Food and rock n' roll have become a pop culture PB & J-- two completely different items obviously made for each other. Celebrity chefs are apparently the new rock stars (Batali, Puck, Colicchio); rock stars are delving into the food scene (did you see the Foo Fighters/the Bravery on Top Chef?). Well, guess what? Your favorite music and food got married at Lollapalooza 2010. 

I bought my $90 one-day Friday pass long ago. The line-up included some of my favorite bands of the moment: Big Pink, Devo, the New Pornographers, Dirty Projectors, Black Keys, Hot Chip and Lady Gaga. Yes, I opted for Gaga over the Strokes. Tough choice; I was pleased with my decision to go with the spectacle (see Gaga's Poker Face performance here... tame compared to everything else she did). 

But had I not liked the bands, I'd have been satisfied by the food alone. Lolla's Chow Town offered a culinary mixed tape I'd gladly blast in my car. Round of applause for Chef Graham Elliot Bowles, the festival's first Culinary Director, who brought in the city's best chefs and restaurants, both newbies and quintessential standards.

I am but a wee woman and can only eat so much in one sitting. So considering that, here were my faves:

Everything from Graham Elliot was delicious. The watermelon gazpacho was spicy and refreshing, I'm fairly certain the truffle/parm popcorn was laced with crack, and even with over a year's worth of hype, the lobster corndog was not oversold!

Independence Day means fireworks, grilling and working up a thirst. Here my top six summer drinks (including one of Andrew's favorite recipes) to get the party started.

Blenheim Ginger Ale
Why does the zing of ginger and carbonation hit the spot on a hot summer day? I'm not sure, but folks in perpetually warm climates seem to agree. Though many great ginger beers come from Jamaica and Bermuda, I'm in love with Blenheim’s version, straight out of South Carolina. A swig of their Old #3 Hot has been likened to a “firecracker exploding in your throat.” What can I say? In this case, a little pain is good. Not sure if you like your soda pop blazing hot? Belnheim bottles a #5 Not As Hot version of the original. 

AriZona Iced Tea’s Arnold Palmer

For food lovers, the sheer number of renowned restaurants makes it near to impossible to figure out where to eat. We've weeded through the best of the best so you don't have to. Without further ado, here are our top Sin City restaurant picks.

The Strip: Bartolotta

This elegant restaurant, located in the Wynn, offers something extra-special: the next best thing to dining in an Italian fishing village. James Beard Award-winning chef Paul Bartolotta hails from a big, Italian, Milwaukee-based family, and wanted his restaurants to pay homage to his roots. His goal? To transport guests to Italy--no small feat, given the fact you’re in the middle of the desert. However, this chef does just that, sourcing his fish from the motherland, daily.

If you can, opt for an outdoor, lagoon-side cabana. Even if it’s a little chilly, each table comes equipped with a heater (hot enough to cook your pesca crudo). Be sure to check out the cart teeming with the day’s fresh catch: clams, Sicilian amberjack, Mediterranean turbot, cuttlefish—a smattering of fish that were swimming in the Mediterranean just hours ago.

 

I don't like Vegas. I've been five times. Only once did I have that "what happens here stays here" experience, due mostly to the fact that I was there with five incredibly attractive ladies (me being the oldest and most out of shape of the bunch).  Nearly everything was free and we ended up hanging out with a D-list soap star in the very cheesy/contemporary 80s-themed penthouse at the Riviera. Oops, that's probably the sort of thing that is supposed to stay there.

Anyhow, for one reason or another, I keep finding myself in Sin City, or as I like to think of it, an adult, Disney-themed desert mirage. I don't know what drives me the most crazy-- the freesia-perfume-meets-smoky-pool-hall scent that permeates through the high-end casinos, shelling out $5 for a cup of black coffee, or tourists who actually believe going to Paris: The Hotel is purrty much the same as visiting Paris: The City in France.

It's been a busy few weeks for everyone at Food Works. Andrew's got a new show and book, I've been setting up three big events Bizarre Truth/Foods/World related events (and headed to Chicago for a friend's wedding), and Dusti worked on a props gig for Cat Cora's appearance on The View (show airs Wednesday). After lots of crazy days, I wanted to pass along some delicious and entertaining highlights from the past week.

Want to know about Andrew's trip to Cuba, his new book, The Bizarre Truth, or what living with the Bushmen of the Kalahari is like? Ask the man himself!  After next week's Bizarre World: Belize episode (Tuesday, September 8, at 10 E/P) be sure to join Andrew Zimmern for a live chat at 11 E/P.

Head to www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Bizarre_World after the show to participate.

Get ready for the series premiere of Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World. Catch it Tuesday, September 1st, at 10 E/P. For more information visit: http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Bizarre_World

It's not everyday that you get to see your boss in full drag. I am loving these photos from LIPS in Ft. Lauderdale where Andrew was filming a segment for his upcoming Bizarre World: Florida episode. I love that pageant hair, and the makeup is just sublime.  Check out the photos on www.miami-gay-blog.com. What do you think of AZ's new look?

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