Neatorama

Charles Phoenix’s Tiki-Turkey Dinner Posted: 27 Nov 2008 04:20 AM PST (YouTube link) L.A. personality Charles Phoenix turns the traditional Thanksgiving feast on its ear by tikifying it. More Kahlua! Link to recipes. -Thanks, ZZalgern0n!

What is it? Game 83 Posted: 27 Nov 2008 04:19 AM PST Today’s collaboration with the What is it? blog brings us this strange contraption (no - it’s not a gun). Can you guess what it is? Place your guess in the comment section - no prize this week, so you’re playing for fame and glory only. For more clues and guessing fun, check out the What is it? blog. Good luck!

10 Weird Gourmet Foods Posted: 26 Nov 2008 11:42 PM PST The luxury world of the couture is an interesting place. People are always on the search for the newest, most shocking art or fashion to impress their other rich friends. The culinary world is no exception. While there are still people who love their lobster and fillet mignon, many modern chefs like to experiment with the newest and craziest ingredients, while others like to reach back deep into the past -say, the middle ages- for inspiration. As a result, there are some gourmet foods that are just too out there for the average man and woman to even begin to comprehend. I invite you, my friends, to travel this weird world with me, the strange land of the couture gourmets. 10. Ortolan Eating a roasted bird isn’t really that crazy, but the process leading up to the roasting of Ortolan birds has actually caused France to declare it illegal for humane reasons. Ortolan birds are nocturnal, sparrow-like birds. To prepare them for cooking, the live birds are trapped in a dark box. The darkness messes with their eating schedule and causes them to continually eat until they are about two to three times their original size. After a proper level of obesity has occurred, the birds are drowned in brandy or other liquor and then, finally, roasted. Funny how a country that defends fois gras even finds this practice too barbaric. If tortured animals make yummier meals, than this little guy must be quite a treat. Source 9. Canard à la Rouennaise (Duck in Blood Sauce) Have you ever ate a duck and thought, "I could get so much more out of those bones and guts?" If so, Canard à la Rouennaise is right up your alley. Basically, the recipe takes a nice roast duck, then places the carcass in a press and crushes the juice out of everything left over. The result is a very bloody, very rich "sauce" that can cost around $1000 a plate. While the presentation may be quite interesting, as they crush the duck right at your table, I just can’t understand paying that much for some blood. I know a lot of people love marrow, but isn’t this just too crazy? Source 8. Huitlacoche (Corn Fungus) Corn smut is a fungus that destroys corn crops. Like many indigenous people, early villagers decided to make the most out of a bad situation and ate the fungus that took over their crop. Nowadays, the smut is considered to be quite a delicacy and sometimes costs more than corn itself. This is the only thing on this list I have actually ate, of course, that’s probably because I don’t have the money to be a real gourmet foodie. Surprisingly, it’s very delicious if you get it from a good restaurant -preferably one actually in Mexico. It’s similar to mushrooms and quite has a nice aroma. Source (Photo: Zampano [Flickr]) 7. Durian Many people claim durian is quite good. The smell however, is one of the worst things on Earth. It is said that you can smell the durian fruit stands from all the way down the street. Some hotels and airports refuse to let people bring the fruit inside for fear that it will chase away their customers. While many people hate the fruit -smell is closely associated with taste after all, many people are quite passionate about their love of durian. The fruit is said to be strongly flavored and savory, with a custard-like texture. Anthony Bordain may have described it the best when he said, “its taste can only be described as…indescribable, something you will either love or despise. …Your breath will smell as if you’d been French-kissing your dead grandmother.” Source (Photo: Sama Sama - Massa [Flickr]) 6. Live Baby Octopus [YouTube Link] Here’s a food that wouldn’t be so strange if it was served in any other manner. Even other foods eaten alive, like shrimp aren’t that strange, the main thing here is the whole life-threatening thing. Live octopi can choke you with their moving tentacles. It’s a real-life kill or be killed situation. Dipping your dinner in alcohol is said to help knock them out momentarily and make them less deadly, but that is to be debated. Truly skilled baby octopi eaters will barely chew their meals before gulping them down, but amateurs generally choose to chew them thoroughly -which can take up to 15 minutes. As