Woke up to an email from my friend, Sohaib, over at www.fictionalfrontiers.com informing me that the audio interview I did in support of my comic book series, Dark Matter, is up. You can check it out here: http://bit.ly/yiGl0i. We talk about making the transition from television to comic books, my years on Stargate, and the various mysteries (and…
February 2, 2012: Tokyo Day #6! Samurai Joe, Nodaiwa, Faro!
We started the day by checking out the surroundings - and it don't get any closer than the Imperial Hotel itself. We strolled through the shops on the basement level where we happened across a place called Shokendo, a shop that sells and displays antique Japanese swords. Mrs. Aota struck up a conversation with the…
February 1, 2012: Tokyo Day #5! Catching up with my old friends Joel Robuchon and Ishikawa-san,
The second issue of my comic book series, Dark Matter, hits the shelves soon (February 8th last I heard). If you haven't picked up the first issue yet, I strongly urge you to do so as reports have it selling out. This, of course, means it is a sought-after collectible no doubt destined to be…
January 31, 2012: Tokyo Day #4! I discover the world’s greatest pizza, check out some ukiyo-e, partake in more desserts than most eat in an entire week, do some sushi, then cap the night off Star Bars style!
I woke up from my previous night's sleep well-rested, with ten hours of uninterrupted snoozing under my zzzzz belt, ready for a big day. The great thing about traveling to Asia is that jet lag actually works to your benefit provided you're not a night owl looking to party. By the time 10:00 p.m. rolls…
January 30, 2012: Tokyo Day #3! Testing my cranial limits, pizza over pasta, and feeling the burn!
Well, after being up for twenty-four hours straight, traveling halfway across the world, suffering two sleepless nights and two early wake-ups, and experiencing the most splendiferous sugar-high, I came crashing down last night halfway between the Pierre Herme pistachio macaroni and the Margherita pizza. But I get ahead of myself. I'm not much of a…
January 29, 2012: Tokyo Day #2! Chocolate, Tonkatsu, Le Bourguignon, and a visit to The Master!
With my first full day in Tokyo behind me, I have a lot to cover here on the blog - and a lot to look forward to in the coming days. The change of pace and location has provided a much-needed, greatly appreciated distraction. Still, I think of Maximus often and wonder how the other…
January 28, 2012: Tokyo Day #1! Earthquakes, interviews, and chicken butts!
When I woke up this morning, my eyeballs felt like desiccated husks swarming with fire ants. Compounding the issue was the fact that "morning", in this case, was 3:37 a.m. Following a series of travel-related delays, we didn't end up checking into our hotel until 9:00 p.m. local time. After grabbing a quick meal, showering,…
January 7, 2012: What I did today!
Besides watch NFL football playoff action of course. After watching an episode of Top Chef last night, I was in a braising mood this morning. I went to the butcher, figuring I'd pick up a pork shoulder when counter man, Spencer, directed me to the fresh, milk-fed goat they'd just got in. Capretto! My mother…
December 28, 2011: Welcome to east coast winter! Garde Manger!
Every time I came back to my home town of Montreal, there's always a moment when I think "Y'know, I could really see myself moving back." And then the temperature drops, the snow falls, the streets and sidewalks transform into skating rinks, and sanity prevails. No, I won't be moving back anytime soon. Today, the…
December 21, 2011: Fish Heads, Fish Heads, Roly Poly Fish Heads! Fish Heads, Fish Heads, Eat Them Up, Yum!
Thank you to all those who have taken the time to post a comment or send an email regarding my boy, Maximus. Tomorrow afternoon, he goes in for a shot of - I want to say "prednisone" which sounds right but, to be honest, could have just been something I once heard on a rerun…
December 7, 2011: The Return of the Book of the Month Club! Worst Dish of 2011!
Following a tumultuous 2011 in which I barely had time for the good things in life, I'm finally settled and looking forward to a productive but infinitely more enjoyable 2012. To that end, I'm restarting our modest little Book of the Month Club. January's selection... BATGIRL: BATGIRL RISING written by Bryan Q. Miller, art by Lee…
November 23, 2011: Maximus lookin’ good! My second Dark Matter interview! More Alexander and Sarah!
Maximus had his follow-up yesterday and the vet says he's recovering nicely from the surgery that removed 80% of his melanoma. Look at the handsome fella. He looks ten (dog) years younger! Another Dark Matter interview is up, this one over at PopCultureZoo. In this one, I sit down with Joseph Dilworth Jr. and discuss…
November 6, 2011: Daring Food!
I'm a fairly adventurous eater and will try almost anything at least once. I'm fairly open-minded when it comes to sampling atypical menu items but, of course, that doesn't mean I like everything I sample. Blood preparations (ie. sausages and puddings) have never won me over, not because of the main ingredient but because of…
October 21, 2011: Birthday Memories! The Great Vancouver Food Truck Tour II!
Let me set the next clip up for you. I was working on Stargate and it was my birthday. I made it very clear that I didn't want anyone in the office to do ANYTHING for me and that included: the purchasing of gifts, the presenting of cake, the singing of Happy Birthday - or…
October 15, 2011: Dorval’s Maxi store – always looking out for their customers! Stop me if this sounds familiar! Go Snow Monkeys!
Hey, check it out. The Dorval Maxi grocery store on Montreal's West Island is having a sale. Was $3.49. Now $4.69! This would be hilarious if not for the fact that the item on sale is bottled water and said sale just happens to coincide with a boil water advisory that has affected much of…