Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 114

September 3, 2022: Inaugural Fish Night at Affinity Fish!

Last night, Akemi and I attended Affinity Fish‘s Inaugural Fish Night, an evening dedicated to spotlighting local seafood, from lake to table.

Akemi, all dressed up and ready to go!

It’s a two-person show!  Matt Taylor enlightens the crowd while Jon Klip preps the next dish.

We started with Yellow Perch with Pickles, Akemi’s favorite dish of the night.  The pickles are made with locally-sourced crab-marinated ramps.

Cured Chinook Salon and Burbot Liver on Toast.  And this was probably my favorite dish of the night.

Misozuke Tomato, Tosazu,, Pickerel Karasumi.  We got little wooden spoons for this one.  The chopsticks just weren’t cutting it.  All of the beautiful serving plates are from Jon’s personal collection, amassed from his days in Kyoto.

Dry Aged Lake Huron Salmon, Taken.  Crispy skin and a medium-rare cook to the fish.  A perfect textural combo.

On to the nigiri portion of the night.  First up, Pickerel Irizake.  The best preparation I’ve ever had of a fish I find unbearably bony.

Yellow Perch Amazu.  My sole quibble with the nigiri was the rice which I thought needed to be a little firmer and only required half the amount of black vinegar.

Whitefish Bozushi.  This one especially reminded me of my time in Japan.

Brown Trout Warakunsei.  My favorite nigiri – delightfully smoky.

Burbot Ni.  The Burbot liver was described as similar to ankimo, the lion fish liver popular and many high-end Japanese restaurants.  Texturally, I agree, but thought it actually tasted closer to foie gras.

Ling Kimo.  Fantastic.

Everything Bagel Temaki.  This one was fun and included a touch of cream cheese and an Everything Bagel seasoning with the delicious smoked brown trout.

Aka-dashi.  A wonderful red miso soup to end our meal.

Well, not quite.  After almost three dessert-free weeks, I indulged – Miso Cream Cheese Tart and Wild Blueberries.

To be honest though, it was so light on sugar that I felt I hadn’t really fallen off the wagon at all.

But a brief stopover on the way home rectified that…

No, I did not want to wait until I got home.

A fantastic meal.  Looking forward to the next one!

Affinity Fish

1581 Dundas Street West, Toronto

Affinity Fish – Facebook

Affinity Fish – Instagram

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September 2, 2022: The Foodly Updates!

Today’s lunch or ikura (salmon roe) and uni (sea urchin) on rice was far superior to the last time we ordered this from our local seafood vendor, anxiously awaiting its lunch time arrival only to have it delivered with an attached note informing us that the uni wasn’t available after all.  Oishikatta!

Akemi has signed up for another 8 weeks of pottery courses in The Junction, meaning I get another eight lunches at my favorite Toronto deli – When the Pig Came Home.  Having apparently worked my way through the entire official menu, I am now exploring the intriguing off-menu items.  This past Thursday, it was a sandwich called The Ben that included peameal bacon, pork belly, egg and cheese on milk bun.  Maybe a tomato in there too.  With a side of the city’s best spicy beef pattie.  I slept VERY well that night.

My neighbor dropped this off for me and it is now my new favorite beer (despite the dismissals of the brew crew).  Taaaaaasty!

Checked out The Lobster Burger Bar with my friend Carolyn Hinds the other day. 2 lobster burgers, 1 lobster roll, 1 crispy shrimp roll, 2 chicken tacos, and a stack of onion rings. I feel we accomplished a lot.

I like my cheese so runny that I have to chase it around the plate with a spoon.  We usually pick up some Monforte every Saturday at our local farmer’s market.  They have a wonderful selection (aged, soft, and spreadable) but this one is my favorite, the Rose d;Amour, a water buffalo milk cheese studded with pink peppercorns.

Last week’s double farmer’s market trip saw Akemi pack us a Japanese-style (bento) picnic lunch complete with onigiri and chicken balls.

My possession with the humble tomato sandwich continues.

A couple of my very favorite hot sauces.  I lean towards habanero-based with fruit and a thicker consistency.

The umamirrific cheese ramen from Toronto’s best ramen shop – Midori Ramen.

Today’s Yes/No…

Giant Japanese Honey Toast? yes/No
Japanese honey toast is breathtakingly large, contains two litres of ice cream https://t.co/X13OW9SeRt via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) September 2, 2022

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September 1, 2022: The Horror Marathon continues!

Glorious (2022)

After a breakup, Wes ends up at a remote rest stop, locked inside with a mysterious figure speaking from an adjacent stall. Soon Wes realizes he is involved in a situation more terrible than he could imagine.

Thoughts: Annoyingly mannered in execution. The characters talk even when they have nothing to say in order to fill the roughly 80 minute runtime. The dark humor never really lands and the whole ends up feeling like one of the less memorable installments of an anthology series.

2.5/5

Hatching (2022)

A young gymnast, who tries desperately to please her demanding mother, discovers a strange egg. She hides it and keeps it warm, but when it hatches, what emerges shocks them all.

