the pharma chronicles part IX

LINK: the pharma chronicles part IX

Currently listening to: Rehab – Rihanna feat. Justin Timberlake

Damn, ain’t it crazy when you’re love swept?
You’ll do anything for the one you love
‘Cause anytime that you needed me, I’d be there
It’s like you were my favorite drug
The only problem is that you was using me
In a different way that I was using you
But now that I know it’s not meant to be
You gotta go, I gotta wean myself off of you

It’s been a minute since I’ve been to a big pharma dinner, life had just gotten super busy. I made sure to get there early since I went straight from my main job. To my surprise, a few others had the same idea and showed up early too.

An older Indian female physician approached me, and we fell into a comfortable conversation (she did most of the talking and I was happy about that). She told me about her life and her son, who’s in med school working toward becoming an ophthalmologist. Eventually, she asked where I lived, and it turned out we live maybe ten minutes away from one another but in the same city. Then she looked at me closely and asked if I was Korean. I was a little caught off guard, most people usually guess something else, but she said my high cheekbones gave it away.

The dinner was at SET. The last time I was there (sushi monster 9.5), I thought the food was mid at best. Tonight, the speaker had 52 slides in her deck about a newer medication but I didn’t mind. I like learning about the latest in healthcare.

Partway through, another provider rolled in late. That’s one of my biggest fears, walking in after a presentation has already started, but this guy gave zero fucks. He was giving major Japanese short king vibes. And immediately, I noticed him staring at my friend like he was undressing her with his eyes. I know that look, and it’s never subtle. My friend who is very much the classic California girl (even though she’s originally from New York)—blonde, skinny, blue-eyed, smart, and friendly—later told me he gave her the ick. Same girl, same. He didn’t even have to say anything to me and I already was feeling a certain way.

The food was all family style, which was interesting, even the entrees. The spread included: bang bang shrimp (scalion, gochujang aioli) which I felt was very salty again, beet tartare (roasted beets, dukkah, scallion cashew yogurt, and bagel chip), bluefin tuna pizza (red onion, shiso, ponzu aioli, and truffle. The bluefin tuna pizza was the best out of the bunch.

For the entrees it was: patatas bravas (harissa aioli, chive), roasted brussels sprouts, roasted Mary’s chicken (montreal seasoning, chicken jus), prime flat iron (medium) with chimichurri sauce, rigatoni alla vodka (calabrian chili, parmesan, vodka créme sauce), gochujang miso king salmon (cilantro beer rice, english peas, corn, tobiko, pea tendril). That salmon and rice combo was my absolute fav, it just hit right.

For dessert, they brought out: carrot cake (spiced sponge, valrhona opalys cream cheese frosting, vanilla bean ice cream) and warm chocolate pudding cake (graham crunch, caramel, vanilla bean gelato). The carrot cake looked impressive, but taste-wise, it did not deliver. The pudding cake, though, was rich and very indulgent. It paired well with my coffee.

After dinner, I drove home and logged into my second job to work remotely. I thought I’d knock things out quickly, but of course, I had way more on my plate than I expected. Next thing I knew, it was well past midnight and I was still grinding away. That’s what I get for going out on a weekday… LOL.