Guilty's Kryptonite

Guilty's Kryptonite

I am so blessed.  Great kids, amazing wife and talented employees who are passionate about their careers. You might say Guilty has arrived. With readership of our blog really exploding, my role is changing.  Everyday I have new Guilty Pleasures to review, sample  and enjoy.  It never stops.  Woohoooooo!!!

Whether it's tasting a skillfully prepared delicacy in the catering commissary or  cooking an adventurous meal at home with Thin Mint, we know how to nosh and review.  Along the way, we have our favorites.  These epicurean treasures and not so secret relaxation techniques bring much personal pleasure to my self-indulgent lifestyle. However, only a few precious menu items make the final cut when it's time make a list of Guilty's Kryptonite.  Over the next few weeks we will examine those Guilty delights   It's  a rare and special occasion when we find a new item to add to Guilty's secret list.  Let's look into the belly of the Wok.  

Leading off for the Captain of the Guilties is Pork Fried Rice from Brooklyn NY or Boston's Chinatown.  OMG!  I could eat this delicious rice dish at least once a day, There's a hole in the wall hut on Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn that has the best Pork Fried Rice on the planet.  Their rice dish is not too greasy and it comes with a heaping amount of eggs, scalllions, crunchy bean sprouts  and tender roast pork.  The smokey flavor is unlike any other pork fried rice I have ever eaten.  And I have eaten a lot!  Some with MSG and most without.  The pork fried rice at this local treasure tastes incredible and I always wander off of the Belt Parkway looking for blissful salvation.  This takeout masterpiece really hits the spot and makes me Gleefully Guilty.  

Boston's Chinatown is gritty and cold. Located in the furniture district, the area lacks warmth and streets can get a little seedy.  However you did not take Orange Line to see the architecture and wander about. You came for the Asian Taste Off.  You came for great conversation and yet you savored spices that made your mouth numb. Oh the irony of it all.  

The pork fried rice in Boston has a darker color than other Chinatown's. The flavor definitely took some getting used to. That's because most places on Washington Street used too much soy sauce. Fortunately, Guilty found several Chinese Cafe's that got it right. I have been known to daydream about enjoying a heaping portion of their stir fried magic. There are several great restaurants on my Chinatown list. You must go have a dumpling feast at the Gourmet Dumpling House  The dumplings are amazing and definitely worth the long wait.  

I especially love the menu at  the Best Little Restaurant on Hudson Street.  Their pork fried rice has great flavor and the huge portions are impressive. I always top off Guilty's gigantic bowl of rice with several scoops of a pork-laden Lobster sauce that makes me weak in the knees. Nothing beats pork on top of pork when the Guilty come marching in.  

Then I devour this bowl of Guilty Heaven with buckets of hot Chinese mustard.  Your sinuses will be dancing as your tummy sings out a different tune.  Look out Stagger Lee.  This staple from my college years is one of bedrocks of my personal pleasures.    

Teddy Roosevelt was a Guilty visionary, Ben was a Guilty Inventor and Bardot was a Guilty Prize.

Teddy Roosevelt was a Guilty visionary, Ben was a Guilty Inventor and Bardot was a Guilty Prize.

There has been much rumored-speculation and lively debate that the Guilty Pleasures Club was founded in 1899 by future United States President Theodore Roosevelt after leading a small regiment in Cuba known as the Rough Riders, earning himself the Medal of Honor.

Upon his return from the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt embarked upon an ambitious crusade to establish a national park system and protect our natural resources for coming generations. The visionary conservationist reportedly served as an Ambassador of Guilty Pleasures when Teddy developed the famed "Take Three" as he sipped fine French Cognac , dined on freshly caught rainbow trout and smoked a top secret Cuban blend in the Wyoming wilderness while surveying Yellowstone National Park.  We have no doubt that our youngest American President experienced first hand the mystical rejuvenating powers of Guilty Pleasure pursuits.

