Challenges
As good as it has been, Jay has faced different challenges. One of the major one is not being paid on time or not being paid enough. He recalled of one time when he and other colleagues waited as long as three months before they were paid. This he said can be dealt with if models are paid upfront; at least half. This, he added, would offset expenses models would have because designers may only want you to model a top and you would still need footwear and pants to go with whatever designer piece you are wearing.
Jay currently works with Sameer Tailoring Establishment. Recently, as of two weeks ago he started creating his own line of bowties called ‘Jayties’. This, he said, came about after looking for bowties for himself and finding them too plain. “My bowties are for all sorts of events [casual and formal]. You can wear them just as plain on your neck, on shirts or for the ladies, on your hair,” Jay said.
“Five to ten years from now I picture myself having my own company with my line of bowties. I want also to be a bigger role model to youngsters, to help them and empower them through my story.”
He enjoys reading mystery novels, watching horror movies and fixing jigsaw puzzles.
Concerning pet peeves he has a few: “I don’t like when you’re waiting on someone’s response maybe in a text message form and they only remember you when they need something from you. Another thing I don’t like is when people belittle others.”
Jay has since modelled in numerous fashion shows and appeared in commercials for Fashion Forward, Bear Beer and New Thriving.
He’s set for two upcoming shows: Wedding Expo and Women in Business Expo.
Jay can be reached on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. soak brown rice for at least 90 minutes, parboiled rice for at least 1 hour and Basmati for at least 30 minutes.
When rice is soaked before cooking, it is always cooked using the steamed/absorption method. The liquid to cook the rice is measured using utensils such as cups or by using the first marking on the index finger to determine the level of water. The finger measuring is done this way – rice and water is added to a pot; the water should come up/measure up to the first mark/joint of the index finger with the tip of the finger resting on top of the rice. The pot is brought to a boil on high heat and then reduced to low and be left to cook in a lidded pot for a specified period of time. Once the time is up, the heat is shut off and the pot is left untouched for a period of time to complete the cooking process. The pot is opened after the resting period and the rice fluffed.
Un-soaked rice cooked using the absorption method requires more water to cook than soaked rice. For example, brown rice would generally take 3 cups of water to 1 cup of rice, when soaked, the rice would need only 2 cups of water. Raw parboiled rice cooks up with 2 cups of water to 1 cup of rice; soaked only 1½ cups of water is needed. Raw Basmati takes 1¾ cups of water to cook, soaked, it needs 1 and 1/3 cups of water. These are general guides, particularly for the brown and parboiled rice. Cooking liquids and times vary by brands. It is important to note that the amount of liquid is determined when the rice is measured it is soaked, not after. In other words, (based on the guide above) if you are going to soak 2 cups of brown rice, then you will need 4 cups of water to cook the soaked rice. However, if you were not planning to soak the rice, then you will need 6 cups of water to cook the rice.
One-pot rice dishes such as Cook-up rice, Pelau and Rice and peas, all take time to cook and are cooked in union with other ingredients. These types of dishes are best suited to rice that can stand up to long cooking and benefit from soaking; parboiled rice is ideal for these dishes but white rice can be used too sans soaking.
Should you wash rice before cooking it? Should you soak rice before cooking it? It’s really up to you. Cynthia cynthia@tasteslikehome.org www.tasteslikehome.org