Bruno Mars WAS the right choice.

Tags

Bruno, Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, NFL, opinion, rant, Super Bowl Halftime, The Beatles

The New York Times thought it was a risk for the NFL to select Bruno Mars to headline the halftime show. My buddy Jim from Iowa first told me about it. I thought, then, and still do that it was one of the best selections the NFL has made.

Picture: Giphy.com

The reviews for the show are trickling in and so far there are at least three times as many cheers for Bruno’s performance as there are jeers. The jeers, by the way, are ridiculous. Like this particularly scathing one from USA Today’s For The Win blog,”Bruno Mars gives a forgettable Super Bowl halftime show for the ages.”

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Fifty years ago this week, the Beatles made their first appearance in New York.
We listened to The Beatles. We grew up with The Beatles. You, Bruno Mars, are no Beatles.

Wait a minute, who’s trying to say Bruno Mars is the Beatles, or Michael Jackson, or even Beyoncé? That’s just the problem with these critiques. They always try to compare apples and oranges. Nobody in their right mind would even suggest that the standard-bearer for the Super Bowl halftime show is the Beatles, who never even performed at the event. Paul McCartney has, but not the Beatles. I find the argument bizarre.

Then there are individuals who tweeted these:

yeaaaa bruno mars has a boring performance

— that one asian chick (@i_amscarymonsta) February 3, 2014

Bruno Mars sucks he has no talent I promise you that

— – (@saint_femme) February 3, 2014

I had to search high and low for these comments. Their number is low, but they are out there. I’m assuming these are less-than-serious critiques. There are just too many shock jock wannabes out there that you can never be sure if responding to comments such as these is a good idea.

The New York Times and USA Today, however, are in all likelihood serious publications deserving of a response. And I have one.

Their criticism of the choice of Bruno Mars seems to harbor on the fact that a) he is not a music legend and b) he doesn’t play the kind of music the writers are used to listening to. The latter is an odd argument. If anything, compared to his peers, Bruno Mars’ music brings back memories of “old-school vocal powerhouse,” according to Rolling Stone, adding,”His music mixes vintage soul, Eighties rock and contemporary R&B.”

But I have more of a problem with the first argument, that Bruno was the wrong choice because he didn’t have the profile of a musical legend or icon. I have a question, why do we always have to go with the safe and the known? How are we to discover new flavors or new directions if we don’t give new ideas a chance? We can’t always rehash old concepts hoping for new results.

It’s the same argument I have with the movie industry. How many more remakes of Superman or Batman can you take? It’s as if nobody out there can think of new stories or new plots. Create new classics for the current generation, I’d say.

Besides, to say that Bruno Mars was an untested entertainer was far from reality. After all, he’s been performing since he was practically a toddler and last year alone, performed in 84 concerts.

As far as I’m concerned, I have only one thing to say about the NFL’s choice of Bruno Mars. It got me to tune in. And I never watch football, otherwise. And how did he do, this young “unknown” singer? I don’t have to tell you, since you may think I’m a biased fan. Just read these tweets, instead.

How'd you like #SB48 halftime performance? In overnights, @BrunoMars halftime beat @Beyonce's last year 48.6 vs. 48.2 in HH rating.

— Lou D'Ermilio (@FOXSportsLouD) February 3, 2014

To everyone that said #Bruno was NOT a good choice for half time: How's that crow tasting? Mmmmmm

— Chris Daughtry (@CHRIS_Daughtry) February 3, 2014

Is this a rant? Maybe. Just want to get something off my chest, that’s all.

An accidental find, unusually good

Tags

blogging, inspiration, photography, post ideas, postaday, writing, writing prompts

My little one ordered escargots last night, and actually liked them and would have ordered a second serving had her entrée took a second longer to arrive.

Escargots. Would she have eaten them had they come in their shells?

Could it be that all these years of introducing her to new and unusual foods has finally paid off and she is now becoming a less picky and a more adventurous eater, who will stay away from the junks that she normally lives on?

Her brother, however, wasn’t interested in venturing outside his comfort zone, ordering once again, steak and frites, his other choice food next to burgers. This one’s addiction to junk food is even worse, I think. If I don’t cook or serve any meat, he would rather eat chips all day, sigh … (No picture for the steak, bur we all know what it looks like.)