His love of Bratwurst, hunting, the outdoors, an occasional decanter of Rum and a desire to "speak softly, but carry a big stick," gave him worldwide credibility and prominence. As as the 26th US President, Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the end of the Russo-Japanese War .

Guilty Pleasure historians have long debated whether the GPC was founded in 1899 by this native New Yorker.  However, it's been reported that recently discovered manuscripts found hidden in a wine cellar in the Bordeaux region of France indicate that approximately 110 years earlier, a visiting Dr. Benjamin Franklin and a local Skinny Chick, Elana Bardot, created the Guilty Pleasures Club to celebrate their love of aged French Red Wines, silk pajamas, hot mineral bathes and the epicurean delicacies from the legendary chefs at the Palace of Versailles.

The French passion for rich sauces, duck fat and beautiful women made Paris the perfect location for Dr. Franklin's opulent desires. The Great Statesmen  from Philadelphia understood that the correlation between the French diet and their surprising good health was because they embraced their dicey desires at mealtime and especially at breakfast.  Ben was impressed.  Besides his role in the Continental Congress, Ben was also a Founding Father of the Guilty Pleasures lifestyle.  More than a Statesman, the decadent Dr. Franklin was a great innovator, inventor and Social commentator. 

The Franklin stove was not his only lasting lifestyle invention. Apparently while in France, Franklin's pen name changed from Silence Dogood to Murmur Feelgood. Did the Guilty Pleasures Club bear his signature lust for the good life?

Those skinny Bardot Babes were quite influential when it came to enjoying Guilty Pleasures. There is a reason Dr. Franklin lived such a long and eventful guiltorius life. Who would want leave a young Bardot?

Premium Taste: ALWAYS...Shop online:FAITHFULLY...Guilty Pleasure Club member: ABSOLUTELY

The Guilty Pleasures Club has very exciting news. The readership of our lifestyle blog has increased more than tenfold in the past sixty days and we are looking for luxury advertisers looking to market premium products.  We now have an avid worldwide audience that's wants learn more about the Guilty Pleasure Club and the self-indulgent lifestyle that we champion.  They window shop online and enjoy the premier products we savor as well.  "Do you take credit cards?"  Oh yes we do!

Based on the rave reviews and high web traffic we are receiving, our club members are affluent consumers who want to purchase luxury goods and services online.  Any businesses looking to reach our readership should email us at info@provencecatering.com. Banner ad space is available.  The GPC has a very passionate, successful and loyal club membership.  They are the epitome of New Luxury and only want to experience life in the first person.

From Philadelphia to Malaysia to the Ukraine we have adventurous club members who want their pursuit of Living Well to include all of their favorite Guilty Pleasures These key decision makers have strong character, high disposable incomes and love to shop.  Guilty Pleasure aficionados know their thrilling journey will be a winding road that requires a boundless spirit and insatiable appetite.  Of course, club members wouldn't want it any other way. Welcome to better days ahead Living Well on Guilty side of life.

Dancing poolside at Bluefields Bay is always a Guilty Pleasure.

Wow it's really bitter cold outside, especially for early December.  Unfortunately, the weather on the East Coast is about to get considerably worse this weekend. Remember last year when everyone was complaining that it was too hot for the Holidays. Too hot??  Were they serious?  It my world it's never too hot for the Holidays unless it's 90 degrees and I am dancing poolside with Thin Mint in Bluefields Bay, Jamaica.  But that's a different kind of hot, now isn't it?  Smokin' hot of course.

What could be better than chillin' underneath an Almond tree on December 25th, especially with an Ultimate Mudslide or two in hand?  And don't forget those tantalizing tropical breezes!  There is no greater Guilty Pleasure anywhere than being at these amazing Villas in Jamaica for Christmas and New Years.  The Moncure Family and their staff can anticipate all of your Guilty Pleasures. Their six pristine properties provide world class service and hospitality.  The delicious food at each Villa is a five star dining experience. Renting a Villa from the Moncure's is very similar to an opulent stay at the Ritz Carlton, but it's much more private and Guiltorious. Honeymooners should take notice of the Cottonwood Cottage. It's the perfect location for a very luxurious, active and romantic week in the Caribbean.  After 24 years, it's time to plan our return trip.

