Giada Does San Jose

There is something wrong with waiting for a Food Network chef for over three hours on your day off. However, I had a blast making small talk with suburban mothers and other foodies while waiting to get my copy of Giada De Laurentis's latest cookbook, Everyday Pasta, signed.

All in all it was a surreal experience - after the long wait, I got a quick hello, but let me tell you, Giada has a smile that makes your heart dance (think Hanson's MmmmBop).

When Copy Is All You Need

Sometimes words are more powerful than visuals, gimmicks, or a spokesperson. Wieden & Kennedy (for Nike) demonstrate that the most effective defense against vile words are courageous words. Well done.

***

I just realized how incredibly small the type is on the ad - so if you're eyes are as bad as mine, the following is the copy in the ad:

Thank you, ignorance.
Thank you for starting the conversation.
Thank you for making an entire nation listen to the Rutger's team story. And for making us wonder what other great stories we've missed.
Thank you for reminding us to think before we speak.
Thank you for showing us how strong and poised 18 and 20-year-old women can be.
Thank you for reminding us that another basketball tournament goes on in March.
Thank you for showing us that sport includes more than the time spent on the court.
Thank you for unintentionally moving women's sport forward.
And thank you for making all of us realize that we still have a long way to go.
Next season starts 11.16.07

New Mexico is for ... Aliens

For those of us who have ever worked in an office environment, where vacation days are few and far between and sick days are never used when you're actually sick - well this ad's for you. I mean really, it's always about the water cooler and the copy machine - that's where all the good stuff goes on in the office - and M&C Saatchi capture that.

Let me just point out, at the moment that Barry pops THE question, She-lien raises her swishity-swoosh in combat mode. For a second there, I thought that she was going to salivate all that gooey stuff they use to make milk shakes. The only thing that could have made this ad better was if Ripley burst through the ceiling wielding a blow torch (oh well - thank goodness for our imaginations).

Dinner in Three Hours

Yesterday, San Jose was a mild 63º, raining off and on, and so perfect for some slow-cookin'. This meal was exactly what chilly days were meant for.

The Menu:
Zucchini and Carrot Scapece
6 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
5 Large zucchini
3 Garlic cloves
1/4 Cup fresh basil leaves
1/4 Cup fresh mint leaves
10 Medium carrots
1/4 Cup red wine vinegar



Tuscan White Bean and Garlic Soup
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 Shallots
1 Fresh sage leaf
2 Cans cannellini beans
4 Cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
4 Garlic cloves
1/2 Cup heavy cream
1/2 Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 Slices ciabatta bread
Extra-virgin olive oil


Tagliatelle with Short Rib Ragu
3 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Ounces pancetta
2 1/2 Pounds short ribs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 Cup all-purpose flour
1 Medium onion
1 Carrot
1/2 Cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 Garlic cloves
1 Can tomatoes
1 Tablespoon tomato paste
1 Teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 Teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 Teaspoon dried oregano
1 Bay leaf
2 1/2 Cups beef broth
1/4 Cup red wine
1 Pound tagliatelle
6 teaspoons shaved bittersweet chocolate

All in all this meal comprised most of my Saturday afternoon and early evening, but the result was well worth the effort. The most satisfying aspect of the meal was the shaved bittersweet chocolate on top of the warm short rib ragu - its subtle taste reminded me of mole, a mexican dish that also uses chocolate, that my granny makes during the winter.


I should also let you know that I will be cutting back on the meals to every other week, instead of every week. Naturally, living on a students income doesn't warrant the luxury of preparing meals every week - so for now, rather than sacrifice the integrity of the meals I prepare, I will just postpone their preparation for a week longer.

Recipes courtesy of Everyday Pasta by Giada De Laurentiis

Boost is Magic!

Everything about this ad is magic - particularly the "news flash" piano that occurs right when Mr. Nobody gets his telepathic boost. I'm kicking myself (softly, of course) for landing an internship with BBH - the brains behind it all. Nice work.



Client: Axe
Title: Better Kisser
Agency: BBH NYC

Books, Cooks and Magazines

Have you ever noticed that when you're completely stressed out you tend to buy in mass quantities? Over the past few days I've accumulated enough books and magazines to warrant a new bookcase. Here is a sample of what I bought:

Books:
How to Put Your Book Together and Get a Job in Advertising by Maxine Paetro.
This book was recommended by C.F @ Deutsch NYC for those interested in working as a creative.








Truth, Lies & Advertising by Jon Steel
Recommended by S.J @ RPA L.A for those interested in strategic planning.










Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris
Recommended by L.B @ SJSU for inquisitive minds (it's a novel, a juicy one at that).










Magazines:
V - Spring 2007
It says it's The Biggest V Ever! All I care about is the working Girls spread by Mario Testino - it's fucking brilliant!









V Man - Spring/Summer 2007
I had to. I mean, it's V but with more men.











Ready Made - April/May 2007
They have a pot rack made from a bicycle wheel!











HOW - 2007 Design Annual
It was a bit pricey at $15, but it's like a who's who in the design world + it also has strategies for presenting a winning portfolio - who doesn't want that?





Cooks:
Everyday Pasta by Giada De Laurentiis
The book was my "ticket" to see her at Sur De Table on April 21st - can't wait to gush over her.












Barefoot Contessa at Home by Ina Garten
Seriously - she needs to teach marriage counseling. I'm convinced she's the only woman in America that is qualified to do so - her husband has been madly in love with her for over 20 years and I'm betting her cooking has a lot to do with it.





