Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 454

July 9, 2013: The L.A. Wrap-up!

Akemi bids a fond farewell to some old friends.

Sadly, all good things come to an end, be they vacations, bacon-infused chocolates, or long lived scifi t.v. shows.  The other day, Akemi and I bid L.A. a fond farewell in fine style – with dinner at Jose Andres’ Bazaar,compliments of Martin Gero, and his lovely better half, Chelan Simmons.

The evening took me back to some of the memorable meals I enjoyed in Tokyo, every dish imaginative, delightfully surprising, and, most importantly, delicious…

Caviar cones

We started with two versions, the caviar cone pictured above and a salmon and lox with salmon roe.  The latter was accompanied by cream cheese (within the body of the cone), the former creme fraiche.

Olives (modern and traditional)

The traditional version was pretty damn good but the modern version, contained within a thin-walled gelatin capsule, was bursting with liquid olive flavor.

Smoke on the Water

Blackberries, Scotch Islay Mist and flame in the form of dry ice.  Sweet and strong but not overly so.

Not Your Everyday Caprese (cherry tomatoes and liquid mozzarella)

And yet, like most molecular creations, it possessed the flavor of the very best version of the dish it was trying to capture.

63 (celsius) degree egg with potato foam and caramelized chives

Martin and Akemi’s favorite.  Akemi insists she can make this one at home using the sous-vide machine and foamer.  We’ll see.

Lemon artichokes with black olive tapenade and dandelion

Good but my least favorite of the night.  A tad too tart for my taste.

Jamon Iberico and a fried farm egg with truffle butter

Spain’s vaunted Iberico pork on full display here.  It melts in your mouth, leaving behind traces of its salty sweetness.

Seared Paso Prime striploin with peas and scallions “calcot” style.

Very good although, I have to be honest.  Ever since I had wagyu in Tokyo seven years ago, nothing in North America quite compares.

Seared Mary’s Farm Chicken with honey dates, mustard caviar, and mustard greens.

The chicken was unbelievable.  Incredibly moist, tender, with crispy skin to either side!

Uni (sea urchin, avocado, steamed buns)

Not for everyone – but certainly for Akemi, Martin, and I.  A variation of the mini uni sub I enjoyed at Jose Andres’ restaurant in Las Vegas.

Seared squid with caramelized onion

They were sold out of the night’s squid special, so we settled for the regular version – and did just fine.  The meatiness of the body with the crispiness of the tentacles = perfection!

Philly cheesesteaks (Air bread, cheddar, mushrooms)

We concluded (the savoury portion) of our meal with these mini Philly cheese steaks – the aptly named “air bread” ultra thin, containing the melted cheese hidden inside.

From there we moved on to dessert – at an adjoining dessert room, its walls and counters lined with choices, everything from jellies and marshmallows to cookies and cakes.  And, in addition, there were the menu items to choose from!

A few of the desserts we enjoyed

Florentine, financier, chocolate chip, wedding cookie, double chocolate, pecan, hot chocolate mousse, red velvet cupcakes – just a few of the items we sampled.  It honestly felt like we’d been invited to Willy Wonka’s private lounge.

A wonderful meal to cap off four days of fantastic dining (with the exception of that first restaurant).

Akemi poses with the giant tapeworm

Monday morning, we were still mighty satisfied from the pervious night’s meal.  But there were two more places we had to hit – it being our last day and all.

Make a withdrawal from the cupcake ATM and Sprinkles.

We picked up two cupcakes from Sprinkles -

Sprinkles cupcakes: Carrot cake and red velvet

And two more from Crumbs -

Crumbs’ cupcakes: Carrot cake and red velvet cookies and cream.

- before retiring to our hotel for our Cupcake-Off!  The results?

Akemi preferred the Sprinkles carrot cake, finding the Crumbs counterparts too sweet, the icing in particular.  I, on the other hand, like sweet and, while I may have agreed with Akemi on the frosting, I preferred the carrot “cake” from Crumbs for its superior moistness.  In the battle of the red velvets, we both gave the edge to Sprinkles.

