remember

Making poor man’s ice cream. I placed three frozen sliced...

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:28:59 -0400

Making poor man’s ice cream.

I placed three frozen sliced bananas in the food processor. Then I pulsed it for several minutes till it turned into a blended purée. A cold and icy blended purée.

Creme Anglaise + Brioche Loaf = French Love Toast

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:06:13 -0400

sergeeats:

How many possible ways can I say “holy f@$&ing sh!t!!!!! This is the best damn ________ I’ve ever had????” The bottom line is that there are a finite amount of adjectives for the word incredibly-freaking-good and I may have exhausted them all. This is another one of my posts where I’m going to let the photos speak for the food.

What we have here is the French toast that’s served at Hollywood’s infamous Square One Dining. I wrote about this dish previously and this was my attempt at replicating it. For full recipe instructions, follow this link.

Heavy cream with vanilla bean.

Pretty, pretty egg yolks.

Balthazar’s Brioche Loafed sourced from my local Whole Foods.

After letting the creme anglaise sit in the fridge overnight, I left it out on my kitchen counter for a few hours to let it warm to room temperature and “soften”.

It took quite some discipline to not finish off the creme anglaise last night on its own.

An iron griddle is a must have home accessory. MUST HAVE!

My only regret was that I didn’t make more.

Two very happy brunch guests.

Maple syrup not necessary.

Avec Eric - Merci

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:51:20 -0400

sergeeats:

I recently came across Eric Ripert’s website - AvecEric.com. After skimming through the first few pages of posts, I clicked on the Video link and was taken to a virtual treasure trove of simple, delicious and easy to follow recipes.

When I say easy to follow - I mean EASY TO FREAKING FOLLOW. All the recipes in his videos are centered around a primary ingredient (salmon, chicken, snapper, raspberries) and are paired with a maximum of one or two more ingredients. After prepping, Chef Ripert cooks everything on his counter top toaster oven. Let me say that again: ALL OF THESE TASTY, HEALTHY AND WONDERFUL DISHES ARE COOKED IN A FREAKING TOASTER OVEN. From caramelized mango to goat cheese truffles, EVERYTHING is cooked in a cute, little toaster oven.

Some of my favorite videos from his site include the goat cheese truffle:

The raspberry clafouti:

And the super simple yet delicious broiled red snapper filet:

I think it’s safe to say that my toaster oven and I are going to get to know each other very intimately over the next several weeks.

Saturday

Sat, 09 May 2009 13:26:35 -0400

I’ve had an incredible Saturday already and it’s not even 1:30pm.

I awoke with some stiffness in my neck so I made the pain go away with a helping of frozen Smirnoff. Now I just finished brunch at Ssam Momofuku and I’m following up with a strawberry cereal milk with chocolate donut ice cream at Momofuku Milk bar. Saturdays are good.

i just got omegle'd

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:05:40 -0400

here’s my convo:

You: hiStranger: xbox or ps3?You: xbox fo shoStranger: what gameYou: cod4Stranger: oh.You: u?Stranger: did i mention the game?Stranger: _/_____\_____________\____________/____\
|_______|_____________\__________|______|
|_______`._____________|_________|_______:
.\________|____________|_________\|_______|
_\_______|_/_________/__\\___—___\_______:
__\______\/_____—~~__________~—__|_\_____|
___\______\_-~___________________~-_\____|
____\______\_________.—————.________\|___|
______\_____\______//_________(_(__>__\___|
_______\___.__C____)_.you just_(_(____>__|__/
_______/\_|___C_____)/__lost_\_(_____>__|_/
______/_/\|___C_____)___the__|__(___>___/__\
_____|___(___C_____)\_game_/__//___/_/_____\
_____|____\__|_____\_________//__(__/______|
____|_\____\____)___`——___—‘______________|
____|__\______________\_______/__________/_|
____|_____________/____|_____|__\___________|
____|____________|____./______\___\__________|_
___|____________/____..|_______|___\__________|
___|___________/_____..\___/\___/_____|_________|
___|__________/________|____|_______|_________|
__|__________|_________|____|_______|_________|You: lovely

Dear Utah

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 10:11:55 -0400

Your snow is the finest, fluffiest, freshest powder on planet earth. Your roads are beautiful. Your airport is spotless. The people are welcoming and charming.

