Wednesday, January 7, 2009

World's Greatest Kitchen Tool



I just got a LeCreuset dutch oven and it is unreal. Christened it with a simple dish - Mario Batali's Chicken (Hunter Stytle), which was amazing. Now I am ready to take the training wheels off and get after some osso bucco and braised short ribs. If you don't have one, get one.

This is about as UNdomesticated as it gets...enjoy


wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Yeah, I've got a snowblower bitches


Is it bad that I totally enjoy watching my neighbors break their backs shoveling plow slop while I cut through the heavy white stuff with my snowblower like a hot samurai sword through a melting stick of butter? No way dude. Here's my logic: Why do you have a snowblower? To get the job done faster, right? So, if I can whack through my entire driveway in 40 minutes, why the hell would I stay out in the cold like the freakin snowblowing Salvation Army instead of getting back inside where it's warm? Hey, if you want to borrow it, fine, but you're doing it yourself. This is how it goes down in "the town of friendly people."

Monday, February 18, 2008

Fairfield Hoops: Red Sea all dried up


So excited. Wait for 7:30 to watch my beloved Fairfield Stags face Marist on MSG. Haven't been to a game this year because of the new baby. Game time hits and the Arena at Harbor Yard is completely empty. I looks like a private game. How embarrassing! Here are the Stags on a 4 game winning streak, having just knocked off #1 Rider on Friday night and it's President's Day (no work for most) and the school STILL can't fill the gym...for a TV game no less. What is going on up there? Does no one care? The team is 9-6 so it's not like some years when they plays like the Fairfield School for the Blind. The Domesticated Man never regrets his college choice. He bleeds FU Red. BUT, he does resent the half-assed effort behind the athletic program. He sees so many 1AA programs enjoying success each year and drawing crowds at the same time. Gotta ask...is it Connecticut? Is it the talent? Is it the school? Is it the fact that the arena is off campus? In Bridgeport? I do know this. Sometimes the team is good, more times they stink to high heaven BUT they always play hard and the competition is usually solid (MAAC is good ball). People should go. People should care. What other good hoops do they have South of Storrs in CT to cheer for?

Long Time, No Blog

I'm back. The Domesticated Man took a pregnancy hiatus and watched some good material pass by but with a 7 week old, I can't resist it anymore.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Sometimes You Want To Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Last night I went back to my hometown for the first high school football game under the new lights in Cedar Grove. For the past few years, living in Pearl River has made me pass through daily life anonymously. No hellos at the bagel shop. No horn toots as friends drive by the house. As an in-betweener just starting his own family, those roots are just being planted in my new town. But, it's great to go back home from time to time where, even though you've been gone for over a decade, people still bring up in the context of casual conversation how great your 8th grade football team was, and stories that begin with "I remember when." I know that may be a bit overboard but it makes you feel good...like you mattered when you were here, and that you can always go back. By the way, CG won 28-3. Go Panthers!

Saturday, September 15, 2007

The 3:30 Dilemma

YankaRutgerDame game today...very cluttered TV this afternoon. What to do?

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Meat in the Media

As a food lover, I have thoroughly enjoyed the recent articles in major men's magazines about meats, beef and steakhouses. Men's Journal did a meat bible. GQ had a nice piece as did Maxim's July issue - "Building A Meat Temple" about the perfect brick grilling station. My favorite, however, was a feature in this month's Details (with Brad Pitt on the cover). The article, entitled "The Best New Steakhouses in America," profiles some of the hottest beefeterias around the country in an attempt to break the mold of red checkered tableclothes and dark wooden walls. While many of these places are still full of white collared, corporate card power types, most boast a stylishly designed interior decor that somehow tricks the brain into feeling like less calories are being consumed. Personally, i have eaten at Craftsteak in Las Vegas and have my eye on Quality Meats in Manhattan for a near-future boy's night out.

The Sanctity of Morning

Is it just me or is 7:00 am SHARP too early to use an industrial ride-on lawnmower to cut the grass? I know, I know. The town ordinance says...Well, I think I am just going to have to use my leaf blower at 10:00 pm this Sunday night. What happened to me?!

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Everyone Should Have A Dog

How funny is this?!

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Cocktails...Skinnydipping...Sports: Why I Like Being My Age

The older I get, the more I realize what's important. Years ago, if asked to a 1st birthday party, I probably would have made a face. When you're younger, you feel like there's a million things you would rather do, even if you end up doing nothing instead. You act that way because you think you're cool. Now, with age you begin to realize that what is really important is being with good people who enjoy each other's company and welcome other good people into the circle. Today, we had a 1st birthday party and I had as much fun as I ever did at any house party or night at a bar. Why? Let's talk about this party. There was great food, a stocked bar, every sport imaginable and a lot of amazing people trading laughs and stories. Being an expectant soon-to-be dad, I also noticed how cool it is to have a bunch of little rugrats around. There were kids belting baseballs into the house, flipping horseshoes left and right. Then, a bunch of the little boys stripped down to their birthday suits and made a break for the neighbor's sprinklers. Sounds like a domesticated version of a crazy college kegger, right? Bottom line: I love being domesticated. You appreciate what it's all about and this next phase of life is really awesome. Can't wait until parties like this go down at my house. Buckle up!

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Things I've Never Tasted

Today, I shocked people when I told them I was eating my first wrap ever. That's right...until today, I had never eaten a wrap sandwich and frankly, I don't see what all the buzz is about. Good old bread kicks a wrap's ass any day.

People's reaction to my wrap comment prompted me to want to share some other fun food revelations. Here it goes...In 29.5 years on earth I have never eaten:
1) a tuna sandwich (I love tuna sashimi, seared, grilled, ahi, fatty, yellowtail...all that, but no way on the canned stuff)
2) a bagel with cream cheese (love bagels, love cheese, no cream cheese)
3) clam chowder (Manhattan I've tasted, New England is barf in a bowl)
4) egg salad sandwich (yuck, do I really have to explain this one?)
5) will not knowingly eat mayonnaise on anything but Wendy's or a BLT and the occasional potato or pasta salad