And that was it.  We caught our half-hour-late flight out of LAX and arrived in Vancouver just a little before 7:00 p.m.  The dogs were, of course, thrilled to have us back and, after taking them for a walk, Akemi and I even managed to get in a workout.

That’s it!  I’m on the program!  It’s going to be oatmeal and fish (and occasional dark chocolate only because it’s good for me) from hereonin!

Tagged: Bazaar, Bazaar by Jose Andres, Jose Andres

July 8, 2013: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Abar, the First Black Superman!

Monster am drunk reviewing dis movie.  Why not?  After all, me felt positively sloshed watching it.  It full of weird cuts, funky music, bizarre performances, interminable montage sekwences of people driving around, and a plot more ridikulous den Sam de Eagle’s cruising toupee.

Movie begin wit nice family moving into new home.  But neighbors not happy.  Not happy AT ALL.  Why dey not happy?  Becuz dis family be different.  Different how? Well, for one, de husband and wife talk like dey be reading off cue cards.  Barely. Either dat or dey be sekret robots.

Dr. and Mrs. Robot

Soon, word gets out.  Breaking news report on radio inform shocked listeners: “A black family has moved into Meadow Park…”!

Neighbors are clearly prejudiced against non-union aktors.

Gang ride to de reskue and scare off angry neighbors wit deir LED light bedecked jackets.  Dey led by guy called Abar who suggest Doc move back to his old neighborhood.  But doc refuse.  Mayor’s office swing by and offer to buy him out.  Doc refuse.  Even Doc’s crazy uncle break into home in middle of de night wearing creepy mask (what a joker!) and suggest he pack it in.  Doc say no way.

Abar plays to captive audience.  And old timey wheelbarrow.

Doc’s son have weird (even for dis movie) dream about Old West shoot-out.  De next day, dis inspire him to try to outgun a car.  Car prove faster – and heavier.

Everybody sad.  Doc finally get around to _Oh, by the way! – informing Abar dat he created superhuman serum while working on a cure for heart disease (!).  Dis be very surprising – especially since we’re over one hour into ninety minute movie.  He offer it to Abar.  Why he not take it himself?  Well, uh, good qwestion.  See, Doc claim he have weak heart and, uh, look, do you want super powers or not?

Abar take it and develop powers like…well, Monster not sure.  He turn booze into milk, car into horse and buggy, spaghetti into worms, and drug addikts into high school graduates.  Instantly!  BUT we learn dat if he use his powers for selfish gain, he temporarily lose dem.  How he know dis and how dis figure into story?  Beats monster.  Mebbe dey have sekwel planned.

Worms All’Amattricana.  See Big Bird for recipe!

Abar turn tables on angry neighbors.  He blow up bomber’s car.  He infest woman’s house wit rats.  He put snake in bed wit other woman.  He make neighborhood REALLY windy, den trap everyone in shrinking t.v. screen of death (?).

And to top tings off, we treated to surprising twist:

Bet you not see DAT coming!

Verdikt: Movie try to deliver message about evils of racism so heart in right place but you know what dey say: Road to Hell be lined wit good intentions.  And sitting thru dis movie definitely feel like one WEIRD road trip down down under.

Rating: 2 chocolate chippee cookies for unintended hilarity.

Today’s entry is dedicated to belated birthday gal and blog regular Tam Dixon!

Tagged: Abar the First Black Superman, Cookie Monster, Cookie Monster movie reviews, Cookie Monster reviews Abar the First Black Superman, Cookie Monster superhero movie reviews, superhero movies, superheroes, SuperMovie of the Week Club

July 7, 2013: L.A. Day #3! The birthday report! And such!

Shhhh.  Please keep your comments to a whisper.  We’re still recovering from last night’s festivities.

