How I (Almost) Survived My First Juice Cleanse

First of all, let me say that I am not someone who is very focused on my overall diet, health or fitness. So, when people around my office started talking about cleanses and juice diets I wasn't very interested at first. But after the conversations continued for several weeks I started to wonder what exactly would happen if I laid off of sugar, carbs, booze, caffeine, meat and well, anything except for juice for a few days.

It turns out that my cubicle mate, Michele, had done a few juice cleanses in the past so we -- for whatever reason -- decided to put our bodies and our will to the test and cleanse it up. We signed up for a three-day "serious cleansing" from Elixir Juice in New York City, but there are a billion different varieties of cleanses out there. For a not inexpensive fee we received six different juices per day, each with their own cute name (like "mood mender") and ingredients to coordinate with whatever my body may need at the time of day I was drinking each blend.

Day one was pretty good. The whole novelty of doing a juice cleanse was exciting. I started my morning off with an "all greens" mix that tasted like a liquid salad made of mostly kale. Later in the morning I had my second juice of some fruity mixture that was basically all grapefruit. When lunchtime rolled around it was time for a blend called "skin tonic" that I swear was made with actual skin. The bottle said it was made with things like apple, celery and spinach, but I definitely think there was some skin in there. The juices were actually pretty good and I was feeling fine until 2:30pm when -- in the middle of a meeting -- I thought I was going insane. I got a throbbing headache (probably because of caffeine withdrawal) and felt super agitated and squirrely. Post-meeting I ran back to my desk for my next juice called "fatique fighter" which was mostly watermelon. It was good, but only returned me partially back to my normal self. After regaining sanity I ended my work day with a putrid concoction of beet and hatred (seriously, the worst one!) and then had one final juice before bed that actually tasted like a liquified oatmeal cookie. How convenient of the juice lords to end the day with a pleasant-tasting drink to make me forget the skin and beet torture of earlier in the day. I went to bed feeling a little bit lighter and proud of myself.

Raise a Cup for National Coffee Day

Just like, um, everyone in the world I enjoy a good cup of coffee to start my day. My drink of choice is usually an iced grande coffee in a venti cup, unsweetened, from Starbucks every morning (I even bought a reusable iced coffee cup that I never use) , but really any ol' cup a' joe will do for me.

I am by no means a coffee snob and couldn't tell you what half of the drinks in this coffee glossary mean, but in honor of National Coffee Day I thought I would share a few of my choice brands.


I really enjoy Cafe Bustelo coffee. It's rich and flavorful and is available in basically every store everywhere. It's a little richer than say, Folgers or Maxwell House, and the cans are neat.


I was recently given a sample of Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company coffee to try at home and it is delish! While it's not available everywhere just yet, the company is dedicated to helping out the planet. They boast a teeny tiny carbon footprint and give a portion of their sales back to local eco-initiatives in the Chesapeake Bay area.


Just this past week I discovered Trader Joe's gigantic coffee selection. After staring at the different blends for a good minute or so I decided to pick up the French roast. It's strong, smooth and smoky and was only $3.99!

Many coffee houses and retailers are celebrating National Coffee Day with discounts and specials (here are a few), and if you want to get in on the action you can check out these coffee drink recipes. Enjoy!

Meet the Season 2 Chefs of 'Top Chef Just Desserts'

Following the success of season one (and cutie winner Yigit Pura) Bravo is bringing its cream-filled Top Chef spin-off back for round two.


Pictured: (l-r) Vanarin Kuch, Melissa Camacho, Orlando Santos, Megan Ketover, Craig Poirier, Sally Camacho, Lina Biancamano, Amanda Rockman, Matthew Petersen, Nelson Paz, Chris Hanmer, Katzie Guy-Hamilton, Carlos Enriquez
In Top Chef Just Desserts -- returning Wednesday, August 24 at 10pm -- pastry chefs will see if they have what it takes to out flambé, out-frost and out-fudge the competition. Top Chef judge Gail Simmons will serve as the host alongside head judge and celebrated pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini. The show will also feature judges Hubert Keller, critically acclaimed chef of the world-renowned restaurant Fleur de Lys, and Dannielle Kyrillos, DailyCandy editor-at-large.

