Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 402

December 28, 2014: Old Montreal! Le Bremner!

Last night, Akemi and I visited Old Montreal, my neighborhood of choice should we ever get a place here.  It’s beautiful, especially this time of year -

After taking a stroll, we headed over to our dining destination on this night: Le Bremner, sister restaurant to Garde Manger.  There’s no signage outside the restaurant so, if you go, make sure you check the address.

A few of the culinary highlights -

Akemi’s hake and maple dashi clam chowder.  She loved it – but found it too rich and could finish it.  So I finished it for her.

The lobster BLT

Pancakes and sucre a la creme Pimms butter.

Equally terrific were the Jerusalem Artichoke 3 ways, the lamb heart & remoulade, and my lamb neck cavetelli.

Our dining companions: my friend (and future collaborator?) Anne-Marie Perrotta and her fiancé  Jerome.

More good times – and equally good eating.  But when I get back to Toronto, I’m ON THE PROGRAM!

No.  Really.

Tagged: Old Montreal

December 27, 2014: Jelly works up an appetite!

Too much fiber in her diet!

 

Tagged: Dogs, pug, pugs, senior pugs

December 26, 2014: Getting together with Buddy! And Mrs. Buddy!

Today, I spent the afternoon with my buddy (Lawrence) and his wife (Mrs. Buddy). I’d heard they were having  a little family get-together and, well, considering myself family, I decided to attend.  Festivities officially got underway after 1 p.m., but official start times are for suckers.  If got there early so that I could scope out the eats and squirrel away the choice cookies and dessert squares.

As most of you probably don’t know, Lawrence is my oldest and dearest buddy, our friendship stretching way back to high school when I first encountered him, indirectly, during a gym class football game.  Our Phys Ed teacher, playing quarterback of course, feathered a touch pass my way as I was running a slant route across the middle of the field.  The ball bounced off my hands, and dropped to the ground.  “Nice catch, Lawrence,”he snarked.  “Lawrence?”I wondered.  “Who’s Lawrence?”

Well, actually, it wasn’t Lawrence back then.  Back in high school, before the name change, it was…something else.  I can’t recall.  But I do remember he had to change it to avoid confusion with some other similarly named individual, though far more famous individual.  I think it was C3PO.

Anyway, all that to say we eventually did meet and have remained good friends ever since.  Whenever I’m in town, getting together is always a top priority so that we can reconnect, rehash old times, and cackle incessantly at each other’s jokes, much to the chagrin of our weary significant others.  And so it was today, between lasagna and homemade cheesecake squares.  We had a few laughs, he gave me the grand tour of the renovations being done to his place (and some of the treasures unearthed in the process: vintage hockey cards, an old Batman relic, a mummified ear!), and proudly showed off some of his painstakingly assembled collections (champagne bottles, fridge magnets, back issues of Redbook!).

Good times, good times!

Stop motion magic of Buddy and Mrs. Buddy in action

Ah, this takes me back to my buddys’ wedding – lovingly captured in these two blog entries:

https://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/october-9-2010-wedding-day/

https://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2010/10/11/october-11-2010-10-10-10-lawrences-big-day/

More good times, good times!

December 25, 2014: The Christmas Wind-down!

Akemi and I spent much of the day winding down from last night’s festivities.  It was quite an evening. A couple of the culinary highlights -

After dinner, dessert, and drinks, we retired to the living room for the present-opening portion of the show.  As usual, mostly food and drink-related items for me including a set of copper mugs for when I host my own Moscow Mule soirees.  Everyone got in on the action, even the dogs -

And some more so than others.  Lulu, for instance, spent much of the night helping herself to all the other dogs’ Christmas toys.

It was a sweet, sweet Christmas haul.

By the time all was said and done and unwrapped, we were ready for bed.

And then, this morning, we were all up bright and early (Thanks to Bubba who has been an early riser of late).  We ate leftovers while he dogs had a special Christmas Day breakfast prepared by Chef Akemi.

