My Autobiography: David Balleza K(C)atague

Monday, March 16, 2026

I Enjoyed Anthony Bourdain's Favorite Soup Last Night

Anthony Bourdain's favorite soup, Bún bò Huế, is considered the "greatest soup in the world" due to its complex and harmonious balance of flavors and textures. This Vietnamese beef noodle soup originated in the city of Huế and stands out for several reasons.

Broth: A rich, flavorful broth made by simmering beef and pork bones for hours, then enhanced with lemongrass, onion, shrimp paste, and annatto for added depth and color.

Ingredients: A variety of key ingredients, including:

Thicker rice noodles, unlike the thin strips found in pho

Tender beef shank, slow-cooked to perfection

Crab meat dumplings, adding seafood richness

Pig trotters and blood cake, providing a depth of flavor and texture

Fresh herbs, such as lime wedges, cilantro, and scallions, adding brightness and crunch

Spice level: A spicy kick from chili oil and chili sauce, balanced by the sweetness of the broth and other ingredients

Regional influence: Bún bò Huế reflects the culinary philosophy of Vietnam, emphasizing balance and harmony in its flavors and textures

Cultural significance: This soup is a staple in Huế, where it was once reserved for the royal palace, and is now a beloved breakfast dish for locals and travelers alike

Bourdain praised bún bò Huế for its bold, balanced, and unapologetically meaty flavors, making it a standout dish in Vietnamese cuisine

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview:

Anthony Bourdain

famously declared Bún bò Huế to be the "greatest soup in the world". While filming Parts Unknown, he placed it at the absolute top of his "hierarchy of delicious, slurpy stuff in a bowl," praising it as a sophisticated masterpiece on par with high-end French cuisine.

What is Bún bò Huế?

Originating from Huế, the former imperial capital of Vietnam, this dish is a bold and complex noodle soup known for its vibrant red, spicy broth. It is distinct from the more famous Pho due to its thicker, cylindrical rice noodles and a punchier flavor profile driven by lemongrass and fermented shrimp paste.

The Broth: A rich, slow-simmered concoction of beef and pork bones, heavily scented with lemongrass, chili oil, and fermented shrimp paste (mắm ruốc).
The Proteins: Typically includes tender beef shank, pork hocks, oxtail, crabmeat dumplings, and cubes of congealed pig's blood (huyết).
The Garnishes: Served with a fresh array of shredded banana blossoms, bean sprouts, lime, cilantro, and Vietnamese mint.

Where to Experience it Like Bourdain

If you want the exact experience Bourdain had, you can find it at these locations in Vietnam:

Bún Bò Huế Kim Chau
: Located in the iconic Dong Ba Market in Huế. This is where Bourdain filmed the Parts Unknown segment and marveled at the soup's complexity.
The Lunch Lady (Ho Chi Minh City)
: Bourdain also famously visited Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, whose rotating menu includes a legendary version of Bún bò Huế.
Street Food Tours: For a guided experience, you can join the Super Niche Walking Street Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City, which includes an original-taste version of the soup.

What's the best time to visit Hawaii?

Here's where you can have Vietnamese Food Around Walnut Creek: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Bun+Bo+Hue&find_loc=Walnut+Creek%2C+CA

Personal Note: I ordered on line Bun Bo Hue beef soup from PhoViet, Pleasant Hill last night. I agree with Bourdain's 100%. It was delicious and reminds me of a similar soup in the Philippines ( shrimp paste flavor).

Meanwhile, Do you know the Best Time to visit Hawaii?

The best time to visit Hawaii depends on your preferences and what you're looking for. Here's a breakdown of the island's climate and events throughout the year:

Best Months to Visit

January and February: Ideal for whale watching, surfing, and festivals like the Chinese New Year holiday. Temperatures range from 78-82°F (25-28°C), with hotel prices averaging $375-390 per night.

April and May: Enjoy pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices. Hotel rates drop to around $346-360 per night, making it an excellent time for couples and budget travelers.

September and October: Warm weather, exciting festivals, and lower prices. Hotel rates average $340 per night, and airfare is relatively cheap.

Peak Tourist Season

June to August: Summer vacation brings crowds and higher prices, but the weather is perfect, with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s (30-31°C).

December: Holiday season attracts visitors, with Christmas week being the most expensive time to visit Hawaii. Hotel rates jump to $465 per night.

Shoulder Season

March and November: These months offer a balance of good weather and smaller crowds. March is ideal for festivals like the Honolulu Festival and Kona Brewers Festival, while November is great for whale watching and the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival.

