CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

Quote of the Day - HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

“You know, Halloween is fast approaching. The day when parents encourage little boys to dress like little girls and little girls to dress like whores and go door to door brow-beating hard working Americans into giving them free food. Well you know what, western Ohio? We’ve lost the true meaning of Halloween: fear. Halloween is that magical day of the year when a child is told their grandma is a demon who’s been feeding them rat casserole with a crunch garnish of their own scabs. Children must know fear; without it they’ll try frenching a grizzly bear and will consider living in Florida.”

- Coach Sue Sylvester, "Glee"

 

 

The Mike & Molly / Marie Claire Controversy (It's Gripping)

I am not nuts about the word "slams" in this headline (below) because he's actually rather diplomatic and entitled to be totally offended. On top of which, the editor of Marie Claire, in reference to her blogger's insane post, epologized herself, admitting how totally wrong it all was and to make matters worse, blamed it on the author's fight with anorexia (so naturally you approved her writing about health and beauty issues, you twit). The author also apologized but I can't accept it. I can't believe she's sorry -- she's only sorry she got a slap on the wrist for it. 

Here is the original column (which may be taken down by the time you get to it): http://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/dating-blog/overweight-couples-on-television

For Pete's sake, she uses the word FATTIES in the headline. I could vomit. And then I'd probably sit on her just to make sure she knew who the Queen Fatty was. 

More on the controversy: http://jezebel.com/5673680/what-was-marie-claire-thinking-with-this-fatties-piece?skyline=true&s=i

Here is the editor's apology: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/marie-claire-editor-apologizes-mike-32901

And from The Hollywood Reporter, an interview with the show's creator:

Mike & Molly creator slams Marie Claire's 'fatties' post

The creator of CBS' new hit comedy Mike & Molly open fired on a Marie Clarie blog post that criticized his show for starring "gross" fat people.

The women's magazine is facing an online firestorm about a post titled 'Should Fatties Get a Room (Even on TV)?' where freelancer Maura Kelly wrote she was disgusted watching an overweight couple on the show.

“Yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other," she wrote "... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room — just like I'd find it distressing if I saw a very drunk person stumbling across a bar or a heroin addict slumping in a chair.”

Other viewers don't seem to mind. Mike & Molly is the second highest-rated comedy in CBS' Monday lineup after Two and Half Men and has been ticking upward in the ratings in recent weeks.

Below, creator Mark Roberts, who has struggled with weight issues himself, responds to the controversy.

THR: What was your reaction to this post?

Roberts: The woman apologized at end of it. Clearly she realized she said some pretty hateful things. My initial reaction is she's talking about [Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy] and I love them, I feel protective and angry about people being loose lipped. I guess hateful is only way to describe [the post].

THR: She says the leads "appear to be morbidly obese." Do you agree with that description?

Roberts: I don't know. I don't think of anybody by their body type, certainly not people that I work with and love and respect. I think of them as unbelievably talented people who captured these characters and brought them to life. I struggled with weight all my life and I don't know how to address this without being angry with somebody else's stupidity about other human beings.

THR: If this is her honest reaction to the show, is it wrong for her to express it?

Roberts: You know everybody is welcome to their opinion and clearly she can express her opinion and thousand can express theirs about hers. I would never tell anybody to express how they feel about something. If you don't like the show's writing or acting, OK. This was just about human beings. It's her face she has to look at in the mirror. I don't mean that to sound hateful.

THR: She also accused the show of promoting an unhealthy lifestyle.

Roberts: I hate when people are stand in judgment over anybody. We all have our own struggles. There's something wonderful about embracing everybody; it's what makes us human. And it's what people are responding to in this show. I don't see these people size-wise, they're just so lovable to me.

THR: Is there anything else you'd like to add about this?

Roberts: The shocking thing is we live in this a society where this was an issue. Jackie Gleason would never get on TV now because he's a large man who drank on TV. We've taken steps backward under the guise of what's healthy. Almost everybody I know struggles with something -- whether its their weight or alcohol or temper. To stand in judgment of somebody -- especially when you're breaking it down to just the esthetic. It just makes me sad ... wow that makes me sound much more upset than I really am. But I am un-friending that woman on Facebook.

My Delicious Day

Had a marvelous time today with a friend at the first ever Artisanal LA, downtown at The Cooper Building. Fear has kept me from exploring downtown the way I want to (I have a horrid sense of direction and I always, always get lost down there) and I'd never even seen The Cooper before - it's an old looking building but with fabulous open design spaces inside.