Thoughts: Young Siiri Solalinna is fantastic in this twisted coming-of-age horror tale that eviscerates upper middle-class suburbia. Alas, loses a half star for implied french bulldog violence.

4/5

The Innocents (2021)

During the bright Nordic summer, a group of children reveal their dark and mysterious powers when the adults aren’t looking. In this original and gripping supernatural thriller, playtime takes a dangerous turn.

Thoughts: A terrific little that film confirms my long-held conviction that kids are creepy and inherently evil. A little slow off the top but fantastic once it gets going. And it really sticks its landing. Docking it a half mark for animal abuse though.

4.5/5

Today’s Yes=No…

Spreadable Coffee? Yes/No
Spreadable coffee to put on your toast going on sale in Japan https://t.co/258KsdyVSA via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) September 1, 2022

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August 31, 2022: Amazing Covers!

A few that caught my eye this week…

Harley Quinn 2022 Annual #1 – cover art by Nathan Szerdy

Justice League vs The Legion of Super-Heroes #6 – cover art by Travis Moore

Astro City MetroBook 2 – cover art by Alex Ross

Hellcop #10 – cover art by Brian Haberlin

Break Out #3 – cover art by Adam Gorham

Moon Knight: Black, White & Blood #4 – cover art by Alexander Lozano

So, which were YOUR favorites?

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August 30, 2022: Not, not THAT Dark Matter!

Yes, I am aware of Apple’s new sci-fi series called Dark Matter.  It’s based on a pretty good book by author Blake Crouch that was released a few years after the show premiered.  Unlike our Dark Matter, it’s not a far future ship-based adventure but more a contemporary SF thriller involving parallel worlds.  Sure, the title may cause some confusion, but I don’t mind if it leads some unwary viewers to discover our show by accident.

Speaking of our show – I mentioned that Dark Matter was leaving Netflix in September.  Well, apparently, it’s found  a new home at CW Seed –

…which I think is great as it will introduce the series to potential new viewers.  And should it do well on the streaming platform, maybe that elusive Dark Matter miniseries won’t be that far off.

Finally finished the outline for that android mystery series today.  Got some terrific notes from Ivon that I’ll implement tomorrow.  After that, it’s smooooooth sailing – until Monday’s fantasy football draft.  This year, I limited myself to two leagues so as not to spread myself too thin: the original Stargate league and the other league with all of my former Stargate colleagues.  The former held its draft last Friday night. This is my team…

I drafted without benefit of research.  Another wing-it season looms.  What do you think?

Anyone following the recent stock market action?  I’m always fascinated by technical and trend analysis.  Came across this chart that compares recent movements in the S&P to the 2008 bear market.  The parallels are eerie…

They say history doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes.  And this is proof.

Today’s Yes/No…

Shiro Noir Matcha Caramel? Yes/No
We try Japanese cafe Komeda Coffee’s summer desserts that are so big, they’re overflowing https://t.co/4KpnsX9GZP via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 30, 2022

A thousand times YES!

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August 29, 2022: Your Handy Guide to Weird Yokai!

The Ashiarai Yashiki manifests as a giant filthy foot that crashes through the roofs of homes, demanding to be cleaned. Refuse and it will stomp through your house, destroying everything in its path – and possibly cursing you for good measure.

When an orb-weaver spider reaches its 400th birthday, it is rewarded with a massive growth spurt, shape-shifting abilities, and a hunger for human flesh, becoming a Jorogumo. It often takes the form of a beautiful woman in order to entice and trap unwary young men – its favorite snack!

The Boroboroton is a vengeful Japanese futon, its anger fueled by years of neglect and underuse. It seeks retribution against those who did it wrong, floating around the house at night, smothering and strangling unwary sleepers – when it isn’t out partying with other Boroboroton.

The raven-haired, alabaster-skinned Yuki onna stalk snowstorms in search of prey, flash-freezing their victims before devouring them (They’re especially fond of children’s livers!). Occasionally, however, they may fall in love with and even marry a human.

One tale tells of a man that married a mysterious women who always refused to take hot baths. One night, after much insistence from her husband, she relented. When her husband came in to check on her later, however, all he found were ice cubes floating in the tub.

The Nuppeppo are amorphous blobs with rudimentary limbs and vague faces that frequents graveyards and abandoned temples. Harmless but stinky, they smell like rotten meat and are surprisingly elusive. Their flesh purportedly bestows eternal youth on those who can stomach it.

The Konaki jiji takes the form of a baby or old man, lying in wait for unwary travelers and then crying out on their approach. Should you be foolish enough to try to help by picking it up, it will abruptly grow incredibly heavy and crush you under its weight. Sucker!

Today’s Yes/No…

Tsukimi Sandwich? Yes/No
Autumn is on the way, and that means it’s time for fried chicken fried egg sandwiches in Japan https://t.co/V9RAyFY3fs via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 29, 2022

A rare no for me.  Just give me a fried chicken sandwich!

