The Show With The Bad Name Lives!!

A couple months ago, I was watching Private Practice, and noticed something strange: walking through Oceanside Wellness with new addition Dr. Jake Reilly (Benjamin Bratt), was what I assumed to be a lesbian couple (he's a fertility doctor), made up of...Courtney Cox and her Cougar Town co-star Christa Miller! I watched it again, to be sure. And yes, it was the former Friends star with her new TV friend.  Odd, right? Did anyone else notice? Here is the shot:

I didn't do a ton of research, but the regular TV / entertainment blogs I read didn't say a thing about this! I thought it was pretty funny. At the time, I could only guess that maybe the shows film on the same lot and the producers at PP offered the ladies a walk on. It was only today, when I googled the incident, that I found this article.

First off, it's news to me that CT is even coming back! I thought it had been cancelled! It's one of those shows I was never in the mood to watch, but once I did, I always found myself smiling, if not laughing. 

Incredible marketing on their part, no? Why other shows haven't done this as much before, I don't know. But to stick your actors into random shows to keep their own show in viewers' minds? Genius.

I did, in fact, see Ian Gomez on Grey's Anatomy but didn't think anything of it (except maybe "well, I guess he needed work"), because GA tends to have lots of guest stars. I suppose I though his "role" (if you could call it that) wasn't much of anything. But, again, didn't really think on it much. Although, now that I know what's going on, it turns out that this cameo and the PP cameo with the ladies were on the same night! Guess I missed that. Although I do tend to watch PP a couple days later on my DVR.

I'm working my way through ABC.com's slew of clips of where the cast has been popping up and I can't believe I missed this one!! Here's Josh Hopkins on Castle!

If you watch The Middle, Body of Proof or Happy Endings, then you will have seen Brian Van Holt, Ian Gomez, Dan Byrd and Busy Phillips. If I wasn't making myself clear, this is AMAZING! I love this idea and I can't wait to see if there are more cameos in my regular shows!

According to TVGuide.com, Cougar Town has been renewed for a shorter (15 episode) season to premiere sometime in March. So if you're missing your penny-can playing, wine swigging buddies from the FL cul-de-sac, look for them then. (And by the way, if you're like me, and want a "Big Joe" or "Big Carl" wine glass, you can find a whole Facebook page dedicated to BIG wine glasses here.)

Cincinnati Chili

I've got some history with Cincinnati. My mother grew up there and my fiancé went to school for a year there. My first visit was when I was in the vicinity of 8 years old and my mother took me to her high school reunion (because a lady never reveals another lady's age, I won't mention how many years out she was!).  I did not return to Cincinnati until close to 20 years later when my rabbi-to-be was studying there. This is when I was introduced to the chili that is native to that region. You may have heard of it: Skyline Chili. 

It's unlike the chili you find anywhere else. This chili is sweeter, thinner and it's all about the add-ons. You can have a 3-way (spagetti, chili, cheese), 4-way (spagetti, chili, cheese, beans OR onions) or 5-way (spagetti, chili, cheese, beans AND onions). Any way you get it, it's delicious! I made sure that Skyline was one of our stops each time I visited Cincinnati that year.


On my way home from one of my Cincinnati trips, I discovered that cans of the stuff are sold in the airport! CANS! That was amazing! Anytime I wanted I could just open up a can of Skyline Chili! I then discovered you can order all kinds of products online as well! You can buy your own Skyline Chili here.


My rabbi-to-be and I experimented a few times with different products--the cans, spice powder that you can add to ground beef, different cheeses, etc. It was not until recently that we decided to actually make our own Cincinnati Chili! We wanted to make it a bit more healthy, so we substitute ground turkey for ground beef and we sometimes use whole wheat pasta (which I never used to be a fan of but they've done some great things with ww pastas now and I am beginning to love it!). Our version is pretty spot on! The flavor is rich with that hint of sweetness (wait til you see what's on the ingredient list!), the texture is a bit different and may take getting used to if you haven't had it before, and we can control exactly how much cheese we add to it. It's becoming a regular go-to for us! We started with a couple recipes we found online and mixed and matched until the flavor was to our liking. I use the measurements as a guideline, not a rule. I added more or less according to my taste.


Cincinnati Chili Recipe


1 lb. ground turkey (or beef if you like-but keep it lean people!)
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 bay leaf
1 Tsp ground cinnamon (I think I end up adding more as the chili simmers)
1 Tsp ground cumin
1 Tsp Allspice (I don't think I use Allspice because it's not in my cabinet but many recipes call for it, same with clove, but I'm not a huge clove fan)
1/4 Tsp cayenne pepper (if you like spice, add more. I had too much one time and ended up having to dilute my chili with water and let it simmer FOREVER to thicken up again!)
1/2 Tsp salt
1 1/2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa OR 1/2 oz. grated unsweetened chocolate (I used the grated version once and it was SO much better than using cocoa!)
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp cider vinegar
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained


Spaghetti (your favorite brand)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese (pre-shredded or shred your own--whatever you like!)
However much red onion you might like to top off the chili


Heat some oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Add the chopped onion and minced garlic and saute until tender.
Add the ground meat and cook until just browned, breaking up the meat.
Add the chili powder and mix until it's coating the meat. 
Add the bay leaf, cinnamon, cumin, allspice (if using), clove (if using), cayenne, salt, cocoa or chocolate, tomato sauce, water, vinegar, Worcestershire.
Bring the whole thing to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered. Most recipes say simmer for an hour and a half.  During that time, keep tasting it and adding more of whatever flavor you feel it needs. Or, if you did it perfect on the first try, just let it roll!

A trick that we have started using to get a good texture is to break out the immersion blender to really break up the meat-especially if we're using turkey because that doesn't seem to break up into teeny tiny pieces as well. Yes, it will look soupy, but that's good! Also, if you decide to go this route, TAKE OUT THE BAY LEAF BEFORE BLENDING! Then you can add the bay leaf back in!


About 15-20 minutes before you want to serve the chili, add in the beans. I like them incorporated into the chili, rather than as a topping. 


Also 15-20 minutes before serving, prepare your spaghetti and toppings. Chop the red onion if using and shred the cheese. I don't really see the cheese as an option, more of a requirement! 


