C
TheCampanileA&EMagazine
Senior Olivia Vort Delves into the lives of former political prisoners in burma 14-17
Letter from the Editors Dear Readers, Welcome to the third generation of C Magazine with us, the new editors, Olivia Vort and Maggie Zheng. We are incredibly honored to have been chosen as Editors-in-Chief of C Magazine and are excited to watch it grow with the help of our amazing staff. Although many C Magazine traditions established by former editors Rachel and Perri will be respected and continued, we will also be introducing a new and improved C Magazine this year and anticipate the reaction from you, our dearest readers. Old faces (or rather, pen names) are missed beginning this edition and new faces greet you. In this edition we introduce the new staff members of C Magazine: juniors Clara Chiu, Katie Douty, Maya Kandell, Larkin McDermott, Emma Scott, Katya Sigal, and Charlee Stefanski. Not to forget about a new senior who joined us this year: Huda Navaid. We want to thank our amazing advisor, Esther Wojcicki for continuing to support and guide us this year. We would also like to thank you, our readers, for taking interest in C Magazine and we are very excited to bring you many more editions in this coming 2014-15 school year! We hope you enjoy this edition of C Magazine and don’t forget to bring it home to share with your families!
-Maggie Zheng & Olivia Vort Editors-in-Chief
Editors-in-Chief Olivia Vort Maggie Zheng Business Managers & Creative Directors Carmelle Bareket Shavit Kallee Bareket Shavit TEXT EDITOR Frida Schaefer-Bastian Maya Benatar Design Editor Clara de Martel PHOTO EDITOR Emma Low STAFF WRITERS Clara Chiu katie douty Maya Kandell Larkin McDermott huda navaid emma scott Katya sigal charlee stefanski ADVISOR Esther Wojcicki
4-5
exchange studens: Have you been seeing any new faces around campus? Or overheard any exotic voices laced with cute foreign accents? Here’s an article introducing the exchange students of Paly.
6
Concert Lineup: Charlee Stefanski gives an overview of the season’s upcoming concerts here in the bay area.
C Magazine
Table of Contents
7
Beach Playlist: A brilliantly curated selection of the finest music by Frida Bastian-Schaefer and Maya Benatar, with the finetuning of Nikki Freyermuth’s expertise
8
Davidstea: this immensely popular hang-out place where you can buy a wild assortment of teas is summed up by Larkin mcdermott in her debut article.
9
SAT vs ACT: Both are standardized tests that’re indispensible for college applications. Yet there’s something different between the two . . .
10-11 12-13
AOM: Maya Kandell Word around campus says that Maya Kandell is a brilliant artist. Let’s check it out!
fashion trends: you better believe newcomer clara chiu is on top of her fashion game. she’s oh-so-trendy and cannot wait to share the season’s latest campus trends with us.
14-17
Into the Lives of former political prisoners: editor-in-chief olivia vort spent her summer interviewing ex-political prisoners in burma; here is the fruit of her labor.
18-19
miyoko’s creamery: ever heard or even conceived of vegan cheese? you’re probably thinking to yourself: how in the world? well, here’s how.
20-21
Pizza Delfina: Just look at that mouthwatering picture to your right.
Just look at it.
22-23
10 Things To Do With Watermelons: As a veteran of compiling lists like this, Clara de Martel can be trusted to give readers the greatest ideas with the simplest instructions
Cultural Exchange Text & Design by Frida Schaefer Basrian & Alex Weinstein
Why is jumping head-first into a freezing cold lake so
scary? The answer is simple. You are knowingly submerging your self into a completely new environment. Jumping head-first into a lake is something that takes bravery and courage. Similarly, completely immersing oneself in a different culture for a whole year is a difficult, yet rewarding experience. Students who travel to a foreign country for a year as part of an exchange program face many challenges, but often find it is ultimately one of the greatest experiences of their lives. At Palo Alto High School (Paly), the number of exchange students is increasing every year, as this growing practice becomes more popular. Junior Sergio Valente spent his sophomore year studying in Rome, Italy. “Most of my fellow exchange students describe [the experience] as a rollercoaster because you go from incredible highs to equally incredible lows. One hour you might be really happy because you just had a conversation where the other guy understood you and the next hour you’re depressed because you feel like you’re stupid and know nothing,” Valente said. Exchange programs are becoming more popular every year, as more American teenagers become inclined to immerse themselves in different cultural customs in order to broaden their world experience and cultural knowledge. American high schools are also filling up with foreign students who come to America to learn English, which — is the universal language and therefore a great skill to possess. Emanuele Campo is an exchange student from Italy, who is currently attending Paly as a junior in hopes of learning English. “From my school [about] 10% of [students] do an exchange program and the majority of them go to the [United States] or Canada,” Campo said. At Paly the custom of doing a year abroad is not quite as common as at other schools. Gunn High School has a
4
CULTURE
Photo by Sergio Valente Junior Sergio Valente spent his sophomore year studying abroad in Rome, Italy.
