Tag: mad men

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product

The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook

Dang, the new Mad Men season starts tomorrow night. I’m pumped and ready to down the whiskey.

I just got the Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook in the mail, courtesy of Judy Gelman, the author. It was actually unrelated to Mad Men, but I’m happy to have it anyway. Over the seasons, I’ve tried to follow in Don Draper’s footsteps with Chicken Kiev and Dinty Moore Beef Stew with a Budweiser. This book has all the recipes (including cocktails) from all the stuff they ate in the show.

I definitely want to try Sally’s French Toast with Rum. Maybe also try a Tom Collins at home. I used to drink those all the time when I first started drinking in New York. I would often forget what it was called and say something like “Collin Hanks” or “Phil Collins”. I remember one time I went to a strip bar in the Financial District and asked for a Tom Collins. They didn’t know how to make it and it was red. Well now I have the recipe.

The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook

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media event

Rachael Ray and Donatella Arpaia Party Pics

Today I was sent this photo of Jon Hamm and Andrew Garfield (from the Social Network) to my food blog email address. They are at the US Open in the Moet & Chandon suite. I love this pic. I think I would also be eating a plate of fruit too.

This reminds me of the pics I was sent back in February of another party –Rachael Ray and Donatella Arpaia celebrating Ray’s 1,000th episode at Donatella’s restaurant, Donatella (hosted by an Italian wine brand called MARTINI). I love these pics too. Although I gotta say it’s weird being sent photos of a party I wasn’t at. I absolutely have no grudge for not being invited. Food bloggers don’t need to be invited to everything. I’m sure I’ve would’ve ruined the party anyway. But dang, looking at these pics kind of makes me feel like a loser.

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bar/drinking crazy night

Nitehawk Cinema’s Tator Tots

I’ve been wanting to go to the new Nitehawk Cinema in Williamsburg for a while now. It looks so cool from the outside. I went last night for the Mad Men premiere party. The menu looks really good. They have specials personalized for each movie. Bjorn and I split these Tator Tots to help absorb all the whiskey I was drinking. Mad Men has really turned me into an alcoholic.

I wanna come back and see a movie with a full-on meal. The tricky part will be how to flash a photo during the movie.

Nitehawk Cinema - 136 Metropolitan Ave (btwn Wythe & Berry) Brooklyn, NY 11211

Somehow I stumbled my way home and made this mashup while I was in drunken stupor. Working while being drunk is multitasking? I don’t really remember much, but I remember I thought it was the greatest concept I ever came up with –Notorious B.I.G over Duran Duran’s Notorious. Turns out Puff Daddy already did it.

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product

Be Like Don Draper: Dinty Moore and a Budweiser

In Mad Men Season 4 Episode 08, Don Draper sits in his bachelor apartment opening a can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew and a Budweiser. My roommate Bonnie “awed” in his loneliness …while I on the other hand felt it very manly. Little did Bonnie know that I had microwaved a can of Krasdale baked beans and a hot dog for lunch that very day. Isn’t that how a man on his own would eat? Isn’t that the kind of apartment and life he would keep? I don’t think anyone should feel sorry for Don Draper. Every man at one point wants to be Don Draper. So this is how I came to eat a can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew and drink a Budweiser.

It did explode in the microwave. I always feel like the directions are to keep it in there longer than they should be. I even went 30 seconds less than the minimum.

It’s surprisingly not bad for canned food. My first thought of the beef was it was so tender. Then on second bite, I realized that the meat was just ground meat shaped into a chunk of beef. So sorta like a Chef Boyardee meatball, but worked better with the gravy. Meat and Potatoes and a Bud. That’s a man meal.

I was a little worried how the bottom of the can was stained with the stew after numerous rinses.

UPDATE: I might be delirious (because I’m at home sick), but I’ve been smelling Dinty Moore Beef Stew for the past half hour. I ate this two days ago. I really smell it right now and no one else is home.

UPDATE 2: I think my arm pits smell like Dinty Moore Beef Stew. I’m pretty sure I don’t have a fever.

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restauranting

Chicken Kiev to be like Don Draper

Went on a search for Chicken Kiev because that’s what the whole last episode of Mad Men was about. Through Menupages’ useful food finding feature —could go to  Brighton Beach and get taken down by the Russian mob or a fancy expensive restaurant where people might look at me weird for taking pics or the cheap and close Ukrainian East Village Restaurant (where I had the big combination platter) …the choice was easy.