Put pasta on a plate or in a bowl, ladle out the chili on top and then add your toppings! Cheese last! 


Enjoy!

Now That I've Seen It...Person of Interest

We are well into the fall TV season, with many of the new series having already premiered. One that has premiered to pretty decent ratings and mixed reviews is "Person of Interest." I have to admit, I don't watch it when it plays on TV. I will also admit that, until last night, I completely forgot when it actually airs. If you're wondering, it's Thursdays at 9 PM. Yes, folks, that's the same time as "Grey's Anatomy," a show that I do tend to watch as it airs.

Anyway, I've watched 3 episodes and while I'm not jumping up and down over how great this show is, it is definitely on my "to watch" list for now. I love watching Michael Emerson, no matter what. I think he was better as Ben Linus on "Lost" but Finch isn't really all that far off from certain aspects of Ben.  He's secretive, sneaky, intelligent. And we have yet to discover basically everything about him besides the fact that he invented a machine for the government that he now uses to help people.  Speaking of "Lost," I just read that Alan Dale (or Charles Widmore to some of you) has signed on for a guest role in episode 8! Another reason to keep watching!

Jim Caviezel gives a sort of boring performance. I know he's supposed to be the brooding, damaged tough guy, but is just comes off as emotionless. What I do love is when he walks into a situation and it's him against a group, you just know he's going to kick everyone's ass. One way or another he will win any fight. And that's kind of fun to watch, though totally unbelievable. You gotta love a good fight scene.

What keeps me interested in this show are the stories each week. Similar to "Law and Order"  or any of the crime dramas, the do-gooders have new cases to work on, bad guys to weed out, innocent people to save. And I also like the cat and mouse game going on with Caviezel's Reese and Taraji P. Henson's Detective Carter.

Each week they're getting more into the characters and flushing out storylines. The show has a ways to go before I'm chomping at the bit to watch each week, but I think it'll get there. Still no full season pickup for "Person of Interest" but I'm comfortably confident it will get picked up...at least for one season.

Subway Gripe

This post could go on and on and on and on...You get it. But for today's gripe, I'll focus in on one seemingly small, yet very LARGE annoyance.

The subway stops. People start filing out. Then there's that one person who doesn't understand. The subway has STOPPED. You can LET GO of the pole or railing. I'm not talking about the people who have not yet reached their destination and are staying on. It's the people who absolutely have to let go because they are disembarking. But they hang on for dear life until their arm has been stretched to it's maximum length. Then they let go, having blocked my way for the longest possible amount of time.

Am I just an impatient commuter? Eh, maybe. But I'm sure you have your subway gripes. Share them with me!

Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/inflite/2419329769/sizes/m/in/photostream/

The Emmys!!

Here it is, my reaction to the Emmys last night. As you know, if you read my initial blog post when the nominations came out, I heart the Emmys. I arrived home in time to see some of the Red Carpet, but definitely not all of it. I do have it DVR-ed so I may check it out but I did manage to see most of the glitz and glamor throughout the show. Some of you might be surprised, I'm not a huge fan of a lot of the fashion. Though the more I'm poking around the red carpet pics on the internet, the more fabulous dresses I'm finding that I didn't catch last night.  In fact, I probably could have dedicated a separate blog just to the dresses, but I haven't. So here goes...

The first person I see as I start watching the DVR is Jane lynch in maroon David Meister...looking a little pregnant. Hmm. She says there will be four outfits tonight. I hope the next ones are better than this one!

Paula Abdul's dress..is it on sideways? It's pretty but it seems as though she didn't straighten it out! Almost like it's supposed to be a sweetheart top but is completely misplaced!

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Christina Hendricks, you are a beautiful, curvy woman. We get it. You have big boobs. They come up to your shoulders (better than down to your knees, no?). But every red carpet? You have to hoist them up there EVERY red carpet? Maybe try something different next time. Surprise us.  However, you do look absolutely stunning. That dress is gorgeous.

Minka Kelly is supposedly Esquire's sexiest woman alive right? Why did she choose a dowdy dress? I can sort of see the appeal of it, it's clearly a beautiful Dior dress. But it does NOTHING for her.

I'm a fan of Julianna Margulies but I do not love her dress. At all. It's Armani Prive, as are a lot of dresses on the red carpet tonight. I like the bottom. Not the top. It looks robot like. And NOT a fan of the hair. At all. I know she's got bangs for the new season, but this hairdo isn't my favorite for her.

I'm seeing a lot of red. Which I love. Lea Michele's dress is gorgeous. Minus the shoulders. I get that it's a look. It's just not one I wholeheartedly like. Big shoulders just doesn't do it for me. But the back of that dress is fabulous.

                      

At this time, I have to switch over to the actual Emmys and will have to comment on clothes throughout the evening...it's 8:00 people...time for the show!!

Opening video—fabulous! I love seeing the stars all come together to make funny! And the Friday Night light boys were adorable! Landry, Saracen and Vince! Aw...I really miss that show.

I know Jane Lynch was lip synching, but it sounded like her, right? Pre-recorded, or sung by someone who sounds like her? If it's her--impressive (though probably auto-tuned to heck!). As much of an anti-Mad Men person as I am, I thoroughly enjoyed their cameo in the opening number!

Okay, she explained the singing people, right? I must have been looking away or something. Why? I'm not impressed with these people...who is Cobie Smulders??  Andy why is Wilmer Valderrama in this singing group?

Oustanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy: Will it go to Jane???  NO!! Julie Bowen! I'm thrilled! Though I do think Sofia Vergara could just have easily gotten it. WOW boobalicious Julie! Hmm...and Madonna Arms. Josh says "too much boobie, too big biceps." I'm really not loving that dress. Julie is not very curvy and that dress makes her look even more shapeless. But gorgeous hair and make-up!

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Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy: Will Ed O'Neil be redeemed??  Nope again. Ty Burrell wins! He's great, but Eric Stonestreet was my pick. Go "Modern Family"!!

"Modern Family" has won 4 of 4 of the first awards! (Clearly I'm not commenting on every single award given. Just those I'm interested in!) Will it be a sweep? Will it win Best Comedy?