much higher rate of both students who go to a different country and foreign exchange students who come to study, due to the fact that they have an official program dedicated to foreign exchange. “[Paly does not] have oversees programs like colleges [and other schools] do,” Assistant Principal Kathleen Laurence said. According to Laurence, the few Paly students that do study abroad go through organizations and “preplan [their courses and schedules] if they know what program they want.” Students will disenroll from Paly for the year that they are away and when they come back they will reenroll. Credit for most classes will be carried over from transcript to transcript. “Paly actually made it very easy for me to study abroad. I got way more credit for the classes I took in Italy than I thought I did. In fact I barely have to make up any classes which is nice,” Valente said. Campo, a junior at Paly, has lived in Rome his whole life but has decided to spend the 2014-2015 school year studying in the United States. He lives with a host family in Palo Alto, who also has a daughter attending Paly. Campo wanted to do an exchange program, “to learn a new language and [to have] a new experience.” He was also encour-
aged to take this opportunity by his older sister, who did an exchange in Wisconsin. Valente pursued his exchange in order to follow his roots back to Italy and fully learn the language of his ancestors. He had studied two years of Italian before he left, and came back fluent after just one year. Not only did he master a new language, he also made international acquaintances and furthered his cultural education. “That’s the best part about the program, all the friends you make and the different types of people you meet that you’d otherwise never cross paths with,” Valente said. There are many organizations worldwide that offer student exchange programs. Both Valente and Campo organized their exchange through an organization called ‘Youth for Understanding (YFU),’ one of the world’s largest organizations for studying abroad. YFU is a network that reaches over forty-five countries worldwide. “Going through an organization was nice because I got to meet multiple other Americans who were staying in Italy at the same time as I was,” Valente said. Although he had a wonderful experience living abroad, Valente would not recommend this type of learning for everyone. “I would only recommend going abroad to someone who really wanted to learn the language, learn the culture, was an out-going person and wanted a bit of variety or change in their life. One year is a long time to be away from all your friends and family,” Valente said. He also realizes that “it can really be a great experience but it has to be the student’s choice and not something he/ she was pressured into doing by his/her parents.” Campo says he is not worried about the distance and length of his trip, because he can keep in touch with his family through modern technology and apps such as Skype, Facebook and Whatsapp.The length of the exchange also did not scare off Valente, instead he feels as if the experience
“
Photo by Alex Weinstein Emanuele Campo, an exchange student from Italy who curretnly attends Paly, is proudly holding up the Italian and American Flag.
brought him closer to his family.
“I think being away for so long can strengthen your relationship with your family and close friends. It makes you realize just how much they mean to you,” Valente said. Studying abroad is a great choice for students who struggle learning languages in school, or for those who just need a little variety in their life. It teaches students not just about a new language and culture, but also about independence, confidence and courage. It exposes them to a new way of life early on, and gives them a chance to find themselves within a culture. “I think the most important thing that my year abroad gave me was a different way of looking at things, a new and different mindset based on a culture and ideals foreign to my native one. It gives you a broader perspective,” Valente said.
That’s the best part about the program, all the friends you make and the different types of people you meet that you’d otherwise never cross paths with.