Each episode of Top Chef Just Desserts holds two challenges for the pastry chefs. The first is a quick-fire test of their basic abilities, and the second is a more involved elimination challenge designed to test the versatility and inventiveness of the pastry chefs as they take on unique culinary trials such as working with unusual and exotic ingredients or catering for a range of demanding clients.

Keep reading to meet the 14 cheftestants looking to take home title of Top Chef...

Sponsored: Heineken Presents 'The Date'

Heineken ad, 'The Date'. Watch a legendary date in action. #thedate

Watch Alberta Cross for Ketel One [SPONSORED]

Ketel One vodka invites you to see the first of clip in an exclusive video series featuring the band Alberta Cross, who Rolling Stone calls "unstoppable." Watch it now:


Ketel One vodka's "Gentlemen, This Is Vodka" campaign is directed by Academy Award nominee, David O. Russell (The Fighter & Three Kings). The three-part series tells the story of a remarkable night out amongst good friends.

The videos feature Brooklyn-based band, Alberta Cross, with a new single called "Money for the Weekend."

The Olsen Twins Want Pizza (and Maybe Some Drugs)

This clip is not new by any means, but I just discovered it and am now obsessed.


Way before Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were frail fashionistas they starred in little kid videos. Well, horray for Internet, because someone has taken one of their classic kid songs called "Gimme Pizza," slowed it down and transformed it into a stoner anthem.

Watch the Olsen twins and their diverse friends jam about the best way to cure their munchies.

New SunChips Packaging Good for Planet, Now Your Ears!

If you've been following this site for the last year or so you know that I've had an unusual amount of posts about SunChips and their new compostable packaging. In December of 2009 I made this video questioning why the SunChips bags were suddenly so loud. In August 2010 the video was aired on NBC's Today show as part of a segment about the amount of noise the bags produced, and then in October of 2010 Frito-Lay announced they were going back to the drawing board with the bags because of consumer complaints (and dropping sales.)

Now SunChips has redesigned the planet-friendly bags to made them ear-friendly, too. The coolest part of the whole thing? The fine folks at Frito-Lay reached out to me and asked me to make another video comparing their old and loud bags with the new ones! Check it out:


The SunChips were provided to me for free, but nothing I'm saying about them is influenced by that. Here's some additional info if you're curious:

The new 100% compostable bag is about 2 times quieter than the first generation SunChips compostable bag. While there will not be a visual difference in the packaging graphics, consumers will easily hear the difference when bags reach their market.

The compostable bag is constructed in three layers; an outer layer that has the SunChips logo and picture on it, an inner layer that surrounds the chips inside the bag and an adhesive layer in the middle that keeps the outer and inner layers together. The adhesive layer reduces sound vibrations like shock absorbers reduce mechanical vibrations in a car, making for a quieter ride (and snacking!)

The SunChips folks are urging consumers to continue to provide feedback on the compostable bag on the SunChips Facebook page or by calling 1-800-352-4477.

What started out as a silly and quick YouTube video has become part of a larger Web meme, influenced a corporations production of its product and scored me some free chips! Internet win!

Carla Hall Dishes on Her Modeling Days and 'Top Chef All-Stars'

I recently did a video interview with Top Chef fan favorite Carla Hall for iVillage.com. In the interview she gave us the scoop on her old modeling days in Paris (check out the photos here!) and about why she almost didn't do Top Chef All-Stars (hint: clogged toilets!)

See what Carla had to say in these two video interviews...

Love Winter Like An Austrian: Make Your Own Germknödel!

By Billy Nastyn, Contributing Writer

In the middle of a snow filled winter that has touched 49 out of 50 states, it’s common to find folks staying indoors searching for new ways to keep warm. For others it’s a call from nature to head outdoors with skis and snowboards to the nearest ski resort. In between those two types of people is a little something Austrians like to call "germknödel".


Far from the fancy dining at Sundance, these perfectly plum-filled warm dumplings are the thing to eat between hitting the slopes up in the Alps. Sometimes you just have to admit when you’re the underdog and these Austrians really have us beaten, blended, boiled and covered in a delicious vanilla sauce.