The invitation said “7:00 p.m. until late” but we arrived fashionably tardy, around 8:00 p.m. – which was when, coincidentally, we were told the lobster food truck would arrive.  We actually got there for 7:45 but the truck was already parked out front.  Akemi noticed it first.  Her excitement at spotting it was rivalled only by her happiness at seeing Martin again (“He has skin, soft like baby,”she would always say back in Toronto).

We rang the doorbell and, when nobody answered, assumed/hoped it was the right place, opened the door and strolled through the house to the back yard a crowd was watching the birthday boy decapitate a bottle of champagne with his new sabre. Yep, we were at the right place!

Our hostess and host on this evening: Chelan and the birthday boy.

The lobster food truck offered an insane variety of choices.  You could have a chilled lobster roll with mayo or a hot version with melted butter, lobster bisque, clam chowder, crab rolls, shrimp rolls, lobster tacos, lobster tails.  There was even lobster ice cream!  I must have made a half dozen trips!

Akemi rarin’ to eat.

A lot of interesting people in attendance: actors (including several familiar faces), writers (a mix of everything from comedy and dramatic writers to an animation writer working on the awesome Adventure Time), even a delightfully fascinating/charming sex educator/podcast host/consultant/coach, Sex Nerd Sandra (The Podcast, Blog, SexNerdSandra’s channel – YouTube).

The lovely Jewel Staite and her beau.

The Connecticut Roll: served hot with melted butter.

Akemi’s buttery lobster bisque

Chelan’s homemade cookies and cupcakes!

I was standing by the food truck, waiting for my fourth lobster roll, when I noticed a pink van pull up.  ”The donut girl is here!”I heard someone say.  A woman hopped out of the driver’s side, swung around to the back of the van and opened the doors to what I expected would be the donut delivery: maybe a couple of dozen boxes. Instead, she started unloading a bunch of equipment and it was then I realized she wasn’t there to simply deliver the donuts – she was there to make them!

Akemi celebrates the arrival of the doughnut gal!

Lobster tail

The donut woman set up shop in the back yard and got to work, frying up tiny two-bite size versions of the golden treats with a variety of toppings:

Your donut choices

I brought white wine to the party, figuring it would go with the seafood but it remained unopened because I discovered something that went even better with lobster:

Jefferson’s Kentucky Bourbon.

I’ll have to see if I can pick up a bottle at the Duty Free Shop on my way out tomorrow.

Martin’s cherished pizza oven.  Will have to test it out next time I’m in town. 

It was quite the birthday party.  I may have to hire Martin to host mine in October.

This morning, breakfast consisted of this -

And this -

Why, yes, it IS wallpaper paste.

But lunch consisted of this -

And this -

It was our first visit to Mozza and a memorable one.  Hands down one of the best crusts I’ve ever had.

We worked off lunch with a stroll through Santa Monica.  By the time we got back to the hotel, I was ready to swing by those two cupcake shops we’d passed the other day so that I could do a head to head taste test.  For the blog, of course.  But Akemi forbade me on the grounds that it wold ruin my appetite for tonight’s big blowout dinner

Today’s entry is dedicated to blog regular and birthday gal Das!

July 6, 2013: L.A. Day #2! Now THAT’S more like it!

As strange as it sounds, I really miss having the dogs around at night, especially their snoring, snarfling, and hacking that has, in time, become comforting background noise that lulls me to sleep.  Still, I managed to get in a good night’s rest in preparation for the big day.

By the time we woke up, it was too late for breakfast (given our noon lunch reservations) so we headed up to the 9th floor hotel restaurant and enjoyed drank tried a couple of breakfast “juice” blends. Akemi got a swamp green concoction that contained kale, green apple, cucumber, spinach and possibly moss, grass, and Fern, Shamrock, and Electric Lime color variations of Crayola Crayons.

Bottoms up!

It tasted pretty much how you’d expect something that looked like that would taste. My drink, the carrot-ginger-(something that tasted like old flip-flops left out in the sun), was actually worse.

