Reversible Type

I was reading this month's issue of Wired with a friend when we came across a small piece on Ambigrams, a new trend in typography that involves lettering which can be flipped and reversed while maintaining its message. Here's an example that I really like:


As cool a concept as this is, Ambigrams have been largely contained within the graffiti style, sticking to street lettering (perhaps a bit more flexible to work with). I'm looking forward to seeing how Ambigrams are used creatively for design purposes--and in different styles, perhaps more modern and glam. I can see restaurants using them creatively on interesting menus, and this site has started combining couples' names into a single Ambigram which has some interesting potential as well. Call it an early trend-spot, but I have a feeling these will become a bit more mainstream in the months ahead.

Budget Finds: Scarpetta Special

It takes a special occasion for me to break the Budget Finds $25 budget, but today that occasion takes the shape of Scarpetta's 1 Year Anniversary. For those of you who don't spend your whole day reading food news, Scarpetta is one of NYC's biggest, most recognized, most sought-after restaurants of 2008--and even a year later, its tables are often fully booked a month in advance. However, it seems a few lucky diners may be able to score a table next week, from May 4-8, when Scarpetta will be celebrating its first birthday with a special $50 4-course menu with wine pairings. If Restaurant Week is supposed to be a budget find, think about it this way: for $15 extra, you get an extra full course and four glasses of wine. I'm thinking that in itself is good cause for celebration.

Make your reservation (with an open mind for late dinners, of course) by calling 212-691-0555. (Ask nicely and make sweet conversation as I did to shoot for better seatings!)

Link of the Day

There may have been confusion recently about why Ruth Reichl (personal hero and editrex of Gourmet) had been dressed up as Gene Simmons at the Four Seasons a few weeks ago, but all that was cleared up today when the eds at the glorified food pub released this quirky little video. Whether they're trying to appeal to a younger crowd or simply trying to get a few laughs, I'm not sure. But this is too great not to share with all you!


I'm not able to embed the video here, but hit this little link to see the 2 minute clip--it's a good laugh, foodie or not.

Recipe Lust -- Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Didja miss me? It's been a few days... and I'm sorry! Coming down with nasty head colds really takes away Red's appetite. But thankfully that's been restored over the short little break. Given the weather (topping 90 before May??), I think everyone's thinking about ice cream, but I'm thinking about something a little different--Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes! No recipe here, just a pretty picture and some tasty ideas for you to play with this beautiful spring week...


To make your own, whip up your favorite cake batter and pour it into flat-bottomed cones. Bake as usual, and frost! I'm thinking red velvet with raspberry-laced creamcheese icing and dusting of cocoa or vanilla cake with strawberry buttercream and sprinkles. What can I say? I've got berries on my mind. But be warned--you won't want to fill those cones all the way or they'll spill over!

Budget Finds: Eco-Friendly Aluminum Water Bottles

Every day, one of the first things I do when I get to the office is refill my 1L Poland Springs water bottle and plop it on my desk, with every intention of finishing it by noon. While my coworkers tend to buy new bottles on a near daily basis, mine is reused over and over again--up until the point that the label starts falling off and the poor thing can no longer withstand my constant use. Seeing as that it's Earth Day, I'm thinking about taking my recycling to the next step--eliminating the damn plastic thing for once and for all (and hopefully convincing my coworkers to do the same).

These aluminum bottles from SIGG are designed with both aesthetic and functionality in mind, but they're at the very top of my Budget Finds price range, clocking in at 21.99 for 0.6L bottles and $24.99 for 1L ones.


Though the SIGG ones are really quite beautiful, this one from Muji does the trick just fine at a far cheaper price--just under $6.

Free Stuff!

Good morning, readers! I wanted to get to you bright and early today to make sure you could take advantage of two treats that spring is bearing! Starting at noon at most locations today, Ben and Jerry's will be giving away a free scoop of ice cream! Dunkin Donuts, too, is in on the fun, with 50-cent iced coffee day! Notice the exclamation marks people, this is big news. Enjoy!

Recipe Lust -- Shells with Creamy Basil-Tarragon Pistou

With the sudden arrival (and equally sudden, albeit fleeting, disappearing) of Spring, the food media has bombarded me with things that I should be excited about: RAMPS! RAMPS! RAMPS!

But there's something else I'm really eager to play with--something I've been thinking about since Carla's highest moment of accomplishment on Top Chef last season--fresh peas.

This recipe makes great use of our newly arrived spring vegetable du jour, and seeing as that I still haven't eaten pasta since Passover, this may be due its turn in my kitchen sometime real soon.


Click here for a beautiful springy recipe for Shells with Creamy Basil-Tarragon Pistou and Sweet Peas, but be warned--you might end up hungry!