RHOC Season 9 Reunion

Another season of The Real Housewives of Orange County comes to a close. This was one of the most drama packed seasons yet, and the cast is great; however, I feel the reunion was a little tamer than ones of past seasons. But with regards to the fashion choices, the ladies brought their A-games. Since today is Friday, I’m doing my reunion fashion critiques along with a season wrap-up. As usual, I will give my Best Dressed and Worst Dressed at the end. Let’s dive right in!

You can see a full slideshow of the reunion looks on bravotv.com or at this link:

http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-orange-county/season-9/photos/rhoc-season-9-reunion-the-looks

Heather Dubrow

Photo courtesy of Bravo

I think Heather was looking great at the reunion. The only thing I might have thought twice about were the bangs, but in all honesty, they look better on her than they did on Tamra… Her dress is a sexy, short maroon number by Cushnie Et Ochs. I have no idea why Heather didn’t wear a lovely shade of plumeria; golden opportunity wasted… The best part of Heather’s reunion look has to be her shoes. They’re spiky and sparkly; I didn’t expect the dominatrix look from Heather, but I like it… I think the lighting in this picture is a bit unfortunate. Perhaps the lighting crew wanted to “take the Dubrows down”. To me, Heather’s breasts look two different sizes. If it’s not the lighting, perhaps Heather will be featured on Botched season 2.

Heather had a rough season this year, but I think she handled herself with class. We saw her break ground on a new home with a party overflowing with onion rings, leg spreading, and drama. Her family welcomed a new addition in the form of a puppy. And we found out “Ms. Know-It-All”, as she was so kindly dubbed, does not, in fact, know it all; she had to Google “Dutch oven” and “dirty Sanchez”. It takes a lot to make me blush, but hearing Heather Dubrow say those words did the trick… I also want to thank Heather for allowing me to learn a valuable lesson by her mistake… I will NEVER play Marry, F**k, Kill at a dinner party of couples. It may be fun in theory, but someone’s gonna get pissed off…

Lizzie Rovsek

Photo courtesy of Bravo

The former beauty queen and valedictorian is looking great in her dress by BCBG. For the most part the dress is soft and understated. But it definitely pushes her “Kentucky fried titties” to the front and center. The pale yellow color is great on her skin tone. I doubt many women could pull off that color. I’m a little upset Lizzie didn’t wear one of her swimsuits to the reunion. That would have been a real statement piece.

Lizzie started off the season a little slowly as she warmed up to the ladies, but she quickly showed us that she has no time for BS. She doesn’t pussyfoot around with lines like “Let’s cut to the chase…” and “…you didn’t want to come to my party.” I felt sorry for Lizzie all season. She and her husband, Christian, are trying to decide on when and if they will have another child, a decision that is hardly ever easy. Her dinner party at the beach house descended into a madness that not even shots of Fireball could save. And the only person to show up at her birthday party called her and her friend “Dumb and Dumber”. At least she got a trip to Bali out of it… I hope Lizzie comes back next season. She has it all, and I think she has a lot more to share with us.

Vicki Gunvalson

Photo courtesy of Bravo

The original housewife is looking radiant in her lacey Jovani dress. Like Lizzie, Vicki’s girls are giving us a “Woohoo!” moment. They look like they’re ready to “whoop it up” at Andale’s… Thank God she took off those gloves during the reunion while she was fighting with Tamra. They didn’t really match her dress.

Vicki, the queen of all the housewives, had her best season yet, in my opinion. She was in some of the drama, but she didn’t go overboard, and for once, she was the voice of reason. She didn’t try to throw her relationship with Brooks in anyone’s face or in front of the camera. Everything between them felt natural and organic. We learned a lot from Vicki this season. First of all, Vicki must now consider herself an honorary Asian since she now is a full-fledged practitioner of Feng Shui, and as she told us on the show, only Asians do Feng Shui. We also learned that “gay” is a look, and if you don’t have it, you can’t be gay. And lastly, Oklahoma is an “invisible state”. I guess that means the Pioneer Woman and I have superpowers. She lives in an invisible state, and I’ve driven through an invisible state where I saw a lot of invisible things. Should I put that on my resume?... The worst moment for Vicki was the final scene of the season finale. She had to say goodbye to her pregnant daughter and grandson. She has to let them go and live their own lives, but she can still be sad about it. I know Vicki has at least 9 more seasons in her. I can’t wait to see her back on my TV screen next year, but I’d better move on before she starts snoring…

Shannon Beador

Photo courtesy of Bravo

Shannon, another newbie housewife, is wearing a coral dress complete with a few fun ruffles by Emilio Pucci. The dress is a little plain, but Shannon looks beautiful. She went with a sort of messy-chic hairdo that made her look modern. I wonder if she used holistic hairspray… The black nail polish matches the black shoes with bows and studs. And the diamonds in her teeth match the diamonds around her neck. I’d better stop there before I’m accused of “speaking condescending”…

Shannon had a rough rookie season. She trusted the wrong person, *cough* *cough* Tamra, repeatedly; she was living in a strained marriage; and she couldn’t find her crème brûlée torch. I think this may be the first time that The Real Housewives franchise has actually saved a marriage. All of the conflict with the other women brought Shannon and her husband, David, closer. They turned a negative into a positive, and I highly respect them for that. Shannon’s a little kooky and high strung, which makes great and entertaining television. Now if only she could get the green men out of her head and have that colonic Tamra suggested, she’d be close to perfect.

Tamra Judge

Photo courtesy of Bravo

Tamra’s pink Barbie doll dress was designed by Elizabeth & James. Tamra looks great, as always, but I have to take away creativity points. I feel like we’ve seen her in this dress and/or this color too many times. She really needs to change it up. Her hair and her shoes are nothing special either. Maybe she let Astro put together her boring outfit. I say it’s a mediocre look for a crappy season for Tamra.