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August 28, 2022: Suji Sunday!

Out and about with her friend, Lambchop.

A pug with a sense of humor.

Comfy.

Mowing the lawn.

Her serious look.

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August 27, 2022: The Horror Marathon continues with three more movies – and some cheese-stuffed cherry poppers!

Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil (2017)

A quiet village is thrown into turmoil upon disturbing a reclusive and feared blacksmith rumored to be in league with the devil.

Thoughts: Despite the over-the-top performances and at times clunky script, this one is wildly inventive in its mix of mythology and horror. It’s visually unique but, at times, has the feel of a very elaborate stage production.

3.5/5

The Empty Man (2020)

On the trail of a missing girl, an ex-cop comes across a secretive group attempting to summon a terrifying supernatural entity.

Thoughts: A little bit of Himalayan The Ruins off the top, a little bit of Candy Man in the middle, and a lot of Rosemary’s Baby meets The Sentinel at the end. Also, 30 minutes too long.

3/5

The Feast (2021)

Filmed in Welsh, the picture follows a young woman serving privileged guests at a dinner party in a remote house in rural Wales. The assembled guests do not realize they are about to eat their last supper.

The film’s austere style is impressive from a visual standpoint, but it yields a stark and frustratingly slow narrative that fails to engage despite its grisly, at times unintentionally silly, cross dissolve-laden third act.

3/5

Today’s not so horrific Yes/No…

Cheese-stuffed Cherry Poppers? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/moWl1gK6jy

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 27, 2022

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August 26, 2022: From here on in, it’s smoooooooth sailing!

Huzzah!  Success!  After much pacing, nighttime tossing and turning, and general racking of brain, I finally have a beat sheet for that android-themed mystery series.  The hard part his over.  Now, all that remains to be done is the outline, a first draft, a second draft, a polish, a pitch deck, a sale, development of the first season, the writing of the first season episodes, prep, production and post – the easy stuff!

Tomorrow (Saturday) night will mark two full weeks without dessert!  That’s no chocolate, no cream buns, and no pistachio patisserie for 14 straight days!  How do I feel?  Absolutely no different although Akemi claims I’ve been more irritable of late but, in all fairness, that could be due to my work on beating out this new script (which is, in my opinion, the most frustrating part of the whole t.v.-making process).  Anyway, with two weeks under my belt and absolutely no discernible health benefits either mental or physical, I intend to reward my 14-day Spartan diet with a little something – a square of Ecuadorian 72%, or maybe a pint of Haagen-Dazs.  I’ll play it by ear.

Awww, this is nice.  Long-time Stargate fan Irena (of Stargate Europe fame – @Irena_SG on twitter) is in town with husband Dieter.  We met up for coffee (actually, unsweetened matcha for me) and dessert (cinnamon rolls for them).  Great to finally put a face to a twitter account.  Tomorrow, they check out Fan Expo after which they’ll be taking to the train cross-country to Vancouver for Gatecon.  Lucky!

Okay, now a wacky one!

Today’s Yes/No.  Beat the summer heat with…

The Cold Dog? Yes/No https://t.co/AIqKHsK2sg

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 26, 2022

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August 25, 2022: The Thursday Report!

Started work on my android-themed pilot.  You guys are gonna love it!

Guys! I'm freaking out! pic.twitter.com/qLwNnnQSP5

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 25, 2022

We also follow each other on telegram!

Catch it while you can!

Dark Matter leaving Netflix in September, 2022

September 25th is the show’s last day on Netflix.  It leaves Canadian Netflix in August of 2023, so Canadian fans get a bit of a reprieve.

No idea where it ends up next, but now would be the time to catch up if you haven’t already watched all three seasons!

Never experienced this in Japan, but it looks kinda squishy…

Seibu Shinjuku Line rush hour in Japan pic.twitter.com/8QMjPkmvZH

— Tansu YEĞEN (@TansuYegen) August 25, 2022

And this one’s kinda creepy…

The misconception that there is no sound in space originates because most space is a ~vacuum, providing no way for sound waves to travel. A galaxy cluster has so much gas that we've picked up actual sound. Here it's amplified, and mixed with other data, to hear a black hole! pic.twitter.com/RobcZs7F9e

— NASA Exoplanets (@NASAExoplanets) August 21, 2022

I’ve got Cinnabar, Vivanite, Galeena, and Malachite in the Final Four!

THE BRACKET IS READY!!

After recruiting #MinCup21’s strongest contenders & pouring through your nominations, we have our lineup for #MinCup22.

Voting starts September 1st! pic.twitter.com/9lZ3JcYtwd

— Mineral Cup #MinCup (@MineralCup) August 23, 2022

Today’s Yes/No…

Unatama Egg Sandwich? Yes/No
For me – yes, but minus the egg.
Eggslut adds a whole ass eel to a new sandwich in Japan https://t.co/4TAld9r2UU via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 25, 2022

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