Artisanal LA is a weekend long community event celebrating the city’s finest local, sustainable and handmade edibles all under one roof. Taste, shop, sample and learn while supporting the local economy and local artisanal vendors at this weekend-long downtown event.

Despite some seriously dumb valet parking attendants (I'm sorry, but there were), I found my way to Artisanal on the 11th floor. The entrance was an overwhelming sight, sound and smell.  It looked like a funner (yes, I know, not a word) Swap Meet. 

We went from booth to booth and tried as much as our stomach's could handle. It was quite a spread for year one of this event. I hope next year for even more variety -- and maybe a free bottle of water. That was a lotta sugar (but thanks to my friend, Mike, who urged me to bring my own water).

My absolute favorite experience didn't even involved a freebie or a sample. But the owners of Lindy & Grundy had so much personality and were so fun to talk to, you just couldn't help but catch some of their light. And it was, in a weird way, refreshing to meet a couple of fellow carnivores at such an earthy, organic-themed event. 

 

My favorite unique item was from All Jarred Up. Three words, folks: PIE IN-A JAR. Um, hello? It was amazing. And I was persuaded to try the grape pie sample - I know, RIGHT? It was delicious! GRAPE PIE! Who knew this existed? I thought it would surely taste like Manischewitz wine or something (which I love but not as a pie) but it was the perfect sweetness. (P.S., Guess what my co-workers may be getting for Christmas this year? Who's excited?)

Loads and loads of other sweet treats. I took home a pomegranate caramel chocolate bar from Ococoa Chocolates that is sure to be to die for (the sample sure was). It's gonna go really well with the red wine I'm into right now...

Sort of made me wonder how one becomes a chocolatier? That must be a fun job. I'm a little jealous. 

And OMG, the little cakes from Cakes Suzette? Get one. 

It was, overall, a damned nice day. I came home and cleaned my room, set aside clothes for Good Will and did a load of laundry. Thus subsiding any guilt I felt for the copious amounts of organic Liqueurs and cake samples I had today. BTW, ever tried bitter herbs? I hadn't but they ain't bad! 

Anyway, I put all of my photos on my FLICKR if you want to see the artistry captured by my Blackberry.

And I wish you all a good week. Man.... I hate Sunday nights.

 

Fall Menu Tasting at Roy's Downtown

Thanks so much to my new friends at Formula PR who invited me and a guest to join them for the unveiling of Roy's three-course Fall Prix Fixe Menu (about $36/person).

You know me - always happy to partake in events and free food.

I also always love to mingle with other bloggers (like Elina). It's a pretty fun community to be in and if you have the chance to go to these kinds of events, I really cannot endorse it enough.

So here's the deal. I loved this. I have only ever been to Roy's once before and it was just to sip martinis and eat some appetizers. I always thought it was a hokey, Hawaiian themed chain and admittedly, had no idea how delicious it was. But it's a national chain, kids, so if there is one new you, I think you should go and while you're at it, order a Hawaiian martini (Vodka, Vanilla Vodka and Malibu Coconut Rum, shaken and served with fresh pineapple) cause it was OUSTANDING. They also provided wine and the Riesling I had was delicious. I wish I could remember what it was called but a couple vodka drinks in, I'm just no good for anything.

But enough about that, you'll probably also wanna eat while you're there, too.

And if you brought your appetite, I happen to think this prix fixe deal is a pretty good one.

Selfishly, I was really thrilled - looking at that menu I could not at all decide what I wanted to try so imagine my delight to find we got to try little bites of everything. I felt much like Padma on "Top Chef" with all this amuse bouche. Take that, Gail Simmons.

Appetizers were Blackened Rock Shrimp & Red Bean Soup AND "Elaine's" Kabocha Squash Salad. There is also a Meat Loaf Shumai on the menu we did not try. Not gonna lie - I did not mind. However, I am dying to know who Elaine is and why she gets this yummy salad named after her.

Main course bites were Cilantro Grilled Tiger Shrimp (FYI, I do not like lentils, I guess), Braised Beef Short Ribs, and MY FAVORITE THING EVER, the Artichoke & Goat Cheese Crusted Salmon. One of the publicists who sat with us for a few minutes left hers unattended. I nearly claimed it for my own.

