Gravy, its made from meats and thickened into what we are use to seeing on the dinner table around Thanksgiving here in the states. Gravy is a sauce and has made its way into many types of cooking.

The starch is what does the magic in making the broth into a gravy. A few of the starches I have been looking at is Flour, Bread Crumbs, and Cornstarch. I have only tested Cornstarch and it does quite a job. However it would be better if i could learn how to thicken broth into gravy with Bread Crumbs since bread is such a large theme inside Rinascimento cuisine.

I thoughts were if I could have a Gravy thats 50% fat and 50% flour to make a Roux. I had gotten the idea from Alton Browns show good eats on the episode "Gravy Confidential". As of all cuisine made from Rinascimento, Akibakei/Geek, Otaku, Shibuyakei, and Tellus I try to implement all the skills I have learned in cooking, which all have been a mix from Alton Browns shows, my mother, my grandmother betty, my swado sister in law, and my bro.

What came to mind when I thought of fat was the idea of once again tackling the idea of Pork Belly. This time a possible roast may do the trick. After the roasting process I was thinking of cutting off the Fat from the pork belly and saving that as well as the drippings from the roasting process. I would use the drippings and sticking them in a medium sized pot while saving the fat. I was thinking of adding a cup of red wine and 2 cups of can stock to the medium sized pot.

Then in a separate pan I would be adding the pork belly fat, quarter stick of butter, flour, and water. Cook it for a little while on medium-high heat and then turn down the heat to get it all mixed and down to room temperature. The pan with the broth should be simmering, but not boiling. I would then add bits of the broth into the Roux to make the Gravy.

I dont know if this works yet, but i might beable to try seeing if it works soon enough in my kitchen.

What I hope happens later on is figuring out at least 5 different gravies with different basis. Since the broth has so much to do with it... making a broth from scratch would probably be my best bet in making a gravy.

Basically, the gravy would be defined as a flavored liquid intended to accompany a food enhancing its flavor. Rinascimento is on its way to developing their list of culinary sauces to accompanying bread, meats, and vegatables.

Rinacimento Sauces

Afulliend Sauce (old english: the fuller)

Calcrond Sauce (old english: with shielding shoe of horses)

Woglinde Sauce (Similar to the old english word waeglioende which is Seafarer)

Tolkien Sauce (the last name of historic fantasy writer John Ronald Reuel Tolkien)

Galdor Sauce (old english: a wizard, enchanter, or soothsayers spell, song, incantation, or enchantment.)

Rinascimento, Gothic, and Tellus are bound by their culinary obsessions. Rinascimento and Gothic is all for the breads and meats while Tellus glorifies vegatables. This relationship will be shown with the Rhinemaidens in Richard Wagners opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen. The names are Woglinde, Wellgunde, and Flosshilde which will be used as naming conventions for sauces.

Wellgunde Sauce (two of three water-nymph Rhinemaidens) Gothic

Flosshilde Sauce (three of three water-nymph Rhunemaidens) Tellus

Matt Maeda

It seems that constant editing is being done to my food section, since things are not working out as planned, then again with little experience in the kitchen and little interest in the matter, why would it be a hit success.

However I am getting a clearer idea of what it is im trying to target in this cuisine of rinascimento. I started writing a list of ingredients which are going to be glorified in the cuisine and how its different from other cuisine. How you ask? well I know the glorified sweeteners are Cinnamon and Honey. The thing we use for spice is Spicy Mustard mixed with worcestershire sauce. Garlic, Onions, Tomatos, Carrots, and Cellery as the main vegatables. Pork, Chicken, and Beef which is the usual meats. Maybe if i can get my hands on a peacock i can figure out a way to use that as well for some exotic dishes.

Cutting out asian cuisine influences is much harder then I had expected. Many things which im used to using such as panko, soy sauce, sesame seed oil, and other asian cuisine ingredients. I didn't realize this until I tried to make a pork filling for my experimental bread cups.

The reason im having such a hard time with adapting with knowing the tastes and recipes of western cultures is that I grew up in the islands of hawaii which let me tell you doesnt have as wide of a choice as the mainland when it comes to western cuisine choices outside of the typical french, italian, and american cuisines. The reason? hawaii has always had a predominantly asian and american taste for food.

I went to the super market with my parents and we went to see if there were in additional ingredients we could find. Knowing medieval history I know that one of the ingredients, but not glorified was the Chick Pea. They also liked Barley. I went to the store primarily to seek out Almond Butter.

