Peace Out Uncle's Bernie and Issac

Geez, first Bernie, then Issac. I still can't believe it. While I'm not related to Bernie Mac (or Issac Hayes for that matter). Bernie considered America family. So there. :( I feel the loss of two greats. More Bernie, only because I'm more in tune with his work, and he came into his height in my generation.

Losing Bernie also brought back the loss of another similar comedian, Robin Harris, of Houseparty and Bebe's Kids fame. He also died too soon. These brothers were stomach-cramps funny. Their humor was both natural and distinct. Which may lend an explanation to their both having roles in the Houseparty movies of the early 90s.

I first got a taste of Bernie on Def Comedy Jam, years ago. I thought, wow, a brother as dark as myself on t.v., nah. He ain't gonna make it; but he's good. I'm glad I was wrong about the former, and right about the later.

Over the following years I found myself catching everything I could with Bernie in it. The last movie I saw him in was Ocean's Eleven (the remake of course), and he managed to play it straight. I was impressed. Especially with such a star-studded cast.

My introduction to Issac Hayes was back in the late 70s, when I discovered my father's vinyl copy of Shaft The Soundtrack, with that (almost) globally reconizable intro. It still gives me goosebumps, begin so raw and unadulterated. He remained part of my father's generation until...South Park, the animated series where he was the voice of "Chef".

Ironically, these two somewhat polar individuals star in a film called Soul Men (coming this November), starring Samuel L. Jackson who once played Shaft.

Peace out fellas, and our prayers to your families.

Dodo Ati Rice (Fried Plantain & Rice)

One of the beautiful things about being married to a caterer is that I get to be like of of those judges on the Food Network shows. Exacting their judgment with the aid of their discerning palette.

So I begin. Yesterday I had jollof-rice, dodo, and a sprinkling of shakee (tripe), stewed goat-meat, and stewed chicken. I decided, unprecedentedly, to wash this all down with a Dr. Pepper. I usually don't drink soda, but I've been ordered by the missus, to work on empting the fridge of excess baggage.

The jollof-rice was left over batch she cooked for a friend's birthday, a bit spicey, with a complexion resembling the red/orange rice dishes found in Latin American eateries. However, not as wet though.

The plantains used for the dodo were perfectly ripe. Not too early, not to late. This produced firm, but not hard dodo, that allows itself to cook long for thoroughness, without burning on the outside prematurely or soaking up too much oil.

A bit of pepper stew on top of the jollof-rice, although not needed for the rice, provided a little extra variation in consistency and taste. Plus, was a nice bonus to aid finishing off the dodo I didn't devour with the jollof-rice.