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Do You Eat Octopus?

partysugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 06:50:34 -0700

Do You Enjoy Trying New Things?

partysugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:50:57 -0700

Last week my sister and I went to dinner at a new restaurant, Pizza Nostra, that recently opened in San Francisco's Potrero Hill district. While the flat, crusty pizzas piping hot from the wood-burning stove were delicious, it was the grilled octopus with chickpeas, celery, and lemon antipasto that stood out in my mind.

Although she'd never had octopus, my sister boldly dove in and was pleasantly surprised by the mild taste and slightly chewy texture. We both could not get enough and swore that even our mother - who's afraid of eating more exotic cuisine like octopus - would enjoy the perfect combination of flavor and texture in the dish. However, my mother is not as adventurous as my sister and she doesn't really enjoy trying new things.

Be it a restaurant, recipe, ingredient, or culinary technique, how do you feel about the matter? Do you like tasting new experiences?

Would You Eat This Live Octopus?

partysugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:28:19 -0700

The other day I came across a very disturbing video. In the video, one of my favorite America's Next Top Model contestants - Elyse Sewell from Cycle 1 - eats live octopus tentacles. She slurps the squirming tentacles down as if they were nothing and she does it while sexily eyeing the camera. Tyra would be so proud, Elyse looks like a model while eating live seafood!

I thought I could eat anything but watching the octopus move as she swallowed it made me feel kind of sick. Still, I pride myself on being adventurous and would try my hardest to stomach this octopus. How about you? Would you eat live octopus?

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Would You Rather Eat Clams Or Octopus?

partysugar — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 08:13:31 -0700

Octopus Cake Pan: Love It Or Hate It?

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 06:01:31 -0700

I'm still not sure what I think about the whole cutesy cake pan trend, but I think it's pretty safe to say that it's here to stay. This time whimsical fun is presented in the shape of an octopus. The octopus cake pan is made from heat-responsive cast-aluminum by NordicWare (who is probably the undisputed champ of whimsical cake pans) and is exclusively available at Williams-Sonoma for $38. Now I think this would be a great cake for a child's birthday party (or perhaps a marine-biologist), however I have a problem pony-ing up $40 for something I might use once or twice. What do you guys think? Octopus Cake Pan, love it or hate it?

Octopus Juicer and Squid Scrub Brush: Love Them or Hate Them?

YumSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:18:31 -0800

Among the many unique products Urban Outfitters has right now, I was glad to see that happy mundane pointed out both this Octopus Juicer ($14) and this Squid Scrub Brush ($8). I know that a lot of you like whimsical kitchen accessories, and so I wondered what you thought of these little guys? Would you want them in your kitchen?

All The News That's Fit To Eat - Mar. 5, 2008

YumSugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:20:51 -0800

Potatoes cooked in oil have gone from snack to menu staple. I've got no arguments with that! - Boston Globe
Discover the latest rising star chefs in the Bay Area. - San Francisco Chronicle

You've probably heard of a spork, but do you know what a knork is? Check out the quirkiest cutlery to hit the markets. - Washington Post
Yes, that secret ingredient is MSG. Plus, learn to cook an octopus with Mark Bittman.- New York Times
With homemade Asian dumplings, an at-home meal can turn into a group party. - Los Angeles Times
Want to feel younger? Try eating better. - Chicago Tribune
Learn what to do with the versatile banana leaf. - Houston Chronicle
College students everywhere are rediscovering crockpots. - Sacramento Bee
And finally, discover the chocolate pagan Easter symbols in the latest food catalogs. - Jezebel

Would You Eat Guinea Pig?

partysugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:47:19 -0700

I consider myself an adventuresome eater. This means I'll try anything once and don't get squeamish by the sight of pig legs, fish heads, octopus tentacles, or stomach linings. Still, it's happened to the best of us: sometimes the things people eat are just plain gross. The smell is overpowering and inevitably you lose your appetite.

My sister recently traveled to the mountains of Ecuador where guinea pig is a delicacy. A girl after my own heart, she ordered and sampled the rodent stating that there was not a lot of meat and it was mostly crispy skin with a taste similar to chicken skin. How about you? Would you eat guinea pig, or is reading this making you sick?

Happy Hour: Mussaka

partysugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:13:13 -0700

Ouzo is the national drink of Greece. It's a clear liquor that is made from pressed grapes, aniseed, and a variety of herbs. It has a licorice flavor similar to Anise and can be consumed on the rocks or mixed with water. Ouzo is traditionally sipped slowly over a period of several hours at little bars called ouzeries where it's paired with tasty snacks such as octopus, salad, sardines, calamari, fried zucchini and clams. Here it is paired with Drambuie and Coke to make a tasty cocktail. Try this drink for your next happy hour, to get the recipe, read more

Mussaka
From Drinks Mixer

1 oz ouzo anise liqueur
1/2 oz Drambuie Scotch whisky
Pepsi or coca cola

Pour ouzo and Drambuie into an old-fashioned glass with ice.
Fill with cola, and serve.

Serves 1.

Print recipe with images | without images

PartySugar Behind The Bash: Taste 2007

partysugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 08:57:32 -0700

Last Thursday night I was invited to a hip local arts event that expertly mixed art, auction and food. Hosted by Root Division - an organization that promotes creative expression and boosts the community by providing studio space to working artists in exchange for their services as art teachers - Taste 2007 was a fundraiser, exhibition, and tasting all rolled into one event. Tastes, bite sized tapas from eight acclaimed young San Francisco chefs, featured delicious, innovative nibbles along side the artwork.

To learn about the amazing food I tasted and check out some of my favorite paintings (including this really cool one of a crab), read more

When I rushed in from the pouring rain, I was delighted to see a gift bag (filled with tons of fabulous goodies, including a super long glass tube and a free manicure at Cinta) was waiting for me. I made my way over to the wine station and got a glass of red from the artist behind the makeshift bar before heading over to the Pescheria table. Their taste was a cold octopus and pea salad that was super fresh without being overly fishy. However, balancing my glass of wine, my Marc Jacobs handbag, and goodie bag while trying to stab individual peas with a two pronged toothpick was too challenging and I ended up tossing the taste without having finished the salad.

Next I sampled the food/art by Michael Yakura of Ozumo (on my list of places to eat) that was on display in an adjoining room. His exhibit proved to be an ingenious combination of food and art - a three course meal, in liquid form, was stuck into tiny suck-able syringes and placed into small pegs and arranged on a wall. Guests were invited to take a syringe and enjoy the meal. The third course, a teeny sip of a creme brulee was the most popular and the fishy cioppino the least popular with its overpowering briny-ness.

When I tasted Scott from Maverick's bbq-ed pulled pork delicately placed on a crisp homemade potato chip, I was in heaven. The meat was moist, not chewy, and the sauce spicy, not commercialized. I quickly devoured several more chip bites before moving on to the mind blowing Noah of Brick Restaurant (also on my list of places to dine). Noah, a student of culinary gastronomy, had created the perfect taste that was layered, complex, and undeniably complete. A paper thin slice of lamb was topped with a creamy, melt in your mouth celery mousse. The bite was to be followed with a celery gin shot that delicately cleansed the palate. This was amazing and by far my favorite part of the night.

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