Pickles and Persimmons

I decided to focus the playlist of the week (and yes, I’m aware, I’ve hardcore slacked on this front, but I promise I’ve put my best foot forward to provide you all with delightfully fresh playlists with frightening regularity) on Midwestern Hip Hop. To some, this may seem like a particularly niche genre, but I feel it is an important one. Hip Hop culture is often so saturated with West Coast vs East Coast rivalry, that I wanted to rep Lauren and my own area of upbringing, the Midwest. It is, of course, convenient that many of today’s most popular rappers: Kanye West, Kid Cudi and Lupe Fiasco are Midwesterners. Anyway, here’s a taste of some of my favorite hip hop artists (and songs) from the cities in the Meat of America’s sandwich (!).

1. Slum Village I really love this Detroit, Michigan group. Two of my favorite songs are Selfish (ft Kanye West) and Tainted.

2. Kanye West So, like everyone else in America, my views on Kanye are complex. His most recent album is production-wise a triumph (although I find some of the lyrics a bit uninspired) So while I can’t decide if my fellow Chicagoan a virtuoso or egomaniac (or both), here are a few of my favorites: Runaway , See Me Now, Through the Wire (unbelievable), Home

3. Kid Cudi Although I really wasn’t a fan of this Clevelandian (?)’s new album Man on the Moon, some of his older stuff is, to use the parlance of our times, dope. I’ve already put this song up a bunch of times, but whaddyawantfromme I love it!: The Prayer, She Came Along (ft. Sharam)

4. Brother Ali I’ve been meaning to write an entire post on Brother Ali since I think his music is vastly underappreciated and he’s on of my all time favorites. This Minnesotan who regularly flows about being both Albino and Blind is pretty incredible. I started listening to him in middle school and haven’t stopped yet! These are some incredible songs: Forest Whitaker, Love on Display

5. Common (Sense) Ah, Chicago, you slay me. So Common’s great. And here are some songs that I like (I’m enthusiastic, I promise, just reallly tired.) Wow, listening to this amazing song just REJUVENATED me, f’realz: The Light, ultimate beautiful song: Love of My Life (Ft. Eryka Badu), I Used to Love H.E.R

6. Rhymefest Chi-town. Word. Devil’s Pie

7. Atmosphere Some more charming Minnesotans, Slug and Ant: Good Times (Sick Pimpin’) (quite the modern feminist message…not at all, actually), The Woman with the Tattooed Hands

8. Qwel More Chicagoans, more ill tracccckssss. God, I love this song: The Highest Commitment

9. R.Kelly How could  Chicago-themed compilation be complete with out the lyrical strains of R.Kelly? Exactly, impossible. Well, since it’s a funny little week and I’ve given you way more than 10 songs, I’ll finish up with an ABSOLUTE classic. And I’m not going to tell you what it is. HA. SURPRISE

Well, enjoy this mix of Midwestern magic in this horribly ugly font I seem to have found myself writing in…

Leah

I’ve decided to dedicate this post to an entirely unappreciated (in my view) and yet deliciously decadent and artery abusing treat: Rillettes. I’m inspired to write this, because I just ate some little pieces of gorgeous toast spread thickly with rillettes as part of a highly indulgent meal—that’s what you get for working in an amazing restaurant… Before I go any further waxing poetic about this French culinary art form, I should probably explain what it is for those of you who remain (disturbingly) unfamiliar. According to Wikipedia “Rillettes is a preparation of meat similar to pâté. Originally made with pork, the meat is cubed or chopped, salted heavily and cooked slowly in fat until it is tender enough to be easily shredded, and then cooled with enough of the fat to form a paste. They are normally used as spread on bread or toast and served at room temperature.” So that pretty much sums it up. But what it doesn’t tell you in its delightfully succinct and one-dimensional Wikipedia-esque manner, is that rillettes is an absolutely wonderful taste—meaty, umami, rich and silky all in one. Perfectly smooth to accentuate the crunchiness of a nice crispy melba toast. Mmmmm. Anyone for some salted fatty meat paste?