Matt Maeda

Throughout history man has used sauces. During 257 Romans used fish sauce to mask all the flavor of food consumed past its prime. In the medieval 1100's they loved their sweet sauces which were thickened with bread and enhanced with spices. During 1813 a system of sauce organization based on several mother sauces in france, which made france famous for sauce making. 

Today many cultures are known for their sauces. When we think of italian food many people think spaghetti. When we think of indian food many of us think Indian Curry. Its no secret that we love to identify cuisines with their most famous of liquid concoctions, and this is why it is important to develop or glorify different sauces with each urban culture. 

The urban cultures which I have been taking a look at lately have been urban cultures which glorify places in European history. This is why I have been studying things such as Stew and Gravy which derived from meats or left overs from cooking with a bit of added broth, water, and added vegetable ingredients usually. The cultures such as Gothic which takes many of its influences from Germany, Rinascimento which takes many influences from Italy, and Tellus which takes many of its Influences from Anglo-Indian and the French.

The term Curry is often applied to Stew like substances with Curry powder, but during the spice trades is where the spice Curry was made by the merchants from Asia to Europe in the 13th century. In India the words Curry and Curry powder dont really exist, so what is it called? its called Masala. Masala and Curry are labeled as one and the same, but they are clearly different from one another. This means when i am working on Desi culture I will definately need to take a look into the famous Masala, and when I am working on Tellus and its influence of anglo-indian, crusader, and medieval spice trades I will need to label it as Curry.

Matt Maeda

Since arriving in Kemo I felt like someone was hitting my gut with a hammer and kicking me in the back at every five seconds. It was not good. The amount I wanted to punch something was at a tipping point. I ended up rolling on the ground hoping the pain would go away. Luckily after a few days 50% of the pain resided, and I was able to walk to the restroom and eat with out feeling like I just got out of a food processor.

The past couple weeks was mostly recovery and research. As I lay in my bed I was on my Netbook looking up the idea of the idea of Nutrition of the 1500 century called Humorism. The reason? I needed to figure out how people could see Nutrition in a easier way which was sort of mythical. The idea of humorism is really out of wack since we didnt have too much scientific advancement back then as we do now.

Humorism is based on four fluids which are in every person and they effect your mind and function. It was linked to things such as Elements, Seasons, Colors, and sometimes animals at times. I took one part which was the elements and tried to dive into my Nutrition book from college. I got so lost with all the scientific jargon... I turned on the TV to see a Weight Lost game show which I forgot the name of. The show was on Bravo Network and I was thinking about how people could easily understand nutrition. I couldnt use the super flawed Humorism beliefs alone, but the scientific beliefs seemed so complicated.

I decided that I would try my hand at using some of the terms of Elements which were used in video games I have played such as Final Fantasy, Guild Wars, and Warcraft to define different Organs in the body. I listed Water,Air, Lightning, Earth, Ice, and Fire. I then linked it to common organs which were mentioned on multiple sources online and magazines in my house. Some of these were Dr OZ, Oprah, GQ, Health, Home and Garden, Simply, Maxim, and a whole bunch of health nut blogs which I randomly read. What I took from each of these sources were common ideas of common nutrition. Ideas of Vitamens, Minerals, Antioxidents, and a whole bunch of basic Nutrients we need for our system which are said to be so called scientifically proven. I found there were about 6 elements and one non element. I stuck them in a shape which had 6 points and it looked like a jewish star. I did further design and it looked more like stained glass at the end. I did extra detailing with the colors and shapes because I really didnt want people thinking it was a jewish star. Its a stupified version of a nutrition chart which covers probably alot of things, maybe most things, but not absolutely everything ever. I will only know if it simplifies the idea of modern and old together when I explain this to the masses during my Rinascimento event.

Meanwhile in the Kitchen my mom has been helping me cook a few things here and there. Nothing I got too excited about except the Pork Belly which is so yummy i dont want to share O_o. I am eagerly looking at a way to finish the recipes for my beloved urban culture Rinascimento.. Well its for everyone, not just mine, but I feel attached to it since I have been doing years of research and things are finally coming together. I really want to finish these recipes!

Matt Maeda

My uncle once asked me where did Octobomb come from? I thought about it and noticed I hadnt really shed much light on the subject.

If you know me, you know that I really love sea creatures, especially Octopus. I almost became a Marine Biologist just to study them! They are very interesting with their eight little legs, beak, and their three hearts. Yeah you heard me! three times the love XD!

