Oswald Rivera

Author: Oswald Rivera (page 71 of 85)

In Praise of the Greasy Spoon

Back in my youth, such eateries as coffee shops and diners were known as “greasy spoons.” They were all over the place. I recall one at the corner of the elevated subway and Prospect Avenue in the Bronx. And which everyone in the neighborhood called “Los Griegos,” or “The Greeks,” since most diners, at the time, were Greek owned. There was another one on the corner of 110th street and Lexington Avenue, also called the same name by everyone around. Today there aren’t as many as before, although you can still find them in certain areas. Where I live on the East Side there is a local diner that my wife and I frequent, usually on Saturdays, when we do our errands. We have a set routine. We go to a nearby farmer’s market to get our produce, then to the Supermarket for the regular groceries, and so forth. At lunch time we have a bite to eat. I like eating at the dinner. I can get a bagel, or a tuna fish sandwich, or even an egg cream. It’s convenient, filling and cheap. Nothing fancy, just plain down-home edibles.

These days, however, we are also confronted by newer more “in” places, more “nutritionally correct” places. In my neighborhood recently, a new place has opened up that touts “organic burgers,” “organic salads,” and even “organic shakes.” It even boasts “organic wines and beer.” So this time around, my beloved wife suggested we try out the new place; that we eat “healthy” for once, rather than have the same old deal at the greasy spoon. I complied, curious to note how this new upscale place would compare. I’m always game for a new adventure.

Thus we sat in a comfortable booth in this new organic joint. The waiter or server, as they are known these days, a solicitous handsome young man, asked for our order. My wife knew what she wanted, she would try one of their organic bison burgers and a ginger ale. I ordered the usual for my Saturday noon meal, a bagel. “We have no bagels,” the server replied. This to me was weird. A New York eatery without bagels? That’s like a Catholic Church without incense. So I said, “O—kay, what have you got?” The server suggested one of their burgers, like my wife’s bison burger. Perusing down the menu I noticed they had listed portobello mushrooms. I decided on that. Then the server replied that they didn’t serve portobello burgers. “O—kay, I’ll have a portobello sandwich,” I said, and added, “on a roll.” We have no rolls,” the server informed. “You have a choice of a brioche or 2-grain bread.” Stumped, I said, “I’ll have the 2-grain bread.”

We had ordered, and we waited for our meal. My wife loved her bison burger. I, however, had a different experience. The minute I took a bite into the portobello sandwich, I couldn’t keep it down. It was the most salty thing I ever tasted. For health reasons, I avoid salt and sugar whenever I can. I seldom will grab the salt shaker at a table. This sandwich tasted like fatback. What looked like the manager of the place noticed my barely eaten sandwich on the table, and came over to ascertain what was wrong. I told him the sandwich was just too salty for my taste. He explained that could be because the portobellos had been. dipped in balsamic vinegar before cooking. I cook with balsamic vinegar. I’ve never had this taste before. Something definitely was not right. The server came back and asked if I wanted something else. I figured I didn’t want to push my luck too far, so I ordered simplest thing I could think of: two pieces of buttered. “We have no butter,” the server said. “What?” I shook my head. “No butter?” “Yes,” the server elaborated, “we don’t use butter in this establishment.”

I sat there dumbfounded. Finally I just told him to bring me two pieces of 2-grain bread. And this was my lunch: two pieces of bread washed down by water. It called to mind those tales of prisoners on Devil’s Island subsisting on the same meal; or a young Edmund Dantes eating bread and water in his island prison before he became the Count of Monte Cristo. Had I known what was coming I would have ordered the organic wine or beer. At least I could have had a buzz while dining on bread and water.

The whole experience brings to mind an old adage by the writer Nelson Algren: “Never play cards with a man named ‘Doc’ or eat at a place called ‘Mom’s.” That says it all. Sometimes the best recourse is the old greasy spoons where you can get what you want without fuss or bother. I sing their praises every day of my life.

Polenta

April 23, 2012 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

One of my favorite nibbles is the corn meal dish called “polenta.” This is finely ground yellow or white corn meal that is cooked in boiling water until it thickens. It can be eaten as is, or leftover polenta can be baked or fried. “Polenta” is an Italian word derived from the Latin pulmentum, a term used to described various crushed grains. Ancient Romans ate versions of it known as puls. It was with the introduction of corn from the New World in the 16th century that modern polenta came into being. Prior to that time the crushed grains used included such items as flour and millet.