We strolled around a bit, picked up a couple of bottles for tonight’s birthday festivities, then walked the single block down from our hotel to our lunch destination: Spago.  I know, I know.  The restaurant and its owner, Wolfgang Puck, have become L.A. cliches of sorts – but I must admit that, of all the places we had booked for our four day stay, this was the one I was most looking forward to.  I have never had a bad meal at Spago.  I have never had an okay meal at Spago.  I have never had any less than a great meal every time I’ve gone to Spago.  And – let me save you the suspense – this time was no different.

Ah, MUCH better.  Should’ve started the morning with this instead.

We took a seat at the bar while we were waiting for our table and, while scanning the top row, I happened to catch sight of a bottle of 18 year Yamazaki Japanese single malt whisky.  Wow.  Ungettable back home, so I ordered a glass.  Pricey liquid perfection!

We sat down to a spectacular lunch.  A little of this.  A little of that.  And, the piece de resistance, the ever-awesome Wiener Schnitzel: the breading crisp and thin, the meat melt-in-your-mouth tender…

The spicy tuna tartar cone.

Squash blossoms stuffed with goat cheese.

Sweet corn stuffed agnolotti with black truffle.

Sweet corn soup and mushrooms.

The Wiener Schnitzel.

The chocolate and hazelnut bar with banana sorbet.

While Akemi was off having her nails done this afternoon, I was at the hotel having a massage.  I am now relaxed and ready for action.

A full rundown of the birthday festivities in tomorrow’s entry complete with pics of the mayhem!

Tagged: Spago

July 5, 2013: A rough start to our L.A. foray!

Me, out with the wife and kid.

“This is your home security calling,”said the woman on the other end of the phone.  ”We have a burglar alarm going off at your residence.  Would you like me to send the police?”

That was the call I received about an hour after touching down in L.A., putting a most decided crimp in our afternoon stroll.  I spent the next twenty minutes anxiously awaiting word.  Finally, Kerry, who is staying at the house, called to tell me she’d run a perimeter sweep (her days on S.W.A.T. sure came in handy) and it was all clear.  All three dogs present and accounted for.  Not sure what happened. Although Kerry surmised she may have screwed up in setting the alarm, I highly doubted it was her fault since there was fully an hour between the time she left the house and the moment the alarm went off.  The only other options are: a) Someone tried to break in and was scared off by the burglar alarm, b) The alarm system is faulty or c) The dogs were trying to escape.

Biding their time before the big jailbreak.

Anyway, all in all not a great first day.  Akemi was faint with hunger when we finally checked into the hotel.  Apparently, her nine cherry breakfast feast would NOT tide her over until dinner.  ”I’m so hungry, my stomach and back touching!”she informed me.  So we stopped off at Bouchon Bakery by the hotel where she lunched on a yogurt parfait, and I snacked on a peanut butter and jelly (excellent!) and pistachio (fine) macaron.

The new digs.

The new neighborhood.

We were saving our appetites for Stop #1 of our L.A. food tour: Stefan’s at L.A. Farm.  This one was Akemi’s call and she was particularly looking forward to it, having watched and enjoyed owner/chef Stefan Richter on both of his Top Chef appearances.  Our experience was…well…mixed.  First off, I have to say that the service was fantastic.  Our waiter was professional, courteous, knowledgeable about the menu, and went above and beyond to keep things positive after I discovered a piece of metal in our hummus.  It was our second plate of the meal and, unfortunately, killed my appetite (and, almost, one of my teeth.  I made two trips to the bathroom to make sure I hadn’t chipped it).  The mini corn dogs appetizers were fun but I was disappointed with the pork cheek component of the pork cheek and confit duck risotto (a diced charcuterie version over the straight braise I was expecting).  Akemi was also let down by the dessert apple-cinammon beignets that were really more apple fritters than beignets.  Terrific service aside, we both left disappointed, wishing we’d chosen Michael Voltaggio’s Ink or the consistently good Scarpetta instead.

We caught a taxi back to the hotel.  Our driver was an – surprise (!) – actor working toward his big break.  Very nice, positive guy.  We spent most of the ride talking about “the business”.  Sigh.  You know, there are times I really regret listening to my parents and giving up on that professional hit man correspondence course.

