Wow. What a shit day today in the US. It’s Friday in the Financial District So, Roe v. Wade was overturned this morning by the Supreme Court. I feel like shit primarily because of this and I’m not even a woman. I can only imagine what it feels like for many people right now. As a nation, are we seriously fucked? We’re fucked, right? That dread drapes over the top half of my eyes as it covers every recess of my brain. Yes, I’m lucky that I live in California where we have reproductive rights, but if you’re in a red state you are seriously fucked. The scary part is it begs the question, “What’s fucking next?” That’s a serious fucking question we have to ask ourselves. Are the Democrats going to do anything effective about it? I doubt it. It’s a party where a majority of the time they can’t get their collective shits together. It’s a bunch of empty threats and I’m tired of it. I’m tired of relying on a party that waivers at making decisions when Republicans can get together and mobilize on what they want with a snap of fucking fingers. As a person who’s done a lot of protests is there a point to it anymore when the other side sees it coming and doesn’t give a flying fuck about what the masses think about their life-threatening policies? Again, there’s a serious lack of gun control in this country, but we love to control women’s bodies, hiding behind the lie that they’re pro-life. Many children got gunned down at a school with no real fucking reason as of recent and all the Republicans say is basically, “Thoughts and prayers.” You’re shitting me. Shove your thoughts and prayers up your ass. I’m tired of this shit. I’m tired of depending on a party with empty promises and spinelessness. I’m fucking tired.
Anyways, back to my immediate vicinity. I’m here with my girlfriend for dinner and I’m trying to have a good time and be pleasant. We’re in the area to meet up with friends later and do a bit more exploring. Again, it’s challenging to find a place I would be excited about since there’s not much out there. The neighborhood is emptying for the weekend. The area is starting to go silent. Luckily I did manage to find something. Tonight, we’re dining at Barcha.
This restaurant was started in 2015 by Kais Bouzidi serving up Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare and acts as the second restaurant to his more established restaurant, Sens. It’s a large and ornate restaurant. Outside is a long row of tables accompanied by patio heater towers with flames slightly raging within the clear cylinders. Complex lattices in wood decorate the lengthy space along with the large silver mirrors and potted greenery hanging from the ceiling. The space feels lavish enough for it to not be overwhelming. It’s like there’s a nice mix of glamor yet still casual. It’s nice just sitting here. The people dining here look like they just got off work nearby. Yeah, I’m not a fan of hanging around these people. They still either have the startup or financial look. How fucking boring. I’m glad I have enough self-respect to not look like whatever they are. Anyways, let’s get to the food.
The first thing we shared was their Spiced Beef Dumplings with garlic yogurt, chili oil, and dried mint. Yeah, they were fucking good. The casings were sturdy and covered in all types of flavors. The meat inside them was juicy and herbaceous, lots of flavors are coming from many different places, from the yogurt to the meat. It was rich in fat without being too overpowering. Each aspect of what was involved with these dumplings had the right flavor combos. Delicious.
Next, we had their Skirt Steak Anticucho with sumac red onions and aji pan sauce. It was meaty, juicy steak and that’s all I’m getting with light salt. The onions and sauce weren’t coming through that much with the meat. Unfortunately, the steak pieces were underwhelming and I wish more flavors were coming through instead of fat and meat. There was barely anything in common with what we just ate besides that they were both beef-centric.
I’m currently having their Shakshuka with spiced tomato sauce, eggs, chicken merguez sausage, garlic yogurt, herbs, and bazlama. It’s a visually appealing dish with a lot going on. The sausages, which are a bit unusual to have in a shakshuka from my understanding, are juicy with a bit of a snap from the casing. The sauce has an excellent level of spice. The yogurt and herbs are coming through nicely. I wish the egg yolks were runny, but they’re still fine. The bazlama has a nice amount of oil and herbs and is great to dip the bread into the stew. The edges of the bread are a bit tough, possibly as a result of a bit of overcooking. Overall, the shakshuka is enjoyable, but not perfect.
I don’t think the food has been much help with distracting me from current US events. I’m continuing to feel like shit. It’s the government’s lack of empathy and action that’s gotten us to this point. This is a great example of how the opinions of others can have a disruptive ripple effect throughout the fabric of our human existence. What a shitty joke. I’m out. We’ll see where I end up next time.
Emotional Eating 