”
CULTURE
5
Upcoming Concerts
Text by Charlee Stefanski Photo by Larkin McDermott
DATE: EVENT/LOCATION: 9/22 Train - The Masonic La Roux - Fox Theater 9/22 & 9/23 Katy Perry: The Prismatic World Tour - SAP Center 9/24 Tears for Fears - Fox Theater Temples - The Fillmore 9/26 Diana Ross: In The Name Of Love Tour - Paramount Theater Jason Aldean : Burn It Down Tour - Shoreline 9/27 Clean Bandit - The Fillmore Sam Smith - Fow Theater 9/28 Christina Perri - The Masonic 9/29 Weezer - Even Center at San Jose State University 10/2 Elton John - SAP Center Lorde - GreEk Theater (U.C. Berkeley) 10/2 and 10/3 Jimmy Eat World: Futures Tour - Oakland Metro 10/4 Wild 94.9 Comedy Jam - Shoreline Lily Allen - Fox Theater 10/8 The Weeknd with Schoolboy Q and Jhene Aiko 10/10 & 10/11 Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull 10/14 Luke Bryan: That’s My Kind of Night Tour Concord Pavillion 10/17 SBTRKT - Fox Theater Luke Bryan - Shoreline 10/18 Treasure Island Music Festival - Treasure Island 10/18-10/19 Delta Spirit - The Fillmore 10/25 Bob Dylan - Paramount Theater 10/28, 10/29 & 10/30 Electric Bounce House 2 - SAP Center 10/29 The Kills - The Fillmore 10/30 Tycho - Fox Theater
6
entertainment
GBeachy WeekendG Text & Design by Frida Schaefer Bastian Photo by Maya Benatar
26. Teenage Crime (Radio Edit) - Adrian Lux 1. Summer - Calvin Harris 27. Another Day (feat. Marty James, Luckyiam) 2. The Mother We Share - CHVRCHES Living Legends 3. Sunshine - Atmosphere 28. Get Mama A House (feat. B.o. B.) - Teddybears 4. I Am Not A Robot - Marina and The Diamonds 29. Young Girls - Bruno Mars 5. New Theory - Washed Out 30. Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap 6. Trying To Be Cool - Phoenix 31. Sun Is Shining - Bob Marley & The Wailers 7. While I'm Alive - STRFKR 32. Love Is My Religion - Ziggy Marley 8. Bedroom Eyes - Dum Dum Girls 33. Badfish - Sublime 9. Next Year - Two Door Cinema Club 34. Y.A.L.A. - M.I.A. 10. Paper Planes - M.I.A. 35. I < U SO - Cassius 11. Mr. Brightside - The Killers 36. Haiti - Arcade Fire 12. Doses & Mimosas - Cherub 37. Foundations - Kate Nash 13. Tornado (Kill the Noise Remix feat. Polina) - Poli38. Walking On A Dream - Empire Of The Sun na, Steve Aoki, Tiesto, Kill the Noise 39. Hey Ya! (Radio Mix / Club Mix) - OutKast 14. A Teenager In Love - Red Hot Chili Peppers 40. National Anthem - Lana Del Rey 15. Help me Lose My Mind - Disclosure 41. Shark Attack - Grouplove 16. Heaven - Los Lonely Boys 42. Rock & Roll - Eric Hutchinson 17. I'm Not Your Hero - Tegan and Sara 43. Surfin' U.S.A. - The Beach Boys 18. Jealous (I Ain't With It) - Chromeo 44. Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles 19. Island Feeling - Clear Conscience 45. I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters 20. Sun Hands - Local Natives 46. Pop Song - STRFKR 21. The Past Time - Language Arts Crew 47. Looking Out - Brandi Carlile 22. Holdin On - Flume 48. You and I - Ingrid Michaelson 23. Swimming Pool - The Submarines 49. Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys 24. Phantom Limb - The Shins 50. Walking On Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves 25. Island In The Sun - Weezer
Scan this code with your phone to check out this playlist on spotify.