Polenta is known as a peasant food; and it is usually served with a sauce. Today it is eaten world-wide. In southern Austria it is eaten for breakfast; along the Adriatic Coast is is called pura or palanta and is usually served with fish. In Hungary it is prepared with sweetened milk. In South Africa, it’s eaten as a cornmeal mush called mealie pap. In the southern U.S. it’s popular as a dish called coosh, cornmeal mush that is sliced and fried and topped with maple syrup.It is also traditional in Brazil, Uraguay and Argentina, where many Italian migrated to in the 19th and 20th century.

I prefer polenta with stewed chicken or gravy. But you can serve it with sausages, mushrooms, roasted vegetables, just about anything. Given below is the traditional way of making polenta. All you need is corn meal, water and butter. Nothing could be simpler, or more satisfying.

POLENTA

3 cups boiling water
1 cup yellow corn meal
1 cup cold water
2 tablespoons butter
Salt to taste

1. Bring the 3 cups of water to a boil.
2. Combine the corn meal with the cold water, stirring to break up any lumps. Add this gradually to the boiling water, stirring constantly. Add the butter and salt and continue cooking, stirring about 15 to 20 minutes until the polenta achieves a smooth creamy texture.
Yield: about 8 servings.

Vegetable kabobs

April 10, 2012 / Oswald Rivera / 1 Comment

One of my all time favorite dishes is Shish Kabob (or Shish Kabab). Whether it’s Middle Eastern, Arabic or Israeli, I love the suckers. I make them with lamb, beef or poultry; in sandwiches, pita bread, or over rice pilaf or steamed white rice. But what do you do if you’re a vegetarian? Well, you can make veggie kebobs. That’s right, veggie style. And just the same way as you would prepare regular shish kebob.

So, for my vegetarian friends, what follows is a vegetable kebob recipe. You can use almost any firm vegetable for this; just cut them up into pieces. You can try broccoli florets, or asparagus, or cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, or even add tofu. In this recipe I went for zucchini, cherry tomatoes, onions, pimentos, and white mushrooms. In terms of mushrooms, you can substitute portobello, cremini, oyster mushrooms, shitake or any other. Let your imagination run wild.

VEGETABLE KEBOBS

2 medium zucchini, washed, with ends cut off, and each zucchini cut into 6 slices
12 cherry tomatoes, washed and dried with paper towels
2 pounds fresh white mushrooms, washed and dried with paper towels
2 large onion, peeled and cut into eights
I large bell pepper (pimento), green, yellow or red, washed and cut into squares
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Place vegetables on skewers, alternating vegetables.

2. Place olive oil in a small bowl. Add parsley, oregano, garlic and pepper. Mix well; and brush over all the vegetables.
3. Place skewers under the grill in an oven; or in an outdoor grill, either using a gas grill or over hot coals. Grill for about 5 minutes. Turn and grill another 5 minutes, brushing with olive mixture frequently while cooking.
Yield: 4 to servings.

A Nation of Idiots

March 28, 2012 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

“Nobody went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.”
—H.L. Mencken

The above quote has weighed on my mind as of late. It seems more relevant now than ever. Especially when applied to this dispute they are having in the Supreme Court over the Individual Mandate, so-called, of President Obama’s health care act. What amazes me about this controversy is how we Americans are willing to vote against our own self-interest in the name of rigid ideology. Why would anyone be against something that in the long run is beneficial to them? And the only conclusion I come to is that we, essentially, are a nation of idiots.

How else to explain this uproar? Let’s view this mandate thing logically. First of all, this was originally a conservative, Republican idea! It came about during the Clinton Administration when it first proposed national health care. The Republicans, as a counter-measure to the Clinton plan, created this idea of an individual mandate that required individuals to purchase health insurance rather than have a national single payer plan or public option (government run health program). That way the insurance companies would get loads of more individuals to sign up, and they could continue their insurance racket. A great plus for them. The ultra-conservative Heritage Foundation led the fight to approve the plan. Newt Gingrich was for it. Mitt Romney was for it (and implemented it in Massachusetts). Now, almost every Republican is against. A prime example of this hypocrisy would be Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) who in 1994 sponsored the individual mandate. Now he is vociferously against this “intrusion into freedom.” And the reason is “why?” Simple: a Democratic president, and a black man, no less, now backs it.

