Lunchtime Links for July 31st, 2009

• Yummm: Ricotta Fritters!
• Jalapeno Safety: Tips from the Pioneer Woman.
• I want: Cartier watches.
• Project Runway Bonus: A look at Models of the Runway, a spinoff of PR.
• Heart Eric Ripert: Talking about the makings of the burger at Westend Bistro.

Cake Wrecks Book Tour

One of my favorite blogs, Cake Wrecks, is having a book tour starting this fall! Three main reasons you should attend:

- FREE CAKE!

- Funny (and sometimes just saaaaaad) cakes - in book form!

- Cupcake Wreck contest is being held at each book signing- enter, or just cringe at the entries at the event!

More info here about the specific locations and dates. If anyone wants to come along with me in October, let me know :0)

Lunchtime Links for July 30th, 2009

• Corn-Free, Pt. 2: From Serious Eats.
• Useful Gadgets: 10 useful kitchen gadgets from The Kitchn.
• Taylor Gourmet: A look at the design for Taylor Gourmet in DC.
• HILLS: Premiere date is set- September 29th!!
• 1/2 Price: Cheesecake Factory Cheesecakes are 1/2 price today, for National Cheesecake Day.

Mmm... Crabcakey

I'm a HUGE fan of crab cakes, but never really think to get them when I'm out to eat (assuming it's a place that would serve them to begin with). The main deterrent is the fear of it being a hockey puck of breading and filler, disappointing to say the least. The 2nd deterrent is the price, which is almost always steep for how relatively little crab cakes tend to be.

Washington Post has taken some of the guesswork out by compiling a list of crab cake ratings for a bunch DC Metro area restaurants. Seems like a good guideline, or at the very least, a list to keep in mind next time I find myself at any of the places listed.

Cakes + Funny = Delicious Fun

I've spent the last 10 minutes clicking through the entries for the Threadless Cake contest- AMAZING AMAZING cakes based on the funny Threadless tees. Ch-che-check it out!

Lunchtime Links for July 29th, 2009

• Noooooo: Kate Gosselin moving to Rockville??
• New Bravo Show: A look at Launch My Line.
• Julie & Julia: Food styling in the upcoming movie.
• Chocolate...Lava: Pioneer Woman makes a chocolate lava cake, ooh la la.

Love, Love, Love: Rita's Mango Water Ice

mmm... Frosty Deliciousness.

I've been severely lacking in my Rita's Water Ice intake since moving to this area, since I never seemed to come across any around here; compare this to NJ, where water ice shops in general seem to be abundant.

However, a quick online search yielded a Rita's Water Ice not too far from my work- huzzah! My favorite flavor is Mango for sure- I've tried a few other flavors but those always taste a little "off" for me.

It might seem a little excessive for me to buy the quart-sized tub shown above; however, it's a cost-effective and deeeeeeelicious way to have Rita's basically whenever I feel like having it at home. If you want to switch it up a bit they will do 1/2 and 1/2 of 2 flavors- halfway through the tub, it's like buying a new container of water ice, sweeeeeet.

Sidenote: The Vanilla Custard is also omgamaaaazing if you're more in a creamy sweets mood.

Rita's Water Ice
http://www.ritasice.com/