They just don't make 'em like they used to. Pictured above, Frosted Ribbon Loaf - layers of ham and egg nestled under a cream cheese frosting. Yum! I'm thinking of making it for this weekend's football Sunday festivities. I was inspired, not solely by the horrific picture, or the prospect of a ham and…
January 15, 2014: Shit my Japanese girlfriend says!
Akemi made banana bread last night. I had it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I was three bites in when I noticed it was possessed of a unique flavor that I couldn't quite identify. I asked Akemi if she had changed up the recipe. In fact, she had: "I used gremolata oil,"she…
January 14, 2014: News of note!
I was in L.A. last summer and was leaving a restaurant with my friend and former Stargate cohort Marty G. when I asked him if he was going to catch a cab back to his place. He threw me a look that seemed to say: "That's the craziest thing I've ever heard!" and informed me…
January 13, 2014: Trust me when I say that dogs prefer shopping over sitting and waiting! Our Book of the Month Club pick!
I was downtown today. I dropped off Akemi, who was meeting a friend for lunch, and was on my way back from purchasing my 2014 cologne (I change it every year - and location. John Varvatos Vintage is Tokyo, Aramis' Tuscany Montreal, and the sickening scent of Jean-Paul Hevin's Le Beau Male will always remind…
January 12, 2014: Pitiful football! Glorious wings, truffles, and macarons! Gearing up for the Hot Chocolate Festival!
While I spent the weekend watching four disappointingly mediocre football games, Akemi put her time to far better use by expanding her two-day truffle output. On Saturday, it was Bourbon and Tennessee Honey Whiskey truffles. This morning, she woke up early and added Bourbon Vanilla, Orange-Cointreau, and Almond to her line-up. She served them along…
January 11, 2014: Oh, come on!
Hey, anyone happen to be following this story? Christie Bridge Traffic Scandal Probed by US Prosecutors (3) In a nutshell: "The Bergen Record newspaper published on Wednesday this week emails indicating that high-placed figures within the Christie administration ordered those closures after Ft. Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich declined to endorse the incumbent governor during last year’s election.…
January 10, 2014: Truffles! Dogs! Books!
Today, Akemi combined my love of booze, chocolates, and not actually doing anything to come up with the above-pictured bourbon truffles. And then, as if that wasn't enough (and it really wasn't), she came up with these: Yep. For those who prefer the lighter touch, check out these Tennessee Honey Whisky truffles. Well, check out…
January 9, 2014: Hot chocolate! Ice cream! And books!
It's that time of year again! Time for Vancouver annual Hot Chocolate Festival! From January 18th to February 14th, 24 local participants will be offering over 60 flavors. At roughly two hot chocolates a day, I think that's eminently doable. Last year, Akemi and I managed to sample about half the hot chocolates being offered…
January 8, 2014: Project-hopping! Jelly and me hanging in there! Did you vote for our Book of the Month Club?!
I woke up this morning to find the above-pictured oranges sitting on my kitchen counter, and Paul's pass on our latest script sitting in my inbox. I looked it over, made a few changes, and then sent the script wide - and, in this particular case, "wide" refers to the 3-5 individuals involved in this…
January 7, 2014: The Return of The Book of the Month Club! Cast your vote!
Following a lengthy hiatus, I think it's high time we brought back our Book of the Month Club. Longtime readers will remember our book club's past run was highlighted by some terrific books and equally terrific Q&A sessions with the likes of John Scalzi, Lois McMaster Bujold, Michael Moorcock, Jasper Fforde, David Weber, Elizabeth Moon,…
January 6, 2014: I’m Hamlet, Khan, and Charles Bingley rolled into one!
While I was in Montreal for the holidays, one of my relatives asked me for my Facebook info so that she could friend me. I was perfectly happy to do so until she mentioned having to partially block another friend because all she did was post about her burgeoning art career. In that case, I…
January 5, 2014: On tap for January!
Okay, following twelve glorious days of unbridled eating and a weekend of football-watching, it's time to buckle down and get back to work. I've got a big January ahead of me... 1. We've been told that a decision will be made by early February on a project Paul and I currently have in development. So,…
January 4, 2013: The Montreal Restaurant Countdown!
In addition to enjoying my mother's home cooking, I also managed to get out while I was in Montreal. In all, I visited nine restaurants over the course of my stay. No favorites like Au Pied de Cochon or Garde Manger this time, and still no luck getting a table at either Kitchenette or Joe…
January 3, 2014: Au Revoir Montreal!
Final day in Montreal. I am Vancouver-bound tonight! This morning I woke up to this... My mother used one orange and three tangerines for this single glass and it was delicious. I don't understand how some breakfast places can get away with calling their orange juice "freshly squeezed" when the taste is so damn different.…
January 2, 2014: The Change-up! Jazzycakes Cupcakes!
No sooner do I finally get used to writing "2013" in the blog title instead of "2o12" than I have to start writing "2014". 2014! It just feels like yesterday the world was supposed to end - back in 2012. Or at the end of 1999. I've got to stop selling off my worldly possessions…