Hope you’re all enjoying equally relaxed Thursday (It IS Thursday, isn’t it?).  I’m off to read something.

P.S. Sis says thanks to all you well-wishers!

December 24, 2014: Twas the day before Christmas and all through the town, Joe was getting stuff done and running around!

Seriously.  You’d think we were back in Vancouver.

On perhaps the rainiest day of December, Akemi and I found ourselves running around Montreal, running errands.  First, it was exchanging gifts and, of course, food (“Put the shrimp in the oven at 400 for 2o minutes!”).  Then, we were off to the basement of the Ogilvy department store where I picked up my Christmas gift from Sis (on account of her being laid up with some chest thing that may be a bad cold or muscular ailment or pleurisy [which I thought went out of fashion at the turn of the 20th century along alongside derby hats and laudanum]).

Gendron (http://montrealgazette.com/life/urban-expressions/my-montreal-chocolatier-daniel-gendron-of-ogilvys-new-chocolate-boutique) is my favorite chocolate shop in the city.  The chocolates are wonderful, tasty and varied (blue cheese!), but what truly sets them apart are their remarkably thin shells.  I picked up a box of 12 along with a dark chocolate pistachio bar and some baking chocolate chips.

After that, it was four blocks over to my favorite comic shop in Montreal – 1 000 000 Comix (https://www.facebook.com/pages/1000000-COMIX/1437682166443408) – where my buddy Rob Steal was working while owner (and Montreal Comicon CEO) Alex La Prova if presumably of enjoying a well-deserved retirement somewhere on the yacht he purchased with his comic book proceeds.  I picked up a couple of intriguing-looking first issues (Eric Stephenson’s They’re Not Like Us #1, and Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Bitch Planet #1 which was described as Orange is the New Black..in Space!) and the fourth volume of the ever-awesome Saga, written by Brian K. Vaughan which I’ll be jumping on tonight.

We had lunch at Kojak, a Montreal institution, where my friends and I enjoyed many a gyro pita between final call and the 4:00 a.m. all-night bus back to the West Island.  I remember my friend Suzanne once warning me: “The guy I was with ordered the hot sauce.  His nose bled all night!”.  Now THAT is one spicy hot sauce.  Her buddy was clearly a wuss as the worst side effect I suffered was hiccups.

And, finally, on our way home, we stopped off at, appropriately enough, The Sushi Stop (430 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest in Old Montreal) for traditional Christmas sushi (?) to compliment mom’s Christmas Eve feast.

Finally, to those wondering – yes, I intend to offer up my own list of my top reads in 2014.  Work on yours and we’ll exchange recommendations in the next few days.

Merry Christmas Eve!

December 23, 2014: Things I learned today!

Things I learned today: 1. How to make Osso Buco Milanese. 2. I don’t like Osso Buco Milanese. 3. Most of the Best Books of 2014 lists out there range from ridiculous to utter bullshit.  A novel shouldn’t be lauded merely on the basis of a touching premise.  Execution really should factor in. 4. My dogs will keep me up until 1:30 a.m. if they’re uncomfortable in a new place. 5. My dogs will wake me up at 5:30 a.m. if they’re uncomfortable in a new place. 6. I do not function well on less than three hours of sleep. 7. My sister dresses her dogs up in outfits almost as ridiculous as the outfits Akemi makes our dogs wear -

8. ALMOST as ridiculous -

9. My sister also dresses my dogs in outfits as ridiculous as the ones Akemi makes them wear -

10. Mussels are a real pain to clean.

Today’s informative blog entry is dedicated to long-time reader Gilder/baterista9.

December 22, 2014: Montreal Road Trip!

Whenever we bring out the suitcases, the dogs start to worry.  And, invariably, Bubba parks himself inside one of the suitcases as if to not-so-subtly suggest we might want to consider bringing him along.  It was only when he saw us packing away his dog bed that he seemed to calm down, presumably realizing  that, this time, he was coming along for the ride.