We capped off the evening with a second visit to Bouchon, this time for coffee and a chocolate and salted caramel tart:

Big day tomorrow: Spago!  The Third Street Promenade!  Akemi visits a Japanese nail spa!  And, of course, Martin Gero’s birthday bash!  I plan to get REALLY drunk and eat all his house plants.  Can’t wait!

July 4, 2013: Scoring half a key of the good stuff! Yes, we have no bananas…or plans for Comicon!

Yeah, check it out.  A half kilo of pure, unadulterated Greek Gold, a.k.a. roasted lamb.  None of that cut, oven-baked stuff you’ll find at other Greek Fests.   This is the real deal: savory, spit-roasted, and served with absolutely nothing.  Want sides?  They’re extra!

In addition to my meaterific hit, Akemi scored a somewhat dry chicken souvlaki.  And to top things off, perhaps the most cloyingly sweet dessert in existence:

Baklava

And those golden balls of delectable doom:

Loukoumades

The only true Greek Fest in Vancouver continues through Sunday, July 7th: http://vancouvergreeksummerfest.com/

I’ve had a bunch of people inquiring about my plans for this year’s Comicon.  Alas, sadly, I don’t have any.  Akemi and I had a fantastic time last year, at the con itself but mainly out on the streets with the crazy costumed people (Akemi felt right at home).  My aim was to make another appearance this year in support of Dark Matter, but the planned t.v. series has been in a holding pattern for months.  All the pieces are in place and all the partners want the show – only one partner wants the show for “later”, thus putting a pin in production plans and the kibosh on my San Diego aspirations.

Ah, well.  There’s always next year.

Hey, have you voted yet?  We’re giving our resident film critic, Cookie Monster, a break from sitting through crappy superhero movies – in favor of crappy other movies.  We’ve narrowed down the nominations to…

Take Our Poll

Cast your ballots.  The polling stations close midnight, Monday July 8th!

So, how are your 4th of July celebrations coming along?  How are you commemorating the day?  In tribute to our American friends, I picked up a bottle of Kentucky bourbon this afternoon and am sitting on on the back porch with the dogs, enjoying a glass of 12 year old W. L. Weller as I write this blog entry.

Travel day tomorrow.  Akemi and I are L.A.-bound for Golden Boy Marty G.’s birthday bash – and a few memorable meals.  Akemi is especially looking forward to checking out Top Chef finalist Stefan Richter’s restaurant.  That and the shopping.

July 3, 2013: Dog matters! What movie will we force guest reviewer Cookie Monster to sit through next? Let’s put it to a vote!

Check out Lulu, fairly bursting with excitement at the prospect of going all Risky Business this long weekend.  I mean, sure, she looks like a sweet little angel lying there, but don’t be deceived.  Her dreams are filled with plots and schemes and twisty stings.  Dog-sitter, Kerry, better be on her toes or she’ll be in for four days of mayhem.

Some dog-related links:

If you’re running errands in this heat, leave your dog at home. Veterinarian Sits in a Hot Parked Car for 30 Minutes dogingtonpost.comVeterinarian, Dr. Ernie Ward, set out to see what it feels like for a dog helplessly trapped in a hot car. Armed with a clock,a thermometer and a video camer

A pack of dogs, clearly inspired by Batman: Stray dogs save girl from being raped in Argentina www.dogheirs.comA 12-year-old girl was saved by five stray dogs after a man attempted to rape her in Argentina, according to local media in the country. Martin Grande’s 89.9 FM reported that the incident occurred on June 23 around 9:30 am in the morning. The young girl was walking alone and on her way to her Aunt’s…

Police officers have hard jobs.  In addition to stress, danger, and long hours, they must also deal with almost constant public criticism, most of it, in my opinion, unjustified.  Police put up with a hell of a lot and work hard, serving and protecting, building trust and respect in their respective communities.  And then something like this happens to undermine all that: Hawthorne Police Launch 2 Investigations Into Fatal Dog Shooting

