Shots for Bordem: The Train Simulation

I’m going to start out by saying you shouldn’t do this. It was a bad idea, influenced by beer and severe bordem, that shouldn’t be repeated unless you desire punishment. Or maybe some excitment.

My roommates and I had a habit of trying to find the worst possible youtube videos, and one day we stumbled upon real-time screen cap videos of people playing Microsoft Train Simulator. With no added sound. Why would anyone want to watch this crap? Oooo cool, he pulled into the side track to let the freight train go by… for 5 minutes. This deserved its own drink:

1 part Kahluha for the track
1 part Vodka for the fuel
1 part chocolate whey protein body-building powder for the gravel

Shake over ice, drink immediately before it congeals/settles/turns.

Imagine taking shots of sickly sweet chocolate sand, and you’ll understand why you should/should not do this. Toot Toot.

Review: The Gilded Otter / New Paltz

 

 

SUNY is like a giant squid stretching its arms across the towns and cities of New York, touching each of them with the infectious ink of college life. My favorite SUNY to visit is SUNY New Paltz, because it has a beautiful surrounding town that manages to be both artsy and truly local in ways which are, unfortunately, difficult to find around Ramapo.  

Climb some apple trees after the break…

Avoid the Ramen Diet

Lots of college students and young people living on their own eat like crap. Just own up to it, no excuses. Some people are pretty empty pocketed at this stage in their life, which is understandable, but no one can stay healthy on ramen and tap water. I like to budget thinking that some of my monies destine to entertain myself get added into food. I kinda find some zen in cooking for myself, and get healthy and tastey results. Well… at least vegetables and identifiable protein sources are involved kinda healthy.

If you were never taught how to cook at home, it might seem like a high mountain to climb. But you can always start with a basic cookbook, and just start making things that sound good to your tummy. Here is a great list of cook book recomendations from the NYTimes (free to sign up for if it prompts you for a log in). Steal/beg/borrow from the library, scrimp and save, just please for all that is tasty avoid eating ramen more than twice a week.

The best sandwich in America?

As mentioned earlier, I’m a recent college grad. This lends itself to going to grad parties. Grad parties lend themselves to a few late night drinks. And a few late night drinks leads to sleeping on the floor and waking up sore, confused, and with a stomach that hates you.

Like most the best things in the USA, the solution comes in automobile form (more or less). The solution after the jump.

Set Sail to New Ports of Call: College is Over!

Today I wrapped up my last assignment of my Senior year in college, a photo essay about NJ Senate Republican candidate Murray Sabrin. The essay will be posted shortly on my portfolio site, www.jameshoude.com As always, fell free to contact me about jobs, freelancing, or if you’re passing out free food or money. All aspiring journalists need those things. Just as statistically, most journalists need a drink. Classy review after the jump.

Look at the thick clingy legs on that one

Malee Thai Restaurant

This article appeared in the 3/08/08 issue of The Ramapo News!

By Jess Dutschmann and James Houde, Staff Writers

James: Reading a popular local food blog the other day, I for some reason decided we should check out Malee Thai in Ridgewood. Before this, I knew nothing of Thai food other than an ill fated attempt by a roommate at westernized Pad Thai involving peanut butter. So I did what any college kid would do, I took a crash course in culture at Wikipedia University. I learned that Thai cuisine focuses on harmony of flavor to dishes, makes heavy use of fresh herbs unfamiliar to the west, and that the leader of the Thai junta claimed that the insurgency in his country is being financed by restaurants in Malaysia selling Tom Yam Kung soup. Sometimes I don’t trust the internet.

East Tokyo Hibachi and Sushi Review

This review originally appeared in the Ramapo News, March 20 2008

Jess: Poor college kids. Half price sushi, what could go wrong? A lot could go wrong. Things you couldn’t imagine could go wrong. The things I’ve seen gone wrong with raw fish. At East Tokyo Hibachi and Sushi’s half price sushi night nothing actually went wrong. It was all delicious, cheap, nutritious, and—dare I say—fun? Every Thursday at East Tokyo, there is a special menu of selected half priced rolls and sushi.

The Green Beer with A Goat

James: On a beer run this weekend, all other purchase possibilities melted away when I saw this. It’s Genesee Bock Beer: Special Edition, from the same brewers that make Genesee Cream Ale. It was probably the most interestingly flavored canned beer I ever had, with a good amount of maltiness without too much sweetness. It’s also the darkest cheap canned beer I’ve ever had. How long will it be around? Why is it a special edition? Who knows, the website on it doesn’t exist and and there is no mention of the Bock on the main Genesee site.

Jess: Having also tried another “high end” canned beer, Dale’s Pale Ale, I actually would say this one’s a bit more drinkable than the Dale’s. It’s also hilariously kitschy which I really dig. Definately worth the price, if only for the adorible goat. Though it is a little bit too cute, as though they’re marketing it to kids…

Final Word:

A recommendation for someone wanting to give Pabst a rest for a week and try something new. $8.00 a grin inducing 12-pack, rating a 6/10

Excessive Mastication: Crossing the State Line

This review originally appeared in The Ramapo News

Jess: So we’re going to that place. You’ve all been there, most of you at least. Some of you in the morning with your parents, some of you in the evenings with friends. It’s not the Birch. It’s not the Pavilion. It’s our green-and-chrome platedfriend, the diner of choice at Ramapo. I ordered a diet cola from our friendly waiter, and with a wink and a grin we selected our appetizers.