Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 116

August 14, 2022: Suji Sunday!

After we snapped this photo, she tried to eat the flower.

Need to oil up that wheelchair.  It’s gettin’ a might squeaky.

Blue babushka.

Passersby love the golf hat.

Lazy walker…

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According to the technician, she prefers massages over exercise.

Who doesn’t?

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August 13, 2022: A sandwiches, fish and chocolate kind of day!

Today, we visited Toronto’s Parkdale district.  We were joined by Dr. Blackjack for a chocolate tasting at the SOMA Chocolate factory.

But first, we hit Imanishi Sando Bar for some Japanese-style sandwiches.  Unable to choose between the crispy fish, shrimp, pork, and spicy chicken, we opted for all four…

Then, we visited the newly-opened Affinity Fish, “Dedicated to the careful handling and sourcing of Canadian Seafood, fish by fish, from lake to table.”.

Owners Jon Klip and Matt Taylor, well-established in the city’s restaurant scene, are planning to host some dining events in the not too distant future.  And I plan to be there!

Jon and Matt.

Then, it was off to SOMA Chocolate...

The chocolate primer was accompanied by a video and included a tasting…

Me shelling and enjoying the cocoa bean…

According to our instructor, if you manage to de-shell the bean and have it come out in one piece, then that means you’re lucky in love.  Akemi succeeded, while I failed miserably.

Then, it was time for a factory tour.  But first, we had to don our hair nets!

Following the tour, we were directed to the wall of chocolates where we could purchase some of the samples we taste-tested (among many others)…

Now I’m exhausted.  And it’s not even 6:30 p.m.

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August 12, 2022: The Humble Tomato Sandwich!

Today, I had a hankering for a tomato sandwich after THIS twitter post showed up on my timeline –

A chef friend dropped off a batch of ripe heirloom tomatoes, so naturally the first thing I did was make a tomato sandwich with lots of Duke’s Mayo, salt, and pepper on toasted Buttermilk bread. A burst of summer in every bite. pic.twitter.com/He2DE6HVXS

— Gennefer Gross (@Gennefer) August 11, 2022

Truly, a work of art – and beats the hell out of the tomato sandwich I got in the Utopia Falls writers’ room –

So, inspired, I stopped by the grocery store on our way back from Suji’s physio appointment (Apparently, she’s preferring massage over exercise according to her therapist) and picked up the necessary ingredients.  And, for dinner, I made myself a (actually two) tomato sandwiches – thinly sliced vine ripened tomatoes with bacon, avocado, Scottish cheddar, salt, pepper, oregano, and kewpie mayo on Texas toast.  With a side of olive oil and habanero hot sauce.  Not pictured, unfortunately, because I was too busy eating.

In retrospect, I could have mixed it up and also done a version switching out the sharp cheddar for mozzarella and basil.

My father used to love his tomato sandwiches which also included tomatoes (of course), oregano, salt and a little oil on white bread.

I am also a fan of fried green tomato sandwiches – but it’s been a while.

Any tomato sandwich fans out there?  Tell me about your version.

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August 11, 2022: More horror – in the form of film and ginger drinks!

Raw (2016)

A young woman, studying to be a vet, develops a craving for human flesh.

Thoughts: Mixes eroticism with cannibalism in its examination of female identity and social pressures. Provocative on multiple levels but tonally flat. The latter cements its unique artistic ascetic but at the cost of muting the viewer’s emotional connection to the film.

4/5

The Sadness (2019)

A young couple trying to reunite amid a city ravaged by a plague that turns its victims into deranged, bloodthirsty sadists.

Thoughts: Superior practical effects distinguish this zombie (adjacent) film from the rest. Some nice subtle commentary on the ongoing pandemic but, sometimes, the gore is so over the top that it works against it. Loses half a point for that silly eye socket scene.

4/5

Tumbbad (2018)

A man and his son encounter a legendary demon while searching a decaying castle for hidden treasure in 19th-century India.

Thoughts: Visually rich and refreshingly unique, this Indian gothic tale mines some spooky mythology in its exploration of greed, family, and colonialism. Well worth a watch.

4.5/5

Today’s Yes/No…

Pickled Ginger Drink? Yes/No
New pickled ginger drink takes ginger shots to a whole other level https://t.co/tOEYRkvvyn via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 11, 2022

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August 10, 2022: Amazing Covers!

A few that caught my eye this week…

A.X.E.: Judgement Day #2 – cover art by Mark Brooks

Batman: No Man’s Land vol. 2 – cover art by Bill Sienkiewicz

Deathstroke Inc. vol. 1: King of the Super Villains – cover art by Francesco Mattina

Wonder Woman: Black and Gold – cover art by Jen Bartel

Eden – cover art by Riccardo Burchielli

So, which were YOUR favorites?

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Top 10 Kpop Songs of July, 2022!

Top 10 Kpop Songs of July, 2022
9. Sparkling – #CHUNGHA #청하 #KpopTop10 pic.twitter.com/NugL8rZROW

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 9, 2022

Top 10 Kpop Songs of July, 2022
7. DTI (Don't Try To Interrupt) = #ID_Earth #아이디얼스 #KpopTop10 pic.twitter.com/BRQv9O7yTL

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 9, 2022

Top 10 Kpop Songs of July, 2022
5. Bad Dog – #Hyuna #현아 #KpopTop10 pic.twitter.com/Ap2QrZad9U

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 9, 2022

Top 10 Kpop Songs of July, 2022
3. In Ma Mind – #SIRO #시로 #KpopTop10 pic.twitter.com/I9ep3NACHW

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 9, 2022

Top 10 Kpop Songs of July, 2022
1. Hookah – #DALsooobin #달수빈 #KpopTop10 pic.twitter.com/G9kU2V0QqN

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 9, 2022

So, which were YOUR favorites?

