Errands and a Hebrew Hammer

[magid]

After work, I had a round of errands to do. I stopped at Paper and Provisions for the first time in ages (Wolf, I forgot to mention: last time I was there, the guy asked after you.). I thought I might get a vast can of pumpkin, but they were out. Next time.

Then to Russo's, right around the corner. It's my favorite produce store, by far. I browsed the winter squashes outside, and thought about having a squash tasting, though that could get involved. Would anyone be interested? I passed the Brussels sprouts, and couldn't quite face having such large ones, compared to the tiny button ones from the farm. In another week or two, perhaps.

Inside, I found that they've moved the leafy greens section. I hadn't been sure what green vegetable I wanted to make for Shabbat dinner, but couldn't resist the baby bok choy. And there were oyster mushrooms, too. So, onions, mushrooms, and bok choy for a green vegetable dish. I was also interested to find a couple of kinds of tofu, packaged differently than I've seen elsewhere, kosher. Oh, and that lovely brand of Canadian yogurt that has fruit and grains in it. It's the same price as at Bread&Circus (really, it's a much better name than Whole Foods), though.

I asked a woman who was chosing an Odd Asian Vegetable what she does with it, and heard that it gets boiled. Every time I'm in there, I cruise that section, thinking I should really just buy some odd thing I've not seen before, and try it out.

Chanaleh coordinated a huge outing to see The Hebrew Hammer, part of the Boston Jewish Film Festival. I got my ticket from ABlock, and waited in a huge line outside, listening to some kvetching due to the cutting wind, and a song or two by Honorable Menschen.

I hadn't been in the Coolidge's main theater in a while; it's a beautiful place. There's something about the curtain parting for a movie that is just classy.

Anyway. The movie itself is hilarious, over-the-top silliness, as the Hebrew Hammer, acting as an agent for the Jewish Justice League, and with considerable help from the Kwanzaa Liberation Front, moves to get the new, patricidal Santa out of his job. There are so many riffs on classic movies and TV shows, not to mention classic Jewish and (black? African-American? who knows what's PC anymore?) stereotypes, it's impossible to remember them all. I'd love to see it again with friends.

I didn't stay for the Q&A with the director afterward; it was too late for me as it was. Sigh.

edit 1420
I knew there were more things I'd wanted to mention about the movie. I haven't heard that much laughter in a movie theater in a long time; I missed more dialogue than I'd like to admit because of that. I do remember one point when I couldn't help laughing, and no one else thought whatever was onscreen at that time particularly guffaw-worthy. I wish I remembered what it was.

Santa/Tiny Tim. Need I say more?

Oh, and the desert they used was obviously American, not Israeli. I hadn't really thought about how different they are before, but it's so noticeable. (Not that I fault them; it's a relatively low-budget film and all. I just found it enough jarring that it brought me out of the story for a little bit.)

Oh, and the Jewish-themed ride didn't strike me as funny enough to be in the movie, really. But I suspect that's just me.

Comments

Mmmmm, squash

[queue.livejournal.com]

I'd be interested. Were you thinking of just roasting each squash and having the tasting that way? Or were you thinking more like cook each of them in a different dish? Or maybe jsut plain squash with some form of sweet or spicy accent (maple syrup, tobasco, etc.)?

Re: Mmmmm, squash

[magid.livejournal.com]

I thought that having them all cooked the same plain way (roasted or baked, neat), for taste/texture/mouthfeel comparison, would work best.
Which is not to say that there couldn't be a squash-heavy menu alongside, just that I wouldn't mind having more of an idea of the fine squashly distinctions.

(And maybe it'll give me the gumption to buy a Hubbard squash. Those things are huge!)

[infinitehotel.livejournal.com]

I'd be all for a squash tasting, particularly if we could define squash loosely and sample some of the various cooking pumpkins.

(Still need to get the smoker running and do some smoked pumpkin before the snow comes...)

[queue.livejournal.com]

No need to be loose with definitions. A pumpkin (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pumpkin) is a squash (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=squash).

[infinitehotel.livejournal.com]

I'm aware, but you'd be amazed at the difference in leftovers if you try to serve someone squash pie instead of pumpkin pie.

[queue.livejournal.com]

You know, I think I like squash pie just as much as pumpkin pie. For me, it's all about the texture and the spices, not the taste of pumpkin over other squash. Feel free to float squash pie leftovers my way :-)

[magid.livejournal.com]

You'd eat a floating squash pie?

[queue.livejournal.com]

I would eat it if it floats.
I would eat it with some oats.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Would you eat it in a boat?
Would you eat it with a goat?

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

Would you, could you in a tote?
Would you, could you in your coat?

[magid.livejournal.com]

Could you, could you, in a moat?
Could you, would you, with a quote?

Would you, could you, with a stoat?
Would you, could you, as you vote?

[magid.livejournal.com]

My mom made squash pie some years, pumpkin pie other years, and so I never thought that they'd be different enough to make someone quibble about it.

Mmmm... pie...

[infinitehotel.livejournal.com]

Near as I can tell, they taste almost identical. People just have weird perceptions. Though in terms of advertising, "Pumpkin Pie" does have much more seasonal resonance than "Squash Pie." One sounds all homey and autumnal, the other sounds like something mom made because it was good for you. :)

[magid.livejournal.com]

I think some of it is the ingrained alliteration that everyone expects.

[geekosaur]

How can anyone tell? All you can taste is the spice anyway. :/ (I like pumpkin prepared as a squash; I'm not so fond of pumpkin pie, though, it's usually way too heavily spiced.)

[magid.livejournal.com]

Interesting; I like pumpkin as itself and in pie, but they're different enough in my head that I don't mind the spices (or, perhaps I've not run into an aggressively spiced pie).

[magid.livejournal.com]

As Queue pointed out, pumpkins are squashes too. I'd be glad to include different kinds of pumpkins. Depending on how many squash-tasters there were, you might get some leftovers for smoking. (I'd never thought of smoked pumpkin before. It sounds intriguing.)

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

Hey, I miss the place but I haven't had the time to drive out there yet. If Tigerlily doesn't do it tomorrow there's always this Friday...