Pink Bakery Boxes

This article on Serious Eats answers a question I didn't even know I had.

You know how in the movies, people always have pink boxes for birthday cakes or pastries? Yet, growing up in the South, I never once saw a pink box from a bakery. No matter how much I wished for one, because it just seemed more sophisticated, or at least frivolous. I always just assumed there were some fancy schmancy bakeries out there that I never frequented (and there are, to be sure).

Anyway, Serious Eats enlightened me that pink bakery boxes actually came from Winchell's, which is a not-so-nice-actually-sort-of-divey SoCal doughnut chain. Heh. Apparently, a bunch of transplanted Cambodians went to work there fleeing the Khmer Rouge and somehow got the boxes changed from white because white is the color of mourning. Also, in a moment of sad reality about corporations and the creation of an air of desiriability about a product: they went with pink because it was cheaper and because grease stains don't show as well. Sigh. Such is the way of all vestiges of hauteur fed to us by Hollywood.

Dinner with the Band

IFC has a new series debuting Nov. 24 called Dinner with the Band. They just announced their line-up yesterday. Appearing with Tailor chef/owner Sam Mason (who may be the former owner by then), will be Les Savy Fav, Kid Sister and Flosstradamus, and Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. Having seen all of these bands/DJs live, I think this has the makings of a great series. Though having seen the guy from Les Savy Fav shirtless at Coachella, I am less enthusiastic about the idea of watching him cook/eat and that heightening my desire to do the same.

Happy Birthday Mario Batali

My favorite chef from the olden days of Food Network (back when actual chefs did it),

and the man who was wearing those dreadful crocs way before anyone else (and also wore bright orange before that other chubby guy with the food show) turns 49 today.

Buon Compleanno, Fanta Pants!

Hubby Hubby

Aww! Yay!

Because I like Marxism with my Special Sauce

The Economist has been doing a series creating a Big Mac Index over the years. Basically it converts the burger into currency and depicts its worth on a global scale. Pretty interesting stuff, that strangely speaks more loudly than that regular old metal and paper stuff.


The newest one, from yesterday, shows how many minutes of work the average person must do in various cities to earn enough to purchase a Big Mac.

Hard to believe someone could work for two hours for the very limited reward that a Big Mac provides. Just doesn't sit right in my stomach.

See also: the Starbucks latte index and the Coca Cola map of the world.

Ice Cream

Summertime has officially, finally come to Rochester in the past week. Mid-August seems appropriate, right? Also appropriate, a post about ice cream- everyone's favorite hot weather treat.

Since I still haven't had that Williams-Sonoma shopping spree (as I haven't won, or played, the lottery), so still no fancy ice cream maker. Instead I've been looking for easy ways to make ice cream at home instead of Abbott's or Ben and Jerry's. Something with just a few ingredients, that doesn't require cooking the eggs (French style) and a whole lot of waiting. David Lebovitz, author of The Perfect Scoop, is a great ice cream resource for anyone looking to make their own. I've been meaning to try his Easy Chocolate Ice Cream (picture here) since it doesn't require the maker.

But the "easiest" ice cream according to Dave still requires 5 ingredients (suspiciously, two are alcoholic). In the a/c free confines of our kitchen, even the simple tasks of boiling the milk and melting the chocolate prove to be too daunting.

And then today, the perfect solution appeared on The Kitchn: 1 Ingredient Ice Cream. Surprisingly, the ingredient is neither ice nor cream. Discuss. Ok, I won't make a big deal about the mystery ingredient: it's bananas. And so is the concept: B-A-N-A-N-A-S. You just freeze some ba -nah,nah,nahs until it's solid and pop it in the blender until it's creamy. More like cold baby food I guess, but it's worth a shot. The work to reward ratio here seems pretty favorable, especially if you amp it up with some peanut butter or chocolate chips or something.

And if you've found yourself to be to sweaty to even deal with having to wash the blender out (one of my least favorite activities) then maybe you should try out Icecreamists boutique ice cream. The British company is churning out (pun so intended) adventuous and somewhat shocking flavors like the Sex Pistol, which contains traces of Viagra. Eh, I think I'll try the Champagne Ice instead. Plans to come to NY are in the works, so...errr...get excited.

Hattie's

Hattie's is a classic Southern style restaurant in Saratoga Springs. It is probably the Boy's favorite place in the world, and in the top 10 for me as well. For upstate NY, they make untouchable fried chicken.

So of course it's unsurprising that Hattie's head chef Jasper caught the eye of Food Network's resident rooster: Bobby Flay. Flay has a show, Throwdown, where he attempts to use his trademark arrogance to his advantage: he claims he can make your signature dish better than you. I guess he's okay profiting from marketing himself as the cocky villain. Of course he occasionally wins (they pull in local "experts" to choose the better version) but mostly he loses. Squared off against Hattie's fried chicken, he never had a shot.

