Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 471
February 17, 2013
February 17, 2013: The Hot Chocolate Festival Wrap-up! And the Winners are…!
Akemi and I tried to make the most of the last few days of the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival by checking out some of the more intriguing offerings we had yet to sample…
Canadian Classic: 100% pure hazelnut with 38% milk chocolate served with four pieces of artisan chocolate.
At: Schokolade 2263 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
http://www.schokoladecafe.com/
Sweeter than most of the more bitter dark chocolate varieties we sampled and more straightforward than the sweeter, but layered, white chocolate entries. Simply a nice, rich roasted favor.
The Gold Medal: Salted Pecan & Maple Syrup (the gold medal winner from the 2012 Gelato Competition in Italy), served with Erin Ireland’s “To Die For” Banana Bread.
At: Bella Gelateria 1001 West Cordova Street.
An enormous serving of rich, premium dark chocolate served with fantastic banana bread for half the price of some of the festival’s high-end entries. Bitter, sweet, salty, and incredibly satisfying.
The Lumberjack: Bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup hot chocolate served with a Douglas fir-infused chantilly, maple & vanilla shortbread.
At: Thomas Haas 2539 West Broadway, Vancouver.
I wasn’t sure about the Douglas fir-infused chantilly but, like other delicious instances during this hot chocolate festival, I was pleasantly surprised. Also something else I discovered over the last few weeks: chocolate + maple syrup = killer combination.
The King’s Cup – Ode to Elvis: Hot chocolate with peanut butter and banana served with a macaron or cookie.
At: Soirette Macarons & Tea 1433 West Pender Street, Vancouver. (Coal Harbour)
Inspired by what was purportedly Elvis’s favorite treat (fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches), this delectable drink combines all three ingredients to tasty effect. The peanut crumble rim was genius.
The Scandal of Singapore: Spicy dark chocolate with rice milk.
At: Beta 5 (http://shop.beta5chocolates.com/) and The Juice Truck (usually found on the corner of Abbott and Water in Gastown).
I actually had it with almond milk instead and it was quite good, with just enough spice to catch the back of your throat but not linger too long.
*
My final tally: 36 out of 60 flavors sampled. Given that the festival was only 27 days long, I consider that a pretty respectable score. And, now that it’s finally over, it’s time to pick my Top 5 Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival 2013 Favorites. Drum roll, please…
Coming in at #5:
Malteaser: Barley malt-infused hot chocolate served with salt caramel malt truffles.
Available: At Thomas Haas 2539 West Broadway, Vancouver.
Terrific! I could have had two but I’m sure the sugar rush would’ve killed me.
A pleasantly surprising top five finisher – in the #4 spot:
The Josiah: Basil drinking chocolate topped with housemade strawberry marshmallows.
Available: At Cocoa Nymph 3739 W. 10th Ave (at Alma), Vancouver
www.cocoanymph.co
Basil drinking chocolate? Really? Oh, yeah. Really! I was admittedly dubious but one taste thoroughly won me over. The best hot chocolate I had that week.
A pleasantly unsurprising top-five finisher – at #3:
Italian Honey Moon: Honey nougat and hazelnut made with Avalon Organic milk and Michel Cluizel chocolate served with Erin Ireland’s “To Die For” Banana Bread.
Available: At Bella Gelateria 1001 West Cordova Street.
I was leery at first. Hot chocolate topped with shards of honey nougat? I love particulates (that’s what they call ‘em) in my ice cream, but in my drinking chocolate? Well, they turned out to be a wonderful little textural addition to the drink. I am now a hot chocolate particulate convert!
As a personal rule, fruit and chocolate don’t mix – and yet, inexplicably, defying all logic, it works perfectly here. Coming in at #2 (and, incidentally, Akemi’s #1):
Armoury Amour: Cocoa Barry “Madirofolo”– a single plantation chocolate, kissed with raspberry and served with a mini lemon and basil ice cream sandwich.
Available: At Chocolate Arts 1620 West 3rd Ave., Vancouver (Kitsilano).
Well, damn, this was a surprise! I’m not a fan of the fruit-chocolate combo and find raspberry a particularly reprehensible partner but this heavenly creation sang. Akemi’s overall favorite so far and a definite Top 3 finisher for yours truly. Loved the raspberry sugar rim.
Which brings us to my favorite hot chocolate of the festival. At #1:
Jasmine: 64% dark chocolate – origin: Ecuador. Infused with jasmine and served with choice of chocolate square.
Available: At Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France 198 East 21st Ave., Vancouver, B.C.
www.chocolaterienouvellefrance.ca
Surprisingly spectacular. Just the right chocolate married with the perfect balance of jasmine yields the most exquisite hot chocolate of the festival so far.
*
And rounding out my Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival 2013 Top Ten: The King’s Cup – Ode to Elvis (Soirette), Pretty in Pink (Bel Cafe), Ohhh Canada (Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe), Blond Mystique (Secret Location), One in a Million (Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie, Cafe).