Yeah you get it, I love octopus. Back on the subject though! The name Octobomb originally came as an idea of a character in my mind. When I was young around the age of 10 I use to draw a ninja and then multiple variations of different colored and weapon equipped ninja. I did the same for hashbrowns, tacos, octopus, pirates, and squids. My favorite character at the time was an Octopus that through bombs! So, I thought it would be so cool to have a name like Octo- and -bomb! The name became my online Nick Name whenever I played games online.

Later on people saw I was using another Nick Name which was Nemo Schelantro. This name was completely random for the most part. I was just thinking of what sounded cool, and I always thought Nemo from The League of Extraordinary Gentleman was cool, and I was thinking  Chilantro, so I added those together too : ).

Eventually I started writing a little fiction story about the two names which involved a Sky Pirate "Nemo Schelatro" and his vessel "The Octobomb" and it was a airship shaped sort of like a narwhale meets a robotic octopus.

Matt Maeda

On friday I found out that the American Tee Shirt Company was not open. Darn them! I guess I will have to wait until the following week or so. The good thing is that this means the Tee Shirts I have been working on are soon to be on their way!

Its exciting I think.

Over the weekend I have been working on Tee Shirt Designs, watching Youtube videos of TED talks, and trying to organize the website better. Even if announcing anything on the web is like telling the whole world... it doesnt mean its set in pure stone. The website has alot of prospective things, but since I have been developing alot of it by myself it has taken a tole on my head. I keep on thinking of everything at the same time, so I started to write it down slowly but surely. Alot of the recipes are untested, so I have yet to try them out for myself to see if they even taste good. However once I am done writing out all the ideas to solidify the cultures more, maybe I will have time to make these concepts more concrete and less squishy.

My favorite part of the weekend so far was being able to eat the fried Goodness at Aiea Manapua. I ate over 4 Stuffed Mushroom :D! but i had to see that stupid parking lot i just hate! it pissed me off everytime I see that parking lot. That fat bitch who gave me a ticket for parking in somewhere which was FREE parking a couple of weeks ago really grinds my gears. I hope she gets whats coming to her with some nice wack of Karma! seriously she was being a pain.

Back at home during the weekend I just continued to read a few books. What titles? Seth Godin's Purple Cow and Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers.

The day still has many hours, so im not sure what will happen. However I know that I am going to my grandparents house in kaneohe.

Matt Maeda

I dont normally blog twice in one day, but I have something on my mind I just gotta type out, so bear with me.

In some cruel twist of cooking fate I had the feeling of making all kinds of rice. What kind of Rice? Rissotto!, so i thought making something like Spanish Rice or Indian Rice might be a great way to start. Yummy rice I thought. Starchy greatness! more mexican stuff I know the better.

I looked up a recipe and quickly ran through it. I should have been more careful about the process, because I didnt ask myself questions which were not listed on the actual recipe. I put the ingredients of Chicken Broth, Onion, Garlic, Tomato sauce, and followed the cooking process as it said. What i didnt take into account was that it just said uncooked rice. What it really ment was Long Grained rice. Short Grained rice sticks together, which is what I ended up with. Thats fine if thats what you are going for, however I recall eating Spanish Rice while eating my Burritos at the mexican restaurant and that rice is not sticky at all. After I took a bite of it... I felt like it was crunchy, gross, and overly soaked...

I was a bit angry that it didnt turn out for the best, so I went to watch more YouTube videos and found out from an Alton Brown video that it was the grain and the size of the cooking wear... at least I got it right to use a wood spoon.

At the moment I feel like going to the super market and getting some Rice revenge!!! I feel as If I just lost a major battle to the laughing Spanish Rice which is in my fridge telling me with its taste that it simply was not the Spanish Rice which I had imagined in my head.

Until then I am drawing out a recipe guide to have round two at Battle of the Rice Bits!

Matt Maeda

More typing and research on the urban cultures *sigh* im glad im not tackling every single one and just Rinascimento, Akibakei, Shibuyakei, and Otaku. Its not so bad though... I guess more is better, at least thats what my pops tells me O_o.

I typed up alot of information on Food and Music since I have been getting more and more requests about those particular sections. Akibakei which is Geek has been associated with Post-Grunge 90's rock alternative because of the Information age and alot of people I have surveyed have similar bands which are all Post-Grunge. When I asked people in Japan online they told me they liked western alternative bands in Japan... so it sounded like everyone was pointing towards a weird combo of Post-Grunge with a faster paced melody... Asian Kung Fu Generation anyone??? lol.

