Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Aloo Gobi
I've been wanting to make aloo gobi for a while. Aloo gobi is a vegetarian Indian dish comprised of cauliflower, potatoes, and spices. It's not that I particularly like aloo gobi, but it's relatively simple enough to make, and is somewhat different from the cuisine we usually eat at home.
The aloo gobi wasn't exactly like the other aloo gobi I've had, but it wasn't bad. But the spices were so pungent, I could smell them even after I had showered.
Since apparently the veggie police is also the meat police, I had to add some protein. This came in the form of rough-shod boneless curry chicken thighs. These were okay, but not particularly special in my eyes. We also had naan to go with everything. And of course I had to have Basmati rice. It was a little Indian adventure, sort of.
The aloo gobi wasn't exactly like the other aloo gobi I've had, but it wasn't bad. But the spices were so pungent, I could smell them even after I had showered.
Since apparently the veggie police is also the meat police, I had to add some protein. This came in the form of rough-shod boneless curry chicken thighs. These were okay, but not particularly special in my eyes. We also had naan to go with everything. And of course I had to have Basmati rice. It was a little Indian adventure, sort of.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
"Inception" - Alternate Ending
I'm not going to post a review for Christopher Nolan's "Inception," since it is so very far from shitty, but I did want to offer an alternate ending that I think Nolan failed to take advantage up. Don't worry, no real spoilers here.
After the final scene, Nolan could have had Christian Bale as Batman wake up, strapped to the dream device. He's being held captive by Scarecrow and Riddler. He's able to break out of his bonds eventually subdues them.
Cut to the Wayne's penthouse where he's talking to Alfred. He tells him about the weird dream he had. Alfred was in it, and Scarecrow and the fake Rhas Al-Ghul. Plus the Juno girl and the kid from "Third Rock from the Sun," but all grown up. And unlike what some other shows have suggested, he was perfectly able to read in his dream, even though he technically wasn't in his dream.
Then the title screen comes up and the audience discovers they've been watching Nolan's third Batman movie all along! Take that M. Night Shyamalan, you fifth-string, eight-rate twist-hack.
After the final scene, Nolan could have had Christian Bale as Batman wake up, strapped to the dream device. He's being held captive by Scarecrow and Riddler. He's able to break out of his bonds eventually subdues them.
Cut to the Wayne's penthouse where he's talking to Alfred. He tells him about the weird dream he had. Alfred was in it, and Scarecrow and the fake Rhas Al-Ghul. Plus the Juno girl and the kid from "Third Rock from the Sun," but all grown up. And unlike what some other shows have suggested, he was perfectly able to read in his dream, even though he technically wasn't in his dream.
Then the title screen comes up and the audience discovers they've been watching Nolan's third Batman movie all along! Take that M. Night Shyamalan, you fifth-string, eight-rate twist-hack.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Celebrity Sightings - Johnny Knoxville
When I worked for Company B, I used to a decent amount of traveling to conventions. On one of my trips back home, while I was waiting at the LAX's baggage claim, I saw a guy over-sized sunglasses, jeans, and a red T-shirt with a huge freakin' star belt buckle. After staring at him for a while and trying to place him, I figured out he must have been Johnny Knoxville of "Jackass" fame.
I don't particularly dislike him—in fact I kind of like the guy and admire him for being able to go out there and do some incredibly stupid things—but he looked like kind of a douche. It could have just been a case of trying to fit the bill, but to paraphrase one famous comedienne "a man's belt buckle should never be bigger than his head." But if anyone can really pull of the douchebag look, it's Johnny Knoxville. Bravo, my hat's off to you, good sir.