Remarking that it was too warm in December was last year's bellyache.  This year it's the other side of coin in the City of Brotherly Love and we need to be proactive. So lets light the fireplace on Pine Street, pass the steaming hot cocoa in Berwyn and share the Dancing Bear blanket in Trooper. Mercy me, we still have over three months to Springtime.

We definitely both need a vacation intervention by the Lords of Guilt.  Now wouldn't that be miraculous!!!

It's Here! It's Here!! The Hump Day Hurrah has arrived!!!

Giving anytime of year, especially to those less fortunate at the Holidays, is always a pleasure.  Guilty or not, we applaud this act of kindness. Today's Hump Day Hurrah from Provence Catering is a recognition of two outstanding organizations working together to help families in crisis.


The first Hurrah recognizes The Laurel House of Norristown.  We have long supported the tireless and amazing work of this local charity.  They have rescued countless abused women from domestic violence and set them on a path of putting their life in order.    Charitable donations, job opportunities and clothing are always welcome.

Villanova University for their continued generosity to local charities and families in need. From the President's office to the classroom, Villanova is all about world class education and helping others.  As is the case at many of the region's premier universities, Provence Catering is honored to make them an exceptional host when it matters the most.  Great job Father Pete and Team Villanova!

Together along with Provence Catering, these two outstanding local institutions made a lot of people smile at the at The Laurel House
with a delicious Holiday meal.

Hump Day Hurrah is coming and lets plan your 2014 Guilty Pleasures Party

Hump Day at Provence Catering is coming and you know that means....You know what that means. Tomorrow is our Hump Day Hurrah and we have rock stars in the community to recognize.

Come cheer us on and like us on Facebook.  You also visit us at www.provencecatering.com.   I hope your hungry because it's time plan your Guilty Pleasures Party.  We would love to spoil you and your guests in 2014.  

The House of Happy returns. Guilty habits rule the day!!! Thankfully Provence Catering's event calendar is empty today so no parties are impacted by the weather. Working at home is always productive during a mid-week snow storm.(okay, it's really a snow dusting.) Thanks to a dire weather forecast, the entire mid-Atlantic region seems to be shut in. Many members of the Guilty Pleasures Club have seized upon the fury of Mother Nature to begin the 12 Nights of Holiday Guilt a few days earlier. We love innovation in all forms, particularly among the Guilty. A true Guilty historian knows that many great Guilty Pleasures have been borne out of successfully coping with extreme weather conditions. The Great Blizzards of 1995 and 2009 were the inspiration for the famed "House of Happy" and the feeling of contentment that follows. This sense of wintertime fulfillment was reportedly the motivation behind the highly-acclaimed episode of the Sopranos where Paulie and Christopher are desperately running through the snowy forests of the Jersey Pinelands. Haven't we all been lost and famished in the snow before? Maybe without the bloody wounds of course. Here's how Happy happened in 1995 and the remarkable relounging results were quite by accident: Before heading to the streets of Saddlebrook, NJ to recover my aging Audi from five feet of snow, I put a tray full of marinated Turkey Drumsticks and thighs into our convection oven to slowwwwwww cook. Preparing Sunday dinner at 9 am seemed like the perfect way to start the day. Turkey, especially the dark meat has always been one of my all-time Guilty Pleasures. I love the comforting smell and rejoice in the flavor. From the Thanksgiving drumstick to my award winning dark meat turkey salad to tender cheeks, the moist and flavorful dark meat of Tom Turkey is constantly calling my name. Shoveling out of blizzard conditions that day was a painful and grueling experience. The strain of digging out from sixty inches of snow caused shear exhaustion and an urgent need for Guiltorious rejuvenation. After two hours of FEMA-like duties, I trudged through the snow and crawled up the stairs to our loft apartment looking for a miracle. I must be delusional to expect a game changer. Then Happy happened! Upon entering into our toasty abode, I was overcome by the incredibly delicious aroma of a slow-cooked Gobbler. Since I had forgotten about my bird in the oven, the enticing smell of the roasted turkey really made me smile. My entire disposition and energy level changed. Suddenly I felt happy. The house smelled happy. As you know, scrumptious food aromas have that magical uplifting power. Think chocolate chunk cookies or a reincarnation of Holiday dinner. The anticipation of devouring a mammoth drumstick made me the Guilty creator of the "House of Happy."

