Tostada with orange and jicama salad, avocado and queso fresco.

Jalapeno and cheese tamale with salsa verde and cotija cheese

Pozole verde. Tomatillo soup with hominy and pork, topped with cabbage, fried tortilla, avocado, and lime.

Corn husk-wrapped halibut in abodabo sauce, with pickled red onions.

Taco trio: (from left) duck carnitas with tomatillo and avocado salsa, seared flank steak with jicama and cotija, al pastor-style pork with pineapple

Fried plantain with mole (sauce made from chilis, chocolate, and about 20 other ingredients). A savoury version of chocolate and bananas.

Spiced chocolate masa cake, with cinnamon custard ice cream

Photos courtesy of Patrick

Tonight for supper I had quesadillas with sauteed shrimp, crispy shallots, Spanish style chorizo, chives, old cheddar, monterrey jack on a flour and flax tortilla.

It was really nice and flavorful, the chorizo was mild so it wasn’t too spicy. I would definitely make this again, for myself or for company.

An Open Letter to the Terminator Owners. From a Very Important Hollywood Mogul

Dear Sirs/Ma’ams,

I am Joss Whedon, the mastermind behind Titan A.E., Parenthood (not the movie) (or the new series) (or the one where ‘hood’ was capitalized ’cause it was a pun), and myriad other legendary tales. I have heard through the ‘grapevine’ that the Terminator franchise is for sale, and I am prepared to make a pre-emptive bid RIGHT NOW to wrap this dealio up. This is not a joke, this is not a scam, this is not available on TV. I will write a check TODAY for $10,000, and viola! Terminator off your hands.

No, you didn’t miscount. That’s four — FOUR! — zeroes after that one. That’s to show you I mean business. And I mean show business. Nikki Finke says the Terminator concept is played. Well, here’s what I have to say to Nikki Finke: you are a fine journalist and please don’t ever notice me. The Terminator story is as formative and important in our culture — and my pretend play — as any I can think of. It’s far from over. And before you Terminator-Owners (I have trouble remembering names) rush to cash that sweet cheque, let me give you a taste of what I could do with that franchise:

1) Terminator… of the Rings! Yeah, what if he time-travelled TOO far… back to when there was dragons and wizards? (I think it was the Dark Ages.) Hasta La Vista, Boramir! Cool, huh? “Now you gonna be Gandalf the Red!” RRRRIP! But then he totally helps, because he’s a cyborg and he doesn’t give a s#&% about the ring — it has no power over him! And he can carry it AND Frodo AND Sam AND f@%& up some orcs while he’s doing it. This stuff just comes to me. I mean it. (I will also offer $10,000 for the Lord of the Rings franchise).

2) More Glau. Hey. There’s a reason they’re called “Summer” movies.

3) Can you say… musical? Well don’t. Even I know that’s an awful idea.

4) Christian Bale’s John Connor will get a throat lozenge. This will also help his Batwork (ten grand for that franchise too, btw.)

5) More porn. John Connor never told Kyle Reese this, but his main objective in going to the past was to get some. What if there’s a lot of future-babies that have to be made? Cue wah-wah pedal guitar — and dollar signs!

6) The movies will stop getting less cool.

Okay. There’s more — this brain don’t quit! (though it has occasionally been fired) — but I think you get my drift. I really believe the Terminator franchise has only begun to plumb the depths of questioning the human condition during awesome stunts, and I’d like to shepherd it through the next phase. The money is there, but more importantly, the heart is there. But more importantly, money. Think about it. End this bloody bidding war before it begins, and put the Terminator in the hands of someone who watched the first one more than any other movie in college, including “Song of Norway” (no current franchise offer). Sincerely, Joss Whedon.

Stolen from http://whedonesque.com

2000 – Curb Your Enthusiasm

The Seinfeld writer and co-creator’s sitcom about being a Seinfeld writer and co-creator. It is basically about his day to day life and the dialogue is all improvised. He basically gets into regular, day to day situations and then does the exact opposite of what you would expect a normal person to do. For example, refusing to give Halloween candy to teenagers.

Runners up – Survivor began the reality craze, CSI began the CSI craze.

2001 – 24

An amazing concept, having an entire season run as 24 real time hour long episodes. For a show about counter terrorism, they also never villainize one particular country and they always show citizens of that country or creed that do not agree with the terrorism.

Still need to watch – 6 Feet Under

2002 -Firefly

A great space-western by Joss Wheadon. Short lived (only the one season) and highly praised as being an oddball genre combination.

Runner up – Idol, but there is no way I could choose this show as a winner.

2003 – Arrested Development

It is a Comedy centered around the Bluths, a formerly wealthy family. It is presented as a pseudo-documentary format, including old family photos and videos, security camera footage, website screen shots and the most ridiculous cast ever. It is also shot with hand held cameras and uses no laugh track. Amazing Show.

Runner Up – Battlestar Galactica – A really close second for me, if it was an original story I would have chosen it as first.

2004 – Lost

Of Course. Probably the best show of the decade, even cynics of the way the show is running currently would agree that the first season is amazing. If you haven’t seen it.. well I’m not going to spoil anything.

Still need to watch – Deadwood – even Danny Devito twitters about how good this western is.

2005 – It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

The gang from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are probably the most likable scumbags on television. They are really horrible people, to each other and others, but I just cannot stop watching.

Runners up – Iron Chef America, The Office US

2006 – Dexter

Set in Miami, this show is about an everyday normal blood spatter analyst that has been trained to be a serial killer of serial killers by his deceased father. This show’s first season was so amazing that no one thought that they could keep it up, but they really have.