Tagged: Bel Cafe, Bella Gelateria, Chocolate, Chocolate Arts, Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France, Cocoa Nymph, Hot Chocolate, Hot Chocolate Festival, Secret Location, Soirette, Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe, Vancouver, Vancouver events, Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival
February 16, 2013
February 16, 2013: Beta 5′s Valentine Dessert Tasting!
Last night, Akemi and I attended a Valentine Dessert Tasting at Beta 5, Vancouver’s premiere chocolate (and cream puff!) shop. I know, I know. It was actually the day after Valentine’s Day – but we were out for dinner the previous night and would have had to cut it kind of tight. And so, instead, we made the reservations for the the 15th, thus enabling us to head over with plenty of time to spare following a leisurely and light fish and salad dinner.
Beta 5 is located on Industrial Avenue just a ways off Main Street. Not exactly easy to get to, but always worth the effort. Akemi and I are huge fans of their chocolates (their award-winning banana chocolates are the best I’ve ever had and we never fail to pick up a couple of packages of their aerated dark chocolate “rocks” whenever we drop by) as well as the aforementioned cream puffs (also the best I’ve ever had). And, in addition to their regular offerings, owner Adam Chandler and his partner Jess Rosinski always surprise with ever-changing monthly specials: gelees, polygon bars, and chocolate-covered fruit and nuts.
Akemi and I arrived early and joined another couple on a tour of the Beta 5 kitchen…
Where the chocolate magic happens.
Chocolate tempering machine
Coating pan used to make chocolate-covered fruit and nuts.
Hmmm. Don’t recall. Used for heating? Cooling? Storing the oompah loompahs?
Chocolate art.
A sneak peek of the Easter offerings.
Chocolate centerpiece
We ended up sitting with a couple (Dana and Matt) who took two buses to get there from the UBC campus (didn’t I say it was worth the effort?). As it turned out, they had both studied Japanese and spent some time in Japan. What are the chances?
Akemi, Dana, and Matt
Our dessert tasting was made up of six courses paired with various wines – champagne, sake, whites, and ending with a port. Up first…
Strawberries and Champagne: carbonated strawberries, champagne granite, strawberry jello
I passed on the first glass because I’m not fan of champagne, preferring the sparkling sweetness of an Italian muscat. The strawberries were lightly carbonated and the jello very subtle, but the champagne granite possessed a borderline bitter dryness that made this one my least favorite plate.
Blood Orange Rice Pudding: vanilla-scented carnaroli rice pudding, blood orange, biscotti.
Akemi’s favorite – and this is saying something since, prior to last night, she had never met a rice pudding she’d liked. The blood orange pearls were a nice bittersweet touch.
Akemi pacing herself.
Red Velvet Cake: goat’s cheese parfait, beet sponge, honey-poached pear, cocoa nib.
Great. The goat’s cheese parfait was reminiscent of the airy cheesecake my father used to make.
Creme Brulee: vanilla custard, caramel, raspberry, cacao fruit snow.
Gorgeous. The sugar globe was incredibly delicate, cracking at the lightest tap.
The liquid nitrogen ice cream-making process…
Chocolate Tart: chocolate ganache, passionfruit curd, coconut sorbet, caramelized puff.
I was waiting for the chocolate course and, boy, did it deliver. Incredibly rich. Incredibly decadent. Utterly delicious. Akemi couldn’t finish hers – so I did the honors.
Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate: frozen milk chocolate mousse, dark chocolate pudding, blackout cake, cocoa nib sable.
Now this one was my favorite course – the chocolate no-doubt frozen in liquid nitrogen as well and served Alinea-style with an assortment of other chocolate goodies, reminiscent of the fabulous dessert I enjoyed for my Meal to End all Meals back in 2011: March 18, 2011: The Meal To End All Meals!
Our hosts for this sweet, sweet evening…
Jess Rosinski
Adam Chandler
And, just in case we wanted something to snack on for the drive home, we were gifted this lovely Valentine assortment:
Our dining companions – Dana and Matt
Our new friends, Dana and Matt, were wonderful company. Over the course of our six course dessert extravaganza, the discussion ranged over many topics. The subject of the Japanese language segued to a chat about Japanese culture which, in turn, moved on to an appreciation of anime that, eventually, transitioned to an animated discussion of SF literature (Matt is a big fan of the classics – Asimov, Clarke, etc.). From SF lit to scifi television as Dana informed us she was a huge fan of SG-1. ”Really?”I said. ”What was your favorite episode.” ”Window of Opportunity,”she said. And that guaranteed them a ride home. If she’d answered Emancipation or Broca Divide, who knows how long it would have taken them to get back home.
Apparently, this will be the first in a series of dessert-themed evenings Beta 5 will be hosting.
Look into it!
