I hate cleaning, but I am willing to do it for y’all. I have been doing some tidying up behind the scenes and trying to make things a little more user friendly.
It’s been mentioned to me on a few instances it may be time for a “best of” or “greatest hits” page. I look at every entry here as one of my children; I love them equally. Well, except the first few months…I wish I could erase most of those.
I struggled, but I identified a few that seem to resonate with folks. Based on feedback, my own deep and personal love for a few entries, and entries that are repeatedly viewed, I have used the past few days to pull together the huge act of hubris that is “Hit Brigade”, my “best of” page. Look…it is right up top. Can you feel my ego swelling?
The four categories are:
- Intoxication: where I prove my life went to shit when I discovered booze and boys
- Validation: where I prove I can actually cook
- Humiliation: where I prove what a jackass I am
- Adoration: where I prove I just want to be held
This is where you come in. If there is something I have written that you think I should share with new readers, that you love, and you do not see it there, please let me know. I would especially like to hear if you made a recipe and it turned out great…I would love a “reader approved” catagory. Also, feel free to tell me I suck; you wouldn’t be the first and I can take it. Comments are open, as always, or you can email me at culinarycouture (at) gmail (dot) com.
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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
I appreciate you hard work and devotion to your writing. It is a 5 minute a day validation that I am not the only crazy booze fueled foodie out there. Keep up the strong work.
Oh, thanks, but I wasn’t looking for compliments (for once). Just let me know if there is anything specifically on here you like. Trying to make it better for you!
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i think you should play up this intoxication angle more. there’s a john lee hooker song called ‘whiskey & women’ with which i often feel great empathy.
i’m interested to hear the female side of this.
My mother would contend I play up that angle plenty.
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I really like “A Letter to My Body.” That would be my pick.
Thanks, K. I included that one.
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My favorites so far are the Asian Lettuce Cups and the Tuna Salad without a Name. I haven’t been reading too long though, so I need more time to catch up with the recipes….
Oh, the asian lettuce cups were good! Thanks.
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Yeah, every once in a while a compliment will escape. Though it is a rare occurrence, it is usually warranted. I guess the only thing I would like to see more of is things around town. I am working on moving to the D.C. area and would like to get a local opinion on things, such as the hell burger joint. Other than that, I enjoy reading because I can relate.
OK, great, thanks. if you click on the sidebar, there is a category for restaurant reviews…
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What happened to “Little Black Dress”. And please don’t forget to put in the garlic chicken recipe. The chicken recipe is one of my favorites and the “”Little Black Dress” post made me cry….tears of joy or sorrow I will not tell.
Chicken is up there… “Little Black Dress” is linked in my about me page aka “Your Food Goddess”, but I should probably link it in HIt Brigade as well. Thanks.
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I would recommend combining categories, and discuss the things you’ve cooked (or tried to cook) while intoxicated. There might be some interesting stuff.
It has happened more than you can even imagine. For instance, DF’s brownies? BLASTED. Yet they still tasted awesome. I think I operate at my best when 3/4 in the bag…takes the edge off, ya know?
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I figured I wouldn’t have to suggest the Trailer Trash Cake. I was right.
I did hear that you suck, but I also heard that you’re good at it.
Word of mouth is sometimes a good thing, eh?
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Word of mouth! Heyohhhhh!
Zing!
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I would actually like to see you do an occasional blow out gourmet recipe. Trying something from a Thomas Keller or a Michel Richard and not only comment on the quality of the meal but also the hell or lack there of you had to go through to put it together.
Just to be clear: I really like the healthy and delicious stuff you do now, but I would also find it entertaining to read your account of one of the high end, thousand step, hard to find ingredient deals that America’s chefs swear is “easy”.
Yeah, I agree. I need to do some more involved stuff. But like you said, it is super time consuming and, more importantly, freaking expensive with the way food prices are these days. Once the weather gets cooler, I will have to do this, though.
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cooking under the influence? that’s impressive. i don’t think i could get it done in the kitchen with any significant buzz on.
the influence of other things… maybe, but not booze.
is there a secret?