Today’s Yes/No…

Cherry Kool-Aid Chicken Sandwich? Yes/No
Cherry Kool-Aid Chicken Sandwiches to Debut at LA County Fair https://t.co/2tzhLZQ10a

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 9, 2022

Certainly not for $18!

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August 8, 2022: The Horror Marathon continues! Creepy subways, models, and kids!

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The Midnight Meat Train (2008)

A photographer’s obsessive pursuit of dark subject matter leads him into the path of a serial killer who stalks late night commuters, ultimately butchering them in the most gruesome ways.

Thoughts: Some inspired direction here but the carnage is so over-the-top that it strays into silly territory. A solid pick for gore-hounds who don’t mind their movies not making sense.

3/5

The Neon Demon (2016)

An aspiring model, Jesse, is new to Los Angeles. However, her beauty and youth, which generate intense fascination and jealousy within the fashion industry, may prove themselves sinister.

Thoughts: Didn’t dislike it as much as most, but nevertheless have to admit it’s as beautiful and empty as some of the models portrayed in the film. Compulsively watchable – but, ultimately, a bit of a wank.

3.5/5

Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)

In 1967 Los Angeles, a widowed mother and her daughters add a new stunt to bolster their seance scam business by inviting an evil presence into their home, not realizing how dangerous it is.

Thoughts: Smart and scary with a standout performance by a young Lulu Wilson as a chaotically creepy kid.  Jeff Howard and Mike Flanagan at their absolute best. Of the 45 horror movies I’ve watched to date, this one is at the top.

4.5/5

So, what have YOU been watching lately?

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August 7, 2022: Suji Sunday!

Stopping to sniff the flowers.

Picture perfect.

Me and my gal.

Suji siesta

Her silent bark…

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August 6, 2022: The Thursday Lunch Finale!

Every Thursday I accompany Akemi to her pottery class in the Junction.  And, every Thursday, while she dabbles in clay, I enjoy a neighborhood stroll followed by a solo lunch followed by a matcha latte at a local cafe with free internet.  For our first six visits, I frequented the same fantastic delicatessen – When the Pig Came Home – working my way through the entire menu.  First it was the porchetta with crackling on milk bread, then it was the smoked meat, followed by, on subsequent visits, the philly cheesesteak, the jerk chicken on a bun, the peameal sandwich, and a variation of their BLT topped with apple slices and an egg (The Kim, named after the co-owner).  Every one of them delicious.

On my last visit, however, I learned that the restaurant would be closed for two weeks while the owners were away for their annual fishing trip.  And so I had to make alternate plans last Thursday and, after much back and forth, opted for – Chica’s Chicken – as I was curious to try out their spicy fried chicken sandwich.  My choices were Jalapeño Popper, Sweet Heat, Crispy Buffalo, or the O.G. topped with slaw, buttermilk slaw and served on Texas toast.  The latter came in a choice of six heat levels ranging from plain to Hot AF which is prepared with a combination of ghost peppers and Carolina reapers.  I’m sure you can guess my order.

Pictured above, the OG Sando, Hot AF.  It’s billed as “extremely hot” but, surprisingly, I just found it “hot”.  I don’t know.  Maybe I’m building up a tolerance in much the same way that full volume on my headphones doesn’t quite seem loud enough anymore, or my suspicion that what used to be 12 pt font has, somehow, shrunk down to 10 pt font but everyone keeps calling it 12 pt and pretending it’s always been that small.

Also, the sandwich was not quite up to the behemoth pictured on the restaurant’s instagram page (pictured above).  A pretty good sandwich nevertheless.  But not quite as enjoyable as anything on that deli menu.

Next week, Akemi has her final class – and I’ll be having my final lunch in the Junction.  So, what’s it going to be for the big finish?  Seafood, Thai, Filipino, or Tacos?   What do you think?

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August 5, 2022: The Horror Marathon continues!

Jennifer’s Body (2009)

A newly-possessed high-school cheerleader turns into a succubus who specializes in killing her male classmates. Can her best friend put an end to the horror?

Thoughts: There’s a glibness to the humor and an interminable delight in its own cleverness that makes this movie tonally off-putting. Still, is it entertaining? Yes. Is it scary? Definitely not.

3/5

Kill List (2011)

Nearly a year after a botched job, a hitman takes a new assignment with the promise of a big payoff for three killings. What starts off as an easy task soon unravels, sending the killer into the heart of darkness.

Thoughts: Unflinchingly brilliant and brutal in its examination of amorality, but it loses its way in its final act. I love to be surprised and challenged, but only insofar as there’s an underlying logic to the shocks and charades. And, in the end, esoteric rationalizations just don’t cut it.

3.5/5

Lamb (2021)

A childless couple discovers a mysterious newborn on their farm in Iceland.

Thoughts: The set-up is akin to an SNL parody skit, but Rapace’s commitment to the material makes it work. Weird, at times silly, Lamb never wavers in its commitment to playing it straight. Unique, disturbing and ultimately rewarding, but it takes a while to get there. Patience is required.

4/5

Today’s Yes/No…

4lb Big Bomb Onigiri? Yes/No
Say hello to the Big Bomb Onigiri, a beast of a Japanese rice ball https://t.co/cAuqjOlUhv via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 5, 2022

 

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