星期三, 6月 04, 2014

台灣美食廚藝中西食客都讚

2014年臺灣美食廚藝巡迴秀在六月一日晚龍鳳酒樓席開十餘桌,六月二日晚燒酒(Shojo Asian Bar $ Bistro)餐廳滿座,中西老饕大快朵頤中圓滿落幕。
            黃汶達,許凱敦,林士育,楊盛堯等四名大廚,從五月廿九日到三十一日間,在波士頓安良工商會大樓教做美食,包括紅燒及清燉牛肉麵,炒酸菜,滷牛腱,黃金泡菜, 酸白菜,台味炸豬排,滷肉燥,三杯雞,涼拌南瓜,小籠湯包, 芝麻球,蛋糕裝飾等,十幾樣美食。
            這幾位以藝術創作出名的老師,喜歡變花樣,上課時邊教學員們如何把菜做得好吃,邊傳授變化竅門。
譬如做牛肉麵,要用高湯,得先把牛骨,牛碎肉放進沸水中煮滾,去除表面血水泡沫後,加洋蔥,胡蘿蔔,薑,蔥,煮開後,用慢小火燉煮大約六小時,用快鍋煮約一個半小時,隔天再煮就更香濃。
調味薑蔥要加砂糖爆香,視各人口味放入辣豆瓣醬,黑豆瓣醬,然後再加洋蔥,中藥包,放入牛肉熬上一小時,敖到熟軟。
幾名老師都說,做菜要好吃,材料得講究,就以牛肉麵來說,用美國牛,澳洲牛,味道都會有差異。至於牛肉麵用什麼麵,更有許多變化,一般來說拉麵比較有嚼頭,口感好些。
由於近年人們談味精色變。楊盛堯指出,可用香菇,昆布(海帶),干貝等天然食材打成粉末,取代味精,一樣有很好的調味效果。
六月一日晚,幾名大廚和龍鳳酒樓大廚梅球活,少東梅佩凡,波士頓華僑文教中心的許淑芬等人合作,以“席前小碟 ( 醉雞、鹽酥雞、素鵝、酸蘿蔔 ),栗蓉瑪粒帶子羹,田園四蔬,北京片皮鴉,Xo醬螺片,法式羊排,紅燒牛肉麵,小籠湯包,綠豆甜湯,蓮蓉芝麻球這幾道大菜,擺出成果宴。
駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長洪慧珠,組長簡宏昇,劍橋廚藝學校老師甄碧鳳,這天都是座上客。波士頓安良工商會的兩名會長,黃國健,李天生特地請該會顧問余文博代表,感謝師傅教導,又為波士頓帶來新鮮的中菜烹飪法。
曾在春田市開Fusion餐廳的張耀熙倒是很興奮,認為這次學到很多烹飪技藝,尤其是小籠包,紅燒牛肉麵這兩樣美國顧客越來越喜歡的菜,等做得地道時,搞不好再重起爐灶開餐館。
六月二日晚,四名大廚由許凱敦擔綱,和龍鳳酒樓一樓的燒酒(Shojo Asian Bar $ Bistro)餐廳大廚,Jeremy Lee,梅沛傑合作,以“台灣之味(Taste of Taiwan)”為主題,端出“台灣沙拉卷,海鮮肉水餃,鳳梨醋豬排,清燉牛肉麵,紅燒牛肉麵”幾道菜,讓洋顧客嚐嚐台菜。
二日晚,有五十多個座位的燒酒餐廳爆滿。第七號頻道電視台主播吳芝蘭在老饕好友邀約下,一起來嚐鮮,每道菜都稱讚,直說真好吃,從來沒嚐過。

圖片說明:

            波士頓安良工商會會長黃國健(前右ㄧ),李天生(後左一)與台灣大廚黃汶達(前右二起),許凱敦,經文處長洪慧珠,劍橋廚校甄碧鳳,以及學生陳正行(後右起),郭競儒,金太太,張耀熙等人在晚宴中合影。(菊子攝)