BETA 5 CHOCOLATES LTD. 413 INDUSTRIAL AVENUE, VANCOUVER, BC, V6B 2P8
INFO@BETA5CHOCOLATES.COM - 604.669.3336 - BETA-5.COM
Tagged: Beta 5, Beta 5 Valentine's Dessert Tasting, Chocolate, Desserts
February 15, 2013
February 15, 2013: The (slow) Progress Report! Days of Stargate Atlantis Past! Infection!
A surprisingly productive day. The network notes on our first draft of the scifi pilot were minimal. We’ll take the weekend to address them and turn around the next draft (really, what amounts to a polish) by early next week after which it’ll “go wide”.
Also got an update from our business partner on those final pieces of the financial puzzle. Decisions have been bogged down by two confusingly unrelated stumbling blocks. 1. Apparently, potential partners are being inundated with “fantasy” projects and, despite attempts to set them straight, lump “science fiction” in the same category. 2. A past, er, soap opera-esque SF series (someone once described as Grey’s Anatomy in space) has scared some of the genre – despite the fact that that particular show was so atypical of most scifi on television. On the bright side, our business partner is confident the deal will get done – but it may take a little longer than we’d hoped.
Oh, and yeah, speaking of fantasy shows – we also received some great feedback on the second draft of that urban fantasy series we’re developing for another network. I expect another round of tweaks at which point THAT script will “go wide”.
An interesting development on the horror script front. A major player is apparently “intrigued” by the concept – which is all well and good but, while we’re waiting, our business partner on the other two projects expressed a desire to shoot a low budget horror script in the coming months and, hey, would we happen to have one? As a matter of fact…. I sent him the script yesterday. He’ll read it this weekend and, if it’s something he likes…dare I say it? Smoooooooth sailing!
Finally, I spent most of the afternoon (and much of yesterday) beating out the story for that female protagonist-centered drama series. Love what I have so far – which is two and a half acts and the last few scenes. I just need to figure out the details of the MacGuffin (“a plot device in the form of some goal, desired object, or other motivator that the protagonist (and sometimes the antagonist) is willing to do and sacrifice almost anything to pursue, protect or control” – Wikipedia). A couple of more days of dedicated mulling and I can actually start writing.
File this one under “Stargate Kid Makes Good”. Rumor has it that Jason Momoa is circling the part of Drax the Destroyer in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy movie: Jason Momoa Offered Lead Role in Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’
Continuing our trip down SGA memory lane with…
INFECTION
(517)
What is it they say about the road to Hell being paved with good intentions? Oh, yeah. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. On the one hand, our heroes have discovered a means of weaning wraith off their need to feed. On the other hand, the solution transforms the wraith into hideous mutations. Well, what do they say about having to break a few eggs to make an omelette? Oh, yeah. You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. Hmmmm. I know at least one pale, soul-sucking alien who might take offense.
All in all, a great monster-themed episode, and the last Stargate script by writer-producer Alan McCullough.
Writer-producer Alan McCullough receiving script notes from actor Paul McGillion (ie. Why isn’t Dr. Beckett in this episode?)
Uh, is this the guy who’s gonna be eating my face?
Make sure to get my good side!
Human and creature, side by side, enjoying their downtime together. We’ve come a long way, baby!
[image error]
They say that wraith make the best directors. And, by “they”, I refer to the wraith.
Nerd wraith alert!
Touch-ups to ensure they’re looking their worst.
Did he just say “Muh”?
Tagged: Atlantis, Infection, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis 
February 14, 2013
February 14, 2013: Happy Valentine’s Day! Days of Stargate Atlantis Past Continues with Brain Storm!
I celebrated today by going out for dim sum with my buddies Rob and Ivon, and then hopping on a twenty minute “project update” phone call with our business partner, Jay, in Toronto. Yeah, I’m a hopeless romantic. Tonight, I look forward to an enchanting evening with my gal, one that will be highlighted by dinner, drinks and, of course, a late work-out while we watch the latest episode of Top Chef. P.S. Akemi’s Valentine’s Day gift pictured above. Her favorites!
Speaking of romance – We continue our trip down SGA memory lane with…
BRAIN STORM
(516)
This one was surprisingly controversial when it aired (apparently, certain fans weren’t big on Rodney and Jennifer finally hooking up), but a hell of a lot of fun to shoot. Originally titled Snow Globe, it was the show’s answer to the network’s request for a green-themed episode. Martin Gero went above and beyond the call on this one, delivering a script that was smart, touching and, above all, fun. And, I mean, how could it not be fun with guest stars like Dave Foley, Billy Nye, and Neil deGrasse Tyson!
Brain Storm marked Marty G’s directorial debut – and, sadly, his last Atlantis script. But he went out with a bang. Of freeze lightning…
Martin hanging out in the Director’s Trailer.
Visiting fans push another SG couple.