Festivals and Events

January: Sony Open golf tournament, big wave surfing competitions

February: Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival, Prince Kuhio Festival

March: Honolulu Festival, Kona Brewers Festival

April: Merrie Monarch Festival, Waikiki Spam Jam

May: Lei Day celebrations, Mele Mei musical celebration

June: King Kamehameha Day, start of hurricane season

July: 4th of July fireworks, Pineapple Festival, Kapalua Wine & Food Festival

August: Ho’oku’i Kahi Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival, Made in Hawaii Festival

September: Aloha Festival, Hawaii Food and Wine Festival

October: Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, Coconut Festival, Ironman World Championship

November: Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, North Shore surf season kickoff

December: Festive holiday activities, whale watching

Finally My Reel of the Day" Bulalo- One of My Favorite Pinoy Soup-besides Sinigang

https://www.facebook.com/reel/894592613316100

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Photos from the Spring Tea Party Yesterday

Jan Muto and Me. The Only Thorn ( male) among the Roses ( Females)

Another THD activity, that I enjoyed very much was Our Spring Tea Party yesterday afternoon. It was hosted by our ever capable Activity Guru-Karen Koop. Three Tables of six were occupied to capacity. A few residents in the waiting list were not accommodated, so they missed the three delicious courses prepared by our capable Chef, Joel Torres. I took the following photos before and during this enjoyable activity. Thousands of Kudos to Karen and her help(Yaya) and of course to Joel and his Kitchen Crew,.

Before:

DURING:

Photo Credit: Sandy Green: Jan Muto and Me Scones and Fresh Spring Flowers Galore

We were allowed to take the fresh flowers after the Tea for Our Apartment Decor

Once Again, thank you Karen for all the hard work you did to make this event a resounding success.

My Photo and Its Animation

Animation:

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Finally, Yesterday was Pi Day:

Every year on March 14, the world celebrates Pi Day, because the date (3/14) reflects the first digits of π = 3.14.

In a fascinating coincidence, it is also the birthday of Albert Einstein, one of history’s greatest scientific minds.

In numerology, the numbers in 3.14 carry symbolic meanings: 3 represents creativity, 1 leadership, and 4 logic and structure. Together they form a balance between imagination and reason.

Even more mysterious, π is an infinite number, with decimals that never end, making March 14 a day that celebrates genius and the endless curiosity of the universe.

March 14 is a special date in the history of the Universe.
On March 14, 1879, Albert Einstein was born - the man whose ideas would change our understanding of space, time, gravity, and the cosmos itself.
His theory of relativity revealed that gravity is not just a force, but the curvature of spacetime. Without Einstein, we wouldn’t understand black holes, gravitational waves, or the expansion of the Universe.
But something extraordinary happened 139 years later.
On March 14, 2018, the Universe lost another brilliant mind - Stephen Hawking.
Hawking spent his life exploring the deepest mysteries of the cosmos: black holes, the origin of the Universe, and the nature of time itself. Despite being confined to a wheelchair for most of his life, his ideas traveled across the Universe.
It almost feels poetic. The day Einstein entered the Universe… is the same day Stephen Hawking left it.
Two minds who helped humanity understand the cosmos,  connected by the same date in history. And perhaps the Universe itself enjoys symmetry.

Highlights of My Professional Career

In my more than 40 years of professional career, I have experienced both working rank and file, as well as supervising the work of subordinates. I have worked in four private firms and the Federal Government, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where I retired. I enjoyed the challenges and difficulties of both types of job situations. This is the highlights of my work experience story.

My first job after completing my doctorate degree was a Chemist for Chemagro Corporation in Kansas City, Missouri. It was a subsidiary of Bayer Corporation, a German conglomerate. I worked for the analytical chemistry department comprised of about fifty people; half that number was either chemists or biologists. My specific task was to develop analytical methods for the detection of pesticide residues in plant and animal tissues. I worked on my own, similar to six other bench chemists, and we all reported to the same supervisor.

The firm sponsored my visa conversion from a student to a permanent resident, and I was able to legally work and reside in the United States with my family. The company generously took care of its employees. At the end of each successful year, everyone received a 13th month salary bonus. The employees and their families celebrated wonderful annual Christmas parties in a downtown Kansas City hotel, with dancing and free drinks for the whole night.

Inasmuch as I enjoyed and loved working for Chemagro for five years, I found a new job which offered a substantially higher pay. Due to my exemplary work performance, my supervisor preferred and lobbied for me to stay with the company. I had to turn him down because they could not match the package presented by my new employer. It was also a chance for me and my family to move and live in the US west coast, where the mild winter climate is bearable compared to the Midwest.

My next job was at the agricultural research division of Shell Development Company in Modesto, California. I was a Research Chemist, and again I worked individually, same as five other chemists who all reported to a supervisor. My specific duty was similar to my previous job. I worked for them for five years, until the company decided to get out of the pesticide business. They closed their research facility affecting the jobs of more than 200 employees.

My third industrial job was with the agricultural research division of Stauffer chemical company, located in Richmond, California. I was a Senior Research Chemist doing the same project as my two previous jobs. I worked for twelve continuous years for the company, with outstanding annual job performance. I became a Principal Research Chemist, the highest attainable non-supervisory position.