Charlie Sheen seems to be making a comeback, huh? What was that major breakdown? Went off his meds? Mid-life crisis?  He's really been taking the high road the last week. "The Today Show", Leno, the Emmys. He's definitely putting his tail between his legs and even wished his former show well, if not a little creepily (is that a word?). He managed to include some self-depricating humor by pointing out that this is his "old category." It'll be interesting to see what he does next in Hollywood. He clearly realizes he messed up royally.

Lead actor Comedy Series:  Will they give it to the sentimental favorite Steve Carell? Nope. Jim Parsons...I still have never seen an episode of The Big Bang Theory. He looks a little like an elf, no? Blah. Boring in my opinion. And as he walks off stage he looks like he's scared sh-tless of Charlie Sheen! hahaa

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Oooh...Sofia Vergara looks AMAZING! Except for matching the lips to the dress. Not sure I love that. But I LOVE her dress. It's perfect for her, although anything would look great on her.










Oh, I see. Amy Poehler is trying to be funny. This is the Outsanding Actress in a COMEDY Series.  Or apparently she's just starting a trend of jumping up to the stage as if it were a pageant! Face fanning and all. Even Edie and Laura are getting in on the fun. Cute mini-dress Laura! I wasn't so sure about her attire until I realized it was a mini. Nice choice. Eric Stonestreet looks a bit perplexed at what is going on. haha The ladies, all together on stage, look amazing. Pretty colors! I have to say that Martha Plimpton looks stunning. That sparkly dress is right up my alley!

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WHAT?  I literally just yelled out loud! Melissa McCarthy—this is your year! I said it in my predictions. hahah, They are even giving her the crown and roses. This is great. Love the funny ladies!

I'm also loving these sketches. The Office based one is highly entertaining.  The singing intros? Not as entertaining. Still not getting it.

Oustanding Reality Competition: "The Amazing Race." Eh. I was hoping for "So You Think You Can Dance" (like that was ever gonna win) or Top Chef. Oh well. I'm not overly invested in this category, anyway.

SNL Medley—Priceless. Epic. I don't really watch SNL anymore but I have seen some of the music videos they're reprising. This is hysterical. If you didn't watch the Emmys, look up this performance!

Oooh...big stuff coming up! Drama categories!

Well, "Friday Night Lights" won SOMETHING—Best Writing for a Drama Series! Oh, the theme song gives me chills and makes me want to cry!  Good thoughts for FNL to win more awards!  Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose!!!

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Still haven't seen an episode of —oops...she can't get up the stairs!—"Justified."  Margo Martindale wins. She looks so familiar.  Ah...quick check on IMDB reminds me she was on "Dexter," among other things. She's so happy. The kind of happy that makes me happy for her. Good for you, Margo!

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: huh. Peter Dinklage. "Game of Thrones." Another show I haven't seen. I was definitely hoping for Alan Cumming. Not that it matters, but I heard recently that he's a total nut. I just like his Scottish accent. That and he's a good actor. Hmm. I've never heard anyone thank their dog sitter before. Cute, Dinklage.

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Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: Julianna Margulies! I love "The Good Wife!" But I really really wanted Connie Britton to win. Oh well. Did you notice, though, when Julianna turned around to kiss someone, the dress looks like it's plastic or something! Doesn't look very comfortable! Also, I haven't mentioned it yet, but I love the little commentaries as the winners walk up to the stage. We now know Julianna's favorite favorite episode of "I Love Lucy." Awesome.  They did this last year, too, and I remember hearing something about meatballs when Edie Falco was walking up to the stage.

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: Go "Dexter!"  oops. Kyle Chandler! Oh, and Hugh Laurie! Holy moly it's all my favorites...who will win??   KYLE CHANDLER KYLE CHANDLER KYLE CHANDLER!!!!!!!!!!! SO HAPPY! (sorry Michael C. Hall)

Oh, side note...now I can really see Minka Kelly's dress...LOVE.  I take back what I said before.  And so nice that she can present Kyle Chandler with the award, since she was on the show, herself.

Aw...it looked like he was trying to say more after they turned off the mic...maybe a Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose for old time sake??

So are these singers here because Jane Lynch is on "Glee" and they're supposed to be the glee club? Am I really only registering this now? Whoops.

I haven't seen a single movie or mini-series, so it may be time to tune out and unload the dishwasher.

I don't know any of these movies but I just saw Maggie Smith as a nominee...go Professor McGonagall! HAHAH She won! But she's not there. Sad.

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How are we feeling about Amy's Poehler's dress? Eh. Different. Not loving it. Maybe if her hair was done better. You know who else's hair needed help? Padma Lakshmi. Very uncharacteristic of her to have messy, wiry looking hair.

I always get chills at the In Memoriam video. There are always a few people who I either didn't know had passed or had slipped my mind. And this year is no different, especially with the musical accompaniment they chose. It just strikes a chord. Good job Canadian Tenors.  I know some people feel "Hallelujah" is overplayed. And maybe it is, but it still has that emotional impact that'll get you every time.

Again, I didn't see "Mildred Pierce," but I love how, whenever Kate Winslet wins anything, she is so genuinely happy. That is clearly someone who loves what she does and doesn't expect anything from it.

Outstanding Drama Series: EEEK....this is a big one!!! I'm nervous!  Blech. Stupid "Mad Men." Fourth year in a row. Should have been "Friday Night Lights" or "Dexter." Seriously.  What a disappointment. For me. I suppose I didn't give "Mad Men" a real shot. I watched maybe 4 episodes then never again because it just didn't catch me. But then again, I didn't love "Dexter" til after 3 or 4 episodes. Hmm.

Whoa...Jane's final dress...show some skin girl! I'm loving how feminine she's been looking tonight! So sparkly and SO the opposite of her TV alter-ego!

Outstanding Comedy Series: better not be Glee! haha. It just wasn't so great this season. Go "Modern....Woohoo!!! "Modern Family!"

My friend, Tricia, alerted me early on in the broadcast that there was the sound of a phone that just kept going. I didn't hear it until much later, and now I'm still hearing it. It sounds like a phone on redial. Over and over. Anyone else notice? Something in the sound department clearly has gone wrong, right?  What the heck is that??