Let’s view this mandate thing on its merits. It would require Americans to purchase health insurance; and, if not, they would incur a penalty. The reasoning for this is thus: for any national health plan to work it would need to cover as many people as possible otherwise it wouldn’t be profitable or practicable for the insurance companies. Without a penalty most young healthy people, who figure they don’t need insurance, would not participate. And since we’re stuck with the racket of the insurers they would be left with the sick, elderly and infirmed to cover—which would kill the insurance companies. So, how to cover the 50 million uninsured persons in the U.S.? Those who could not buy or afford insurance would be eligible for some sort of government subsidy.

There is also the responsibility question. Right now, anyone who goes to the emergency room gets treated, whether they have health insurance or not. If you don’t have any insurance, then we the taxpayers end up paying for it through our premiums. The question is: is it right for us to pay for someone who doesn’t have or doesn’t want health insurance? I’m sure if the emergency rooms started turning away those individuals without health insurance we would think differently about the plan. It’s estimated than without the individual mandate our premiums might get jacked up to $1,000.

But what gets me about this whole thing is that there are people who want the entire Obama plan repealed. That means doing away with the pre-existing option. Because of Obama’s health care plan, companies can no longer turn down a person for insurance due to a pre-existing condition. This was one of the most flagrant insults imposed by the insurers. If you suffered from a critical illness like cancer or emphysema, the insurers could turn you down because it would be too expensive for them and not profitable enough. Does anyone in his right mind want to do away with this provision? I’d like to see what a die-hard tea partyer would say if he/she or a family member had such a pre-existing condition? Or the other part of the plan whereby a family can insure a child under the plan for up to age 26. This enables the younger folks, most of whom can’t afford health care, to have some form of insurance. Again, who in their right mind would want to do away with this?

The main argument against the Individual Mandate is that it will incur state debt, which a lot of states cannot afford at the moment. But more, it will force people to buy something they don’t want as mandated by the federal government. To them this is unconstitutional, a violation of their “rights.” Yeah, their right to deny 50 million of our fellow citizens a measure of health care—something which is a right in every other developed nation except the good ole U.S. of A. For the record, I don’t like this Individual Mandate. As noted, the only ones who profit from it is the insurance companies. Yet, it’s the only compromise that would allow any kind of health care at all to pass muster at this time. I would much prefer a single payer plan of a public option. Barring that, this is the only thing that President Obama could get through a recalcitrant congress. When he campaigned as Senator Obama his plan did not include the mandate. He included it in his health program because, honestly, that’s the only way the plan would be palatable to most conservatives in Congress.

The latest opinion poles state that up to two-thirds of Americans are against the plan—even though it will afford everyone some measure of health care. Again, I go back to my basic premise: a nation of idiots.

(Note: cartoon courtesy of Coghillustration)

Broiled Tuna Sandwiches

March 26, 2012 / Oswald Rivera / 2 Comments

I’m an aficionado of canned tuna fish. Have been all my life. Like most Americans, it’s mainly been in the usual tuna fish sandwiches. You know the deal: 2 slabs of bread and tuna mixed with gobs of mayonnaise. Canned tuna has so many uses. Back in Spanish Harlem, during my salad days, we use to make a quick meal of canned tuna fish over rice. Simple and delicious. But the sandwiches remained our usual standby. And in our experimenting with tuna sandwiches we came upon our favorite: broiled tuna sandwiches (of which the recipe is given below).

It should be noted that in the U.S. 52% of canned tuna is used for sandwiches. While 22% is for salads, and 15% is for other uses such as casseroles. Canned tuna comes in 2 variations: Chunk Light and White Albacore (also known as “solid white tuna”). Chunk light tuna comes from darker species of tuna and is considered not as good as solid white. The interesting thing is that chunk light contains lower levels of mercury than albacore white and thus it’s healthier for you. According to the American Medical Association, canned tuna contains various levels of mercury. So, for young children it should be limited to no more than 2 meals a month. Whereas chunk light should be limited to 3 meals a month. All this is off-set by the fact that canned tuna is a good source of Omega-3 fats that help reduce cardiovascular disease.