Germknödel should have found it’s way into all chilly climates a long time ago, so get in your kitchen and help spread the word and the recipe for this perfect winter dessert! Here's how you make it:

Meet the Chef'testants of 'Top Chef All-Stars'

Hot on the heels of the very successful spin-off franchise Top Chef: Just Desserts foodies everywhere will be able to see their favorite chef'testants back in the kitchen when an All-Stars version of Top Chef premieres this Wednesday, December 1 on Bravo.


18 past chef'testants will return to New York City for season eight of the Emmy-winner show, with host Padma Lakshmi and head judge chef Tom Colicchio, alongside judges Gail Simmons and new this season, best-selling author and chef, Anthony Bourdain.

Each episode holds two challenges for the chefs. The first is a Quickfire test of their basic abilities and the second is a more involved elimination challenge designed to test the versatility and inventiveness of the chefs. The challenges not only test their skills in the kitchen, but also uncover if they have the customer service, management and teamwork abilities required of a Top Chef.

Keep reading to meet the 18 chefs who are looking to take home the title of all-star Top Chef.

SunChips Pulls Loud Bags: I Swear It's Not My Fault!

In December of 2009 I made this silly video on my YouTube channel about this unusual new SunChips bag and its very loud sound. This was before there were commercials and advertisements letting world know how compostable and environmentally friendly these new bags were. It was a quick video about something I figured other people had noticed, too.

In August 2010 the Today show picked up on the growing trend of bag outrage and featured my clip in a segment comparing the bag's sound levels to that of a New York City subway or lawn mower.

Yesterday it was announced that Frito-Lay -- the makers of SunChips -- are going to stop using the "loud" bags because they received so many complaints from consumers, and also suffered a possibly unrelated 11% drop in sales over the last year.

Here's a quick synopsis from the Today show on October 5.

Mix Up Your Cocktails with Tequila Avion

Just like Gladys Hardy, I love Jesus, but I drink a little. My main drink of choice is vodka mixed with anything that comes out of a hose, but I have been known to imbibe a delicious margarita from time to time.

I may not be the biggest tequila fan (cue insane college flashback/hangover) but I might have to change my tune after trying Tequila Avion.


If you're fan of HBO's Entourage -- whose season finale is this Sunday Sept. 12 -- you may have already heard of Tequila Avion, The liquor is the preferred drink of the cast, but it's delicious flavor is not exclusive to Hollywood types. This past weekend I had a few friends over to try the tequila and it was a hit. We tried Tequila Avion Silver and the general consensus was that it is a great alternative to our normal drinking regiment.

From Avion's web site:

Tequila Avión is the ultra premium tequila that defines a new standard of quality and taste - “Taste Elevated.” Tequila Avión’s distinct flavors are achieved through a combination of slow-roasting at lower temperatures to protect the natural flavors of the agave and an ultra-slow filtration process which creates an unusually smooth taste profile. Tequila Avion is available in Silver, Reposado and Añejo varietals.

While I may not have the most refined palette around I definitely recommend Tequila Avion to those looking to mix up their cocktails with something with less vengeful than those other well-known tequilas.

Enjoy and drink responsibly!

*Full disclosure: Tequila Avion sent me a complimentary sample of their product, but I wouldn't write about them unless I loved it.

My SunChips Video on NBC's 'Today Show'

Last December I made a quick video about the new biodegradable -- but extremely loud -- SunChips packaging. The new bags are great for the planet but impossibly annoying because their loud crinkling sound is nearly deafening.

I watch the Today Show every morning, so when I heard they were doing a segment about the loud bags I wanted to see what they had to say. Lo and behold, the show pulled some YouTube clips to show how people everywhere are annoyed with the SunChips bags, and one of them was mine!


Check out the clip from the Today Show. I pop up about 30 seconds in.

Sweet iPhone App: Scoutmob

I'm a little obsessed with finding cool apps for my iPhone lately, especially ones that do more than just make your face fat/old/Asian, so when someone recommended restaurant discount app Scoutmob I was excited to check it out.


Firstly, you should know that Scoutmob is actually a Web site, so you don't really need an iPhone to take advantage of its deals. You just go to the site and choose your city to get a heads up on huge discounts on restaurants in your 'hood.

