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[Cillaliz]

The Lee Majors bionic hearing aid is being advertised on tv...REALLY

[Cillaliz]

We have a brand of ice cream in this area called Blue Bunny. Yep, a stupid name for an ice cream brand, but their chocolate is the very best packaged chocolate ice cream I have ever eaten. Nothing else in our local grocery stores even remotely matches the flavor and creaminess of Blue Bunny's chocolate.

Hey now, don't be making fun of Blue Bunny!   It's made about 30 miles north of me in LeMars, Iowa...the Ice Cream Capitol of the World

[Laura]

I remember my mom dropping my sister off for her piano lesson and she and I would go across the street and get a scoop of rainbow sherbet in a cone while we waited. We either went to a Bayless store or maybe the piano teacher's name was Mrs. Bayless. I was about four years old.

My favorite birthday activity is to buy some Ben and Jerry's Karamel Sutra ice cream and eat it all.

[Cillaliz]

I do not remember a time when I did not eat ice cream. Nor do I want to imagine living without it....

[elmore3003]

Ricky Martin lived in Larry's building?   Was this pre-superstardom?

Around 1995 or so? I don't remember his being around for more than six months or so. I don't even know how long he was in LES MIZ! He was not a long tenant in the building but he was friendly, no sense of attitude or stardom.

[Cillaliz]

Maundy Thursday is the day commemorating The Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. Our church back home does a nice cantata for services.

[Matt H.]

I just finished watching Jeremy Abbott's long program at the worlds. He had two falls: one on his opening quad (full rotation but couldn't land it) and a stupid botched DOUBLE axel (he did two perfect and gorgeous TRIPLE axels in combination). The rest of the program was as expert as his national championship program was and clearly the most difficult free program of ANY of the men. So I was OK with his finshing fifth overall this year.

Consistency and a handle on his nerves is obviously going to be what he needs to work on in the future if he continues to skate competitively.

[Matt H.]

We have a brand of ice cream in this area called Blue Bunny. Yep, a stupid name for an ice cream brand, but their chocolate is the very best packaged chocolate ice cream I have ever eaten. Nothing else in our local grocery stores even remotely matches the flavor and creaminess of Blue Bunny's chocolate.

Hey now, don't be making fun of Blue Bunny!   It's made about 30 miles north of me in LeMars, Iowa...the Ice Cream Capitol of the World

Only making fun of the name, not the product. It is THE best I've ever tasted.

[Matt H.]

Now I guess I'll head downstairs and think about what I want to read before I turn out the light.

Good night!

[Cillaliz]

We have a brand of ice cream in this area called Blue Bunny. Yep, a stupid name for an ice cream brand, but their chocolate is the very best packaged chocolate ice cream I have ever eaten. Nothing else in our local grocery stores even remotely matches the flavor and creaminess of Blue Bunny's chocolate.

Hey now, don't be making fun of Blue Bunny!   It's made about 30 miles north of me in LeMars, Iowa...the Ice Cream Capitol of the World

Only making fun of the name, not the product. It is THE best I've ever tasted.

It is good ice cream.  My favorite is Burgundy cherry with dark chocolate. It's cherry ice cream with big burgundy cherries and chunks of dark chocolate in it.  I'm not sure they sell it in stores, I used to find it at the official ice cream parlor ...but they don't sell it anymore

[Cillaliz]

The Big Scoop on Blue Bunny® Since 1913, the colossally creative artisans at Wells' Dairy, Inc.—the largest family-owned and managed dairy processor in the United States—have been hard at work putting all things chunky, chewy, rich and gooey into their ice cream.

The Blue Bunny® brand was born in 1935 after the Wells brothers held a "Name That Ice Cream" contest in the Sioux City Journal . A Sioux City man won the $25 cash prize after submitting the winning entry along with his rendition of the original Blue Bunny® character.

Today, ice cream aficionados throughout all 50 states and Mexico can choose from nearly 500 tantalizingly tasty Blue Bunny® ice cream flavors, frozen dairy desserts and delectable novelties.

Blue Bunny® is made in Le Mars, Iowa: The Ice Cream Capital of the World. More ice cream is made in Le Mars than any other place on the planet!

Visitors to Le Mars are always welcome at The Ice Cream Capital of the World Visitor Center . There, you'll learn all about the history of ice cream, Wells' Dairy and Blue Bunny®; experience fascinating interactive exhibits; and get a glimpse at how America's favorite treat is made.

To learn more about the history of Blue Bunny®, visit wellsdairy.com .
 