All in all, a pretty good night at the Emmys! Though not too many major surprises...except for KYLE CHANLDER!! Did I say that I was excited about that? No? Well I am!  It was a repeat of last year for the top awards so nothing new there. And I would have liked to see more of my favorites get statues. Alas, I will keep rooting for the underdogs and hope for a show that can beat Mad Men!

What did you think of the night? Was Jane Lynch the right choice? Did your favorites win? Who looked best? Worst?

The Emmys...or the Superbowl of TV!!

I'm sitting here watching the Emmys and recording all my thoughts and reactions. Please check back tomorrow morning for results, fashion reviews, personal reactions, excitement and disappointment—as it happened.

But just to start...the singing intros from the most random mishmash of actors is not really doing it for me. Agree? Disagree?

It's A Series!! Up All Night

I'm SUPER excited for this show and am previewing it just in the nick of time!

I was never a big fan of "Married, With Children," though I did watch it on occasion. I liked Christina Applegate's character, and have liked pretty much every character she's played since (well, the ones I've seen).  She's a great comedienne and has impeccable timing. She shined as Rachel's sister on "Friends," and as the titular character of "Samantha Who?" I was disappointed to see that show canceled. And who can forget her fabulous movie montage (among other, ahem, glory-ous moments) with Cameron Diaz in "The Sweetest Thing"? She has proven she can do all kinds of humor, and next up is parent humor. I can't wait!

Christina's not the only funny lady in this show. Maya Rudolf joins her former "SNL" castmates Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in the world of small-screen comedy. I think anyone will agree that she can play a range of characters, both comic and dramatic, and nails them. I like her best when her humor is backhanded, understated and smart. From the previews it seems like her humor on the show will be a bit more hit-you-over-the-head but I'm okay with that, too.  She's playing a talk show host who seems oblivious of the fact that her best friend just had a baby. I'm predicting lots of laughs.

I have never seen an episode of "Arrested Development." I'm sorry. I know Will Arnett has a huge following because of that show, but I'm not one of that number. I'm also not NOT a fan. I'm neutral. I tried watching an episode of "Running Wilde" last year and didn't love it enough to watch again (despite wanting to see Keri Russell back on TV again, I just didn't get into it). For me, he's an add-on to this show. Completely necessary, and I couldn't tell you who might be better at his role, but I'm not over the moon for him. Let's call it comfortably optimistic with his role as the stay-at-home dad.

If you've seen a preview, you know what this show is about. Reagan and Chris (Christina and Will) are new parents who thought they were ready for a baby in their life and quickly find out they are not. Hilarity will ensue. There's a lot of baby humor out there and I'm confident this show cashes in on it without going too far. One of my favorite moments of the trailer is when Reagan and Chris are fighting over who got less sleep the night before and Chris goes "Wanna do it real quick?" Now that's as close to reality as it gets, right ladies?? I'm wondering how many couples out there who are planning to have a baby in the near future are going to reconsider after seeing this show?

I'll be back soon to report on whether "Up All Night" is as good as I think it's going to be.

"Up All Night" premieres tonight, September 14, at 10:00 PM on NBC. It will switch to it's regular time slot on Wednesdays at 8:00 PM the following week.

Premiere Dates

Seeing as I totally missed that last night was the season premiere of "Parenthood" (though my DVR may have recorded it--I'll have to check), I thought maybe some of you might be wondering when all your favorite shows are coming back into your life. The following list has been cut and pasted from E! Online.

Tuesday, Sept. 6
Sons of Anarchy (FX) 10 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 13
90210 (CW) 8 p.m.
Ringer (CW, series premiere) 9 p.m.
Parenthood (NBC) 10 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 14
Survivor: South Pacific (CBS) 8 p.m.
H8R (CW, series premiere) 8 p.m.
America's Next Top Model (CW) 9 p.m.
Up All Night (NBC, series premiere) 10 p.m.
Free Agents (NBC, series premiere) 10:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 15
The Vampire Diaries (CW) 8 p.m.
The Secret Circle (CW, series premiere) 9 p.m.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) 10 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 19
How I Met Your Mother (CBS) 8 p.m.
Dancing With the Stars (ABC) 8 p.m.
The Sing-Off (NBC) 8 p.m.
How I Met Your Mother (CBS) 8:30 p.m.
Two and a Half Men (CBS) 9:00 p.m.
2 Broke Girls (CBS, series premiere)  9:30 p.m
Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) 10 p.m.
Castle (ABC) 10 p.m.
The Playboy Club (NBC, series premiere) 10 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 20
Glee (Fox) 8 p.m.
NCIS (CBS) 8 p.m.
The Biggest Loser (ABC) 8 p.m.
New Girl (Fox, series premiere) 9 p.m.
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) 9 p.m.
Dancing with the Stars Results Show (ABC) 9 p.m.
Raising Hope (Fox) 9:30 p.m.
Body of Proof (ABC) 10 p.m.
Unforgettable (CBS, series premiere) 10 p.m. 

