The Reality of Food Racism

Posted on April 19, 2016 by briannavasquez

There is discrimination currently taking place in the culinary world. One that believes or suggests that chefs should only cook food that is within their own ethnic groups in order to be culturally just. Many believe that chefs should never venture from their realm of cuisine because their palate is best designed towards that genre of food. This has led to uproar and racial disagreement on what chefs can specifically cook for a living in a respectful manner.

This controversy more specifically surrounds Rick Bayless, an Oklahoman chef who has built an entire career around cooking Mexican style food. While many support Bayless and respect his love of cooking an array of Mexican delicacies, some are completely against how he is profiting from a world of food that is in no relation to him as they feel that it is a form of privilege to the Caucasian race.

Image by: Adam Goldberg

Many, unfortunately, still disagree with Bayless because they believe that the profit that he has made from cooking Mexican food for a living is exceeding more than a Mexican would make while cooking their cuisine. He has become highly criticized for his style of cooking as many feeling that he should not be able to be proficient in his career of cooking from a completely different race of cuisine.

Yet, it still seems racist to disapprove of Bayless because of his race despite his passion for Mexican cuisine although it may question the validity of the authenticity of his food, he still has a right to cook whatever food that he wants to cook. I feel that he is only being swarmed with this backlash because it involves a minority because I have seen a variety of cultures be able to work, cook, and serve French food and no one has questioned the authenticity of it. It is frustrating that in every aspect of our lives, we are unfortunately faced with racism because we are not accepting towards diversity instead we are almost frightened by it. So we argue and make stereotypical guidelines for what seems correct or normal in order to not offend or immense ourselves in a world that accepts everyone regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, et cetera because it feels easier to exclude than to include.

Comment below on your stance on this culinary scandal regarding renowned chef Rick Bayless.

Emotional Intelligence – Why Is It So Important?

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Pamela

Image Credit

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to perceive, control and evaluate emotions. What I find so amazing is that some people are born with it and some people learn it along the way. Although some researchers say you either have it or you don’t.

The following excerpt by Jessica Cambridge and Tom Norman discusses the importance of emotional intelligence:

Chapter 1: An Overview on Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence (also known as EQ) is the person’s ability to manage, use, identify and understand emotions in optimistic ways to overcome struggles, have compassion with others, resolve conflict, relieve stress and communicate effectively. EQ creates an impact in various aspects of our lives, such as the way we behave and interact with other people.

If you have a high EQ, you can recognize your own emotional state as well as others. Your EQ serves as your level of understanding the emotional aspect of relating with people in order to establish genuine relationships, achieve greater success at work and live a more fulfilling life.

Why EQ Is Very Important?

As we all know, it’s not only the smartest people that are the most fulfilled and successful in life. Perhaps you know someone who is 100% academically-inclined but he or she doesn’t know how to value personal relationships. Having intellectual intelligence (or IQ) is not enough to become successful in life. An above average IQ can get you to college – true! But in the end it’s your EQ that will help you handle the emotions, anxiety and stress of college life especially during examinations.

Emotional intelligence affects:

Your relationship with others – By controlling and understanding your emotions, you’ll be able to express how you understand and feel the emotions coming from your family, friends and work colleagues. Also, this allows you to communicate with them more effectively and develop a meaningful work and personal life.

Your mentality – Unmanaged stress creates impact in your mentality, making you susceptible to depression and anxiety. If you cannot manage or understand your emotions, there is a good chance that you will suffer from mood swings which can ruin work or personal relationships and leave you feeling isolated.

Your physical being – If you are unable to overcome stress, this can lead to severe health problems. Unmanaged stress speeds up the aging process, contributes to infertility, raises blood pressure, suppresses the body’s immune system and increases the risk of stroke and heart attack. In line with this, the crucial step to improving your EQ is by learning how to manage stress levels in your body.

Your work performance – Having an EQ helps you shove the social complexities of your workplace, lead and encourage workmates and most importantly, excel in your performance. Today, most companies view emotional intelligence as important as their employees’ technical ability hence they require EQ tests when hiring.

Personally, I think that emotional intelligence can be developed and that we can train out minds to think in a rational way. That means, taking time to think things through before acting.