So why is it so hard to find a decent bagel or slice of pizza in this state?

First thing I eat when I get back to NYC will be a slice of Joes pizza and a bagel from Bagel Bobs. Can’t wait.

See you in a while

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:13:40 -0400

I’m hoofing it out west for a final bit of storm chasing. Regular updates to follow next week. Till then EAT!

Big trouble in little internet.

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:41:33 -0400

and then there were deux

baugher:

Oh, the Days of Inanity. Big changes are afoot. Mary is leaving, JA got fired, and Meghan is still trying to win friends and influence people. Onward with bulleting goodness:

Our Handmaiden of Passive Aggression:

Big news is that, according to Gawker, who got a tip about a drunken confession from Our Lady of Introspection (who never drinks, ever), Mary is leaving the the band. This is about as surprising as a Lohan relapse, but congratulations to my favorite wrist fannypack designer.

Her send off was this, a Jack Handy-cribbed Deep Thoughts about the future of internet content. Protip, Mary: in the future, ask your “editor” to post something vaguely resembling your own voice and vocabulary and overall understanding of sentence structure and syntax. You might want to ask your former partner about the plagiarist label on the way out.

Oh wait, was this the “guest post” you ~~backdated~~ foreshadowed a few hours ~~later~~ earlier? Odd that you didn’t credit it as such. The internet never sleeps, Mary. Want the screenshot?

In all sincerity, best of luck to you. You are the only one who developed something approximating a tolerable internet personality, and you did so in spite of considerable odds, given the dimly lit marquee name on the blog. Avoid any discussion of politics, current events, healthy body image and eating habits, colonic benefits and naturopathy generally, (shit this list is getting long), pretty much anything beyond fashion, spinning and self deprecation and JA passive aggression. Blow outs and blow jobs, Mary. Win your demographic. Talk about the teeth, and how it is good for the former and not the latter.

If you ever want to know just how loyal your (now former) business partner was, do drop me a line. Also, say hello to Leven for me.

Our Handmaiden of Tragic Rebounds:

Megs - may I call you Megs? Mary beat you to the finish line, sweetie. Thought I would tell you, in case your laptop died and you weren’t checking the internet.

May I ask why a tech blogger didn’t know to back up her files? I think we both know the answer to that.

“The more information you put out about yourself, the more you data is out there for marketers.” And pimping Flicker? Megs, I don’t think your heart is in this whole tech blogging thing.

Ah, but I see you are taking up the Mary slack of passive aggression. Megs, like tech blogging, this just isn’t you. Mary’s appeal is bluntness and willingness to make an ass out of herself. Yours is being naturally attractive, likeable, and seemingly embarrassed to be in the photo.

Pull the trigger, Megs. Break up with this tragic rebound. You have gleaned enough from your 50 word posts about the internet to know a little bit about internet branding, and how yours is swirling the bowl.

Our Lady of Introspection:

Bottom billing is deserved.

She says she quit Time Out New York, which looks ~~suspiciously~~ exactly like this thing.

“I have loved being a dating columnist, but Carrie Bradshaw 2.0 is played out. I think I am columned out right now.” You got canned. Again. File it under the dumped column in your stalker file.

There is a lot to parse in the HuffPo article, but most of it has been scrubbed in the light of day, and really, who gives a shit anymore.

Goddamn if this doesn’t say it all. Ricky VanVeen was her first target, and when he proved unavailable, she went for Jakob Lodwick. It appears Ricky has the exact same impression of her as he did a few years ago. (mirror, in case it dies, which seems to happen, and very much worth a click)

Also, JA? Don’t mock College Humor’s television program. It is airing on a major network. Bravo threw your “pilot” in the trash. Ask for the focus group studies, particularly the feedback about you. I have a copy if you need it.