Dessert was Pumpkin & Ginger Cheese Cake and also Roy's Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé. Both delicious. But what was REALLY special was when April, a partner in this Roy's location, heard I liked ice cream and asked pastry chef Stephanie Martinez so prepare something for me. She makes all of her ice creams in-house and the flavors were unique and all totally delicious. Something special the pastry chef, Stephanie Martinez, sent over for me when she heard I was an ice cream lover. All of these ice creams are made by her, in-house: Caramelzd macadamia nut, black sesame, spiced pecan, pumpkin, chocolate chip guiness... Amazing! It was really a nice thing for them to do. It was my favorite part of the night, honestly.

Now the good news is, aside from the ice cream-gasm portion of the evening, nothing I ate struck me as particularly unhealthy. I did not taste that anything was over-saturated with cream and butter nor did anything come our greasy or fried. You might wanna be weary of mashed potatoes and sauces but I was happy to notice everything was both tasty AND on the healthier side.

Quite a fabulous night. And I'm always happy to write about these kinds of things and hopefully, you all enjoy readintg about it (or it might bore you but as I make no money from my blog, I will continue to enjoy any freebies and/or events thrown my way, so there).

Also, super cool that the Chef, Garrett Mukogawa, took the time to stop by each table and field questions. He's a hometown hero (from Torrance) and he clearly is taking a lot of pride in what he's doing. And BTW, he's also not bad on the eyes. ;)

I'll say this much, for a $7 valet fee, they could have maybe parked my car in the garage instead of leaving it on the street. Also, they might have rethought hurrying to get into my car after keeping me waiitng for quite a few minutes and then plunging into the gas pedal and running over a traffic cone in front of me... But hey, my parking ended up comped. (Bottom line, if you go to this location, use the $5 lot right across the street instead.)

I took a few more photos and they are all on my FLICKR page.

And here is some photography we were provided with (keep in mind what we ate were small plated versions of these much grander meals):

 

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When I Spent the Day With Tom Bosley...

I was especially sad to hear about Tom Bosley's passing this morning.

I spent a day shadowing him for work circa summer 2007 and he was very gentle and kind, with a pretty sharp sense of humor. In fact, I'd dare to say he was kind of a cool cat. 

At one point, I stood off to the side a little while so that he, Ed Asner and Dick Van Dyke could argue about who was the oldest son-of-a-bitch in the room. It was a rare, precious and hilarious moment I'll not soon forget.

Mr. Bosley, it was my pleasure to meet you and spend some time with you. Wherever you are, I imagine you are resting at peace. It may even look a litte like this, cool as you were:

 

How fabulous is that photo (what did we do before Google Images)? R.I.P., Mr. Bosley.

My weekend in a word...

Co-worker: How was your weekend?

Me: Tumultuous.

Co-worker: Got it.

I can't tell you much more than that, I'm afraid. Unless you want to hear about the Greek-themed snack spread at my book club on Sunday. But it was a weekend filled with much emotion, chief among them, laughter, which is how I think they should ALL be, don't you?

Hope everyone had a tumultuous weekend.

Quote of the Day

Upon suggesting we blow $100 each on dinner at Dan Tana's (I was kidding):

"I thought about that but I'd rather have that new Kate Spade bag than something I'm gonna shit out in a half hour."

Lauren is very wise. 

Eating Healthy... Deserves Applause?

Don't know if anyone's heard of "The Toilet Paper." I think I've mentioned it before -- it's a quirky daily e-mail my friend Jess turned me onto. Most of the time it makes me laugh.

The beauty of TTP is that while it consistently retains its humor, it is typically rather informative:

Our babies never stopped booming. 68% of adults are overweight, and America is well on its way to being buried alive under mounds of greasy fast food wrappers and empty soda cans. Luckily, there's hope for future generations. Forget good old common sense and self-control, we're gonna shrink our offspring's stomachs the easy way: mind tricks.

The USDA is giving $2 million to food behavior scientists, hoping psychology can influence kids to make healthy food choices at school. Renaming carrots "X-ray vision carrots," and hiding chocolate milk behind white milk are tricks that have already shown positive results. Talk about breakthroughs.

We simultaneously applaud the USDA for its efforts, and chuckle that we've reached a point where "tricking" our kids into eating healthy deserves applause.

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What do you think? Is eating healthy deserving of reward? In truth, we should WANT to be healthy but ALSO, IN TRUTH, let's face it - rewarding kids for healthy living and eating these days is practically necessary. I mean, as an adult, even now, if I make it through a day without hitting the vending machine, I want an effing medal.