Director Marty G. prepares for the deep freeze.
Behind the scenes with Neil de Grasse Tyson, Bill Nye, Martin Gero, and Mika McKinnon.
Some day, when Carl passes, we’ll erect a theatre in his name, but until that day comes -
WTF?!
February 13, 2013
February 13, 2013: That Developing Dilemma! Frenchie Fiesta! Save Dutch!
So I went to see my accountant today. What I was expecting would be a twenty minute chat turned into a grueling two hour session involving assets, liabilities, flow-charts, and lots and lots of math. My decision to deal with certain outstanding issues has opened up a host of new outstanding issues which, as I mentioned in a previous post, involve the house. Either I keep it and take on debt or sell it in favor of a far less attractive lifestyle. I’ve already outlined the pros and cons of both decisions -
Keep the house: Pros (home ownership, a great place to raise my dogs, don’t have to deal with noisy neighbors or nosey stratas, a fairly solid investment, not sure where I’d put all my stuff if I downsize) and Cons (I only use about half the space, the market is softening and now “might” be a good time to get out, Akemi feels isolated here).
Sell the house: Pros (I’d be debt free, the dogs were in the best shape of their lives when we were living in a condo in T.O., opportunity to broaden our social horizons) and Cons (the potential for strata headaches, annoying neighbours, taking the dogs out would be so much more of a hassle – especially Jelly who can barely walk much less do stairs, to say nothing of the pain-in-the-ass move).
Originally, I thought maybe selling wouldn’t be such a bad idea. My house is paid off and would command a handsome price. I could get a gorgeous condo for half the price. Now would be the time to sell as the local real estate market is showing signs of a downturn for the first time in over a decade. BUT the more I thought about it, the more I realized that if the real estate market did take a dive, condos would be feeling the hurt A LOT more than detached homes. Every 5% drop in home value would probably see a commensurate 15% drop in the value of condos since there are so damn many of them and they just keep on making more! I thought that settled the issue until Akemi rightly pointed out that a 5% drop in the value of my home would see me lose significantly more than a 15% drop in whatever condo I bought.
And sadly, no, downsizing to a smaller home isn’t an option. I couldn’t get one any closer to downtown (a big reason for selling the house in the first place). Downtown Vancouver is all glass and steel boxes with little green space -
While the fact that it’s surrounded by water makes the commute in a hassle of varying degrees -
(Thanks to Kymm for the photos and tips!)
ALSO, the smaller detached dwellings would be even harder to sell if things go sideways. Yes, I could keep the house and get Akemi a car but that only addresses one small issue of the many I’m juggling. Renting out the house while living in a condo would actually be the worst case scenario as I would then ALSO have to take out a loan for the downpayment on the condo and be faced with financial catastrophe in the event the real estate market goes bust and I’m stuck with two rapidly depreciating properties.
I can’t help but think that if I had seriously applied myself to winning the lottery instead of slacking off, all of these problems could have been avoided.
Sigh.
Well, maybe this will cheer me up. Pictures and video of Lulu (in the stylish blue sweater) at the last French Bulldog meet-up:
Whatchou talkin about, Willis?
And, finally, on the subject of dogs -
Does a dog have the right to protect itself from an abuser? Not in Montrose, Colorado apparently. Read Dutch’s story here: http://www.examiner.com/article/valentine-s-day-may-prove-deadly-for-one-dog?cid=db_articles
Then lend your support here: Save Dutch Facebook and here: Save Dutch petition
Tagged: Dutch, french bulldogs, Save Dutch
February 12, 2013
February 12, 2013: Decision, Projects, and Hot Chocolate!
Thanks to everyone who took the time to offer their sage advice on my recent “dilemma of the day” (February 10, 2013: Let’s all pitch in and help me plan my life!). I was actually leaning one way but, after reading some very convincing arguments, am now reconsidering. Tomorrow, I’ll be meeting with my accountant who will no doubt help shed some light on/further complicate the issue.
Meanwhile, things are…progressing (?) on the projects front…
The SF series: Hmmm. I was kind of hoping we would have received the good word by now (that word, of course, being: “Go!”). We have broadcasters on board but require another piece or two of the financial puzzle to complete the package. I refuse to end up in a situation where I’m expected to produce a show with little cash but a lot of good intentions. Space ships don’t come cheap, y’know?
The Urban Fantasy series: We’ll be delivering our second draft tomorrow. Word is we’ll be shooting the pilot this spring. Beyond that…who knows?
The other SF series: Has garnered a fair amount of interest on the concept alone (based on a pre-existing literary work). It’s with the lawyers now and, whenever the deal gets sewn up, we can finally start working on the script.
The Drama spec: While the aforementioned are all very promising paying gigs, it never hurts to have a few scripts under your belt…just in case. I’ve decided to simply go ahead and outline this female-driven “fish-out-of-water” pilot. I’ll spend a few days beating it out and then, once a satisfactory structure is in place, I’ll crack open a bottle of Jagermeister and spend the weekend hammering out that first draft.