I don't particularly dislike him—in fact I kind of like the guy and admire him for being able to go out there and do some incredibly stupid things—but he looked like kind of a douche. It could have just been a case of trying to fit the bill, but to paraphrase one famous comedienne "a man's belt buckle should never be bigger than his head." But if anyone can really pull of the douchebag look, it's Johnny Knoxville. Bravo, my hat's off to you, good sir.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Papa Cristo's
I love gyros. It's one of the few things, along with zosui and Italian cold cut sandwiches, that I could eat everyday. And my favorite place to get them is Papa Cristo's. My family has been going to Papa Cristo's and the adjacent C & K Importing market and delicatessen for years. The place has changed a lot over time, adding a substantial dining room and an outdoor patio. I've even seen some of their long-standing deli servers come and go. The place is a well-known Los Angeles treasure, sitting right across from St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
For an appetizer, I got the octopodakia, which is grilled baby octopus. It came served with tomato, cucumber, and lemon slices and a pita. I liked the chewy texture of the octopus, and the grilled legs add a crispiness and crunch. As a dish, it was pretty substantial, but it was a refreshing compliment to the rest of the meal.
Rather than settle for a gyro sandwich as I normally would, I got the gyro dinner plate. It came with a very generous serving of gyros along with pan fried potatoes.
To me, gyro meat is like a magical food. It's ground meat, usually pork but sometimes a mixture of beef and lamb, that is seasoned with herbs and baked on a rotisserie. When it's ready to serve, the meat is sliced into thin strips then grilled. Like the octopodakia, this creates several different textures, as the thick part of the slice is slightly chewy and moist, while the edges are crunchy. There's something about the particular mix of meat and herbs that creates a craving in me.
Their pita was also unlike other pitas in that they don't have a pocket. They're still flat, but perhaps a tad fluffier and thicker than other store-bought pitas. That made them excellent for dipping into tzatziki, a sauce consisting of yogurt, garlic, onion, and cucumber.
I always enjoy going to Papa Cristo's. With the addition of the dining area, it makes for a pleasant eating experience. I've never been to Greece, but I have been to Spain, and the decor is enough to suggest that I could be eating somewhere in Europe, or at least somewhere not in LA. Just as long as you go when the clientele is mostly Greek.
Some other notes on Papa Cristo's:
- 0 out of 7 on my mess-o-meter. But if you get the sandwich, expect a 7 out of 7.
- It's not particularly cheap, but it seems a decent value when you consider how much food you're getting.
Papa Cristo's
2771 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(323) 737-2970
Closed Mondays
For an appetizer, I got the octopodakia, which is grilled baby octopus. It came served with tomato, cucumber, and lemon slices and a pita. I liked the chewy texture of the octopus, and the grilled legs add a crispiness and crunch. As a dish, it was pretty substantial, but it was a refreshing compliment to the rest of the meal.
Rather than settle for a gyro sandwich as I normally would, I got the gyro dinner plate. It came with a very generous serving of gyros along with pan fried potatoes.
To me, gyro meat is like a magical food. It's ground meat, usually pork but sometimes a mixture of beef and lamb, that is seasoned with herbs and baked on a rotisserie. When it's ready to serve, the meat is sliced into thin strips then grilled. Like the octopodakia, this creates several different textures, as the thick part of the slice is slightly chewy and moist, while the edges are crunchy. There's something about the particular mix of meat and herbs that creates a craving in me.
Their pita was also unlike other pitas in that they don't have a pocket. They're still flat, but perhaps a tad fluffier and thicker than other store-bought pitas. That made them excellent for dipping into tzatziki, a sauce consisting of yogurt, garlic, onion, and cucumber.
I always enjoy going to Papa Cristo's. With the addition of the dining area, it makes for a pleasant eating experience. I've never been to Greece, but I have been to Spain, and the decor is enough to suggest that I could be eating somewhere in Europe, or at least somewhere not in LA. Just as long as you go when the clientele is mostly Greek.
Some other notes on Papa Cristo's:
- 0 out of 7 on my mess-o-meter. But if you get the sandwich, expect a 7 out of 7.
- It's not particularly cheap, but it seems a decent value when you consider how much food you're getting.
Papa Cristo's
2771 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(323) 737-2970
Closed Mondays
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