Leave the reality TV, see The Artist.

Okay, I love my guilty pleasure shows like the best of them (see my future paper entitled, “The Kardashians: Austen’s Bennett Family of the 21^st Century?”).

But if you want to watch something truly entertaining, lovely, and powerful, put down that remote and go see The Artist.

The film follows a silent film star, George Valentin, through the changing landscape of Hollywood in the late ‘20s, early ‘30s. As the miracle of sound hits the cinema and movies become “talkies,” we watch Valentin struggle as his celebrity status turns to obscurity.

Supported by the adorable new Hollywood darling, Peppy Miller, and a particularly loyal canine, Valentin must find a new role for himself in a world that is quickly changing, with or without him.

Yes, The Artist is in black and white, and it’s mostly silent (a fact that made two fellow movie-goers leave the theatre after the first 5 minutes). But these features actually enhance the film, highlighting the performances, direction, and script that are both hilarious and moving.

By employing both classic and modern cinematic techniques, The Artist at once celebrates the medium and lovingly pokes fun at it with cutesy winks to the camera and silly minstrel gags.

It highlights the pain, the comedy, the necessity of innovation and transition, not only in the film industry, but in technology, and in life in general (much like fellow Oscar-contender, Hugo).

It toes the line between realism and stylistic illusion in a way that will impress both the analytic film student and the couple desiring some fun, light-hearted entertainment on date night.

And did I mention it contains the most adorable dog in the world and a healthy dose of tap dancing?

The result is a piece of art (no pun intended) that can still entertain and touch a mainstream audience; an impressive feat, indeed!

Leave the Bisquick, grab the red velvet waffle.

Leave it the great city of Los Angeles to make breakfast food cool and sexy.

I’m talking about The Waffle, a chic diner (oxymoron?) located on Sunset Blvd.

From the baked-in applewood smoked bacon waffle, to the cornmeal jalapeno waffle, these folks aren’t messing around in their quest to upgrade the morning classic. (And breakfast lovers should know, the waffle isn’t the only a.m. staple this place innovates).

But before I digress, let’s get to he crème de la crème on this menu: the red velvet waffle. Yes, you read that correctly. A red. velvet. waffle. A delicately-toasted creation that perfectly embodies the rich, cocoa-y goodness and deep blush color of a red velvet cupcake. And, did I mention they top it off with a dollop of “melty” cream cheese frosting?

It’s dessert for breakfast at its best. 

Pondering Pasta

Let’s talk “pasta”— a word I would designate as a food group if the proper authorities would let me.

As a gal recently recovering from wisdom-tooth extraction (as well all the necessary corresponding jokes about losing my intelligence), soft foods are a must.

Lucky for me, a bit of noodles and sauce work wonders for those with sore gums and a hungry tummy.

...Or for those with just the hungry tummies.

Pasta is versatile. It fulfills meat lovers, vegetarians, picky eaters, and foodies alike.

And with so many easy recipes and surprisingly healthful/delicious pre-made meals out there, pasta is also perfect for a girl getting back to a busy week after a dentally triggered hiatus.

As I ponder about the wonders of various Italian dishes, I’ll spare you the crazy philosophical musings that spring to mind (i.e., perhaps pasta is the perfect metaphor for life: We are merely a hodgepodge of noodles, all slightly different, yet fundamentally made of the same stuff. We’re rooted to one plate, immersed in every sweet, spicy, tangy, creamy sauce of life, trying to absorb a healthy balance of flavors while maintaining the integrity of our carby-interiors). 

Uh, right…heavy stuff.

Instead, I bring you The Food Life’s “Where to” list, pasta edition:

1.    Where to find the best pasta I’ve EVER eaten:

Italy.

Yeah, I’m sure you saw that coming. But honestly, when you eat any type of pasta in Italy (or any type of FOOD in Italy, for that matter), you get one of those “Ah ha” moments Oprah always talks about: “Ah ha! THIS is what pasta is supposed to taste like.”

And as most travelers know, the best culinary experiences come from restaurants far from tourist hot spots. The first time I went to Italy, I visited a small coastal town called “Rimini,” and every restaurant offered top-notch plates of food.

From the handmade, melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi, to the silky smooth and velvety linguine (insert any type of sauce, meat, seafood, cheese, and wine to pair with it), meals don’t get better than this.

2.    Where, in the U.S., to find the best pasta I’ve ever eaten:

Okay, so most of us won’t be heading to Europe anytime soon. Therefore, I suggest sampling:

The pennoni al ragu at Canaletto, a restaurant located in the Venetian hotel in no other than LAS VEGAS BABY!

