Anthony Bourdain is a bad ass.  He knows it.  Everyone knows it.  But, one thing I appreciate after meeting him is his humility.  He didn’t seem like an arrogant prick.  Instead, he was humble and quiet.  During the show, there was a slight hint of uneasiness while he was up on the stage.  He was fidgety and a little restless, unlike the bold and confident guy on TV.  And during the meet and greet, he didn’t say much except, ‘Hello’ and ‘Thank you.’  Now, one could translate this into someone who doesn’t give a shit about meeting fans, but I am going to take it as someone who is talented and wants to make others think, speak, eat, and drink.  He doesn’t have to be flashy and ‘in your face’…that would be Guy Fieri.  Instead, he can be who he is, a pretty cool guy who took days to build up the courage to introduce himself to one of his icons, Iggy Pop.     

Eric Ripert is a delight.  This is a man who cares.  He cares about people, the Earth, and food.  During the show, he shared his feelings about the show Hell’s Kitchen and the importance of being a mentor rather than a tyrant in the kitchen.  As cheesy as it sounds, I loved his smile and sense of being.  And as I walked up to meet him and Tony, I was greeted by the warmth of his smile.  How awesome it that!  To have a smile that people can and will remember.  As I was walking away, I had the need to thank him for always smiling and his reaction was an even bigger smile.  Now, that is pretty bad ass.

Well, say what you will after reading this.  I might be a clueless, naive Mid-Western girl, but I was impressed.  I really don’t care to meet anyone else  at a ‘celebrity’ status in my life, but the two guys who I did meet and have adored for years are two great guys.  I can’t really say it is good vs. evil.  It is just good.  And they are good people. 

No need for butter (unless you really really want it)… Just enjoy!  They are truly divine!

Ingredients:

• 3 bottles/cans of beer
• 3 lemons, cut in half
• 1 head garlic, split in half
• 3 pounds Alaskan king crab legs (split)

Directions:

In a large stockpot with a steamer insert, add beer, lemons and garlic and bring to a boil. Add crab legs and cover.  Steam for 5-10 minutes or until crab is cooked through. 

Cheers! 

Receipe courtesy of Emeril

I guess it is just too easy.  I mean, within seconds I can find out what 269 of my friends are doing miles away.  Yes, just like that!  Point and click!  It is so liberating!  Seriously, though.  Straight up.  All I have to do is just scroll down and read all their status updates.  I mean, who doesn’t want to constantly know about how bad their friend’s day is going, how shitty the weather is outside, and how everyone lives for the weekend!  I mean, It’s so uplifting…

However… I must admit, I am a status junkie, too.  Yes, I share my quick, unwanted, idiosyncratic stories, too.  Oh, the power of that little ’Share’ button!   And what is most disheartening to me is the anxiety that builds inside me as I anticipate who will ‘like’ my status.  Yes, it’s true!  It is like an adrenaline rush when I hear my phone vibrate with a notification update.  At times, I want to yell, ‘They like me!  They like me!  They really really like me!’  Pretty sad, I know…

Well, Facebook, I’m hooked.  I am your forever devoted junkie. 

I guess you can consider my status as FML…

The Book Cadillac Hotel is simply beautiful-modern, elegant, and nostalgic.  You feel an uplifting spirit in the air as you walk through the corridors and lobby.  There really isn’t much to say except,  it is simply breathtaking…   

So, how was the food?  The most important part of the night, right?  Well, it is unbelievable!  I rolled my eyes to the back of my head about a dozen times with every bite.  It all started with a perfect Bloody Mary, followed by some delicious roasted bone marrow.  Then, the main dish came- an insanely amazing ribeye steak topped with bleu cheese and onions.  Yum.  Yum.  Yum.  Yum.  Yum.  Yum.  Did I say, yum?   The soft polenta side dish topped it all off.  A bowl full of goodness that gave me an ‘Oh’ face for about 20 seconds.  I think Bataille referred to it as le petit morte.  And last, but not least, my birthday dessert-apple pear crisp served with honey lemon yogurt and pecans.  Yes, Happy Birthday to ME! 

A big thank you to the Book Cadillac and Roast for making my thirty-third birthday a-m-a-z-i-n-g!  You not only made me feel like a swankster for the night, but you gave me some hope for a city I dearly love (At least, for now).

This great American city was once referred to as the Paris of the West when romance and prosperity filled the smokestack air.   Now, like an aging starlet, Detroit is welcoming voygeurs to capture an internal glimpse of its industrial ruins. Time Magazine’s recent photos of Detroit’s Beautiful, Horrible Decline features the the city’s architecture from the early 1900′s to today’s current state- A state of demise.    

Trust me, it is hard to give up on the city where I spent most of my twenties as hip chic from the ‘burbs tryin’ to keep it real.  For Henry Ford’s sake, I am a Wayne State Tartar who stood up a couple times with Bill Bonds to tell ‘em I’m  from Detroit!  But now, Detroit’s urban decay has gotten the best of me. 

Hopefully, these feelings are the winter blues.  Maybe when baseball season begins and the smell of hot dogs fill the air again, I will change my views.  But for now, I’m sad to say, my love affair with Detroit has lost its spark and we gotta do something to get our groove back. 

Hopefully, 2011 will be more promising for my body.  Although, I must say, I kinda love this picture for my 2011 mantra…

To spread the holiday cheer, I HIGHLY recommend buying them beer mugs!  It is the gift that keeps on giving!  Nothing makes me happier than seeing a frosted mug full of  beer!  The first sip is always so yummy and slushy!  And it is inexpensive, too!  You can get a four pack of Libbey Beer Mugs for around $15!   Pair the beer mugs with a six pack of beer and you have yourself a gift for under $30!

Cheers!

Enjoy!