Friday Faves 2/14: Chili Cook-Off, The Pharmacist, Carly Rae, Scallops, and Hazy Janes.
Best Activity
Chili Cook-off: Last Saturday, Tiff and I drove down to Hoboken, New Jersey for a chili cook-off hosted by our friends Lindsay and Dean. Chili is this funny food that has so many different interpretations, some of which can be polarizing (see: White chili and Skyline chili).
Like all good ideas, it has grown slowly. This year’s battle had nine chilis and the apartment was packed. The theme changes each year. Year one had an Olympic theme, so winners received medals and the mood was rather patriotic. Last year it was hosted on President’s Day Weekend, so it had a presidential tilt to it. This year, it was the Oscars. There was a red carpet welcoming the guests and the three winners received Oscars. The tasting is all blind, so each contestant picked from a list of best picture winners over the years to label their chili, which made it sound like we were talking about the pot: The Gladiator was really good. Oh, I haven’t had My Fair Lady was delicious.
If you don’t have a friend that hosts some sort of food-focused contest/party, be that friend and start one yourself. Mac and cheese, soup, chili, and dip all have a place in the world of competitive cooking.
Best Watch
The Pharmacist: This show is so captivating that when I put on the first episode, Tiff was winding down for bed and she literally stopped in the living and stood transfixed throughout the entire show. The docuseries is based in New Orleans and a nearby parish called St. Bernard. The main figure in the show is a father whose son was killed at age 23 in the lower ninth ward of New Orleans trying to score some drugs. The four episodes move quickly and it wasn’t at all what we expected, every episode is different. It begins with the father, Dan Schneider, trying to find out who killed his son. Once that’s done, he moves his attention to the opioid addiction sweeping the area. He is an actual pharmacist, so he’s watching people come in for Oxycontin and starts to ask questions. He’s basically an amateur private investigator. The show builds to the point where Purdue Pharma, the maker of Oxycontin, goes bankrupt.
It’s an excellent four episode docuseries. I particularly liked that each episode had one focus with the through line being Dan Schneider trying to make the world a better place.
Best Read
The Chain: After a few long, intense reads, this was a perfect February beach read, without the beach. The story is set on the North Shore of Massachusetts, an area I have spent a lot of time. It’s a true page turner about a kidnapping ring that sustains itself because once a loved one is kidnapped, the only way to free them is to pay a ransom and kidnap someone else yourself. If you break The Chain, you and your loved ones die. That simple. The book is fast-paced and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it turned into a movie at some point soon. Amazon.
Best Listen
Let’s Be Friends by Carley Rae Jepsen: “Let’s be friends” could be a phrase used a lot today as people shoot their shot with a crush on Valentine’s Day. Jepsen’s new song has a break-up anthem that will probably find it’s way into most dance parties this spring and summer. It’s bitter and angry but still has that Carley Rae pop sound that weasels it’s way into your brain that you find yourself humming later on the in the day.
Best Eat
Seared Scallop Pasta With Burst Tomatoes and Herbs: This NYTimes cooking recipe is dynamite and incredibly easy. If you’re not a scallop person, or they intimate you, or you don’t like the smell of fish in your apartment (like someone I know…) you could substitute scallops with shrimp, salmon, chicken, or.. nothing. From “First chop to first bite” it probably took 35 minutes.
Best Drink
Brewdog’s Hazy Jane: This was a new one for me this week. I had it in Hoboken, and then I proceeded to have a couple more (hey, it pairs nicely with chili…). It’s on the sweeter side as far as IPAs go, but as someone that likes Pepsi over Coke and Bud Light over Miller Lite, I seem to have a taste for more sugary drinks.
Best Plugs
Should We Really be Worried About Tom Brady Leaving?: I’m not sure Tom Brady returning to Foxboro is the best thing for the Pats at this point. I tried to put my emotional hedge into words… here’s the link.
The Random Division: Tiff and I were at it again this week watching The Bachelor and then talking about it. I firmly believe if you don’t watch the show, you could hop in right now and thoroughly enjoy the next four Mondays of viewing. In fact, after 30 minutes you might know the four women as well as Peter does. Just a disaster of a season. We can’t get enough of it.
Follow our show on Instagram… TheRandomDivision
I also tweet up a GD storm on Mondays during the show on my personal Twitter… BostonHomer.
iTunes link (rate, review, subscribe, and tell your friends!) and we’re on Spotify…
The Imperfect Game: After a short hiatus, Both and I are back talking English football. This week’s club is Southampton F.C. A club without many trophies, but a load of homegrown talent that they have sent all over England and Europe. A fantastic academy and scouting program have helped Southampton F.C. stay stable, but has never pushed them to the top of English football.