Like every other season, Tamra was in the middle of the drama and even stirred up more than her fair share. She usually gets away with it and comes out still loved by viewers on the other side. However, this year was different. She obviously had too much on her mind to scheme and manipulate skillfully. She got caught and called out for talking out of both sides of her mouth too many times. I’ll give her a little bit of sympathy for having to deal with custody issues and Simon, but it’s not enough to excuse her behavior. Tamra’s stuck in a cycle of alienating friends and marrying, excuse my frankness, assholes. Shannon may have been talking about Heather when she yelled, “You will all see the truth!” But she was obviously talking about the wrong person. We finally saw the truth with regards to Tamra, and I, for one, did not like what I saw. I also just want to point out that we saw Tamra cry may times this season, yet she never actually shed a tear. Perhaps she had her tear ducts removed during her last facelift so as not to ruin her make up if she ever cried. Or perhaps she’s truly 90 years old, and her body is no longer capable of producing moisture…anywhere…

Now who do I think were the best dressed and the worst dressed at the reunion? This was a hard choice because they all looked great. Drumroll…

Best Dressed goes to: Vicki Gunvalson

Worst Dressed goes to: Tamra Judge (for lack of creativity)

This was a great season of RHOC, perhaps the best one yet. The ladies brought the drama and the fun that we all crave. I’m looking forward to what the next season brings. But, for now, in the infamous words of Heather Dubrow, “We’re done. Please leave…”

Fashion News Friday 8/22

NYC Missing Model Found

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2014/08/19/ataui-deng-model-missing-found-in-new-york

photo courtesy of vogue.co.uk

Ataui Deng, a model based in New York City, was seen leaving a party by her boyfriend. He claimed she had been acting strangely, and he did not report her missing until eight days after the fact.

Luckily, Deng was found in a New York City hospital; however, her condition has not has not yet been determined. Deng had been missing for twelve days.

I don’t think I am the only one who finds the boyfriend suspicious in this case. And by the short length of and lack of detail in the article, I’m thinking the police might be holding back some information for that reason. If your significant other is acting, as the boyfriend said, “irregularly” and didn’t come home after leaving a party, then one would think you would be concerned. Furthermore, you wouldn’t wait eight days to contact the authorities! There is something not right about this story. I hope Deng is not injured and can return to her normal life soon.

Forbes’s Top 21 Highest-Paid Supermodels

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2014/08/19/forbes-highest-paid-supermodels-2014-gisele-bundchen

Forbes has released the list of the highest-paid supermodels of 2014. It seems American models are most represented with seven out of the twenty-one. Britain and Brazil have three representatives each, and the rest are from a myriad of different countries.

All of the models on the list, save four, have worked for Victoria Secret in some capacity.

The list is as follows:

1.  Gisele Bündchen—Brazil; $47 million

2.  Doutzen Kroes—Holland; $8 million

3. Adriana Lima—Brazil; $8 million

4. Kate Moss—Britain; $7 million

5. Kate Upton—America; $7 million

6. Miranda Kerr—Australia; $7 million

7. Liu Wen—China; $7 million

8. Alessandra Ambrosio—Brazil; $5 million

9. Hilary Rhoda—America; $5 million

10. Natalia Vodianova—Russia; $4 million

11. Carolyn Murphy—America; $4 million

12.  Karlie Kloss—America; $4 million

13. Jourdan Dunn—Britain; $4 million

14. Anja Rubik—Poland; $3.5 million

15. Cara Delevingne—Britain; $3.5 million

16. Candice Swanepoel—South Africa; $3 million

17. Joan Smalls—Puerto Rico; $3 million

18. Erin Wasson—America; $3 million

19. Erin Heatherton—America; $3 million

20. Lindsey Wixson—America; $3 million

21. Daria Werbowy—Canada; $3 million

As you can see by the list, while America has the most names, Brazil easily has the highest dollar amount. All of the Americans’ values added together ($26 million) don’t even add up to Gisele Bündchen’s total. In fact, there is a $39 million difference between her and Doutzen Kroes, #2 on the list. Gisele might want to watch out for jealous models. I wouldn’t put murder past any of them, especially when they are in a state of hunger-induced psychosis.

Thanks for reading! I’ll be back next Friday, but you can read my TV blog on Tuesdays and Thursdays on http://spilltelevisiontea.blogspot.com

Big Announcement

I am usurping today’s post with an announcement. As you know, I have focused this blog on fashion and trendy topics thus far. However, I feel like some of you may not find it as interesting as I do. So I have decided to make some changes to my blog.

I will be posting on this fashion blog (A Little Tea with my Fashion) once a week. Every Friday will be Fashion Friday. My Friday posts will mostly be news and interesting topics in the world of fashion, very similar to what I have done in past Friday posts.

For logistical reasons, I am starting a new blog entitled “A Little Tea with my TV”. I recently wrote a blog post about the Real Housewives of New York, and within hours it had more hits than several of my previous posts combined. Plus, I think people enjoyed it more. So I have decided to start blogging about various TV shows, both reality and scripted, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This is where you guys come in. I watch a lot of TV shows, too many to include all of them. So let me know what shows you guys want me to cover. Also, to my Twitter friends, if you blog about a certain show, and would rather I not, please let me know. I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. Leave your ideas in the comments, please.

I’m excited about the change. I hope you guys are too!

Trends-day Wednesday 8/13

The fall season for 2014 is upon us, and designers have already had their fashion shows. So what trends did we see on the runways for Fall 2014? Style.com has complied pictures from various designers’ shows. Their complete list of trends can be found here:

http://www.style.com/trendsshopping/trendreport/041414_Fall_2014_Trend_Report/#!trend-report/feature/curtain/landing

I will pick a few from their list that I found particularly interesting or fun and discuss them on today’s post. Instead of droning on about the broad trend, I will include some pictures of some of the runway looks that fit this trend and discuss those particular looks. Please keep in mind that these are runway looks. They are more editorial and more like works of art than actual everyday wear. So I will not be focusing on the practicality of the piece, but rather the artistic quality and the visual aesthetic of the piece.

Bright Colors

Photo courtesy of Style.com

This look is by Roksanda Ilincic. The combination of royal blue and orange is a strange one. In fact, that awful combination served as the colors of a high school where I taught for a brief time. The football jerseys were bright enough to give you a migraine. However, I seem to have found an example where those colors go well together. Perhaps it’s because the orange is used very conservatively. The use of clean lines and blocks of blue, black, and orange give a nod to Roy Lichtenstein. And finally, the juxtaposition of the fitted and flowing on the two separate sides is artistically interesting. The right side is draped and flows down the model as she walks; however, the left side is more fitted to the body with a gold piece to cinch the waist. I love this look, and I would say this is how to do the bright color trend correctly.

Photo courtesy of Style.com

This Versace look is not one of my favorites. As far as the bright color trend goes, I think it’s fine. I like the color combination, and the colors are definitely bright. However, I can’t focus on the colors due to the other distractions. The asymmetrical bottom of the dress makes it look like the model is hiding a tail underneath the fabric. But the most distracting part of this dress is the ill-placed “medallions” (for lack of a better word). This model is clearly a young woman with a perky bosom. However, the medallions give her the illusion of having breasts you might see in National Geographic. I think they look like a pair of nipples… There I said it. It’s just not aesthetically pleasing to look at.