[Cillaliz]

Blue Bunny® Ice Cream - A Brief History of Ice Cream


The origins of ice cream reach back to the first centuries B.C. Yet, the ice cream recipe did not reach the New World until the 1700s.

Americans’ love affair with ice cream is centuries-old. The origins of the frosty treat reach back to the first centuries B.C., when, as the story goes, ancient Persians and Chinese stored ice to serve it with honey, rosewater or nuts. Furthermore, during Roman times, emperors sent their runners for mountain snow, which was then flavored with fruits and juices and enjoyed.

Legends about ice cream’s history abound: In the 13th century, Marco Polo brought the first ice cream recipe to Europe after his trip to the Far East, and the Italian royalties fell in love with the dessert. Italian Princess Catherine de Medici brought the treat to France when she married King Henry II. In England, Charles I paid his cook a handsome sum to keep the recipe a state secret.

Most of these tales cannot be supported. Yet, it is true that over time the ice cream recipe evolved and spread throughout the continent. In the 17th century, the dessert became publicly available in Europe, and it is believed that in the 18th century the recipe crossed the Atlantic with European settlers.

Official records in the New World indicate that presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson developed a sweet tooth for ice cream. By 1813, ice cream became a state dish and was served at the second inaugural ball for President James Madison. As restaurants became more popular in the 19th century, ice cream became a favorite indulgence. Ice cream parlors and soda fountains spread as well.

By the mid 20th century, America had tried ice cream cones, bars and sandwiches. As time went on and technology advanced, ice cream manufacturers offered more yummy novelties.

Ice cream became a symbol during World War II, when each branch of the military tried to outdo the others in serving ice cream to its troops. By 1943, the U.S. military was the world’s largest ice cream manufacturer, and later the Navy built its first floating ice cream parlor for sailors in the Western Pacific. When the war ended, dairy product rationing was lifted and America celebrated its victory with ice cream.

Today, ice cream continues to be an all-American treat. In fact, the Ice Cream Capital of the World® is in Le Mars, Iowa, where more ice cream is made by Wells’ Dairy than in any other city in the world. Vanilla and chocolate continue to be favorite flavors, and there is no sign that Americans’ love affair with the frosty treat will end any time soon

[John G.]

John G, I find it interesting you get to go to seder's when I don't.   If we went to L.A. for the holiday we would be invited to at least two.

It's a celebration of freedom. And it can be a very good meal, if you have the right people cook it.

My friend Bonnie makes her gefilte fish with salmon and plenty of dill. The haroset is sweet and tangy. The matzo ball soup reminds me of a soup my mother used to make with cream of wheat.

I usually make a flourless chocolate cake, though I remember one year when I arrived with cake in hand, I handed it to Bonnie to go get more items from the car. It slipped right out of her hands onto the floor. The cats dove for the chocolate. It was a hilarious sight, even if it meant we were left a quickly made strawberry napoleon using matzo crackers toasted with butter and cinnamon plus plenty of whipped cream.

[John G.]

Blue Bunny is good, but Blue Bell Ice Cream, made in Brenham, Texas, is even better. The factory dates back to 1907 and the ice cream is heavenly. I have a pint of mint chocolate chip from them in the refrigerator now. Just the thing to end off the evening.

[John G.]

When I went down, I decided I was in the mood for a classic, and then I spied on the shelf a film noir I have had in a box set for years, but being familiar with the movie, I hadn't watched it on DVD since I bought this set.

I'm talking, of course, of THE ASPHALT JUNGLE. Not the greatest transfer in the world. This was the best version of the film they could find? Of course, if I had had time, I could have listened to the (most likely) illuminating commentary by everyone's favorite film professor Dr. Drew Casper, and that might have explained why this kind of dirty and definitely scratched element was used for the transfer.

Anyway, the film is SO good. Sterling Hayden was never a great actor, but this is probably his best performance. Louis Calhern was nominated as Best Actor for THE MAGNIFICENT YANKEE in 1950, but he could have been up for this, too. The film was NOT nominated for Best Picture (MGM had FATHER OF THE BRIDE and KING SOLOMON'S MINES as their Best Picture nominees) though John Huston's direction and script were both nominated.

Love this movie. Too bad the transfer wasn't good.

[bk]

Finished with my viewing for the evening.

[John G.]

Night, all.

[JoseSPiano]

Good Evening!

Well... The major downpours they forecasted for today never really showed up - at least not when I was outside.  Alas, it was that annoying kind of rain coupled with some annoying wind, just enough to dampen whatever you were wearing, regardless of an umbrella.

But now I'm back in my apartment, cozy and dry.

