Florida

Who doesn’t love tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches? Dipping crusty bread oozing with melted cheese into savory soup is one of childhood’s simple pleasures. And it doesn’t end at childhood.

Make your sandwich with hearty whole wheat bread and a super sharp Cheddar, then serve it alongside a bowl of homemade T-soup. No, it doesn’t all come out of a red and white can.

This recipe from Mark Bittman is simple and uses canned tomatoes, easier for us and sensible for Northerners who have a heck of a time getting their paws on good tomatoes this time of year. I’ll make mine with dried thyme (since i have 3 bottles! why?) and pureed it at the end to make it super smooth.

(Read the full post about ‘Comfort and joy on Friday’…)

After yesterday’s low-brow offering, I’m upping the ante today. I just came across this recipe in the new Cooking Light Complete Cookbook. Next time you’re at the book store, look through it. It’s a binder-ful of fantastic recipe and you know they’ve been well-tested.

Anyway, as you know, I love mussels and nearly always make them with Italian seasonings. I’m eager to try this one in a red curry broth. (It calls for red curry powder; look for it at an Asian store, well-stocked natural foods store of Wild Oats in Tampa.) Plus, it’s got coconut milk in it … delightful.

Recipes always call for the mussels to be scrubbed and debearded but the ones I buy never have many hairy bits to pull out.

(Read the full post about ‘Flex your mussels’…)

In reference to the Food Network’s relationship with Robert Irvine, network president Brooke Johnson says the following:

“We looked into the situation and found that, as Robert as already admitted, there were some embellishments and inaccuracies in his resume. The few and minor incidents of the inclusion of these embellishments into ‘Dinner Impossible’ have been removed. The show is, and has always been, completely accurate in the depiction of the cooking challenges faced by Robert. We will continue airing both old shows and the new season of programs currently in production. We have not renewed Robert’s contract for future seasons but will fulfill our contractual obligations.

(Read the full post about ‘Irvine resolution, part 1′…)

Jamie Oliver, Alice Waters and Michael Schwartz, chef-owner of Michael’s Genuine in South Beach.

Liked this "Leftovers from South Beach: Recap of Wine and Food Fest" I got this morning from ZagatBuzz. Thought I’d share:

Nearly 35,000 wine-and-food lovers sniffed, swirled, sipped and chewed at this year’s four-day, star-studded, alcohol-fueled South Beach Wine & Food Festival, which took place from Thursday, February 21st, through Sunday, February 24th. Now in its seventh year, the sold-out extravaganza has exploded into one of the most successful of its kind in the world. It’s the place for industry insiders to schmooze and for average Joes to get a taste of the lives of the food greats.

(Read the full post about ‘Sobe wrap up’…)

Look for resolution later today. Food Network is issuing its decision this morning, and I’ll have a statement from Robert Irvine and his partner J. Randall Williams today.

Until then…the Washington Post did a story today about the continued filming for Dinner: Impossible this morning. Go here to see the story.

I’m headed to the University of South Carolina this morning to warp the future minds of America. Should be fun. As part of a journalism conference (SIPA), I’ll be teaching a few classes on pop-culture writing then giving the keynote address. I might punctuate my rousing speech by slamming the mike to the ground, blurting, "Daly…out!" and coldly ignoring thousands of autograph requests. But more than likely, I’ll ask the five people who didn’t sneak out during my talk if they wanna grab some Taco Bell.

Anyway, I’ll be back and blogging on Monday. Until then, look out for No. 1…but don’t step in No. 2!

I really enjoy American Idol’s vote-off shows. And not just for the obvious reason of watching young people getting their dreams crushed. There’s a certain soul-cleansing as Ryan Seacrest slyly dispatches each talent-averse tear factory. My week suddenly feels unburdened by a certain warbly weight. I dunno. Maybe that’s just me.

On Thursday, four more singers were eliminated, bringing the tally to a still-flabby 16. Next Thursday, we’ll have our Top 12. And then, thankfully, hopefully, we’ll go down to two shows a week.

As for tonight, I predicted that Amanda Overmyer and Kady Malloy, and Luke Menard and Jason Yeager would be going home.

Was I correct?

(Read the full post about ‘QUICKIE IDOL RECAP: More Doinkings!’…)

Great piece in USA Today about the contents of Springsteen’s iPod. You can actually scroll through the goodies: a lotta Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Neko Case, Link Wray. Lotta alt-country, folk, gospel, early rock. As for surprises, it’s cool to see Nas on there. And Evan Dando must be feeling good about himself this morning.

Anway, here’s the link.  Compare your iPod to the Boss’s. My "A"s start off with 35 AC/DC songs. Bruce starts off with Alan Vega and Amos Milburn.   

You may be eligible for a refund if your AT&T/Cingular cell phone was billed for ring tones, horoscopes or other services you thought were free. Florida Attorney Gen. Bill McCollum announced a settlement this morning that includes refunds for customers, a $2.5-million payment to his office and an additional $500,000 to pay for consumer education on safe internet use. The state said it expects the refunds to be between $10-million and $45-million, based on the information it received from AT&T.

"Consumers should never be billed for services they thought were free of charge," McCollum said.

(Read the full post about ‘State settles with AT&T Mobility (Cingular) in cell phone fraud case’…)

If you were hoping to sit in the Trans Continental suite at Raymond James Stadium to watch the Tampa Bay Bucs, you’ve officially missed your chance. Here’s Soneet Kapila’s request to give up the luxury suite and club seats that Trans Continental had at RJ.

For those who always wondered what was involved in luxury suite agreement, here’s the document Lou Pearlman and the Bucs’ representatives signed in 2005. It’s a 10-year agreement for suite US140, which is on the 45-yard line on the east side. It seats 12 in upholstered chair seats and four in bar stools. Sixteen tickets to each preseason and regular season game included. Price: $150,000 security deposit and $150,000 annual rent, subject to increases.

(Read the full post about ‘No more suite deal for the Bucs games’…)