What are you #Thanksgiving?

• I woke up this morning and everything that's me works; mileage notwithstanding 
• There's probably still more food than I can eat for breakfast in the fridge
• Heat's working
• Working today, with the option to do it remotely
• The missus secured the bedroom so I could sleep in, until (wait for it) almost 8 a.m.
• Got to wish pops happy birthday 
• And of course, much more, including clean underwear ;)

West Medford Lobsterfest

I wasn't going to go...after previously agreeing to go. That's called reneging, for you law majors. I was exhausted after a long week, and didn't have the energy for such a social event. Of course the missus called me on this, and offered an artful counter to my why-don't-you-just-take-the-kids, with it-doesn't-start-until-later-so... My armor (as well as my argument) was getting weaker. The kids later sneak-attacked me, and that was that.

Now since I didn't know what later meant, I asked my young friend Google to find out when the Lobsterfest began. Instead I found out much more about my historic, West Medford neighborhood, "The Ville", from a Boston Magazine article. I felt like a heel after reading the first few paragraphs. By now my kids had discovered me on the couch reading intently. At that moment I realized that I almost missed an opportunity not only to share with my kids an important part of Black American history, but of their specific history.

I read aloud the rest of the article to them, explaining and answering their questions as I went along. After finishing the article and then some more digging, I found the time-frame for the Lobsterfest. It had already started. We headed off. It turns out the Lobsterfest, this year, was at our end of the The Ville.

Thought for 12/12/12 12:12pm

Is it lunchtime yet?

Good Food

When was the last time you had really good food?
Was it at a restaurant? In a home? On vacation?
Does the company you keep influence how you feel about food?

How To Get Folks To Come To Your Event With < 24 Hours Notice

1. After you send the invite, call your guests
2. Talk-up your event, but absolve invitees who already have plans
3. Let the guests know they will be well fed, and watered
4. Be flexible on start and end times, giving guests the widest timeframe to attend
5. Offer carpooling, or arrange to pick-up guests who don't have transportation.
6. If it's Summer, have the venue near water
7. If it's Winter, allow your guests to sleep over, if they want to.
8. If it's going to run 'til sun up, offer breakfast
9. If it's going into the wee hours of the morning, arrange for rides home
10. Door prizes
    

Gateau and Gelato

I was in Miami Beach, Florida a few weeks ago, and happened upon a little gelato shop I hadn't been to in a while. Actually, I had never been in inside until last week. You see, every single time I had attempted to go there when I did live in South Florida, it was closed. It closed rather early, for Miami Beach.

This time I happened to catch it just in time. I decided to splurge and have a partnership of chocolate gateau and hazelnut gelato. A decadent combination of Italian molten chocolate cake with filling, plus a side (or two) of Italian ice-cream. It looked a bit like this. Amore.

Five of My Favorite Foods While on Vacation in the USA

1. Peruvian seafood fried rice
2. Cinnabon
3. Gelatto
4. Just about anything with curry, coconut milk, and mango
5. Really good, non-major-chain pizza
   

The End of Summer

The bottom part of Summer is my favorite part. Although Summer officially ends (in the U.S.) mid-September. Growing up, and once you have school-aged children, September equals school. So, the bottom have of half of Summer is really all you got left.

So hurry up! You have time for...

One more BBQ
One more road-trip
One more pool party
One more beach trip
One more camping trip
One more trip to the museum
One more trip the aquarium
One more trip to the drive-in
One more dinner under the star
One more dip in your birthday suit
One more motorcycle rally
One more soccer match
One more bike ride
One more summer romance with the one you're with, or the one you've just met
One more dance outside
One more live band
One more story of a summer past

Some Thoughts On Abundance

There is enough...

• money in the world
• time in the world
• work to do in the world
• love in the world
• food in the world
• square footage of living space in the world
• water in the world

The problem is...

• belief in the above
• distribution
  

Pray More

When you're tired of being tired, pray more.
When you've got less than you need, pray more.
When you think you've past the point-of-no-return, pray more.
When you don't want to try anymore, pray more.
When you want to give up, pray more.
When the doctors say it's no good, pray more.
When your in-laws are acting like outlaws, pray more.
When it's easier to quit than to try again, pray more.
When you don't know what to do, pray more.
When you're fed up, pray more.
When you don't have enough, pray more.
When it's easier to stay in bed, than to get up, pray more.
When you've got nothing left, pray more.
When you're scared, pray more.
When you're about to give in, pray more.
When you need [insert noun here] right now...pray more.

Fortune Cookies I'd Like To Read

• Beware of old wives' tales, you might trip over them
• Make sure you have enough money for the bus, that way you don't have to deal with the repo man
• It takes longer to get somewhere than to get back from somewhere, because one only needs to get lost once to learn
  
• It is what it is, but I still don't know what it is
• Once is a fluke, twice is a coincidence, and three times...a lady.
  

B-B-Q

I just returned from my cousin seventh annual Nigerian barbecue over the weekend. As usual, it was a smattering of food, drink, music, and people.

It wasn't until he reminded me this was the seventh, did I realize it had been going on for that long. He started it on a fluke, and with only a few of us. These last few years, the crowd easily hit fifty or sixty.

Now per Seth Godin's advice, I going to start my own spectacle.