Also, I decided not to include a picture because a) I don’t have one and b) it is not a particularly appealing visual and I wouldn’t want anyone to shy away from trying something simply because it looks..ahem..unorthodox

Leah

I was informed by the lovely Lauryn Grace that she has been at a loss for new music to download because Leah and I have been too busy frolicking around San Francisco to post new playslists. I apologize if anyone else has experienced this same effect…the tunes have in fact been flowing in apt. 521 and here are a few.

I have learned in the last few weeks that the term “winter” is used very loosely here in the Pacific Northwest. The weather has bounced back to 65 from 45 and my usual snowy study music has been replaced beach walking, sunny afternoon medleys. Even if you’re stuck in a snowbank somewhere freezing your butt off, hopefully this list can bring you a little warmth.

1. You and Me Song - The Wannadies: This song was on the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack (arguably one of the best movie soundtracks of all time in my opinion). Loved it in middle school, still love it.

2. Dark Fantasy - Kanye West: Clearly this entire album was so good. I just love the intro to this song.

3. Foolish - Ra Ra Riot: I got to see Ra Ra Riot perform live at the Great American Music Hall this weekend. I can’t tell you how amazing they are live complete with electric cello and violin.

4. Africa - Toto: At first, I was a little embarrassed to put this song on the list. No one likes to openly admit they like 80’s light rock. Yet, I find that every time this songs come on just about every person I’m with goes, oh God I love this song.

5. Heartbreaker - Mariah Carey and Jay-Z: I mean, who doesn’t like this song??

6. Piece of My Heart - Janis Joplin: Leah moved into my apt and brought with her some classics that I had totally forgotten about. This song tops that list.

7. Only Girl in the World - Rihanna: No excuses…this song just makes me wanna dance.

8. Check it Out - Nicky Manaj

9. Last Friday Night - Katy Perry: I tried to resist her. I failed.

10. Aston Martin Music - Rock Ross, Drake, & Chrisette Michele: Not exactly as upbeat as the rest of this playlist but I just can’t stop listening to this.

Best, Lauren

So I’m aware that I’ve taken more than a slight hiatus from the blogosphere, but I think I have a valid reason…I MOVED TO SAN FRANCISCO! I’ve been cohabiting with my darling blog-mate Lauren in a studio apartment, which has been quite a delight. I also began work last Monday, so that’s another reason for my conspicuous absence from pickle-dom.

Aaaaanyway, I’d like to start my return off with a rant of sorts. Something has been bothering me of late, and I simply cannot shrink away from it anymore. Brunch. This weekend mid-day meal seems to cover all manner of sins nowadays, and any old place suddenly transforms into a coffee-brewing, hollandaise serving hickory bacon smoking establishment the moment that Saturday afternoon and the requisite hungover young professionals and screeching jam-faced toddlers rolls around. It is not the timing and camaraderie of such a meal that I detest, au contraire— I enjoy a mid afternoon gorge fest surrounded by many of my nearest and dearest, HOWEVER, the notion that one must ingest some combination of eggs and sweet treats simply because it is a weekend day is offensive to say the least.

I’m a lunch kinda gal. Give me a sandwich, good soup or even the ever-feminine salad, and I’m happy as a lightly steamed clam. (Well this is not actually true, as I will likely order a less-than-basic version of any of these dishes). However, the foisting of breakfast food onto me simply because it is the weekend and the citizens of whatever metropolis are attempting to relax their ever-tense lives by way of smothering their facial orifices with brunch fare is something I simply detest.

You want to go to brunch? Fine. You want to tell me about whatever guy you met that may not call you? Sounds great. You feel like sticking a bloody mary in front of me with a straw and a cornichon garnish? Word. But PLEASE do not force me to eat some damn eggs with any variety of toast and a side of stale-squeezed orange juice.

There, I said it. I feel better already. Time for some delicious Suppenkuche leftovers!

Leah