            新英格蘭台灣商會現任會長許炳煌(右二),曾秀梅夫婦,和波克萊台商會顧問郭競儒(左一),和林海倫(中)都是朋友,在台灣廚藝晚宴中同桌暢敘。

        來自台灣的四名大廚在晚宴結束後,和龍鳳酒樓大廚梅活球(右三),龍鳳酒樓少東梅佩凡(左一)合影留念。四名大廚右起為林士育,楊盛堯,許凱敦,黃汶達。(菊子攝)

            燒酒餐廳的顧客,以洋人為主。(菊子攝)


            第七號頻道電視台主播吳芝蘭(右一)在朋友邀約下,一起來嚐她也沒吃過的台灣菜。(菊子攝)

牛頓中文學校波士頓華埠辦成人班國畫展

中文校成人國畫班在兩名老師是崙藝術學會的前會長,顧問這層淵源下,首度從郊區進市區辦畫展,十六人的三十幅畫作,五月三十一日開始在愛丁保羅街25號展出。
            牛頓中文學校是大波士頓地區歷史最悠久的中文學校之一,創校已逾五十年。既是中華表演藝術基金會會長,也是崙藝術協會副董事長的譚嘉陵在牛頓中文學校教國畫,已逾三十年。五,六年前,她把廣州美術學院科班出身的林浩宗也邀去當老師,使牛頓中文學校的國畫班師資,在已高齡八十有餘的林二南外,陣容更加堅強。
            根據網路資料,廣州銀通拍賣公司在2013年辦春季藝術品拍賣會時,一幅林浩宗的“尼加拉大瀑布鏡框設色紙本中國繪畫,估價高達人民幣二至三萬元。
            中文校成人國畫班的這場師國畫畫聯展,共有林浩宗、  嘉陵、汪、王玉、蔡珍、李志平、敏萍、玲、 姚桂、金志, 隆森、金弘宣、苗永昌、朱靜貞Vartus Varadian等十六人,展出三十幅花、、山水,人物等或寫意,或工筆的畫作。
            參展學生中,有苗永昌,金志興,薛龍森等三人是耆英班學生。他們的年齡在7686歲間,都是學理工或醫藥出身,和藝術沒沾上過邊,但分別學畫五到九年後,參展作品都很有架勢。
            金志興透露,他喜歡凌晨三點多起床,趁著萬籟俱寂,最能夠靜下心來的時候,揮筆作畫,一畫就三,四個小時。她的女兒金怡表示,從來沒想到“老爸”竟然那麼有藝術天份,才學畫幾年,就已經畫得能參展了。
高齡86的薛隆森不但送了兩幅畫參展,開幕這天還帶了好幾幅人物工筆畫,請譚嘉陵評點。他的同學讚嘆表示,老師教畫時說,年紀大的人,手容易抖,不容易畫工筆畫,可薛老先生畫的工筆畫,一幅幅都很有韻味呢。
三名耆英學生中最年輕的苗永昌,學畫時間最長,興趣也最廣。他表示,由於老師要求,他們幾乎每週至少畫一張畫,家裡堆的畫作成品,擺滿了整個房間。他自己寫意畫得多,但各種畫法都試,還寫書法,最近還自學裝裱,連裱畫時切邊得四十五度都學會了。
中文校成人國畫班畫展將展至六月十四日止。查可洽嘉陵 jialintan58@gmail.com,或 781-259-8195

圖片說明:
            右起,汪慶,陸玲,金志興,薛隆森,姚桂蘭,苗永昌,譚嘉陵,林浩宗,陳雅穎,王玉雙等參展者在開幕式中合影。(菊子攝)

            薛隆森(左)拿畫出來,請譚嘉陵(中)點評。(菊子攝)

            苗永昌(右起),金志興幫同學薛隆森(左)把不能參展的畫拿出來,請到會者欣賞。(菊子攝)