Exploring Manhattan Bridge

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Konyca

When I resided in New York one of my goals was to walk on all the bridges that is pedestrians accessible. With my love for photography, I was even more determine to complete my goal. Which I have. I often ask myself which is my favorite bridge and my answer is always Brooklyn Bridge but I’m not entirely sure because I love them all; each are unique in its own way.

Of all the bridges I’ve walked, My first time walking the Manhattan Bridge was a bit scary but still exhilarating at the same time. I used the term scary because while walking on the bridge you can actually feel the tremors from the wind and whenever the trains passes by.

Question: Have you been on any of the bridges? How was your experience?

a city skyline

6:45pm

a wire mesh-fence enclosed walkway on a bridge

7:03pm

a river backed by a city skyline, and white fluffy clouds in a blue sky

7:06pm

a city skyline and river's edge, as seen through a hole in a wire mesh fence

7:12pm

7:17pm

a city skyline with a bridge over a river

7:25pm

7:30pm

To see the world

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Mandy Mei

“I ran away from my problems for 6 days. It felt great. It did. I genuinely smiled and laughed and get to be myself again. I was happy. It was the greatest feeling ever. you know what society does to you? It takes away all those things from you. It is really important to recharge and feel what it means to be you again. You know? I may not have the solutions to my problems, I may still be lost, but I am certain that I found myself once again. 🙂 I am so thankful and humbled that I’ve met lotsa great like-minded people in this journey and never have I experienced any negativity from anyone. This is what I was looking for. Iceland happens to be one of the happiest countries (they’re 2nd) in the world. And I’m glad I came. Walter Mitty: To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life.”

–KL

My Favorite Places to Eat in Brooklyn

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Jessica

I’m a lifelong resident of Brooklyn and every day there’s always a new place to eat or drink that’s opening up in Brooklyn and everywhere else. As a lifelong resident of Brooklyn, I would like to share with you my favorite places to eat here and why. Hope you’ll feel inspired to try these if you happen to be in Brooklyn.

There’s a lot of Japanese restaurants nearby where I live, but my favorite one is about a 10-15 minute walk and it’s called Samurai Fusion Sushi which is in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. I like going to Samurai Fusion Sushi because they have a variety of sushi rolls to pick from and they are very fresh and tasty. The restaurant isn’t very big, but it feels very calm and relaxing to eat there. The food here isn’t crazy expensive either.

One of my favorite brunch spots is Cafe Luluc (not too far from school, located in Cobble Hill). I usually come on the weekends when I want to go to Cafe Luluc and there’s always a line especially around 10AM-1PM, so brace yourself. However, the line and wait usually moves quick. I’ve only been here for brunch and their brunch is pretty good, top notch. Their pancakes are soft, fluffy, and tasty and I highly recommend it. Just an FYI, this restaurant is cash ONLY.

Prince Tea House opened its second location in Brooklyn last year and I was so excited to try it out. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. Prince Tea House isn’t a restaurant, but it is a tea house and they are best known for their teas of course, light desserts, and snacks. There’s a bit of a wait at night, but if you’re looking for a pleasant experience with tea and snacks, this is your place. I highly recommend the Lady M’s Mille Green Tea Crepe cake, it is literally layers of green tea deliciousness and perfectly moist!

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is one of the newer restaurants in Brooklyn and one of the few BBQ restaurants here in Brooklyn. I absolutely love coming here all year round. Their food is top notch especially their chili , brisket, and mac-n-cheese! I’ve also done catering from here for family dinners and food was cooked just right. Never a disappointment here.

Another favorite restaurant of mine is Mussels & More which I have briefly mentioned in past posts on The Buzz. Last year, I was on a total seafood and mussels binge. I’ve been to Mussels & More a few times and the food and service never disappoints. If you love seafood or mussels, this is the spot to check out. You don’t have go very far for good quality seafood dishes. Their mussels are excellent and come in a variety of flavors and broth.

Well that’s a few of my favorite places to eat in Brooklyn. If you have any questions regarding the places I’ve mentioned, please let me know.

What are your favorite places to eat near where you live?

