Scoreboard Gourmet

Ingrid Hoffmann at American Airlines Arena (Miami Heat)

At the dentist this afternoon I watched some Food Network while having my teeth cleaned. The sound was off and I was chatting (as much as possible with metal pokers in my mouth) with my hygenist and one of those big white arm things was in front of half the screen so it took me a few minutes to realize it was NotGiada on the show. My hygenist also thought it was Giada. It wasn't. It was a woman named Ingrid Hoffmann disguised as Giada. She has something of Rachel in there too. Who knew TFN had a type? Probably alot of people.

Anyway, Ingrid, I now know, is a Colombian-Miamian. She had a Heat player making chicken wings and eating them, then eating a popsicle dipped in what I presume is salt, then they "played" one-on-one. And, believe me, it was a play, as in scripted. Who was that guy? Why was he on the show? When is the show on again? TFN website stinks. I need my DVR to guide me. Or You, middaytvwatcher

Simply Delicioso is what the show is called. Here's what NotGiada and ?Heat made:

Chorizo Rolls with "Guachup"

Chicken Wings with Mango-Tamarind Sauce>

Margarita Pops

Miami Heat Chicken Chop

  Chicken Chop is new to me, but it looked pretty good. Anyone ever give it a go at  Heat game?

TFMJ and I met some incredibly friendly and helpful Levy employees who said it might be a southern thing (the chicken chop and the niceness). The Miami Heat play in an arena named for an airline currently on my hate list (see earlier post) but I can't deny that it was pretty clean in there, and empty for a Saturday game. A Saturday when the beach was a bit too cool even for dumb northerners like us.  

They're Juicing in Miami; Go Heat!

What am I always saying? Besides peopleneedbettermanners? I'm always saying there needs to be more juice in professional sports. Well guess what? The Heat have juice!

It's advertised as fresh squeezed but mine came from a plastic gallon jug and tasted pretty carton-y but, still, it was Juice! and the small (pictured right, not the mini sample) is $5.

Guess what else they have? Wheatgrass (left corner of left picture). That's really impressive. Who can beat that?

Yao's Favorite Dish, please enjoy

"Hey, Charles, how do you like the shrimp?"
"It's moving, and it's got eyes on it."
"That's the best part."

Dwyane Wade and Charles Barkley deciding between pocket and napkin (for disposal of uneaten food) is fantastic. I love this commercial, and the All-Star game is so fun to watch. Maybe I have to try to get to Dallas next year. How can I make that happen?

I'm seeking a Yao + Shrimp image. Help

New Orleans Sports Bars -and- NBA All-Star Stuff

Does anyone care about the NBA All-Star Game? It's this Sunday. It's in New Orleans which I guess means good eats? I think the Slam Dunk Contest, the Three-Point Shootout, and the Skills Challenge (a sort of obstacle course)  are more fun. They're part of the All-Star Saturday Night.
Another Saturday night event is Shooting Stars. I'm not exactly sure what that is.

btw, that pic on the right is by Victor Baldizon/NBAE/Getty Images. can you figure out why I chose it? (besides it being a very cool shot)?

In case you don't have a ticket, or don't want a ticket, here - thanks to Sharon Keating (about.com) - is a list of New Orleans Sports Bars:
-Cooter Brown's
509 S. Carrollton Ave.

-Bruno's
7601 Maple Street.

-Friar Tucks
5130 Freret Street

-Finn McCool's Irish Pub
3701 Banks Street

-Johnny White's Sports Bar
720 Bourbon Street

-Kabby's Sports Edition
Hilton Riverside Hotel (where Poydras Street meets the Mississippi River)

-Ugly Dog Saloon
  401 Andrew Higgins Drive

-Gordon Biersch Brewery
200 Poydras Street

All-Star Saturday Night
Saturday, 8p
on TNT

NBA All-Star Game
Sunday, 8 p
on TNT

Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar (and Gary Payton?)

Does anyone know if Gary Payton is still involved with the Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar? Let's discuss.

In the meantime, here's some Gary Payton info I found on the always trustworthy world wide web:
favorite food: soul food
favorite restaurant: PF Chang’s (not Seastar?)
things he cooks: breakfast and pasta
self proclaimed “Grill King”

Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar
205 108th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA
425-456-1010

p.s. I can't not mention Shaq. I just read something the other day that said finances are the biggest killer of relationships. duh. the 'news' is that people who have more supposedly argue more than those who have less. interesting, and topical. while Shaunie's 17-carat diamond ring is no secret, apparently (says Shaq) other assets are, which had made him file for divorce. is she spending his $20-million salary and not telling? I don't get it. how could you possibly hide that kind of spending? she bought Turks and Caicos from Gene Simmons? okay totally off track here. stopping myself now.

I think I'm in love with Shaq

First of all, I totally hooked on Shaq's Big Challenge, a show I did not know about until 27 minutes ago.
Second, I think I'm in love with Shaq. I don't know how much he actually had to do with the show or the program, but I don't care. Anyone who wants to fight obesity, especially in kids, is a a friend of Scoreboard Gourmet.
I haven't even seen the Tyler Florence part of this program yet.
if you're near a TV, put on ABC now and catch the second half and tell me what You think!

from the ABC website: Shaq's Big Challenge was designed to be a wake-up call — to prod us into taking action against one of our nation's most critical health issues: childhood obesity.