Wednesday, Sept. 21
The Middle (ABC) 8 p.m.
The X-Factor (Fox, series premiere) 8 p.m.
Criminal Minds (CBS) 9 p.m.
Modern Family (ABC) 9 p.m.
Harry's Law (NBC) 9 p.m.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) 10 p.m.
Revenge (ABC, series premiere) 10 p.m.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) 10 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 22
The Big Bang Theory (CBS) 8 p.m.
Community (NBC) 8 p.m.
Charlie's Angels (ABC) 8 p.m.
The X Factor (Fox, series premiere) 8 p.m.
The Big Bang Theory (CBS) 8:30 p.m.
Parks and Recreation (NBC) 8:30 p.m.
The Office (NBC) 9 p.m.
Person of Interest (CBS, series premiere) 9 p.m.
Grey's Anatomy (ABC) 9 p.m.
Whitney (NBC, series premiere) 9:30 p.m.
The Mentalist (CBS) 10 p.m.
Prime Suspect (NBC, series premiere) 10 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 23
A Gifted Man (CBS, series premiere) 8 p.m.
Kitchen Nightmares (Fox) 8 p.m.
Nikita (CW) 8 p.m.
CSI: New York (CBS) 9 p.m.
Fringe (Fox) 9 p.m.
Supernatural (CW) 9 p.m.
Blue Bloods (CBS) 10 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 24
Rules of Engagement (CBS) 8 p.m.
48 Hours Mystery (CBS) 10 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 25
60 Minutes (CBS) 7 p.m.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC) 7 p.m.
The Simpsons (Fox) 8 p.m.
The Amazing Race (CBS) 8 p.m.
The Cleveland Show (Fox) 8:30 p.m.
Family Guy (Fox) 9 p.m.
The Good Wife (CBS) 9 p.m.
Desperate Housewives (ABC) 9 p.m.
Boardwalk Empire (HBO) 9 p.m.
American Dad (Fox) 9:30 p.m.
CSI: Miami (CBS) 10 p.m.
Pan Am (ABC, series premiere) 10 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 26
Terra Nova (Fox, series premiere) 8 p.m.
Gossip Girl (CW) 8 p.m.
Hart of Dixie (CW, series premiere) 9 p.m.
Mike & Molly (CBS) 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 28
Suburgatory (ABC, series premiere) 8:30 p.m.
Happy Endings (ABC) 9 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 29
How to Be a Gentleman (CBS, series premiere) 8:30 p.m.
Private Practice (ABC) 10 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 2
Dexter (Showtime) 9 p.m.
Hung (HBO) 10 p.m.
How to Make it in America (HBO) 10:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 3
House (Fox) 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 5
American Horror Story (FX, series premiere) 10 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 6
The League (FX) 10:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 10
Bored to Death (HBO) 9 p.m.
Enlightened (HBO, series premiere) 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 11
Last Man Standing (ABC, series premiere) 8 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 16
The Walking Dead (AMC) 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 18
Man Up!  (ABC, series premiere) 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 21
Chuck (NBC) 8 p.m.
Grimm (NBC, series premiere) 9:30 p.m.
Dateline NBC (NBC) 10 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 23
Once Upon a Time (ABC, series premiere) 8 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 30
Allen Gregory (Fox, series premiere) 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov.3
Bones (Fox) 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 23
I Hate My Teenage Daughter (Fox, series premiere) 9:30 p.m.

It's a Series!! Revenge

So with this preview I actually have something besides commercials and reviews to go off of. I discovered that I could download on my iPad the pilot script for "Revenge." And upon finishing said pilot, there was a code for me to use to screen the first episode online! One of my favorite things about working at Showtime is that I get to read scripts, watch the final product, and see how things change in between! This was no different. There were many many changes--names, flashback scenes, plot points, some of which I agreed with and some for which I wish I could have had some input! In any case, here are my thoughts on "Revenge."

Photo from ABC.com

Very first impression: "This is not a story about forgiveness" is a line on page 2 of the script, and it is used in the premiere episode. Well, duh. The title is "Revenge." Moving on.

Emily Van Camp ("Everwood," "Brothers and Sisters") is Emily Thorne, formerly Amanda Clark, who spends her summer exacting revenge on those who betrayed her father. In all the commercials for this show, it's impossible to figure out whether her father is dead or in jail, or anything surrounding what happened. The pilot explains it all. If we are to believe that he was, in fact, innocent (which we are expected to), it is explained via flashback that he was convicted of channeling money to a terrorist group that took down an commercial flight in 1995. In the script, he is given the death sentence. Not so in the episode. But he's dead anyway, which is how Emily has come into massive amounts of money (and can pay for a Hamptons summer rental and buy a $10K ticket to a society gala her first day there). If I try to explain everything, you won't want to watch. So some of the connections I'll leave you to find out for yourself. And this show if FULL of twisty turny connections. But to say the least, Emily's father was betrayed by a ring of his co-workers, friends and lovers. And they're all still friends...for now.

I will say that there are some overly dramatic and poorly acted moments in this show, maybe to be smoothed out as it gains momentum. It also has the potential to get boring. Watching Emily circling this intertwined group of Hamptonites and "eliminating" them one by one could get old. (Isn't anyone else tired of watching Blair, Serena and Chuck try to out-do one another? I'm hoping this show doesn't mirror the "Gossip Girl" shenanigans) But in an interview with Van Camp, she promises that not every episode will follow that pattern. It is also a show about emotions and romance and summer in the Hamptons. Lots to work with there.

As I mentioned, some of the acting is slightly less than stellar. I'm not sure I bought into the evilness of Victoria Grayson (Madeline Stowe) and they may have played off of her more vulnerable moments in the premiere episode, making her seem almost sympathetic. There's also a scene with Emily and Nolan (a Mark Zuckerberg-type played by Gabriel Mann) that could've used a re-shoot.  Not to mention--ABC, why do you continue to use horrendous wigs on these actresses??? You couldn't spring for a decent blond wig for Claire on "Lost," and then you put Emily in a ridiculous black wig (to show how badass she was??) in this show. Shell out a few more bucks for something realistic. Or stop using wigs. Thanks.

I've been an Emily Van Camp fan since "Everwood" so I was excited to see that she landed a lead role on a major network show. I'm also intrigued to see how she handles not being the girl next door type, though technically she IS the girl next door in this show...just a twisted girl. After watching the premiere episode, I'll be giving this show a shot. I'm digging the hows and whens of Emily's plan to avenge her father. The first episode sets up the season so you know certain elements, are left guessing at others, and definitely wanting to know more.

Revenge premieres on ABC on Wednesday, September 21, at 10:00 PM

Check it out!

It's just under a year away from our wedding, so Josh and I created a lovely webpage for you to look at. It's still under construction, so check back for updates, changes, etc. Enjoy!

Josh and Stephanie are getting married!

It's A Series!! Happily ever after???

Why the obsession this year with fairy tales? There are two shows coming out two days apart from one another (and two Snow White movies coming out as well).  If I'm being honest, I'm actually pretty interested in both of them, for varying reasons. First up, "Grimm."