Lordy, lordy, look who turned......

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:32:13 -0500

baugher:

We’re in lean times, folks, and lean times call for ribbed, bulleted, and linked pleasures.

Our Lady of Introspection:

You know how she claims to be friends with all of her exes? Except for that one whose confidences she betrayed on Gawker. And that one who does video games who broke up with her in spectacular public fashion. And now, the most recent one who didn’t want to be subject material for the least interesting blog on the planet. Well played, Mr. Leventhal (his reply to Our Lady in response to her plea for a restaurant recommendation). She sometimes reminds you of Lara Flynn Boyle in Wayne’s World, doesn’t she?

She’s looking for a new way to violate her friends’ privacy, in the form of posting voice mails received. (“Hey, Julia, this is Ben. I swore I wasn’t ever going to call you again, but the law says I have to give you an official warning about harassment. So here it is. I’m just not that into you. You saw that movie, right? It is just like that.”)

Nonsociety is now co-branding with Axe. Live differently, like pimply junior high school boys. Because you just know that demographic is reading NS, what with the cutting edge fashion and dieting tips and the giggling mention of blow jobs.

There was a bicoastal birthday celebration, the first in SF. Sadly, although JA posted a partial pic of her cake, it wasn’t hers. Man, she can’t even make the marquee of a birthday cake?  Well played, Randi. Ask Mr. Leventhal what you have won.

If only we had birthday bridesmaids, or, as the unwashed masses call them, unpaid guests.

Whatever, the important thing is that Our Lady doesn’t drink. (click on that one, folks. You won’t regret it.)

Our Handmaiden of Passive Aggression:

Did make a rather surprising Million Dollar Baby reference. I suspect that movie didn’t feature the story line she anticipated.

Leven shout out. I am thinking Mary realizes a sister hanger-on is better than this gig.

She got a new pet. This should totally put to bed her whole “I look like a dyke” comment, as clearly, some of her best friends are homosexuals.

The usual tedious Fashion Week coverage with brilliant commentary (“Ooh. I love this.”)  She is a fashionista, just like the EIC of Allure. With 100% less credibility.

A ton of hair dryer reviews. To help the paint dry.

A slam on President Obama for attending a concert and a basketball game (as evidence of his vacationing ways rivaling those of her parents’ messiah, George W).   This from a couchsurfer without a job. Dumber than a sack of hair extensions. Stick with the blow jobs from the hair dryers. President Obama has more work ethic in Rahm Emanuel’s middle right finger than this one. Yes, Mary. You are going to have to follow the link to get the joke.

Photoshoots aren’t work, they are vanity projects.  Probably need to look that term up, too. Your entire business model is a vanity project that is unprofitable and ridiculed by your target audience. You are in no position to question anyone’s work ethic.

Our Handmaiden of Tragic Rebounds:

I still contend she is working on an exit strategy. No one is this dull and bland, not even day-old Cheerios in spoiled milk. She’s caught between the loon and New York City. I know its crazy, but its true.

Uh, she posted an email with tips to save money, which included such wisdoms as go to the grocery with a list, use the library (don’t buy books), sign up on mailing lists for specials, and entertain at home with your friends. Ladies’ Home Journal now has a web presence?

Megs - may I call you Megs - take your own reader’s advice. Shop for food that you eat (not drink), go to the library and check out “What Color is Your Parachute,” sign up for a Kayak alert for cheap one way fares to the Bay Area (free tech tip there), and stay home with friends who realize that people who try to monetize the minutia of their lives are widely perceived as complete idiots.

Except in that little corner of NYC, where bloggers who spend all day blogging about their friends meet up to drink with their blogger friends in the hopes that their picture is taken, so they can post and blog about it the next day. There, you are all just common idiots.

