I had the opportunity to go to the Towson Farmer's Market for the first time this past Thursday. Several things struck me:
1) It's tiny.
2) Why does produce grown a couple of miles away cost more than supermarket produce that came from another country?
3) Apart from atrociously-priced rasp- and blackberries, I can't eat most summer fruits because of my stone fruit allergies (peaches, cherries, apricots, plums are all verboten.)
4) Mr Minx hates summer squash and beets, and neither of us care much for white corn. Apart from that, there's not much left besides herbs (which we grow ourselves), tomatoes (ditto), and something that appeared to be kohlrabi.
I was not impressed, and rather disappointed. I did buy a jar of chutney from a friend of the friend with whom I attended the market, and a half dozen half-stunted, somewhat wormy ears of corn that tasted fine but was mostly cob. I know eating local is best for the environment, but really, this was not a convincing demonstration.
(No need to mention the other farmers' markets in the area - I am aware of them but do not drive, plus the weekends are usually chock-full of other activities. Like sleeping late.)
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Monday, July 07, 2008
The Next Food Network Star - Episode 6
If you thought the other episodes were annoying - pshaw! That was nothing. This is annoying:
The wannabes get some good news and some bad news. The good news is they they will finally get to do some actual on-air presentation. The bad news is that it will be on Rachael Ray's daytime show.
They have to create a delicious and nutritious meal and demonstrate it to the audience in a four minute segment. Not only that, they have to please the discerning palates of Brownies. No, not the chocolatey cakes. Little girls in vests.
We feel your pain, Aaron. We feel your pain.
Adam has a real advantage in this challenge because he is still a child. He should be commended for refraining from telling his kid that her name "Shinasia" (however the heck it's spelled) sounds like a disease or a treatment for foot fungus.
Kelsey and Shane are actual children (hey, anyone under the age of 25 can be considered as such by someone of my advanced age) so should have few problems relating to the Brownies.
The first line of business is to find out what the kiddies like to eat. Lisa believes that food doesn't need to be dumbed down for the little beasts.
When Lisa mentioned "remoulade," Hayley returned a blank look. How are parents raising their children these days??
After consulting and preparing their dishes, the wannabes head over to Rachael Ray's studio to make fools of themselves in front of a live studio audience. Wait...the audience is probably slobbering and screaming and jumping up and down while wetting their pants at the privilege of being in the same county with RR and the wannabes are making fools of themselves? Hmmm...I stand corrected.
First up is Aaron who literally bounces onto the set with his chubby little Brownie Buddy. He and the kid show proper respect by turning their backs to the audience as they wash their hands. Aaron scores special points in my book for good hygiene.
Truer words were never spoken.
Kelsey is next, looking all of about 10. She was happy to be working with a Brownie since it was the first time she got to consult with someone shorter and younger than her. But not by much. Because the judging committee had encouraged her to show more authority, she basically stood around and did nothing while making Rachael cook her scrambled eggs and the kid assemble some sort of phallic banana with creamy stuff on it. She even called RR "Rach" which earned her an eyeroll from Bobby Flay backstage.
Shane was next. He surprisingly didn't connect with his Brownie, and ignored her for most of the demo. He was stressed out, and it didn't help that bigmouth Rachael talked over him the entire f*cking time he was attempting to cook. I think I would have had to punch her in the mouth.
Lisa was next. She started off really well, and then Bigmouth started yammering again and made her nervous. The poor wannabe spent much of the demo looking drugged.
Finally, Adam did his thing. He was charming and funny, telling the audience that he was really Shinasia's sous chef and not the other way around. He also made Rachael pull his chicken, which sounds either dirty or disgusting, but at least she washed her hands afterwards.
After the demos, the wannabes were brought out together and Rachael tells them there will be a change of venue for the next challenge.
Well, four of the five would be going to Vegas. They head back to the Carriage House to await the painful elimination.
The judging committee were pleased with Aaron's performance, except for the hand-washing bit that caused everyone to turn their backs to the camera. "I shot myself in the head" said Aaron. Um...don't you mean "foot?"
Kelsey didn't show more authority, and she seemed really young. As always. Tushface & Company are never happy, are they?
Shane said his Brownie was shy. Tushface (heh - his first name should be "Harry") & Co. called him "joyless" and "not soulful." Lisa "steamrolled" the kid, and let Rachael do the same to her. Lisa cries because someone has to do that every episode.
Aaron is safe, and Adam's "hairy little be-hind" is going to Vegas as well. The other three are apparently on the chopping block and Tushface & Co. prolong the agony by sending them upstairs while they deliberate some more. In the end, it's determined that the Joyless One, Shane, should be the one to go. And he was a good sport about it. He probably realized he was jeopardizing his future career by appearing on the Food Network and was glad to be released from this embarrassment. I know I would be.
The wannabes get some good news and some bad news. The good news is they they will finally get to do some actual on-air presentation. The bad news is that it will be on Rachael Ray's daytime show.
They have to create a delicious and nutritious meal and demonstrate it to the audience in a four minute segment. Not only that, they have to please the discerning palates of Brownies. No, not the chocolatey cakes. Little girls in vests.
We feel your pain, Aaron. We feel your pain.
Adam has a real advantage in this challenge because he is still a child. He should be commended for refraining from telling his kid that her name "Shinasia" (however the heck it's spelled) sounds like a disease or a treatment for foot fungus.Kelsey and Shane are actual children (hey, anyone under the age of 25 can be considered as such by someone of my advanced age) so should have few problems relating to the Brownies.
