In praise of condiments (AM)

One might say that in respect to condiments America has gone too far. Fluffernutter?! A spread that combines peanut butter and marshmallow?! Unnecessary. And yet I think it is the American love of the condiments that makes me kind of love America.

Lets examine some recent experiences and find out whether America is condiment crazy or condiment can-do! (What?)

1. In LA we were having breakfast at a chain store bakery cafe joint. It was perfectly fine and LB ordered a bread basket for which they gave him no less than six spreads! Wanting to experience the true America I started shoving a knife I all the jars getting some of all them spreads on the bread.  Mostly it was jams but then I tried some I identified brown goo and discovered it was speculoos spread. Speculoos spread!!! In case you don't know a speculoo is a spicy European biscuit that is quite crunchy and delicious and those crazy yanks have turned it into a spread! A gooey, spicy, sweet spread. Ok, it turns out the Belgians made it into a spread but those crazy yanks are importing it. Why doesn't Australia have the gumption to do that? Could I eat it all the time? Hells no, but would it be a delicious spreadable breakfast treat? Hells yeah!

2. Remember that thing I said about sandwiches in LA, well, I think that Americans just really know their way around a sandwich and its not just the fillings, it's the way they put them together and then add condiments. I think. The one that took the cake was a sandwich I ate the other day at Chealsea Market. It was a roasted cauliflower sandwich that I did not have high hopes for, but it was really, very good. Oh sure the combination of spiced cauliflower, lettuce and grated carrot was good, but it was the chilli mayonnaise that really made it. And the fact they give you a side of hot sauce. I mean, why don't sandwich makers ask you, "You want hot sauce?" With every sandwich order? Catch up, Australia. 

Condiments for life! 

WTF Wednesday (PM)

Oh, oh man, ads are THE WORST!
I'm glad you brought this up, because pretty much every time I watch TV I encounter an ad I want to pay out on. However, I'm pretty sure ads are like jokes in that when you hear one, you think you will totally remember it and can't wait to tell other people, but in fact you have already forgotten it and you pretty much have no hope of recalling it next time you need a joke. It turns out that when I'm not in front of a TV watching ads, I find it very hard to remember ads, so I've got nothing new here. But that Gaviscon one sure does sound dumb! And those Helga's Sandwich Thins makes me think that by the time that product got to the advertiser's desk, the damage was done. Bread that is more like a stale pitta so you can put more sandwich in it? That is a solution begging for a problem. It offers nothing that a person who likes sandwiches couldn't have provided for themselves with a little experimentation. Trust me, Helga's,  if a person really wants more sandwich in your sandwich, they will figure out a way, and ideally that way will not require bread sacrifice. Idiots.

While we're on the topic of things that make you go WTF?, consider this photo that was on
The Sartorialist yesterday with the heading: Layered Knits.

As you can see, this gentleman has layered the shit out of some knits. Obviously this is very confronting, so I'll give you all a moment to collect yourselves.

OK, personally, I like a knit, and the thought of layering knits to achieve some kind of state of mega-warmth, well lets just say me likey. However, WTF is with the fact that this guy is also holding a knit? Dude, are you worried that we are not going to understand that you are experimenting with extreme knit-wearing, what with your DOUBLE KNITTED CARDIGAN deal, one of which is a CHUNKY KNIT? We get it, guy, we totally get it. You look like Linus, carrying that thing around, give it a friggen rest.

Further Winning Combos (PM)

You had me at Fassbender and Mortensen (and Cassel).
 
Speaking of winning sandwich combos, how about toasted cheese and tomato?! One of the all time best combos. Man, I could murder one of those right now!

And I bet a cheese and tomato toastie would go a treat with that Black and Brew.I want to try that so bad! Seriously Samuel Adams people, send that our way.