She discovered CNN online to watch the “State of the Union,” which must surprise the President, who hasn’t yet delivered it.

She looked thrilled to be in attendance at JA’s birthday party in SF. So do the others in the picture.

Megs, only you can prevent forest fires, and only you can salvage your reputation. I’m not just saying this because I have a substantial bet on you being the first to bail. Full disclosure: I also have cash on Mary.

I gave you the most real estate here, Meghan. Don’t disappoint me.

*N.B.: The reblog feature was not abused in the parsing of the above post.

ronin

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:58:13 -0500

ronin’s website is finally up. i think it looks great but feel free to comment and debase.

Ronin Asset Management

goooooood stuff from pete!!!!!!

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:50:49 -0500

goooooood stuff from pete!!!!!!

pete is famous!!!

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:27:15 -0500

check out the article on my lil bro here:

http://nymag.com/news/businessfinance/53617/

great read with some great quotes from him and chad and some other guys.

also, there’s info on pete and me and our whole group at:

http://www.roninasset.com

Yes we can.

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:12:36 -0500

baugher:

Our Lady of Introspection: Imagine that you get the opportunity to witness the inauguration of the 44th president, and because you once fancied yourself a journalist at a DC university, you think you have some bona fides. Your mother was a speechwriter, and because you once tactlessly blogged about shagging a politician and once met Obama at a BBQ, you think you could have been one, too. You then go to DC for the big event.

Do you (1) blog about the experience of ~~attending/~~ ~~thinking about/~~ being in the same city with the largest crowd gathering in history for a new president? (2) Parse the speech with your sound, college-level analysis of government and politics? or (3) Post a ton of pictures of yourself in yet another pink dress, sporting yet another parsed lips pose.

Yes, it was obviously choice #3. Not even an historic inauguration could dissuade our Lady from posting over 15 pictures of herself. YES WE CAN!

Our Handmaiden of Passive Aggression: Our Handmaiden wasn’t an Obama supporter - something about the proud Texas tradition of assuming your parents’ politics - but she was not above posting a few pics of her reaching across the proverbial aisle, to shake the unclenched fists of those who thought she might be able to set them up with Leven.

BUT! She caught the magic Obama rainbow hope-flu and gave us this:

We, as a nation of moral, democtaic (sic and hic) people, wouldn’t be where we are today if the leaders who had the balls to push the boundaries let themselves be silenced.

All men are created equal. That took a while. So have hope. One day, we’ll get there with the issues that continue to plague us today. Gay marriage, abortion - they will all be inherent rights. Keep talking people. In fact, yell!

You know, we will get there. Her hair went from 1960 to 1990 in the recent past, and that did take a while. YES WE CAN!

Our Handmaiden of Tragic Rebounds: Kind of soggy Cheerios after the backlash from their CES coverage, claiming that she was preoccupied by filming promo spots for their “sponsors.” Unfortunately, those “sponsors” weren’t sponsors, so sayeth Cisco on their blog(“Cisco did not sponsor NonSociety”) nor compensate them for being the CES equivalent of car show models).

Specifically, she was upset that her mother “found her way” (some tech geeks call this googling) to one of the sites that had some negative comments about her, and apparently, Mom promptly responded using a “code name” (she anonymously commented on a website, just like the detractors). And say hey to you mother for me!.

They got past it, and she just marveled that “we can now use the Internet to get information from various sources.” And, just like that, Meghan’s tech savvy caught up to Mary’s new hair. YES WE CAN!

lovely video of what Hamas does to its own fellow palestinians

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:09:20 -0500

lovely video of what Hamas does to its own fellow palestinians:

why is this not in the mainstream news?

why aren’t people protesting against hamas?

why aren’t fellow muslims denouncing hamas and its actions?

interesting.

