it everywhere.
I thought I was going to stop making dalgona coffee once I nailed it, but by the time I perfected it (it seems it took me a whole week lol, embarrassing), it had already become part of my routine. I don’t like taking out and packing away the electric whisk every day (it’s handheld), but it sure beats whisking with a fork for god knows how long. Making dalgona coffee has become a meditative part of my routine, and drinking it reminds me of the glory days of having frothy cappuccinos at cafes. I love the viscosity of dalgona coffee and it’s a step up from subsisting on my thin Vietnamese instant coffee. I love my Vietnamese instant coffee, but it’s more of a kind of drink you quickly chug before darting out the door, rather than one you sit with and relish for awhile. And I’ve been doing a lot of sitting and relishing in quarantine.
Oh, also, dalgona coffee has been making me go through hella milk. But hey, it’s cheaper bulk buying instant coffee, sugar, and milk than buying coffee from cafes every day. Also, I drink almond milk, which stores better than fresh cow milk (lol I don’t think I’ve ever called cow milk “cow milk” before, just “milk”), so I’m good with the bulk buying.
Perhaps the most beautiful part of the month: Rittenhouse Square, decked out in flowers from cancelled events due to the coronavirus. Something beautiful in itself. Not in spite of something or considering something. Just beautiful.