Every day I find something new and awesome, and I love sharing. I’m currently working on a post about my new favorite recipe from, “The Cookbook” but in the meantime, check these links out please!
My personal Dalai Lama, Anthony Bourdain, has a new video over at his Travel Channel website with that orange Croc-wearing, Italian badass Mario Batali. “Since recently marrying into an Italian-Sardinian family, Tony asks Mario what he needs to know in order to co-exist.”
Some of the other videos that are linked to below the player are so worth watching if you’ve not seen them yet, the one where Eric Ripert talks about his displeasure with Gordon Ramsay is riveting!
I’m pretty excited about the new Julie and Julia movie, so I was a little saddened to see a report that Julia might have considered Julie Powell’s efforts “a stunt“. What perked me right back up was Slashfood getting in touch with Julia Child Editor Judith Jones to set the record straight:
“Had she met her — Julia was enormously supportive of people — this is my interpretation, she didn’t think she was a serious cook … not that she would have said mean things… This particular [blog] didn’t seem to appeal to her very much.”
I would hate for anyone to think that this blog is a stunt, or for Mr. Henderson to think I’m not serious in my efforts. My life has been changed significantly due to him and his cookbook, and I’m putting everything I can to doing my best and learning as much as possible as I go.
Following the Julie and Julia train of thought, Jeff Houck over at the Tampa Tribune linked to an older interview he had with Julie Powell back when she was doing her book tour. They talk about her famous blog, how food and sex relate, and about how she is viewed by the foodie society.
Vegetarians, from the other point of view!
On Twitter, Joel Peterson shot me a link to this AMAZING looking blog called “Road To…” that has tons of pictures related to butchering and all the things that excite me culinary. Like this.
Butchers are the new rock stars, and you can meet this one next Tuesday if you happen to be in the San Francisco area for $35. He is going to HANG and butcher a 21 day aged forequarter, 100% grass fed, 175lb slab of beef from Magruger Ranch. He’ll also demonstrate the fine art of butchery, and once he’s done will throw some shanks of meat on the grill for everyone’s enjoyment. I really wish I could be there!
Last but not least, I’m happy to announce that I will be sponsoring the first ever Cupcake Smackdown which will be taking place August 1st here in Austin Texas!
Are you ready? Get Set! and BAKE! It is time for Austin to have a Cupcake Smackdown, pitting icing against icing, we’ll see whose cupcakes reign supreme. The tentative activities for Cupcake Smackdown 1.0 are a blind tasting contest of all the store front bakeries, amateur baking contest, cupcake silent auctions, people’s popular vote, and a cupcake eating contest for dogs and humans!
For the blind tasting, a panel of local chefs and foodies will be chowing down on vanilla, chocolate, and a baker’s choice cupcake from each store front. Each cupcake will be judged on the cake, frosting, and the combination.
Other activities include a bake off in which amateur bakers can enter either the vanilla, chocolate, or freestyle cupcake competition. There will be two categories for the cupcake eating contest: one for human participants and one for canine participants. Spectators will also be invited to vote for the People’s Choice award for any of the store front bakeries and also participate in a cupcake silent auction. Proceeds to go to Austin Wine and Food Foundation.
The event is kid and dog friendly. Last day to submit entry forms for amateur bakers’ class is July 22nd. Pre-entries for the cupcake eating contest are being accepted.
Email Jennie@misohungrynow.com to participate, enter yourself or your dog, enter your cupcakes, or to sponsor the event.
I’m considering entering a fois gras cupcake in the amateur contest, but I’m still not sure. I’ll be there regardless and I hope to see you there as well!