The SF/Horror/Fantasy spec: Ah, why choose one when you can do all three at the same time? Colorful characters! Humor! Over-the-top action! Writing this one will be a lot fun – provided I have the time.
The Horror movie: It went out a couple of months ago and has engendered some interest, but nothing solid. This one seems like a no-brainer to me and, depending on how these other projects pan out, I’m thinking of pulling it back in March, financing it through Kickstarter, and producing it myself.
The Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival ends in three days! You better move quickly if you want to check out the 50-some flavors available around town.
I, of course, have been trying my best. But, evidently, my best won’t be good enough in the end. Still, I gave it a game effort.
I started off sampling fourteen different hot chocolates in the the first week of the festival: January 31, 2013: The Hot Chocolate Festival!
Followed by another ten soon after: February 6, 2013: The Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival Tour II!
And, most recently:
Tosca: Dark chocolate and rum served with a choice of chocolate or liege waffle sample.
Available: Every day of the festival at Leonidas #29 – 1055 Canada Place (Vancouver Convention Centre West), Vancouver.
A fine hot chocolate though a touch too boozy.
Frozen Noisette: Melted praline blended into frozen yogurt, topped with a shot of melted chocolate, and finished with crushed hazelnuts. Served with a choice of chocolate or liege sample waffle.
Available: Every day of the festival at Leonidas #29 – 1055 Canada Place (Vancouver Convention Centre West), Vancouver.
A double rarity: gjianduja-based cold hot chocolate. And it was utterly, doubly delicious.
Beyond the Milky Way: Dark chocolate (64%) made with almond milk and coconut milk, flavoured with natural pear extract. Dairy free.
Available: February 2-8 at French Made Baking 81 Kingsway, Vancouver
Liked the chocolate a lot but thought it was weakened by the almond and coconut milk. The pear was very subtle.
Rose of Ecuador: 64% dark chocolate – origin: Ecuador. Infused with rose petals, and served with choice of chocolate square.
Available: Every day of the chocolate festival at Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France 198 East 21st Ave., Vancouver, B.C.
www.chocolaterienouvellefrance.ca
Finally! A rose-infused version that makes use of dark chocolate instead of the standard white. And it was wonderful. A perfect balance of flavors. That gang here definitely know their hot chocolate!
Anise: 64% dark chocolate – origin: Mexico. Infused with aniseed, and served with choice of chocolate square.
Available: Every day of the chocolate festival at Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France 198 East 21st Ave., Vancouver, B.C.
www.chocolaterienouvellefrance.ca
With the exception of the Orange Blossom, every hot chocolate I’ve had at Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France has been incredibly well-balanced. Here, the licorice flavor is present but compliments rather than conquers the chocolate.
The Emily Rose: Orange drinking chocolate, topped with housemade rose-coconut marshmallows.
Available: February 2- 14 at Cocoa Nymph 3739 W. 10th Ave (at Alma), Vancouver
www.cocoanymph.co
Cocoa Nymph makes a damn fine cup of hot chocolate. The tartness of the orange combined with the sweetness of the coconut and the bitterness of the dark chocolate to deliver one of Akemi’s favorites.
The Josiah: Basil drinking chocolate topped with housemade strawberry marshmallows.
Available: February 8 – 14 at Cocoa Nymph 3739 W. 10th Ave (at Alma), Vancouver
www.cocoanymph.co
Basil drinking chocolate? Really? Oh, yeah. Really! I was admittedly dubious but one taste thoroughly won me over. The best hot chocolate I had this week.
I’m really going to have to make these last few days count!
3rd-vancouver-hot-chocolate-festival
Tagged: Chocolate, Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France, Cocoa Nymph, French Made Baking, Hot Chocolate, Hot Chocolate Festival, Leonidas, Vancouver events, Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival
February 11, 2013: Decision, Projects, and Hot Chocolate!
Thanks to everyone who took the time to offer their sage advice on my recent “dilemma of the day” (February 10, 2013: Let’s all pitch in and help me plan my life!). I was actually leaning one way but, after reading some very convincing arguments, am now reconsidering. Tomorrow, I’ll be meeting with my accountant who will no doubt help shed some light on/further complicate the issue.
Meanwhile, things are…progressing (?) on the projects front…
The SF series: Hmmm. I was kind of hoping we would have received the good word by now (that word, of course, being: “Go!”). We have broadcasters on board but require another piece or two of the financial puzzle to complete the package. I refuse to end up in a situation where I’m expected to produce a show with little cash but a lot of good intentions. Space ships don’t come cheap, y’know?
The Urban Fantasy series: We’ll be delivering our second draft tomorrow. Word is we’ll be shooting the pilot this spring. Beyond that…who knows?
