November 30, 2011: Another Dark Matter interview! Adopting a healthier lifestyle! Culinary Triumphs!

Check out the latest interview I did for my upcoming comic book series, Dark Matter, this one with my buddy Shaun Manning over at Comic Book Resources: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=35481.  It offers a little more insight into the series and characters as well as a two-page sneak peek of what's to come.

Yes, it's true.  I've adopted a healthier life.  Note I use the word "healthier" rather than "healthy" because I have no intention of giving up my dessert habit.  Chocolate, ice cream, and cake are as important a part of my life as…hell, I honestly can't think of anything more important.  Which is why the other 25% of the time when I'm not indulging, I'm either working out or eating right.  I schedule two work-outs a day, cardio in the morning and weights at night, so that even if happen to miss one, I'm still covered for the deay.  I'm also eating a lot fish lately – this, in no small part due to the fact that my girlfriend is Japanese and she is all about the fish: salmon, snapper, tuna usually baked, roasted or served as sushi.  Personally, I'm partial to rainbow trout either butterfield and pan-fried with a little thyme, butter, and garlic or roasted with tarragon, lemon, shallots, and a splash of sake.  I do a great slow-baked salmon that never fails to come out fork tender, a seabass (lately sablefish) that's seared then finished in the oven with a hoisin and green onion glaze, a roasted mackerel with tomatoes, sweet onions, and meyer lemon, and salmon collars slathered in sesame oil, sea salt and garlic before being grilled to a crispy on the outside, succulent on the inside finish.  And, of course, no meal would be complete without those delectable sides.  I recently discovered the joys of cooking the Jerusalem Artichoke (aka sunchoke).  I scrub them down, half them, then toss them, unpeeled, with a little olive oil, sea salt, minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, and serrano pepper powder before popping them in the oven for half an hour.  Fantastic.

Recent culinary triumphs:

Oven-roasted herring with tomato, lemon, sweet onions and sake.

Akemi's luxurious squash soup.

Akemi's Chinese rice. Addictive!

Those Jerusalem Artichokes I was talking about. A great alternative to potatoes.

So, how are you all doing?  Exercising?  Eating right?  Let's hear about your recent culinary triumphs.

Ironically enough, my latest culinary triumph came on a night I should have been out enjoying Refuel's annual and awesome Whole Hog Dinner.  I've been so overwhelmed lately that I completely forgot my booking.  And this is the second time it's happened.  A month ago, I missed a special foie gras dinner.  Missing foie gras AND pork cheeks? I must be losing my mind.