Think pet insurance is a good idea?  Think again: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2354214/Vicky-Hughes-sold-clothes-eBay-save-dog-pet-insurers-refused-pay-up.html

Awwww:

Our Supermovie of the Week Club continues on Monday when we’ll be joined by resident film critic, Cookie Monster, who will offer his thoughts on the 1977 classic movie Abar, the First Black Superman. Moving forward, I thought it would be nice to mix things up a bit and alternate our ongoing superhero-themed selections with other non-superhero fare.  And so, after considering your many recommendations, I offer up the following nominations:

Take Our Poll

Get voting!  Polls close on midnight, Monday July 8th.

July 2, 2013: The Post-Canada Day Post!

Last year, we celebrated Canada Day by driving down to Steveston Village for the annual Salmon Festival.  This year, we did something a little different, choosing to avoid the big crowds and traffic in favor of an actual “holiday” at home in which we did absolutely nothing and a whole bunch of everything including (but not limited to): reading, watching, eating, and hanging with the dogs.

Speaking of whom – the temperature has been downright tropical of late, and no one has enjoyed it more than these guys.  Look at them, all smiles:

Jelly

Bubba

Lulu, meanwhile, just likes lay out on the porch and take the sun.  But not before getting comfortable -

Four more days until we’re L.A.-bound for Golden Boy Marty G.’s birthday bash.  What does he have planned for the festivities.  Can’t say for certain but rumors abound.  Three words: “lobster” “food” “truck”!  I’ve also decided on a birthday gift.  For the most part.  A big gift now and maybe something smaller that catches my eye while shopping on Rodeo Drive.  A pair of jade fire screens?  A saffron hat? An antique monocle worn by General Erich Ludendorff?  In the unlikely event he actually reads this blog, I’ll have to keep it on the down low, but I’ll let you all know before I leave.  In the end, after much consideration, I decided I’d get him something I’D want to receive. Perfect!

Finally, wrapping up our discussion on this week’s Supermovie of the Week Club feature, The Amazing Spiderman, here’s a little something from blog regular HBMC: How The Amazing Spiderman Should Have Ended…

P.S. I suffered a workout injury this morning.  I suspect I may have pulled my right lung.

July 1, 2013: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews The Amazing Spiderman!

Hey, you know what movie NOT needed a remake?  Spiderman.  De original had fun, humor, a great origin story, and a colorful, nuanced villain in Norman Osbore/Green Goblin.  Dis new, improved (?) version have half de fun, hardly any of de humor, a not as interesting origin story, and a one-note villain in Curt Connors/Lizard.  What next for de Hollywood remake machine?  Batman?  Les Miserables?  Schindler’s List?

Peter Parker be a loser.  He have no friends.  He picked on at skool. FORTUNATELY for him, as ALWAYS happen in real life, de hottest girl in skool fall for him.  One day, he comes across dead father’s old briefcase and, inside it, many strange scientific documents.  Dis lead him to start researching his father on google – someting he never had any inklination to do before.  He diskover father and his research partner, one-armed Dr. Curt Conners, worked at company called Oscorp.

Oscorp be a big company involved in all sorts of high-tech research. FORTUNATELY for Peter, none of dis high tech research went into office security which simply consist of woman at desk handing out name badges like candy.  No, I.D.?  No problem.  Just help yourself and have a nice day!

Peter wander around sekret corridors and waltz into top sekret lab where he get bitten by a radioactive spider.  And before you can say “Here we go again”, he demonstrating superhuman abilities like super strength, super agility, and super douchiness.  After giving some poor convenience store owner a hard time, he not bother to help him stop a robber – a robber who end up shooting his Uncle Ben dead!

New and improved Peter Parker!  Now wit 50% more hair!!!

Peter very upset and decide to keep the city safe from crime track down robber who shot Uncle Ben to assuage his own guilty conscience. “He’s tracking down a bunch of criminals that look the same like he’s got some sort of personal vendetta,”remarks Police Captain George Stacy in one craptacularly unsubtle piece of dialogue.

