New Face

I'm a huge Babyface fan. So this tune has been in heavy circulation on my iPod in recent months. You've probably heard the track on Tha Carter III album. If you haven't then take a listen.

Rule #9

Miller Light is hands-down the best tasting American "light" beer. I always thought "light" referred to the amount of calories, not the flavor. If your idea of a great beer is one that has no flavor at all then maybe you don't like the taste of beer. There are plenty of drinks for those who don't like the taste of beer - Mike's Hard Lemonade, a Smirnoff Ice, Sparks etc. 

100th POST

WE DID IT!

It probably takes the average blogger six months to reach 100 posts. It took me two years. Through this blog I've given you my thoughts on everything from German gummy bears to Hall and Oats and just about anything that I felt might be worth one's time to read.

When I created it, I wanted my blog to be a collection of random information. I wanted to take all the cool things I saw, read about, tasted or heard and tie them together with funny stories and commentary but at the same time present useful, but on occasion trivial information. 

This last year my blog has taken off into something that it never has been before. With better promotion and more discipline on my part I've gained a modest readership (you). After 100 posts I want to thank those who have kept up, across the country, around the world and especially those with whom I have shared the contents of this blog in real life, whether it be the food, the music or the funny stories. 

The best is yet to come. 

A Heroic Beat

Here is an instrumental to Nas' Hero. Very catchy. I love this beat. For some strange reason whenever I hear this beat I think of Senator Obama...???....Yea.

If you like this beat as much as I do then you should definitely check out the whole song on YouTube.

Rule #8

If you are forced to fight, aim for the solar plexus (under the rib cage) first.

I Love Japanese TV

Check out this clip from a Japanese TV show. The prank/ psychological experiment shows different reactions to group behavior.

Rule #7

If you actually own one, Bluetooth earpieces should only be worn in the car while driving.

Summer Libation Series: Benton's Old Fashion

The following drink recipe is courtesy of an East Village speakeasy called "PDT" (Please Don't Tell). This little bar which only holds about 45 people has a hidden entrance through a phone booth inside a popular hot dog spot. PDT was great, not only because you feel cool inside a hidden bar, but also because you can get great classic cocktails and truly innovative cocktails that are equally as satisfying... Oh, and did I mention they serve cheesy waffle fries?

-Note that this drink probably isn't ideal for day-time drinking. Something tells me bacon infused bourbon is probably best served at night. Don't be alarmed by the meat infused drink though. What you get out of the infusion is mostly just the smoky flavor of the bacon. And combined with the maple syrup the smokiness comes off as completely natural. But I guess you'll have to try for yourself.

Enjoy!

In Season: PDT's Old-fashioned


FOR THE BOURBON- BACON INFUSION:
3 or 4 slices bacon, or enough to render 1 ounce of fat (PDT uses Benton’s, but any extra-smoky variety will do)
1 750-ml. bottle of bourbon such as Four Roses Yellow Label

Cook bacon in pan and reserve rendered fat. (1) When bacon fat has cooled a bit, pour off one ounce from pan. (2) Pour bourbon into a non-porous container. (3) Strain the bacon fat into the container and infuse for 4 to 6 hours at room temperature. Place mixture in freezer until all the fat is solidified. With a slotted spoon, remove fat and strain mixture back into bottle.

FOR THE OLD FASHIONED:
2 ounces bacon-infused bourbon
1/4 ounce Grade B maple syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Twist of orange


*Recipe and video courtesy of nymag.com and PDT

Summer Biking Music

This some great use of the 808. Summer time classic.

See if you can spot out special cameos by Kid N' Play.

Rule #6

You can't try to dress trendy forever. Some day you'll just have to grow up...

Top 10 Things I'll Probably Eat Upon Arrival in LA

Note- I've listed these in no particular order. Truth be told, I listed them in the order they came to mind. With exception to probably "The Number Four", I DO NOT consider these the BEST things to eat in LA by any means. I do however recommend them to those who haven't tried them. This is the food that I usually have at home, when I'm on my way out, or when no one is grilling - food that I love. This is food that I can't get anywhere else that I for sure will eat when I'm in LA...