Domino's Pizza Proves Its Pies Aren't Perfect

Man, I love pizza, and I am well aware that the ooey, gooey slices I see on television commercials are never what actually shows up delivered to my door. Apparently some people are not so pizza savvy, so to clear up any confusion the folks at Domino's Pizza have produced a behind-the-scenes look at just how they make those perfect pies on TV.


From the Yahoo! Buzz Log:

"You know those beautiful, sizzling pizzas on TV, with the perfectly placed pepperoni and the symmetrically melted cheese? Fake. The golden crust? Fake. All of it: fake, fake, fake. As reported by the blog Gawker, the behind-the-scenes commercial shows the multitudes of people with titles like "key grip" and un-food-like tools like tweezers that it takes to style the food for its closeup."

Check out the video:


I find the whole idea of food styling to be fascination, but the hottest piece of this video was Margaret, the professional hand model. Listening to her describe how to do the "perfect cheese pull" is magical.

Hungry?

Summer Friday: "Puff on This, Bitch! You Just Got Iced!"

Every Friday between Memorial Day and Labor Day I'm going to be featuring guest bloggers as a part of my "Summer Fridays" series. This week's entry comes from comedienne Kara Klenk, who analyzes America's hottest new drinking game.

Summer is barely here, and mine has already been chock-full of weddings (read: open bar), dining al fresco (read: boozing), and trying to soak up as much sunshiny park time as possible (read: flasks). Hold off on the intervention, I’m just stating the simple fact that summer encourages more drinking than the other seasons.

For those of you who’d like to add a competitive edge to your summer nights (or days, go ahead, I’m not judging) there is a new phenomenon that has burst through the frat house doors and is infecting the mainstream like Beiber Fever. It’s call "Icing", and if you haven’t heard of it, let me ‘splain it to you. Basically, one person "ices" another when he/she finds a creative way to present another person with a Smirnoff Ice. The rules are below:


The game was popularized by the web site, which has sadly been shut down, but previously cataloged user-submitted evidence of great "ices" in history. It’s the fun of devising a plan to catch someone off guard with a Smirnoff Ice Raspberry Burst that makes this game kind of hilarious. Before the site went down I saw a couple photos of someone getting iced at his wedding and another of someone's toiletry drawer with a Smirnoff Ice resting inside next to an inhaler with a note that read, "Puff on this, bitch! You just got iced!"

World Flags Made from Food

Today is Flag Day here in the United States... Did you know that? Well, if you didn't you should know that "in the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777." Thank you, Wikipedia.

So for all those vexillology enthusiasts out there, check out some international flags created with food associated with that country.


Italy


France


Japan
You can check out all the foodie flags here if you're interested! Who's hungry?

New Snack Obsession: CUPS Cookies

Attention, possessors of sweet tooths (teeth?)! I am moderately obsessed with these small, but mighty treats taking over the Big Apple. They're called CUPS Cookies and let me tell you -- they are delicious.


CUPS Cookies NYC

Don't let the name or the photos fool you, these tiny confections are actually small, soft cookies shaped like cupcakes and topped with yummy flavored icing. Cute, right?

The cookies are not only set apart by their look, but by their unique flavors. Check out the sample dozen that I received:

I Want to Go to There: Cupcake Cannon

This combines two of my favorite things in the world: Cupcakes and slow motion! Check out this awesome video of people getting blasted in the face with treats from designer Johnny Cupcakes.

Vegetarians, Beware! The Web Just Got Bacon-ier!

A recent study shows that eating bacon can improve your memory, which may explain why I have the most amazing memory IN THE WORLD! Or clogged arteries... whatever.

Perhaps this same memory-boosting magic will also work on the world wide web with this site: Baconlicio.us. All you have to do is put your favorite site's URL after the Baconlicio.us link and your site will forever be bacon-ified!

This site looks so beautiful with a big slab of bacon on top of it. And I couldn't help but be totally rude and bacon-ify a vegetarian website.


I'm the worst.

In other bacon-related news I also recently acquired these delicious looking (not tasting) bacon magnets from the Design Dude.


I love bacon.