Cheflebrity Smörgåsbord: New Toy

In my never-ending battle to make myself even chubbier, I am proud to say that I have a new weapon.

I finally broke out the ice cream maker that’s been sitting on the shelf for a while. This baby is super-simple to use and gives you soft-serve type ice cream in about 40 minutes. And you can pop the output in the freezer to let it set harder.  I suppose you can make sorbet with this thing, too, but that would be verging on the healthy, and we don’t want that, do we?

Batch number one was a “control,” as the scientists would say, and I was happy with the process and my ability to not screw it up.  I went with a simple french-style (i.e. eggs) vanilla to which I added roasted almonds at the very end.

You and I know that this will not end with a simple vanilla, right?  I think it’s about time we made ice cream dangerous!

Look for more of that in the coming weeks…for now, you’ll have to tide yourself over with some smörg.

– Grub Street spots a missed opportunity for Anthony Bourdain during a recent episode of his show.  Funny, Bourdain doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who would take a shot at Guy Fieri. </sarcasm>

– Guess who’s back on top:  Julia Child!  This is fantastic news…now a whole new generation can get into the kitchen and find ways to screw up omelets.

After the jump…Alton Brown in full-geek mode, Tom keeps cashing in and everyone loves Lidia.– Does Alton Brown love his multi-taskers?  Of course. But do you really need a fancy way to toast pine nuts?

– They say that basic cable doesn’t pay.  Maybe that’s why Tom Colicchio keeps popping up in commercials.  Too bad he doesn’t have a restaurant empire to fall back on.

– The YumSugar-ites spot a tasty Lidia dish.  I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU to watch her show and not end up cooking something you see!  Physically impossible, I say.