Following us around anxiously while we made our Christmas preparations seemed to thoroughly exhaust him.

Lulu, perhaps sensing a big day lay ahead, turned in early as well.

Jelly – well, she was her usual alert and cranky self.

We woke up not-all-that-early and made the drive in about five hours.  While Akemi snoozed, I listened to the first six podcasts of Serial.  I’m enjoying it but, so far, haven’t been all that swayed by the suggestions of innocence.  Looking forward to listening to the last six episodes on the drive back.

The dogs hanging with their cousins, Felix and Caramel.

Mom.

A few of the dishes she customarily prepares for my arrival: fried hot peppers, crab mousse, and stewed rabbit.

And of course, for dessert, mom’s Friendship Cake.

Whew.  It’s only 8:30 p.m. and I feel like it’s more like midnight.  Tomorrow, I’ll be running errands (heading downtown to pick up lobsters) in preparation for our big Christmas Eve dinner.  Also tomorrow, I think Akemi and I will be taking over the kitchen to make dinner.  Akemi’s thinking risotto and is strongly urging me to make Osso Buco Milanese.  Anyone have a can’t miss recipe?

December 21, 2014: Drunken (Southern) Uncles! That Bourbon and Brown Butter Cookie – with white chocolate chunks – recipe!

I made these for the Dark Matter cookie exchange and, since so many of you asked (there must’ve been upwards of two or three of you!), I’m sharing my version of this recipe.  I say “my version” because I used this recipe (http://buddingbaketress.blogspot.ca/2013/04/brown-butter-bourbon-chocolate-chip.html) as a template and refined to my liking.  To achieve the taste, texture and consistency I wanted, I modified the Bakergirl recipe by cutting out a 1/4 cup of cafe flour, eliminating the baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon, and, oh yeah, adding just a touch more bourbon.  Instead of the suggested two tablespoons, I went with cup of Makers Mark 46.  And, finally, instead of milk (or dark) chocolate, I went with white chocolate because I felt it best complimented the bourbon flavour without overshadowing it.

The Ingredients

2 cups cake flour

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 eggs (I used duck eggs because they’re richer)

2 bars white chocolate

1 1/4 cup (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, browned

1 1/2 cups brown sugar (I used 1 cup light brown sugar + 1/2 cup dark brown sugar)

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 CUP BOURBON!

The Instructions

1. Brown your butter over medium-high heat until it attains a nutty brown appearance, then cover and refrigerate.

2. Combine your flour and set aside.

3. Once your butter has cooled, combine with brown and granulated sugar.  Once creamed, add the vanilla, the eggs and, finally, the bourbon.

4. Combine with the flour (I used my hands), then put it back in the refrigerator and allow it to chill overnight.

5. The following day, chop your white chocolate.

6. Depending on how bing you want your cookies, use 3-4 white chocolate chunks per cookies.  Roll them into balls, then flatten them.

7. Bake them at 350 fahrenheit for anywhere from 15-18 minutes.

8. Let them cool, then enjoy them with a glass of milk (with a shot of bourbon).

***

I just made a batch for Christmas.  Tomorrow, Akemi and I (and the dogs) will be making the 4-6 hour drive to Montreal.  We’ll head out early tomorrow morning and I’m sure it’ll be smooth sailing – despite the fact that the “change engine oil” light has been on all week and indicates I’m at 1% engine oil.  Normally, I’d be worried, but Tony at the office had the oil changed and assured me it’s just a matter of resetting the indicator – which has proven all but impossible despite my various attempts.

Anyway – ROAD TRIP!  Hopefully there will still be some cookies left by the time I arrive.

Tagged: Bourbon and Brown Butter cookies, Bourbon and Brown Butter Cookies with white chocolate chunks, Bourbon cookies

December 20, 2014: The Dark Matter pre-holiday wrap-up! Alex Mallari Jr. in action! THE katana!

