Cyril in My Kitchen Part II

cyril in a pan, originally uploaded by rhino75.

After last year's failed attempt to get French TV chef Cyril Lignac round to Rhino75 Towers, imagine my surprise and delight, dear reader, when I came across these "celebrity" pans in my local department store. Admittedly, it's not quite the same as having him come round to cook for you, but at least you don't have to tidy up before getting him out of the cupboard. Plus, Kitty can sit on his face while I make dinner. So everyone's happy.

Special Offer

Look what I found outside BHV on my way to buy catfood yesterday, dear reader. And guess what? They were on special offer!! Naturally, I bought two. (Click on the pic for a close-up).

La French Touch - The Next Generation

I don't know whether you've noticed, dear reader, but your Rhino75 has become something of a music buff of late. Yes, you see, now I mention it...All part of my never-ending (my italics) quest to keep my people ahead of the curve. It's true, it's all about you!! So, hot on the heels of Bearforce1, I bring you the latest artist to embody "la French touch" - Lil'Maaz, with his chart-topping choon "Mange du Kebab" (which can loosely be translated as "Have a kebab!"). Ostensibly a simple Turkish kebab-maker from Paris's 18th arrondissement, Lil'Maaz released this self-penned ditty after being "discovered" by executives from a nearby production company popping in for a lunchtime doner. Hmmm, right. It does feature some corking lyrics though. "Chez nous, il y a des odeurs d'orient qui resteront sur tous tes vêtements" ("We have all the smells of the East that'll stick to your clothes.") Lovely. Anyway, before we all get too complacent and start snickering about French music, according to the evening news on France's most-watched television channel, Lil'Maaz is currently back in the studio recording an English version. Altogether now "Shish .... kebab... shish ...kebab" - you have been warned. (Click on the pic to go to web site and watch the video which is actually quite amusing)

And the Winner is....

JULIEN!! Last night was the grand final-ey of Nouvelle Star, the French version of Pop Idol. It's taken sixteen - count 'em - weeks to whittle down the contenders from fifteen to the final two. In the red corner, ukulele-playing Julien, with his hairslide, who describes his greatest quality as being "frigid or precise" and claims to be a fan of crusty old French novelist/literary historian Jean d'Ormesson. And in the blue corner, Tigane, who says his "kind nature" is his strong point and cites Michael Jackson, Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder as his biggest influences. I need not tell you, dear reader, that Miss Kitty and I were GLUED to the sofa at Rhino75 Towers, biting our nails and licking our bottoms, respectively. Though Tigane has a pleasant enough voice, bless him, he suffers from something of a charisma by-pass and is just a smidgin' karaoke. Julien, on the other hand, had our vote from the start and his version of "Le Mal-Aimé" (a French cover of "Daydreamer" as sung by David Cassidy - watch the original here) brought a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat. Another highlight was his jazzy performance of "Smells like Teen Spirit" (ok, bit of a Paul Anka rip-off, but he does it well) in a red velvet suit that inspired this wonderful haiku from AussieLass. I didn't like the "Ebony & Ivory" duet with Tigane, though - it's a grisly song at the best of times and they had the harmonies all wrong. ::sigh:: Ah well, at least we got the right result IMHO. Now only a couple of months to go before "Star Academy" (the French version of "Fame Academy") starts again...In the meantime, watch Julien in action here. I think I may start wearing a hairslide myself...

I'm in Two Minds...

...about whether to read it. "Rhino, enough already with the cheap schizophrenia jokes!" I hear you cry, dear reader, and rightly so. Because today's post concerns those two most serious of bedfellows, literature and politics. My friend Emma has written a book (slight digression: is everyone I know writing a book, apart from me? Because it's STILL all about ME) which is impressive enough but wait...it's in French! Now, I haven't actually read it yet - I'm going along to pick up a signed and possibly wine-stained copy at the launch this evening (in a Scottish pub - sounds promising) but given that she's a funny lady and that she really does have first-hand experience of Ségo, Sarko and Jacques, I'm hoping for great things. Wary French speakers click here to see what her publishers have to say, while reckless spendthrift French speakers should click straight on the pic and order from Amazon. And English speakers, pop along to her blog for a taster of Emma in VO. And there you have it, yet another shameless plug for one of my mates, brought to you by Bookpacker. Will it never end?

Choco-holic

I'm addicted to chocolate - LG Chocolate. Yes, yes, I know, "mindless consumerism" could be my middle name but just look at it - isn't it beautiful? Can't you hear it calling to you? Actually, some of you CAN hear it calling you, at no extra charge. That's how generous I am. And look, it even comes with its own holder (though the red shirt is extra). It's Friday and I'm in love.

Happy Halloween!!

To celebrate this ancient pagan festival, I shall be having pumpkin soup for lunch from those delicious boys at Cojean and then will spend the afternoon trying to extort sweets from my co-workers. I also plan to go to work dressed as The Mummy. Never let it be said that I don't enter into spirit of things. Enjoy!