you can see in the video, eating the treat can be quite a challenge for a novice. Source 5. De Jaeger (Snail Caviar) French foodies flip over a lot of things, but two things they hold close to heart are caviar and escargot. So a pair of snail farmers thought, "why not combine them?" The flavor is said to be delicate and quite nice, but from what I hear, most people still prefer caviar. The process to making snail caviar is a carefully guarded secret by the couple who invented it. We do know it involves very happy snails getting freaky in a huge barn and a hand review all of the eggs to make sure they are up to par. Between there being only one supplier and requiring quite tedious harvesting, all done by hand, the price of the snail caviar is quite high -about $82 an ounce to be more specific. Source (Photo: Fr Antunes [Flickr]) 4. Bird Nest Soup Bird nest soup, as the name suggests, is created using nests created by the nests of cave swifts. These specific birds create their nest from their own saliva, which hardens into a sort of shell. When boiled, the nest creates a unique flavor and jelly-like consistency that is quite popular in many parts of Asia -at least, amongst those who can afford it. The nests are one of the most expensive animal products consumed by humans. Just one bowl of the soup costs between $30 and $100 American dollars. Of the multiple species of cave swifts that create these nests, the most expensive nests come from in a red shaded and are said to have additional medicinal qualities. These health benefits range from curing asthma to boosting the immune system to aiding digestion. Like many medicinal meals from the East though, this has not been scientifically proven as of yet. Source 3. Balut (Duck Fetus Egg) Photo: Chadedwardxxx [Flickr] Surely you’ve heard the urban legend that someone bought a carton of eggs, cracked one open and found a chicken fetus inside? Well, this is sort of the same thing, except it’s not an urban legend and it’s a duck instead of a chicken. Oh yeah, and it’s on purpose. Basically, you take your fertilized egg, boil it and there’s your meal. Most people seem to eat the egg around the fetus and then snack down the baby duckling bones and all. The "ripeness" of the egg varies from country to country, but it can be eaten any time from being boneless and tiny to pretty much being baby ducks with tender bones and beaks. Source 2. Kopi Luwak (Poop Coffee) I must admit, it was hard to choose the ranking positions for this list. It’s hard to compare duck fetus to corn fungus to killer octopi, but I have to say that coffee beans that have been partially digested definitely deserve a place in the top three. If the title or photo of this one hasn’t given it away already, let me be clear. Kopi Luwak is a very popular coffee blend right now, despite the fact that the beans get their special flavor by being eaten and then pooped out by a civet -a cute mammal from South-east Asia. The coffee is one of the most expensive brews in the world, selling for between $120 and $600 a pound. Because the digestive enzymes of the civets break down the proteins in the beans that ordinarily make coffee bitter, the blend is naturally sweeter. Source 1. Casu Marzu (Maggot Cheese) Casu Marzu is a sheep’s milk cheese loaded with writhing, live fly larva. It is illegal in many countries for its obvious health dangers, but for some reason, foodies still actively seek it out. Even worse, the cheese can become toxic after the maggots die, so it has to be eaten while they are still very alive. The texture is rather creamy and it is generally served on Sardinian flat bread. Dinners are expected to keep their hands over the cheese as they place it in their mouth because these larva can jump up to 15 cm -potentially right into dinner’s eyes. This is one of the only things on this list that makes me want to throw up just by looking at it. I mean, this is one food that almost makes Gordon Ramsay puke -that alone says how disgusting this specialty is. Flies are filthy and eating the living bodies and excrement of their larva is just not right, regardless of where you’re from. Source Have any of you ever experienced these foods? What did you think of them? If not, what was the weirdest thing you ever ate?

Urban Knitting: Taking It To The Street Posted: 26 Nov 2008 11:39 PM PST You may have seen Alex’s crocheted bunny body suit, but I’ll see that handiwork and raise you Urban Knitting. Trees, street signs, statues and gas stations, nothing is safe from these rebels of the wool. Link

50 Thanksgiving Cupcake Ideas Posted: 26 Nov 2008 09:30 PM PST AJ at Thingamababy saw the Neatorama post Mini Thanksgiving Dinner and was inspired to look around for more Thanksgiving cupcakes. The result: 50 different cupcakes, about half linked to recipes. Link -Thanks, AJ!