Conch

I had Haitian "Seafood Conch" at my cousin's wedding yesterday, and it was absolutely delicious. Conch is a little tougher than lobster in consistency. It's rare, in my experience, to be found in a non-Caribbean or non-West African restaurant.

My first taste was as conch fritters in Key West back in 1994. I then proceeded to try it in just about every variation I could find. I prefer it curried and spicy.

I used to be able to get it locally (Cambridge, MA) at a Caribbean joint called Rhythm and Spice back in the mid-nineties. Alas my little piece of Jamaica is no more. More red tape, less Red Stripe I guess.

How To Eat A Mango

This is my technique, and it ain't for everyone. What I'll guarantee is that you'll get the most out of the mango in question. Plus, it will promote good dental hygiene:

1. Get a plastic plate and a sharp kitchen knife (kids, ask your parents) that fits in non-thumb fingers comfortably. Or try a potato peeler as alternative, if you're ash white after reading "sharp kitchen knife" or if the only cutting you've ever done involve lines, class, deals, or music.
2. Peel half the mango, length-wise, as close the skin as possible; cutting VERY SLOWLY towards you while using your thumb as a guide.
   
3. Bite (not slice) chunks out of the nude hemisphere of the mango, and enjoy. Ideally, this should leave you with half the seed sticking out.
   
4. Once you've gotten all the pulp you can from biting, scrap the rest with your top teeth, and enjoy.
5. Once you've gotten all the pulp you can from scrapping, suck, suck, and suck, and enjoy, until the hairs of the mango form a near-white mohawk along the spine of the mango.
6. Ideally, Step 5 should leave you with a relatively, pulp-free half of the seed sticking out, which you can use as leverage for Step 7.
7. Repeat Steps 2-5, with the unpeeled half of the mango.
8. Wash your hands
9. Floss

The Perfect Snack For A Sweet Tooth

Saltines with peanut butter and jelly. What's yours?

Rediscovering Yogurt

Ah yes! I made the plunge. I have returned to regularly eating yogurt after about almost a couple of decades. My wife started the hype by ordering (what I'd like to call) the Breast Cancer Awareness Edition of the Yo-plait 15-pack. She offered me a couple to ween me of my addition to ice cream, or at least to gain market share. After the second month of helping her with returning the clean covers via mail, I decided she ought to be paying be commission or something at this point.

Finally during the third month, she literally popped a spoon of peach-flavored yogurt into my unsuspecting mouth. Not only was it good, it was yummy and not bad (to paraphrase the old '80s nutrition commercials). Being the guy that I am, I of course didn't admit that much to my wife. Soon enough I found myself sneaking one or two out of the 24-packs. When I finally got caught, I declared I was simple deducting my commission for services rendered.

Breakfasting

Nothing focuses the mind (not to mention the spirit) like fasting. I break today's fast at 3:00 p.m. (GMT -4), and I'm tired from the 5-hour nap I took last night. Still, I can't help but feel a certain peace and clarity as I focus my spiritual antenna on God.

Breakfast Exotica

I'm the reason the house recently stores Kellogg's Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, and Cocoa Krispies. It's the economy stupid. So in my attempt to justify my choice and move it closer to a more balanced meal...I added some fruit. The result?

• 1 cup Cocoa Krispies
• 1 cup Apple Jacks
  
• 1/2 diced banana
• 6 diced strawberries

Serve with the milk of your choice.

You Can Put Anything in a Calzone

So I went to dinner with some ex-colleague (ex in a good way) and I ordered a calzone. Few Irish-esque restaurants in the Boston area, that I've been to, have calzones on the menu. None do actually, now that I think of it. Anyway, I figured it couldn't be spectacular, because that calzone of distinction belongs to a joint on my street that is Italian, owned by Italians, run by Italians, who speak Italian, as a first language.

Anyway, even though I was settling (yes I'm a calzone snob), I became intrigued when I discovered this "jambalaya" calzone, as it was billed, contained okra. First off, as a chef, you get points for style and must have huevos if you can pull off putting okra in a calzone. It turned out to be better than decent.

Eat Chocolate to Beat The Recession

At least that what I'm thinking. After all it seems it's one of the few affordable luxuries left these days. Especially if you spring for the dark-chocolate variety (my favorite), but to each his or her own. So, the question will be what type of chocolate? Not all chocolates are created equal to be sure, and price isn't always a determinant factor of quality.

For example at the low end, Mounds and Peanut M & M's are better than average and can be had for between 50 cents and one dollar, depending on where you shop. On the high end, Lindt is a favorite of mine, with Ghiradelli a close second. Their quality is on point, and Ghiradelli is a favorite of mine for baking. For a sample size you'll be shelling out anywhere from 30 cents to 50 cents, again, depending on where you shop. The premium candy bar version of each will run you about $2.50 to $3.50.

The sleeper candy, and the favorite from my youth, is just about anything from Cadbury. I can usually find the premium candy bars on sale for one dollar, and even the regular $1.50 to $2.00 is worth it in my opinion. For me the gem of Cadbury are the Mini-Eggs; candy shell on the outside, pure milk chocolate on the inside. They only come out around Easter, and a sampler pack of about twelve of so, can be had for 50 cents. Too bad I have to wait a few months.