Oh, Crab!

This made me giggle. I totally agree that the hermit crab should be the official mascot of summer. It reminded me of my little pet hermit crab who lasted all of like 2 days with us one summer. My sister and I named him Der Popo after the hermit crab drawing that was used to show what the word “butt/booty/behind” is in German in this kids’ language book we had. Ahh...Erinnerungen...

The Future Is Now

Some growing boys liked rifling through their dad's or uncle's nudie magazines. I preferred reading their issues of Popular Mechanics. So, this entry made me smile because it reminded me of flipping through my uncle's old science magazines and wondering if what they predicted would ever become reality. The "queer" vehicles, though? Definitely made me giggle.

(Cover courtesy of Popular Science)

Gimme Gimme #2

Cooking Edition.

Everyone knows I've got a fascination with La Madre Patria. The wine, the food, the history, the culture, the parties, they all keep me going back to vacation there every year. So, to satisfy my need for all things Spain, today's additions to the Christmas wish list are a few must-haves: (1) culinary gems from crazy José Andrés; (2) treasures found on the road; and (3) the essential guide to cooking no self-respecting lover of Spain can go without. No need to buy me crazy 'spensive saffron, though. The Jayhawk and I are gonna get it on the cheap at El Corte Inglés when we fly across the pond in February. Place your orders now.

I'd Rather Eat on Base

At least military bases have decent food courts.

"Personal relationship" aside, it looks like Tom Sietsema isn't the only one who can't stand the Commissary. From Tom Carman in this week's City Paper:

"I have only one comment after picking at an overcooked cheeseburger, a limp croque-monsieur, and a dry, flavor-challenged margherita pizza at the Commissary, the new flag-waving haunt in the old Merkado Kitchen space: The economy is gonna have to get a lot worse before I dine regularly at this cheap-eats spot."

Boo hoo.

In the words of the Jayhawk: "This guy sleep with one of the owners, too?" Makes you go hmmm, don't it?

Toros y Julie y Karl, Olé(stra)!

I forgotted to mention that the Jayhawk and I went to Bodega in Gtown on Monday night for dinner. The space is actually really nice with that whole retro-modern/contempo take on tradition vibe going on. And the menu was good. I mean, it's no Jaleo, but there are very few places that can wannabe Jaleo. We had all hot tapas because it was cold as fuzz out. The tortilla española good but was also all about the tangy mayo sauce that came with it. The croquetas de pollo were good and creamy but way too hot in temperature and not at all in spice (not that croquetas are spoda be spicy, but add some flava to them, onetime). The pulpitos were way overdone and way powdered in paprika (not cute). The butifarra catalana with the stewed white beans were amazing, though. The sausage was so nice and gamy, and the beans were perfectly savory and tender. The albóndigas estofadas (meatballs) were just that (meatballs with not much going on for them). The piquillo peppers stuffed with scallops and mushrooms were much better. And the creamy saffron rice with the grilled shrimp were right up there with the Catalan sausage. Overall: decent. Not a place I'd rush back to (or even go back to). But a place I'd recommend trying. Hey, can't be any worse that any of the places surrounding it, right? Mr. Smith's? Garrett's? Blech. Run away from that.

Just like the Cowardly Lion. He's got a new book out! Don't run away from that (especially when thinking about what to get the Mango for his birfday, you know?).

Oh, and Bodega's bread was good, too. Crusty but not mangle-the-roof-of-your-mouth crusty. Which I'm sure Uncle Karl would appreciate since he apparently only eats fake bread to go with his fake butter (scroll down like halfway down the page). Looks like he and Rosa Inés del Pilar (my little hermana, Juliette) got something in common. He'd be mortified.