Photo from NBC.com

Part crime drama, part sci-fi horror show, "Grimm" stars one of the more successful reality-star-turned-real-actor stories. David Guintoli, from "Road Rules: South Pacific," has made the transition from reality to drama series via many small parts in a lot of different shows ("Grey's Anatomy," "Nip/Tuck,' etc). Now he plays Nick Burckhardt, one of the last Grimms (very creative the way they named this show, eh?). What or who are the Grimms, you ask? Nick asks this, too. Turns out that the Grimms are supernatural hunters (also descended from the Brothers Grimm) who are charged with the task of taking out the baddies from this world. Grimms have the ability to see what other people can't, like when someone's face contorts itself into a demon. That's how he knows who to kill. Good thing Nick is a cop, because he's got the whole detective thing under his belt already. He now just has to contend with seeing really freaky things happen that noone else can see.  And would you believe that his cases will now resemble your favorite childhood fairy tales?  Just a lot creepier.

Nick has a little help, though, in Big-Bad-Wolf-turned-good-guy Monroe, played by Silas Weir Mitchell ("Prison Break," "My Name is Earl"). You can see from the previews that he is clearly the comic relief of this show.


On the NBC website, the trailer is called Once Upon a Crime. A possible elbow in the side of ABC's show "Once Upon a Time?"  See the "Grimm" trailer here.

If you were a "Buffy" or "Angel" fan, you will be able to see those influences come through. Co-Creator of "Grimm," David Greenwalt, was a key player on both earlier shows. I, oddly enough, enjoyed both shows (though I was a late-starter for both and stopped watching "Buffy" once she died and came back to life) and will be watching "Grimm" to see whether it's worth putting on my permanent list. Unfortunately, it goes up against "Fringe," another supernatural sci-fi drama. Oh, DVR, you are my savior! 

"Grimm" premieres on NBC Friday, October 21, at 9:00 PM



ABC's fairy tale show, "Once Upon A Time" confuses me a little bit. But because it comes from Executive Producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz of "Lost," this shouldn't surprise me. It appears to be much more fairy tale-like than "Grimm" in that we actually get to see images we're familiar with: a gorgeous Snow White being awoken with a kiss by her Prince Charming, an evil Queen, etc. But it will float back and forth between present day and the stuck-in-time Fairy Tale world.  Will the sound of an airplane signal the transition between the two worlds? I doubt it. Maybe the slashing sound of a sword.

Photo from ABC.com

Jennifer Morrison ("House") plays Emma Swan, a bail bonds collector, who is approached one day by the son she gave up ten years earlier, Henry. He carries with him a book of fairy tales which claims that Snow White and Prince Charming sent away their daughter to escape the curse of the Evil Queen. This curse supposedly trapped the fairy tale world in time.  Henry claims that Emma is the long lost daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming and that she is the only one who can save the fairy tales' happy endings. Hmm...

Emma takes Henry back to his home in Storybrook, Maine, and decides to stay a while. She meets Henry's teacher, Mary Margaret/Snow White, played by Ginnifer Goodwin ("Big Love," "Something Borrowed"), who gave him the book of fairy tales. She also meets Henry's mother, Regina/Evil Queen, played by Lana Parrilla ("24"), who also happens to be the mayor of Storybrook.  Other characters you'll be familiar with: Rumplestiltskin, Jiminy Cricket, even Grumpy and Sleepy!

But again, this show confuses me. How is Emma supposed to save all the happy endings?  How do these two worlds interact with one another? How did the Queen trap the fairy tales AND give them amnesia? How do I get that wedding dress Snow White is wearing? Oh wait, I already have a wedding dress. Silly me!  How did 10-year old Henry figure everything out? Is this feeling "Lost" enough for you?

Lana Parrilla summed it up this way: "you know the stories, but you don't know this story." Good enough for me!  See the trailer here.

"Once Upon A Time" premieres on ABC Sunday, October 23, at 8:00 PM

It's a series!! Two Broke Girls (one broke show?)

I wasn't sure if I was going to write about this show since I know 2 of the writers (granted, I haven't spoken to one of them in years and the other in a while). But I can't preview only shows I think will be hits. So here we have it. Two Broke Girls.

I know that the writing will most likely be good (these guys came from "It's Always Sunny in Philadephia," "Rob & Big," "Outsourced"). But from the previews I've seen, the acting kills the comedy. I do love the traditional, studio-audience comedy so I'm hoping that maybe the previews are just from the first episode or two and the actresses are just warming up. Oh, and did I mention that Michael Patrick King (of SATC fame) is Executive Producer? No? Well, he is.  And this may actually be a drawback for some of you who I know absolutely abhor the "Whitney" commercials, but Whitney Cummings is also an Executive Producer. Where did she come from? It's like she suddenly appeared and took over the comedy pilot scene, right?

Photo from CBS

Starring in this show are Kat Dennings ("Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist," and even an episode of "SATC"-- connections, gotta love 'em) and Beth Behrs (this appears to be her big breakout role).  I like Kat Dennings, but I find Beth Behrs a little annoying to look at, especially when she opens her mouth to talk. Is that mean? She plays an heiress, Caroline, who has fallen from grace because her daddy was caught in the middle of Wall Street shenanigans. She finds herself all dolled up at a local diner where Dennings' broke character, Max, works. They strike up the unlikely friendship and hilarity is supposed to ensue from there.

I would like to say that I have high hopes for this show, but from the little I've seen, I can't say that. For the sake of the people I know working on the show, I wish them luck, but I'm not sure I'll be tuning in every week.

Premieres: Monday, September 19, at 9:30 on CBS

It's a Series!! Person of Interest

Michael Emerson is certainly a person who interests me! We loved to hate him in Lost and now it appears that he'll be just about as creepy as Benjamin Linus in his new show.  He even has a list! What is it with this guy and lists???

Photo from CBS.com

The basics: Rich-guy Mr. Finch (Emerson) invented a machine that
somehow predicts that someone will either do something bad, or will have something bad done to him or her. The clue to this person's identity is revealed in the form of a social security number. John Reese (Jim Caviezel, who I'm not all that familiar with but you may know as Jesus in "Passion of the Christ") is a former CIA/Special Forces tough guy who is presumed dead and hides in plain sight as a homeless man. Rich guy approaches homeless guy with vigilante plan. Because really, do you see Emerson as the gun wielding type? Not so much. He needs a muscle man to do his dirty work. (Lists and other people doing his dirty work. Nothing changes right?)