[JoseSPiano]

I adore Barbara Cook's "Vanilla Ice Cream."  I also liked Judy Kuhn's.

Of course, it was just called "Ice Cream" when Barbara sang it. At least, that's what the cast album and Playbill called it.

Hmmmm... But in the score - the original and the revival versions - it's titled "Vanilla Ice Cream".  Hmmm... As well as the "single" sheet music.

But on the OCR and the Revival CR, it's listed as "Ice Cream".  Hmmm...  *As well as on "Barbara Cook Sings Mostly Sondheim". Hmmm...

[JoseSPiano]

My first conscious memory of ice cream is vanilla, which they gave me when I had my tonsils out.  I probably had some before then, but that's my first actual memory.

Favorite all-time ice cream - the frozen vanilla custard stand at the old Ocean Park pier - if that counts as ice cream.

Next time you're in NY Jose, remember the ice cream bars at MILK!

But I am in NY, DR edisaurus.

-Understood.

[JoseSPiano]

And now...

I need to do a bit more investigating and preparing for my for my friend's birthday dinner. 50th Birthday Dinner.  I actually went ahead and polled some "foodies" on Twitter - Frank Bruni, Robert Sietsema, Ruth Reichl, etc. - and, lo and behold, a bunch of them responded with their favorite birthday restaurants, so... I have a feeling we may be doing a "crawl" - in the rain, alas - and sampling various dishes from various restaurants tonight.

Laters...

That sounds like fun. Report the goods afterwards.

Or... We could end up in the fantastic East Side apartment of a childhood friend of his whom he happened to run into this afternoon who went ahead and hosted an impromptu dinner/birthday party for him.  Mesclun salad, roast leg of lamb, couscous, a pear and pistachio tart, two bottles of Bordeaux and a Guatemalan brandy.  Parfait!

[JoseSPiano]

Scary news department:  Portland Police have just notified a bunch of downtown offices that there is going to be a huge protest this afternoon with predicted property damage (!!), and that all workers are urged to vacate downtown before 4 p.m.  So Betsy is on her way home.  I'm assuming this is in response to all the police shootings here of late, which have been front page news.

DR JMK - I hope Betsy made it home safe and sound, and that nothing "went down" downtown.

[JoseSPiano]

So, is the Ricky Martin news a surprise to anyone?

Nope. Not at all.  Not by a long shot.

[JoseSPiano]

So, why is it news?

Because he's been rumored to be gay for years and constantly denied it? Suddenly he outs himself; it's either for publicity or something else is brewing. It was rather obvious he was gay when he lived in this building while he was doing LES MIZ many years ago. There were several rumors floating around about an epic musical's casting back in the 90s, so that was another clue.

Ricky Martin was in Les Miserables during the second half of 1996. He started during the summer, and I think he was with the show for about six months.  My friend, Tamra, played Cosette opposite his Marius.

[JoseSPiano]

The Reuters story says he's writing his memoir, so it is about publicity.

Well, I guess it could be for publicity, but maybe he really just finally wanted to come out.  I know that he's been spending most of his time home in Puerto Rico - my ex-sister-in-law happens to live near his "compound".  Besides starting to write his memoirs, the timing of his announcement probably coincides with coming out to his family and preparing them for the inevitable rush of "spotlight" that will undoubtedly follow his "official" outing.  -And I'm pretty sure his family's Catholicism came into play too.

[JoseSPiano]

My aunt also makes something which i love, called tsimis. It is carrots, dumplings, short ribs and chicken (and other things) mixed in a delicious sauce. I only get it once a year. But it is so good!

Hmmmm, tzimmes (or, if you prefer, tsimmis)... YUM!  I thought it was more traditionally served at Rosh Hashanah?  In any case... I remember coming across a recipe in "Gourmet" when I was in college, and I would prepare it quite regularly.  Hmmm...

[JoseSPiano]

My therapist is very nice & I didn't realize how cute until he cut his hair.  He asked me today if his tied back pony tail was more professional looking than his new look.  I didn't think the pony tail was "professional" looking but asked if he was comparing it to the model look.   He really does look like a model now.  He beamed at my model reference.

DR Jane - Does your cellphone have a camera? 

[JoseSPiano]

Hmmm... I may have to break out my mother's recipe for haroset tomorrow.  -Yes, my mother's recipe.  -I think it was from "Better Homes & Gardens", and she would prepare it for the seder dinners that my Catholic grade school would have every year.

[JoseSPiano]

DR Ginny - Glad to hear that you and your respective family members made it safe and sound to their respective lodgings for the evening.

[FJL]

How old is Ricky Martin, and he's "almost through his memoirs?"