I once cooked a Thanksgiving dinner with Cindarella, totally hammered. Of course, I did stick my hand in a bubbling pan of gravy, but that will happen.
Practice makes perfect, Lance.
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Excellent. Fwiw, next time I destroy my kitchen and wallet for high cuisine, I will send you an e-mail and let you know how it went.
I think you should put the cous-cous salad post in Validation. One of the best picnic potluck recipes I’ve ever seen.
Wow, high praise. Thanks!
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I too like the drunk chef category. Peter hit on a good one, there. But what to call it? The Drunken Chef? Cooking Under the Influence? CWI? There’s something terribly clever out there, but I can’t quite grab it.
Mama Bear reminds me: Is the little black dress of the entry she mentioned the same as in the spooning post’s image?
I am thinking involving the word Sauced.
LBD is here…and it could not be more different from the spooning.
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Oh yeah, that trailer trash cake post… I’ll never actually make that cake… but it got some hilarious comments!
Yeah, the one is definitely Hall of Fame worthy. I get at least one hit a day that comes from someone searching “trailer trash”.
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Oh, I forgot about the leopard print! Mea culpa.
“Sauced” is perfect. Just the 1 word.
I like the rest of the categories as they are, FWIW.
Thanks…and no apologies necessary. I do not expect anyone to cling to my every word.
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just what do you expect people to cling to, lemon?
The song of my heart…it emits a beautiful tune.
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Why do I suddenly hear the opening bars of, “Livin’ on a Prayer”?
I would love a man that worked on the dock…adore blue collar workers.
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yeah, “livin’ on a prayer” is not so much the song i’m getting from you.
Aw, come on now…you have me all wrong. I am an angel. if anyone here is reading that knows me in real life, defend me!
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I thought it sounded a bit like that…
Now see, this is why photographic evidence is so useful: us visual types actually remember them! Right, boys? (C’mon, back me up, here…)
There are photos! FULLY CLOTHED PHOTOS!
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LOL Yes, as I mentioned! Referring to the LBD in particular, that’s all. The LBD would count as fully clothed… right? I mean… well, ok, I’ve seen a couple that really don’t qualify. But I don’t envision you making that leap.
Heeeey, how’d the smiley get into my last post? I don’t remember requesting that one.
Oh, of that dress? That post is too personal to have a picture attached. I don’t want you pervs ogling while I reveal my private pain.
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Doesn’t bringing a smile to all of us pervs collective faces transfer some solace to you? Alas, I suppose I just have to use the ol’ imagination. Sigh.
I little imagination never hurt anyone.
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bh,
women take no joy in making perverts smile.
the only exception to that rule is when they’re lap dancing for a twenty dollar bill that they can pass along to their methhead boyf… i mean that they can put towards their tuition payments.
i’m going to give lemon the benefit of the doubt here and say that’s not the direction this blog is heading.
Yeah, I am not looking to bring the perverts to the yard. This blog veers towards pervy town enough, thanks very much…
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I’m always happy to defend you, Lemmonex. I just can’t think of a more appropriate song than, “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
I think it is quite apropos.
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Now, hold on a minute. Just because some of us find lem both intelligent and pretty doesn’t mean we are perverts. Well, ok, maybe we are, but I’m sure Lem doesn’t mind making us smile. At least I HOPE not.
I am not very intelligent, but I do like to make people smile…men or women. Well, more cringe than smile, truth be told.
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You are not angelic, but you are not as devilish as I think some would believe, either. You are intelligent, though. Don’t sell yourself short.
You, more than anyone, would know. And you are right…I am no angel, but I do actually have a bit of a code I live by. A shifting code, but a code.
And, you are right. I WAS voted “Most Intellectual” in high school. (All of you can stop laughing).
Also, I have decided to escalate things and start asking you on the blog instead of on the phone: When are you visiting me? I miss you.
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you should add a ‘what the home chef needs and needs to know’ category.’ something where you rate equipment, talk about techniques, that sort of stuff.
i would like to know whether i should attempt to sharpen my knives myself or take them somewhere to be sharpened. and do any of those sharpening gadgets actually work?
I say take them somewhere…I use my steel to keep my knife sharper, but I get it professionally sharpened as well.
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