Super Bowl Wrap Up

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Or should I say . . . burrito? Either way, I'm sifting through the seven layers of frijole dip advertising hell to find the ads that were actually worth a damn this year. Once again, hats off to Hulu for devoting a whole channel to it. Lets hope they're half as good as Christina Aguilera's memorization of The Star Spangled Banner. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">KIA - One Epic Fail . . . um, ride. </span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Um, yeah, lets spend a shit-load of money on aliens, and sea monsters and other villain stereotypes. Seriously, I liked the stuffed-animals-go-to-Vegas commercial for KIA Sorrento from last year way better. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sketchers: Kim Kardashian: Hello Sketchers</span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yeah, I just threw up in my mouth a little. I don't know about any one else, but I've never had a shirtless personal trainer. Plus, sorry to say, but she can't act to save her tush. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">GoDaddy: The Contract</span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yup, they're at it again. Eww. This disturbs me on so many levels. Plus, I don't get it. I mean, yeah, I get it. Go to GoDaddy and see them nekked. But what does that have to do with buying a domain? </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mercedes-Benz: Welcome </span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Haha. Sean Combs. I guess Benz figured Crystler had Marshall Mathers, so why not get P. Diddy. I think they should have just stuck to showing the new line of cars, but it's the Super Bowl, so you've got to put some drama into it. And an angry Diddy does make for some kind of amusement. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Volkswagen: Black Beetle </span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">VW really can't go wrong. They don't show their car at all and I still totally want to buy it. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hyndai: Anachronistic City </span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Dude, is your car really that special? Props for Pong though, I guess. Whatevs. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Pepsi: First Date </span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Coca-Cola should learn from Pepsi. Stop taking yourself too seriously. You're not going to save the world one high fructose corn syrup soft drink at a time. But you just might sell some soda. Granted, PepsiMax has a specific target (men) and Coca-Cola isn't necessarily diet, but come on, liven up a little. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Coca-Cola: Border</span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">See above. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Doritos: House Sitting </span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I love off-the-wall. We need more of that shit in advertising. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Doritos: Killer Pug </span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ditto. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">E-Trade: Tailor </span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The baby might be getting a little old as far as . . . well, considering he's probably older than me by now. But still love the cuteness factor. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Groupon: Tibet </span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Oh, Groupon. Your commercials are so wrong, but might be just right. Still, I feel like there's a disconnect. I almost want to know how saving with Groupon can help save Tibet. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lipton: Eminem </span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Oh, Eminem. Looks like they're really lovin' Marshall this year. This gets a big "Eh" from me. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Crystler: Imported from Detroit </span>

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<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I think I got a little emotional watching this commercial. I'm not from Detroit, but I always feel bad about the shit that happens there. Especially since it's not longer really Motown. But once I heard the "8 Mile" music I knew it was only fitting that Eminem should drive a Crystler, right? I'm really liking the slice of Americana that Crystler is serving with its new campaign (see the one where they show people throughout the ages driving their cars.) It makes me feel all proud to be an American for 30 seconds. </span>

<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ok, I know there were 65 ads, but seriously that's all I could go through right now. I just have one thing to say though, Bud Light, you rocked last year. This year you sucked so bad I didn't even add you to my blog. Boo for you. Rock my world next year. </span>

Posted via email from cosipetit@posterous

Super Bowl Ad Wrap Up

Or should I say . . . burrito? Either way, I'm sifting through the seven layers of frijole dip advertising hell to find the ads that were actually worth a damn this year. Once again, hats off to Hulu for devoting a whole channel to it. Lets hope they're half as good as Christina Aguilera's memorization of The Star Spangled Banner.

KIA - One Epic Fail . . . um, ride.



Um, yeah, lets spend a shit-load of money on aliens, and sea monsters and other villain stereotypes. Seriously, I liked the stuffed-animals-go-to-Vegas commercial for KIA Sorrento from last year way better.

Sketchers: Kim Kardashian: Hello Sketchers



Yeah, I just threw up in my mouth a little. I don't know about any one else, but I've never had a shirtless personal trainer. Plus, sorry to say, but she can't act to save her tush.

GoDaddy: The Contract



Yup, they're at it again. Eww. This disturbs me on so many levels. Plus, I don't get it. I mean, yeah, I get it. Go to GoDaddy and see them nekked. But what does that have to do with buying a domain?

Mercedes-Benz: Welcome



Haha. Sean Combs. I guess Benz figured Crystler had Marshall Mathers, so why not get P. Diddy. I think they should have just stuck to showing the new line of cars, but it's the Super Bowl, so you've got to put some drama into it. And an angry Diddy does make for some kind of amusement.

