Sunday, September 10, 2017

Astoria

On our first day in Astoria, I already like it more than Brooklyn, but I suppose that's the excitement of moving to a new place. I really did like Brooklyn--but Astoria has a lot more restaurants that I like. I prefer Asian food, and found that there are a lot of restaurants right by my new sublet, including a ramen place. There is a small Japanese grocery store around the corner.

This area is more urban and less quiet, but it seems to be full of young professionals, so there are a lot of bars nearby. It is less convenient for the dogs, since we do not have a yard. The building we live in is very so friendly, so our dogs already made some new friends, including. Shiba-Inu named Hachi. Supposedly Hachi was a dog do loyal that he would wait for his owner at the train station every day--even after the owner died, Hachi would wait there. "Max would never do that for me," my boyfriend remarked. "Someone else would give him food and he'd be like, 'sweet, my life moves onward!'" Well apparently Max really likes Hachi, because we have a new problem that Max will stop outside Hachi's door and refuse to move, and then whines and yips!

As I write this, I am having a pleasant dinner by myself, and sat down to a plate of perfectly done takoyaki, which look like meatballs, but are filled with a mixture of flour and octopus. It sits of a bed of lettuce and is perfectly golden brown, crispy on the outside, and hot and mushy on the inside. It is topped with bonito flakes, which sway gently due to the heat. 

The perfect reward after a move, which is always stressful, is a hot shower, a nap, and a good meal. 

For a long time, I used to think that Totto Ramen was the best in New York City. I used to go there and wait for over an hour for Totto; there was a bar nearby so I would have a drink while waiting. There were residential apartments across the street, and I used to think it would be nice to live there so I could put my name down at Totto's and then hang out at home, or work out a deal so they would let me do take out. I've been back to Totto, and started to feel disappointed because they were getting worse. I now realize that they were not getting worse, rather other ramen places were just getting better.

Tamashii ramen, where I am at today, is better than Totto. Their miso ramen is thick and flavorful, with a perfectly done soft boiled soy sauce egg. I might just be very hungry, but I thought everything about it was excellent.  

Across the street, there is a dollar store which has a lot of my favorite, unhealthy snacks from childhood, including microwaveable pizza rolls. There are familiar chains that I like, including bonchon, and a hot pot place! 

I used to think if I stayed in New York, I'd live in Brooklyn, but now I think I have to revise and live in Queens.


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