Rave Prints

Photo courtesy of Style.com

In my opinion, Diane von Furstenberg, or as I like to call her DVF, can do no wrong. She created the concept of the maxi dress! The woman is a genius! She also is a master of prints and mixing and matching them—as seen by exhibit A above. If you showed me these three prints separately and told me you were going to make an outfit combining them, I would tell you that crack kills. Leave it to DVF to prove me wrong. Style.com has chosen to include this look in the rave print trend. These prints are quite busy, but I don’t know if I would label them as “rave prints”. To me the idea of a rave involves vivid color. These prints are very muted in their colors. I love this look, and I could even see someone wearing this right off the runway onto the streets of New York City or Paris.

Photo courtesy of Style.com

Now this is a rave print. Yohji Yamamoto (With a name like that, he must be an Irish Catholic, right?) has combined these two loud and graphic prints to create what looks like street art. It literally looks like the model is wearing scraped off graffiti from the walls of a downtown warehouse. I personally don’t like the prints. It’s not aesthetically pleasing to me, but I appreciate the artistic vision behind them. I’m sure some rich club kid will soon be wearing this exact piece to a rave in the near future.

Sheer Evening

Photo Courtesy of Style.com

There is a fine line between sexy sophisticated socialite and sexy two-dollar streetwalker. This trend of sheer evening gowns seems to straddle that line. This Emilio Pucci look falls on the socialite side. This look takes us back to the speak-easies of the 1920s. I appreciate the intricate detail in this gown. It all works together. You can easily tell that you are seeing bare skin underneath the sheer fabric, but the overlay is so elegant and tastefully placed that nothing inappropriate is showing. This gown whispers class and sophistication into your ear in the most sensual way.

Photo courtesy of Style.com

Donna Karan has brought us to the other side of that fine line I referred to earlier. Now we’re in a dark alleyway looking for a fun, yet cheap, time. The model may as well be walking around in only her underwear. The sheer evening gown is doing nothing. It serves no purpose, in my opinion. I can appreciate the artistic quality of the look, but I tend not to prefer art of a cheap and tawdry nature.

These are just three of the trends listed by Style.com from the Fall 2014 runway collections. Go check out the rest. Which trend is your favorite? Why? Do you agree with my assessment? Let me know. I’m always happy to get feedback. 

RHONY Season 6 Reunion

It’s no secret that I am deeply entrenched in the cult that is Real Housewives. It’s like a secondary religion. Since season 6 of The Real Housewives of New York City is wrapping up, I have decided to dedicate my blog today to the ladies. And since this is a fashion-related blog, I will be discussing their reunion looks and awarding a Best Dressed and Worst Dressed.

To see a slideshow of the reunion looks you can go to Bravo’s website or use this link: http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-new-york-city/season-6/photos/rhonys-season-6-reunion-looks?cid=related_gallery

Heather Thomson

Photo courtesy of Bravo (bravotv.com)

Heather was wearing a medium length Valentina Kova dress. From the lighting and the color of the couch, I couldn’t tell if the dress was off-white or a very light pink, but either way she looked great. Even though she’s seated, you can tell the dress has some great movement to it. I’m not sure if Heather purposefully did this or not, but she’s giving us some June Cleaver, the prototypical housewife, at least in my opinion.

Overall, it was a good season for Mrs. Bossy-Pants. We saw many sides to her. We saw a sporty side at the mud run. We saw a soft and vulnerable side as she dealt with her son’s hearing issues. (I hope and pray for the best for him. He’s such a good and adorable kid. He deserves the best out of life.) And we saw a feisty side as she verbally sparred with Aviva and her friend Kristen. I think we have all learned that we should heed Heather’s warning when she said, “Don’t tell me anything, mother f**ker”. And if we decide not to take her warning, she may just “find it laughable”…

Kristen Taekman

Photo courtesy of Bravo (bravotv.com)

Kristen was wearing a top by Christiaan Choy and a skirt by Lanvin. I guess I’ll give her a pass, begrudgingly, since she’s a rookie, but I don’t see this as a reunion look. The outfit looks cheap. Where’s the prom date and corsage?

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably know that I have found Kristen to be insufferable. I’m sure she’s a lovely person, but I just feel she was trying to hard. She was over dramatic, and she whined about everything. Again, maybe a rookie mistake, but I wanted to slip her a few Xanax from time to time. A huge storyline for her was her marriage. I hope Josh and Kristen can work it out, but I’ve seen and read Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and I think they should take that as a tale of warning. They don’t seem to be too far behind George and Martha… Yikes…

LuAnn de Lesseps

Photo courtesy of Bravo (bravotv.com)

LuAnn is technically not a Housewife this season, but she was at the reunion and frankly had more camera time than Aviva, so I’ll include her. (By the way, I think it’s pretty appalling that Bravo used so much of her and is treating her like a Housewife, but she doesn’t have the title or paycheck to go with it. Not cool.) LuAnn was shamelessly self-promoting by wearing a dress from her own Countess LuAnn Collection. But I guess since her pay was cut, she has to make money somehow. This is a pretty standard LuAnn reunion dress, but she’s proving Ramona wrong! This dress has two shoulders on it…well sort of…

This season we learned that LuAnn has an affinity for small French men. However, I feel this is not a revelation. I mean seriously… Have you guys been watching the same show I have for the past six seasons? If LuAnn had stuck to this story, she could have used it against Sonja when Sonja accused her of sleeping with Harry. Harry may be small, but he is certainly not French. He’s a good-ole American sleaze-ball.

Carole Radzwill

Photo courtesy of Bravo (bravotv.com)

In order to show off her “great ass”, Writer Girl Carole was wearing a short gold and black dress. The word on the street is that Carole forgot who designed her dress, but it doesn’t much matter since I’m pretty sure the designer used a ghost-designer. I love her dress and her matching ombre hair. And it’s a good thing she’s crossing her legs in that picture… That’s all I’ll say about that…

Both this season and last season I found Carole to be genuine. She is my favorite of the NYC ladies. This season we saw her get single-white-femaled… That reminds me; I need to find out what brand of glasses Carole wears… We saw Aviva drag Carole’s profession through the mud and then put it on the leg-chopping conveyor belt. And we saw Carole redecorate her apartment complete with silver-leafed ceiling. And really, who needs a kitchen to eat take-out anyway?