The husband was another “non-venturer,” staying with the tried and true classic beef bourguignon that in hindsight I should have ordered instead.

Beef Bourguignon served with buttered noodles. I ate my share of it even though I didn’t order it.

Instead of the one I did, which on paper sounded amazing, and upon arrival did look amazing, but when I started slicing into it and took my first bite, I also took a whiff of the white anchovy fillets garnishing the dish, and it immediately turned off my appetite for it. When will I outgrow my childhood aversion to fish?

Veal Schnitzel with white anchovy fillet. Looks good and tastes good, if not for the anchovy. But the hubs liked it, and loved the anchovy, so he had his share of it even though he didn’t order it.

Thankfully the couple of appetizers the hubs and I shared, and the warm, fragrant baguette that came in a paper bag (oh, sooo … good that I forgot to take a picture, but we all know what a baguette looks like), were there to save the day for a starving mom.

Sweet Corn & Bacon Tart. How could you go wrong with corn & bacon? I’ll definitely try making this at home.

Calamars Frites. One of our favorites, but one I have trouble cooking at home, so 9 out of 10 times we’ll order this whenever we eat out.

Plus of course, there was always too much roasted chicken on the daughter’s plate, and she was looking for takers, but by that time everybody had enough.

Roasted Chicken. It started with half a chicken. It was half a chicken at the end of the meal. Did she even eat any?

Aquitaine Bar à Vin Bistrot is highly recommended by this reviewer, if not for anything else, for the baguette alone. The service was above par, the prices fair, and the wine selection will not leave you wanting.

Most accidental finds usually don’t end up so well, but this one did. We really went to Legacy Place for P. F. Chang’s, but without a reservation the wait was 1-2 hours, we were told. Utter craziness! Who could wait that long when you were starving? Luckily for us, Aquitaine was just around the corner.

If you happen to be in the area,
Aquitaine Dedham
500 Legacy Place
Dedham, MA 02026
(781) 471-5212

***

Our eating pleasure was amplified perhaps by the scene playing in front of us. An older couple seemed to be on a date night. I have to be careful here. I never said they were old, just older. I learned my lesson from the admonishment I received from a co-worker. I was describing someone as “old, old, like 60″ and she turned to me and said in her gravest voice,”Thanks a lot, I just turned 60!” I was embarrassed beyond relief. How could have I been so uncivil!

I would describe the couple as in their mid-70s. A good-looking couple and very happily attached it appeared; they were deep into each other practically the whole dinner. Except for one brief moment when she took a phone call, and only after inquiring with him if it was alright for her to do so.

Her hair was dark and long, with a few flecks of grey, which reminded me of my grandmother’s that stayed dark even as she entered her late 60s. She (the woman) would bring his hand every now and then to her lips. He would tear pieces of baguette and buttered them to give to her. It was just so touching and lovely to watch.

I would imagine that they would go home right after dinner, declining dessert at the restaurant for they knew they had some apple brown betty left from her baking yesterday. He would make her a cup of tea, with a touch of honey, just the way she likes it. Then he would join her on the porch, to enjoy the blue moon, I would imagine. And then she would shiver just a little in the cool night breeze and he would gallantly draw her big overflowing shawl just a little tightly around her petite frame.

She would remind him that the grandchildren would come for a visit next weekend and asked what he thought of her plan to make homemade noodles and dumplings. And he would say it was a brilliant idea, for he too loves noodles and dumplings. Wouldn’t the young ones enjoy helping with that, he would excitedly agree.

He does love watching and hearing her and the children busy together in the kitchen. She is happiest when her hands are occupied and the children adore her and her cooking. There’s no other place he would rather be than the room his wife of fifty years is in, especially when the grandchildren are in it, too.

I would imagine that she, too, feels the same way about him. Because it would be too sad if that’s not the case and I wonder whether they’re still sexually active or not …

“Quit staring and being so obvious … and purge the junk out of your mind!” my husband whispered. Er … what? I may have been staring and I probably was being obvious, but junk in my mind? I beg to differ and how did he know?