ENTERTAINMENT
5
DAVIDsTEA: Fall Collection There is no better way to spend a fall afternoon than curled up on the couch, wrapped up win a blanket with a steaming hot cup of tea. But are you tired of drinking the same old English Breakfast tea over and over again? Do you want something new, something that screams Fall? The Fall Tea Collection, The “Yes We Cran” tea is a from DAVIDsTEA, in downThe “Sweet Apple Cider” tea has a balance between sweet and town Palo Alto, is the sweet apple taste with just a hint tart. The cranberry taste is perfect thing for you. of creaminess. It tastes like the apdelicious, especially in comples are fresh picked from the orbination with sweet apple and chard. This crisp drink tastes great cinnamon accents create the warmed up on a chilly Fall afterperfect balance. This is a great noon. treat when you’re in the mood for something fruity and rich.
Sweet Apple Cider Tea
The “Pumpkin Chai” tea is an excellent blend of the traditional chai spices and seasonal pumpkin. It is a rich black tea with hints of cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.
Photo by: Jojo 77 on Flickr
Photo by: dannipenguin on Flickr
Text by Larkin Mcdermott
Yes We Cran Tea
Photo by: CoffeeGeek on flickr
Ever have a craving to drink maple syrup? If so, you should give this a try. It fills your body with a unique warmth and sweetness, that couldn’t come from anything else. It has real maple sugar, with hints of apple and cinnamon.
Maple Sugar Tea
8
Food
The “Snickerdoodle” tea tasted just like a real cookie. It was a luscious blend of cinnamon and butterscotch flavoring. It is a rooibos tea, so it has many health benefits.
Snickerdoodle Tea
Photo by: imcountingufoz on Flickr
Photo by: missyann63 on Flickr
Pumpkin Chai Tea
SAT vs ACT
aptitude test: tests reason-
achievement test: The ACT measures what a student has
learned in school. there is no penalty for wrong answers on the ACT, , so guessing can’t hurt! so guess wisely and with keen discrimination questions are straightforward: Many times, the questions asked of you on the ACT can be interpretted in a way as to answer them with a one syllable word. BUT of course, questions are more of the big idea: the quesyou’re expected to do more than a simple “yay” or “nay” tions of the SAT asks you deep and profound
ing and verbal abilities
-¼ for every wrong answer
questions that someone would usually host an entire debate surrounding with their grandparents (e.g. is honesty the best policy?)
simple(r) vocabulary: Compared to the SAT,
the vocabulary on the ACT is much more conversation-friendly
stronger emphasis on vocabulary:
Science section: If you’re good at science, great.
If you are incompetent at science, that’s still great; Much of the vocabulary present on SAT tests got me the science section of the ACT is not as advanced to wondering: “Do people even say this word nowadays?” a level as you might think. In fact, you need little to no scientific background to understand the quesIf you don’t know how tions and, hopefully, do well.
no science section:
to analyze laboratory statistics and graphs, do not fret because the SAT don’t require that of you.
Simpler math concepts: a year of Algebra 1 and Geometry can adequately cover all the topics in the math section of SAT
Mandatory essay writing: this is a hellish experience if you happen to be experiencing writer’s block during the examination day
Broken up into more sections College admissions officers look at each section separately
$51.00
More advanced math concepts: ACT’s math level of difficulty is above that of the SAT yet below the difficulty of SAT II subject tests. Consider it a middleground.
Writing Test is optional on test day, but sometimes required by the schools you’re applying to. So if you’re going to take the ACT, make sure to check the requirements of the colleges you’re applying to beforehand so you can decide whether to take the writing test or not.