Sonja Morgan

Photo courtesy of Bravo (bravotv.com)

Sonja was wearing a hot pink gown with black lace appliqué on the sides designed by Lorena Sarbu. I love this dress. I can’t exactly put my finger on why I love it so much, but I think it’s beautiful. It’s a bright pop of color that pairs well with Sonja’s skin tone. The black lace on the sides frames her figure well and may even make her look slimmer than she is. Great design trick.

Crazy, sexy Sonja never disappoints. She is highly entertaining, and this season was no exception. We saw a plethora of young male suitors, a house full of interns waiting on the queen of the castle, and a city full of members of Team Sonja. We saw Sonja do a walk of shame “victory lap” looking a little worse for wear, but she was still able to spill the tea with Kristen and the infamous facialist. And we saw her softer side as she sprinkled her beloved dog’s ashes and as she got her heart stepped on by Harry. We may not know exactly what Pickles does for Sonja, but I think we can safely say that her job description does not include washing Sonja’s underwear since commando-Sonja is a happy Sonja.

Aviva Drescher

Photo courtesy of Bravo (bravotv.com)

Aviva “No-Soul” Drescher was wearing a gold gown designed by Cynthia Rose. Why is Aviva wearing steel wool? Does she plan on doing a lot of dishes later? I can safely say that I would never hug Aviva for fear of collapsing her delicate asthma-laden lungs, but who would hug her while she was wearing this? You’d come away with some serious lacerations.

Aviva has solidified her reputation as the crazy hypochondriac. She was barely present this season since she missed both big trips. As a result she was so desperate for camera time and storyline that she tried to discredit Carole’s name and career, and when that didn’t work, she turned into a petulant four year old and threw a tantrum and a body part in a world-famous NYC restaurant. Yes, it happened. Yes, she planned it. I only wish we could have seen Ramona drinking some Pinot Grigio from the leg. My life would have then been complete… We also learned that Aviva has one nanny to take care of all of her kids AND do the housework as well. What she failed to mention was that her nanny is her cousin, Fran Drescher, and we saw how good of a nanny she was… Yes, I went there, and it was a bad joke… #sorrynotsorry.

Ramona Singer

Photo courtesy of Bravo (bravotv.com)

Last, but not least, is the last original Real Housewife of New York City left standing, Ramona Singer. Ramona was wearing a sparkly blue gown by her signature designer Badgley Mischka. From what I recall, this is the first reunion Ramona has worn a gown. Typically her reunion dresses are shorter. I say this was a great choice. She looks chic and sophisticated.

Unfortunately, just a few hours before I started writing this blog post, Ramona announced on Twitter that she is definitely leaving her husband Mario. This is very sad news, and out of respect for Ramona, whom I adore, I will only say that I send my love, prayers, and support to her and Avery. She will emerge from this stronger than ever. This season we also saw Ramona say goodbye to Avery as she left the nest for college. I must say I feel old considering we all watched as Avery matured into the beautiful and smart young woman she is today. Good luck to Avery in her studies. On a lighter note, we learned that Ramona likes to throw things when she’s upset. Or maybe it’s a reflex to getting her hair wet… Regardless, Kristen should be happy that Ramona doesn’t have a fake leg; she could have ended up in the hospital or, worse, at the bottom of that lake. I am left with Ramona’s memorable line playing over and over again in my head… “Who are you to get me wet?” I wonder how many women have said that to Aviva’s father George…

Now who do I think were the best dressed and the worst dressed at the reunion? Drumroll…

Best Dressed goes to: Sonja Morgan; Honorable Mention: Heather Thomson

Worst Dressed goes to: Kristen Taekman

Thanks for a great season Bravo and Housewives. I look forward to what comes next. My challenge to the ladies: Let’s see how many things we can throw at each other next season.

Leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments. Do you agree with my best and worst dressed? What did you think of this season of RHONY?

Fashion Reads 8/5

So I’m not dead… Thank you all for your concern… Of course that’s sarcasm since no one even feigned concern for my well-being. Thanks guys. Love you too…

But all joking aside, I was working on an important project, and then I had company for a week. So I took some time off from blogging. But I have missed you all so much, all five of you, that is.

Who brought their library card and is ready for some fashion reading? The library is open…

Dorothy Wang and Morgan Stewart

http://www.eonline.com/shows/fashion_police/news/565066/richkids-fashion-face-off-dorothy-wang-vs-morgan-stewart-in-little-black-dresses

In honor of one of my favorite shows starting its second season, I had to include these two in my blog. These fabulous women are two of the stars of Rich Kids of Beverly Hills. If you didn’t know that already, shame on you. Your punishment is you must eat sushi every Sunday for a month. (If you watched the show, you would know why that is a punishment.) Anyway, I digress… Morgan Stewart, creator of “Boobs and Loubs”, looks amazing in this LBD. It’s sexy; it shows off her body; yet it’s still sophisticated. I’m typically not one to like the transparent lacey fabric, but in this case I like it. The appliqué is simple and there’s not too much of it. On the other hand, I love her so much, but I’m going to have to read Dorothy Wang on her choice of LBD. I feel this dress is too junior. Dorothy is sexy with a great body, but this dress doesn’t do anything for her but make her look like she’s 14 years old. Sorry, Dorothy, I love you, but I’m going to have to declare Morgan the winner of this LBD battle. What do you guys think? Am I wrong? Whose LBD do you prefer?

Megan Fox

http://www.eonline.com/shows/fashion_police/news/564670/megan-fox-makes-an-incredibly-sexy-insect-see-the-gorgeous-pic

It all makes sense now! Megan Fox is finally molting. She’s shedding her human shell and emerging as her true form, a disgusting insect. I’m sure all of those guys who were lusting after her feel pretty weird now… If you can’t tell, I don’t much care for her, and I don’t think I will waste anymore time talking about her.

Elizabeth Olsen

http://www.eonline.com/shows/fashion_police/news/563781/elizabeth-olsen-s-super-tight-comic-con-look-gotta-have-it-or-make-it-stop

I’m sure many of you have figured out by now, that I like the form-fitting dress. I think pencil skirts are sexy. However, I think Elizabeth Olsen may have gone a bit far with that concept. I don’t think your dress needs to be so tight that I can see what you ate for lunch. Furthermore, charcoal gray patent leather is reserved for Lady Gaga or perhaps the actors in a bad porn movie. As far as I know, Elizabeth Olsen is neither, but she’s still young, so there’s hope…

Trends-day Wednesday 7/9

Here’s the final installment of the food trends of 2014 as given by Baum and Whiteman. If you haven’t read the first two posts from the last two Wednesdays, you should go back and read those since this is sort of a countdown. Without further ado, here are #4-1.