Earlier this past weekend I kept on waking up in the middle of the night, but it happends so often these days I don't give a crap. Actually I just hop on the computer and type more. Addicted to work? idk, maybe. Usually though... if its past 4 am I tend to just drink a coffee and go gung ho. Dead ass tired later on that evening at 9pm... from either the work or the lupus. Id bet that its both!

Luckily my MP3 player is my best friend who keeps me company all the time. Dead tired from typing? i listen to something. Just listening to some of the songs on my play list inspires me to do more, depending on the songs of course. Even if i feel like crud... tired... and in pain in different parts of my body like Kidneys, Ankles, Thighs, Hips, and the top of my head... I can still do anything! now only if an prospective employer at the recruiting offices would think so >.>

In other news, I have been cooking. This past week I made Meat Pies with two of my friends Sean and Nick. We were in the kitchen much longer then we ever wanted to, but at the end the meat pies turned out great. We all scarfed them down like no tomorrow, because it was 11pm when we ended... 8pm when we started.

till next time, ciao!

 Matt Maeda

A look at our modern Librarians.

It seems the only thing the young Librarians say they wait for seems to be the ALA Conference or a Library Conference in general as a chance to sociallize. As I took a look at YouTube which I know is not the best source, but it showed me videos of what this conference looked like. As I saw footage it seemed as if people were trying to make library products as in more books rather then focus on the library themselves. They seem more then aware of the decline in our public libraries and are assertive in the voice of the public and outreach economic return etc of what libraries do, but it still doesnt seem like enough. Throughout my life and today still I have no drive to want to go to my local library.

Google had an interesting booth which talked about Technology and the Web and it made me wonder why things have not all turned into E-Books by now.

Many people blogged about different aspects which I didnt see much or hear about much while browsing the Vlogs about the ALA Conference or any other library conference... it was really weird to me. Some of these were the common things I was thinking myself. I grew up with computers, internet, and all that jazz. Not many people read these days... its sort of like a special skill. Heck I read Comics and Manga...people still think it takes too much work. Its no wonder that even books with pictures like Magazines are losing their readers.

Youtube the very place I went to get info before going to the search engine of Google. It made me think... why did I go here first... Im lazy... everything is on video... so why read it... why type it...i then laughed... people may use Videos as a way to get interested, then move on to a Article with Pictures... then possibly a Podcast... and then lastly if they really are into what they had already seen, read, and heard... they might just go and read a book. That process sure is alot longer then it use to be right?

That alone would be enough to know why people are using less of the library... but there needs to be more of a community voice because many people are trying to not stay indoors. Information and Knowledge must be incorporated to a more go out and do aspect in life. A voice of a library might just give it some communication leverage, and that means possible political power.

Anyways I could rant alot more about this stuff since i studied it all day, but I figure I will put a plan in action to see how Libraries need to be updated. Until then... Ciao

Matt Maeda

Being sick has played a toll on your aging, but when you look at yourself with an extra wonder of how long youll be around you notice you are aging at a fast rate. Looking back at pictures from 2003 shows just how quickly. A picture of a young and slender person to someone who has gained some pounds and a look of slight aging of the skin could probably pass as an older sibling.

As I talk to people around me it seems I am the only one around my age or younger who are starting to realize or have realized this terrible but all too apparent news of life goes by fast. The other day I had talked to a few chick friends of mine who were talking about everyday drama, but as they continue to talk about their problems I wonder if the idea of solving it ever came to mind. I say this, and they tell me they just want someone to listen, which is another way of saying im emotional and I have no regards for other peoples time. I get ever so bored and end the conversation after three hours in, since it is starting to gape 2 hours more then I ever wanted to in a situation which was never ment to be fixed in the first place.

I go and look at a picture of my favorite video game hero Mega Man a great hero of justice and good. He never looked a day older... it made me wonder what would happen if they had aged him even slightly throughout the series on how much different his look might have been. No, he looks the same as he was when he was made. I like the blue bomber and he is a hero to me, but damn I wish I aged like he did.

The main thing to know is that life is coming up fast no matter what age you are. It is important to know this by at least 18, but if you can realize it at even 12 I say you will pave roads! lots of roads! cause theres no better motivation then some person of Death saying your ass is gonna die and no one will care unless you do shit with your life! hell its like knowing your life was meaningless until you got anything even started, because even people who tried and failed are remembered. Evil people are remembered for sabotage! but people who just sit around were never remembered, and those who accomplished the impossible were forever rememebered among the people.