Photo from CBS.com

Watching the preview, the whole "rich guy saving the depressed former glory guy" seems a little overplayed. And this machine that spits out social security numbers? What? But I kind of love the concept of predicting a crime and trying to stop it without really knowing all the players. It's not your average crime or procedural drama.  And with JJ Abrams at the helm, I think it'll have some outrageous twists and turns and mysterious themes going on. Though I have only watched some trailers and interviews, I will say that these guys are fun to watch, and the action will be great!  It will also most likely leave me wary of some of the crazy technology invented by Finch, and whether any of it is actually real! Somehow over the last few years, I have taken a liking to the sci-fi genre a bit, especially when combined with some action and a little humor. I think this show will hit that on the nose.

Photo from CBS.com

I don't want to leave out the female lead of this new series, although she doesn't feature in the previews I have seen. Taraji P. Henson plays Detective Carter, who tries to track down Reese after discovering that he is alive. Therein lies a little more danger, on top of trying to stop crime.

Based on the previews, reviews of the pilot and the caliber of the talent involved, I have high expectations for this show.  Clearly so does CBS, as it even awarded one of the most coveted/competitive time slots in television to this freshman series.  CBS bumped longtime Thursday at 9 PM placeholder CSI to make room for Person of Interest. The downside--it's up against Grey's Anatomy on ABC, Bones on Fox, and Whitney on NBC at 9:30. I'm confident that Person of Interest will hold its own.  Premiering Thursday, September 22 at 9 PM.

It's a series!!

So my new goal is to tackle the numerous freshmen shows coming out this fall and try to predict whether I'll watch or not. And hopefully, I'll find some new favorites in the bunch (like I need any more TV shows to watch!).  I can tell you that I'm super excited to check out a few of the new series, with the hopes that they'll rise up to the pedestal I reserve for special special friends--ahem--shows. Some of my tried and true favorites seem to be losing some steam or have gone off the air, so I'm looking to fill those voids.

I admit I've been a bit busy and haven't had a ton of time to devote to researching some of the shows that have sparked my interest, so stay tuned for upcoming posts.  I'll leave you with a link to a video of an interview with the cast of the first series I'll be previewing--and off the bat I'll tell you that I am already expecting AMAZING things from this show.  I give you "Person of Interest."

What would you do?

So this is a little off-topic for me but I saw something this morning and felt like I was on an episode of "What Would You Do?" Ah, there's my TV tie-in! Ever seen it? I've seen a few segments and it's actually really entertaining, and at times appalling.  What Would You Do?

It's not uncommon to see a homeless person sleeping in a Duane Reade doorway or on some stoop when I'm walking to the gym at 6:15 in the morning.  So when I saw someone on the ground just to the side of a restaurant doorway this morning, I didn't think much of it. But as I got closer and was passing by, I realized this guy was dressed in a suit, with his jacket slung over one of his sprawled out arms. Kind of odd. This was not a homeless guy, but rather (I was guessing at this point) some dude who got drunk and passed out.

I assume most of you, like me, have stories from college that might resemble this situation. No, they don't involve me!  Even if I happen to have one drink too many (just one, I swear), I always manage to make it home--my real home, not outside, not the bathroom, not the front door, not the...--brush my teeth, take out my contacts and wash my face. Always.  But not everyone is so responsible.  Freshman year, a friend's boyfriend got super drunk, went back to his room and went to sleep. He woke up a short time later, walked into what he thought was the bathroom and urinated in what he thought was the urinal. Nope. It was the window seat on his roommate's side of the room. Whoops.  At our 5 year reunion, an acquaintance of mine got drunk, went back to his motel and fell asleep in his room. Oh no, wait. He was lying outside the door to his room, thinking the doormat was his bed. Yeah. 

But those are college stories, or, in the case of the reunion, someone reliving his college experience. The guy I saw was clearly not in college. He was probably about my age, maybe a little older.  So, assuming drunken stupidity, I walked on by.  A couple walking towards me with their dog also seemed to notice this guy. And I started thinking, well what if he's in trouble? What if he's not breathing? There were LOUD trucks going up the street and he wasn't moving or registering a thing. Should I have sprayed him with some water to wake him up? Can you imagine waking up on the sidewalk, possibly having had rats or roaches crawling on you in the night (blech-I cringe at the thought) and being totally disoriented, not to mention hung over? That would be massively embarrassing, no?  I thought about it all the way to the gym and into the first few minutes of the class I was taking. I then proceeded to not think about it due to the workout kicking my butt at the time. When I passed by the  at 7:30, he was gone. And there was no police barricade surrounding the spot he had been in, so clearly he did not die.  And now I'm wondering how many people does this happen to every night? In a city like New York, I imagine this guy is not the only Drunky McDrunkerson who fell asleep on the sidewalk. I would hope other people have friends to get them home.

Should I have tried to help him? I don't know. This is New York, where a 4'11" guy walks around groping girls (watch out, ladies).  So who knows what an embarrassed, hung over guy would do if he was abruptly woken up on a random street at 6:15 AM?  Maybe nothing. Maybe he would have thanked me and went on his way.  

Whoever you are, guy who slept on the street last night, I wish you well (and hope that you weren't robbed while passed out).  But next time, get home safe.

What would you have done?

Looka my shakshouka!

Have you ever had shakshouka? Have you heard of shakshouka? It's a delicious dish of Tunisian origins, now very popular in Israel, made up of eggs cooked over a tomato-ey sauce with peppers, onions and spices.  Josh and I were fortunate enough to have at our disposal the freshest of fresh veggies in the fridge to work with and threw in a few non-traditional ingredients in as well.

We started by chopping up and throwing farm fresh onions, red pepper, jalapeño and orange pepper into the pan. Our non-traditional item was a gorgeous golden squash that just really brightened up the whole concoction.

Then we added the tomatoes. We also threw in a little jarred tomato sauce that was in the fridge to thicken it up (plus I like it more saucy).  Then, we added a number of spices at random. Salt, pepper, chili powder. I found some Hungarian paprika in the cabinet as well as some other yellow powder that smelled like it would taste fabulous in the shakshouka. I believe it was turmeric.  Josh was across the room and missed this secret addition!

