Wondercon 2010: The Reckoning

Okay, last of my Wondercon pics. I know... three posts in a row of photos, none of which involve food. Well, I do do other things. Some of them apparently quite nerdy. Anyways, enjoy the finale. I hope it fills you with wonder.



There is a video of this, but I think I will be kind to my heroines for the day.









If the highlight of the morning was a James Marters sighting, the highlight of the second half was definitely the only event I wanted to see that I actually got into. At 6:30, BBC America was hosting an early viewing of the new season of Dr. Who. Good stuff. Heeding the warning of my more experienced con-going friends, I lined up for this event TWO HOURS early. A good thing too because Wondercon apparently needs to go back to school on the whole crowd control issue. It was a cluster of idiocy with several hundred guests not quite sure what they were doing, where they were going, or why they were lined up around the entire lower level of the Moscone Center, and the staff direction was worse if you would believe it.

I ended up getting in to the panel before Dr. Who so I sat it out and listened to a preview of a new Green Lantern story arc. I don't really follow Green Lantern, but it sounded interesting and I got to hear some adorable little kids asking the writers and illustrators about their heroes which was pretty sweet.

Finally it was time. I was a little worried about the new Doctor. David Tennant is a hard act to follow. Matt Smith performed admirably and I can't wait to see the whole new season when it hits next weekend. Woot!

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Wondercon 2010: The Beginning

A picture is worth a thousand words, and some of these pictures really just leave me speechless. Enjoy the cast and characters of Wondercon 2010!
















I have a particular brand of nerd that is not as exuberant as some, but there are a few things that will make me go all fanboy on you. High on that list is anything having to do with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and/or anything by Joss Whedon. This made the highlight of Wondercon Pt 1 pretty obvious - James Marsters. You know him, you love him, well I do anyways. Unfortunately the accent isn't real (I've known that since Buffy though it never ceases to surprise when you hear him speak), but you can't tell that in pictures!



Fortunately I was able to take a little of the BtVS love home with me.

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Wondercon 2010 Pregame: Thai Fighter

Wondercon brings people together. Its true. You never know who you are going to find yourself bonding with over the new movie or tv show preview, a shared disapproval of a particular story element or artist re-imagining of your favorite character, or the search for that hard to find volume in the 50% off trade stacks.





Friday night I found myself brought together with a family friend from Los Angeles, his girlfriend and another local friend from Oakland, and their friends from SF. Old and new, all enjoying a bit of shop talk, a bit of geeking out, some great Thai food, and a few really good vegan cinnamon cupcakes - complete with dino-decorations. Thanks Wondercon!





I really need to get the recipe for those cupcakes, especially the frosting. It never hurts to have a good vegan baked good recipe in your back pocket.



Also, I failed to take photos of any of the restaurant's food because 1) I forgot I had my camera until after dinner, and 2) if I had remembered, the battery burnt out on me after only 5 shots anyways. The restaurant was a great recommendation from the Los Angeles team's hotel front desk man. If you are in the area, Bang San Thai on O'Farrell is a solid eatery that has a large vegetarian/vegan section in addition to the regular meat based Thai classics. The Pad Kee Mao was delicious, and the pumpkin curry got rave reviews.

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And Sometimes You're Just a Flaming Ball of Gas

There is no recipe tonight as I am turning in early to be fresh for Wondercon tomorrow. I feel like I have reached a right of passage of nerdom - my first con. I could almost cry (JK). So point is, I'm taking it easy. I posted a link this morning and I've got a little story for you tonight.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Martha I am not. My first ever blog recipe was almost foiled (twice) because once because I left the onions burn while I was prepping other ingredients and once because I let it go too long in the braise while I was taking a bubble bath and a bit too much liquid cooked away.

I recently found a recipe for tomato sauce with which I am completely enamored. Its ridiculously simple - three ingredients - and it tastes amazing. It is also easily adapted to make some of the best tomato soup you will ever eat. The first time I made the sauce however I decided to cut the recipe in half so that it didn't make too much and because I only had half of the called for tomatoes.

I didn't account for the fact that half as much liquid probably wouldn't stand up to the required simmering and that perhaps I ought to add a bit of water to compensate. Setting my stove top as low as it could go, I put a lid on my pot and - here is where the learning experience will come in - I walked away. I thought it a bit odd that I could no longer hear the soft plop plop plopping of its thick simmer and that there was perhaps a faint sizzle, but I didn't think too much of it until I got the smell. The very distinctive smell of burnt food. Not just any burnt food, but burnt tomatoes and all their now "caramelized" sugar.

When I grabbed the pot off the fire I was pleased to see that it was just the edges and bottom that suffered. Without scraping the pot at all so as not to scrape up any burnt bits I poured the salvageable portion of the sauce into a clean pot and added a bit of water to thin it out. I did remember (barely) to snap a picture though before fully washing my new favorite stainless steel sauce pot.

Don't do what Janey Don't does do kids, and remember to pay attention in the kitchen! This time it was burnt tomatoes, but you never know when it may be a fingertip. Safety first!

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A Culinary Soul-Mate?

This article from Culinate pretty much sums up my entire culinary viewpoint. Minus the Veganism.

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