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Richard: "Everytime I Get Close to a S'more, I Tear Up"

partysugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:11 -0800

When one thinks of Thanksgiving desserts, s'mores don't necessarily come to mind. Unless you're Richard Sweeney, of course. Last week's axed Top Chef contestant will forever be haunted by Thanksgiving s'mores. I spoke to Richard, who was surprisingly cheerful, today about his time on the show, life after the knife, and the Foo Fighters. To find out what he had to say about his experience, read more.

On his decision to make s'mores: I'm trying to think exactly how it came up. They requested chocolate and bananas and first we thought about doing a frozen banana with a warm chocolate sauce. I can't remember if they were my idea or not. I noticed lots of little things since I've watched the episode, and ultimately, I shouldn't have done that dessert. I did dessert for the Craft challenge and desserts are usually the kiss of death on Top Chef. Why I chose another one is beyond me. I should have stayed away from desserts and avoided them for awhile, but I thought I could do the s'more. Now everytime I get close to a s'more, I tear up.

On serving the Foo Fighters: I think they know actually a lot more than you would probably guess about food. Especially for what we got to see on air, they edited out a lot. They picked up on a bunch of little things we did. My team lost, so I don't think they appreciated my food very much. I think the initial comment that Dave made - when he said it, it sounded really bad, but it was done in a joking way. I didn't take it offensively. At judge's table, I realized the vanilla cream sauce I made had fallen and it did look kind of like spit. It was disappointing that I didn't get to find out what they thought about the other dishes I made. I did a spin on a Caprese salad. They wanted a mayonnaise-based salad, so I made a pesto mayo for Caprese. I made a spicy sweet potato dish that the judges really liked. When I went into the stew room, I didn't think I was totally safe, but knowing I had one good dish and two bad, and Jeff had three bad, and Danny had two bad, I thought I was somewhat safe because Jeff and Danny had no positive critiques. I went back thinking I wouldn't be on the chopping block.

On Tom and Padma: This is such a popular question. It's really hard to get to know them super well. You don't have a lot of contact with them. We don't finish a quickfire challenge and have a beer together, so it's really hard to know their personalities. But from the promotional shoots and the time spent with them, I noticed that Tom's a quiet guy. He kicked it to himself. His professionalism really shows. He wants it to be about the food and not about personality.

Padma's just as beautiful in person. All the gay guys at the bar ask me that. After she spit out Ariane's dessert, the next time she saw Ariane, she went up and asked her if she was OK. It was nice to see that human side of the judges. It's their job to judge us and not be our friend, but it's nice to see that human side. We see that little by little at events, too.

On living with the eliminated contestants in the sequester house: We drink a lot. I made lots of sangria. I came up with about 30 sangria recipes because we got sick of wine by itself. We had cable, but no Internet or phone connection. We watched the Olympics and we went out together sometimes. We were actually in Jersey City. No one expected us to be there and when we went out we would get a questioning look. It was relaxing and stressful at the same time. You want to know what's going on in the kitchen, but if your not in the competition you want to go home. It was almost too relaxing. We got stir-crazy. It's still very confined. The cast and production people are taking you where you need to go. When someone was eliminated, we were stuck in the house all day waiting for them. It was a stressful, relaxing, weird drunken time for all.

On the remaining chefs: Stefan is someone to watch out for. He's the most traveled and has been doing this for a long time. He knows his stuff. Fabio has consistently been doing well. There's a couple other people who haven't gotten a lot of face time yet. Ariane bouncing back this week, was a testament to her. To be in the bottom two weeks in a row and come back in a challenge where everyone is asking her about the turkey, we didn't trust her, and to come out on top is hard. She stepped up and showed she can do it.

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Introducing Top Chef After the Knife

partysugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:15:05 -0800

Ever wonder what happens to the Top Chef contestants after Padma gives them the boot? Well starting this Wednesday, you can find out!

Magical Elves, the production company behind Top Chef, has announced its new web series, After the Knife. The show will air every Wednesday at 11 p.m. EST on Bravotv.com.

