alexpgp | Jul. 13th, 2011

Galina's 'boss' came visiting in the afternoon (real estate agents in Texas must hang their license with a broker, you see), and while they discussed business, I went shopping for food.

At my first stop, at Whole Foods, I was a bit surprised when I was asked if I wanted my purchases packed with ice, until I realized just how hot the car can get after a few minutes out in the Texas sun. I figured, however, that the question was just part of the service one gets at a place that charges premium prices, like Whole Foods.

I was wrong.

The question was repeated at my next stop, across the street, at Nippan Daido, where I loaded up on udon noodles and natto.

In the home stretch, I stopped at one of Houston's ubiquitous Spec's liquor stores, where I picked up some Guinness and some cassis liqueur.

Dinner was heavy on carbs, with lentils and black rice, and some leftover fish. The cassis went well with the Guinness (an idea suggested to me by LJ friend bogorad during our meeting in Paris), and can also be put to profitable use in making kir over the coming days.