Bigger chunks of sections, less breaks in between More of a “big picture” exam; composite score
$36.50 ($52.50 plus writing)
Maya Kandell Text by Clara de Martel Art by Maya Kandell
10 culture
Watercolor paintings and sketches hang on the walls and surround the table of a peaceful apartment with potted magenta flowers outside on the patio. “That’s where I began to learn to draw. Her [Kandell’s neighbor’s] lessons were a perfect mix of expecting discipline and allowing my creativity free range,” says Maya Kandell, sophomore at Palo Alto High School. Kandell started drawing at the age of four, when she started taking classes with her elderly neighbor. “Those are the only art lessons I’ve taken even to this day, and her teachings were the foundation of my knowledge of art and my love of drawing,” says Kandell. Kandell mostly does pencil drawings, but sometimes paints. She loves the challenge of drawing portraits and dedicates hours capturing the true essence and personality of her subject. “Drawing a person’s face is where I feel I have the most power as an artist,” Kandell says, “I can convey a level of emotion in a person’s face that I could never articulate in words.” For Kandell, art is a way to express herself. When drawing or painting she does not try to make her piece look “pretty,” but instead tries to convey a message. Kandell says, “I don’t have the technical ability of many great artists at Paly, but I try to make up for that by making a statement with my art.” Her art pieces often have disturbing, grotesque, or dark elements that make her art all the more intriguing. “I don’t have a good explanation for that, other than that I use art as an outlet for negativity,” Kandell says. Kandell has not exactly figured out what she wants to do in the future, but ideally she’d like to pursue her talents as a career and possibly combine an art and psychology major. “My dream job is to be a forensic artist, and do facial reconstructions and criminal sketches,” says Kandell. She has already used her artistic talent to complete a project for Connections, a program at JLS Middle School designed to give students critical thinking and decision making skills, during which she
Kandell with Kathi Bowers who is sporting a tshirt designed by Kandell (bottom right) learned Adobe Illustrator and designed a shirt which was extremely successful — receiving $800 in profit for 80 shirts. She then proceeded to donate all of the money to Connections. “That was a really powerful project for me because it made me realize that it’s possible to have a practical job and still have an art based career,” Kandell says, “it was also a time when I was able to use my abilities to benefit other people, which was really rewarding.” This year she designed another shirt for her math teacher, Kathi Bowers, with the slogan “Don’t Hug a Tree, Hug an Asymptote.” Kandell believes she is surrounded by many talented people at Paly, and is awed by the work of her fellow students. “I’m always humbled when I see other students’ artwork. I’m constantly inspired and motivated by seeing that talent around me,” Kandell says.
culture
11
Fashion Trends text and photos by clara chiu
do you find yourself constantly struggling with what to wear in the morning? C-Magazine captured some of the newest fashion trends of students at Palo Alto High School to help give some inspiraton to your morning wardrobe. These looks are a perfect way to start your school year in style. Looks include dressy, casual, sophisticated, grunge, and hippie.
1 2
3
4
1. ‘60s revival: loose, flowy t-shirts and tie dye print 2. Preppy meets skater: white vans, crew socks, and button ups 3. printed shorts: made of soft fabric and can be dressy or casual 12 culture
4. flannels: worn or tied around waist 5. hipster: button up sweaters and hawaiian shirts 6. the new must-have dress: flowy shift dresses
8
5
6
7
7. hammer time: harem pants, popularized by mc hammer , work for both guys and girls 8. comfort is key: birkenstocks/chacos (can be worn with socks culture
13
Into the Lives of Former Text and photos by: Olivia Vort
Political Prisoners 14
COVER STORY
M
yanmar has been in continual turmoil ever since their civil war began in 1948. The military regime that holds arbitrary rule over the country has been a key perpetuator of the war, and as activists push to democratize the nation, they directly challenge the present rule. For this reason, the government retaliates against activists without mercy. Khin Cho Myint and Hnin May Aung are both human rights activists that were thrown in prison for participating in peaceful protests in Myanmar. Fortunately I had the amazing opportunity to interview these political prisoners this summer in Myanmar. These are their stories: Khin Cho Myint was first arrested when she was 26 in 1998 for participating in a peaceful protest for democracy at her university in Myanmar. “They only take political prisoners at night,” Myint shares. Without any notice to her or her family, she was arrested at around 10:30pm, blindfolded, and taken to an unknown house to stay overnight; her family and friends were not able to see her again for six months. She was kept in custody in this house
fortwo days and nights; she was not allowed sleep and was given almost no food or water. She was not allowed to brush her teeth, look into a mirror, or shower. After Myint’s stay at the unidentified house, she was put on trial. Mynit’s friends and family were not permitted to attend her trial and she was not allowed to hire a personal defender. Myint was then transported to Insein Prison in Yangon where she began to serve her 10 year sentence in solitary confinement. Her daily life was repetitive, with her belief in Buddhism filling up the majority of her time in one form or another. Fortunately, Myint was able to eat, exercise, and allowed to leave her cell 15 to 20 minutes each day in order to wash. After a few months she was permitted to socialize with other women, some of whom were also political prisoners. These women were able to comfort her, but when prison officials took notice of this the women were transferred to different prisons. “ They don’t allow you to be happy in prison” says Myint. She did not dare challenge prison decorum, for they were beaten, tortured, or shot. Unlike prisons in most developed nations, Myanmar’s prison did not provide prisoner’s with any medical or dental assistance that was not already paid for by their family members.On top of that, family members like in Myint’s case, were often not informed
COVER STORY
15
farmers in burma lead their wooden carts with cows
local monks in Burma gather together for a group picture.