As if getting Uncle Ben killed wasn’t enough, Peter also help his father’s old research partner, Dr. Curt Conner, create lizard serum dat turn de good doctor into…

…a giant lizard.  Seriously.  What you expect?  A green goblin?

Lizard.  Just one step cooler den Kangaroo.

Spiderman battle Lizard on top of bridge in front of hundreds of witnesses – none of whom seem to remember Lizard guy later so de police just put out an arrest warrant for Spiderman.  BUT in addition to battling Lizard, Spiderman also take time to save kid from falling car. We treated to drawn out suspenseful sekwence of Peter trying to convince boy to climb out of car toward him as automobile threatens to plummet.  Eventually, our “brilliant” hero remember “Oh, yeah!  I have webbing!” and use it to save de kid.

After visiting Dr. Connors in his lab and seeing a giant rat eat a mouse, Peter conklude Dr. Conners = de Lizard and report dis to Captain Stacy.  But Captain Stacy who not believe him – Why de hell would he? – and den change his mind and mebbe believe him – What?  Why?

Spiderman track Dr. Connors down to his new lab hidden in de sewers. Seriously.  He moved all his lab equipment underground.  Wit his one arm.

Connors turn into Lizard and fight Spiderman.  Spidey get away – but leave behind his camera…wit a Property of Peter Parker sticker on it. Yep, just like Bart Simpson in dat Little Timmy Down de Well episode of De Simpsons except, in dis case, de item in qwestion belong to a supposed “genius”.

Lizard attack high school looking for Peter.  Cue film’s high point: Terrifik Stan Lee camee.  Den, back to middling movie.  Spiderman beat him up and chase him into sewers.  He phone up Gwen and tell her to go to Oscorp and start working on antidote for Lizarditis…becuz she be a genius too!

But on way to help her, Spiderman caught by police.  He handcuffed and Captain Stacy pull off his mask.  Now EVERYONE know Peter Parker be Spiderman!  Well, everyone who happen to be around when city’s most wanted vigilante be captured…exaktly one person: Captain Stacy. FORTUNATELY.  Peter tell him his daughter, Gwen, be in trouble so Captain let him go.  But Spiderman shot anyway by policeman giving him good luck send-off.

Wounded, it not look like Spiderman going to make it.  But construktion workers band together and help him by giving him a lift on various cranes (FORTUNATELY) CONVENIENTLY positioned around town.

Gwen gives father antidote and father give it to Spidey who try to stop Lizard from dispersing Lizard gas.  Spidey get antidote into dispersal unit and, when it blow up, Lizard turn back into Curt Connors who save Spiderman from falling off building…even tho, presumably, he would have remembered he could have used his webbing to save himself.

Dying Captain Stacy tell Peter not to involve Gwen in his Spiderman stuff so, after supporting Her and seeing her thru her father’s funeral, Peter be a man and tell her can’t see her anymore…Oh, no wait.  Dat OT what happen.  Instead, he simply not bother to show up at her father’s funeral and act like a total douchebag, pulling de old “mebbe she’ll break up wit me first!” ruse.  But FORTUNATELY for Peter she see magikally see thru it and guess he just doing it because her father made him promise.  Great guess!

Movie end wit suggestion dey may hook up after all.

And her father roll over in his grave.

P.S. Mid-credits scene involving mysterious guy in hat do little to whet audience appetite for inevitable sekwel – dat at least a year away.  FORTUNATELY.

Verdikt: Monster could almost hear de weary producers and writers sighing: “Here we go again…”.

Rating: 6 imitashun chocolate chippee cookies

June 30, 2013: Hotpot! Movies! Kellie’s book! And the Mailbag!

What is wrong with the above picture?  I’m not sure.  I just can’t put my finger on it.  All the food seems to be on the table and ready for eating.  The table has been set for six…and there are six diners ready – and one or two downright anxious – to chow down.  Oh, wait.  I got it. Lulu has TWO rice bowls.  That’s it.

