There’s a series on youtube called “Cooking with Dog,” which is a “Japanese” cooking show in which a poodle of placid temperament named Francis sits beside the human demonstrator and narrates the action in a thick Japanese accent. They have about 35 Japanese dishes so far that you can learn to make.

Some hunches I have:

1. This is not made in Japan. You can get away with anything crazy by saying it’s from Japan. This was produced and directed in NJ, and the voice of Francis is probably performed by a Tisch graduate named Saul Goldstein.
2. The producers are playing off of this very very strange video of poodle aerobics
3. Eventually we will figure out what viral product this is selling
4. This will have its own show on Adult Swim soon

Be all of that as it may, here’s the video:

David Ortiz has just opened Big Papi’s Grille in Framingham, MA, which is an “upscale casual restaurant is designed to appeal to a wide audience,” featuring high end steaks and kobe burgers.

Big Papi’s Grill was originally Metro 9 Steak House, at which the Ortiz family habitually dined. “When David mentioned his passion for great food, the idea to change Metro 9 was spawned,” said Peter Sarmanian, president of Classic Restaurant Concepts, the company behind Metro 9.

From the press release:

The restaurant will continue to offer the high quality, “natural” steaks currently offered at the Metro 9 Steak House. However, the menu will be greatly expanded to offer a wide variety of entrées, including salads, pasta, and gourmet burgers with handcut fries. The menu will also feature a sampling of David’s favorites, such as Dominican rice, plantain crusted cod and the Dominican Chimichurri burger. David’s new sauces – from mild to hot – are in several of the recipes and will be available for purchase at the restaurant. The bar will feature an extensive wine list of more than 100+ wines, 8 beers on tap and, of course, Glaceau’s vitaminwater.

Big Papi’s Grille opens daily at 4:00 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling 508.620.9990 or via opentable.com.

On July 29, there will be a Latin jazz concert by Alex Alvear and  Manguito at Cafe Flamepoeira in the North End. The concert will be accompanied by a food and wine pairing from South America.

Kerri Platt, the owner of the The Wine Bottega will talk about South American wine and facilitate a tasting. During intermission, guests will have a chance to talk with band members as well as the wine expert.

Food will include mango salad with avocado, goat cheese, mixed greens (the band is  called Mango Blue or Manguito), baked plantains with cream sauce,  Ecuadorian style chicken with rice and beans, South American pastries, and blueberry filled dumplings!

Here are the details:

Enjoy live music with Alex Alvear & Manguito accompanied by a great dinner with a guided tour of fine Argentinian wine

Laugh, meet new people and make new friends in the artistic, intimate atmosphere of
Cafe Flamepoeira one of the North End’s hottest new spots

tickets
$35 includes concert, food, wine
$55 includes concert food wine and gift bag with artist’s CD and bottle of wine

BE SURE TO GET TICKETS IN ADVANCE AS THE SPACE ONLY HOLDS 40 PEOPLE
Tickets available online: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/72838
or e-mail evabstn@aol.com
or call 617.650.4553

The Olecito in Kenmore square should hopefully be opening August 10th.

A funny little piece from The Onion:

Now for the record, here’s the actual ingredients for Taco Bell’s beef from their ingredients sheet:

Beef, Seasoned

Beef, Water, Seasoning [Isolated Oat Product, Salt, Chili Pepper, Onion Powder, Tomato Powder, Oats, Soy Lecithin, Toasted Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Maltodextrin, Sugar, Soybean Oil (Antidusting Agent), Black Pepper, Oregano, Cumin, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Lactic Acid, Natural Flavors, Natural Smoke Flavor, Modified Corn Starch], Salt, Sodium Phosphate.
Contains Soybean