Inmates were treated with the utmost brutality. “Before 2000, Burmese prison was like hell”, Myint explains. Only due to international pressure from organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations(UN) did conditions in later years slightly improve. While Myint was in prison, her family pressured the government to grant her an early release through the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners(AAPP) an organization dedicated to protecting, counseling, and representing political prisoners, situated in Burma. About midway into Myint’s prison sentence her mother died, and she was then allowed to attend the funeral. Seven months after her mother’s death, due to the continual pressure put on the government for Myint’s early release, Myint was let
out of prison having served five years and nine months. Myint’s experience in prison had broken her to the point where she couldn’t even cross the street alone because she was too afraid; she had left prison but prison has never left her, so she continued to be plagued with fear and depression after her release. The way her government, whose role was to protect and represent its citizens, treated her in an unforgivable manner. Overtime Myint was able to block her experiences from continually damaging her, and instead was able to direct them towards attacking the government system that abused her. As of now, she has been working as a staff member of the AAPP for almost four years. Hnin May Aung is a 38-year-
old ex-political prisoner who was arrested for the first time in 1998 when one of her friends was found with her political book. Her mother was arrested on the same day as Aung for being a member of the national league. She described her first time in prison as a “real hell”. She only had one hour a day for walking and bathing because she was kept in isolation the rest of the time. For the first three months she couldn’t eat the prison food because it tasted so bad and was “unedible”. Aung said that the hardest thing about prison was that she wasn’t allowed to read any books. Before going to prison Aung was a third year university student who studied english. However she lost all of her memory during her time in prison. Aung and her mother were both released in 2005 but Aung found that she was afraid to do many things back at
Myanmar political prisoners struggle to recover “Dictatorship has destroyed the lives of people in a very real way.” Hnin May Aung Ex-political prisoner
home and worked to slowly learn what she had known before her imprisonment. After her release from prison Hnin May Aung kept up her work as an activist because she felt that it was her duty to try and improve her country by protesting against the government. Due to her continued activist work she was arrested again in 2007 when she was at a protest against the price of petroleum. Due to international pressure, by her second time in prison the conditions had improved: the food was more edible and she was allowed to talk to other prisoners and read books and in 2012, she was released from her second prison sentence. Throughout her time in prison- both the first and second timeshe kept thinking that being in prison was a way to act against the military government. This thought is what helped her survive her prison sentences. Hnin is still fighting today and is working as a counselor in Thailand in an effort to raise the mental health of current and former prisoners. Hnin believes that the only way to democratize Myanmar is to change the military constitution. Hnin wants people to be aware of how political prisoners are treated and how “dictatorship has destroyed the lives of people in a very real way.”
Cover story
17
Miyoko’s Kitchen
Text by Emma Low Photos from miyokoskitchen.com
Before the opening of Miyoko’s Creamery, many doubted the likelihood that vegan cheese could muster up to anything of its dairy counterpart. Read more to hear about new advances in the culinary art of veganism.
