My Picks from Stereogum’s 50 Most Anticipated Albums Of 2011

Photo via The Village Voice

Ok, I know Cake isn't even on the top 50 list, but I'm really excited because they haven't released a new album in 7 years!  

Here are the other bands off Stereogum's list that excite me:  

• 02 Fiona Apple – TBA

• 09 Cut Copy – Zonoscope (2/08 via Modular)

• 10 Death Cab For Cutie – TBA (via Atlantic)

• 13 Dr. Dre – Detox (February via Aftermath/Interscope)

• 15 Foo Fighters – TBA

• 18 Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean (1/25 via Warner Bros.)

• 21 Lady Gaga – Born This Way (Interscope) - I've been a fan ever since I heard Bad Romance at a gay birthday party (really, all the guys were gay and knew all the lyrics to her song.  To this day, I have never seen so many well-dressed, attractive men all in one room) and on Glee.

• 22 Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes (3/1 via LL Recordings)

• 35 Radiohead – TBA (via Teh Internetz)

• 37 The Rome (Danger Mouse & Daniele Lupi) – The Rome

• 38 Santigold – TBA - great first album.  Can't wait to hear more from her

• 39 The Shins – TBA

• 43 The Strokes – TBA - I'm hoping they incorporate some of Julian Casablancas' sound

• 48 Kanye West & Jay-Z – Watch The Throne (via Def Jam)

HONORABLE MENTIONS & SPECULATIONS:

• Akron/Family – S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT (2/8 via Dead Oceans)
• Beck – TBA
• Cake – Showroom Of Compassion (1/11 via Upbeat)
• The Get Up Kids – There Are Rules (via Quality Hill Records)
• Gorillaz – TBA
• Jane’s Addiction – TBA

Sound Bites 5.0: Osteria La Buca @ Mid-City LA

I first heard of Osteria La Buca when I read about the co-owner's mother leaving to start up Osteria Mamma.  I've driven by Osteria La Buca so many times and finally got the chance to try the food when I was invited by HC and Dan Cox last month when the restaurant was painted pink to promote National Breast Cancer Awareness. 

An electric motorcycle is used to make food deliveries. (Photo by Julie Wolfson via LAist)

My Favorites:

• Pink Italian Rose Sangria - light and refreshing cocktail
• Burrata, Prosciutto, Heirloom Tomatoes - I couldn't stop eating the tomatoes and who doesn't like prosciutto? 
  
  
• Garlic Roasted Kale, Tomato, Fig Flat Bread Pizza - the kale was so tasty, I wish each slice had more of it.  The fig was a sweet surprise
• Osso Buco Risotto - is a lot for one person to eat, but great for sharing family style
• Tiramisu - was surprisingly light and I adored the topping design
  

  

  Photo by Jennio

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Dishing Up Delights
EstarLA
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Sound Bites 4.0: Magnolia Bakery, Hatfield's @ Mid-City LA

Magnolia Bakery
I can't believe how fast Caroline on Crack  and BrandX wrote about the Magnolia Bakery preview.  They posted the very next day!  I, on the other hand, am very behind.  Check out Caroline on Crack's post for details about the cupcake and prosecco party and BrandX for some great photos. 

I was unaware of the free valet for the event, so I ended up parking a few blocks away.  I'm not sure if valet will always be free, but it should be available.  And if you'd prefer to just make a quick stop, there will be curbside pickup. 

HC and I felt like kids in a cupcake shop (to quote Caroline on Crack) when we were told we could try anything on display. 