One of the last things we did before packing it in for the holidays was go on a walk-thru of our standing sets.  Of course, not all of them are quite yet standing (ie. the shuttle, parts of the space station) and those that are still have a ways to go, but our Art Department did a phenomenal job making it presentable for the tour.  The bridge consoles were in, the corridors lit, and there was even some preliminary playback on the screens.  It all looked, in a word, superfantastic.  I snapped a bunch of pics – and have been doing so for weeks now, documenting the ship’s progress.  I’ll hold off on posting them until we’re officially in production  – but there are plenty of other behind-the-scene pics to show you in the meantime…

(photos c/o Alex Mallari Jr.)

Those of you familiar with the Dark Matter know that the character known as FOUR (aka Ryo Tetsuda, aka Ryo Ishida, aka Slashy McStabberson) isn’t the gunslinging type.  Oh, sure, he packs a sidearm, but his preferred weapon is the katana – sometimes two.  Despite having no formal sword training experience prior to landing the role, under the guidance of our incredible Stunt Coordinator John Stead (more on him in the coming weeks!), actor Alex Mallari Jr. has transformed himself into a twin-blade wielding natural.  Earlier this week, John showed us a video of Alex in training, running through the choreography for the first “training room discovery” scene – a jaw-dropping sequence that perfectly captured the moment as scripted:

“He stands frozen, eyes fixed straight ahead.  Shuts his eyes.  Beat.  And suddenly launches into action: charging, turning, back-pedalling, leaping, ducking, as the blades whirl and sing around him, slicing through the air.  He makes his way across the room in a remarkable display of swordsmanship, lightning quick reflexes controlling the deadly katanas in a blur of movement…”

It was unbelievable.

Check him out on twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexMallariJr

Over the course of series, Alex will use two different “production katanas”.  The first is a super lightweight painted bamboo that, I’ve been told, is all the rage on Hong Kong action movie sets.

LBW testing the bamboo blade.

The second is the hero sword, forged of equally light aluminum -

Here it is c/o of our Props Master, Victoria Klein.

Our Production Designer, Ian Brock, designed the unique signature symbol that adorns the saya (scabbard) -

And the blade itself.

Paul checks the weight.

Anyway, we’re all done for the time being (except for the Art Department, Construction, the cast, and yours truly who will be doing another pass on all the scripts) and look ahead to our January 5th return.  Yesterday, it was one final stroll through the sets and then we locked up for the holidays.  Done and done.

Still, I can’t help but feel like I’ve forgotten something…

Tagged: Alex Mallari Jr., Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v. series, science fiction, Science Fiction Television, scifi, scifi television, SF, SF television

December 19, 2014: Prep hiatus! I’ll sleep ’til January!

Today marked the end of our final week of prep before the holidays – and despite the fact that it wasn’t all that busy (it WILL get busier), I’m exhausted.  Some of that may be attributable to the last mad dash to get pink drafts of episodes #101 and #102, and production whites of #107, #108 and #109 out before the production offices close.  Or the late night meet and greet dinner and drinks.  But I mainly blame that early Thursday morning location survey that saw me getting up at 5:45 a.m. so that I could catch the 7:00 a.m. tour bus to Waterloo and Hamilton.

All aboard!

I mean, it was still dark outside when we left the production offices.  Dark!

Oh, it may not mean all that much to you now but, when the episodes air, you’ll refer back to this blog entry, and this particular picture, and say: “Hey!  This was them scouting the location for that initial confrontation with the Ferrous Corp. soldiers!”

“And this is the area where our crew first encounters the miners.”

“And…well…I don’t remember this room.”  Well, that’s because we’re not using it on this particular shoot – but I snapped a pic anyway because I found it exceptionally creepy.  Maybe we’ll come back when we film that horror movie.

The reactor room – scene of the final showdown – and our Butch and Sundance moment.

I’m ready to do my imitation of Lulu doing an imitation of a boneless ham.