What exactly is Comic Con? And whose Roast Pork Italian Sandwich rules Philadelphia?

Tags

broccoli raab, comic con 2013, comic convention, Italian sandwich, Philadelphia, pop culture, pork, Reading Terminal Market, roast pork sandwich, Tommy Dinic's, Tony Luke's

TB was invited by cousins Daphne and Adrian to attend Philadelphia Comic Con last Saturday. At $60/person, I wasn’t sure it was worth it. But he was excited to go, and Daphne already bought the ticket for him. (Thanks, Daphne, you’re such a sweetheart!) So, last Saturday ended up being one of the strangest days I’ve ever had.

Traffic was horrendous, but Sabo found parking right in front of Reading Terminal Market, just across the street from the convention center, where the Comic Con was held.

Already, while at the market, we saw multiple people in some outlandish costumes. Poison Ivy in a bikini, Grim Reaper with his scythe, multiple super heroes, all congregated there, to get something to eat. 

Any Saturday, the market is filled, but that day, it was insane! It was a wonder we could find seats to eat, all four of us together! That, together with the parking spot right outside, was a miracle.

We met up with Daphne, Adrian, and their parents, my brother & SIL after lunch. Then the three youngsters set off on their own. I wasn’t going to fork out $60 just to attend a comic convention. Plus TG had her dance rehearsal later in the afternoon.

I spotted my brother at Tommy Dinic’s, which was mobbed. The line went all around the booth. That didn’t stop my brother. He was determined to get his hands on the award-winning sandwiches. 

Funny thing happened. My brother ordered his sandwiches with cheese, but he didn’t see cheese added on while the order was being made The guy was so quick that before there was any chance to ask, the sandwiches were already wrapped up. Not wanting my brother, who was visiting from half way around the globe, to miss out on the “real” Italian sandwich, I quickly asked the guy for another sandwich, stressing “provolone cheese, please!!”

The guy looked at me, starting laughing, and made some remarks about me cutting in line, but somebody took my cash.  I was indignant. I told him I didn’t cut the line. The person in front of me was my brother; we were together, I said. He continued laughing, but did serve me my sandwich. Turned out you were supposed to order and pay way at the beginning of the line, not where they serve you. Duh! 

After TB left with Daphne and Adrian, TG  began to fret that she wasn’t able to go to the convention. After all, what kid wouldn’t want to go to a gigantic Halloween party?

So, we came up with a quick plan. We got her home, took her to her dress rehearsal, sat thru the mock performance til she was allowed to leave, then quickly went back to the horrible traffic in the city. We called Daphne to come out and get TG inside, since kids 10 and under could get in for free with a paying adult.

TG was able to see the last half hour of the convention, buy her Minecraft necklace souvenir, and  received compliments on her”costume.” She was still dressed in her dance recital costume; she blended in easily.

Sabo, my brother, SIL, and I waited near the exit doors in the convention center. The sights we saw were pretty hilarious. See them for yourself. 

I’m still not sure if I understand what the hype is all about. But it was quite entertaining. And the kids were happy. TB and Adrian even made $5 each for selling the free comic books they received upon entrance. Apparently a bunch of collectors stalked them. The books, I mean.

The kids also sighted several celebrities, although they weren’t impressed. Most were popular celebrities before they were even born. TB asked us later if we knew who that dude in “Happy Days” was, because he was just several feet away from him. After spewing out a few names, we finally were able to conclude it was Henry Winkler. How funny that Sabo and I used to think The Fonz was so cool, and our kids just thought … meh …

That day ended as strangely as it started. We somehow found ourselves at Tony Luke’s for dinner, even though we sampled Tommy Dinic’s earlier. It was hot and humid, and we had to wait in another long line to get to our dinner. Miracle happened again! We were able to find seats for all 8 of us, together! 

Roast Pork Italian sandwich, however, will not be on the menu for a while for us. But I can definitely offer an opinion about which eatery serves the better sandwich, having eaten the two back to back. Let me give you a clue, it starts with a “T.” 