中華耆英會講座傳授注意營養重點

中華耆英會與紐英崙婦女新運會,君子樓合作,昨(三)日下午在君子樓舉辦“耆英健康祕訣”講座。
            中華耆英會的註冊營養師何慧寧,昨日以製作精美的幻燈片,生動地提醒六十多名出席耆英,要注意攝取營養,適度運動,經常小口喝水,適度補充體內水分,以常保身心健康。
            何慧寧先指出,人到了一定年齡時,身體的新陳代謝功能開始減慢,肌肉和骨骼縮減,唾液和胃液的分泌量也減少,味覺,嗅覺和食慾都變得和以前不一樣。由於人體需要的熱量(calories),視乎要年齡,性別及活動量而異,想要保持身體健康,要把重點放在質量上,也就是食物的營養成分上。年紀大的人對蛋白質,鈣質,維他命D,維他命B12,食用纖維,鉀質,歐米伽(Omega)3,液體等營養元素,還有一些特別需要。
            何慧寧指出,蛋白質是用來維持肌肉和骨骼重量,幫助傷口癒合,抵抗力,皮膚健康,重創後的康復進度等,耆英門可從瘦肉,家禽,魚類,豆腐,雞蛋,堅果,牛奶等食品攝取這一營養。
            鈣質是傳送神經訊息,強化肌肉,骨骼,牙齒,幫助荷爾蒙分泌的營養元素,停經後的女性吸收鈣質能力減低,五十一歲以上的人,最好注意讓自己每天攝取1200毫克的鈣質。包括牛奶,酸奶,椰菜,白菜,西蘭花,菠菜,沙丁魚或三文魚等軟骨魚等,都含有豐富鈣質。罐裝的魚也可以。
            維他命D則是幫助細胞成長,增加肌肉神經和免疫功能,也可以讓人減少
發炎。這一營養元素也能促進鈣質的吸收,進而幫助骨骼增長和重塑,預防骨質疏鬆。五十一歲到七十歲的人,最好每天攝取600個單位的維他命D,七十歲以上的人要把攝取量增加到每天八百個單位。耆英不妨考慮食用加鈣食品。
            維他命B12可以幫助製造紅血球,神經功能,DNA的合成等。胃液少的人,就很難吸收維他命B12。缺乏維他命B12時,會貧血,疲倦,食慾不振,抑鬱,記憶力減退。十四歲以上的人,每天都應攝取2.4微克。
            維他命D及維他命B12都可從魚,肉,家禽,雞蛋,牛奶等食品中獲取。   至於纖維,五十一歲以上者,應每天攝取21克。可幫助人平衡身體內水分和礦物質,保持血壓正常的鉀質,應該每天攝取4700毫克。
            歐米伽3是一種多不飽和脂肪,是一種人體無法自行製造,必須從食物中攝取的營養,具有幫助人降低血壓,減少心跳不規則,增強大腦記憶力等功能,可從吃三文魚,吞拿魚,鱒魚,沙丁魚,亞麻籽,葵花子,核桃等食物獲取。
            何慧寧最後建議老人家們適度運動,走路,爬樓梯,打太極,做瑜伽,都是不錯的運動。萬一感到不適,記得打911電話。

圖片說明:

            中華耆英會與紐英崙婦女新運會,君子樓等合辦活動者合影。右三起為張青梅,梅伍銀寬,呂錦芳,李廖認寬,李曹秀萍(右七起),何慧寧,李伍綺蓮,湯鳳鳴,李慧芳等人。君子樓的住客服務統籌員洪家慶不在圖中。(菊子攝)

            紐英崙婦女新運會幹部是中華耆英會健康講座的骨幹成員。右起,婦女會共同會長湯鳳鳴,李曹秀萍,婦女會共同會長呂錦芳,梅伍銀寬,何慧寧,李慧芳,李伍綺蓮,李廖認寬。(菊子攝)


星期二, 6月 03, 2014

GOVERNOR PATRICK ADDRESSES INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY COUNCIL; CELEBRATES MASSACHUSETTS’ CLEAN ENERGY LEADERSHIP

GOVERNOR PATRICK ADDRESSES INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY COUNCIL; CELEBRATES MASSACHUSETTS’ CLEAN ENERGY LEADERSHIP
 
Abu Dhabi, UAE – Tuesday, June 3, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick today joined Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Mark Sylvia, Mass Clean Energy Center Chief Executive Officer Alicia Barton and others to promote Massachusetts’ nation-leading efforts in renewable energy and climate change policy during the second day of the International Renewable Agency (IRENA) Council’s meeting. 
 