The show will air January 24th on the Food Network. But I don't have to wait that long -- we'll be at Hattie's this weekend!

Mad Men

In yet another attempt to make my non-food interests relevant to the blog, I am posting this NY Times article on the copious cocktail consumption on Mad Men, which premieres Sunday on AMC. It is my desperate hope that we can set up the TiVo in time to catch the first episode of Season Three, as we'll be in Saratoga to see Phish. Certainly a worthwhile excuse, and there's always the next week.

For those of you that will be glued to your television to witness 1963, there's a drinking game! Just don't try to match Freddy Rumsen.

And that Mad Men themed dinner is in the works, people. Don't think I've forgotten about the cherry ham balls. Now that retro cocktails are back, will the food return too? (Especially with Julia and Julie drawing attention on old school French cooking styles). Any way we can bring back the three martini lunch?

Frank Bruni

Frank Bruni is the anonymous food critic for the NY Times. This month he is slated to give up his post and move over to do some more food writing at NY Times Magazine. No word yet on who will be replacing him. However, he has been taking this transitional time to promote his new book Born Round which among other things, deals with his battle with bulimia.

However, the really super cool part is that he allowed a current photograph of himself to be released with an interview with Publishers Weekly. In the 5 years he has served as senior food critic, there have been absolutely no known photos of Bruni. Not even on Wikipedia. Until now. Now anytime he walks into a new restaurant he will likely be instantly recognized and of course, catered to. Or every chef who ever got a bad review will now know his face. And can start sharpening their knives.

Good Luck

New menu at Good Luck!

We'll be there to try it out tonight. I like the sound of the black spaghetti and carrot salad with candied hazelnuts (despite my aforementioned overdose on hazelnuts -- it's time to get back in the saddle). And something tells me The Boy will want the house-made hot dogs. I'm also digging the amount of mint that's floating around the new menu. Especially in the patty pan squash whole-wheat pizza. Mmmm. I'm in a fresh herb mood after making shrimp pesto for dinner, followed by The Boy's chilled mint pea soup. Gotta catch up on the freshness while it's still around.

Michael Pollan Article

Michael Pollan is not exactly the shot-caller in our house, but I do find him to be at the very least interesting and thought-provoking. I especially liked this article he wrote for NY Times Magazine Wednesday. He discusses the influence of Julia Child on the boom of food television programming (and the upcoming movie Julie & Julia). And the surprising contradiction that as we become more informed on cooking, and watch more chefs (and other "personalities") cook, we actually cook less. Very confounding.

Belgium Comes to Cooperstown

Has the Beer Summit got you thirsty?

If you're free this weekend, and want to expand your beer connoisseurship beyond Beirut at Park Ave Fest, you should check into "Belgium Comes to Cooperstown" hosted by Ommegang. All day Friday and Saturday, Ommegang is offering tours of their brewery, followed by fun, festivities, "unlimited" beer tastings, live music, a screening of Across the Universe, a bonfire, and of course, Belgian-style beer from Ommegang and Duvel USA. You can even camp there overnight in order to fully enjoy the unlimited beer.

Also, Tap and Mallet is setting up a raffle with prizes including tickets for the event, and a Belgian home bar package. For the unlucky, it's $70 for tickets, $30 for a campsite.

Gatesgate

I'm still pretty glued to Gatesgate. In order to make that relate to a food blog, I am intrigued by the number of discussions that spin off of Obama's offer to have Sgt. Crowley and Professor Gates over to White House to have a beer, which is to happen today.

I do remember reading during the election that Obama was not much a beer drinker. This seemed to fit into all the liberal elitist drama that culminated in Dijongate. However, he also got a lot of flak for having a cold one at a Washington Wizards game. They of course serve wine at White House functions, and he ordered wine to be paired with the meal he and MObama had at Blue Hill on their date night in Manhattan.



It is now revealed that Obama is preferential toward Budweiser (go figure). Just when people were sure he was on Team Arugula. Of course the question begs to be asked, why would Obama invite them for a beer? Skip Gates doesn't strike me as a big beer lover (though he's requesting a Red Stripe, which earns him some points with me). And Sgt. Crowley is not bending to the stereotype of a Boston possibly-racist cop, and is at least asking for Blue Moon (which is made by Coors, yes, but is not actually of Coors caliber). And it does seem problematic to intimate that all racially-tinged, gownist fracases can be solved by the consumption of alcohol. Particularly when they may be starting another sexist one by not inviting Lucia Whalen.