Runners up – Heroes, Top Chef

2007 – Flight of the Conchords

The show follows a two-man band from New Zealand, as they seek fame and success in New York City. They break out into many hilarious musical sequences every episode.

Guilty Pleasures – Greek, Gossip Girl, Kid Nation.

Still need to watch – Madmen

2008 – Fringe

Co-Created by Lost co-creator JJ Abrams, Fringe follows an FBI Fringe Division team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The series has been referred to as the new X-Files.
Runner up – True Blood – Now an enjoyable show, the first season was rubbish.

2009 – Flash Forward

Based of the novel by Canadian author Robert J. Sawyer, the basis of the show is that everyone on the planet simultaneously loses consciousness for 137 seconds, during which people see what appears to be visions of their lives approximately six months in the future. They then try to figure out what the visions mean as well as try to ensure that they either happen or do not happen.

Runner Up – Bored to Death

Guilty Pleasure – Glee, Admittedly far from a great show, this teenage musical dramady is still full of heart warming moments and well played villains.

There are still a few months left of this decade and there are still a few shows to premiere. The only one I can see possible taking the 2009 title from Flash Forward is V, we’ll have to wait and see.

New Super Mario Bros Wii
To be released on November 15, 2009
Here are some screen shots!

Co-op/competitive simultaneous multiplayer

New Power-ups!

Also:
Super Mario Galaxy 2
To be released on December 31, 2009.
Trailer!

Doubtful that I will be waiting for Christmas for New Super Mario Bros Wii, I’ll probably be picking that up ASAP.

Apples to Apples

Apples to Apples is a great party game my wife recently bought. It can be played with 4 to 10 players, so it is even fun when you have a large group over! Basic Rules: Each player is dealt seven “red apple” cards; on each is printed a noun or noun phrase.The judge (a chosen player that rotates every turn) draws a “green apple” card on which is printed an adjective, and places it face-up on the table for everybody to see. Then each player (except the judge) chooses a card that they think is the best match for the green apple card, and places it face-down. The judge shuffles the red apple cards, reads them aloud, and decides which noun is the best match for the adjective. This decision is subjective; the official rules encourage the judge to pick the match that is “most creative, humorous or interesting”. For example “picking your nose” might be the most accurate card to go with “dirty”, but “The 60′s” might take the point because it is hilarious.

Buy It

King City

A few weeks ago I popped into my local comic shop for something new to read. Thankfully, I have been going there for a while now and the staff know what I like. The conversation went something like this…

Travis – It’s a slow day at work and I need something to read, got anything interesting?
Jason – King City. It doesn’t have Superman or Green Lantern but it does have a cat that can do amazing stuff.
Travis – I’ll take it.

It is written by Brandon Graham and was published by Tokyopop in 2007 and was nominated for an Eisner Award. It was announced in May of this year that Image Comics would be picking it up and re-releasing them in golden age size comics. Tokyopop normally release anime/manga stuff that just doesn’t have enough superheroes for my tastes. This main character and his cat are super enough that i loved it. The version I have is the release of the first 18 chapters by Tokyopop and it is the first thing I have ever read by that publisher.

Buy It.

Top Chef

My wife and I have been watching Top Chef since the second season and I think this is the season with the most talented chefs since the first. In a previous post I stated that I thought Kevin (third row down, second from the left) would prevail as the Top Chef winner this year. So far, so good. There has also been some great challenges (French sauce & protein, deconstruct a classic recipe) and quickfires(angel/devil, cactus). They have release a cookbook, a quickfire cookbook and starting on October 20th they are releasing the seasons on DVD

Buy Some

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

We started watching It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia about a year ago and quickly made our way though the first 4 seasons. So far the fifth season has been great, with the standout episode being “The Gang Hits the Road”. I’d recommend this show to anyone that is a fan of offbeat comedy. All of the characters are so despicable, it’s amazing. The first four seasons are already out on DVD and they have a Christmas special coming out on November 17th

Buy Some.

Shout Out Out Out Out

I have been a fan of this band since the CBC introduced me to them in 2006, when their first album was being released. I immediately took to the band as they seemed to be a merging of my two favorite genres (rock and electronica) and this did it in a way the was refreshing and different. I was lucky enough to see them live this summer when I was in Quebec City. Hopefully they will tour this far east soon so I can share the experience with my friends.

Myspace
Buy Some

Tonight is “Indian Night” for the Saunders Crew so I made up some fresh pastes. On the left is my Vindaloo (Lisa’s Favorite) and the right is my Rogan Josh. I will be making the Rogan Josh for the first time so I off course did some research into what it should be like. Apparently the name is derived from “Oil” and “Heat” but I know that cannot be the only stipulation for the dish. Rogan Josh’s red colour comes from a mix of paprika, smoked paprika and roasted red pepper and also includedes cloves and cumin in the paste. The dish was introduced by the Muslims in Kashmir and it makes use of a very Muslim ingredient, lamb. Unfortunately here in NB lamb is expensive and not popular enough to have steaks of lamb at the local supermarket, so I opted for beef. Vindaloo derives from the Portuguese dish “Carne de Vinha d’ Alhos”, a dish of meat, usually lamb, with wine and garlic (in the 15th and 16th centuries Portugal established a colonial and commercial empire that included India). The name Vindaloo derives from “Wine Vinegar” and “Garlic”. My paste was predominantly coriander, turmeric, fennel and chiles. I will be making it with pork, the traditional Goan way.

Our Neighbors will be making a butter chicken, rice and some sort of beverage. Our good friend will be bringing naan and dessert.

Also Wikipedia has a pretty good table of Indian Dishes by Region