HC's overwhelmed by sweet choices. 
Love the idea of cupcakes in an egg carton.
(Paying tribute to HC's new love of collages on his blog)

Some of what we tried:

• Banana pudding - it was fluffy and ice cream-like, minus the ice
• Brownie bites
• S'mores cupcake 
• Double crust apple pie - which is one of my favorite kinds of pies and the crust on this one was amazing
• Lemon cornmeal shortbread
• Pumpkin cupcake
• The classic ice box cake 

My favorites:

• Blueberry Jamboree ice box pie - not overbearingly sweet or heavy
• Red velvet with a chocolate cookie crust mini cheesecake - having red velvet in cheesecake form WITH a chocolate crust just blew my mind with deliciousness
  
  

What I took home (Sidenote:  I only asked for the cookies and red velvet, but they were so nice when they offered to include the other desserts that I just couldn't turn them down!):

• Chocolate chunk cookie
• Oatmeal cookie
• Pumpkin pecan with gingersnap crust mini cheesecake
• Red velvet mini cheesecake - it was my favorite! I couldn't resist having another piece
• Double crust apple pie 
• Vanilla cupcake and chocolate cupcake - included in a lovely pastel green eco-friendly goody bag (also sold in-store).  I only had a chance to take a bite of the rich dark chocolate

What I have to go back and try:

• White chocolate macadamia mini cheesecake - I wanted to try this so badly because it's my favorite type of cookie, but I felt guilty after having so many sweets
• Snickers ice box pie - I was told this was delicious

Hatfield's
After having sweets for dinner, we met up with Caroline on Crack and John, so HC could their Manhattan a second shot.  I had a Ginger Grant, which was refreshing.  I have to rave about how fantastic the popcorn at the bar is.  I went through 2 bowls, leaving HC with hardly any. 

Photo by HC

Danny Elfman & Tim Burton 25th Anniversary Music Box Limited Edition Set

Photo via Slashfilm

What?!   

Warner Bros has announced the release of the Danny Elfman & Tim Burton 25th Anniversary Music Box, a limited edition set which celebrates 25 years of creative collaboration between the duo. The box set features more than 19 hours of music, including fan-requested expansions of 13 film scores (in CD cases featuring artwork created by Burton), plus seven hours of previously unreleased music, a Tim Burton-designed USB skeleton Flash Drive containing MP3s of the whole collection, and a bonus DVD featuring an exclusive conversation between Elfman and Burton. -via Slashfilm

I want this so badly, but why does it have to cost $500?!  Christmas gift?  Anyone?  Please?

Sound Bites 3.0: The Woods, Dumont Burger @ Brooklyn, NY

I don't claim to be a food connoisseur (honestly I haven't eaten at even half the amount of restaurants that LA's most popular food bloggers have eaten at), but I think hanging with HC has made my palate a bit more particular.  Since I've become more interested in cuisine lately, I thought I could make some future posts, dubbed Sound Bites (formerly Savor the Sounds), about my forays into food writing.  Again, I'm not an expert, these are just my opinions.

The Woods

Photo via NY Press

We were wandering around Brooklyn (my first time in a borough other than Manhattan) and stumbled upon The Woods.  It was late afternoon and we entered because the decor we saw through the open window looked cool.  I was sick, so I was very disappointed I couldn't have a drink here, but they offer beers and alcohol minus the frills.  The place felt like it was a flea market, but with alcohol.  Liquor lined the shelves along with trinkets like animal skulls and odd statues.  It had a hip neighborhood bar kind of feel and a fantastic patio filled with picnic tables and benches merged with planters.

Photo by Plate of the Day

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Free Williamsburg


DuMont Burger

DuMont Mini Burger

I had the Dumont Mini Burger with sauteed mushrooms and fries.  Don't know why no one else has ever thought to cover their burger with grilled brioche.  The meat and mushrooms were so simple and delicious together.  Matt and his cousin both said it was the best burger they've ever had.  I think I have to agree.  I wasn't sure at the time, but even now I still can't think of having had a better burger.  The fries were kind of sweet and definitely the backup singers to the Beyonce of burgers, but that was alright because after the burger (even though it was a mini), I could barely eat anything else. 

More:
Chowhound
A Hamburger Today
NY Times
nyc.com
Plate of the Day