Thanks for sharing, Modesto

Modesto is my most favorite restaurant in the Lou. Hands down.

The menu is ALWAYS diverse and delicious. Fare for carnivores and vegetarians alike.

Some of my favorite tapas are:

Bistec a la Cabrales - grilled hanger steak with Cabrales cheese and port reduction

Empanadillas de Chorizo - chorizo, potato and cheese pastries with ailoi

Pinchos Morunos - lamb skewers with yogurt and tomato-herb salsa

So I was just perusing my Facebook page, and I see a new post from Modesto.

Guess what? Chef Gracen Dinsmoor posted a recipe for.......wait for it.........wait for it........

GOAT CHEESE STUFFING!

Oh my goodness. Seriously?

Does it get any better than this?

Not only does the recipe revolve around goat cheese (which, in case you didn't know, is cheese made from angels on high) but it comes straight from the selective, creative and exquisite mind of Chef Grace.

This Monday just got a gold star.

I know what I'll be doing after work today - heading to the grocery store to get the ingredients to try out this fantastic fare.

But let's get to the bottom line here of why this is blog-worthy.

What makes this recipe unique is not that it contains goat cheese. Nor is it because it comes from the incredible mind of Chef Grace.

What makes this situation unique is that this culinary creation was shared by a renowned chef, who works at a renowned local eatery, via Facebook.

Restaurants don't have to share anything. Many share the photos of dishes they make, but not the recipes. Why? Because that might make potential patrons NOT visit the restaurant and just make the dishes at home.

They don't have to go the extra mile and make anyone's Monday a little bit less Mondayish. But they took the time out today to do just that, and I'm thankful.

Am I gushing? Perhaps. Is it warranted? Yup.

It's that sharing, that transparency, that willingness to reach out that will make me continue to go back to their restaurant for more.

Snow can suck it.

So, last winter I started hating snow. And pretty much all things related to cold.

And it got me worried.

Am I finally an adult? Have I lost that child-like wonderment that goes along with winter holidays, making snowmen and ice skating?

I really went all out & crabbed about the snow. Driving in it. Other people driving in it...poorly. Putting me in danger.

And all my crabbing made me feel old. Made me feel like a crotchety, old lady who has too many cats, is perpetually single, and never calls anyone by their correct names. And who shakes my old-lady fist at the snow, threatening it with my wizened, balled-up hand.

Today, after talking to a coworker, I now feel better.

I am not old. Or crotchety. I have a dog. And I always call people by their correct names.

I just don't take any pleasure in snow during the workweek.

I like snow in the following situations:

1. Skiing (on vacation)

2. Sledding (on the weekends)

3. For Oliver (he loves to play in it until his tiny baby paws get too cold and he starts walking like he's rusting like the Tin Man did in The Wizard Of OZ)

4. For how it makes Christmas Day feel

So, Mother Nature, feel free to bring on the snow. If you can start early Saturday morning, and make sure it melts by Monday morning commute time, we're all good.

Deal?

Deal.

Movie Review - The Descendants

I'm baffled as to why critics are deeming this the best film of the year.

It blew. Far and wide.

I'm a genuine Clooney fan. The only movie I haven't seen of his yet is "The American" and I will soon. Why? Because I need to wipe my memory of the steaming pile of shit that was "The Descendants."

To sum it up:

Tragic accident. Coma. Indifference. Cheating. Clooney attempting to run in Docksiders. Anger. Confrontation. Sadness. Death. Ice Cream. Credits.

The movie was so damn boring. Clooney's character felt very one-dimensional, which many reviews are touting the opposite. This movie TRIED very hard to be "real" but in my opinion it fell extremely short of that.

It was also extremely depressing. So much so, that I got into a funk that lasted for hours. And yeah, that's on me, but I would've been fine and dandy had I need seen that stupid movie.

Am I letting my mood cloud my judgement, my review? Nope. I really went into this with an open mind.

The only thing that saved the movie for me was watching Clooney reach a level of acting I hadn't seen from him before - he cried.

I liked that. I know he has range as an actor. Now, for me, he has depth.

I wouldn't even spend a Red Box $1 on this.

I cannot recommend this movie.

Consider yourself warned.

Movie Review - Melancholia

Melancholia is, by far, my favorite Von Trier film. And, by far, one of my favorite films of the year.

I'm a "light" fan of Kirsten Dunst, meaning I enjoy her acting but will not rush to see her in a film. There has to be more than just KiKi to get me excited.

After this film, I've changed my tune towards her acting. She was superb. Portraying a character who suffers from mental illness and has a major depressive episode is something she does deftly. There is no victim or hero in her character - she is who she is, and it's clearly evident in her portrayal. What I most loved about her in this film is how seamlessly she transitioned between scenes & showing the audience her feelings - she made a connection with the audience (me) that I search for from main characters in most films and am usually let down.

Supportive characters Kiefer Sutherland, Stellan Skarsgard, Alexander Skarsgard, John Hurt and Charlotte Rampling all give very good performances - they are woven into the story perfectly, and however short their face-time, they are definitive to the story. No fodder at all - very rich, tasty treats that pop up throughout.

