Bobby, Distracted

The other day I saw a photo of Bobby Flay looking so distracted/perturbed/impatient, it cracked me up.  I actually felt sorry for him.  It was like he was at yet another contractual event amongst the masses who didn't even know what a caper was, and he just wanted to be ANYWHERE but there.  His Irish ire was irked!

I wanted to capture and exaggerate that look immediately.  I searched around for a piece of paper which turned out to be an old, Zingerman's food catalog.  Perfect!  This one is all oil, except for the lettering in marker.

Bobby, when he first appeared on the Food Network, had a bit of an arrogant attitude, and why shouldn't he?  He's good at what he does, he's had to make it in NYC, and he's in that rarefied stratosphere of chefs whose crossed over to mass appeal.  He's much more approachable, kind, and humorous now (and has been for years), but I think a bit of the old Bobby slipped out here. (-;

"If only I could be anywhere but here.  Like in my backyard barbecuing."

Day 335. Giada De Laurentiis - Poor Finger!

A few months ago in September on a 93-degree day around Chicago, my mom, my cousin Beth, and I went to see Giada De Laurentiis while she was on tour to promote her children's books, "Naples! #1 (Recipe for Adventure)" and "Paris! #2 (Recipe for Adventure)."  I love Giada and have several of her cookbooks.  I think she's one of the highlights of the Food Network, and I couldn't wait to see her in person.  Plus, her almond eyes, square jaw and rectangular mouth just beg to be painted in some quirky way.  It all adds up to one beautiful face in reality, that's for sure.  I was prepared for the good looks, but what I was most surprised was how petite she was.  I know she's small, but her arms and legs were so tiny.  She doesn't look scrawny, even though she's thin, just a pint-sized beauty.

Anyway, here's my presentation of Giada with her two favorite ingredients, Parmigiano Reggiano and dark chocolate (or any kind of chocolate).  I'm going to throw in a pastry chef's favorite, Valrhona.  I think G-girl would be happiest if every recipe included these two items. (-;

 

In different lighting now wearing her "whisk" earrings:

 

 

Favorite Ingredients:

When I posted this last night, I FORGOT to include Giada's "Whisk" earrings!  The horror!  Do you like her with or without her silver accessories?

Here's our meal at La Sorella Di Francesca--you must eat Italian before seeing Giada!.

Pomegranite Martini

Moscato

My Prosciutto-Wrapped Watermelon with Basil and thick Balsamic Vinaigrette 

I could eat this one dish for the rest of my life!

 Table Bread

 Olive and 4-Cheese Pizza

 Tomato Pesto Pizza

Fresh Buffalo Mozarella, Heirloom Tomatoes, Pesto, Balsamic Reduction

 Roasted Potatoes in Olive Oil

 Crème Brûlée

My Flourless Chocolate Cake with Cinnamon Gelato and Raspberry Sauce

Giada really wasn't that far away, but I just couldn't get my phone camera to work right  (uh, yeah. the fault lies with the operator!).  Here's a couple of blurry little pics of her.

P.S.  Poor Giada sliced her finger open on that Food Network LIVE Thanksgiving special on Saturday, November 23rd. I watched about the first 1/2 hour and then turned it off.  I'm glad I missed the human slicing and dicing.  I would have fainted sitting on the couch, let alone being on national t.v.!  Here's a link to her Instagram pic--I can't bear to have you see it unless you want to view it: http://instagram.com/p/hE5ilykUqM/#

Day 284. Something in the Skies (No Longer Available)

Watch out, Midwesterners.  A big-time storm seems to be brewing out there--hail, strong winds, rain, and hopefully enough push to blow this extreme humidity outta here!

Several thoughts are going through my mind:

1)  I wanted to call this "Something Wicked This Way Comes"--don't you just LOVE that Ray Bradbury story?  And don't you just love Ray Bradbury?

2) There was an episode of "Ace of Cakes" from the Food Network a few years ago, and the star, Duff Goldman, was driving across the United States in a big RV for some reason--well, I'm sure to deliver a cake and meet up with his cohorts somewhere--and he was driving through the Midwest in the middle of summer, and there were these beautiful lightening storms illuminating the skies with a magic show.  He exclaimed, "Man I love the Midwest."  We just had one of those at dusk earlier this week as I was driving home from work.  Purple over here, pink over there, ominous yellowish-green and brown in the distance--that "unreal" ominous color you hope goes away.  Sudden razor-sharp bolts of lightening ripping through the sky and then leaving a glow of residue fading into darkness.  It actually is spectacular.  Nature's fireworks if you will.  On the other hand, that same mixture of humidity and heat and swirling rain coming through that makes corn reach unnatural heights also creates some terrifying, atmospheric moments.

3)  I like how this man's eyes turned out; liquid color dripping down and slowly seeping up into his sockets.  Do you remember the "X-Files" (I never missed a single episode!) and the stuff called "Black Oil" (also called "Purity" or "Black Cancer")?  It was an alien virus that survived in petroleum deposits that would invade humans with an alien life force.  That's what the eye color reminds me of--just technicolor instead of black.  Why are the very best shows--"X-Files" and "Lost" no longer running?  Where are their intelligent, thought-provoking replacements?  Anyway, the "black oil" first appeared in the episode "Piper Maru" and lastly in "Vienen."    Below is the best showing I could find of Black Oil on YouTube.

Be safe!