Volkswagen: Black Beetle



VW really can't go wrong. They don't show their car at all and I still totally want to buy it.

Hyndai: Anachronistic City



Dude, is your car really that special? Props for Pong though, I guess. Whatevs.

Pepsi: First Date



Coca-Cola should learn from Pepsi. Stop taking yourself too seriously. You're not going to save the world one high fructose corn syrup soft drink at a time. But you just might sell some soda. Granted, PepsiMax has a specific target (men) and Coca-Cola isn't necessarily diet, but come on, liven up a little.

Coca-Cola: Border



See above.

Doritos: House Sitting



I love off-the-wall. We need more of that shit in advertising.

Doritos: Killer Pug



Ditto.

E-Trade: Tailor



The baby might be getting a little old as far as . . . well, considering he's probably older than me by now. But still love the cuteness factor.

Groupon: Tibet



Oh, Groupon. Your commercials are so wrong, but might be just right. Still, I feel like there's a disconnect. I almost want to know how saving with Groupon can help save Tibet.

Lipton: Eminem



Oh, Eminem. Looks like they're really lovin' Marshall this year. This gets a big "Eh" from me.

Crystler: Imported from Detroit



I think I got a little emotional watching this commercial. I'm not from Detroit, but I always feel bad about the shit that happens there. Especially since it's not longer really Motown. But once I heard the "8 Mile" music I knew it was only fitting that Eminem should drive a Crystler, right? I'm really liking the slice of Americana that Crystler is serving with its new campaign (see the one where they show people throughout the ages driving their cars.) It makes me feel all proud to be an American for 30 seconds.


Ok, I know there were 65 ads, but seriously that's all I could go through right now. I just have one thing to say though, Bud Light, you rocked last year. This year you sucked so bad I didn't even add you to my blog. Boo for you. Rock my world next year.

Barcelona: Totes les coses bones

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I once had a friend tell me that no matter where I go, I will never starve because I speak the language of food fluently. That’s a good thing considering Catalan is not an easy language to learn. I now realize that I couldn’t fail in Catalonia with the delicious meals my family took me to enjoy. If anything, I learned that in Barcelona you cannot go wrong in places with the word “Can” in front of it. Can translates to House and although they are restaurants their food felt very much home cooked.

One of the best meals I enjoyed in Barcelona was at a restaurant called Can Punyetes, which has a few locations throughout the city. Here I had the chance to enjoy Butifarra, a delicious Catalan sausage seasoned with garlic and pepper, a la brasa, or grilled. All the meals at this restaurant are either served with potato, piquillo peppers, or pan amb tomàquet (toasted bread with garlic, tomato and olive oil).

I was also introduced to a very typical Catalonian winter salad called Xató (SHA-toh), which usually features endives, bacalao (salt cod), Bonito tuna, hard-boiled eggs, Black Empeltre olives, and anchovies. But it’s the Romesco vinaigrette that really sets it apart from other salads. The salad comes with the Romesco drizzled on top and then one adds Arbiquina olive oil and sherry vinegar to taste. Romesco is also excellent for dipping grilled green onions called Calçots in, or spreading over a toasted baguette.

The thing that amazed me about Barcelona is its amazing seafood. It’s so incredibly fresh. Wandering through the food stalls at La Boqueria, the market by Las Ramblas, I saw rare delicacies I had never even heard of. What amazed me, of course, was that the shellfish were all still alive and actually kicking, or clawing the air. I don’t think I’ve ever seen seafood that fresh – and I grew up going to Fisherman’s Wharf as a kid. Each vendor stall was full of wonderful items – hanging fuet, giant Chupa Chups, saffron and Pimenton de la Vera as well as Pimentos de Padron, cheeses and other delicious embutidos.

No visit to La Boqueria is complete without a stop at Pinotxo’s. You might have to hover around the bar for a while to snatch a seat, but it’s totally worth it. Not being able to see the menu from where I sat, I asked the cute little old man behind the counter for his recommendations. He brought over a plate of fresh gambas en ajo, (garlic prawns) with Flor de Sal, a lamb stew of beans and mushrooms, and a Vichy Catalan. (We’d already had Estrella Damm beer earlier on our tapeo through Passeig de Gracia.)

On a trip through Penedès, the region famous for Cava, I noticed a phrase painted on the side of a building that said “L’art de bon menjar”. You don’t have to speak Catalan to understand that they take dining seriously, to the point where it has been elevated to an art form rivaling the work of Picasso, Dali or Gaudi.

Until next time . . . Buen Provecho!

Posted via email from cosipetit@posterous

Sevilla: Orange Bliss

I was asked to write a little newsletter about my trip for the store I work at in Marin. Here's last week's newsletter.

