nonsense! http://ramiroberrelleza.com Most recent posts at nonsense! posterous.com Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:21:11 -0700 Alki beach in the summer http://ramiroberrelleza.com/alki-beach-in-the-summer http://ramiroberrelleza.com/alki-beach-in-the-summer

Weekends like these makes all those rainy days worthwhile.  Photos taken in Alki beach in West Seattle.

- Ramiro

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:06:57 -0700 Greek style garbanzo salad http://ramiroberrelleza.com/greek-style-garbanzo-salad http://ramiroberrelleza.com/greek-style-garbanzo-salad

Made this for dinner tonight, came out pretty good:

Ingredients (makes for two full portions)

·         1 15oz can of cooked garbanzo beans

·         1 cup diced tomatos

·         1 cup diced green pepper

·         ½ cup diced red onion

·         2 tbsp minced garlic

·         2 tbsp lemon juice

·         2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

·         2 tbsp white wine vinegar

·         Salt and pepper to taste

·         Crumbled feta cheese to taste

How to

1.       Mix everything but the feta cheese together, and let it rest for at least one hour

2.       Chill in the fridge, covered, for another hour.

3.       Mix in the crumbled feta cheese right before serving.

4.       Enjoy!

Great dish for a hot afternoon, went great with a cup (or two) of chilled rosé wine.

Hope you like it!

- Ramiro

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:56:00 -0700 4th of July weekend in San Francisco http://ramiroberrelleza.com/4th-of-july-weekend-in-san-francisco http://ramiroberrelleza.com/4th-of-july-weekend-in-san-francisco As part of my “Say hello to America world tour” (*), I spend the 4th of July weekend on the Bay Area, visiting friends (@checoivan & @lopsae) and walking around San Francisco.

 

While I’ve been to the Bay area several times (most of them on Mountain View), I had  never properly visited the city. While the weather wasn’t the best (it was like Seattle, which is bad when you’re on vacation!), I really enjoyed doing all the touristy stuff in the city.  The city is quite beautiful and very picturesque.

 

One thing I really dig about the city is how bike-oriented it is. From my experience, it seems like a lot of people move around San Francisco in a bike, which rocks (even with all those hills). Also, people dress really sharp, especially in down town.

Pics: Wells-Fargo in downtown / Yerba buena garden / 'Quantic Man' in SFMOMA / Street car / Pier 39 / Golden gate bridge

- Ramiro

 

* There’s no such thing, but sure sounds cool ;)

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:28:07 -0700 Lenin in Seattle! http://ramiroberrelleza.com/lenin-in-seattle http://ramiroberrelleza.com/lenin-in-seattle

In the list of weird things in Seattle, this easily fits in the top 10.

Right in the middle of ‘downtown’ Freemont there’s a  16 feet bronze sculpture of Lenin, the father of the Russian revolution. Imagine that, a huge bronze statue of the major communist figure in history, right in  the middle of an American city! I have no  idea how that was even allowed, but I love it! It just makes Seattle even cooler.

There’s a whole Wikipedia entry dedicated to the statue, take a couple of minutes and check it out, it’s pretty cool. If you live in the Seattle area, and have never seen it, you should really drive (or cycle, Freemont is really bike-friendly) and say hi to comrade Lenin. It’s right on the intersection of Evanston Ave N, N 36th St, and Fremont Place.

- Ramiro

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:00:40 -0700 In awe http://ramiroberrelleza.com/in-awe-23 http://ramiroberrelleza.com/in-awe-23

Yesterday, my step-sister was pregnant; today, a brand-new girl came to live.

Albeit it being the one of the most common events on the planet,  I still can’t wrap my head around it. This is for sure an awesome moment, in the literal sense of the word.

- Ramiro

PS: She’ll be getting this book as a birthday present. Check out the video, is really cool.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:47:12 -0700 Put the fun between your legs http://ramiroberrelleza.com/put-the-fun-between-your-legs-1 http://ramiroberrelleza.com/put-the-fun-between-your-legs-1

Seriously, do it this summer.

