B-Side Blog

Mango Splitter vs. Knife

Because the mango splitter has proven to be something of a curiosity for the readers here on this site, I decided to make another video that would further demonstrate the glory of the device. This time around, I removed the stone from two different mangoes. With one I used a splitter; with the other a knife. I timed both methods, and furthermore, I weighed the mangoes before and after to measure what percentage of flesh each attempt yielded. It should be noted that I only counted the flesh that was NOT attached to the stone after each procedure. The results are in the video.

Thanks to IndianJones for the surprisingly steady video work.

ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Banana Crunch Muffins Edition

Well, it’s January 3rd, and everyone is slowly getting back to real life after a heady December full of parties, wassail, and poor food choices. There wasn’t much TV to watch over the past week and a half; so I focused on more unhealthy endeavors: eating and drinking. The result is a small backlog of food posts that I will slowly unfurl like a recently defrosted pie shell. First up are Ina Garten’s Banana Crunch Muffins, which I was inspired to make after staring sadly at the two brown bananas resting on my kitchen counter. Back in April, my friend Kate had made a batch, and they were sort of amazing; so why not try the muffins myself? And so while all my Christian friends enjoyed their Christmas morning, I ambled down to the supermarket, fetched some last minute ingredients, and got to work baking. The results after the jump…

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THE QUAFF: Thai Boxer Edition, Featuring An Epic Feat of Strength

About a week ago, I saw an intriguing cocktail book on sale at Williams-Sonoma. It was called Artisanal Cocktails and written by Scott Beattie, who apparently is a big time mixologist up in the Bay Area. I figured it would be a nice change of pace from Paul Abercrombie’s Organic, Shaken, and Stirred, which I’d been mining for drinks for the past four months. And so I happily purchased Artisanal Cocktails, knowing that a new Quaff would be en route.

Sure enough, there was an intriguing cocktail in the book called the Thai Boxer, which called for coconut milk and many herbs (mint, basil, cilantro), among other things. It fascinated me greatly, and as luck would have it, I had some coconut milk on hand that needed to be used. In no time, my friend Sly was at my apartment, ready to help conjure up this first attempt at a Scott Beattie recipe.

Our adventure, including a lengthy battle with my new cocktail shaker, after the jump…

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NOT COOL: Oprah Hates ‘The Housewives’

No she DOESN’T!

Oprah Winfrey has crossed the line. She hates The Real Housewives.. “I think that there are people who want to be fed just a little more,” she tells Parade magazine in the most recent issue. The assumption, of course, is that Oprah has so much more to offer. Perhaps she does, but it’s not like her talk show is a bastion of upmarket entertainment. A line has been drawn, Oprah, and I don’t know if it can ever be erased.

To read more about what Oprah has to say about Bravo’s hit franchise, check out the full story here.

Behold The Glory of the Mango Splitter

Of all the things in my little gift guide, people seemed most intrigued by the mango splitter. Several readers didn’t even realize such a thing existed.

Well, being the helpful blogger that I am, I decided I would demonstrate the usefulness and ease of this nifty kitchen gadget. Hence, I made the above video (memo to self: shave before vlogging). Hope it’s helpful!

The First Annual B-Side Blog Holiday Gift Guide

Over the past year, various companies have sent me all sorts of cool swag, and in an effort to pay it forward, I’ve decided to compile a list of my favorite freebies (as well as a few that I did fork over some cold, hard cash for). For all you last minute shoppers out there, take heed: this might be the guidance you so desperately need.

My humble gift-giving suggestions after the jump…

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REAL HOUSEWIVES PHOTOCAP: Fight Night In Malibu!

So have we caught our breath? I only caught mine now, and it’s been many hours. I’m talking, of course, to my reaction to last night’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which featured an epic dinner party marked by fighting, boozing, and oodles of personal attacks. As Real Housewives dinner imbroglios go, this one was a doozy, perhaps only trumped by Kelly Bensimon’s notorious dinner party meltdown on “Scary Island.” I’m happy to say the event lived up to the hype.

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QUICK HIT: Mel Gibson Levels Anti-Semitic Comment at Winona Ryder

It’s now common knowledge that Mel Gibson is crazy, angry, and prone to impolite bon-mots, but for one star, this was all OLD NEWS. Winona Ryder recently told GQ that she encountered Mellers several years ago at a party, and he not only made anti-Semitic comments, but homophobic ones as well. Who would have thunk it?

To see what Mel told Winona, check out the full story at Socialite Life.

DINNER AT THE GRIDDLE: Pancakes, Energy Drinks, and NOT Sam Worthington

Last week I was invited to the “Holiday Media Breakfast for Dinner” held at The Griddle CafÃ© here in Hollywood, and naturally I was very excited. The Griddle CafÃ© is known for having the best pancakes in LA (not to mention some killer French toast), and back in the day, I used to frequent this fine establishment every single weekend just to enjoy those giant flapjacks again and again. Unfortunately for me, I wasn’t the only one who loved The Griddle. Word has certainly spread over the years, and now epic lines fill the sidewalk. It’s not often that I have the willpower to wait so long for those tasty tasty pancakes, which is why I was so excited to get a chance to visit the Griddle line-free last week and grab some nice, carby grub for dinner. Pictures, including an unexpected Avatar photobomb after the jump…

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REAL HOUSEWIVES PREVIEW: Are You Ready To RuuuUUUUuuummmmble???

Anyone who’s watching the fantastic Real Housewives of Beverly Hills knows that tonight is going to be epic. Camille Grammer is finally having her dinner party of passive-aggression wherein she gathers her friends to create an army of support against the invading offender that is Kyle Richards. The previews from last week indicated that shizz is going down, but nothing prepared me for the craziness in the two clips posted here. Above, Camille launches a spectacularly bitchy passive-aggressive assault that she then tries to backpedal from seconds later. It’s uncomfortable, to say the least.

After the jump, Kyle gets into it with some random red-headed bitch, and from there, the entire dinner devolves into a screaming mess. Tonight will be amazing, people. Amazing.

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No she DOESN’T!

Jodi, CEO and Founder of The Griddle CafÃ©.