Thursday Links

It's been a random sort of week:

• My brother just sent me this article about a ridiculous, hilarious and awesome letter somebody sent to Richard Branson re: the quality of Virgin Atlantic's food. A sample: "Imagine being a twelve year old boy Richard. Now imagine it’s Christmas morning and you’re sat their with your final present to open. It’s a big one, and you know what it is. It’s that Goodmans stereo you picked out the catalogue and wrote to Santa about.
  Only you open the present and it’s not in there. It’s your hamster Richard. It’s your hamster in the box and it’s not breathing. That’s how I felt when I peeled back the foil and saw this." Oh yes.
• Absinthe. It's kind of over.
• I'm going to a Chinese New Year party this weekend. One that involves a costume contest (that Cooper and I are so going to win. Pictures to follow.) If I'd had my act together, maybe Jen and Bill would be getting a cool hostess gift, like one of these.

Thursday Links

My sister just got back from two weeks touring the architectural wonders of Egypt and she and her friends seem to have spent most of their time back posting pictures - like above photo of super-organized nuts - on Facebook.

In honor of Erin's safe return, here are some Egyptian-ish links:

• Hummus and feta sandwiches from the Feb 2009 issue of Bon Appetit
• Nadia and Claudia Roden's fabulous Egyptian-themed party
• Eat like an ancient Egyptian
  

Thursday Links

Ugh - it's only week #2 and already I'm forgetting to write the links post? In my defense, I've been very busy today and am just now (at 11:15) finishing my work. So since I'm not going to be able to fall asleep soon anyway, here are some Top Chef recap links:

• Max Weiss, the Baltimore Magazine reporter, on her personal blog
• Kathy the minx, minxy as usual
• David Dust, dusty as usual
• Best Week Ever, besty as usual?

Thursday Links

Here's what I've been reading about lately:

• Unlike my recent trip to Chicago, which mostly involved room service, when Xani from Black Coffee and a Donut went to Chi-town last fall, she did make it to Tru.
• Bourdain. In Baltimore. I wish I spent more time loitering around Penn Station.
• Q: What's the opposite of trendy? A: Cafeteria food.
• I just bought this, but in black, and I can't wait to use it.
• This kitchen, I love it. All that color is fantastic.

One more thing, and this is a bit of a rant. I just got my January issue of Bon Appetit - it arrived late last week, the day before my February Food & Wine. A few hours ago, I was at Sur la Table in Annapolis and I noticed that they've got the February Bon Appetit on display. Since when does the newsstand get a magazine before subscribers?

But still, it was cool to see Woodberry Kitchen noted as a new American "gastro-tavern" (as totally ridiculous as that sounds).