Only one thing pops into my head when I think of the magical city of Sevilla. Oranges. I could also say almonds and olives, since there are so many in the areas nearby like Estepa, which is famous for its mantecados and polvorones. I could say bullfights and flamenco, which are both important to its history and culture.

But I’ll stick to oranges because it’s hard to ignore the bright orange globes dangling from the trees that line each boulevard and the calles during the winter months.

Although they are not sweet oranges, I was tempted a few times to pick at least one.  Luckily, there are many alternate ways to eat Seville’s bitter oranges. My personal favorite: candied and covered in dark chocolate. I had intended to bring some back home with me from the Confiteria Los Angeles in the city cente r, but they never even made it back to Barcelona with me.

See the full gallery on posterous

Another one of my favorite methods of enjoying the bitter oranges is by eating Ines Rosales Tortas de Aceite, which I was so happy to see again at The Spanish Table in Mill Valley when I returned. With a little bit of oil and a little bit of sugar, there’s just enough hint of citrus to make your taste buds work a little. I like it with some creamy cheese, like Tetilla, that blends in with the bitter orange.

You can’t really starve in Seville, and you definitely can’t go thirsty either. We spent a whole afternoon “tapiando”, as my cousin calls it. Tapas are such a big part of Spanish culture that she says they’ve turned it into a verb as in “Vamos a tapiar” or “Estamos tapiando”. Basically it’s bar hopping in the middle of the afternoon, drinking lots wine, beer, and sangria while enjoying quite a few bites of deliciousness.

We started in the Santa Cruz neighborhood with beer and paella that was being cooked on a Butano. Then we headed down the street to the square in front of the Cathedral for croquettes and a glass of Rioja, followed by sangria and “surprise tapas” consisting of potato salad, fried anchovies and chicken Seville style. My poor cousin is vegetarian, not an easy thing to be while studying abroad in Spain. It took her a while to adjust, but she now has found that her favorite Spanish dish is Patatas Bravas, which we ate lots of. I’ve made some since getting back home using the Mi Conserva Salsa Brava, which reminds me the most of the sauce used in Seville.

After wandering around the streets most of the day, it was time for some coffee and sitting at a café to watch people. I think its wonderful how in Spain after 18:00 hours everyone heads out in their best attire and the streets are crowded with some of the best-dressed people who are out to see and be seen during the evening paseo down Calle Constitucion. That’s also when everyone does their evening window-shopping. We came across Felix’s Posters, an awesome little shop with vintage Flamenco and bullfighting posters. My favorite one is the Cruzcampo Beer poster from the 1930s.

Sometimes while traveling throughout Andalusia you don’t get much time to eat a whole meal, especially if you have a bus to catch or need to stay focused while driving. I’ve always been a fan of sandwiches, but the Spanish bring a different sophistication to their bocadillos.

Since I’ve been back home I’ve been making myself some fun bocadillos for lunch.  I get a sweet baguette and a jar of El Navarrico Salsa Tumaco con Ajo. Then I just add whatever I want to it – slices of Manchego, Jamon Serrano, or Ortiz Bonito tuna. It’s a simple and fun way to make bringing lunch to work a little more exotic. Plus, it makes the whole adjustment back to reality a little easier to handle.

Until next time . . . Buen Provecho! 

Posted via email from cosipetit@posterous

What no lube?

I love Barcelona. The food, the sight, the quirks. On the train ride into the city today I found a vending machine with Special K bars, rice cake chips and juice. Upon further inspection, I found this:

Kleenex, condoms (conveniently disguised as cigarette packets), and a battery operated pocket vibrator! Holy shit. Looks like Spaniards really know how to make the most of their Friday night club one-night stands. All that's missing is the lube, although I'm guessing that's not an issue with all the hot Spanish people out there. This would never ever fly in a public vending machine in the states, which of course, once again reminds me that sex sells and we are still too prudish in the US to capitalize on it through mainstream consumption. Imagine seeing this at the MUNI station next to the ticket vending machines! Sent from my iPhone

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How to mend a stressed mind

My brain hurts and I'm stressed. It can only mean one thing . . . midterms. Well, actually, I think midterms were a couple of weeks ago. I'm still feeling residual stress from it all though and with grad school the stress never goes away until the semester is over.

So, where some people get baked to relieve their stress, I bake. (As in batter, parchment paper, oven . . .) Today it was banana nut bread because there were some bruised bananas begging to be turned into something other than compost items.

I feel less stressed right now . . . but we'll see how long that lasts.

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I will always leave my heart here.

So, now that it's official and the Giants are going to the World Series, I had to show just how much I hella heart my hometown despite the fog, the steep hills, and the overpriced rents. Yay Area por vida!

See and download the full gallery on posterous

See and download the full gallery on posterous

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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