10. Double Western Bacon Cheesburger Combo (aka "The Number Four") - Carl's Jr.

9. Carne Asada Tacos - La Estrella (or their rival taco truck on S. Fair Oaks Ave. above California Blvd.)

8. Chili Cheeseburger w/o tomato and pickles on the side - Hi Life Burgers

7. Curly Fries w/ buttermilk ranch dipping sauce - Jack in the Box

6. Beef Kebab Plate - Mediterranean Cafe

5. Double Cheesburger - Tommy's

4. "The Widow Maker" - Claim Jumpers

3. Fish Tacos - Taco Nazo

2. Super Nachos - Albertos

1. House Special Noodles - Townsend

Summer Libation Series: Easy Citrus Punch

The great thing about summer is that you have more time to spend with friends outdoors. And what better way to spend time with friends than to share a drink? Starting today I'l share some recipes for exceptional summertime concoctions that will surely liven up any summer gathering.

Today I'll be sharing the recipe for a great tasting citrus punch that doesn't take much and is hard to get wrong.

Ingredients:
Lots of Ice
1 Orange
1 Lemon
1 Two liter bottle of 7-Up
1 Bottle of Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum
1 Pint of orange juice
1 Pint of Lemonade (Tart lemonade works better as oppose to sweet)


Fill the half of a large punch bowl with ice. Add the whole bottle of 7-UP, 1 pint of lemonade, 1 pint of orange juice and 2/3 the bottle of Captain Morgan to the punch bowl. Cut the lemon and the orange in half. Remove seeds from the lemon and orange and squeeze half the orange and half the lemon into the punch bowl. Slice the remaining halves of the lemon and orange to garnish. Mix and Serve.


The end result is sweet, smooth refreshing drink, very similar to Cactus Cooler.

Rule #5

Do not apply hair gel before you go to the gym, basketball court, track etc.

Texting Your Way to Love: College Dating in a Nutshell

The other day my brother sent me this hilarious video. Check it out.

Top 10 Underrated Disney Characters

Not too many people know this but one of my first jobs was at the Disney Store. Despite the embarrassing short sleeved denim shirts, next-to-nothing wage and non-stop Disney Channel promos looping all day long, I had a good time. I worked with great people and gained a great understanding of customer service. By far, the most gratifying skill I took from my two year stint at the Disney Store was the ability to recognize obscure Disney characters.


Here are a few of my favorite Disney characters who are often overshadowed.

10. Mowgli - The Jungle Book

9. Cpt. Li Shang - Mulan

8. Alan Bradley - Tron

7. Gaston - Beauty and the Beast

6. Crush - Finding Nemo

5. The Jamaican Bob Sled Team - Cool Runnings

4. Kuzco - The Emperor's New Groove

3. Ludwig Von Drake - He's Donald Duck's uncle. Very smart guy. Hosted various Disney programs made some cameos on Duck Tales etc.

2. Cliff Secord - The Rocketeer

1. Yeti - Monsters, Inc.

Rule #4

The Talk Box is the best instrument ever invented.

Rule #3

Otaku is the Japanese word for the enthusiast whose enthusiasm borders on extreme geekiness

More Than the Meat Off the Grill

Saturday was one of those mornings when I woke up drenched in my own sweat and immediately regretted leaving the windows open. But the first and most brutally hot day of an expected 4-day heat wave didn't stop thousands from flooding Madison Square Park for the 6th annual Big Apple Bar-Be-Cue.


Every year the the nation's best pitmasters tow their gargantuan smokers across the country and converge in Madison Square Park. The event is not much of a competition but rather a showcase and celebration. There is no better venue for a BBQ event of this magnitude than NYC. The success of such Manhattan BBQ joints such as Blue Smoke, Hill Country and Dinosaur, have ignited a new appreciation in NY foodies for the meticulous cooking methods, various styles and spices that define American BBQ. A recent article in New York Magazine asked if BBQ was the new deli.