Anyway, yesterday. in keeping with this week’s weather theme – Hot! – Akemi decided to host a hot pot party with her friends.  What, pray tell, is a hot pot party?  Well, all you need a heat source, pot of hot soup -

And various edibles for cooking:

Home made dumplings

Also, if you’re Akemi, made a little prepared side dish of my favorite mapo tofu:

Akemi and her friends had a grand time, spending a couple of hours sitting, chatting, and eating.  For my part, I got fed up waiting for those damn dumplings to cook, polished off three bowls of the mapo tofu with rice, then retreated to the kitchen where I washed some dishes, dried them, dropped and shattered the brittlest glass pot I own, swept, and vacuumed.

Great news for Cookie Monster compliments of blog regular Keith who discovered a website with a free-to-watch copy of the 1977 superhero classic movie: Abar, the First Superman.  Bless his malevolent little heart.

Beware his righteous stare!

And so, after our Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes for this Monday’s review and discussion of the 2012 Spiderman rehash, we’ll be moving on/back to Abar, the First Black Superman.

The week following, we’re going to mix things up with a movie of YOUR choice.  This blog is open to your suggestions until tomorrow night at which point we’ll put it to a vote.  So far, recommended titles include The Fifth Element, Battlefield Earth, and something written by Carl Binder (which, by process elimination, would be Pocahontas).

Hey, my friend, talented writer, and occasional blog lurker, Kellie, has just self-published her first novel!  Check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Darkling-ebook/dp/B00DMNZIEA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1372533098&sr=1-1

Mailbag:

PBMom writes: “Update on Woody’s son: They have moved him out of ICU to what could be considered a step-up unit. He’ll be observed there and then he will have one more transfer to another floor and then after that DISCHARGE!! Amazing. Just a reminder for everyone to sign up to be organ transplant donors and to let your family know your wishes (and better yet put it in a Living Will). Although you life might be at its end, your organs can give life to others, others like Woody’s son.”

Answer: Great to hear!  Thanks for this.

Keith wrote: “Also, I could have sworn that he did a League of Extraordinary Gentleman review but I can’t find it. So what’s the deal? That counts as a superhero film, doesn’t it?”

Answer: Nope, Cookie Monster never reviewed it because – again, nope – it isn’t really a superhero movie.  It’s a comic book movie to be sure but not really a superhero movie.  But that doesn’t mean we can’t force him to watch it!

Tam Dixon writes: “Any luck picking out a gift?”

Answer: Not yet.  I was entertaining the notion of signing him up for one of those Bacon of the Month clubs but have reconsidered.  Surely I can find something awesome in L.A.

dasndanger writes: “The 10 WTF moments froze up on me, and I only got through the first five. However, it did make me realize why sometimes I hate lists like this – not only because each entry is on a separate, advertisement and/or link-laden page, but also because the stuff they nit-pick is usually incredibly petty. It just feels like they’re trying to hard.”

Answer: To which nitpick are you referring?  Superman magically spinning the world backwards so he can turn back time and undead Lois Lane?  Or the fact that a subway full of commuters discover Spiderman’s secret identity in Spiderman 2, but this inconvenient fact is simply swept under the logic rug and immediately forgotten?

dasndanger also writes: “I really wish you liked corn, Joe.”

Answer: Who says I don’t like corn?  The corn soup at Fuel/Refuel was my absolute favorite.

Mike from Canada writes: “I just noticed your reading Wool.
I downloaded the set for my Kindle a while back but then forgot all about it. What’s it like?”

Answer: Interesting premise.

Mike from Canada also writes: “And third vote: No Country for Old Men.”

Answer: Actually, Baron Destructo already reviewed No Country for Old Men for this blog.  You can check out his thoughts here (http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/february-6-2008-cookie-monster-reviews-snakes-on-a-plane-baron-destructo-reviews-no-country-for-old-men/) as well as Cookie Monster’s take on Snakes on a Plane.