V
egan cheese ... as implausible as it sounds, several determined chefs over the years have attempted to create the delicacy that so many vegans (those who refrain from eating animal products) miss in their diets. Celebrated vegan chef, Miyoko Schinner, has spent her career creating food for both meat and plant eaters. In addition to her previous work in the restaurant business, she has made vegan food accessible to the majority through
her participation in the television show Vegan Mashup and also through her cookbooks, The Now and Zen Epicure, Artisan Vegan Cheese and Japanese Cooking: Contemporary and Traditional. The most important idea behind Schinner’s recipes is that food is food. Creating vegan food that everyone can enjoy just makes cooking more fun. In her latest and most exciting adventure, Schinner is planning to create large-scale vegan cheese with a factory located in Fairfax, Calif. There
e
s
will be nine flavors of the cheese, with more information available on miykoskitchen.com. The factory is still in its upand-coming phases (it not yet open to the public) but once the doors unlock, customers will be able to buy cheese as well as view cooking demonstrations and cheese-making through a window. This inclusive environment with a production cycle easily visible to the public speaks to the inviting vegan lifestyle. Hopefully an environment like this will allow for wholesome products, and inspire us to move away from a culture in which the food people eat is made up of ingredients nobody recognizes. Schinner admits that her inspiration to create authentic vegan replacements for dairy cheese actually came from her
daughter. In order to make a vegan version of cheese as close to the actualproduct as possible, Schinner employs the use of culturing to age cheese as convincing as possible. Although Schinner knew of fellow chefs who had attempted to make vegan cheese, she realized that many lacked the cultured flavors and textures that make real cheese unique. As she ventured forward, Schinner began developing ways to create a cultured nut base that had all the varied properties of cheese. From sharp and tangy to gooey and melty, Miyoko’s Creamery will offer nine varieties to spread on sandwiches and crackers in the Fall of 2014. The aforementioned flavors include: Classic Double
Cream Chive, Double Cream Sundried Tomato Garlic, High Sierra Rustic Alpine, Fresh Loire Valley Round in a Fig Leaf, Mt. Vesuvius Black Ash, French Style Winter Truffle, Aged English Sharp Farmhouse, Aged English Smoked Farmhouse and Country Style Herbes de Provence. Schinner’s method of culturing a nut base draws on the basic principles of dairy cheese and provides the prospect for a promising future of vegan food. More and more people are becoming interested in this compassionate diet that is environmentally friendly and health conscious. An abundance of vegan options make the transition easier – even if it is only for one meal.
Miyoko’s Creamery 1966 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. SuitE B Fairfax, CA 94930 info@miyokoskitchen.com Facebook: Miyoko’s Kitchen Instagram: miyokoschinner Twitter: @MiyokosKitchen
food
19
Italian Influx Text by Carmelle Bareket-Shavit Photos by Creative Commons
Location: 651 Emerson St. Palo Alto, CA 94301 Telephone: (650) 353-2208 Email: paloalto@pizzeriadelfina.com Hours Open Every Day: 11:30am - 10:00pm Price Estimate: $-$$
20
FOOD
The recent addition of Pizzeria Delfina has introduced Palo Alto to a new wave of Italian cuisine that raises the standard of Italian-style restaurants in Palo Alto. Everything about this newcomer screams success: location, style, price and menu. Pizzeria Delfina is the third branch of the notoriously successful original restaurant located in San Francisco. Now, with a location in the middle of Downtown Palo Alto, everyone can enjoy the unique and refreshing atmosphere of the restaurant. In fact, the location is so perfect, it even allows for a walk across the street to Fraiche for a post-dinner frozen yogurt. The exterior is beautiful
with ivy leaves encompassing the entire wall. The interior has sleek and shiny tables all fitting in with the grey and bright yellow contrast of the walls and signs. The style signals that you are no longer eating in a substandard restaurant. Rather, this elite and obviously thought out style gives a customer the feeling of a San Francisco original and elegant atmosphere. The menu is well thought out, with affordable items that are fresh and unique to Pizzeria Delfina. Delfina makes the pizza eating experience intimate and collective, rather than individual. When entering the restaurant, my fellow food-lover and I decided to split a pizza and a salad among