GCF_4366
Tuesday, June 3, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick addresses IRENA’s 7th Council, highlighting the Commonwealth’s experience
advancing renewables and creating clean energy jobs in the U.S. (Photo: Timothy Hurst / IRENA)
 
“I am proud of the work we have done to make Massachusetts a leader in the clean energy revolution,” said Governor Patrick. “We understand that now more than ever we cannot leave our future to chance.”
 
Over 260 government leaders representing more than 100 countries attended today’s IRENA Council’s meeting. IRENA is an intergovernmental organization supporting countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future and serves as the main platform for international cooperation, a center of excellence and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.
 
In his remarks, Governor Patrick highlighted the Commonwealth’s nation-leading policies that are reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and addressing the impacts of climate change, while spurring economic growth across the Commonwealth. The Patrick Administration has supported a variety of strategies, including programs for GHG emission reductions, energy efficiency and renewable energy, which chart a path to a cleaner energy future and provide models for other states to follow. These strategies have yielded economic benefits as well, with 11.8 percent cleantech job growth in the last year; nearly 80,000 people are employed in the industry in Massachusetts.
 
"Because of the policies and actions of the Patrick Administration over the last seven years in renewable energy, energy efficiency and GHG reductions we are a national leader in clean energy, climate preparedness and job creation,” said DOER Commissioner Sylvia. “The Governor's address to IRENA today is recognition of that leadership and an opportunity for us all to work together to create a cleaner energy future across the globe."
 
"IRENA's Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review for 2014 puts a global focus on what we have seen at home in Massachusetts – that renewable energy adoption and economic prosperity are not mutually exclusive," said CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Alicia Barton. "Massachusetts' clean energy policies have fueled double-digit job growth in each of the last two years and MassCEC applauds IRENA's efforts to drive renewable energy job growth all over the world."
 
Since 2007, solar capacity in Massachusetts has grown from three megawatts (MW) to over 500 MW, and will more than triple that by 2020. Over that same period, wind capacity in Massachusetts has grown from three MW to more than 103 MW; and Massachusetts is poised to be home to the Nation’s first offshore wind farm. The Patrick Administration has invested in infrastructure, like the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, to make Massachusetts a hub for this emerging industry.
 
Governor Patrick highlighted that, while Massachusetts leads the nation in several areas of clean energy and energy efficiency, there is still more work to do to protect our environment for this generation and the next. Last month, the Obama administration released a report, co-authored by over 300 independent scientists, which catalogued the evidence of climate change and its impact. The assessment demonstrates that climate change is an issue right now, not just for future generations, and those weather changes have implications for our economy, transportation, energy, water, agriculture, ecosystems and oceans. Yesterday, Governor Patrick announced his support for the Obama Administration’s and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) draft rules that will reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants by 30 percent by 2030 and greatly improve air quality across the nation.
 
Yesterday, Governor Patrick and members of the Massachusetts-UAE Innovation Partnership Mission 2014 visited the installation of a Massachusetts company’s solar-powered streetlights on a road in Masdar City to promote the Commonwealth’s growing clean energy sector. SolarOne provided 306 solar-powered streetlights for parking lot and roadway lighting following a field test with competitors from all over the world. In May, SolarOne was awarded an $89,000 grant with a $58,000 match under the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s InnovateMass program, for a partnership with the City of Somerville and CIMSON Software to demonstrate the company’s networked, off-the-grid solar-powered lighting for pedestrian and bicycle paths in Somerville.
 
In January, Governor Patrick directed Energy and Environmental Affairs to pursue strategies that would help Massachusetts adapt and be more resilient against these impacts. Working with a diverse group of stakeholders, the Patrick Administration is working to ensure emergency services can protect residents from inevitable impacts; assess risks and vulnerabilities to minimize impacts through careful planning; and protect and strengthen both our natural habitats and the Commonwealth’s infrastructure. Follow this link to see the sites of all clean energy projects in Massachusetts.
 
Current members of the IRENA Council:
 
Cameroon, Cyprus, France, Greece, Grenada, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Romania, Tonga, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, Fiji, Germany. New Zealand and Poland act as alternates.

