So, if you had any sense of humor in the early 90's, you'd remember a show called Mystery Science Theater 3000. A show glued together with a craft glue gun and trash. When I saw it, I was younger and didn't get many of the jokes. I liked the songs, the skits and some of the jokes I understood. As I entered high school I began to catch on to the references. I pretty much owe my entire sense of humor to this show. I thought the sleepy spoken Joel Robinson (Hudson) and the rest of the writers were amazing. The jokes were obscure enough to delight even the greatest fanboy. I recently caught word that *GASP* Joel was working on a new project similar to the show. He went on further to talk about the events that go on in large cinematic companies like ILM called Flecks, where people razz bad movies in the classic fashion. Basically, this is an opportunity for us laugh and cry at bad movies with our favorite guy who was not too different from you or me.

I think playing with the concept of the tostada can lead to really cool dishes that are as healthy as they are beautiful. This salada is on a backed wheat tortilla, a little backed cheese, black beans, heirloom tomatoes, salad and cilantro. I capped with lemon juice and avocado. I threw in some chicken that i sautee'd with a sprinkle of paprika and chili powder. So that's all lovely and delicious. This also a word of caution. Never cool with jalapenos or any other spicy chili without gloves. I got some of the oil on my hands and they felt like they were on fire for a day. The entire night and morning I wanted to run them under ice water. Well You live and learn and then you buy some gloves. Things I wish I had in this dish, a roasted red pepper vinaigrette or some sort of dressing based on a pepper.

This is a collection of White Board art at my office I've seen. This will sort of be my on going thread. I have to dig up some older pictures from before. There were a few doozies.

So I just finished watching The Next Iron Chef, which for those who are not in the know....it's a show to find the next Iron Chef in America. Now, I've been watching Iron Chef since around 1999 or so right around the time it stopped taping. I wasn't really in on the ground floor, but I remember Iron Chef Japan 1, 2 and 3. Anyway, I digress...Iron Chef(J)..that's J for Japanese Version, was always a surprise and delight to watch. Iron Chef(US) often attempts to be on the edge of culinary experimentations, but I feel they miss. OFTEN. I think my problem with Iron Chef(US) is the feeling of arrogance that accompanies some of the chefs. Now I really respect Batalli (uhh what he left foodtv to branch out??) and Marimoto. They have consistently showed humility and honor when in kitchen stadium, they also really entertain me! Then there is Bobby Flay. I don't even know what to say. I find it funny that the same man that disrespected the entire kitchen of Iron Chef(J) was allowed to battle in the US as an Iron Chef. So back to this whole US win. I was for Besh the entire way, my friends were for Besh, even my pet newts were for Besh even though they only speak via bubbles and croaks. Honestly, I think they are trying to make it as Vegas as possible. I know the old US of A is all about fireworks, lasers and pickup trucks, but I'd take class over goatee's any day. So hats off to you Symon. You've given me one more reason to watch a rerun of Family Guy instead of Iron Chef(US). Thanks!

Last night I caught a show at the Fillmore. Minus the Bear from Seattle was rounding up the Planet of Ice Tour 2007 to promote the new album. They had been on tour for a while with openers Grand Archives and the Helio Sequence. First impressions are mostly of the "Meh" flavor. The theater was crowded with sixteen year old scene kids. One of them so drunk halfway through the show passed out on the beer covered wood floor and had to be dragged out by a friend. The opening band was actually really entertaining. They used a lot of loops and pre-recorded music to bolster to the two man act. The bear, although didn't come through as great as I had hoped live. Even with six members on stage, I couldn't really figure out where the I was getting out off. Sometimes I felt the back up vocals were not even in harmony with the leads. Dissonance can be a good musical tool, much like color contrast, but this was just lame. I think I even heard the drummer screw up a few times. When you've been around for years, put out a bunch of albums, you should be able to handle a two hour set and not blow it. But that's just me. I hope Minus the Bear finds the way, they have a good sound, but sometimes I hear the same beats and clicks. They need to branch out and experiment more. Isn't that what you're supposed to do when you live in Seattle and jam all time anyway?