Each week viewers can follow the defeated chef into a house where the previously eliminated chefs are residing. I think it will be fun to see what life is like for the cheftestants after they get cut; I definitely plan on tuning in! The majority of you can't get enough of Top Chef, so tell me: Will you watch the web series After the Knife?

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Eyebrow Transplants Offer Solutions For the Overplucked

BellaSugar — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:00:48 -0800

Did you know that once a hair has been plucked, it takes an average of 65 days to grow back? And unfortunately, some brows, as the result of damage from overplucking, never grow back. But thanks to improvements in hair transplant surgery techniques, eyebrow transplants are a possible option. While it's extremely difficult to duplicate the exact angles from which brows grow, doctors have found a way to graft hair one follicle at a time.

The process, which costs around $5,400, is done by taking a fine section of skin from the scalp. Then, each strand of hair is implanted into the brow after 50 very small incisions are made to make room for the new addition. Ouch. After about six months, most patients see the full results. It sounds like a painful procedure to me, one that would be best only for extreme problems. Plus, with options like Latisse for eyelashes and strategically placed makeup for brows, there are obviously other (easier, painless, cheaper) ways to bring brows back to life.

For those who don't want to go under the knife but are looking for something with longer-lasting results, there's another solution. For about $760-$1,000, a technician can use a custom-blended mineral pigment to draw in "hairs" one at a time. The pigment fades away after about 18 months. What say you about the pursuit for fuller brows?

Simple Tip: Use Olive Oil to Reduce Garlic's Stickiness

partysugar — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:15:38 -0800

Have you ever noticed how sticky garlic is? When you're peeling it, it sticks to your fingers, and when mincing, it sticks to the cutting board and knife. For years I've been annoyed by it, but recently I discovered an easy way to reduce garlic's stickiness. After you've peeled a clove, drop a tiny bit of olive oil on top. The oil lubricates the garlic and ensures that it won't stick.

Do you have a secret cooking tip that pertains to garlic? Please share with us below!

Victoria Steals a Night With Her Boys as Dresses Get Snatched

PopSugar — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:30:49 -0800

Victoria Beckham brought her boys out for dinner in LA on Friday while David was off on his trip to South Africa. Cruz, Romeo, and Brooklyn were dressed up for a night out with mom, as was Victoria in her high heels and short dress. She's known for her contributions to fashion, and a few people are apparently frantic to get their hands on her designs. A shipment of 75 dresses from her Victoria Beckham Collection was stolen at knife point last week shortly after they departed her London office en route for Neiman Marcus in NYC. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and Victoria is putting in overtime to make sure the items are replaced ASAP.

For more photos of the Beckhams, just read more.

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Desperate Housewives Rundown, "Would I Think of Suicide?"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:30:18 -0800

Orson may have been the one talking about suicide a few weeks ago, but on the latest episode of Desperate Housewives, Danny (or should I say Tyler?) and Katherine both come close to taking their own lives. Elsewhere on Wisteria Lane, the Scavos' feud with the Solises gets even uglier and Susan finally discovers Bree's affair with Karl.

It's all leading up to the big plane crash we've been hearing about for months, but for now let's recap all the latest scandal and drama. For more of my thoughts, just read more.

Susan: After learning of Emily's death, Susan urges Julie to tell the police about her affair with Nick Bolen. Julie refuses, but agrees to switch cars with Karl so that she feels safer. Of course, Susan spots Julie's car at a motel and immediately assumes that Julie has taken up with Nick again. Upon further investigation, Susan discovers Bree and Karl's affair. Who else saw this one coming a mile away? I was only surprised that she doesn't burst into the room in typical Susan fashion.

Bree: Susan obviously can't wait to confront Bree about Karl, and she seizes the opportunity at a self defense class - while she has Bree in a choke hold. Bree tries to defend herself but insists that she's willing to sacrifice her friendship with Susan for her relationship with Karl. Susan has a sit-down with her friend and ex-husband and recounts all the times Karl wronged her during their marriage. When Bree admits that she loves Karl in spite of his flaws, Susan gives them her blessing and the three have a happy Hollywood ending - for now, at least.