One day in 1986, my supervisor informed me that my job had been eliminated, and I had one day to vacate the facility. It was the most dreadful lay off experience in my life. I felt anger, sadness and humiliation to be dismissed from work with one day notice, after all the years of hard work invested for the company. This was an unforgettable incident and was the gloomiest point in my professional career.
The company terminated sixty research employees, who were upset of the bad news.

One of the chemists was distressed and expressed his outrageous anger by threatening the company and its workers. He told his supervisor of his intention to bomb and burn down the laboratory. He was immediately escorted by the security staff out of the building and into his car. He was informed to leave behind his personal belongings; they will be mailed to his residence. He was warned never to show up again near the company premises or risk getting arrested.

My supervisor was kind and allowed me to take my time to pack up my belongings. It took me two days to clear up my workplace, after toiling for a long period in the same jobsite. We were provided clerical help and office space, in preparation to look for another job, such as updating our resumes, and using the computer and copy machine. We were given six weeks of separation pay plus benefits.

Fortunately, with the help of a friend who is a Church parishioner, I found another job thirty days after leaving Stauffer chemical company. He hired me as a senior research chemist and as a group leader with two technicians to supervise. It was in the same field as my expertise in my previous three jobs spanning the last twenty one years. My new employer was Chevron Chemical Company, and which was located in the same area as my former employer.

This job gave me the introduction and basic knowledge of managing the work of subordinates. I worked for Chevron Company for four and a half years. The company decided to consolidate their research facilities in Texas, and lay off all its research employees. This time I had enough distress and agony from working, and eventually getting laid off from several private companies. To avoid going through any more miserable layoffs, I made a vow that I would never again work for a private company.

In my work experiences, there were noticeable and unavoidable jobsite occurrences. One can never miss the office romantic relationships between co-workers, both illicit and permitted. Though it was frowned upon, there was a boss and staff relationship, which was used as a ploy to get ahead in the company. Some relationships had chemistry, no pun intended, but some never worked out. Oftentimes, there was a sense of distrust among bench chemists for some workers who unjustly obtained preferred work assignments.

Some employees resorted to bribing superiors to get special privileges, such as being able to attend choice conferences and meetings in exciting venues or locations. Likewise, politics was always present at the worksites. It was during an era when various forms of harassment, equal opportunity and discrimination laws were not yet enforced in the workplace. Occasionally, an unexpected chemical explosion happens in a laboratory setting, where luckily no one got seriously hurt.

In the three private companies I worked for, I was able to publish scientific journals for some of the research studies and analytical methods which I developed for the respective companies of Chemagro, Shell Development and Stauffer.

After deciding and making a vow to avoid working in the private sector, I made my new goal which was either to work for the state of California, or the Federal government in Washington, D.C. Four months after I lost my job in Chevron, I was lucky and joyful to be hired by the Food and Drug Administration as a review chemist in the fall of 1990.

In 1994 I was promoted as an Expert Research Chemist with a GS-14 rating. My expertise was on Anti-malarial and Anti-parasitic drug products. In 1997, I was again deservingly promoted to Chemistry team leader, supervising the work of six Chemistry reviewers including five with doctorate degrees.

As team leader, I was responsible for prioritizing, assigning, and assuring the technical accuracy of all chemistry, manufacturing and control issues for all new drug applications submitted to the Division of Anti-Infective Drug Products, Center of New Drugs.

It was part of my responsibility to give advice, instruct and promote high morale and teamwork in my group. My work in the FDA is confidential, until the drug patent on the products I worked on has expired. There are manufacturing supplements that I have approved that are now open for the public in the Internet.

In 1998, I won the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Award. The citation reads, “For outstanding accomplishments in fostering the objectives of the EEO Program by hiring minorities and encouraging their professional growth while providing excellent leadership.” I have received numerous certificates of appreciation, awards in leadership and communications, commendation for teamwork and excellence in the accomplishment of the FDA mission. I have also received several letters of appreciation from private industry for my review work.

There are many good things working as rank and file while enjoying doing one’s job individually. It is a humbling, satisfying and productive experience, if one can work in harmony with one’s immediate supervisor. Working individually develops one’s skills in goal setting and scheduling. But in general, the financial rewards are less than a person who has supervisory responsibilities.

Managing the work of others has its challenges. Moreover, it develops one’s skill in handling and developing people, and the compensation rewards and benefits are better. Due to additional duties, responsibilities and leadership, supervisory work can be more stressful than working as a subordinate. However, supervisory jobs give one more personal growth and satisfaction, based on my personal experience. My work in FDA as a team leader managing the work of six scientists had been the happiest and rewarding work experience in my career in Chemistry. You might also like:

Monday, March 16, 2026

I Enjoyed Anthony Bourdain's Favorite Soup Last Night

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Photos from the Spring Tea Party Yesterday

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