Feliz Nuevo Ano

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:42:03 -0500

baugher:

Christ, a new year and yet, we are still here. Parsing the stupidity. It kind of feels like recapping American Idol, doesn’t it? We all know how this works out - the most packaged person wins, except they don’t, and are never heard from again until the VH-1 special about one hit wonders hits the airwaves.

Confession - I have started to love Mary. It may be Stockholm Syndrome (I write that with the confidence that she has no idea what that means and may name a terrible bag after it), but I think she finally realized that she can either be in on the joke or laugh at it. My editor has disowned me upon this realization, so forgive the grammar and spelling errors.

Okay, what do you need to know about The Trio of Banality? I’ll give you the low points, bulleted and ribbed for your pleasure:

Meghan: Still Cheerios, with a little too much sugar. Why the naturally hottest girl hasn’t found her groove yet, only Stella knows. She, like the others, is at CES, although for her, this is kind of akin to Napoleon Dynamite going to a dance competition. She is very web 1.0, but damn if she doesn’t look good blogging it.

Mary: Oh, the sweet virgin Mary. She went on a cruise, blogged about it, railed against the haters who begrudged her that moment in the sun (then retracted it), worked out and blogged about it (lest you think her slothy, or worse, fat), admitted she was dining on someone else’s dime, took a few pot shots at JA (who is clearly not tight with her own mother), then came back and vowed to “see you on the scales.” The elusive Leven didn’t make the guest list, sadly, but Mary has a nice Gwyneth haircut and a determination to best JA at her own cover game.

JA: Still nothing here. JA doesn’t play well with others, and in the trio, she comes off like the shrill Midwestern tourist, among a trio of NY fannypack fangirls. She made a laundry list of resolutions, which I suspect were plagiarized from her 2008 resolutions (she is cunning like that), posted a manifesto of “I WAS ONCE BULIMIC AND THAT IS WHY I CAN CONTINUE TO HATE MYSELF,”and clearly didn’t resolve to lose the tranny makeup or wardrobe. She called Mary a bitch, claiming that bitch blogging was noble, and thereby solidifying her role as the chick at the party that you recognize, but don’t want to be associated with. There were, of course, a host of old pics of her, from happier days, plus a few fake emails purporting to attack her on her weight. Folks, if you don’t do it, no one else will, and then she will go all James Frey on your non-commenting asses.

Merry Festivus

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:39:45 -0500

well it’s about time!

baugher:

Given all that we have been through, I have to believe that none of you are still actually reading the collective musings of Our Lady of Introspection and her Handmaidens. They jumped the shark, the couch, and anything else they could name drop on their way to another photoshoot for another publication you have never heard of and will never buy.

Starting any personality-based business is difficult, particularly when Nick Douglas is your business advisor. Now try to imagine if you are the trio of a funhouse of mirrors featuring Poltergeist clowns. There may be a few moments of horror and funny, but mostly, you just want to put your hand over all it it and gently whisper “this will only take a few seconds.”  It isn’t that they just don’t get that they are the punchline of the joke. It is that they think their punchlines have value in any economy.

In the spirit of the holidays, however, I will give you the last rites of Our Trio of Banality. The end is surely nigh, and should old acquaintances be forgot, the world would be a much better place.

Meghan:  The Handmaiden of Tragic Rebounds — Meghan, I like you like I like Cheerios. There’s nothing offensive or mouth jarring about Cheerios (unlike, say, the suit-o PINKISH elements of Captain Crunch). Hell, sometimes, Cheerios is perfectly fine on an early morning.

But Meghan? You are curiously outplayed by your underclasswomen. This was a bad idea. You know it, I know it, and your family, readers and future employers know it.   Look, you are no rocket scientist in the tech OR finance fields, but you are likable and pretty and don’t look like a tranny Midwestern news anchor on camera. In your newly chosen field, I think you have to score these in the win column and discover your own identity, preferably one that doesn’t involve the social climbing aims of a self-avowed attention whore or a waiting in the wings second Texas trophy wife.    They are in your spelling league, and that is about it.