4. Food Halls

Growing up, I remember every time I went to the mall I ate a meal at the food court. It was always cheap, greasy, processed, unhealthy, and delicious. Those days are slowly sliding away it seems. Food courts are being replaced with, what Baum and Whiteman call, food halls. Food halls are the same premise as food courts; it’s a collection of vendors and food sellers in one location, except these vendors sell more natural and healthy food. The downside to this is that the food is also much more expensive. This concept has taken off in the larger cities of the US. I don’t know how I feel about this. On the one hand, it’s nice not to worry as much about what you’re putting in your body, but is that peace of mind worth the price difference? When I go shopping and buy a $5 unhealthy lunch, then I can justify to myself spending more money on clothes or whatever else I’m purchasing. If I were to spend $20 on lunch, I wouldn’t want to buy anything else. If enough middle class people think along the same lines, this could have a bad effect on the retail stores in the long run as they see a decrease in sales. Am I over-thinking this? Do you agree? Or would you rather pay more for lunch while shopping knowing that you are being healthier?

3. Chicken!

I know what you’re thinking… “How in the hell can chicken be a trend? It is the most trite and boring protein in the culinary world.” All I can say in reply is, “Don’t shoot the messenger.” Chefs around the country are inventing new ways to dress up this commonplace and dull bird. Roasted chicken with foie gras served with a bouquet of flowers stuck in its rear? That’ll be $79 please. Another chef has invented Poulet Vert (which tackles two food trends in one, #5 and #3), which is chicken marinated in green anchovy sauce. I’ll admit I’m a bit skeptical about this one. I don’t know how many new flavor profiles you can give to chicken. I think it has all been done before, right?

2. Tasting Menus

So for those of you who don’t know, tasting menus are multi-course meals where you get a smaller serving, a “taste” if you will, of each course. Upscale restaurants are seeing that it is economically sound for them to do these tasting menus, so they are catching on. And now that I see what these restaurants are charging for them and what people are willing to pay, it makes total sense. These upscale restaurants are charging $150 at the low end, and at others some patrons end up with a $1000 bill after factoring in wine with the meal. It’s obvious that people are willing to pay these extreme prices considering these restaurants are booked solid weeks in advance. The good news for the foodies of the middle class is that other less expensive restaurants are jumping on the tasting menu bandwagon. The bad news is that it costs as much or more than it may cost you to fill up your gas tank. Yes, you get gourmet food like seared scallops or foie gras, but you’re paying about $75-$85 for 6 to 8 courses. For a special occasion, I could see doing the lower end tasting menus, but I think I’ll leave the $1000 restaurant bills to the big spenders. And if any of you reading this is a big spender, I’ll be happy to accompany you to the tasting menu serving establishment of your choosing.

Okay, who’s ready for #1? Drum roll…

1. Restaurants in Retail

Having restaurants in retail stores used to be a common thing, but they were removed because they were deemed “too messy” and “unproductive”. In large cities around the country, these restaurants are coming back. Brooks Brothers in New York is opening a steakhouse in their store. The Nordstrom’s in Bellvue, Washington opened an upscale bar in their store that serves blueberry-lavender martinis and watermelon-jalapeño margaritas. The serving of food is very convenient, and I somewhat touched on my reservations on that topic in #4 above. However, it’s the alcohol service that I think is genius for retail. I know from experience that once people, especially younger people, start drinking, they don’t seem to care how much money they spend. I’ve seen friends at a bar start drinking and just keep ordering more and more; they then freak out in the morning when they see the receipt that tells them they spent $75 on drinks the previous night. Alcohol often impairs people’s judgment. Why wouldn’t this work in retail as well? Some one goes to the bar and has a drink or two, and when they leave the store, they have purchased one or two more item than they had planned on without even giving it a second thought. The only drawback here is that people can return clothes, but they can’t return drinks they have consumed. So my theory will need to be tested, but the potential for the retailers to make more money is there. Would you like to have a nice dinner in a department store while shopping?

Throughout this countdown of food trends, we’ve seen two overarching trends that go hand-in-hand. First of all, we’re seeing a big move toward the natural and healthier foods. This has been a growing trend over the years, and it doesn’t seem to be letting up. I think it’s great. People need to be conscious of the stuff they are putting in their bodies. However, there is a downside, which accounts for the second overarching trend: higher cost. Eating natural and healthy food costs more. It’s that simple. A hamburger made of leftover animal parts and chemicals costs much less to make than a hamburger made from only fresh quality cuts of meat; that’s common sense. But that higher cost is obviously going to be passed down to the consumer. So it’s a win-lose situation. Do you budget for higher food cost and give up something else in your life while knowing that you’re eating healthily? Or do you have more money to spend on other, sometimes necessary, things while you fill your body with junk that could cause physical problems later? What do you think? Get into the debate and give your opinions below.

Trends-day Wednesday 7/2

Here is the continuation of last Wednesday’s post. Last week I introduced and gave you #12-9 in the top twelve food trends of 2014 as listed by Baum and Whiteman, international food and restaurant consultants. Today I will give you the next four, #8-5, on the list. Are you ready?

8. The Color Green

With more and more people becoming both environment friendly and more health conscious, new food attitudes and new chains are popping up. So many people are now getting rid of gluten from their diet, more people are diabetic, more people are struggling with weight issues, more people are becoming vegetarian and vegan, and some people are giving into the guilt and pestering of nutritionists. All of this has culminated in the rejection of fatty and unhealthy food and the embracing of more green and natural foods. With many fast food and other chains not catering to that lifestyle change, it has left an opening for other new businesses to fill. Sweetgreen is a chain based in Washington, which serves mainly salads and wraps that are loaded with greens and light on the animal protein, if it’s wanted.

Currently, many chains and restaurants are just now coming around to introduce items to suit these new healthy desires. For example, Chipotle now has the Sofritas option, which is tofu marinated in their special blend of spices. On the other end of the price spectrum, many high caliber restaurants are also introducing vegetarian options. However, it seems the vegetarian lifestyle is quite expensive. Restaurant Daniel has a three course vegetarian meal for $116, and in Chicago Grace offers a veggie menu for $185. This is yet another reason I do not see myself becoming a vegetarian any time soon; that’s not to mention that I love meat…

Now I’m all for eating healthily, but that doesn’t mean we should do away with the bad stuff. Chemical ridden and fake food, yes; but a good natural greasy hamburger is sometimes necessary…especially after a night of drinking, right? And I will go on record saying I am against any and all legislation that tries to force you to eat healthily. If someone wants to make poor decisions and fill his/her body with chemically processed food, it is his/her right to do so. Do you think you could live on only salad and completely healthy food forever? Do you like this trend, or do you find it a bit self-righteous?