Alright, I’m just going to say it out loud, our dinner was better than our lunch. Tony Luke’s sandwich was just better seasoned, IMHO. Obviously, Dinic’s was far from being bad, but a little bland, I thought, considering they put so much more garlic. And in their defense, we brought their sandwiches home before consuming, while Luke’s we ate freshly made and still piping hot. Dinic’s also piled on more meat & greens.

Tommy Dinic’s

Tony Luke’s

But I’ve had my suspicion even before last Saturday. This wasn’t the first time I had Tommy Dinic’s or Tony Luke’s. I always had a better meal at Luke’s. The difference was not immense, but there was a difference. 

The first bite is usually telling. After my first bite of Luke’s, I thought … oh em gee! How can something so simple taste so good. After my first bite of Dinic’s, on the other hand, I thought … wait, that was good, but let me take a few more bites, I’m not sure I got everything on that first bite. See?

Of course it isn’t smart of me to start this debate now that the superheroes are out of town. Who’s going to defend me from Dinic’s fans now?

A taste of Israel

Tags

carrot, Israeli cuisine, Paris, parsley, salad, vegetarian

What would you eat if you’re in Paris?

Israeli food, of course. That’s what we did. We would do it again.

We were staying in an apartment hotel just on the edge of the city, in Buttes Chaumont. Sabo found it online. It was a good deal. It had 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, separate toilet and shower. The rate was much less than any hotel in central Paris, and a quick email enquiry about security was promptly responded. 24/7 security was emphasized. Turned out it meant the front desk was manned 24/7.

Being a tourist, I couldn’t tell whether we were in a safe neighborhood or not. Some young Americans and Brits we met assured us the place was entirely safe. And nothing unsafe happened. As a matter of fact, it was in Metro Paris that we experienced some unpleasantness, but that’s another story. (It was actually a pretty incredible and funny one. Remind me to tell that story another time.)

Back to this one. On our last night in Paris, after the obligatory touristy itinerary was completed, we decided to walk around and explore the arrondissment we were in. Buttes Chaumont was not without charms. The highly recommended Parc des Buttes-Chaumont we missed, was in the area. Small neighborhood bistros and pâtisseries, selling perfectly good food, were abound.

It was during this walk when we came across Tsipora. We saw that the restaurant was crowded. Families with children were dining in there, so we knew it had to be good.

We went in and met Simone, the proprietor. Simone used to live in the US, and still had a sister who lived in New York. His genuine bonhomie was contagious and soon we were bantering like old chums. He explained what kind of food he served and it sounded amazing. Who wouldn’t be enticed by 20 different kinds of appetizers (Simone called them “salade”) to start off your meal? Surely, we were in for a treat!

He wasn’t kidding. Look at all the food! The dishes kept coming. At one point, TB thought we were being pranked.

Simone called the appetizer array Kémia Royale. I have since discovered that the impressive spread is not unique to just Israeli cuisine, but is also served in many parts of the middle east. They call it mezze. Kémia Royale or mezze, it matters not what it’s called. It matters more that it’s delicious.

At the end of the meal, Simone presented the kids with toys. I felt then, and still do, that it was we who owed him a present.

There were a couple of appetizers from that meal that were remarkable, albeit simple. One being the carrot salad. When Simone saw how much I enjoyed it, he brought me another plate, and generously tipped me off on how to make it.

I was able to recreate it, with store-bought carrots. Unfortunate that my carrots have to be reseeded; germination was spotty and what germinated withered in the dry weather. It will be some time before my kitchen sees garden-fresh carrots, so store-bought will have to do for now.

Tsipora Carrot Salad

Ingredients:

1 lb carrots, peeled and shredded
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp orange juice
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp sugar
Parley, minced (optional, Tsipora didn’t add any. They added garlic in theirs instead. I prefer parsley.)
Salt & Pepper 

Method:

1. Mix lemon juice, orange juice, oil, sugar, and salt and pepper.
2. Add carrots and toss.
3. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Sprinkle minced parsley prior to serving, if you like.
4. That’s it, it’s that simple!

Serves 4-6

Note: Some juice will exude out of the carrots. Although the juice is perfectly fine and quite delicious, you may remove it before serving. Purely for aesthetic reason.