Charlotte Gainsbourg as Kirsten's sister, did a fine job of playing a sister dealing with a broken family, while trying to keep her own afloat. If anyone is a victim here, it's her, by all counts - of herself, mostly. While Kirsten is the main play, Charlotte could be considered a second main - the film is broken down into two parts, "Justine" which is Kirsten's character, and "Claire", which is Charlotte's character.

The cinematography is breathtaking - I know this sounds corny but if there is a better word for how lush this entire movie feels, give it to me and I'll gladly use it. The opening scenes, however "artsy" you may categorize them, are like melted warm butter for your eyes. The music that permeates the film is fitting, like a warm onesy for the adult movie-goer. It's a combination that is intoxicating.

I gush. I know. But I truly liked this film.

It was filmed in Sweden, primarily at Tjolöholm Castle, which is on my list of places on earth I must visit. It's like a dream. Really. It is.

The plot is this - Kirsten's character getting married, and at the same time a planet called Melancholia "might" be hurtling towards a collision with earth. Angst, and more angst, horseback riding, marriage strife, meals on the terrace, a potential deadly world event, a couple baths, and the end. If you want more deets, go here.

I'm not going to spoil this for you by giving away the very surprising ending. What I will say is that this movie is a journey. It is spying inside the mind of mental illness. It is spying inside of failed and flawed marriages. It is peeking behind the curtain of a filmmaker's dreamscape. And I'm so glad that Von Trier decided to share this with us.

It is also a disaster film, but maybe not in the true meaning of the word.

Check it out.

My neighborhood park

I've always enjoyed living near a city park, whether it's Forest Park, Francis or Tower Grove.

Last weekend I took Ollie over to TGP for a walk, and there was hardly anyone there. I guess everyone was recuperating from the World Series festivities and Halloween stuff. The quiet of the park, along with the beautiful fall colors of the leaves, inspired me to take a few pics.

I have to add that using apps like Instagram and Hipstamatic can turn a boring photo into something that looks professional.

Yeah, Oliver decided to drive home. His paws just reach the pedals.

Why I Love Fall - Redux

10. Baseball - I am a new fan to this very complex sport, and now that we're in the running for the Series, well, I'm hooked.

9. Cooler weather - I am at my best during this time of year. The smell of wet leaves, the chill in the air, damp mornings and evenings on the back porch. I dig it. I really do.

8. Football - specifically, college. Go Bison, go Tigers, go Jayhawks. Nuff said.

7. Oktoberfest - I love a month that is dedicated to celebrating beer. My favorite at the moment would be Lips Of Faith Fleur by New Belgium from Ft. Collins.

6. Halloween - everything about this holiday makes me smile. The candy. The costumes. The decorations. My family has a long-standing tradition (this marks our 20th anniversary) where we get together, deep fry everything (fries, shrimp, etc.), hand out candy, watch scary movies and play cards. It's a blast, and I look forward to it every year.

5. Wineries - I love me a little long-stemmed culture on a hillside with my homeys.

4. Foliage - Missouri has phenomenal changing of the leaves. The colors are unlike anything I've ever seen. I guess growing up in North Dakota, where there are 4 trees and you have maybe 21 minutes between summer and winter will do that to a girl.

3. NBA - I think basketball players are incredible athletes. Constant movement, multitasking, speedplay. Astounding.

2. Bad horror movies - I recently reviewed the Human Centipede. I would consider this to be a bad horror movie. Bad in a good way. Others would include Motel Hell, I Spit On Your Grave, Basket Case and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre II. Actual bad horror movies would be Albino Farm, Alligator X, and any of the Saw movies.

1. Good horror movies - nothing beats a good horror movie this time of year. My favorites include Halloween, Devil's Rejects, The Shining, Grindhouse, The Exorcist, Inside, 30 Days of Night, Let The Right One In.

Movie Review - 50/50

I saw the movie "50/50" this weekend.

Overall, a very good flick. It didn't over-dramatize - I felt it stayed well within the "believable" when it came to the character's reactions as well as the kind of interactions that family, friends, and care-givers might have when dealing with cancer. Tough stuff, touching and real.

It had it's funny moments (how can it not, with Seth Rogan at the helm?) but it wasn't a comedy by any means. It's a drama, and I went through many napkins trying to mop up the tears and snot, especially towards the end. Be warned - it's sad. It's somewhat depressing. And it stays with you longer than you want it to after leaving the theater.

I am a solid fan of Seth Rogan. I am also a fan of the more bit-players in this movie - Angelica Huston, Anna Kendrick and Bryce Dallas Howard. But this movie made me more of a fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt than I was before. I still haven't gotten through "Inception" (doubt I ever will at this point), but JGL gives a really strong performance in most movies I've seen him in, 50/50 being no exception.

**SPOILER**

One of the scenes I liked the best was when the cancer doc was doing dictation in front of JGL, rattling off the diagnosis with the huge, scary medical terminology while the patient sits there, smiling, waiting for the doc to greet him. Then the doc, after being interrupted by JGL, tells him he has cancer, what kind it is, and then JGL walks over to the window, and the docs voice starts to fade and white noise is amped up. From what I understand, it's pretty common for someone who's just been told that they have cancer to not hear much of the rest of the conversation.

**END OF SPOILER**

This is a good movie. It's a renter, for sure. Not really one to see at the theater, unless you just can't wait.