7. Butter’s Not Enough…

Apparently, this is the year of “creative spreads”. Restaurants are no longer just giving you ordinary butter on the table. They’re turning up the volume by giving items like tomato jam, black garlic mostarda, rosemary hummus, and even salsa butter. In reality, the sky is the limit with these spreads. You can really change the flavor profile of a dish and dress up a breadbasket or cheese board with the addition of these items. I think it’s very creative. However, it may get a bit too creative for me when you offer me whipped chicken liver butter… No thank you… I guess I’d try it once, but chances are I won’t eat it again… What do you think? Are some of these ideas fun and interesting to you? Or is it just too much, and you would prefer pure and ordinary butter?

6. Bubbling and Fizzing Beverage Trends

This trend has some subsections…

Tea: As we’ve seen by the obnoxious shaken tea commercials, Starbucks is expanding their teas. Also, Teavanna, is a retail store that obviously sells all things tea related, but recently they opened their first bar in Manhattan. There they will make your tea and they also have food for sale, so it’s a tea-house instead of a coffee-house. As a side not, I found it interesting that research has shown that people are more likely to buy a food item with tea than with coffee, so the tea bar also serves food products. I love tea, so I say bring it on.

Vermouth: Artisan bartenders are exploring the use of different types of vermouths. Apparently, Spain is where the hot vermouth action is right now. I’ve never been a fan of vermouth, but as I age and my taste buds change, I notice my taste in alcohol is expanding. But I’m fighting it every step of the way. I don’t wanna drink old man drinks!

Soda: I’m sure you’ve heard of the Sodastream. It’s gaining popularity now that people realize they can experiment and create their own types of soda at home. They can even carbonate lemonade and cocktails at home. Restaurants are crafting their own natural and artisanal sodas with fruit infusions. Again, Starbucks, who seems to be on the edge of every trend, is testing in some stores the use of the option to carbonate your teas and coffees. I think this goes hand-in-hand with the healthy trend. Many people like soda, but Coke and Pepsi are so full of chemicals and other unnatural stuff that isn’t healthy, and people try to stay away from them. In response, the natural sodas, which have been around a while, are becoming more mainstream.

Sour Beer: Beer crafters are adding wild yeasts to their beers and aging them in wood. The resulting product is a sour beer, sometimes very sour. They are gaining popularity with beer enthusiasts, and their acidic nature pairs well with BBQ. I’m not a beer person, so I think I’ll stay away from this trend.

Pressed Juices: Again with the health trend, more people are frequenting juice bars. They don’t want to take the time to eat an apple or carrot, so they have someone juice it for them, and they take it to go. Sure, they’re not getting the important fiber from the fruits and vegetables, but that’s why they probably eat bran cereal. These pressed fruit juices are also popping up in cocktail use. I love juice, but I don’t think I will pay a huge amount for one cup of it. At least with coffee you’re getting some caffeine. With these juices you’re getting all the sugar with none of the fiber. I don’t get it.

Bar Culture: Yet again, healthiness enters the picture. Bartenders are dispensing with the chemical filled mixers and additives in favor of natural and “farm-to-shaker” ingredients. They are also starting to use non-sugar sweeteners. They are coming up with gluten-free versions of some drinks. Of course, Bethenny Frankel truly started the health-conscious cocktail movement a few years ago with her Skinnygirl brand. It’s been so successful that people are copying her products and taking note that the idea sells. Bartenders are also starting to use flavored ice cubes in their shakers and flavored essences to mist over the finished cocktail. Everyone who knows me knows I love a cocktail, so I’m super excited to try some of the new creative and even healthy cocktail ideas.

5. Fishy Fish

The redheaded stepchild of fish is coming back with a vengeance. People are ordering fresh and salt-packed anchovies and sardines again. They’re not just relegated to the blender to flavor Caesar dressing anymore. (Yes, for those of you that didn’t know, the strong taste in Caesar dressing is anchovies. Don’t say you hate it all of a sudden now that you know that. Obviously, the cheap bottled Caesar dressings use a chemical substitute rather than real anchovies, and I think you can really taste a difference… but I digress…) Anchovies and sardines are now being put atop pasta and salads. Mackerel is also making a slight comeback. I’ve never eaten an anchovy or a sardine by itself. Like I said before, I’ll try anything once. I like real, fresh made-from-scratch Caesar dressing, so maybe I’ll like anchovies. My grandfather, who grew up during The Great Depression, use to put sardines on top of his pizzas. He did that until the day he died, even when he could afford to use other meat. So they must be appealing at some level. Would you eat them?

Next Wednesday I’ll conclude the list with the top four food trends of the year. Let me know what you think. Should I talk more about food? How about interior design? Or do you prefer the strict fashion topics more?

Fashion Reads 7/1

Happy July everyone! This year is flying by a bit too quickly for my taste.

Today’s post will be a little short because there aren’t many fash-holes to talk about today. Sad, isn’t it?

The library is open…

Jennifer Garner

http://www.eonline.com/shows/fashion_police/news/555889/jennifer-garner-schools-us-in-geek-chic

Now this is how a celebrity is supposed to dress when traveling. When flying, especially across the world or even across the US, it is important to be comfortable. I have seen people in very questionable things on an airplane, but I give them a pass because they’re obviously trying to be as comfortable as posible. Unfortunately, celebrities do not get this pass. There will always be someone out there waiting to take his/her photograph. So he/she had better look presentable. We’ve seen some fashion mistakes at airports before; however, this is not one of them. Jennifer Garner is being incredibly smart wearing this. She is obviously comfortable, and she looks stylish at the same time. I must also point out that she is not wearing any makeup, yet her skin is beautiful. Maybe knowing all of your movies will be flops is less stressful, so you don’t break out as much…

Miley Cyrus

http://www.eonline.com/shows/fashion_police/news/554758/miley-cyrus-goes-shopping-in-the-90s

Well, the transformation is complete. Miley has become a male toddler. It started with the short blond hair. Then she started dressing like a tomboy. Now she’s backed up the age clock. I think I’ve seen little boy dolls dressed like this—striped shirt, overalls, and a backwards cap. I guess I must thank Miley for one thing. I now realize that even Chanel make mistakes. Even as cynical as I am, I thought Chanel was one of the perfect design houses. I was wrong. That black purse-like thing is ugly. It almost looks like it’s made of felt or, even worse, velour. I am relieved, however, that Chanel did not make those ridiculous overalls, which is what I thought when I first saw the photo. The bag matches the overalls in color perfectly. We can get one piece of good news out of this, though. Our mothers were wrong. Your face won’t “freeze like that”. For once Miley’s tongue is where it’s supposed to be; it’s not licking something or someone.