$11.95, the Chicken Kiev came with two sides and a salad. I expected the butter to come squirting out when I cut into it. I was careful. Nothing squirted. Perhaps the butter had already leaked out when it got to me. Strong herb and garlic flavor. Decent overall. Oh yeah, and the food looks better when you’re not sitting next to the purple neon sign.

The New York Times wrote this piece about the Chicken Kiev fine dining restaurant that Don Draper took his date to –Jimmy’s La Grange.

Ukrainian East Village Restaurant – 140 2nd Ave (btwn E 9th St & St Marks Pl) New York 10003

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homemade recipe

Thanksgiving Morning Live Blogging

Whoa, this is what it’s like being hungover and having to wake up early to prep for your first Thanksgiving hosting? I actually meant to wake up three hours ago to put this pork shoulder in the crock pot. Like I said in my Twitter, I went to this Thanksgiving Eve party last night. Right off the bat, I ran into the guy who plays Roger Sterling at the bar. We talked about bar butting. It made my week. I didn’t butt him. He butt me. My Mad Men fantasy is becoming more and more a reality. I also happened to meet the big Indian guy from the Jerky Boys. For some reason I was trying to get him to join my James Iha Tribute Band. My James Iha fantasy is becoming more and more a reality.

Alright. I brined my half pork shoulder overnight with a whole small bottle of white wine vinegar (soaking in it), a lot of salt, some onion powder, garlic powder and thyme. I did read a thread about how it’s not really necessary to brine a pork shoulder. But I always seem to not have enough flavor or saltiness when I’ve roasted them before. So we’ll see.

I put this boy in the crock pot just now with a can of vegetable broth, cubed butternut squash (sprinkled cinnamon and salt), added parts of cinnamon sticks and twigs of thyme. I made up the recipe in my head all day yesterday. It was supposed to be Pumpkin Pulled Pork, but I guess no one sells pumpkins after Halloween? So Cinnamon Butternut Squash Pork Shoulder now. The crock pot is going to be my new best friend as I go back to bed and pull my blanket over my head.

[update (the following morning): Oh shit. What did I do?! I just created the best pork ever. Cooked it for 9 1/2 hours on low. The meat was falling apart with a touch. You can taste all the crap I threw in there in the meat. I think the brining helped. Pics coming soon. Too much food.]

01 Butternut Squash and Pork Shoulder in the Crock Pot

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Uncategorized

Mental Weight Loss?

This morning I looked at the nutritional facts on a can of Corned Beef Hash. 425 calories per serving + 2 servings per can = I’m eating 850 calories plus whatever 2 eggs and 2 hashbrowns have. On top of all the other crap I’ve been eating lately, I’m somehow losing weight. I’m down to 143 with clothes and shoes and a few beers. Is it all mental? Should I thank or curse Paul McKenna for making me thin? It seems like when you’re worried about getting fat, you start putting on the pounds no matter how little you try to eat. When you think you’re thin no matter how much you eat, you stay thin. It’s like how Christina Aguilera can eat Whoppers everyday.

My friend Marcellus just sent me this screenshot of Don Draper and his gut. I hope this isn’t a curse. You know how much I want to be like Don Draper. I got my confidence going. I just hope I don’t get my gut going.
01 Corned Beef Hash wih Hash Browns and Egg
Don Draper's gut

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homemade recipe

Whiskey Chili

I’ve been visualizing myself as Don Draper lately and I ended up bringing home a bottle of rye …the same night Russ was making chili. We decided to join forces and add the whiskey to his chili –based on this recipe. It’s weird that they have full-on recipes for Whiskey Chili where they tell you how to make the chili. Why not just say “add whiskey to your chili”? I once made Chocolate Chili (that won 2nd place in a chili cook-off) by just adding chocolate to chili. At the time I didn’t realize it was wrong of me to use a pre-made can of Goya though.

Our Whiskey Chili was disgusting. Maybe you would have different results if you follow the recipe to a tee. But I can’t see how much better it could be. He’s just making fancy chili in that recipe and adding whiskey, right?

Speaking of Don Draper, I was out looking for a trench coat last night. I remember Banana Republic had a Mad Men inspired clothing line and that’s where I ran into my friend Bobby. He was getting new pants. I had just seen his new video, “Bobby’s Pre-Dinner Dinner Show.” Funny stuff.