The first line of business is to find out what the kiddies like to eat. Lisa believes that food doesn't need to be dumbed down for the little beasts.
When Lisa mentioned "remoulade," Hayley returned a blank look. How are parents raising their children these days??After consulting and preparing their dishes, the wannabes head over to Rachael Ray's studio to make fools of themselves in front of a live studio audience. Wait...the audience is probably slobbering and screaming and jumping up and down while wetting their pants at the privilege of being in the same county with RR and the wannabes are making fools of themselves? Hmmm...I stand corrected.
First up is Aaron who literally bounces onto the set with his chubby little Brownie Buddy. He and the kid show proper respect by turning their backs to the audience as they wash their hands. Aaron scores special points in my book for good hygiene.
Truer words were never spoken.
Kelsey is next, looking all of about 10. She was happy to be working with a Brownie since it was the first time she got to consult with someone shorter and younger than her. But not by much. Because the judging committee had encouraged her to show more authority, she basically stood around and did nothing while making Rachael cook her scrambled eggs and the kid assemble some sort of phallic banana with creamy stuff on it. She even called RR "Rach" which earned her an eyeroll from Bobby Flay backstage.Shane was next. He surprisingly didn't connect with his Brownie, and ignored her for most of the demo. He was stressed out, and it didn't help that bigmouth Rachael talked over him the entire f*cking time he was attempting to cook. I think I would have had to punch her in the mouth.
Lisa was next. She started off really well, and then Bigmouth started yammering again and made her nervous. The poor wannabe spent much of the demo looking drugged.
Finally, Adam did his thing. He was charming and funny, telling the audience that he was really Shinasia's sous chef and not the other way around. He also made Rachael pull his chicken, which sounds either dirty or disgusting, but at least she washed her hands afterwards.
After the demos, the wannabes were brought out together and Rachael tells them there will be a change of venue for the next challenge.
Well, four of the five would be going to Vegas. They head back to the Carriage House to await the painful elimination.The judging committee were pleased with Aaron's performance, except for the hand-washing bit that caused everyone to turn their backs to the camera. "I shot myself in the head" said Aaron. Um...don't you mean "foot?"
Kelsey didn't show more authority, and she seemed really young. As always. Tushface & Company are never happy, are they?
Shane said his Brownie was shy. Tushface (heh - his first name should be "Harry") & Co. called him "joyless" and "not soulful." Lisa "steamrolled" the kid, and let Rachael do the same to her. Lisa cries because someone has to do that every episode.Aaron is safe, and Adam's "hairy little be-hind" is going to Vegas as well. The other three are apparently on the chopping block and Tushface & Co. prolong the agony by sending them upstairs while they deliberate some more. In the end, it's determined that the Joyless One, Shane, should be the one to go. And he was a good sport about it. He probably realized he was jeopardizing his future career by appearing on the Food Network and was glad to be released from this embarrassment. I know I would be.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Interview with Richard Blais
Here, ladies and gentlemen, is the long-awaited interview with Richard Blais, my choice for Top Chef Chicago! Thanks, Richard, for so graciously offering to answer my questions, and for your time.
theminx: You were so close to winning it all. You were definitely my favorite! What are your feelings about the competition? Was it a worthwhile experience? Would you do it again?
RB: The show was a great experience. When faced with the opportunity in the beginning you tell yourself you dont want to go early, then make it half way, then the finals, then the final challenge, etc. So although not taking home top honors sucked, the fact is the goal is to expose yourself and your talent and make things happen from there. I consider that I got the chicken and not the egg. But I'll make a few eggs now....
theminx: How nerve-wracking was it to be in Puerto Rico when your wife was so close to giving birth? You didn't seem to want to be there, certainly not to party.
RB: My wife was a few days away from due date, so yes it was on my mind, we had an emergency evacuation plan in place, and everyone on production was very understanding of my situation. I was never there to party, not in chicago or PR. And I don't dance, well, so shaking it up in front of 3 million wasnt going to happen.
theminx: Dish some dirt about the other Top Chefs. Who did you get along with best? Who was the most annoying? Who had the worst hygiene? Was Lisa as ill-tempered as the editing led viewers to believe? Will you stay in contact with any of the other chefs?
RB: Everyone was very cool, and I consider myself quite universal so no one really irritated me, including Lisa. She is a glass half empty personality, but shes not a bad person.... I'll stay in contact with a few of them I'm sure, it's like high school, you graduate and talk of staying together, and some relationships dissolve, and some stay tight. I was hanging out with Dale last night. I just called Spike a few minutes ago....
theminx: We're aware that Bravo takes some creative license with the editing to maximize the drama. Do you feel that you were misrepresented in any way in the program?
RB: Possibly, I got the nice guy edit, and my staff might not agree with that! but I'd say the production and editing do a very good job representing the true story....
theminx: What are your future plans and do any of them involve television?
RB: Well, I have a ton going on right now. I am running a restaurant, HOME, in Atlanta, which just recieved 4 stars from the main publication. I am consulting on a modern hamburger restaurant, FLIP, to open in the fall and soon have multiple locations in multiple cities. I do a ton of product development through Trail-Blais, which is my ideation company which is taking me to 5 cities and 3 countries over the next month, and yes, I am currently shopping a television program, or 2. The television deal is very big to me, as I really enjoy the work, and I'm amazed at how deep the reach of the media is. To think I have people calling and asking for beef flavored tofu and bacon ice cream is un real, and I think that continued exposure of creative cooking can really change the food world for good.... and I'd love to give it a go and get people thinking more about food, and having fun with it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)