- Ramiro

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Mon, 31 May 2010 23:59:00 -0700 Memorial weekend on Victoria BC http://ramiroberrelleza.com/memorial-weekend-on-victoria-bc http://ramiroberrelleza.com/memorial-weekend-on-victoria-bc For this year’s memorial weekend I decided to skip town and join my step mom and sister on Victoria BC.  So, I woke up really early  (5am!) on Sunday, drove downtown, boarded the ferry at 7am,  and by 10am I was docking on Victoria’s Inner Harbor.

 

Victoria is a really cool and relaxed city (something that seems to be shared by every island-city I’ve ever been to, something in the air maybe?), with a great park in the middle of the city (Beacon Hill), and a downtown perfect for an afternoon stroll (which includes Canada’s oldest Chinatown).  In general is a very lovely city, perfect for ditching the car and walking (or biking) around.

The city is perfect for a weekend getaway, being just 3 hours away by ferry. I really recommend it, especially in the summer.

 

- Ramiro

 

PS: Parking near the ferry terminal in downtown for two days was cheaper than taking a cab. The ferry company has a great deal ($10 per day) with the parking lot in the corner of Wall St. and Alaskan Way. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Sat, 03 Apr 2010 15:50:21 -0700 Mag+ a magazine platform for the iPad http://ramiroberrelleza.com/mag-a-magazine-platform-for-the-ipad http://ramiroberrelleza.com/mag-a-magazine-platform-for-the-ipad
Jack Schulze, from Berg London, talks about their new magazine platform for the iPad, the Mag+ and their first real world use, Popular Science+:

While I was an early detractor for the iPad, seeing this kind of innovation (also see the ultra cool Marvel iPad app) is making me wonder if I should jump in the bandwagon and go get one soon. 

Could this really be the future of media distribution? iPad owners, is it as cool as it looks on the videos?

Ramiro 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:43:00 -0700 Weird stuff in my head http://ramiroberrelleza.com/weird-stuff-in-my-head http://ramiroberrelleza.com/weird-stuff-in-my-head

For the past few days I've found myself mentally repeating a couple of lines from Quevedo's 'Salmo XVII' disturbingly often (at least is not Lady Gaga, right?). The Salmo is one of my favorite poems, one which I vaguely remember having to memorize in one of my junior high classes. I've always like the sonority of it as well as the images it produces, albeit it's very dark subject, the dreading sense of the looming death.

Anyways, I've decided to share the poem here, in an attempt to exorcise it from my mind. I'm putting the Spanish version and below (couldn't make the two columns look good)  a very crude translation  (my own) for all of you who don’t speak Spanish. Hopefully you can get a sense of why I like it so much.

Salmo XVII

Miré los muros de la patria mía,
si un tiempo fuertes, ya desmoronados, 
de la carrera de la edad cansados, 
por quien caduca ya su valentía. 
 
Salíme al campo; vi que el sol bebía 
los arroyos del yelo desatados, 
y del monte quejosos los ganados, 
que con sombras hurtó su luz al día. 
 
Entré en mi casa; vi que, amancillada, 
de anciana habitación era despojos; 
mi báculo, más corvo y menos fuerte. 
 
Vencida de la edad sentí mi espada, 
y no hallé cosa en que poner los ojos 
que no fuese recuerdo de la muerte. 

  Franciso de Quevedo

English translation:

I watched the walls of my country,
at one time strong, now decayed,
tired by time’s race
for whom they bravery now fades.
 
I went to fields; watched the sun drink
the brooks freed from the ice,
and from the mountain the cattle lamenting,
which with shadows stole the light from the day.
 
I walked upon my house; saw that, stained,
it was now ruins of an ancient room;
my walking stick, more bowed and weaker.
 
Defeated from age I felt my sword,
and I couldn’t lay my gaze upon nothing
that wasn’t a reminder of death.

