Day 1

Here's to the new blog of our adventures in Durham, NC! I'll try to update with snippets of what we're up to, what we're eating, and what we're seeing while we're here on the east coast. Since I am a grad student and we all know Nick isn't a blogger...updates might be scarce. I'll try!

Mom's visiting this weekend and she's cooking up a storm. She made us xoi ga, steamed fresh tilapia, homemade (!) shrimp and pork wontons, and among other things, this:

Xoi vo (sticky rice with mung beans)

Nick was so excited that he's making his own che tonight. I'll keep you updated.

After a quick trip to the Durham farmer's market (I'm still pining away for Davis), we stopped by the Daisy Cakes airstream trailer to pick up some cupcakes. Our stash included fresh madeleines and four cupcakes clockwise from the top: a black and white, a s'more, vanilla dream, and a red velvet. Total: $12.50.


We also saw the Dead Sea Scrolls in Raleigh at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, just steps from the state capitol. Let's just say there were a lot of biblical references and exhibits trying not to be religious leading up to 6 fragments of really old leather. The most interesting part was learning about how the curators of the 1950's really messed things up by sticking fragments together with scotch tape...the wonder invention of the era.

There are only a few hours left with Mom and I'm trying to make the most of it. I think there are plans for thit kho later and an airplane bento for tomorrow!

Mom and I with the Duke Chapel tower in the background