Among the many highlights of the event was a Q&A with 10x World BBQ Champion pitmaster Chris Lilli and 3x Grand Master Champion of the Memphis in May (aka the "Super Bowl of Swine") Mike Mills. To say these men know BBQ would be an understatement. These men do more than smoke meats for a living, they are true ambassadors of a great American tradition. They spoke of flavor profiles, described competitions, and in his closing statement Mills summed up what BBQ was all about. Mills said it best when he described the Big Apple BBQ. He explained that winning the competitions are such a small part of BBQ, he emphasized how great BBQ doesn't require the best equipment and that the best and most significant part of events like these was bringing people together. Here people of all cooking styles, tastes, preferences and backgrounds can come together and fill the hot and muggy Manhattan air with a single plume of smoke for which all mouths water. "It's about the friends you make... and the joy you get from giving people tips and helping them".

Rule # 2

Never trust a grown man who refers to the men's restroom as the "little boys room"

Reborn

One saturday morning when I was 12 my dad woke my brothers and I up with great news. He was taking us to meet the Lakers. We made the drive out to Inglewood and I had no idea what to expect. I still remember looking out the window from the back seat of my dad's car and seeing airplanes fly low to make their approach into LAX.

Every year the Lakers had a "Jam Session" where a couple of hundred lucky kids got to meet the Laker Girls, see cool exhibits and meet and greet with their favorite Laker. The hype at that year's Jam Session was the recent acquisition of a superstar center from Orlando by the name of O'Neal and a 17 year old high school kid who the Hornets drafted but refused to play for anyone but the Lakers. That summer Jerry West traded Vlade Divac for Charlotte's third string guard with a Japanese name who spoke Italian. It was this summer that two key pieces of the rebirth of the Laker Dynasty fell into place. In the next two years plans for a new and improved arena in downtown were underway and a legendary coach from Chicago would come out of retirement to help a troubled but talented young team.

Tonight millions of Angelenos will tune in and watch something much more than just a basketball game. When the Lakers dominated the finals in 2000, L.A. was in desperate need for a championship team. The city came together and almost didn't know how to handle it. It was the turn of the millennium and with economic development that came with the Staples Center in and around the downtown area people could see the city transforming. Lakers flags waved from nearly every car on the street. The city was alive again! After a 3 years absence from the finals LA is hungry again.

Whether you love them or hate them. The Lake Show... Showtime... The Los Angeles Lakers are more than just a franchise.. They are a Dynasty. They add to the NBA real-life drama, scandal, heartache, passion and tradition.

Five Food Factories

Unfortunately I don't know 10 different food places to eat with the name "Factory". Truth be told, if I did know 10 places these five would be the only ones I would suggest. So this Wednesday I can only do a top 5 list.


5. CheeseSteak Factory (New York, NY) - Great for late night eats in SoHo

4. Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (New York, NY) - Rich old-fashioned ice cream with traditional and exotic flavors (e.g. mango, pina colada, taro)

3. Cheesecake Factory (various locations) - The one thing that puts this place at number 3 are their fried macaroni balls (pictured above). Try them!

2. Taco Factory (Tustin, California) - I've only been once, but they've got huge servings for cheap and delicious carne asada.

1. Kebab Factory (New York, NY) - The best new thing on Curry Hill. $6.95 for unlimited kebabs, naan and basmati rice!!

The Rules of Game: Rule #1

Starting today my blog will feature what I like to think of as "rules" that all of us should at least take note of, if not live by. (I think I just broke ten grammatical rules in that last sentence).

Sometimes these rules will spawn from my extreme responses to daily events (like my bad posts) and sometimes they will be completely random (like my worse posts). And yes, if you're wondering, this is a shameless imitation of Esquire's rules and the "Man Law" in recent Budweiser commercials. I can only hope to be as egregiously sexist and witty as they have.

Without a better way to explain these rules, I'll just give you one already:


RULE #1: If Alton Brown and Anthony Bourdain ever fight in a cage match for rights to the nickname "A.B."... put your money on Tony.



                 

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