Broccoli & Chocolate

restaurants * food events * news

News: I’m in a Google Video! (and also in the NYT)

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You may remember that I posted a short, cryptic blurb a couple months ago about being in an upcoming Google video… it’s now been released on Google Plus!

It’s amazing that this took a full day to shoot! It was interesting to see the process of creating a video, including all the alternate shots the team goes through to give them enough fodder to make the actual video. This is a bit like the process of writing a speech — you gather a whole bunch of thoughts and information and then distill it into one smooth piece of text that only includes a fraction of the information you gathered. I happen to know a bit about that, and, as a totally unrelated, shameless self-promoting side note, was so excited to have my business, Vow Muse, featured in the NYT last weekend!… 

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News: I’m Going to be in a Google Video

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Just a teeny tiny sneak peak to something I’ve been invited to participate in… I can’t say much, but I’ll be one of the people featured in an upcoming food-related video campaign that Google is shooting. I assume they’ve cast me as “normal person who isn’t sure what to do with their hands on camera,” and I look forward to exceeding their expectations in this role.

The campaign is still being sorted out, so no more details yet, but hopefully more to come in a few weeks!

B&C turns 5!!!

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Everyone says how kids grow up so fast. No one says this about blogs. Blogs usually sputter and fade over the months and years, unlike a growing human who, at five years old, would be wholeheartedly (or halfheartedly) attending soccer practice when she’s not at kindergarten or hanging out with Amy, her first BFF. (Although, seriously, Amy can be kinda bratty sometimes and WILL NOT share her Legos, and, honestly, her Elsa costume this year was just ew.*)

courtesy of librarything.com

Yes, this is a round of cheese with candles, courtesy of librarything.com

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Broccoli and Chocolate Turns 4

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Wow, they sure do grow fast, don’t they? People say this to my sister all the time. Her daughter is four, turning five in February. It seems like only yesterday she was just a wittow baybee! Now she’s so big! That’s how I feel about my blog. Except that it is ok when I neglect my blog for weeks on end; my sister has no such luxury.

Taylor in 2010 when my blog was just a baaaaybeeee.

Taylor in 2010 when my blog was just a baaaaybeeee.

But similarly, my blog has gone through phases, made changes, and ultimately grown, if not in size, at least in tone, content, and influence. And if none of those are true, there are at least a whole bunch more words that I’ve typed and are posted on the internet. Undeniable facts are often the most effective.

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swf refrigerator

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Shameless plug for my new tumblr: swf refrigerator.

Is it a philosophical commentary on a person’s state of mind through the eyes of their refrigerator? Is it a realization of the social implications of gender roles and family values in the current state of our society? Is it an intermittent and admittedly poor advertising campaign for Trader Joe’s? I dunno, it’s my fridge. And it makes me laugh.

swfr

I will be updating sporadically and accepting submissions from other swf’s (and sf’s of any ethnicity, really). Mom, will you do me the honor?

Something Shiny

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Or tasty. Hi. I went to Spain. I’ve been stumbling over life trying to catch up with writing and other things I love. But I haven’t had time to sort my pictures, collect my thoughts, etc. So here — something shiny for you to look at in the meantime. I’ll be back soon… 🙂

French toast from Park Tavern’s brunch, North Beach.

Vacation!

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While I imagined furiously preparing multiple posts to go up while I’m away in China, I was not actually able to make this happen (surprise). Therefore, B&C will be taking a short hiatus while I’m eating food in China. I did not get my Hep A shot; please do think a happy thought to the food gods for me. 🙂

And, feel free to stalk me while I (hopefully) post via email from China: http://angiesommer.blogspot.com/

Happy eating!

2011 in Review

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The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

emailteaser

 

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 15,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 6 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Changes

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Hi Blog. How are you? Have you been well? Good. … Oh, sorry, I’ve been, um, really busy at work and stuff. And there’s been some personal crap going on, so, sorry I haven’t been hanging out lately. … Well, I guess I don’t really want to talk about it. But thanks for being here for me. … Yeah, I agree. Let’s get back to it.

After a bout of radio silence (read: neglect), I’m back. And I’d like to start with some changes. Personal shit aside, this blog will be experiencing the following:

  1. I am not doing ratings any more for restaurant reviews. All I do is get crap about it, I don’t think it’s super helpful, and it makes my RSS look like poo. Done.
  2. I may post more about random crap and less about straight restaurant reviews. You know you want to read my inane rantings.
  3. A new theme? A certain friend has promised to show me how to upgrade my blog and make it look more awesome. I will hold him to this. And probably will buy him a cookie in return.
  4. I may cuss more, sorry kids. I’ve tried to keep everything pretty G rated thus far, but I think it’s time to bring in some tastefully hilarious cursing.
  5. Numbered lists will continue to be prominently featured, do not fear.

Additionally, a fine piece of electronics has recently come into my life: the mighty Canon S100. With this, I no longer have to dread toting around my beloved yet wholly cumbersome XSi and can conveniently store $500 worth of image-capturing goodness into the bottom of my shoulder bag. A call to all: please help me not leave my bag at restaurants and bars. I will be very upset if I lose this camera.

Ok, so that’s it. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.