玉山科協再談大數據 魏宇峰、張宗堯分論醫療、金融


紐英崙玉山科技協會(MJNE五月三十一日晚,在劍橋市微軟研發中心探討“大數據-大未來“。張宗堯,魏宇峰分別從金融,醫療健保角度闡述,分析,應用海量數據,將是未來社會常態,要從這一領域尋找機會,應先從專精個別行業隻是起步。
            當天的會議由Vertex 製藥公司生物統計測定部門主任凌美秀博士主持,兩名講者都是麻省理工學院博士,分別為飛莓資本(譯音,Flyberry Capital)創始人兼首席執行官張宗堯,名稱暫時還無法公佈的一家初創公司創始人兼執行合夥人魏宇峰。
            根據一篇今年四月一日在Blue Dun上刊出的文章,大波士頓地區在2013年內,冒出不下十七家初創金融科技公司,使得這一領域的金融服務公司初創公司總數達到約50家之多。
            2011年在劍橋市創辦的飛莓資本,就是其中一家。最初是由天使投資人的五十萬美元起家,今年三月陸續和第一春公司(First Spring Corp.),以及澳洲的全球偵察基金(Scout Global Funds達成融資協議。
            張宗堯當天在會中表示,飛莓公司做的就是從數以千計的不同來源收集資訊,利用該公司建造的獨有分析平台,來做出更正確的經濟模式,進而幫助客戶管理資產。他們也為想要建立數據分析方案,或解決數據相關問題的公司,提供咨詢服務,包括預測地震,都是他們做的服務之一。
            他透露,經過這二,三年的不斷修訂,飛莓的資訊來源與分析平台都越來越紮實,也能更快速地提出答案。至於金融市場的股票投資,他指出,一般人容易受市場上的負面新聞報導影響,一時衝動地做出決定,但負面新聞有時反而能帶來正面結果,一般來說,長期持有的最終結果,是會有盈利的。
            魏宇峰當天從醫療護理行業的應用海量數據說起。他指出,美國的醫療護理開銷將在2019年時達到4.5兆元,約等於2013GDP29%。自從聯邦政府實施可負擔醫療保險法(ACA),拋出許多依照醫療品質付費的規定後,聯邦醫療護理(Medicare),聯邦醫療補助(Medicaid),以及保險公司付款給醫院的做法,都出現許多改變,紛紛要求醫院採取措施,減少病人的再度住院率,加強使用率,減少申報費用詐欺,改善效率等。這些要求使得醫療護理機構面對如何管理爆炸性成長的數據,如何整合零散瑣碎數據,如何把數據變成有用的資訊,如何很快地獲取關鍵績效指數,並做出決定等挑戰。
            魏宇峰認為,這現象至少在四個領域形成許多機會,包括整合數據,儲存及運用數據,分析數據,提供視覺畫的決策支援等。
            魏宇峰指出,醫療界目前面對的一大問題是如何減少病人的再度住院率。一般來說,當病人出院後,出人意料之外的,在三十天之內又住院了,就形成一宗再度住院案(readmission)。一般來說,有200300張病床的醫院,每年約有380萬元,或9.6%的總預算是浪費在不必要的再度住院上。根據可負擔醫療保險法,聯邦醫療護理(Medicare)及聯邦醫療補助(Medicaid)服務中心(CMS)從2012年開始就開始向再度住院率過高的醫院徵收罰款。這種做法逼使醫療界紛紛轉向海量數據業求救,希望找出方法預測,並從而減少病人的再度住院率。其中的一項實驗性做法,獲得改善50%的成績。
            魏宇峰認為,海量數據的未來將是有許多數據會來自可穿載設備,數據不成結構,無監督的學習等。
            紐英崙玉山科技協會的這場講座,原本有三名講者。預定講談海量數據與地方政府的劍橋市議員張禮能,因故未能出席。
            查詢玉山科協概況,可上網www.mj-ne.org

圖片說明:

            紐英倫玉山科董事與講者合影。左起,陳翠玲,黃瑞琪,魏宇峰,張劭聿,張宗堯,貝克寧,康麗雪,凌秀美等人。(菊子攝)

            兩名講者魏宇峰(左),張宗堯(右)都是麻省理工學院博士。(菊子攝)