BROILED TUNA SANDWICHES

2 cans (5-oz) tuna, flaked
1 cup chopped celery (about 2 large ribs)
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 hamburger rolls, split and toasted (or 8 slices toast)
Grated Parmesan cheese to taste

1. In a bowl mix all the ingredients except the rolls and Parmesan cheese.
2. Spread rolls on a baking pan or cookie sheet, and spread with the tuna mix to cover. Sprinkle with Parmesan.
3. Broil about 6 inches from heat source until bubbly (about 5 minutes).
4. Cover with roll tops. Cut each roll in half and serve.
Yield: 4 servings.

The Power of Grits

March 8, 2012 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

I came across grits, that all-American gem, while stationed down South during my time in the Marine Corps. And I got to love them. I was, and remained hooked on grits. This archetypical Southern staple is like no other. Strange that a kid from Spanish Harlem should become so enamored of this dish but, then, why not?

Grits are of North American Indian origin. It is simply coarsely ground corn. The preferred version in the South is hominy grits. This is field corn that is soaked in lye water (what in the old days was known as potash water). The corn kernels swell to twice their size, and are then dried and ground. Hominy as an Indian food goes back to at least 5,000. When European colonists came to the Americas, the Indians taught them how to make it. Hominy comes in three varieties: fine, medium or coarse. A newer innovation, quick grits, is very fine grain that has been pre-steamed. But no real Southerner would ever eat or cook quick grits. That would be sacrilege. To them the old-fashioned stone ground gits is the real deal.

Grits comprise the typical Southern breakfast. They are nominally served with butter, sausage, country ham or red-eye gravy. The words “grits” is derived from the Old English “grytt,” meaning coarse corn meal. As such grits is similar to corn-based porridges such as the Italian polenta and the ever popular farina. Besides breakfast, grits has another use: when I was down South they would take leftover cold grits, slice it like bread and fry the slices in oil. Another way to enjoy this heavenly item.

When making grits, the rule of thumb is that grits it will consume four times their volume. So, for 1 cup of grits use 4 cups or water or chicken stock, and simmer for 20-25 minutes until the liquid is absorbed. I recall that grits was popularized in the 70s TV series Alice where the waitress, Flo, working at Mel’s Roadside Diner, would always exclaimed, “Mel, kiss mah grits!” And, just one more fact, there’s even a World Grits Festival held yearly in St. George, South Carolina.

The recipe given below is simply grits cooked with onion, garlic, nutmeg, red pepper, Cheddar cheese and eggs. Then the whole thing is baked in a casserole. Another innovative way to cook grits, and it’s scrumptious.

CHEESE BAKED GRITS

1 cup grits
4 cups boiling water or chicken stock
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese
4 eggs, separated

1. Stir grits into boiling water or stock. Add salt and cook until soft.
2. As the grits cook, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
3. In a small pan, melt the butter and saute the onion and garlic until soft.
4. Add to the cooked grits along with the nutmeg, red pepper and Cheddar cheese. Stir to combine.
5. Let cool slightly and add the egg yolks. In a small separate bowl beat egg whites until stiff and they hold soft peaks. Fold into grits mixture.
6. Spoon mixture into a casserole (about 2 quarts). Here I prefer to use a cast-iron pan. But any good baking pan or souffle dish will do. Place in oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until desired degree of doneness.
Yield: Six or more servings.

Frogs’ Legs Provcencale

February 15, 2012 / Oswald Rivera / 1 Comment

I know, you’re saying, “Frogs’ legs—what the f . . ..” Yes, kiddies, frog’s legs. That’s the recipe I want you to try. Now, hear me out. I admit, it’s most likely not your usual tidbit, and it’s mostly associated with hoity-toity French cuisine. Yet did you know that frog’s legs is a delicacy of Cantonese cooking, as well as Thai, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Spanish, Greek and Italian cuisine? Not to mention, it’s also popular in the southern regions of the U.S. In Indonesia it’s a national dish in the form of Swikee Kodok Oh, or frog’s legs soup usually served with rice. So, don’t get bummed out. It’s a favorite dish of a lot of people, not just our French brethren. Frog’s legs have a mild, enticing flavor similar to fish. They are also rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids (the good kind), vitamin A and potassium. Figure it this way: the suckers are good for you.