 

Hope you like it!
Ramiro

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:40:00 -0700 Coconut milk risotto http://ramiroberrelleza.com/coconut-milk-risotto http://ramiroberrelleza.com/coconut-milk-risotto

In my efforts to successfully complete the great no meat challenge 2010 I’ve been trying out some new meat-less recipes to eat at home (eating out on a no-meat challenge is hard, so say the least). Last week I prepared a coconut milk risotto that turned out fairly good, so I decided to share the recipe, in case a brave soul decides to risk it all and try out something I recommended:

Ingredients (makes for 2 big portions)

  • 1 cup of Arborio rice
  • 1 14oz can of unsweetened coconut milk (I used Thai Kitchen’s)
  • 1/2 14oz can of diced tomatoes (or two finely chopped fresh tomatoes, seeded)
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped shallots* (eyeball it)
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon of butter
  • A handful of fresh cilantro
  • A handful of julienned carrot (optional)
  • Chili paste (optional, but everything really tastes better with chili paste)

 

How to

  1. Put a pan on medium heat, coat it with the olive oil
  2. Once the olive oil is hot (but before it starts smoking) put the butter in the pan
  3. Once the butter is melted add the chopped shallots and cook until they are transparent
  4. Toss in the rice, moving it around the pan until everything is evenly coated with oil and the rice starts to brown (this is very important!)
  5. Once the rice is starting to brown, incorporate about a quarter of the coconut milk and the tomatoes (feel free to use the whole can if you prefer a more tomatoey flavor)
  6. Stir the rice until the milk has been absorbed (the rice will start to take a creamy consistence)
  7. Repeat 5 and 6 until you incorporate all the milk (I only added ¾ of the can as the coconut was too sweet, but feel free to go all the way)
  8. Let the rice cook through for about 15 minutes, stirring constantly, until rice is tender (feel free to try some rice to test for tenderness, just don’t eat the whole thing)
  9. Once the rice is done, turn off the heat and remove the pan from the heat.
  10. Wait for a couple of minutes for the rice to cool a bit, and stir some more
  11. Add chili paste to taste (I recommend adding a bit even if you don’t like chili, it really improves the overall taste of the risotto)
  12. Garnish generously with the cilantro and the julienned carrot and serve while it’s still hot

 

Extra points

I haven’t tried this yet, but adding some chopped peanuts or cashews sounds like a great idea (as they go really well with the whole Thai theme). Let me know how that goes if you give it a try.

Hope you like it!

* Feel free to replace the shallots with garlic or onions. I just like shallots a lot.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:12:00 -0800 The great no-meat challenge 2010 http://ramiroberrelleza.com/the-great-no-meat-challenge-2010 http://ramiroberrelleza.com/the-great-no-meat-challenge-2010

Ash Wednesday represents the beginning of one of the most important celebration for Catholics around the world, Lent.  Tradition dictates that during Lent one should make a sacrifice in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus. While I’m not a devout catholic (heck, most of the people who know me will be surprised that I even consider myself a Catholic ;)),  I’m a big fan of constantly challenging myself, so every year I use Lent as the perfect pretext for some good old self-denial.

This year I’m taking the challenge to the next level, and I’ve decided I’ll give up eating meat* for the whole 40 days of Lent (Feb 17 to April 3). While I already made my challenge public through a couple of tweets I’m also writing this post as a way of giving myself some extra motivation ;)  (the power of  facing public shame FTW).

Here’s for a few weeks without meat!  Be sure to check back from time to time for my updates on how the challenge is going (tips and well wishes most welcome).

- Ramiro

*Note: I’m giving up red meat. I’m allowing myself to eat fish, and some chicken every now and then.

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:14:00 -0800 Less face and more book http://ramiroberrelleza.com/less-face-and-more-book-0 http://ramiroberrelleza.com/less-face-and-more-book-0

I love this ad, from  Gandhi, a chain of libraries in Mexico:

 

 

The ad translates to: “Less face and more book” :D.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:53:41 -0800 Seattle from the Space Needle http://ramiroberrelleza.com/seattle-from-the-space-needle http://ramiroberrelleza.com/seattle-from-the-space-needle Ramiro Berrelleza


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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:23:00 -0800 Mexican quesadillas http://ramiroberrelleza.com/mexican-quesadillas http://ramiroberrelleza.com/mexican-quesadillas

 

In commemoration of the National Cheese Lover's day I'd like to share with you the recipe for the father of the mexican cheesy dishes, the Quesadillas*.

