CHAM Korean Bistro

851 Cordova St.

Pasadena

Unable to attend their grand tasting last week, I sent FWJ food blogger Jackie in my place.  Her thoughts:

"When I entered Cham, I wanted to try everything at the tasting tables. Since I couldn't narrow down the selection, I asked the man at the register to select options for me. The result?

"Mint lemonade - a solid A+, on the sweet side, which I prefer
Watermelon salad - very refreshing, perfect for a hot summer day
Tofu pockets - the marinated fresh crab meat was my favorite, but the arugula and red radish is a great vegetarian alternative

"Ssam garden platter - let's just say YUM...give me SSAM more! This plate was interactive dining at it's best. The delicious ribs came on a piping hot skillet with grilled onions. All the fixings came on another plate. You create your own wraps. It was amazingly appetizing, and fun, too! The sesame leaves were my favorite new discovery. They taste somewhat like anise, and Koreans use these fuzzy (trust me, they're good) little leaves to wrap anything and everything up before ingesting it. Waaaay better than boring old lettuce.

"Crispy rice cakes + lean ground beef (crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, sauteed in CHAM special soy sauce) - I was about to stop eating when the owner asked if I wanted ANYTHING else. I'd been eyeing the rice cakes the whole meal, so she brought me a small taste. They were DELICIOUS. The "special" soy sauce on the beef was more than special, and the rice cakes themselves were perfectly crispy. It was also one of the few times I've eaten perfectly cooked broccoli in a restaurant. I'd never had anything like it. They also have a vegetarian version with sauteed vegetables. If I were a vegetarian, I would eat here at least once a week!

"The staff was extremely polite and helpful (not surprising for a tasting), and I got the sense they'll remain this way even after opening. The owner showed me how to put the garden wraps together and informed me the chefs don't use any MSG or white sugar. If you taste the food, you'll instantly know CHAM really is a healthy, fusion alternative to the artery-clogging Asian restaurants out there."

Bottom line?  Check out CHAM now (picture courtesy of Food GPS)!

Cupcakes and Ketchup

Monday, July 20th

11am-2pm

257 S. Spring St.

Downtown

Blue Cupcake will be offering FREE cupcakes and coffee today!

for dinner

Screw the Recession and dine at Ketchup tonight at 50% off. Just remember to make reservations.

***I went last night (Sunday) as part of the Sunset Strip Summer promotion. While it was awesome to feast upon their trio fries and Napa Valley short ribs (not to mention their complementary kobe beef sliders), the service was super slow. It took 35 minutes to get seated (with a reservation) and even longer to get served. 50% off? I guess you get what you pay for.

P.S. The deal is sweet, but the parking is not. $10 to valet and no street parking in sight.

I See London, I See France

Okay, so not to advertise $30 underwear or anything, but...

You have to check out Pull In, a South of France import now on 8012 Melrose Ave.  

In my opinion, this could be the new Victoria's Secret.  They have my all time favorite cut (men's style with thick bands), and their men's collection looks pretty sweet, too.

Guys, be prepared to pull out your wallets.  These will make great gifts for the ladies.

"They Think I'm the Poo Monster"

When you get the chance, please go out and support the Australian mocumentary Kenny (about a guy who delivers porta-potties).  It was a refreshingly great comedy, and it premieres this weekend in Santa Monica and Pasadena at the Laemmle 4-Plex and One Colorado respectively.

My screening was FREE, but I definitely would have paid to see it.  The Giant who saw it with me couldn't stop laughing, but admitted disappointment upon discovering that Kenny is not a real person.  Seriously.  He was near tears.

Buy tickets now during its limited release - you won't regret it.

Angelini Osteria

I don't usually blog about food, but today I couldn't help it.  Last night I ate at Angelini Osteria, and the food was out of this world.  Well, at least...out of this country.  Born and bred in Italy, chef Gino Angelini is a talented master of his craft, who has even cooked for the Pope.

Our waiter was the nicest guy, who waited patiently as my friend M took about twenty minutes to order.  He simply grinned, flaunting his authentic Italian accent, "Take-a your time."

I went with the $15 pumpkin tortelli, which was just about the best dish I have had in a year.  A perfect romantic dining spot, boys, you now have the next best place to take your girlfriend (or date) - complete FWJ approved.

Check out the menu here.

Sex and the Sh*tty - SPOILERS Ahead!!!

Attention women: if you have not yet seen this film, DON'T.  If you have, I truly - from the bottom of my heart - hope you didn't like it.

It was entertaining, yes; however, the writers made certain choices - actually MANY choices - that made me walk away from the film feeling purely disgusted that such writing abilities had been used for evil.  Yes, evil.

SATC writers, I am sorry, but you have absolutely NO CONCEPT of what constitutes a happy ending.  Allow me to inform you: it is not when the character gets what she wants; it is when she gets what she NEEDS.  

NO ONE IN THIS FILM (save for the perfect cartoon-like Charlotte) gets what she needs.  Instead, they all get what they WANT, and we are supposed to be joyous.

What do these characters want?  Here come the SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS:

- Carrie wants to end up with Big.  He proposes to her (horay!) and then leaves her at the [alter] (boo...).  So what does she do after moping for half the film?  She takes him back.  Because he apologized...many times.  So he must be really really sorry, right?  And when he proposes again?  She accepts.  What an idiot.  Exactly HOW MANY TIMES must a guy screw you over before you learn your lesson?  She WANTED to marry Big, but is that what she really needs?  Of course not.  Yet the director cues the sappy, romantic music, and we are supposed to swallow this as a happy ending.  Happy ending my butt.

- Speaking of butts, Miranda wants to be successful on three fronts: kicking ASS at her career, her parenting, and her marriage; however when she starts becoming more successful in the work place, her sex life suffers.  So what does Steve do?  He cheats on her.  But it's HER fault, right?  Since they haven't been having sex...(note the sarcasm?)?  So what does Miranda do?  To her credit, she does try for half the film to get over Steve.  And what do her friends do?  They encourage Miranda to FORGIVE HIM.  Wtf!?!?!?!?  And WHY?  "Because Steve is such a nice guy."  Well, honey, Mr. Nice Guy just nicely screwed another woman.  But that's okay, too, since it wasn't meaningful...right?  Eventually the 3 severely insecure friends convince Miranda that she is wrong, and Miranda does take Steve back.  Unlike Carrie and Big's situation, this one is resolved on the Brooklyn Bridge...because that's a good location for another happy ending, right?  WRONG.  A happy ending would have been Miranda THROWING STEVE OFF the bridge.  Not kissing him on it.  Eesh, Miranda...I really hoped you would have more sense.

- Charlotte is a smiling, pregnant blow up doll the whole movie, as usual - no complaints there - so let's move on to Samantha.  She has moved to LA to manage Smith Jarrod's (sp?) career only to find that she resents spending most of the day revolving her life around a man.  So after thinking about it for 2 and a half hours, she decides to leave him.  You go, girl.  Only problem: he is actually the only nice guy in the entire movie.

So what are the writers trying to tell us, women?  Apparently we should be leaving the good guys and taking back the ones who cheat and leave us at the alter.  And not only are they encouraging us to do that, they are trying to convince us that these are happy endings!

Don't get me wrong.  The movie is quite entertaining.  Really.  But of all messages to convey - and I am not advocating a film be made purely for its message - why THAT one?  The film would have been JUST AS ENTERTAINING if the women learned they would be happier alone.  Or at the very least - with guys who treat them like queens.

Instead, we have QUEENS, NY and a bunch of guys who act like princesses.