So goes the chorus to Mr. Kanye West's song "So Appalled" featured on his critically-acclaimed album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
This would also be an apt description for the latest rendering of my own beautiful dark twisted fantasy, also known as, Friday Night Bites.
True to form, it was decided day of, to make this soiree a reality. I gmailed the group around mid-afternoon, and sent them hunting for grill-able seafood. I had no idea what I had unleashed with this request.
Haircut and I had kicked around the idea of doing a seafood-centric FNB the previous week, after discovering that the Eagle Rock Farmer's Market offers a panoply of freshly caught ocean meats. And while I'm fairly certain no one ascertained their bringings from the ERFM for this episode, we still ended up having a a superb selection.
Matt arrived first. He decided to walk over the hill from his house to mine, but forgot that route was mostly uphill, and upon his arrival, was in dire need of a glass of water... which I gladly provided... for a nominal fee.
He brought with him separate bags of various parts of a Loligo Opalescens. No, he had not killed, cleaned, and dismembered the Greek god of seafood. That is simply the scientific name for... well, take a look at the following pictures and SEA if you can deduce:
SQUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIID! Thats right. Matt traveled to a secret subterranean Asian seafood market which exists below the Target on Colorado Street in Glendale. While navigating those clandestine labyrinths, some evil madness took hold of him and he made the decision to purchase a bonafide squid. At the very least Matt must have saved a few Sperm Whales from certain doom (squid eat them, right?).
The Grill lighting ceremonies were rewarded with the inferno-like talents of Mr. Mike Skvarla. Already an accomplished writer/editor, Mike took to igniting the charcoal like Kurt Russell in Back Draft. Kinda makes you wonder if the art world would be dealing in priceless 'Skvarla's had he lived during the Renaissance.
The Squid grilled up nicely. You can see here that Matt skewered the tentacles, and then we just threw the hood parts and the 'halo' over the fire as if they were common steaks.
Of course, Haircut couldn't help himself from making reference to the great Dr. Zoidberg.
In my opinion the squid tasted like squid. That is, it had a fishy, rubbery taste. The smokiness of the grill added a nice component, but I'm still taking mine in the form of fried calamari. Matt did discover that the grilled squid served as a nice vehicle for condiments, i.e. dips, hot sauces. Matt annihilated those tentacles.
Ok so moving on from the squid. I should note that this was by far our most populous FNB to date. We were graced with the presence several new team members. Erin Lebre, Mikey Skvarla, Justin, and James Martinez all made it out for the Seafood episode.
In addition to the squid we had a couple fishes. Matt brought Sole (Yes, we all tasted Matt's SOUL) and Haircut brought an exquisite cut of Salmon.
We also marinated and roasted in the oven (i know, i know...we went 'off-grill) a medley of fresh vegetables.
While working as a Jedi-Level Makeup artist during the day, Erin is also a brownie Ninja. She came through big time with a surprise dessert of amazing brownies. I had also picked up some Vanilla Ice cream and a few Mexican pastries earlier that day. Clockwork.
After dessert everyone looked sufficiently gorged. Mike began to hallucinate and Matt received a massage. Photo evidence? You betcha!
If that wasn't enough, Justin (at 30 years old, the elder of the Martinez Bros.) was so overcome with confusion by his colossal food intake, that he attempted to grill a paper plate.
Life can be, sometimes, ridiculous.
One Love.
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