The historical record shows that frogs’ legs were popular in southern China as early as the first century of the Common Era. The Aztecs also had a yen for them. But, ironically, it was the Catholic Church that made them a staple in France. Early on, the church had a prohibition on eating meat on a certain number of days during the year, the most common being Friday. Gluttonous monks in France got around this by qualifying the frog as a fish, and not as a meat item. Naturally, since frogs grew wild during that time, hungry peasants got into the act by dutifully following the monk’s (and the Church’s example) and eating the frogs. And a national dish was born. They became so endemic with French cuisine that the favorite insult toward the French is referring to them as the Frogs.

The dish crossed the Atlantic by way of Louisiana, where the French speaking Cajun folk popularized it in New Orleans. And to this day they still enjoy it either deep-fried, sometimes breaded and sometimes not. Now, don’t get turned-off by it. Check out the recipe. Give it a chance. It might surprise you. Where can you get frog’ legs? Well, at most large supermarkets these days (most often in the seafood section). Barring that, at specialty food stores, and even on-line. They are usually sold frozen and already cleaned. Most Asian markets carry them, sometimes even fresh. For the more adventurous, you cay buy whole bullfrogs that can be cleaned and skinned at home. If you manage to get these, you can trim off the skin as if you were sliding off a glove from the legs. Then soak the legs in cold water for 2 hours before cooking to mellow out the flavor.

For the recipe given, you can use farmed or wild frog legs. Farmed legs tend to have a lighter hue, whereas their wild cousins have a richer, gamier taste. Most frogs’ legs are roughly the size of a small chicken wing. In all cases they should be plump and have a nice pink color.

FROGS’ LEGS PROVENCALE

12 large pairs of 24 small pairs frog’s legs
Cold milk to cover (whole or 2%)
1 can (1lb. 12oz) crushed tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced
Flour for dredging frogs’ legs
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup vegetable or corn oil
1/2 stick butter
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley

1. You need to keep the frogs’ legs flat as they cook. This is done by inserting one leg in between the two muscles of the lower part of the other leg.
2. Place the legs in a bowl and add cold milk to barely cover.
3. Place the tomatoes, undrained, in a small saucepan. Stir in the garlic and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. Meanwhile, blend the flour with the oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Remove one pair of legs at a time from the milk and dredge in flour, turning to coat well.
5. Heat oil in a large skillet or fry pan, add butter and, when it is quite hot, add the legs. Cook until golden on one side. Turn and cook until golden on the other side.
6. Transfer the legs to a serving dish and arrange them neatly in one layer.
7. Quickly heat the tomato sauce and spoon it over the legs. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve with a crusty loaf of bread.
Yield: 4 servings.

Clams for St. Valentine’s Day

February 6, 2012 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

St. Valentines’s day is just around the corner. Guys and gals, this time around instead of going out to some overpriced restaurant, why not cook your honey a sumptuous, extravagant meal featuring clams. Yes, clams. Why? Because clams throughout history have been regarded as an aphrodisiac. In other words, a sex stimulant. So what better way to celebrate the holiday? Casanova, the great lover himself, touted clams as a great aid in his many conquests. And, you know what? It ain’t too far off the mark. In 2005, in a study by Italian and American scientists, it was discovered that amino acids found in bivalves (clams, oysters, mussels, ext.) had the potential to raise sexual harmone levels. The study itself was conducted on a species of Mediterranean mussels that showed these bivalves contained amino D-aspartic acid and N-mythyl-D-aspartic acid that induced sexual harmone production in rats. There have been no follow-up studies to measure the impact on humans, but for all you out there who love shellfish, it’s great news.