Leave your comments below. Who’s ready for the next installment of the food trends of 2014? I’ll be giving you 8-5 tomorrow. So come back and check it out.

Fashion News Friday 6/27

Here are some of the interesting things going on in the fashion world.

Julian Assange Starts Modeling Career?

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2014/06/26/julian-assange-modelling-catwalk-debut-ben-westwood-show

Ben Westwood’s upcoming fashion show will feature a controversial new model. Julian Assange, the creator of WikiLeaks, will walk the runway for the designer in September. The fugitive has been living in the Ecuadorean embassy in London for about two years. The fashion show will be held in the embassy, so Assange will not be risking his freedom. Westwood discusses the choice in using Assange saying, “…[I]t’s important that he doesn’t slip into obscurity.” Westwood further says that what has happened to Julian is “unfair”, and the designer has created something for him to wear in the show that was inspired by The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. I’m sorry, but I think this is quite bizarre, and I don’t like it when artists make such grand and specific and in-your-face political gestures. Making reference to a cause or policy is expected and often times needed, but this is so specific and controversial, I think Westwood is only doing it for the attention. It’s unsightly. What do you think? Is it a good idea to champion Julian Assange? Is Westwood being authentic and genuine in his political statement?

T-shirt with Kate Moss Quote Pulled

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2014/06/26/kate-moss-quote-t-shirt-discontinued-hudsons-bay-company

A t-shirt with a quote by the famous supermodel Kate Moss is no longer for sale at Hudson’s Bay Company due to the controversial nature of the quote. During an interview in 2009, Kate Moss was quoted saying, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” The quote immediately sparked outrage, but designer Christopher Lee Suave decided to put the quote on a shirt as part of a nutritional facts label. The t-shirt, like the quote itself, has sparked outrage with consumers, and as a result, it has been pulled from the shelves. Suave defends his creation saying:

“Fashion is created to be either celebrated, adored, or hated and deplored, quite like the industry itself. The particular T-shirt in question showcases an infamous quote by supermodel Kate Moss as a nutrition label - most, if not all, of my designs showcase some type of statement pointing out the absurdity of fashion, and this one item is no exception… I fully understand and comprehend the severity of an eating disorder and I do not condone celebrating such pain. My sincerest apologies to anyone that I have offended with my designs. I believe wholeheartedly in my work, however, and I can't [apologize] for that."

So it seems that Suave was being satirical with his design, but it was completely misconstrued. He was actually pointing out the absurdity of the quote and showing how the fashion industry can seem to glorify being overly skinny and even, in a certain light, eating disorders themselves. In my opinion, this is a way to make a political or social statement. It’s just unfortunate that his was misconstrued. Do you think the message was too subtle? Should the shirt have been pulled from the shelves?

LDR Attacked for Romanticizing Death

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2014/06/24/frances-bean-cobain-attacks-lana-del-rey-for-romanticising-death

Okay, this isn’t really fashion related, but I thought it was interesting. In a recent interview, Lana Del Rey was quoted saying, “I wish I was dead already.” Frances Bean Cobain, daughter of Kurt Cobain, was outraged by this statement. She laments not being able to know her own father due to his untimely death. She further says that the deaths of young artists are especially sad because they never fully realize their potential. Cobain said on Twitter, “The death of young musicians isn't something to [romanticize]… Embrace life, because u only get one life.” Lana has responded saying that the quote came from “leading questions” posed by the interviewer. In further response, the interviewer posted the recording of the interview along with his piece. We’ll have to see how this all plays out. However, I feel I must point out that romanticizing death is nothing new. It has been in different media of art for centuries. In fact, the novel Madame Bovary has a somewhat satirical look at this concept. The title character seems to believe life is supposed to be like a romance novel, and that in order to be fulfilled, hers must come to a tragic end. I won’t ruin it for you, but the novel has a darkly amusing ending. My point is that the romanticizing of death is not something Lana started, and it certainly will not and should not end any time soon. Do you think LDR’s comment was out of line and over the top? Is she trying to get attention, or does she really feel that way?

Princess Di Caused Image Obsession for European Princesses

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2014/06/25/suzy-menkes-vogue-column-diana-princess-of-wales-legacy

This article was a bit too long for me to comment on and give it the attention it needed. But it’s a good read and quite interesting, so I suggest you read it. If you would like me to give my thoughts on the topic, let me know, and I will in Monday’s blog.

Don’t forget to leave a topic request for Monday’s blog.

Fashion Reads 6/26

So I changed a setting for the “Comments”, and I think it was preventing some people from being able to comment. So please try again, and we’ll see if it works.

The library is open…

America Ferrera

http://www.eonline.com/shows/fashion_police/news/554353/america-ferrera-is-a-1970s-miami-bank-teller

America Ferrera is only 30 years old. So why does she have the breasts of a 60 year old? Seriously, they’re almost down to her waist. I really hope she isn’t wearing a bra. If she is, it’s not doing its job. And if she’s not, I don’t know why she’s not. There is nothing about that top that wouldn’t allow for a bra to be worn. I don’t think the look is bad, but it’s not age appropriate. And frankly, it looks like something an older drag queen would wear. So the bottom line is, America Ferrera has the face of a 30 year old, but the wardrobe and body of a 60 year old? Yikes…

Kesha

http://www.eonline.com/shows/fashion_police/news/554006/who-is-this-super-chic-woman-and-what-did-she-do-with-kesha

I think Kesha must have had a lobotomy. This is not the same woman we saw last year. I really must give her the accolades she deserves. She’s grown up and cleaned up, and she’s beautiful. Her dress is beautiful. Yes, it’s translucent, but there is something underneath it, so all that is visible is her arms. I will say it is a bit short, but her legs are amazing, so I can’t shame her for wanting to show them off. Do you like this new and improved Kesha, or do you like watching train wrecks? I’ll admit, sometimes I’m a horrible person that finds entertainment in watching people unravel and circle the drain. But I am genuinely happy that Kesha is doing so well.

