Thursday, July 30, 2009

I can't decide if I'm horrified or hungry

Oh, who am I kidding.  I could totally go for a krab salad sandwich right about now.

Even after reading this:
Frozen slabs of Surimi... are mixed with starch, egg whites, and crab flavorings. Without the flavoring, mild Surimi has almost no taste at all... Next Surimi paste pumps over to the cook lines, where it extrudes out into thin ribbons...
I love the word "extrude".  I most often associate it with play-doh.  Actually, there's quite a bit of similarity between the two ... 

Clickie on the linkie for the video, and tell me I'm not right.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Come on ride it, Woo-Woo!

I loves me some conveyor belt sushi, so clearly YES TO THIS!  toy sushi train.  Although sadly, the chef is sold separately. 

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The hog had stopped squealing. After that, butchering time was great fun.

Offal of the Week: Hog’s Head - Eat Me Daily


Ma scraped and cleaned the head carefully, and then she boiled it till all the meat fell off the bones.  She chopped the meat fine with her chopping knife in the wooden bowl, she seasoned it with pepper and salt and spices.  Then she mixed the pot-liquor with it, and set it away in a pan to cool.  When it was cool it would cut in slices, and that was headcheese.
Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder
How, how I longed to kick the pig's bladder around with her!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Closing the book on another beach week

We had an unprecedented sunset last night on the sound. Usually there's a cloud cover right on the water that obscures the sun, but not this night.




It's not a stretch to say that in 8 years, this was the best trip ever.  Although it goes into the books with an asterix, for dear friends no longer with us.  We missed you Rita and Heather.

See full photo set on flickr.

Friday, July 24, 2009

My favorite place in the Outer Banks

Oceana's Bistro in Avon


Family friendly


Daily specials, including 20 cent steamed shrimp on Thursdays and $1.50 PBR every day.  Just put a $20 on the bar, and ask Laura or Christy to keep the goodness coming.

If you don't dig on the shellfish, try the pistachio encrusted goat cheese salad.  Big enough for two, but you won't want to share because it is guuuuuuuuud.


British Friday - a kidney is a small price to pay edition

Lost is - sadly - heading into it's final season. And producers plan to auction off props and set pieces from the show.   The precious items are currently available for sneak peek at ComicCon, should you actually be fortunate enough to hold a ticket. 

For the right price, you can take home Hurley's lotto ticket, Kate's stupid toy airplane, Jack's tears, Locke's knife, or ... OR! Mr. Eko's Jesus stick.

Therese at Tubular is starting a collection. I've pledged a kidney. Not that it did me any good last time. BOO!

'Lost' yard sale will auction iconic props--The Live Feed

via Tubular

Sunday, July 5, 2009

I Heart My City: Washington, D.C.

National Geographic Traveler is celebrating the magic of the city, and they want to hear from you.  Visit Intelligent Travel and fill in the blanks.  What do you heart about your city?

In honor of July 4th, I give you our nation's capitol.


Washington, D.C. is My City

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is the Spy Museum.  

When I crave gelato I always go to Dolcezza on Wisconsin Ave. The strawberry basil and blood orange flavors are amazing.

To escape the crowds, I avoid the Mall in the summer. 

If I want to see a summer blockbuster on the big screen I go the Uptown.

For complete quiet, I can hide away in the National Cathedral.

If you have to order one thing off the menu from 2 Amys it has to be the Neapolitan guild certified pizza margherita.

Locals know to skip Georgetown on the weekends and check out U St. and H St. instead.

Photo ops in my city include the Washington monument and Lincoln Memorial and the best vantage points are from a Potomac River water taxi.

If my city were a celebrity it'd be Barack Obama.

The most random thing about my city is our lack of voting rights in Congress.

My city has the most short men.

My city has the most badass women.  Two words - Michelle Obama.

In my city, an active day outdoors involves the National Zoo, B+O Canal tow path, Rock Creek Park, or hanging out at the Dupont Circle fountain.

My city's best museum is the Smithsonian Museum of American History.  Where else can you see the Star Spangled Banner, Julia Child's kitchen, a Greensboro lunch counter, and the first ladies' dresses?  For free.

My favorite walking route is Q Street between Wisconsin and DuPont.

For a night of live music, check out 9:30 Club, Blues Alley, Bohemian Caverns, DC9, or Black Cat.

Ben's Chili Bowl is the spot for late-night eats.

To find out what's going on at night and on the weekends, read DCist.com, Washington City Paper, or the WaPo.

You can tell if someone is from my city if they stand right / walk left on escalators.

In the spring you should see the cherry blossoms from the steps of the Jefferson Memorial.

In the summer you should enjoy the live jazz at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden.

In the fall you should cheers for the Redskins.

In the winter you should take to the ice at the Sculpture Garden's ice rink.

A hidden gem in my city is the newly rebuilt and refurbished Eastern Market.

Don't miss the Smithsonian Folklife festival in July on the Mall.

Just outside my city, you can visit Charm City, Annapolis, Manassas Battlefield, Mount Vernon, and fabulous Virginia wineries

The best way to see my city is on foot.

If my city were a pet it would be a Portuguese water dog.

When I think about my city, the song that comes to mind is Bustin Loose by Chuck Brown, the Godfather of Go Go.

Friday, July 3, 2009

British Friday, part of the Third: Bingo edition

I have very fond memories of going to bingo at the rescue squad with my grandmother.   I guarantee you, mess with her bingo and Granny was down to cut a bitch.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Two women wearing Alistair Darling masks on their heads play a game of bingo during a protest in front of the Houses of Parliament against the Government's increase in bingo taxation from 15% to 22% on July 1, 2009 in London, England. The Bingo Association has criticized the increased taxation in a difficult time for the industry with over 90 bingo clubs closing in the last three years. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)


via Jezebel

The beer to have when you're having more than one

Just in time for the holiday weekend the Washington Post offers their guide to the best of $6 6-packs. Charm City's own Natty Boh came out on top, with my personal favorite, Miller High Life placing second.

Although it came in last, Schlitz wins for best taster comment: 

"Tasteless and slightly reminiscent of saliva."

I'm going to embroider that on a pillow.

Going Out Gurus
- Taste Test: Cheap, Domestic Cans of Beer

Although I think Frank might have something to say about PBR's third place finish.

British Friday, Part of the Second: Posh and Becks edition

British Friday, Part of the First: I'm Chuck Bass

I review it : Public Enemies



Actually, I'm going to let TortieGirl guest review it:  It felt like a cheap fabric [or a $3 dress - w|w] , and I wanted to be enveloped in velvet.  Also, just moving the camera around is not a style.

Thanks TortieGirl!  Johnny Depp is of course wonderful.  I'd take that ride with his Dillinger.

3 tommy guns out of 5.