Then we cracked the eggs on top. I, unfortunately, broke one and take full responsibility for that shameful occurrence.  Luckily we have a picture that cuts out the bad egg!

Then it was time to eat! Pita usually goes great with shakshouka but we had a baguette-type bread, toasty warm from the oven, as an accompaniment.

This dish is easy and oh so satisfying! You can spice it to your liking and cook the eggs to whatever consistency is your pleasure. I prefer runny, it just adds something extra rich to the mix. Enjoy!

Philly Eats

I visited Philadelphia last weekend because my fiancee, Josh, is interning at a synagogue there for the summer. We had several food adventures while there, which included a delicious Philly Cheesesteak from Shank's, and homemade shakshouka, using the freshest of veggies from a local farm. You'll be seeing that post soon.  But the highlight of our weekend (aside from housebreaking our hosts' puppies), was our Saturday night dinner. Although a close second would be seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (again, that's for another post). Read on for drool-worthy details...

Chef Michael Solomonov and his partners at Cook+Solo have created a surprising trio of restaurants in Philadelphia: Xochitl is a taqueria and tequila bar, Percy Street Barbecue is a Texas-style bbq, and Zahav is a modern Israeli masterpiece. I can't speak to the first two, but I had the delicious experience of visiting Zahav this past weekend.  Zahav means "gold" in Hebrew and you can see its influences in the whole atmosphere of the restaurant.  The decor is immediately inviting and comfortable, with golden limestone walls and floor, meant to look like Jerusalem stone, which gives the whole place a sort of golden glow. High ceilings and rustic furniture add to the overall relaxed feeling.  Partway through our meal, the staff opened all the blinds in the restaurant, I can only assume so that patrons could watch the sunset? Not sure on that one. Maybe they just wanted more natural light.

It's a happy coincidence that Chef Solomonov was visiting the synagogue where Josh is interning and an even happier coincidence that they got to chatting recently and Josh was then able to alert said chef to our reservation on Saturday! Our table was "not quite ready" upon our arrival which gave Chef Solomonov a chance to come say hello and offer us a glass of cava (perfect for a hot day!)!

After perusing the menu for several minutes (and then a few more...there were so many intriguing options!), we decided to get the Tay'im menu, which means Taste of Zahav.  With this option, we began the meal with hummus and salatim, a daily selection of 8 salads.  The hummus is served with the most amazing laffa bread - thinner and more delicate than pita - baked so it comes out piping hot and sprinkled with za'atar (typical Israeli spice). The top salad for me was the beet and tahini salad. So pretty in pink! There was also a fennel salad that was to die for. Oh! And I almost forgot the tabouleh! Best tabouleh I've had! I believe there were apples and walnuts in it!  I wasn't going to post the picture of it but now I will. Unfortunately the only camera we had with us at dinner was Josh's trusty iPhone, so please bear with the slightly-less-than-top-quality pics!

The next part of the Tay'im menu let us each choose 2 mezze dishes. With 13 possible options, I didn't know what to with myself! The moment I thought I chose the crispy haloumi, I found the fried cauliflower with chive, oil, mint and garlic! Cauliflower won that battle.  And it wasn't one of those heavy fried dishes. It was light and crispy with the refreshing minty chivey sauce underneath. Amazing. To compliment what I thought would be a heavier fried dish I went with kibbe naya, which is raw lamb (kinda like steak tartar...but lamb. duh) with bulgur, black harissa, baby romaine. We went a little outside the box, which was fun.  Josh chose the Gondi (chicken & chickpea dumplings, chicken broth, spring onions) and Mina. Oh Mina, you are so delicious. It was smoked brisket, brought over from the BBQ restaurant, cooked or garnished or something with coffee, and wrapped in matzah. Yes, matzah. Wow.

We were then presented with a gift from the chef, watermelon salad. Two kinds of watermelon, pink and yellow, served with Bulgarian Feta. So refreshing!

And if that wasn't enough, we still have 2 courses to go! We each chose one dish from the Al Ha'esh offerings, which are coal grilled dishes.  Josh chose duck breast with lovage pilaf (not sure what that is, even now, after having eaten it! It was pretty much like a delicious rice), barberries (kind of like dried currants?) and asparagus.  That was definitely one of my favorites of the night! Unfortunately, the picture is totally blurry!  I chose Kofte, which were 2  beef and lamb meatballs. Probably my least favorite, yet not not good (get that?), dish of the evening. They were a little, shall we say...solid. Dense. That's the perfect descriptor for them. Dense. And another gift from the chef came in the form of a dish I had been agonizing over getting before I went with Kofte. So thank you, thank you Chef Solomonov for delivering to us the mouthwateringly good Royal Trumpet Mushrooms served with chickpea puree, lamb belly "shawarma," allspice. ohmygoodness. Yum. We forgot that the chickpea puree was chickpea puree and had a really tough time figuring out what this incredible yellow sauce was. It really didn't taste like chickpeas at all!

 

Oh, dessert. 

We forgot to take a picture and just dove right in! We ordered Poached Rhubarb with melon sorbet, white chocolate, nuts, and Almond-Apricot Rugelach with apricot sorbet, honey-roasted apricot. Thankfully, the waitress mistakenly brought us the wrong dessert in place of the rugelach. Instead we were delighted to see Kataifi with valrhona chocolate, labaneh ice cream, mango.  Kataifi is a play on another middle-Eastern dessert, kanafeh, which I have had in Israel and LOVE. I belive Kataifi may actually be Greek. But Chef Solomonov's Kataifi is shredded phyllo with chocolate in the middle instead of a sweet ricotta and honey of the kanafeh. It was amazing. We also were given Halvah moose with chickpea praline and berries. I'm not a huge halvah fan, but this was INCREDIBLE!

We lingered over our dinner for a good two hours or so and I, for one, was sad when it was over! Not that I could have eaten anything else!  I'm sure I'll be making a return trip, seeing as we have friends in Philly to visit.  Next time, though, I'm going for the Mesibah dinner, which means "party time!" The main attraction to that is the whole-roasted lamb shoulder with pomegranate and chickpeas.  Something to look forward to...