The other SF series: Has garnered a fair amount of interest on the concept alone (based on a pre-existing literary work). It’s with the lawyers now and, whenever the deal gets sewn up, we can finally start working on the script.
The Drama spec: While the aforementioned are all very promising paying gigs, it never hurts to have a few scripts under your belt…just in case. I’ve decided to simply go ahead and outline this female-driven “fish-out-of-water” pilot. I’ll spend a few days beating it out and then, once a satisfactory structure is in place, I’ll crack open a bottle of Jagermeister and spend the weekend hammering out that first draft.
The SF/Horror/Fantasy spec: Ah, why choose one when you can do all three at the same time? Colorful characters! Humor! Over-the-top action! Writing this one will be a lot fun – provided I have the time.
The Horror movie: It went out a couple of months ago and has engendered some interest, but nothing solid. This one seems like a no-brainer to me and, depending on how these other projects pan out, I’m thinking of pulling it back in March, financing it through Kickstarter, and producing it myself.
The Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival ends in three days! You better move quickly if you want to check out the 50-some flavors available around town.
I, of course, have been trying my best. But, evidently, my best won’t be good enough in the end. Still, I gave it a game effort.
I started off sampling fourteen different hot chocolates in the the first week of the festival: January 31, 2013: The Hot Chocolate Festival!
Followed by another ten soon after: February 6, 2013: The Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival Tour II!
And, most recently:
Tosca: Dark chocolate and rum served with a choice of chocolate or liege waffle sample.
Available: Every day of the festival at Leonidas #29 – 1055 Canada Place (Vancouver Convention Centre West), Vancouver.
A fine hot chocolate though a touch too boozy.
Frozen Noisette: Melted praline blended into frozen yogurt, topped with a shot of melted chocolate, and finished with crushed hazelnuts. Served with a choice of chocolate or liege sample waffle.
Available: Every day of the festival at Leonidas #29 – 1055 Canada Place (Vancouver Convention Centre West), Vancouver.
A double rarity: gjianduja-based cold hot chocolate. And it was utterly, doubly delicious.
Beyond the Milky Way: Dark chocolate (64%) made with almond milk and coconut milk, flavoured with natural pear extract. Dairy free.
Available: February 2-8 at French Made Baking 81 Kingsway, Vancouver
Liked the chocolate a lot but thought it was weakened by the almond and coconut milk. The pear was very subtle.
Rose of Ecuador: 64% dark chocolate – origin: Ecuador. Infused with rose petals, and served with choice of chocolate square.
Available: Every day of the chocolate festival at Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France 198 East 21st Ave., Vancouver, B.C.
www.chocolaterienouvellefrance.ca
Finally! A rose-infused version that makes use of dark chocolate instead of the standard white. And it was wonderful. A perfect balance of flavors. That gang here definitely know their hot chocolate!
Anise: 64% dark chocolate – origin: Mexico. Infused with aniseed, and served with choice of chocolate square.
Available: Every day of the chocolate festival at Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France 198 East 21st Ave., Vancouver, B.C.
www.chocolaterienouvellefrance.ca
With the exception of the Orange Blossom, every hot chocolate I’ve had at Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France has been incredibly well-balanced. Here, the licorice flavor is present but compliments rather than conquers the chocolate.
The Emily Rose: Orange drinking chocolate, topped with housemade rose-coconut marshmallows.
Available: February 2- 14 at Cocoa Nymph 3739 W. 10th Ave (at Alma), Vancouver
www.cocoanymph.co
Cocoa Nymph makes a damn fine cup of hot chocolate. The tartness of the orange combined with the sweetness of the coconut and the bitterness of the dark chocolate to deliver one of Akemi’s favorites.
The Josiah: Basil drinking chocolate topped with housemade strawberry marshmallows.
Available: February 8 – 14 at Cocoa Nymph 3739 W. 10th Ave (at Alma), Vancouver
www.cocoanymph.co
Basil drinking chocolate? Really? Oh, yeah. Really! I was admittedly dubious but one taste thoroughly won me over. The best hot chocolate I had this week.
I’m really going to have to make these last few days count!
3rd-vancouver-hot-chocolate-festival
Tagged: Chocolate, Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France, Cocoa Nymph, French Made Baking, Hot Chocolate, Hot Chocolate Festival, Leonidas, Vancouver events, Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival
February 11, 2013
February 11, 2013: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews The Incredible Hulk (2008)!
This movie be improvement over first Hulk film de way a bad cold be improvement over Type A influenza. In retrospekt, you not want to subject yourself to either but, hey, in dis case beggars Supermovie of de Week Club reviewers can’t be choosers. Still, whereas first movie be uniformly stoopid-ridikulous throughout, dis Hulk movie start off entertaining-promising before shifting gears to dull-prediktable and finally downshifting to stoopid-ridikulous for last turd.
Bruce Banner invent formula dat give South American cola all de taste wit only half de calories!
