Music | Dogs save the world for Swedish House Mafia

The Heroes

Swedish House Mafia still on One Last Tour.

Movies | Iconic Rita Hayworth

But my favorite picture of Rita is this one with her spaniel, Pookles, 

from "Women & Dogs: A personal history from Marilyn to Madonna" by Judith Watt & Peter Dyer

Photo © Getty-Images | Text – Judith Watt & Peter Dyer

Food | Tonkatsu serendipity

Couple of days ago, I had an urge to ‘clean up’ my virtual acumen, but what it resulted in was revisiting blogs, sites, diverting to new blogs and sites, establishing a new social link, checking out the current social links, wondering if I should look at or follow new links, adding new ‘Likes’, subscribing … put simply, the opposite of ‘clean up’. The intention was there but not the will. One of the blogs I revisited was Japanina’s Food Corner: Tasty Tonkatsu! One of my favorite Japanese cooked dishes, no doubt because it reminds me of my home’s comfort food. Tonkatsu is a breaded, deep fried cutlet similar to the Italian cotoletta, Polish kotlet schabowy, Austrian or German or Israeli schnitzel, or any other national variant. What makes tonkatsu different for me is the use of panko and the serving style of washoku, that is with rice, miso soup and tsukemono. This is when I started wondering what Francis the Dog and Chef de Francis are up to. Lo and behold, the video featured at their YouTube site was of how to make katsudon: tonkatsu finished off with cooked egg and served on rice. Tonkatsu! Of all things! If the craving continues, I will have to do something about it.

Here is the Cooking with Dog version, but if the egg part doesn’t grab you then see Japanina’s version, one I prefer.

Cooking with Dog

Now that you are done with being disgusted, have an actual look at the Cooking with Dog channel on YouTube.  Laughing yet? That’s right, “it’s not what you think…” Francis the Dog is the host of the show.  This silver gray poodle presides like a master of ceremonies over the preparation-cooking space and talks you through all the recipes that Chef de Francis, the lovely Japanese lady, prepares with such ease, dexterity and simplicity that you shouldn’t be surprised if you decide to give it a go. At the very least, you will salivate.  The flow is no doubt enhanced by Chopin’s ‘Minute Waltz’ playing in the background in every episode. Francis’ favorite music. Highly addictive!

How to Make Bento (Japanese Boxed Lunch)

Hail to YouTube! Yet again. Fear not. ‘Cooking with Dog’ will make it worth your while. Classical music in the background. Touches of quirky kitchen creativity.

どうぞめしあがれ

(douzo meshiagare)