Can’t Trust Those Gay Penguins … Posted: 26 Nov 2008 08:11 PM PST Here’s why you can never trust gay penguins … Keepers have segregated the couple after they caught them trying to trick straight birds into parting with their offspring by placing round stones at their feet and then running off with an egg. Experts at the Polarland Park in Harbin, north east China, say that despite being gay the three year old male birds are still driven by an urge to be dads. Link Previously on Neatorama: Gay Penguins Say No Thanks to Females

The Dark Lord of Metal Logos Posted: 26 Nov 2008 08:10 PM PST Christophe Szpajdel isn’t just any ol’ logo designer - he’s the self-proclaimed dark lord of black-metal logos. The Belgian designer has drawn over 7,000 black- and death-metal bands from all over the world. Strangely, Christophe is also a forestry engineer and works in retail to support his artistry: Link

Chalk Shadow Art Posted: 26 Nov 2008 08:09 PM PST Photo: Chang W. Lee for The New York Times I saw that "chalk shadow art" is making the round on the Net, without attribution or explanation (sigh). So, with a little Googling, I found the back story to the phenomenon: Earlier this year, Mr. Gallagher was mugged on his way home from a shift at Bar Tabac on Smith Street, where he worked as a waiter. "I turn around and this guy’s got a two-foot machete in my face," he said. Mr. Gallagher was unhurt and the mugger was later caught by the police, but one night soon after the mugging, with the image of his attacker’s dark silhouette still burned into his memory, Mr. Gallagher was mesmerized by a shadow on the sidewalk. He reached into his pocket and felt the chalk he had used to write the outdoor menu at Bar Tabac, and he dropped to his knees to outline it. Shadow art was born. Now Mr. Gallagher heads out on foot or on his bike with a backpack full of chalk, looking for shadows to trace. When he tells you that "everything is fair game," he means it. He has traced everything from hydrants to whole city blocks. Conrad Mulcahy of The New York Times has the story: Link

Ming Yi Sung’s Crocheted Body Suit Posted: 26 Nov 2008 08:08 PM PST I see Jill Harness’ crocheted pie hats post and raise her this crocheted body suit by Chinese artist Ming Yi Sung. Believe it or not, the white bunny suit above isn’t actually the weirdest thing she has ever crocheted and knitted … Be prepared to be amazed: Link

Pele? Castle’s Grand Armory Posted: 26 Nov 2008 08:07 PM PST Photo: Curious Expedition [Flickr] Curious Expeditions visited Castelul Pele? (Pele? Castle) in Sinaia, Romania. The castle was built by a multi-cultural "labor force" (forced labor?) and has an interesting history: Castelul Peles rises out of the ancient Romanian forest like an fairy tale . Located in Sinaia, Transylvania it is arguably the most beautiful castle in Romania and possibly all of Eastern Europe. [...] As in its design, so too was its construction a mishmash of Europe, as Queen Elisabeth of Romania described the merry scene in her journal, “Italians were masons, Romanians were building terraces, the Gypsies were coolies. Albanians and Greeks worked in stone, Germans and Hungarians were carpenters. Turks were burning brick. Engineers were Polish and the stone carvers were Czech. The Frenchmen were drawing, the Englishmen were measuring, and so was then when you could see hundreds of national costumes and fourteen languages in which they spoke, sang, cursed and quarreled on all dialects and tones, a joyful mix of men, horses, cart oxen and domestic buffaloes.” I’m quite fond of this photo above. It’s of the Grand Armory, or The Arsenal where 1,600 of the castle’s weaponry and armor from the 14th to 16th century are displayed. Link | Don’t miss the Flickr set - it’s wonderful!