Lynette and Gaby: Lynette is convinced that Carlos won't fire her, but when she shows up to work he's already given away her job and office, and moves her to an icky storage closet. She asks Gaby to intervene on her behalf, but Gaby refuses. Later, Gaby has a change of heart and she and Carlos agree to forgive their longtime friends. Of course, the reconciliation is too late and Carlos gets served as Gaby and Lynette are hugging across the street. Then the gloves really come off: Carlos gives Lynette an absurd amount of work to do, and when she goes to Penny's pageant instead, he fires her. Um, hello! Can't this be considered abuse, especially since Lynette is preggers? I'm still on Team Scavo for this one - she's just trying to protect her job and family while Carlos is acting downright malicious. What say you?

Katherine: Creepy Katherine hits new heights this week. Now that she's already failed to seduce Mike and threaten Susan, she's hedging her next best bet - little MJ. First she feeds him a sob story about how his mommy stole Mike away, and then she basically kidnaps him despite a very severe warning from Mike. Mike is obviously livid when he finds MJ at Katherine's house, and gives her a harsh speech about how he never cared about her at all. Honestly, Katherine is just beyond pathetic at this point, it's almost hard to feel bad for her. At the end of the episode, she calls 911 and says that she's "losing a lot of blood" - right before stabbing herself with a kitchen knife. It seems like the writers can't figure out what to do with her character, already. Might I suggest another death of a housewife? I think it's time.

Angie: Nick suggests that the Bolens move when he realizes that he could be implicated in Emily's death, but Angie likes her new life on Wisteria Lane and doesn't want to run again. There are a lot of allusions to the Bolens' checkered past - Angie definitely killed someone, and apparently Nick chose to run away with her way back when. Sooo, maybe he's not a total jerk after all? Meanwhile, Danny tries to ask Julie out yet again, but when Julie rejects him, he downs a bunch of pills. When he wakes up in the hospital, he tells the nurse his name isn't Danny, but Tyler. So uh, is he just tired of faking it or does he have amnesia? And why aren't his parents waiting for him in the hospital?

How'd you like this week's episode? Do you think Katherine will pull through? Do you even want her to? Who do you think will be a goner in the big plane crash?

How-To: Remove Strippable Wallpaper

CasaSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:00:59 -0800

Back in August of last year, I tested out Graham & Brown's Paste the Wall wallpaper, which you install by pasting the wall itself rather than the paper when hanging, and which is meant to peel off in full sheets. When I tested removing it, I found that it did peel off in full sheets, with no paper residue. But after a year or so when it was time to remove the paper, some of the paper liner was left on the walls when I peeled it off. Luckily, it was really easy to remove. Want to learn how?

FlashForward Breakdown, "The Gift"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:30:48 -0800

On this week's episode of FlashForward, we get some of those big payoffs that Sonya Walger promised. While the main characters' most important relationships grow more tense, the FBI agents learn more about the blue-hand situation, and the end of the episode has two very big twists.

There's plenty of excitement to discuss, so to get into it, just read more.

Call me Al: We don't learn much about Al in the first handful of episodes of the season, but boy do we get an eyeful and an earful this week. Turns out Al's flash-forward is a lot more jarring than just a dead bird - it's followed up with a phone call revealing that a still-mysterious chain of events ends in Al "accidentally" killing a mother of two. Throughout the episode Al seems to have a laid-back, collected demeanor (even when he opts in for a game of Russian roulette), but inside he's a mess. In the end, Al is so overcome with grief about having a death on his hands, that he decides to "change the game" and commits suicide. I have to admit, as heartbreaking as that scene is, I was kind of glad Al went through with it - just to prove that the flash-forwards aren't necessarily the future. Everything is changed now, the paths can be adjusted, and both Mark and Demetri realize this as they head home to their significant others. Now that they believe the visions can be adjusted, I can't wait to see what else they try to do to throw their visions off course.

My blue heaven: Following up on Demetri and Al's scavenger hunt to find the "blue hands," the fun continues this week as the FBI agents discover that the blue hands are actually a "death club," with meetings set up all over the country for people like Demetri who didn't see a flash-forward ("living ghosts"). It kind of reminded me of Fight Club, though Mark defines it as a "book club with bullets." The guys are hilarious in their street clothes headed to the party, though what they find inside is pretty horrific. After a quick game of Russian roulette, the guys enter what can only be defined as a torture den - people who believe they are going to die doing all kinds of creepy things to each other. I have to say, if I was one of those "living ghosts" I think I'd either be trying to do all the fun things I never got to do before - or I'd just want to get it over with. Why anyone would want to be tortured when he or she is already tormented by the idea of their inevitable death is beyond me.

