Parody chef takes on overly designed restaurant plates

Thanks to one of my friends, I’ve discovered a clever parody chef account on Instagram @chefjacqueslamerde. Check out the chef’s creations. Or read more at thoughtcatalog.com.

Forecasters rarely use “historic” to describe pending storm

The storm on its way to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast has the makings of a major snow and weather event. The National Weather Service rarely uses language like this, which was included in the forecast Sunday afternoon:

"...CRIPPLING AND POTENTIALLY HISTORIC BLIZZARD TO IMPACT THE AREA
FROM LATE MONDAY INTO TUESDAY..."

Here’s some detail from NYNJPAWEATHER.com, a private forecaster who has been helpful and reliable during past major weather events. While the amount of the snowfall in the New York City area could be anywhere from a few inches up to two feet, the bigger concern has to do with wind and “thunder snow.” Also, surrounding areas look like they will get well more than a foot of snow. If the storm duration is greater than 24 hours, as the current forecast indicates, there will be much disruption, especially on Tuesday.

Click on any area on the map below for details of the projected storm impact.

Culinary Humor: Kitchen staff misspelling of prosciutto

Star chef David Chang of Momofuku posted this gem to Facebook late last night, and I couldn’t resist sharing. His caption, “My cook thought he spelled it right.”

Not all chefs know how to spell.
Momofuku chef David Chang posted this gem of a misspelling from one of his kitchens.

Enter Entrepreneur Barbie

Barbie Entrepreneur Doll
Barbie Entrepreneur Doll
Barbie Entrepreneur Doll

Uproar over a misogynistic Barbie childrens book that portrayed girls as inept at writing software or even operating a desktop computer overshadowed the recent introduction of Entrepreneur Barbie, who is “ready for the next big pitch” right out of the box, according to manufacturer Mattel on its website.

“Barbie Entrepreneur doll wears a sophisticated dress in signature pink that features modern color blocking and a sleek silhouette. Luxe details, like a glam necklace, cool clutch and elegant hairstyle, are smart, professional touches,” says Mattel. “Her “smartphone,” tablet and briefcase are the tools of her trade and always by her side!”

Adds UnMarketing, the doll “now comes with gut-wrenching self-doubt and receivables collection issues!”

Cthurkey? Stuff this turkey with crab, octopus and bacon

Not sure whether this sounds delicious, or horrifying, or both. According to Gothamist.com, a database engineer in Texas created this thing he calls a Cthurkey (a nod to horror writer H. P. Lovecraft’s octopus-head creature the “Cthulhu“) made from turkey, octopus, crab legs and bacon. His recipe calls for cooking each part separately, so it’s more of a presentation than an actual dish. Read more at Gothamist.com, which published this first in 2013.

Rusty Eulberg, a database administrator from Texas, created what he called the Cthurkey. Photo via Gothamist.com.
Rusty Eulberg, a database administrator from Texas, created what he called the Cthurkey. Photo via Gothamist.com.