Categories
#foodie

Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry’s


So I actually got word of this event yesterday through one of the online forums I frequent: today, Ben & Jerry’s was offering free one-scoop of ice cream in either a cone or cup.

To me, it sounded rather too good to be true; after all, who gives away free ice cream like that without losing a ton of profit?

Well, later on I found out that this event was for their 30th birthday; I guess that makes sense. Plus, while I was waiting in line, the workers were actually taking donations, too.

I went to the Ben & Jerry’s in downstairs Macy’s and the line wrapped around part of the food court area. I felt a little bad for the other businesses there–Jamba Juice, Tom’s Cookies, Boudin, etc.–they were getting really little business due to the frenzy for free Ben & Jerry’s.

Actually, I found something amusing before I went and got my own cone: while working at the hot dog cart outside of Macy’s, around noon I noticed a huge slew of Cantonese kids walking by with some chaperones. All of them were headed towards Macy’s–no doubt for the ice cream. I pointed this out to one of my co-workers and she responded: “Man, that’s so cheap. Taking a field trip to Ben & Jerry’s to get free ice cream.” I had to laugh at that, since, despite my parents/relatives coming from the Canton/Guangdong region in China, I had to admit that it was so true that most people from that region are rather cheap when it comes to certain things. Why else do you think Chinatown prices are so marked down? And where else do you think I get this whole “must save money…this/that is too expensive for me!” mindset? (I jest, really).

Anyway, I felt like all the people walking out of Macy’s were mocking me with their free cones, so after my shift ended, I had to go get myself a free cone. Instead of getting my usual (Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough), I decided I would try something new since I wasn’t even going to pay for the ice cream this time. I tried the Cheesecake Brownie: yummy combination. I feel like I should have discovered this flavor earlier! Well, I was also wanting this yellow-looking flavor that I saw several people eating, but I didn’t have enough time to look over the full menu. I guess next time I’ll order that flavor, just to see how it tastes like.

I was tempted to go to another Ben & Jerry’s by the Wharf, but I decided I shouldn’t be such a pig, haha. After all, despite how yummy ice cream is, it’s still junk food, haha.

Categories
life Life Decisions reflection

Reflection

I am beginning to feel restless again; getting back into the swing of things here has been easy, but I feel like I am missing something as well.

I don’t regret anything that has happened in the past year; despite the rollercoaster times, I feel that everything happens for a reason.

Still, I wonder now, should I move on and find another outlet to pursue?

Categories
Work Diaries

Ice machine, breaking down.

The ice machine was not working well at work today, much to our dismay. I had to keep listening to it to check on whether both ice machines were running or not.

In order to know that both machines were working, ice had to drop every 6-8 minutes.

When I listened for the ice, it seemed to drop more every 12 minutes. This meant that one of the machines was not working.

Ice is a big deal at work–we need to ice the hot dog meats, ice the drinks, and fill up coolers with loads of ice. Ice, ice, ice.

When I left work today, there was very little ice in the icebox; my boss said he would get it fixed during the week. Hoping that there’s enough ice for the next day…

Categories
drink rant Starbucks

Thumbs down to Starbucks’ Green Tea Frapp in the US!

As a follow-up to my entry about Starbucks in Japan, today during my lunch break I went to the nearest Starbucks (not hard to find–there’s one on nearly every block here in San Francisco) and ordered the Green Tea Frappucino to take back with me to the hot dog stand.

Sigh, needless to say, I was sorely disappointed. I was expecting there to be a difference, yes, but I wasn’t expecting such a horrible misrepresentation of green tea.

The main complaint I have is that this “green tea” frappucino does not even taste like green tea. I took the first sip and thought that it tasted like a melon drink instead–did they perhaps mistake the name of the drink and mean to call it “Melon Tea Frappucino” instead?

I couldn’t stand to finish the drink and had to throw it out, despite the fact that I paid $3.30 for it. The small-size Japanese Green Tea Frappucino is smaller, costs more, yet tastes much better. I think I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ll take the Japanese Frappucino over the American one anyday.

Oh, but that’s only for the Green Tea Frappucinos. I still like the other drinks that Starbucks provides here in the US, i.e., Double Chocolate Chip Frappucino and the usual espresso drinks. But you can’t win ’em all, can you?

Categories
#foodie American Culture fast food restaurant

Re-entry into the American lifestyle–

What better way to “get back into the groove” of American life than to go eat breakfast at IHOP?

Yes, I went to eat breakfast at IHOP today:

1) I was craving it when I woke up
2) I have no food in my apartment at the moment due to my month-long vacation away from the apartment
3) IHOP is just one block away from my apartment.

This was the first time I was able to venture outside since I arrived back in San Francisco on Wednesday. It felt strange to enter into a restaurant and not have someone say to me “Welcome!” in Japanese. The service was faster, the people were still polite, but ah-ha–today I finally had to leave a tip (in Japan, it’s not part of their custom to leave tips). Well, the meal was good, all-American: stuffed French toast, sausage, eggs, hash browns.

Yes, I’m back in America, and today I finally can feel it from this experience.