B-Side Blog

ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Eat Your Feelings Edition

For nearly two years, I’ve been littering my blog with “Adventures In Domesticity” posts where I attempt some recipe in an effort to hone the domestic side of my personality. I’ve cooked up many interesting dishes and subsequently had many fascinating adventures, but last night marked a true milestone for me. It was the first time ever that a published cookbook author was in attendance to oversee the chaos. No, Ina Garten hadn’t dropped by the apartment (although, she has an open invitation). This was my friend Heather Whaley, who just published the book Eat Your Feelings: Recipes For Self-Loathing. Falling somewhere between humor and cooking, the book is all about recipes you can whip up easily and with minimal effort when you’re just in one of those MOODS (or drunk). Realizing your marriage is on thin ice? Try the “Staying Together for the Children Chicken Tetrazzini.” Feeling a bit sexually harassed? Go for the “Rainbow Sherbet ‘Cause Your Boss Is A Pervert.” Or maybe you just feel under appreciated. Then it’s time for the “You Are Overqualified for Your Job and They Make You Get the Donuts Super Veggie Dog.”
Anyway, with Heather’s book in hand, we decided to have a little Eat Your Feelings party involving an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert â€”Â and of course multiple glasses of wine along the way. Pictures from this exciting event after the jump…

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FUN WITH iCHAT: Getting Cozy With Rachel Zoe Edition

Over the weekend, my friend jash became the proud new owner of a webcam, and for the first time, he was able to enjoy the many splendors of iChat’s video-conferencing feature. He tested out this marvel of technology with me, and it didn’t take long before he began playing with the backdrop effect, as made famous by Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Soon I got caught up in the mania, and eventually, I somehow wound up pretending to nuzzle against Rachel Zoe’s bosom â€”Â as seen in the image above. If that’s not a good use of iChat, I don’t know what is.
After the jump, one more stupid screen grab, this one involving Teresa from The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

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Don't Be Tardy For the Paranormal Party

The lovely ladies of Whatever Hollywood went to the movies last week, and guess what they saw? Horror sensation Paranormal Activity. I’ve been hearing mixed things about the flick â€”Â some say it’s terrifying, others say it’s a snoozefest. Maybe I’ll have to see it myself (but probably not because I’m scared of scary movies). Nevertheless, in the meantime, I’ll just content myself with the official Whatever Hollywood review. I wouldn’t quite call this a raving endorsement, but then again it should be noted that the girls did miss the first ten minutes of the film â€”Â so maybe that’s where all the good stuff was…

ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Pizzeria Mozza's Butterscotch Budino Edition

Earlier this year, I visited Mario Batali and Nancy Silverton’s famed Los Angeles eatery Pizzeria Mozza with my two friends Kat and Cat, who introduced me to the restaurant’s butterscotch budino for dessert. The experience was just a hair short of orgasmic. I could not stop raving about the rich, decadent dessert, and when I later learned that it was a signature item on the menu beloved by many, many patrons, I was far from surprised. The dessert is in fact so notoriously wonderful that its recipe was printed in the New York Times.
Well, the day after our meal, Cat sent me the aforementioned budino recipe (budino, fyi, is basically Italian pudding) and dared me to make it (at which point it was understood that Cat and Kat would then trek to my apartment and sample the good for themselves). There was only one problem: I had a debilitating fear of making caramel â€”Â something this recipe required at two different junctures. All the bubbling and scalding liquid, not to mention the threat of burning the sugar and/or scalding my hands â€” it just seemed too advanced for me. But after having made two apple tarte tatins this week, both requiring the creation of caramel, I’ve been emboldened. At last I felt ready to take on the budino.
Before I go any further, however, I have to take a moment to address my mother, who is undoubtedly reading this right now. Mom, what you are about to see is not for the faint of heart. It is probably the most cholesterol-laden dish I’ve ever made in my life. But do not worry: I don’t plan to eat it all (at least not in one sitting), and I continue to lead an otherwise healthy lifestyle.
Now that all disclaimers are out of the way for concerned parents, let’s move on to all the exciting pictures.

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SHILLING: New Song By Someone I'm Tangentially Linked To

So back in the day, I used to work for an executive in the film industry, and from time to time, he would mention his younger brother who was an up and coming hip-hop music producer (or engineer or superstar or something like that). I don’t remember specifics, but I can say that over the past several years, I’ve always wondered who the guy was and what his music sounded like. Well, I finally have my answer. He goes by Jack Splash, and the video above is apparently his new single with Missy Elliot and Jazmine called “I Could Have Loved You.” Truth be told, I actually really like it a lot. It’s sort of hip-hop meets R&B meets retro-eighties. Or something like that. I don’t know. I’m not a music writer. I just know that I like it and that it’s definitely going on my “Going Out In Hollywood” playlist. Yes, I really named a playlist that. (I also have one for going to Costco, but we won’t discuss that here).
Anyway, “I Could Have Loved You” doesn’t appear to be available on iTunes just yet, but keep an eye out for it. I’m sure it will surface soon.
Listen to a better quality recording here.

ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Clash of the Tatins

Apple tarte Tatin.

About a week and a half ago, I finally got a cast-iron skillet (thanks Mom and Dad!), and ever since then, I’ve been eager to use it. I made a grilled cheese on it (the bread browned perfectly!), a batch of shrimp piri-piri (best batch yet!), and now last night, I tried my hand at apple tarte Tatin. I’d been intrigued by the dish ever since I saw Anne Burrell on the Food Network make it a few months ago, but alas, without an oven-proof pan, I hadn’t the opportunity to make it myself.
Well, with the arrival of my skillet (as well as a piece in the New York Times about the art of the Tatin), my interest in tarte Tatin was rekindled. I first dipped my toes in the Tatin waters this weekend when I made an apple cake “tatin” for a Barefoot Contessa potluck dinner. A simplified version of the real thing, Ina’s Tatin has you simply pour a caramel sauce over apples in a pie pan, top with cake batter, and stick it in the oven for forty-minutes. Don’t get me wrong â€”Â the results were delicious. However, most other Tatin recipes I’d seen on the Internets called for really browning the apples in the caramel before going into the oven. I wanted to try the method. Plus, as previously mentioned, I felt compelled to incorporate my skillet into the proceedings.
And so I attempted Anne Burrell’s recipe for an Apple Tarte Tatin. The results after the jump…

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HOW BAD CAN THAT BE? Barefoot Contessa Potluck Sequel Proves To Be Dramatic Affair

Back in August, some of my posse convened at a friend’s house to have an Ina Garten / Barefoot Contessa potluck dinner party. The results were excellent, and if memory serves me correctly (and it does), I practically had to be wheeled out of the house as all the food was so incredibly delicious that I simply could not restrain from eating it, despite physical limitations of my stomach. It didn’t help that I gorged myself on hors d’oeuvres, and let’s not talk about how rich all the food was. My gluttony be damned, the entire dinner went off without a hitch. Tasty, easy, fun â€”Â how could we not do it again.
And so we all reconvened this weekend, but things did not go as smoothly. There was smoke. There was fire. There were broken pans. And there was dog vomit. It all led up to one question: could Ina’s food survive such adverse conditions? The results after the jump.

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Shelley Long Rocks 'Modern Family'

A few weeks ago, I praised Community for being one of the best comedies of the fall. I still love the show, but it’s been a bit uneven the past few episodes. Don’t get me wrong, I excitedly look forward to it every week as the banter between characters is right up my alley, but as good as Community has been, it hasn’t gotten stronger and stronger the way Modern Family has. Case in point: last night’s episode which featured a beyond-brilliant guest appearance by Shelley Long as the heretofore unseen mother of the Pritchett clan. Not only was the writing for her character sharp and hilarious, but Shelley Long reminded us why she was so beloved on Cheers: her comic skills are simply fantastic. The producers must find a way to return to the show. Immediately.
Luckily, if you haven’t seen the show, ABC has the first four episodes on its awful site here as well as a Shelley Long clip and an amusing music video (it’s all embeddable in theory, but the aforementioned awful website keeps stalling out when I click the “share” option for code â€”Â so you have to go there to watch it). And while you’re there, check out Cougar Town, which my friend Sawgee writes on! (Shameless plug!!!)

Male Model Seeks The Assistance of B-Side Blog Readers

Not so long ago, I posted about my friend Chris, who’s in the running for something called Model Survivor. I implored you all to vote for him to win, not realizing that the cruel webmaster behind this game was not content to have merely one round of voting or even two, but apparently THIRTY. Overkill? Just a tad. But I suppose it’s within his right to milk the concept. I’ve been known to kill a few things myself on this blog.
Nevertheless, Chris is back again, and he’s hoping to be the highest vote-getter in this latest round of man gawking. That’s where you all come in. If you’d like to help Chris’s dreams come true, be sure to head over to the site and vote for him. The “ballot” is on the right hand side, and he’s number 7 (click it then press “vote” below â€”Â no registration required).
I’m not really sure he wins anything by earning the most votes in a round, but at least he’ll have pride, bragging rights, and perhaps some decent fodder for his next cocktail party. And really, isn’t that enough?
So what do you get out of it? Well, the ladies get some random eye-candy. The gay dudes too. And the straight guys and lesbians? Well, you can just look at this instead.
To help out Chris, check out Model Survivor here (possibly NSFW, depending on how lenient your boss is about half-naked men).

OPEN POLL: Who Intimidates Better?

A curious thought ran through my head today as I glanced at an image of Bea Arthur: who does the “OH REALLY?” face to better effect? Cindy McCain or Dorothy Zbornack? Cindy was the previous champion, but next to Dorothy, she looks almost pleasant. Then again, that glimmer of a smile also suggests a deep, icy evilness whereas Dorothy’s just looks pissed.
Thoughts?