REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NJ PHOTOCAP: All I Want For Christmas Is Kim G

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For what feels like the twelfth consecutive week, it’s still Christmas on The Real Housewives of NJ, and it looks like Santa delivered at least one gift early: Kim G! Yes, in what appeared to be Kim G’s swan song, the kookiest lady of Franklin Lakes finally got the Caroline Manzo treatment, replete with angry eyes and berating. What a joyous sight it was. I just hope this isn’t the last of ol’ Kimmy G. She might be trouble, but how can you stay angry at that silly old bat as she jogs oddly from house to house like a discarded Ruth Buzzi character.

Alas, we’ve had some good times with Kim G, and I think we’ll continue to have many more. Heck, I had a fun time just naming this post. There were so many Christmas puns to work with. Very few made sense, but they were fun nonetheless: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Kim G,” “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Kim G,” “Jingle Granatells,” “A Partridge in a Kim G,” “Do They Know It’s Kim G? (Feed the World)” or similarly, “Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed Kim G)”

Oh I could go on.

And I will: “There’s No Place Like Kim G for the Holidays,” “Let It Kim G! Let It Kim G! Let It Kim G!” “Kim G Roasting on an Open Fire,” “Kim G Is Comin’ To Town,” “I Saw Kim G Kissing Santa Claus,” and perhaps most appropriate for Caroline, “Deck the Kim G.”

Naturally though, I had to side with Mariah’s seminal Christmas song for the pun because quite frankly, it’s true. I don’t want a lot for Christmas. There’s just one thing I need. I don’t care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree. I just want Kim G for my own, more than Kim G could ever know. Make my wish come true. All I want for Christmas is… Kim G.

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Random Lisa VanderPump Mingling of the Day

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Over the weekend, I was invited to the GLAAD Hancock Park: Top Chef Invasion event here in Los Angeles, which featured several Top Chef alums as well as notable local chefs (Kerry Simon, Susan Feniger, e.g.). However, the real draw for me was Real Housewife Lisa VanderPump, who continues to be my favorite cast member of the venerable Bravo series. Yes, I’m slightly obsessed.

Anyway, after the jump are random pics from the event… Continue reading “Random Lisa VanderPump Mingling of the Day”

ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Flat-Roasted Chicken Edition (or the Only Roasted Chicken Recipe You’ll Ever Need)

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Not too long ago, I found myself looking up the rules on roasting chicken for no good reason. Sadly, I didn’t get very far in my research because I quickly stumbled upon an intriguing link to a recipe on Martha Stewart’s website, and soon I was totally sidetracked. The recipe in question came from Lucinda Scala Quinn, and it called for flat roasted chicken. This is somewhat different from traditional roasted chicken in that the chicken’s backbone is removed and the body flattened, the idea being that this will decrease cooking time significantly.

Well, thanks to some alluring photos and glowing reviews, I became rather fascinated with this flat roasted chicken business. I went out, bought a whole chicken, and roasted it for dinner. The results were fantastic. I’ve since made this dish three times, and each time has been just as good as the last. I knew I had to give it the Adventures in Domesticity treatment.

After the jump, check out this simple yet oh-so-gratifying chicken experience… Continue reading “ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Flat-Roasted Chicken Edition (or the Only Roasted Chicken Recipe You’ll Ever Need)”

REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NYC PHOTOCAP: The Most Vile Reunion Ever!

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I love me some Real Housewives of New York City, and I love me some Bravo reunion, but even I had to admit that last night’s ninety minute special was deplorable. Don’t get me wrong — I highly enjoyed it, but these women have all gone off the deep end. Any shreds of dignity they had going into the show (and trust me, there weren’t many) were long gone… and we’re only halfway through! It’s amazing Andy Cohen emerged alive. Heck, it’s amazing that anyone emerged alive.

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Chef Francis Dimitrius of Villa Blanca Talks to B-Side Blog

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Lisa VanderPump isn’t the only person at Villa Blanca making a splash on TV. The restaurant’s executive chef Francis Dimitrius recently appeared on Food Network’s Extreme Chef, the show which tasks chefs to brave the elements and concoct a meal in just thirty minutes. Francis, who Lisa VanderPump told me on Sunday was almost a cheftestant on Top Chef, has luckily survived his stint in the wild and recently answered some email questions from me about theExtreme Chef, Villa Blanca, and the Housewives.

Check out the interview after the jump…

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REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NYC PHOTOCAP: The Season Ends on a Curious Note

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Well, it’s over. The fourth season of The Real Housewives of New York City managed to survive the departure of Bethenny Frankel by serving us an extra helping of catty in-fighting for sixteen glorious episodes. I think just about everyone fought with everyone… except for Kelly, who emerged as the most mature and level-headed woman of the crew. How did that happen? Have we slipped into some strange gummy-bear-fueled parallel dimension? If so, how do we fix it? Clearly Santa will be of no help.

Nevertheless, this final episode centered around the one year anniversary of LuAnn and Jacques. The Countess decided to stage a festive party on a boat, which got me excited if only because we knew it would inevitably lead to her singing yet again. And I use the term “singing” loosely. The big surprise for the guests would be that the one and only Natalie Cole would be joining LuAnn on the mic. I guess the idea is that a rising tide will lift all boats, with the tide being Natalie Cole and the boats being LuAnn; although, it’ll require a tsunami to dredge up the shipwreck that is LuAnn’s singing voice. Too soon for tsunami jokes?

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THE GREAT FRESH TEST: Episode 2

Last week, I stuffed my crisper drawers full of fresh veggies and herbs in an effort to test out Clearly Fresh bags, which promise to keep produce fresh for up to 50% longer than ordinary bags. Well, it’s been just over a week; so yesterday, I examined the produce to see if there had been any noticeable changes. Check out the video for the results.

The experiment continues on….

ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Ina Garten’s Tuna and Hummus Sandwich

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Earlier this week, I made a batch of Ina Garten’s wonderful tuna salad in anticipation of assembling her Tuna and Hummus Sandwiches — one of her few healthy recipes. Well, I’m happy to report that I’ve since made some hummus (partially Ina’s recipe, partially my own), and today, I was able to finally move forward with my lofty ambitious sandwich plans.

Photos of this momentous occasion after the jump…

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Sneak Peek of Mohawk Bend in Echo Park

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Last night I was lucky enough to attend a sneak peek of the new vegan-friendly gastropub Mohawk Bend in Echo Park. The spot comes to us courtesy of the people behind Tony’s Darts Away in Burbank and occupies a space that once housed the Ramona Theater on Sunset Blvd. That famous Vaudeville space is now gone, but some of its walls remain in the beautifully designed (Spacecraft, natch) venue.

Mohawk Bend doesn’t open until the end of the month, but after the jump, check out pics and early impressions of the food and drink…

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