Cooking recipes

Like any warm-blooded, judgmental, self-involved girl, I love Fridays, what with their promise of the weekend and so much untainted optimism, but I have to admit I like Thursday just a little bit better. Yes, part of it is because it reminds me of the days when Friends was still on NBC, but its also because, lets face it, Thursday is the real last day of the work week, which means its the perfect night for trying a new restaurant with some old friends. And that, dear Cupcult, is exactly what I did last night with my friends Katie and P.K. at former Top Chef contestant Mike Isabellas newest DC hotspot, Bandolero.

Bandolero is D.C.s answer to Mexican cuisine. FINALLY!!!!! Whats sad is that it took a Top Chef to match the cooking abilities of untrained Mexican grandmothers. Cest la vie...or however you say it in Spanish. (Is that offensive? Mexican food is my favoriteeeeeeeee. The last thing I wanna do is piss off anyone who makes it. Actually, to be specific, I mean anyone who makes authentic Mexican food. That clears it up, right???)

So, when the three of us sat down at our table, Katie immediately suggested we order the guacamole. Being as the restaurant is so piss-poor lit and I couldnt read the menu without using my cell phone as a flashlight, I readily agreed. When it came out, I realized the guacamole vehicles were not mere tortilla chips like so many pedestrian restaurants might provide. Instead, Bandolero took things 5 steps further and paired it with crispy housemade pork rinds.
Like Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, these two things should never NOT be together. Whats more, the appetizer was entirely paleo, making the guac and pork rinds at Bandolero my official Friday Fun Find for the week.

Do you use anything unusual as a dip vessel? How do you feel about pork rinds? Do they creep you out or do you think of them as super crunchy bacon?? 

Last weekend, I found myself in Barnes & Noble, which is highly unusual considering books are for nerds. I justified my bookstore appearance by buying only books with pictures in them (two cookbooks, "Are You There, Vodka? Its Me, Chelsea", and "The Hunger Games," which I understand doesnt have pictures but was written for people with a 10th grade vocabulary, so I figure it still counts).

So, anyway, I was adding the Bitchin Kitchen cookbook to my haul when I spotted a table lined with books and a sign proclaiming they were half off. Never one to pass up a good sale, I wandered over to see how else I could flush my hard earned money down the toilet. And then, I spotted it, like a shining beacon of light, guiding me home: Lady Gaga by Terry Richardson.

Perhaps youll remember having heard about this coffee table book during the trainwreck of an interview Mindy Kaling did with Bill Clinton on the Today show last month. You see, Mindy followed the assignment, which was to recommend books youd give for Christmas presents, while Bill was under the impression they were sharing "books that make you look like an erudite douchebag." But anyway, this book made her list, and between that, the fact that this book was, well, all previously unseen pictures of Mother Monster, and a WHOPPING 50% off (making it $25), I knew I had to have it. Having spent a couple hours just flipping through page after page of striking photos, I knew it would be this weeks Friday Fun Find.
There are lots of pictures of Gaga just being Stephanie and doing boring things like brushing her teeth and working out, which I like a lot.
 Ever wondered what Mother Monsters mother looks like? Shes this lady!!!
 I can totally see the resemblance, dont you??
Ive heard Gaga mention shes a big fan of Bikram. What I havent heard her say is that she likes to do it wearing a see-through bra. (P.S. Brace yourself for lots of Gaga T n A. I feel closer to her than ever after this book.)