Dave's Dinners by Dave Lieberman
Can I just tell you that I became totally interested in him for all the wrong reasons. But really now, can you blame me? If you can't answer this - you need to check out his show (even his website is sexy!)

Dinner for One

Nothing says "I love myself" like cooking yourself a delicious meal on a Saturday night. Now, you may be thinking why dinner for one? Well, to be honest, I wanted the entire bottle of Yellow Tail chardonnay for myself. Okay, okay - I lie. Here is important lesson number one: No matter how fabulous the book store is, how many gadgets there are to look at Sur De Table, or how much you enjoy a latte from Peets, you must always remember to invite someone over. Lesson learned.

The Menu:

Roasted Red Peppers & Ricotta Crostini

4 red peppers
1 fresh baquette
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
40 grinds fresh black pepper
1 container broccoli sprouts





Garlic-Sauteed Spinach

10 ounces curly, whole leaf spinach
3 tablespoons evoo
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Salt







Chicken Scaloppine with Lemon-Caper Sauce

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
15 grinds fresh black pepper
Olive oil
1/3 cup white wine
2 tablespoons capers
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 lemon


Optional: Down a glass of wine and pump up some Feist - I think food tastes better if you move your hips as much as possible during the prep.


An hour and three glasses of wine later, you get:



All in all a great meal!

If you would like to be my guest for an upcoming Blog-O-Meal, send me a message - special considerations for those who have a background in shooting food. Until next time!



All recipes courtesy of Dave Lieberman's Dave's Dinners

Inhale

So Liz - our housekeeper/coffee buddy (I know this is completely sacrilegious - what would abuelita thiink?) and I laughed so hard when we watched this commercial that we woke up the entire house. Despite the cliche metaphor (spicy = fire), I still think the ad is memorable and one I would share with people, especially if they're having a bad day.


Title: "Inhaling"
Agency: Grey Worldwide, New York

New York - A Huge Pill

I've taken the past few days off since returning from New York City to reflect on the madness that occurred within a weeks time. To say that my life has changed in the previous week would undermine everything that I experienced. To sum it up - New York was my alarm call.

For the past few months, maybe even the past few years, I've allowed myself to fall into a life of complacency - driven mostly by my ego and most definitely by laziness. It's easy to be one of the "best" in a city like San Jose - thankfully New York gave me a big sister "Nu uh!"

In addition to a much needed reality check, New York has provided me with some really great stories. Let me start off with the creation of the term Bartended.

Background: Chuck (a long-time friend, confidante, and fellow lush), his sister Jennifer and I decide to go out for drinks at Splash, New York's answer to the utterly cookie-cutter gay bar. On this particular night the majority of the bar patrons were singing along to The Wiz, Cabaret and Chorus Line (just to name a few). To avoid the sing-a-long madness, the three of us decided to go downstairs. There, we found solace in cozy couches and expensive drinks. After two jack & cokes, we all saw Brian - the bartender from Jersey. Clad in translucent white chonies - we all thought we had found the most perfect man on earth. The remainder of the night Brian served up mean drinks, flirted with Jen and let me touch his pectorals - this was on top of the free drinks he shelled out. By the end of the night - I was drunk, Chuck was poor, and Jennifer was in love.

So we went back the next night.

This time we made a bee-line straight to Brian. However, the Brian from the night before (the one who melted Jen Jen's heart and made Chuck and I say Mmm mmm mmm) was not anywhere to be found. Instead - the Brian we found was arrogant, shallow and wearing different undies! Needless to say, we left early. In the cramped quarters of a cab - Jennifer proclaimed: We've been bartended!

Bartended (v.): the process by which a bartender flirts, flits and flutters into a customers mind, body and soul with the purpose of getting the most buck for his bang.

Don't even think of hijacking this definition - it's my Urban Dictionary!

Moving on - As part of the SJSU Ad group, I was granted the opportunity to meet with representatives from Deutsch NYC and McCann Erickson. Both agencies made us feel at home and gave presentations that demonstrated each agencies strengths and gave us an overview of many of the departments within an agency. I couldn't have been more happy with the information that each bestowed upon us - particularly the advice given for those of us going into art direction (if you're wondering - I love copy).

At the recommendation of a McCanner, I spent a night gyrating to one of the best sets I've heard in a while at the Marquee. Admittedly, I've been so out of the club scene since leaving LA last summer (perhaps even longer). So the notion of working the line and a promoter was daunting, particularly because I was solo. Needless to say - I must have seemed completely eager and so uncool because I showed up at 10:30 or so. After a few sips of Jameson, the awkwardness quickly faded and before I knew it I was slurring directions to a cab driver - I love this slurred language, it's so ridiculous scandalous!

The rest of the trip was quite a blur - but there is one story that I may share with you at a later date (as I am quickly finding this blog to be entirely too long - but then again, it's been entirely too long since I've really blogged).

I just want to say a friendly San Josian Hello to the Catalonians, Mr. 7 years later (aka Mr. Catherine Malandrino), Mr.Tag, Miss.Iliveacrossthestreetfromagaybarandwilldoanythingforsex, and Lilly (who has been on my ass for weeks now to get this thing going again).


In the weeks to come, look forward to a new direction with this blog. As I am feeling completely revived from hibernation, I will be discussing all things from great advertising, the ad industry, magazine spreads/articles that rock and of course, the weekly meal I treat myself for a job-well-done at the end of every week. That's not too hard to swallow now, is it?