Things I want my Daughter to know: Why I have to be the bad cop sometimes

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Samantha

Ava,

They say a daughter is a best friend for life, someone you will always have. While this is true and you’re the best thing life could have ever given me, remember before I am your friend, I am your mother. As your mother, there will be times that you think I’m being unreasonable, unfair or controlling but understand these choices come from a place of love. My biggest fear is that you might endure harm or hurt as a result of something that was my job to protect you from. You view the world through unbiased and pure eyes and I want to preserve that as long as I possibly can, but sadly the world in which we live can be dangerous and disheartening. So when I say no you can’t go over to so and so’s house it’s not because I don’t want you to have friends, it’s because I don’t know that person’s house, their family or who you may encounter there. The world you’re growing up in is far different from the world I grew up in and an entirely new world from the one that your grandparents remember, people are not always who they appear to be and sometimes innocence is viewed as a weakness. I will always fiercely protect you and that starts with knowing who and what crosses your path.

There are times, even now at seven years old, that you think I’m being unfair or asking too much of you but I assure you it’s only because I know you are capable. Last week you came home with both a math and spelling test with a grade in the 60 percent range, the week before you scored 102% on your spelling test. I was upset with the scores and as a result you lost 15 minutes on your bedtime for an entire week much to your dismay. You complained and groaned while telling me you didn’t know the material, but I know you did and I know when you’ve stopped trying or never started. You see my lovely daughter you are a part of me, you carry traits that I myself have or have had and I know your moves before you make them. It’s funny (well, not really) that when I sit at parent teacher conferences and the teacher tells me “Ava could do so much better if she applied herself” I am reminded of the days when I was in your seat and your grandma was in mine. I know what it’s like to just generally loathe a subject or task and do it reluctantly because it is required of you that is why when it comes to math, I just ask that you do your best and bring home at least a 75%. In other subjects, ones that you’re more than capable in, I expect an 80 or better and you know this, in fact you’re able to tell me when you think you’re getting less than that. I know you’re talented, smart and more than able in most all subjects and I only push you to do better because you can, because I want you to recognize your abilities. I don’t push you because I like to memorize 20 spelling words a weeks or because I enjoy calculating peculiar common core math problems. I do it because I want you to take pride in your intelligence.

You might view me as the “bad cop” for now or until you’re out of your teenage rebellion phase, and I’m okay with that. It took me many years to realize my own mother was not Cruella Deville but a mother trying to guide her daughter on the right path of life. I disagreed, defied, ignored and drove my mother insane from ages 16-22 because I was too wound up in the rhythm of my own drum to realize I wasn’t playing a song, just making noise. Now that I’m older I see that she was right about most things and that because I was mad at the messenger I wasn’t listening to the message. At the age of 25, I have accomplished most of the things I had set out to do when I was 20 but my own blinders slowed me down. I anticipate that because you’re so strong willed and outgoing, and because you’re my child, that you will experience similar phases and anger towards me and my guidance, in fact I’m preparing for it. Just know that even when I seem crazy that there is a method to my madness and that madness is driven by my fierce and powerful love for you and no matter how old you get I will always have “bad cop” moments.

Mom

Healthy food vs Junk food

Posted on April 12, 2016 by briannavasquez

Image by: Just Simply Health

The obesity epidemic that’s increasing exponentially in America has sparked interest in an array of programs to establish initiatives for Americans to become serious about their health, especially in terms of their weight. It has also led to a variety of commercials that are currently airing, to explain the negative effects that unhealthy junk foods can wreak on our bodies. It singles out many food brands as contributing to people gaining weight by consuming their products. These commercials graphically describe the effects by displaying visuals of heart disease or other health issues in order to frighten viewers into being more health conscious. While many doctors will tell you to eliminate junk food from your diet completely, that is somewhat impossible, we all get a sweet tooth sometimes and it can be difficult to turn down your favorite junk food weakness. So instead it can be better to be more physically active by way of exercising extensively in order to burn off the calories that were put on by way of delicious yet fattening food.

Now, in an effort to be more honest with consumers, companies are highly considering adding new labeling to processed food products that will clearly indicate exercise equivalents that can be done to burn off the calorie intake of that specific food item. This will enable consumers to understand the severity of the amount of calories they are ingesting on the daily basis.

kid having trouble decide between healthy foods or junk foods

Image by: Nancy Ripton

It will help them see how much junk food that they are eating because an apple naturally would not have a warning label but a bag of potato chips would. While the potato chips essentially have no nutritional value, the apple, despite it still having a sugar and calorie index, has vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that will consequently benefit the body to have the energy to run efficiently. The new labeling that the potato chips would have would describe exercises to do to counteract the calories of it, for example; the label could possibly read that it would take 35 minutes of walking to burn away the calories. However this can still be a tad bit misleading because in order to know how to burn off a specific amount of calories, you have to calculate that person’s body mass index. So a person who weighs 100 pounds will have to walk or run twice as long as a 200 pound person.