To our forebears, even before science got into it, clams were regarded as an aphrodisiac because (as some noted) their plump flesh was likened in appearance to testicles. It stands to reason why someone like Casanova and, many others, would scarf up clams at the dinner table and elsewhere. But more. Let’s put it in serious perspective. A single serving of clams provides more than 100 percent of the daily allowance for iron. They are also a source of protein—which is excellent for sustaining energy. Do the math. But even for those of us who don’t consider clams as appetizing, they are delicious as in the following recipe in which they are prepared in a green sauce. This is a dish that is very popular in Spain. And believe me, you’re beloved will be very impressed and more. Serve the clams and sauce atop plain white rice and you will have a very interesting and, hopefully, entertaining evening on St. Valentine’s Day.

ALMEJAS CON SALSA VERDE
(Clams with Green sauce)

About 24 to30 littleneck clams
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped scallions
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano ( or 1/2 teaspoon fresh)
1/2 cup dry sherry
3/4 cup fresh or canned clam juice
1 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2-3 tablespoonswater
Salt to taste
1/2 cup chopped parsley
Hot cooked rice

1. Have the clams opened at the fish store, or open them by hand with a knife or clam opener. However, open the clams on the half shell, discarding the top shell. Leave the clam attached to the bottom shell. Reserve the clam liquid.
2. Heat the olive oil in a skillet or fry pan (I prefer cast-iron) until it’s very hot. Then add the clams on the half shell and garlic. Cook, stirring over high heat about 30 seconds. Be aware that if you cook them any longer the clams will toughen, and you don’t want that. Add the scallions, pepper, oregano and sherry. Add the clam liquid, clam juice and butter, and bring to a boil.
3. In a cup quickly blend the flour and water and stir it into the clam sauce. Stir until thickened. Add salt to taste. Stir in the parsley and mix.
4. Serve over rice.
Yield: 4 servings.

The Myth of the Dim Mak “Delayed Death Touch”

January 28, 2012 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

Every so often, in one of my wu-su martial arts classes someone always inquires about the so-called Din Mak “death touch.” This usually comes about when we start teaching the concept of Chin Na Fa. “Chin” in Chinese means to “to seize of catch,” and “Na” means to hold and control. It’s a style that uses joint lock manipulation, chokes, throws, and pressure point attacks. It’s the pressure points that get people to inquire as to Dim Mak. Simply put, in Chin Na, pressing techniques are used on nerve endings to cause extreme pain and/or unconsciousness. This is a far cry from the Din Mak “delayed death touch,” which everyone wants to learn.

Chin Na does make use of “Duann Mie” (another word for Dim Mak which involves sealing or blocking the vein/artery by pressing). This can also involve cavity pressing or meridian pressing, which exemplifies Dim Mak. According to ancient Chinese medicine, the body’s life force (Chi, Qi or Ki) travels though invisible channels called meridians. Any disruption in the flow of this Chi force can cause illness or disease. The meridian flow concept is prevalent in the use and theory of acupuncture whereby needles are inserted into different points on the meridians in order to counteract an illness. Din Mak evolves along the same theory: attack the points and you disrupt the flow of energy, thereby causing injury or death.

There is no question that attacking a nerve ending or pressure point can do great harm. A thumb press on the left common carotid artery (just below the ear) can block blood flow to the brain and result in unconsciousness or worse. And there are numerous pressure points that we study on the body that can have similar affect. Also, a blow to a vital part of the body can also result in injury. Note that one of the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes is a condition called Commotio Cordis, where a non-penetrating blow to the chest occurring within a specific portion of the cardiac cycle can cause severe trauma. But this is a far cry from the “death touch.”

What is controversial about the Dim Mak concept is this idea that that you can attack someone simply by touching a vulnerable area and producing a delayed reaction whereby the subject incurs death hours or days later. Medically speaking, there are instances of a delayed reaction due to an injury. You get into a situation where you sustain an injury and you don’t treat it, after a while it’s going to get worse. You sustain a strike to the kidneys and you start peeing blood, and you don’t see a medical person right away, you have problems. But a delayed injury by mere touch, without the subject even feeling or knowing until the time of death? This leads to much debate and controversy, and skepticism on the part of many.