the two of us: a reasonable and clever way to try out two different things at a low price. The first item I chose to try was Martin’s Farm Escarole. If you’re into lemon and can tolerate bitterness, this is the salad for you. Fully packed with a lemon dressing, this salad is (if-nothing else) a waker-upper. While it was delicious, my guest and I were a little confused as to what these little orange specks were upon our otherwise flavorful salad. When the waiter arrived, he could not
give us an answer other than a vague presumption that it was some sort of fish. The fact that the staff could not answer a question about one of the three salads offered, was worrisome, though I suppose it was understandable considering the fact that Pizzeria Delfina has only been open a handful of weeks. The second item we tried is the Panna pizza. Hoping that this choice would be a little better, and that the staff would be more knowledgable about questions, we awaited the ar-
rival of our pizza. I am happy to remark that the delivery of the entire meal was done with such a punctual manner that I am willing to give substancial credit to the staff. The tomato sauce and cheese pizza arrived drenched in oil, but nonetheless tasty, and even though the pizza was greasy, the crust was fluffy and perfectly baked. Overall, I give Pizzeria Delfina a score of 3.5/5. One star is accredited to the restaurant for appearance and charm of the atmosphere. Another star is
rewarded for Pizzeria Delfina’s unique concepts and location, and another for its advantageous experimentation with the menu, which according to the waitress, is still under works.The last half star is for the vibrant flavors of the food. Make it your mission to dine at Pizzeria Delfina. Ask the waiters about the secret menu, which is apparently so secret that none of the servers are informed about! Pizza Delfina is the perfect place for a fresh, summer dinner!
FOOD
21
10 things to do with
Watermelon
Text & Photos by Clara de Martel
Watermelon Juice
*Serves 1 Ingredients 2 cups chopped watermelon Juice from Âź lime 1 tbsp. sugar A slice of lime for garnish (optional) Mint leaves for garnish (optional) Directions 1. Cut the watermelon into chunks removing the rind and seeds. 2. Place the chunks into a bowl and let them cool in refrigerator for 1-2 hours. 3. In blender, combine watermelon, lime juice and sugar and puree. 4. Pour into the glass and garnish with a slice of lime and mint leaves (optional).
Watermelon Muffins Ingredients 1-1/2 cups flour 2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1/8 tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp salt 6 tbsp (3/4 stick) butter, at room temperature 2/3 cup sugar 2 eggs 1/2 cup sour cream 1 cup processed watermelon juice with pulp 3/4 cup miniature chocolate chips Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line standard or miniature muffin tins with baking paper cups. 2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and sugar in a medium bowl. Set aside. 3. In a bowl, mix softened butter with sugar. Beat in eggs. Add sour cream and watermelon and chocolate chips. 4. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake 20 to 25 minutes for standard sized muffins. Place muffins on racks to cool.
Watermelon-Lime Cooler *Serves 6 Ingredients 6 cups seedless watermelon chunks 4 tbsps frozen limeade concentrate 2 tbsps fresh lime juice 1 1/2 cups crushed ice lime slices for garnish Directions 1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. 2. Serve in tall glasses and garnish with lime slices. 22
FOOD
Watermelon Salsa
Watermelon Sorbet
Ingredients 2 cups seeded finely chopped watermelon ½ cup finely chopped peeled cucumber ¼ cup finely chopped red onion ¼ cup finely chopped sweet red pepper 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced ¼ cup minced fresh cilantro 1tbsp minced fresh basil 1 tbsp minced fresh mint 2 tbsp honey 1 tsp lime juice Directions 1. In a large bowl, combine the watermelon, cucumber, onion, peppers and herbs. Drizzle with honey and lime juice; gently toss to coat. 2. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. 3. Serve with chips.
Ingredients 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 cup water 6 cups watermelon chunks, (4-pound watermelon), seeded 2 tbsp lime juice Directions 1. Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. 2. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour. 3. Place watermelon and lime juice in a food processor; process until smooth. Whisk in the sugar syrup. 4. Pour the watermelon mixture into a shallow metal pan and freeze until ice crystals form around the edges, about 30 minutes. 5. Stir the ice crystals into the center of the pan and return to the freezer; repeat every 20 minutes until all the liquid is frozen. 6. Serve immediately or transfer to a storage container and place back in the freezer.
Tip:
If you decide to serve the sorbet later you may need to put it back in the food processor to get the right consistency.
FOOD
23