Sekwel pick up where first movie leave off. Bruce Banner now living incognito in Rio de Janeiro (just like Grover after he knock up Swedish Chef’s niece Torbjorg!). He work at South Amerikan soda plant where duties inklude fixing tings and pissing off co-workers wit his gringo ways. Off-hours, he enjoy spending time wit his dog, meditating to control his heart rate, and trying to find cure for his Hulkitis. BUT one day, he cut himself at work and drop of blood contaminate a bottle. It end up getting shipped to U.S. where it unwittingly get drinked by Stan Lee (Seriously. Dese Stan Lee cameos be best ting about dese movies!). Before you can say “Excelsior!”, word get out and General Thunderbolt Ross dispatch army to GET HIM!
Army ambush Banner. Chase ensue – part of which take dem across rooftops of favela (Brazilian shantytown). Dis, of course, be a scene required for every movie dat shoot in Rio. Eventually, Bruce cornered in bottling plant where he beaten up by co-workers he happen to come across. He Hulk Out, kick some ass, and disappear.
He awaken some time later in Guatemala where he ask some guy for a lift. A couple of scenes later, Bruce be back in U.S. wit new clothes. How dis possible? Did he have cash and fake visa stashed away somewhere? Did sekret anonymous benefaktor make arrangents? Or did guy give him lift all de way from Guatemala in his jeep? We never find out but it would be nice to know.
It be at dis point in de movie when tings get a lot less interesting. Bruce make contakt wit his old girlfriend, Betty. But Betty’s new boyfriend, Phil Dumphy from Modern Family, find dis uncool and report him to General Ross. Army be dispatched. Bruce Hulk Out! More middling visual effekts! And, again Hulk get away (although monster seriously wonder where, exaktly, giant green guy can hide even if he can jump really far).
Bruce eventually hook up wit Betty again and dey track down mysterious Mr. Blue who working on serum to cure Bruce of Hulkism (also work on psoriasis!). He try it on Bruce and it work! At which point lab crashed by army! Bruce and Betty on de run – but get captured. Meanwhile, crazy soldier stay behind and force Mr. Blue to injekt him wit Banner’s blood. He mutate into…an Abomination! Giant, grey and bony! But, unlike Hulk, he speak perfekt English and still get to keep his quaint English accent.
General Ross learn about Abomination rampage. Bruce tell him only way to stop him be by letting him Hulk Out. Ross say okie-doke. BUT Bruce took serum! It possible for him to turn back into Hulk? How to know? Run on de spot until heart rate go up? Cut himself? Get soldier to slap him around? No! He trow himself out of a helikopter! HUH?!!
Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?
Cue silly monster fight. Hulk win and about to kill Abomination when Betty scream: “No!” and make Hulk stop. Not sure why. Mebbe she want to adopt adorable psychotic mutant? Who wouldn’t?!
Movie end in British Columbia where Bruce able to control his heart rate for 31 days – and den Hulk Out!
Movie also end wit Tony Stark approach General Ross in a bar about “putting a team together”. What could he be talking about?! All superhero volleyball dream team for next Olympics? Monster so excited!
Verdikt: Not terrible but not good. Dis movie be about as enjoyable as your kid’s piano recital. (Pleaze don’t lie to yourself).
Rating: 5 chocolate chippee cookies.
Tagged: comic book movies, Comic Books, Comics, Cookie Monster, Cookie Monster movie reviews, Cookie Monster reviews The Incredible Hulk, superhero movies, superheroes, SuperMovie of the Week Club, The Incredible Hulk
February 10, 2013
February 10, 2013: Let’s all pitch in and help me plan my life!
Okay. I’ve gone back and forth on this for close to a year now and I’ve finally made a decision. I’ve decided that I have to decide one way or the other.
I’ve tried to apply logic, then emotion, then allowed fate to make the decision for me. No luck. Neither logic nor emotion arrived at a satisfactory conclusion and fate was evidently too busy to get involved. And so, I find myself turning to the only logical option available to me: a blog reader vote.
So what do you level-headed types think? Should I sell the house or not?
Wait! Don’t answer yet! Let me lay out the arguments for both sides before you weigh in…
SELL THE HOUSE
As much as I love my home, there’s no denying the fact that I only make active use of maybe a third of the living space. Three of the four upstairs bedrooms go unused, as do the main floor office and sitting room. And, as much as I love the downstairs theater room, the only time I’m ever really in there is when the guys are over for Football Sundays. Realistically, I use the master bedroom, the kitchen and adjoining sitting area, and the downstairs workout room. The rest is either dead space or gorgeous storage area.
Akemi has been dying to move to the downtown area for quite some time. The house, while beautiful, is a little out of the way, meaning she either takes the bus or relies on me to drive her wherever she needs to go. A more central location would allow her more freedom. It would also, as we learned in Toronto, open up more social opportunities as we’d get to know many more neighbors.
