Burgers and [True] Blood

Burgers and corn salad.  Those two things sound like perfect Summer Sunday fare.  I'm not sure how Andrew knew I had been craving burgers all week - perhaps he tapped into Sookie's telepathic powers since we were meeting for our weekly True Blood dinner.  ESP aside, Andrew's real superpower is cooking up a great meal.  The corn had been perfectly grilled and tossed with red onion and mint.  The lamb burger was massive and although andrew was unhappy with the tomatoes, I thought they were perfect.  He was bummed he couldn't manage to master the perfect, thick, grilled tomato - they kind of fell apart.  For me, I thought it was one of those happy accidents, like penicillin.  The burger was already so thick that I wouldn't have been able to open my mouth wide enough had a thick tomato been piled on top.  What we got instead was more of a smoky tomato relish that absorbed the meat drippings and was easily spreadable on the bun.  The bun, may have been my favorite part of the burger.  Andrew had toasted Norwegian rye rolls he found at the market that day.  I didn't know Norway was big on bread, but I'll award it the rank of #2 Norwegian export, the first being the band A-ha.

As far as my recap goes, I am thrilled (as I am sure every female HBO viewer was) that Sookie and Eric finally hooked up.  A full on nude romp in the woods and even talk of love - it's what we've all been waiting for!  After showing enough boobies in that episode to keep the men happy - my dinner companion included - it was about time True Blood gave the women something to squeal about.  Other thoughts on the episode:

• I don't care about a Hoyt/Jason/Jessica love triangle.  I think Jessica and Hoyt are too cute together.  
• When is Sookie going to let Eric call her "mine"?
• Pam needs to check herself before she wrecks herself.  She has always been my favorite character, but she needs to redirect her anger away from Lafayette and toward the crazy old Spanish witch who just possessed a woman.

Fish and Fangs

On Sunday night, Andrew and I started a new tradition: he cooks; I watch True Blood.  I think I’m getting the better end of the deal since I am acquiring access to HBO and eating a delicious meal that I don’t have to cook.  Though Andrew is benefiting from the presence of my company, so he may be the real winner here. 

Andrew had pillaged the New Amsterdam Green Market on Saturday and made a meal out of his loot.  The main course was black sea bass that he cleaned himself (something I’m not even going to try) and cooked whole with tomatoes, lemons, and fresh herbs.  This gorgeous piece of fish was served on top of an amazing risotto.  Risotto is something I have never attempted at home.  It intimidates me a bit with all the stirring and watching required so I save it as a restaurant treat.  Andrew's risotto was slammin and filled with squash, zucchini, and duck bacon.  I didn’t know it was possible to make bacon from a duck, but apparently it is, and it’s delicious.  Paired with a glass (bottle) of chilled white wine, Andrew created a wonderful summer meal.   

Now about the show...How much do you love Eric right now?  I think they are doing a great job making Bill unlikeable this season to make room for Eric and Alcide.  But mostly Eric because he was just great this episode.  With his memory loss, he was nice and vulnerable.  Combined with his usual sarcastic manner, vampire strength, and abs, he is suddenly the perfect man, minus the whole undead thing.