Lady Gaga

http://www.eonline.com/shows/fashion_police/news/552665/lady-gaga-looks-like-your-mom-doing-the-walk-of-shame-see-her-sad-look

Where are the PETA protesters? Did they run out of red paint? Why are they not here harassing the Mother Monster for skinning a poodle to make her wig? Or maybe she stole one of Cher’s wigs… Either way she looks ridiculous. The hooker boots and the torn fishnets and hot pants just reek of class, don’t they? Would anyone like to explain to me why she is carrying a random picture of a trumpet? The more I look, the more confused I get… As you can see, this has been comprised almost completely of questions. I can’t process it, but maybe that’s what she was going for. You never know with Gaga…

Trends-day Wednesday 6/25

For this week’s Trends-day Wednesday, I’m looking at food trends. Baum and Whiteman are international food and restaurant consultants (sounds like an amazing job to me), and they put together a list of 12 trends in the food industry for 2014. Since I like to give some attention to each trend, discussing 12 seems to be too much for one post, so I’m breaking it up into three posts. I will countdown the trends with 12-9 this week, 8-5 next week, and 4-1 the following week. I typically would give you a link to where I am getting my stories, but I don’t want you to cheat and look ahead, so I’m being mean and withholding that from you. I know if you really want to ruin the surprise, you could probably Google it, but that would take away all of the fun.

12. Mideast Cooking

I have always been a fan of Middle Eastern food. I find it aromatic and exotically flavorful. Of course, the word “exotic” here is completely relative. It’s only “exotic” because I have an American’s palate, and I wasn’t used to those flavor profiles when I first tried them.

This surge in Middle Eastern style food has been attributed to the relocation of people as they flee undesirable situations in Tunisia, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. Zaatar, a specific type of spice, and pomegranate are popping up on menus more and more. Of course, as Americans are apt to do, the restaurants are putting their own American spin on some of the dishes, creating a type of Middle Eastern-American fusion.

Baum and Whiteman discuss several specific dishes that are becoming popular. However, one in particular caught my eye. Now that I am living in New Mexico, I see red and green chilies everywhere and in everything. Shug or shuk is a Yemenite dip that contains coriander, cumin, and red or green chilies. I would venture to guess the people of New Mexico might enjoy that one. I’d certainly like to try it. Even spice shops are getting into the mix. La Boîte à Epice, a well-known spice shop in New York, sells special top-secret spice mixes to world famous chefs like Eric Ripert and Daniel Boulud.

I’m looking forward to seeing more recipes and ideas on Middle Eastern foods and cuisine. What do you think? Are you adventurous enough to try new things?

11. Asian Flavors

Now we’re moving from the Mideast to the Far East. As I said before, Americans like to innovate by creating fusion cuisines. Of course this is reminiscent of the make-up of our country and the families here within. Most of us are a great mixture of cultures, so why not extend that to the food?

Chefs are finding interesting ways to include Asian flavors into their Western dishes. Asian flavors are full of umami components, and they can really enhance Western dishes that might be lacking in those flavors. (Now that I think about it, I could probably write an entire linguistic paper on the word umami… In the interest of not boring you, if you do not know what umami is or means, you should look it up. You might just learn something.) I’ve already discussed my feelings on sriracha and the whole sriracha mayo/sriracha aioli concept, but apparently other Asian food items, like kimchee, have also blown up in the Western world.

I love Asian flavors, but they are so powerful that I am hesitant to start adding them to everything and anything. What new Asian fusion foods would you want to try? A kimchee omelet? Actually, that sounds good…

10. “Eatertainment”

Eating at a restaurant appeals to all of your senses. Typically, you use taste and smell the most and the other senses are more subtly triggered. Well, now restaurants are looking to turn up the volume with different types of experiences.

A restaurant in Shanghai called Ultraviolet gives diners a truly unique experience at a very high cost. I’ll let Baum and Whiteman tell you about it in their own words.

“Avant garde restaurant Ultraviolet, in Shanghai, shanghais ten high-spending diners nightly to a secret room that radically shifts moods with each course ... uplights in the floor, 360-degree high-def projectors, swings in air temperature, four smell diffusers, 22 speakers, LEDs, waiters changing customers to suit the food. Chef-owner Paul Pairet calls it “psychotasting” ... you go from Zen to hell in 20 courses over four hours in a night of sensory integration. Oh, yes, the food’s pretty good.”

Other restaurants play with the humidity in the room or cause the tables to heat or cool or even vibrate the plates on cue. Some even use strange tableware to play with your psyche while you use them. For example, there are actually “cups with nipples” and “ball shaped spoons”. This idea comes from research which suggests that people perceive round shapes as being sweeter and jagged shapes as being bitter.

Other restaurants completely take away the stimulation of one sense so that your others are heightened. In Brooklyn, a restaurant serves meals in complete and utter silence, while other restaurants will serve their food in the dark.

I must admit, I would try one of these experiences once, but I have a feeling I will not enjoy it. I tend to be a creature of habit. Which of the things I discussed here appeals most to you? Would you eat at any of these unique restaurants?

9. Pop-ups, Food Fairs, and Single-item Restaurants

Pop-ups and food fairs are generally ways for people with business ideas to test out their products and dishes and concepts on a small scale in order to see if they might catch on and possibly become successful full-scale businesses. This is a brilliant idea and seems to suit the food industry the best. If a pop-up restaurant is wildly popular for the one or two nights it is open, then that could solidify a reputation and a clientele for a restaurant that is not even built yet. Conversely, a pop-up that does poorly, even if it has a solid concept, can utterly destroy a dream and idea. But it’s better to know that you have some things to work on and tweak before you spend a lot of time and money opening a restaurant that is doomed to fail.

I had no idea, but it seems that single-item restaurants are becoming popular and taking off. If you pick one item and you do it flawlessly, I imagine you would have a hit on your hands. The same thing happened with Cane’s in Baton Rouge. They only sell chicken fingers, but they do it so well and at such a good quality level, that it has exploded and become a staple of the state of Louisiana. They are now franchising to other states. In large cities, like Chicago and New York, restaurants have popped up that sell only baked potatoes or churros or hummus or biscuits. Baum and Whiteman do mention that if these items catch on, the big chains will follow suit and copy their ideas, and I imagine they will sell the products at a lower cost. Thus is the nature of capitalism… But the question is, do you see these single-item restaurants being able to survive in a smaller city? I would say, “yes”, just because of the example and precedent Cane’s set in Baton Rouge, but is it possible that was merely a fluke? Did it work simply because they sell greasy food that people want to eat after a night of imbibing a little too much?