Blast from the past: Aaron gets a visit from Mike, a friend and solider who served at the same time as Aaron's daughter Tracy. Mike passes on a Swiss Army knife to Aaron, a good-luck charm that Tracy wanted her dad to have should anything happen to her. Aaron is overjoyed since the knife also appeared in his vision, though Mike isn't exactly receptive to the notion that Tracy is still alive. He explains to Aaron that he watched Tracy die (though hello! He didn't even check to see if she was breathing), but surprise! Tracy is sitting in Aaron's kitchen at the end of the episode.

Other plot points:

As tensions rise between Demetri and Zoey, Demetri finally admits to Zoey that he didn't have a flash-forward and is going to die. Zoey refuses to accept it, insisting that should could feel Demetri in her vision and that nothing's been decided yet. Demetri seems skeptical about choosing Zoey's side to "hope" for the best, but after Al's suicide, he seems to have warmed up to the idea that he can change his fate.

Like Demetri, Al's death is a wake-up call for Mark. After suffering problems with Olivia (how sad is it when Charlie catches him crying?) he runs home and embraces her sweetly.

Instead of helping out at the church, Nicole lands a gig volunteering at Olivia's hospital. We learn that she speaks Japanese pretty will, and now is helping Bryce try to find the mysterious Japanese woman from his vision. Will this somehow lead to Nicole's scary vision? Is she sticking her nose where it doesn't belong?

What did you think of this week's episode? Do you think other characters will try to "change the game," too?

Consumer Reports: How to Make Pricey Appliances Last

SavvySugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00:28 -0800

The cost of maintaining a home and appliances is often a major deterrent for those debating whether to rent or purchase a home. The unexpected expense of fixing leaky gutters and broken dishwashers can be budget breaking if it comes at the wrong time of month. Not to mention it's a huge pain. Consumer Reports has put together a great guide for how to extend the useful life of appliances and pricey goodies. Obviously, the key is maintenance and keeping a watchful eye on appliances so they don't break down unexpectedly and leave you in a pricey pinch. Consumer Reports suggests:

Cell phones
Don't stow in your car's glove compartment during the summer. Otherwise, batteries may overheat, possibly ruining the phone. If you've been known to drop your cell phone, treat it to a protective case.

Clothes dryers
Clean the lint filter after each use and the entire air duct yearly. If your dryer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable new model. But don't expect much gain in performance or efficiency, since dryer technology hasn't changed much.

Clothes washers
Don't overload. If your washer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable model. If you're replacing, consider a high-efficiency washer, which should save money over time. Also consider a front-loader, which is less punishing to clothes than a top-loader.

Dishwashers
Check the filter regularly and remove any debris.

To see additional suggestions and reminders, read more.

Hardwood floors
Dust mop or vacuum weekly. Wipe up wet spills pronto.

Kitchen knives
Keep them out of the dishwasher and store them in a wooden knife block or individual plastic shields.

Laptop computers
Set them on a hard, flat surface rather than a soft one such as a bed or carpet, which can block airflow and cause them to overheat.

LCD TVs
Clean the screen gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth, ideally a microfiber one. Avoid commercial cleaners and paper towels, which can scratch the screen.

Mattresses
Rotate periodically. Try not to sit on the edge. Buy a washable, protective cover. And pull back the sheets and blankets to let the bed air out for 20 minutes or so each morning.

Visit the Consumer Reports website for more tips on making your pricey goods last.

90210 vs. Melrose Place: Which Was More Scandalous?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:30:12 -0800

This week's CW drama block may have its share of cool guest stars like N.E.R.D. and Samantha Ronson, but, on the whole, it's a total mess. On the one hand, you've got the unstable girls of 90210 having emotional breakdowns at the drop of a hat; on the other, the Melrose Place residents are busy sneaking around to cover up their crimes. Personally, I was a bit annoyed by all the over-the-topness - especially you, Annie. Oh, and you, Ivy. But hey, at least it gives us a few surprising moments.