Mary: The Handmaiden of Passive Aggression— Mary, you surprised me as the almost likable one of the group. Your willingness to make a complete ass out of yourself - albeit unwittingly - combined with your obvious recognition of the ridiculousness of the Julia Allison character? Hell, I almost want to buy you a lip shot.

You wear your superficialness on your sleeve, and I am confident that your first gay husband will really appreciate that.   You have been playing second fiddle for so long, what with the “she’s not my sister” crap with Leven, to indulging the ridiculously emotionally challenged Lady of Introspection.  The seething is palpable.

I am guessing it is fed by the hunger that can only come from a self-proclaimed fitness guru who thinks people should eat the bulk of their meals at night, combined with all that fucking juice. Shit gets backed up, you know? I know you know. Spinning your bitterness for hours a day, knowing your arms are toner and you are taller, and yet, but for all your lack of intellect and any appealing qualities to men who actually want to sleep with women? It is a bitter pill, Mary, and I fully support you swallowing all of them.

Julia: Our Lady of Introspection— Oh Christ, there is so much and yet nothing to say. Predictably, she now wants to go to business school at Harvard or Stanford, and realistically? She will probably get in, notwithstanding her grasp of anything business-related. She ”owns a company” that is predicated on readers who don’t admire her, but still read her because she is a real time, virtual trainwreck of social skills and common sense, and the paradigm of an unlikable human being. And who wouldn’t want such a person shilling their products? Care for some juice?

She recently solicited input about what men like in body types, and it was not unlike imagining a NAMBLA post about just which boys the members found the most desirable. If nonsociety.com isn’t on the pro-anorexia circuits by now, those readers just haven’t graduated high school yet. You aren’t fat, JA. No one but you thinks you are. But I suspect you will keep blaming that for the string of failed relationships in your rear view window. It couldn’t possibly be owing to that vast wasteland underneath that tiny perceived layer of fat.

She also got dumped, again, and AGAIN, it was on her own merits, not blogging related. Such a successful dating columnist this one, but lest you worry, she posted endless photos of herself in happier times, and even managed to take a few digs at the parents of the exes who didn’t like her. Presumably after tipping Gawker. Hard to believe no one wants to take her home to meet Mom.

All in all, you missed nothing, and if you are still reading this trio, you have the patience of steel wool. Add this lumpy coal to your mix, add tomato juice and a celery stalk, and you have yourself a very Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, and happy New Year.

life change share

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:44:00 -0500

i’ve stopped reading drudgereport. i’ve deleted all my drudge bookmarks both on my browsers and on my google homepage. its been a few hours since i’ve made the lifestyle change. and i have to say - i feel better already.

not having to read that some russian third rate suburban minister is predicting the breakup of the united states is already reaffirming my belief in capitalism and our nation. not having to read about unattractive, overweight KFC employees bathing in a sink is reminder of how glad i am that i don’t live in topeka. not having to read about newspapers, publishers and this country going out of business day after day after fuckingday is truly a blessing in disguise.

ignorance is bliss.

and drudge is nothing short of a purveyor of sexually charged albeit misanthropic carnage. goodbye matt. i certainly won’t miss you.

RIP

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:57:40 -0400

the end of the world is at hand. i purchased another 5k rounds of ammo today. stocking up on canned goods later in the day. no joke. the end of the financial banking and credit system is here. RIP

danger up ahead

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:56:02 -0400

danger up ahead

the worst part about being single

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:28:05 -0400

dude(s), are you crazy????? please refer to my recent photos from a 3 week trip to south america. are you guys kidding me? travelling IS the best part about being single!!!!!

photos here.

brianvan:

mandalay:

trying to make travel plans, and having no one to go with. it FUCKING SUCKS.

Club Med

Singles cruise

Vacation with friends

Vacation with other Tumblrers

Unfortunately, Cancun isn’t going to be on your list of options. Unless you want to go back on spring break (instead of the typical romance vacation).