This controversy was fueled in part by a 1985 article in Black Belt magazine which attested that the death of fabled Kung-Fu icon Bruce Lee in 1973 was due to a “delayed reaction to a Dim-Mak strike he received several weeks prior to his collapse.” Following in this vein, others attested that Bruce Lee may have been the victim of the “Quivering Palm technique” which also incurred a delayed reaction. I remember an episode from the 1970s TV series Quincy, starring Jack Klugman, whereby a martial arts movie star dies mysteriously while making a movie. And guess what? Dr. Quincy discovers that it was due to a Dim Mak strike 10 days earlier.

Let’s put it in perspective. This “delayed death touch” business has become fodder for TV and action movies. In the 1990s karate instructor George Dillman invented a style called Kyushojutsu that he claimed had qi-based attacks without physical contact, the “no-touch knockout” techniques.” Upon third-party investigation the whole thing was denounced as fraudulent. Another parctiioner, Erle Montaigue, published a number of books and videos on Dim Mak. He claimed that he had learned the technique from a master named Chian Yiu-chun. Problem was, as Montaigue later stated, this master was an illegal immigrant, making his existence very difficult to verify.

Now, I’m not saying that this delayed death touch may or may not exist. If you believe in your mind it exists, then it does. If you don’t believe so, then it doesn’t. Just as if you believe Voodoo exists, it does. If you don’t believe so, it doesn’t. Just be aware that if you come across an instructor who states he can teach you the “delayed death touch” or the “five point palm exploding heart technique” (as shown in the Kill Bill Vol. 2 movie) and assures you it can be done if you pay up ex-amount of dollars, head for the door. That person may be a charlatan, and is taking you for a ride.

Sancocho

January 13, 2012 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

Now that the weather has gotten a mite chillier (finally), our thoughts turn to warm, hardy comfort foods. Sancocho is such a variety. It is the archetypal Puerto Rican stew. It’s hearty and stick to the ribs fare.Think of the French cassoulet where pork, beans, lamb and sausages are all mixed together in a casserole. In that vein there is Nabiaki Udom which calls for chicken or beef or anything else on hand thrown into one dish. Also the Chinese Congee would come to mind. You get the idea, put everything together in one pot and let it simmer until it’s rich and thick. Sancocho follows along the same lines with an assortment to vegetables which are added to a broth. The vegetables include root plants such as yuca, also known as cassava; yautia (ya-oo-teah), also called tanier or dasheen; and name (nyah-meh), a starchy root.

In Puerto Rican slang, sancochar means to boil ot stew. Thus the sancocho moniker since it is a platter containing pork, chicken and what have you. Sancocho takes time and patience to cook. But it’s worth the effort. The result is an ultimately superior meal in itself.

The recipe below is from my first cookbook, Puerto Rican Cuisine in America (Avalon Books-Thunder’s Mouth Press). The root plants (or bianda) can be found in any Asian or Caribbean market. Cassava is a common product these days, no problem there. If you can’t find yautia, then substitute turnips, and for name, you can use yams.

SANCOCHO

1/2 cup olive oil
1 medium green bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crush
3 aji dulce (sweet chili pepper), seeded and chopped
6 fresh cilantro leaves, washed and chopped
1 pound boneless chuck beef, trimmed of fat and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 pound pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 medium stewing chicken (about 2 1/2 pounds) washed and cut into serving pieces
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 ears fresh corn, shucked and quartered
1/2 pound yuca, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 pound yautia, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 pound name, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 pound pumpkin, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 green plantains, peeled and quartered
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 teaspoon salt

1. Heat oil in a large kettle or Dutch oven and add bell pepper, onion, garlic, aji dulce and cilantro. Saute over moderate heat until tender (4-5 minutes).
2. Add beef, pork, chicken, pepper, and oregano. Cook until meat is browned (8-10 minutes).
3. With a slotted spoon, remove chicken parts from pot and set aside.
4. Add corn, yuca, yautia, name, pumpkin and plantains to meat.
5. Add water to cover contents in pot, also add tomato sauce and salt. Bring to a boil. Cover, lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
6. Add chicken and continue to cook on low heat until meat is tender (about 2-2 1/2 hours).
7. Uncover pot and remove plantains. Place in a bowl and mash with a potato masher or big spoon. Let cool for a few minutes. Form into small balls with palms of hand. Return to kettle and boil for 1-2 minutes.
8. Serve with a loaf of crusty bread.
Yield: 12 servings.

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