Ready to dissect each show and decide which packed more punch? (Warning: major spoilers!) Take a peek at my arguments and then weigh in with your own when you read more.

90210 point: Sasha is officially a nut job. First she tells Dixon that she's pregnant, but when Debbie gets wind of it, she questions Sasha even further to catch her in her baby lies. But the best part? When Debbie says the line, "It starts with you're not pregnant, and it ends with stay away from my son." Oh, snap! Congrats Debbie, you just went up a notch on the list of cool TV moms. Sasha backs off, telling Dixon she had a "miscarriage."
Melrose Place counterpoint: Did David kill Sydney? They sure try to make it seem that way. David tells Ella that he was blackout drunk that night after finding out that Syd was sleeping with his father - and then he has a flashback where he wakes up with blood all over himself and a knife in his hand. I gasped a little over the big reveal, but I'm not entirely convinced that David wasn't set up by someone else.

90210 point: Annie is getting in way over her head with Jasper, and unfortunately, she seems much too insecure to dig herself out. When Navid hears that Jasper is a dealer, he tells Annie and she confronts Jasper about it. Jasper wigs out, making Annie cry and beg forgiveness. Later, we see Jasper selling drugs to someone, so we know the rumors are true. For more on his buyer, keep reading.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Jonah makes out with Kendra, the hot movie producer, literally within the first five minutes of the episode. (That didn't take long.) He stops things from going further, but when he comes clean to Riley, he gets on her case again for her kiss with Auggie. She apologizes profusely, but the damage has already been done. By the end of the episode, I was thinking, Wait, did they actually just break up?! I don't think so, but if you stuck around for next week's promo, things do not look good for the engaged couple.

90210 point: Jen is back, throwing around her prima donna wicked attitude. She walks in on Ryan during his date with the bartender from the previous episode and goes into attack mode with the verbal jabs. ("You look older closer up.") Ryan is actually turned on by her jealousy, and the two become exclusive. But what I can't understand is why, after he knows that she lies, does he actually trust her story about Liam coming on to her? He totally buys it!
Melrose Place counterpoint: Auggie finally gives his a-hole boss Marcello a piece of his mind, er, fists. Marcello passes off one of Auggie's recipes as his own, and then he makes a few lewd comments about Riley - and you know how Auggie feels about Riley. He starts swinging, knocking Marcello out. Back at the apartment later, Violet shows up, and in a moment of what I can only blame on Auggie's emotional distress, the two finally knock boots. I'm guessing this means we'll be seeing Violet's worst kind of crazy very soon (right before she and Auggie say sayonara).

90210 point: Adrianna is inching closer to her previous life of drug use. It starts when she plays a song asking for Navid's forgiveness. (So cheesy!) He turns her down, so she continues sulking in bed, sobbing. Silver and Naomi want her to go to a meeting so she can stay clean, and with due concern - at the end of the episode, we see her buying from none other than Jasper.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Ella's squeaky-clean client, Jessie, is hospitalized with major cocaine in his system, so she begs Lauren to write a fake report citing an allergy as the cause of his stay. Lauren refuses. (Anyone else confused about why Lauren continues to take the high road, despite her side prostitution gig?) Ella then discovers a wad of cash in Lauren's room and realizes her Pretty Woman secret. Of course Lauren denies the accusations, but no matter - Ella decides to let her star take the fall anyway and promises to never question Lauren again.

90210 had way more melodramatic outbursts, but those ladies were so crazy that it kind of turned me off. (You girls give women a bad name. Even Violet seemed normal this week compared to you.) So I'm giving this week to Melrose by default: I was genuinely shocked at David's bloody flashback and the fact that Jonah has suddenly broken out of his perfect-fiance persona. I expect scandal from someone like Auggie or Ella, but from Jonah? Come on!

Do you disagree? Were you actually loving all of the melodrama on 90210?

Don't forget that you can also keep the conversation going over in the 90210 Superfans group in the Buzz Community. Check it out!

Photos courtesy of The CW