The House of Happy returns.  Guilty habits rule the day!!!

Thankfully Provence Catering's event calendar is empty today so no parties are impacted by the weather. Working at home is always productive during a mid-week snow storm.(okay, it's really a snow dusting.)  Thanks to a dire weather forecast, the entire mid-Atlantic region seems to be shut in.  Many members of the Guilty Pleasures Club have seized upon the fury of Mother Nature to begin the 12 Nights of Holiday Guilt a few days earlier. We love innovation in all forms, particularly among  the Guilty.  

A true Guilty historian knows that many great Guilty Pleasures have been borne out of successfully coping with extreme weather conditions. The Great Blizzards of 1995 and 2009 were the inspiration for the famed "House of Happy" and the feeling of contentment that follows. This sense of wintertime fulfillment was reportedly the motivation behind the highly-acclaimed episode of the Sopranos where Paulie and Christopher are desperately running through the snowy forests of the Jersey Pinelands. Haven't we all been lost and famished in the snow before?  Maybe without the bloody wounds of course.  

Here's how Happy happened in 1995 and the remarkable relounging results were quite by accident:

Before heading to the streets of Saddlebrook, NJ to recover my aging Audi from five feet of snow, I put a tray full of marinated Turkey Drumsticks and thighs into our convection oven to slowwwwwww cook. Preparing Sunday dinner at 9 am seemed like the perfect way to start the day. Turkey, especially the dark meat has always been one of my all-time Guilty Pleasures. I love the comforting smell and rejoice in the flavor.  From the Thanksgiving drumstick to my award winning dark meat turkey salad to tender cheeks, the moist and flavorful dark meat of Tom Turkey is constantly calling my name.

Shoveling out of blizzard conditions that day was a painful and grueling experience. The strain of digging out from sixty inches of snow caused shear exhaustion and an urgent need for Guiltorious rejuvenation. After two hours of FEMA-like duties, I trudged through the snow and crawled up the stairs to our loft apartment looking for a miracle.  I must be delusional to expect a game changer.  

Then Happy happened! 

Upon entering into our toasty abode, I was overcome by the incredibly delicious aroma of a slow-cooked Gobbler. Since I had forgotten about my bird in the oven, the enticing smell of the roasted turkey really made me smile. My entire disposition and energy level changed. Suddenly I felt happy. The house smelled happy. As you know, scrumptious food aromas have that magical uplifting power. Think chocolate chunk cookies or a reincarnation of Holiday dinner.  The anticipation of devouring a mammoth drumstick made me the Guilty creator of the "House of Happy."

Snowy Day. Guilty Day. Chipper Day.......

When it comes to the weather, the new normal is pretty freaky.  Yesterday's fantastically fun snowstorm was only magical because it was Sunday and most of us were lounging at home by a roaring fire, safe and Guilty.  Is that the best or what? If it was on a Monday, it would have been a disaster.

We took full advantage of yesterday's blizzard-like conditions in Philadelphia and went totally Guilty.  We camped out in front of our massive HDTV to watch the Eagles kick butt.  While we cheer for another team to the north, we are big Chip Kelly fans.  The Eagles have been amazing under the new Head Coach and it seems like they are just getting started.  Coach Kelly must be a lifelong member of the Guilty Pleasures Club. (we will investigate further) Can't you just sense Chip's passion for the finest Guilty Pleasures when it comes to socializing and dining?  There are too many decadent delights in Oregon to ignore and even the healthy farm to table cuisine in the Northwest can definitely inspire the Guilty. You know he's living well and so are the Eagles.