NPR attempts to discover the presidential reasoning. And Brooklyn Brewery also weighs in, providing Robert Gibbs' responses to reporters at the White House and his attempts to save Obama's reputation despite being a Bud Lite drinker.

Of course somebody (PETA's equivalent) has to ruin it all by insisting that as the role model for America's young people, Obama should be hosting a lemonade tete-a-tete. You know, Bush was a teetotaler, people. Maybe alcohol is the solution to all of life's problems.

James Oseland Interview

If you are a fan of Top Chef: Masters (and admittedly I am only a quasi-fan), you have to check out this interview with Judge James Oseland. He's pretty hilarious for a foodie, which I guess explains how he's also an editor at Sassy.

Love that they referenced how Jay Rayner's devilishly inappropriate comment that panna cotta should have the texture of a woman's breasts. I actually caught that episode.

And Gael Greene's hat fetish.

The TCM finale continues next Wednesday night on Bravo.

Cream Ales

Gain a little beer knowledge along with some regional pride. The Accidental Hedonist tackles a surprisingly complicated question: "What is a Cream Ale?"

If you'd like extra credit, visit the UofR's timeline of the Genesee brewing company, makers of Genny Cream, the most popular cream ale available. And if all that science and history becomes a little too much, turn to the Buffalo Beast's article on The Great Genesee Cream Ale Challenge.

Tim Hortons Doughnut Giveaway

Ok, the doughnut wars are escalating! But we are all the benefactors. Well, those of you that like doughnuts anyway. I can understand why Starbucks loves me enough to give everybody free breakfast pastries for my birthday tomorrow. But Tim Horton? Free blueberry doughnuts tomorrow too? I've never even been there (though a work buddy does bring me their hot chocolate from time to time and it is phenomenal). And I don't like doughnuts. But, they're at least trying -- because I love blueberries! Do you ever feel as though you're being personally marketed towards? Maybe that's all the Mad Men we watched last night talking.

But it's like these Canadians are trying to get me to start liking doughnuts and their Canadian coffee. Figures since I have long railed against Dunkin Donuts, their coffee, and their Yankee doughnuts (I champion the Krispy Kreme even though everytime I get a doughnut there it is out of support for the institution and I immediately regret having to actually eat said doughnut). So if this war is making people choose sides, they're hoping I'll cross over the border and fight for Ontario. And maybe I will, though calorically I am only prepared for my Starbucks visit. For now I'm remaining a conscientious objector.

Happy Birthday Julie! Love, Starbucks

After years and years and thousands of dollars worth of my love to them, Starbucks is returning the favor! On July 21, next Tuesday, Starbucks is giving same free pastries (read: birthday cake) to everyone who buys an beverage between opening and 10:30 am! If there is a reason besides the 26th anniversary of my birth for this, it remains unknown to me.

There is a little trick to this, though. Since it is a birthday party, you do need an invitation. But since you know the Birthday Girl, you can print this one out and celebrate with us!

Even though I am a much bigger fan of the breakfast sandwiches at Starbs, I will definitely not turn down a free apple fritter -- or possibly even a chocolate doughnut. Hey, it is my birthday.

Best American Restaurants in America

Usually my sense of patriotism falls far below my regionalism, but right now being from South Carolina means "Mark Sanford" and being from America means "We almost beat Brazil in soccer" "We sentenced Bernie Madoff to 150 years" and "We're still mourning the loss of three of the most American Americans: a Charlie's Angel, the King of Pop, and Billy Mays."

So I'm feeling more pro-America these days. Enough to post this list of the top 50 American restaurants in America, as selected by OpenTable diners. They're in alphabetical order, so there are no clear rankings. They're mainly in the big cities you would expect, and I'm definitely suspect of the Capital Grille, which seems to have been selected 9 times, for different locations in the chain. That annoys me. Either it's rigged by their marketing department or chosen by uncreative OpenTable users obsessed with a culture of status and trendiness. Eh, I'm not feeling so American after all.

Maybe the patriotism will kick in again for the Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest (though I tend to favor Kobayashi...so nevermind).

Wanna Be Startin' Something

Sorry for the lack of updates, but as a South Carolinian I've been pretty focused on non-food-related news this week. And after yesterday's double-whammy effort to get Gov. Sanford off the front page of the papers (at least the national ones)... Well, I leave you with this:

"You're A Vegetable, You're A Vegetable
Still They Hate You, You're A Vegetable
You're Just A Buffet, You're A Vegetable
They Eat Off Of You, You're A Vegetable"

The man was a genius.

What are We Buying at the Farmers Market?

I love The Onion, mostly because it's so true in a way only a fictional newspaper can be. Also, last night at the opening night of the South Wedge Farmer's Market I definitely coveted the tote bags. And I probably would've fallen prey to the fair-trade cheese popcorn if I liked popcorn.