The pennoni, imported from Italy, is surprising soft and light (no carbo-loading here). Yet, it perfectly holds up the traditional meat ragu, a sweet and tangy sauce of finely ground beef and a delicious blend of garlic and basil. They top it all off with some Grana Padano, a subtler cheese than your traditional Parmigiano, which adds a bit of nuttiness, while not overpowering the palate.

The bf and I have seriously considered driving the 5 hours to Vegas just to eat this.

For only $17.99 (a downright steal in a nice Vegas hotel restaurant), this dish is a must-have when you are in the area.

Photo credit: OpenTable.com

                                       

3.    Best ready-made pasta I’ve eaten:

I admit it—while I absolutely love to cook, I barely have time to create anything but pre-made meals most weeknights.

I therefore indulge in Trader Joe’s (or, as it charmingly says on the bag, Trader Giotto’s) Rigatoni Alla Siciliana, penne pasta with an eggplant ragu sauce.

First, this pasta is legit. It’s imported by Italy and made from natural ingredients (RE: no funny chemical business on the label). It’s a great vegetarian option, and ready to eat in about 10 minutes.

And, most importantly, it tastes delicious! The large penne tubes are al dente; the sauce is filled with flavorful tomato and eggplant pieces. Its peppery, earthy taste is delightfully balanced by smooth, melted bits of mozzarella. 

 

All that’s really left to say is, "Buon appetito!"

It's the New Year; It's Time to Treat Yourself

"Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting."
~Author Unknown

I thought I’d start with one of my favorite dessert recipes taught to me by the best chef I know, my Grammie. 

Yes, yes, I know it’s after the holidays and we all have resolutions to be healthy and such (which is great. Really! I have such resolutions myself).

But we are only human, after all. And a bit of chocolate goes a long way in this world in my experience. These no-bake “Yum Yum Cookies" are the perfect way to treat yourself after a long gym sesh. And they contain peanut butter and oats, so you’re getting that protein and whole grain-y goodness while you splurge.

Grammie’s Yum Yum Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups granulated sugar

½ cup milk

½ cup of butter (1 stick)

4 tbsps cocoa powder

2 ½ cups oats

¼ cup chopped nuts (if desired)

2 tsps vanilla

½ cup peanut butter

Instructions:

In a medium-sized saucepan, cook the sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa over medium heat until mixtures reaches a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 ½ minutes. (Timing is very crucial in this recipe to avoid burning, so set your stopwatch as soon as those bubbles start a-rolling!).

Remove pan from heat and add remaining ingredients. Mix well and spoon 1 tsp-sized rounds onto wax paper. The cookies will harden as they cool (about an hour. Be patient--it’s worth it). Once the cookies no longer appear glassy and adopt a frosted look, you’re good to go.

The results: A smooth, rich chocolate cookie with a hint of nuttiness.

It’s delish. It requires very little prep time. It contains ingredients I usually have on hand. Basically, it’s divine!

So go and…

“Treat yo self!” Tom and Donna, Parks and Recreation

Welcome to The Food Life

 “Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.”  ~Voltaire

Welcome virtual peeps to The G Food Life, a blog about a very powerful thing indeed. The thing at the crux of celebrations, holidays, meetings with world leaders, and first dates. The thing that crosses borders, while at the same time, maintains its own cultural identity (RE: I have a HUGE craving for Italian right now. Or, wanna take out some Thai?). A thing leveled on the same plateau as spiritual enlightenment (I’m looking at you, Elizabeth Gilbert). A thing that has inspired a multitude of television networks, magazines, and, dare I say it, blogs.

Yes, you guessed it, that glorious thing we like to call FOOD. Food, glorious food! (Okay the show tunes stop now, I promise).

Yep, eating is one of those obvious universal essentials. And to take a leaf out of my buddy Voltaire’s book, it may as well be an enjoyable experience.

To be honest, I’m pretty finicky comes to my culinary endeavors. Like the new resident searching for cable providers, or a powerful single woman on the prowl, I look for the whole package.

I want comfort in my fare, creativity, healthfulness, preferably all three. It takes a lot for me to truly fall in love with a dish. I mean, the finish-the-entire-plate-and-then-lick-it-clean-without-shame-and-happily-submit-self-into-food-coma-and-wake-up-wanting-more experience only comes once in a while.

So gentle blog followers, here is my promise to you:

I will share every happy-food-coma-inducing recipe, restaurant-dish, grocery store-find I come across, in addition to some food for thought (pun intended).

Look for the next post for one of the best dessert recipes in my arsenal. Yum!