And thankfully, so are we!!!  Guilty and Thin Mint capped off a relaxing Sunday with a sensational family dinner.  Everyone enjoyed:

Five Spice marinated Lamb Burgers on freshly baked Pretzel rolls with a Yogurt Red Chili dressing
Miniature Red Bliss Potatoes stuffed with New York Cheddar, Applewood Bacon and Green Scallions.
Charred Green Beans
Green Leaf Lettuce with Hothouse Tomatoes, Strawberries and stuff.  
Warm Pear Cobbler with Vanilla Almond Hagen Daz.  

The weather turns, the ice cometh and the Lobster Corn Chowder soup boils....December has arrived in Guiltytown.

Soaring temperatures plummeted this weekend as a ginormous ice storm has engulfed the entire country.  It's definitely affected the weekend plans for many Hobbits and Hobbyists. From Dallas to Las Vegas to Portland to Boston to Middle Earth, members of the Guilty Pleasures are fighting back against the Shivers with a time-tested array of personalized remedies.  As you know, nothing warms your soul or lifts your spirits more than trip to the Guilty side of life.

Deep in my hard drive I have developed many positive protocols for Living Well(okay, so my hard drive is really my cranium.  Thankfully my grey matter is still dedicated to proposition that Living Well is the only way to live). I have an endless list of top secret pleasures to rely upon for attitude adjustment.  In this case, when the weather's nasty, I conquer the cold with an incredibly flavorful soup. Not Campbell's, Lipton or Progresso mind you, but a delicious homemade concoction that makes your toes toasty and your smile bright.  No soup does it better in early December than Chef Greg's famous Lobster and Corn Chowder.  The rich creamy broth is made with love and chocked full of fresh Maine Lobster.  It's the best cold fighter ever. Especially when you share it by the fireplace with Thin Mint.

Not matter what you have planned today, you must take the time to curl up on the couch with a steaming bowl of Guilty Goodness.  Make sure you use a very large bowl.  No wimpy cereal bowls please. Size definitely matters when it comes to keeping warm and staying Guilty. Please make sure you share your Guilty Goodness with the Thin Mint of your dreams.

Too much Turkey for the Holidays? How about a change of pace with a Dim Sum Family Feast in Chinatown?

As always, our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner was wonderful and delicious. We celebrated the holiday on Wednesday because one of the founding members of the GPC had to be in Europe at the World Court on Thursday for a conference at The Hague. Our first cousin, aka Not Guilty, has been known to defend a War Criminal or two from the Eastern Block before a United Nations Tribunal.  To quote a wise man,"Even the worst of humanity needs great legal representation."

We decided to not have a second a Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday.  Too much stuffing and mashed potatoes can be one of Guilty's Holiday dieting dilemmas. So we decided to go rogue and meet in Chinatown for a Dim Sum family feast. Not that countless handmade dumplings and noodles are better for Guilty's never-ending diet, but they are awesome. 

When we arrived at 11:30 am, Chinatown was packed with people and Thanksgiving was nowhere to be found. With Shiffie leading the way, family members both young and not so young, sauntered into the Dim Sum Garden on Race Street for a celebration of our many blessings. We were practically the only Caucasians in the restaurant when we settled around the largest table in the place. It was Chinatown at it's finest.  Having just beaten the lunchtime crowd, we were fortunate to be there on so many levels. The service was great, the food was incredible and the company around the table was even better.  Everyone ordered two dishes each(Guilty ordered three dishes just to be safe) and sharing was required.  It was wonderful experience and we can't wait to do it again next year.  

It sounds like Dim Sum is going to be an After Thanksgiving Holiday Tradition!  Besides, you haven't lived until you seen Guilty use chopsticks!  OMG!!!