Overall though it would be an encouragement for all consumers to be more attentive to labels and will hopefully help them make better educated choices when purchasing food for themselves or their families as in theory it will help you to consider buying foods with a lower calorie index in terms of sodium and sugar content which would overall be healthier. Many consumers have said labeling is difficult to understand and it would be more beneficial to make the labeling more consumer friendly. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently considering redesigning labels on packaged foods to highlight the ingredients that you should avoid or that are healthy in the food item.

Victory, The Victorious

Posted on April 11, 2016 by AmoniB

This weekend I spoke with the underground musical artist, Victory. A awesome jaw dropping lyricist, with an interesting hobby. Check it out:

How did you get your name? Actually the way I got my name is because my rap name use to be Flawless Victory but I just shorten it to Victory

How’d you describe you musical style? / What sets u apart from the artist out there? I would describe my musical style as fun and energetic and what sets me apart is that I won’t rap about what typical rappers rap about because I’m not a trap type of rapper so it forces me to be creative

I a lot of your music can be comical and jaw dropping… Do you think most lyrical artist sell out from their original genre and fall to mainstream artist? I don’t think most lyrical artist sell out to maintain stream but I do think that they try to go with the times because you don’t have to change what you want to say you just have to update how you say it and most artist don’t realize that

What else do you do? I also make clothes and I edit videos also

I love your designs and I watched the amazing growth… How did You get into fashion / what sparked your interest? I originally got the idea by making a shirt to promote myself as a artist and people liked the design and started requesting it then that’s when we really started getting into the clothing aspect

Is there anything you’ll like for the listeners to know? I would like my listeners to know that I’m working there’s a lot of good music coming with some great visuals so stay tuned

I wish him good luck on all endeavers.

Preparing for Interviews

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Pamela

Image Credit

As I get closer to graduating, I know how important it is to prepare for interviews. In fact, I was reminded that interviewers make judgements within the first five minutes of an interview. It’s been a long time since I went on an interview and I have so much depending on me getting a job. So I came across this checklist as a place to start my preparation and maybe it can help you too.

Adler, L. (n.d.). Essential guide for hiring & getting hired.

Preparing for the Interview Checklist

Be Prepared. Don’t wing the interview. Prepare as much as you would for any important management presentation.
Don’t look at your resume during the interview. Looking is a sign of nervousness or fabrication. You need to know everything on the resume without hesitation.
Use the SAFW format to answer each question. A complete 1-2 minute answer is the sweet spot for length and content.
Get the interviewer to describe real job needs. Force the interviewer to ask about relevant topics.
Focus on the opportunity, ignore the compensation. Compensation increases will follow great performance.
Demonstrate interest and acts about next steps. Get the interviewer to commit to something, and if he or she hesitates, find out why and respond.
Demonstrate how you develop solutions rather than giving the solution. Most problem-solving questions are designed to understand how a person develops a solution, rather than the actual answer.
Practice, practice, practice. Everyone gets a little nervous during the interview. To get through the initial two minutes of discomfort, practice getting nervous by answering questions to a friend or family member.

My biggest takeaway is that it is important to be in control of the interview. That means, answering in such a way that you feel in control. Also you should make sure that you absolutely know what is on your resume and know all your accomplishments. Who knows you more than you know yourself?

Dream Car

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Konyca

At some point in our lives we all thought about our dream car/jeep or at least imagine what it will look like. Every year around spring time, the Jacob Javits Center accommodates the New York International Auto Show. Its only there for a week but attending it is always worth the while.

Whatever your type of car maybe, they are in the exhibition. They range from Dodge and Lotus, to Bentley and Lamborghini. It really amazes me to see how far technology in auto mobiles has advanced; from stick shift to hydro charging to self driven cars. As intriguing as these cars maybe, I’m not so sure I’ll want my car to do the driving for me. However, I’m open to test driving one. I mean like who, wouldn’t right?

To see more of my images, you can click on this link: https://vsco.co/konycafrancis/grid/1

a white sports car with aqua trim The Toyota future hydro car 8:06pm