Enterprise (D) Takes on a Super Star Destroyer Posted: 26 Nov 2008 05:25 PM PST (Video Link) Yes, we’ve all been subjected to Star Wars vs. Star Trek videos before, but this one is really, really good. Run time: 5 minutes, 36 seconds. Via Topless Robot

The 40 Best TV Theme Songs Posted: 26 Nov 2008 05:20 PM PST (Video Link) Josh Jackson of Paste Magazine has assembled what he considers to be the best TV theme songs ever. Unfortunately, Exosquad and Robotech were not on the list, but I’ve got to agree with his selection of the theme to The A-Team at #28. Link via Ace of Spades

Crocheted Pie Hats Posted: 26 Nov 2008 02:42 PM PST This stylish crocheted hat is just what the doctor ordered for the upcoming cold holiday nights. Link Via CraftZine

Papercraft Turkey Posted: 26 Nov 2008 02:30 PM PST This papercraft turkey is not only cute, but it also would make a great centerpiece. There’s also a cute pilgrim and indian couple to download. Get yours free here.

Trace of Melamine Found in US Baby Formula Posted: 26 Nov 2008 02:05 PM PST Remember the melamine contamination problem in China that killed at least 3 babies and made 50,000 others sick? Well, after that happened, the FDA quietly tested US-made formula and found trace contaminations of melamine. The US government didn’t disclose the tests, until The Associated Press filed a Freedom of Information Act request: Traces of the industrial chemical melamine have been detected in samples of top-selling U.S. infant formula, but federal regulators insist the products are safe. The Food and Drug Administration said last month it was unable to identify any melamine exposure level as safe for infants, but a top official said it would be a "dangerous overreaction" for parents to stop feeding infant formula to babies who depend on it. "The levels that we are detecting are extremely low," said Dr. Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "They should not be changing the diet. If they’ve been feeding a particular product, they should continue to feed that product. That’s in the best interest of the baby." Link - Thanks Pax!

Gifts You DON’T Want Posted: 26 Nov 2008 12:16 PM PST MSN and Marie Claire have paired up to bring you a fun list of gifts you don’t want. While some of them are actually kinda cool, like the beta fish book ends, there are certainly some wonderfully terrible gift ideas listed as well. The gold pills shown to the right sound exactly like an old Dave Chapelle sketch, as they’re supposed to bling out your “leavings.” I have to agree with MSN on this one, I certainly do not want this as a gift, even if the person giving them spent oer $400 on my present. Link

The Amazing Brick Stacking Man Posted: 26 Nov 2008 08:16 AM PST Who needs a wheelbarrow? This guy transports 20 bricks on his head instead. Link [YouTube] - via Videon.se

BlahblahFish Posted: 26 Nov 2008 07:46 AM PST BlahblahFish takes your English text and translates it into another language, then translates it back into English. The results can be pretty strange. I used the phrase “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Japanese: It heats heart truly and [re] physical weakness does. Italian: The spirit is arranged, but the meat is weak person. Greek: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is impossible. Spanish: The alcohol is prepared, but the meat is weak. Korean: The spirit puts out the flag and does, the flesh omits but. Chinese: Having more desire than energy. Croatian: sprite had like to , limit meat had withered. Hungarian: THE genius there is willing , but the meat there is weak. Norwegian: Breath am willing , but carnal am breakable ,. Romanian: the spirit is William , but the. flesh is loose. Serbian: The genius 3. wis with IT BE from present compliant , but the meat 3. wis with IT BE from present withered. Slovenian: wind there is yieldly , till then meat there is weak. Welsh: ‘ group ghost he is being willing , except ‘ group meat he is being ‘ heartburn weak. Latin: ghost is voluntary , nothwithstanding viscera is pale. You can also use it for other languages besides English. Link -via J-Walk Blog

Canstruction 2008 Posted: 26 Nov 2008 07:44 AM PST Canstruction is an international charity competition that opened last Thursday at the Winter Garden and Courtyard Gallery of the World Financial Center, featuring giant structures built entirely out of cans of food. Top architectural and engineering firms in over 100 cities across North America participate in Canstruction, collecting millions of pounds of food for local food banks — the New York City show features local architectural and engineering talent. At the close of the competition, all of the food from the show will be donated to City Harvest. See pictures of quite a few can sculptures at Eat Me Daily. My favorite is this scene from a recent movie you might recognize. Link

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