Ingredients (makes for 12 - 16 quesadillas)

  • 2 cups of tortilla flour (you can buy it on the supermarket or in Mexican stores)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 1/4 cups of water
  • Tortilla press (optional, but very helpful, you can get it in Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond, Williams-Sonoma and similar stores)
  • 1 medium ziplock bag
  • 1/2 to 1 pound(s) of grated cheese (Asadero is the typical cheese, but Jack, Colby or Mozarella works well too)
  • Hot Sauce (optional)

How to

  1. Pour in a mixing bowl the tortilla flour, the salt and the water
  2. Mix thoroughly (your hands are the best tool for this) for about 3 minutes, until everything is incorporated and the dough resembles cornmeal. If the dough is too dry, add water to the mix (a teaspoon at a time)
  3. Once the dough is ready, split it into 16 parts (or less, if you want bigger tortillas), and knead each part into a round ball.
  4. Heat up a griddle (or a pan) on medium.
  5. Split the ziplock bag in two, and place one part of it in the tortilla press. 
  6. Center one of your dough balls in the tortilla press, and put the other part of the ziplock bag on top
  7. Close the press and well...press.
  8. Carefully peel off the tortilla and put it on the hot griddle
  9. Wait for about a minute, and then turn the tortilla (normally we would cook for a bit longer, but for quesadillas this should be enough)
  10. Turn the tortilla again, and put enough cheese on it to cover half of the tortilla
  11. Bend the tortilla over the cheese.
  12. After about 30 seconds, flip the quesadilla
  13. Wait until the cheese melted (but before the tortilla burns) to remove from the griddle.

To Serve

If you're not going to serve the quesadilla as soon as it's done (which I recomend), you can put them in a tortillero, or just cover them with a towel, to keep them hot. 

Extra Points

While the quesadilla is a fine dish by itself, I normally complemented with some extra filling. This can go from simply putting "salsa" or "pico de gallo" in it, to something more complex, such as chorizo, ajillo mushrooms or your favorite taco filling. 

*Note: This recipe is for the (much better) kind of quesadilla that you would eat a Mexican's house for dinner, not the deep-fried variation you normally get at Mexican restaurants in the US.

Hope you like it!

Ramiro Berrelleza

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:04:49 -0800 Seattle from the Smith Tower http://ramiroberrelleza.com/seattle-from-the-smith-tower http://ramiroberrelleza.com/seattle-from-the-smith-tower Ramiro Berrelleza


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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:25:44 -0800 Chocolate goodies from Pinkalicious http://ramiroberrelleza.com/chocolate-goodies-from-pinkalicious http://ramiroberrelleza.com/chocolate-goodies-from-pinkalicious

Very tasty chocolate cupcake from Pinkalicious Cupcakes (redmond town center, second floor).

There was a coconut one as well, but it misteriously dissapeared on my way to work ;)

Nom nom!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:59:40 -0800 Christmas lights http://ramiroberrelleza.com/christmas-lights-33 http://ramiroberrelleza.com/christmas-lights-33

@ Downtown Seattle

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:02:04 -0800 MLS Cup http://ramiroberrelleza.com/mls-cup http://ramiroberrelleza.com/mls-cup

Download now or watch on posterous
014.mp4 (875 KB)

Download now or watch on posterous
015.mp4 (622 KB)

Download now or watch on posterous
017.mp4 (2026 KB)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:36:01 -0800 Xbox holiday treats http://ramiroberrelleza.com/xbox-holiday-treats http://ramiroberrelleza.com/xbox-holiday-treats

Check out the new xbox controller, just in time for the holidays!

Sweet stuff.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:48:00 -0800 Feel in love with a cheese http://ramiroberrelleza.com/feel-in-love-with-a-cheese http://ramiroberrelleza.com/feel-in-love-with-a-cheese

Found this amazing 15-month old english cheddar cheese on Costco last week. Fantastic flavor, a bit on the strong side, went great with a french baguette and a glass (or two) of malbec.

Bought a pound for about $6 on Costco in Kirkland. If you're there this week, go to the cheese section and grab a piece. Your life will be better afterwards :P


Ramiro Berrelleza

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/18535/ramiro_el_nuevo.jpg http://posterous.com/people/10xNqMFwK5j ramiro berrelleza ramiro ramiro berrelleza