Vancouver has been ranked as North America’s priciest city (Vancouver ranked North America’s priciest city), beating out both Los Angeles and New York! While the local condo market has done nicely, home prices have fared even better and my house, which I purchased for what I thought was a ridiculous sum many years ago, is worth considerably more now. If I were ever thinking of selling, now would be the time as the local real estate market is finally showing signs of softening. I sell the house, downsize to a comfy, modestly-priced condo, clear all existing debts and bank the rest.
KEEP THE HOUSE
Given my European background, the ultimate goal of owning a home is as engrained in me as my love of pasta and fancy ties. Where I am now, I don’t have to worry about noisy neighbors or parking or strata regulations. In the summer, I can sit out in my back yard and let the dogs run loose, something I couldn’t do in a condo. If the dogs need to go out, I don’t have to ride down an elevator to a green area. All I can have to do is open the back door and let them out. I can work out as early or as late as I like, while watching whatever I like, without having to wait for equipment or having to share with sweaty others. I can host Football Sunday on the big screen. And, most importantly, I don’t have to move and/or find storage space for all the (valuable) crap I’m amassed over the years!
So that’s what it comes down to. Basically. Either I keep the house or move into a condo. And, no, there is no compromise solution in which I happen to find a beautiful albeit smaller house that also happens to be centrally located.
IF I we do decide to sell the house, then this gives rise to another question: rent or buy?
BUY A CONDO
When I told a friend’s wife that I was weighing whether to buy or rent, she looked at me as if I was crazy. ”If you cash out,”she told me, “you’ll never be able to buy back in.” Maybe and, then again, maybe not, but it’s certain that had I sold my house at any point in time between when I bought it and early last year, I certainly wouldn’t have been able to buy it back for a ballpark price. There’s simply no way to outguess the market. My writing partner, Paul, admonished me for even considering it. In his mind, you sell to buy – that way, you remain on even footing. Yes, ideally, it would be great if you sold at a point when the market was softening, banked the cash from the sale, then waited a few years to buy back in when the market was down. But what if the market doesn’t go down? What if the market actually goes up? Maybe Paul is right. Don’t try to outguess the market. And, for what it’s worth, in my experience, real estate has proven itself the safest of investments.
RENT A CONDO
Are you kidding? The local real estate market has softened for the first time in a decade and signs are pointing to a continuing downward trend. As I already mentioned, while home sales are feeling the pinch, condos are feeling it even more as construction continues unabated.
So, what’s it going to be? Let’s wrap this up. I’ve got a bunch more life-altering issues to sort out!
February 9, 2013
February 9, 2013: More from the Akemi Fall 2013 Collection! Days of Stargate Atlantis Past! Remnants!
Akemi is still at it, expanding her doggy wardrobe.
Continuing our stroll down SGA memory lane with one of my favorites…
REMNANTS (515)
This one was a personal favorite for several reasons. It offered action, humor, surprises and, best of all, genuinely heart-felt character moments brilliantly conveyed by our amazing cast and guest stars. It was also a bit of a bitch to write and, as such, incredibly satisfying to finish, a fairly complex script that required a proper balancing act of three seemingly separate storylines – and their ultimate convergence at episode’s end. My fellow Exec Producer, Carl Binder, considered it my best script of the show’s fifth season. My other fellow Exec Producers, however, weren’t quite as enamored. Rob Cooper felt it was “too literary” (which I thought was a nice compliment until I realized it was actually a criticism). He, and Exec Producer Martin Gero, also felt I was way too rough on our hero, Sheppard. My writing partner, Paul, meanwhile, had only one real objection – and that was the chopping off of Sheppard’s hand, for both creative and production reasons. Yes, I agree that Sheppard does suffer greatly but I argue it’s fine because, at the end of the day, it’s all in his head. Also, the Shep-whumpers reaaaallly needed this one!
Just so much to say about this episode – and I already have. Some Remnants-related past blog entries you might want to check out:
November 15, 2008: The Remnants Write-up - In which I offer some insight into my inspiration for this script (Harvey and a desire to complete Richard Woolsey’s rehabilitation from pencil-pushing suit to lovable Commander) as well as behind the scene photos and a breakdown of some of the scenes, beats, and dialogues that didn’t make the final cut.
July 22, 2008: Remnants Day #1 Behind the scene pics in Woolsey’s quarters.
July 23, 2008: Burgers then Back on the Program then Remnants Day #2 Behind the scene pics of the McKay/Zelenka scenes.
Tagged: Atlantis, Days of Stargate Atlantis Past, Days of Stargate Past, Dogs, french bulldog fashion, french bulldogs, pugs, Remnants, science fiction, scifi television, SF, SF television, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis
Joseph Mallozzi's Blog
- Joseph Mallozzi's profile
- 39 followers
![[image error]](http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/198.jpg){kind=link}