For the most part, you don’t have to have any proper knowledge before landing on Wheel Of Fortune as a contestant. For Jeopardy, you need to be smart and quick with the buzzer (or have a crush on Mayik Bialik) For The Price Is Right, you need to be able to yell as loud as possible by training your vocal cords to appeal to Drew Carey.

But when it comes to Wheel Of Fortune, in theory, anybody who speaks English and had gone through any type of schooling should be able to have a fun time. In theory. But that simply does not happen, and instead, viewers at home are pulling their hair out trying to telepathically communicate through the screen, a type of technology that has not been invented yet.

This week, a particular puzzle stumped one contestant on the long-running game show. See if you can figure it out, it’s s tough one:

Now, it’s pretty rare for a Wheel contestant to ask for an “X” but this is one of the fateful instances where it would surely help solve the puzzle! Instead, poor Angie tried to solve the puzzle by guessing “Warm Toasted Bagels With Low And Cream Cheese.” If you don’t know what low and cream cheese is, you’re in luck! It’s not real, nor does it sound appetizing.

The correct answer would have been “Warm Toasted Bagels With Lox And Cream Cheese” but luckily, the next contestant was able to solve it. Her incorrect guess did not go unnoticed by fans, though.

This is not the first nor will it be the last time a contestant confidently says the wrong thing much to the dismay of everyone else, but hey, at least Sajak is a good sport about it most of the time. Other times…not so much!

You can check out the full episode here.

(Via TODAY)

Phil Rosenthal has an insatiable hunger for life! Across the 33 episodes of his excellent Netflix travel show, Somebody Feed Phil, the Emmy-nominated actor, writer, and director has explored five continents and 38 cities around the world. He doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.

“It’s a big world out there, somebody’s got to eat it!” Rosenthal tells me over a Zoom call one unseasonably cold LA morning in February after returning from a recent trip to the UK to promote his new book, the perfectly titled Somebody Feed Phil The Book.

The book — already a New York Times bestseller — shares behind-the-scenes stories from the first four seasons of the show, scripts from Rosenthal’s video calls with his family, and 60 of the most fan-requested recipes from famous international chefs and local legends. The book is one-part celebration of the show and one-part greatest hits cookbook. Meaning it has a little bit of everything for everyone, whether you’re a super fan of the show and Rosenthal’s feel-good humor or just coming for all the food porn and want to take a stab at taking making the recipes yourself without buying an expensive plane ticket.

We spoke with Rosenthal about the book, asked him to reveal his favorite food destinations (and his favorite foodie city), and talk about how he feels about fast food. He also shared the most requested recipe from the book to get you started on your culinary journey. The recipe in question, Braciola all’Arturo, comes courtesy of Da’Atutro’s Ernesto Ballarin, who was covered in season two’s “Venice” episode. In the episode, Rosenthal referred to it as “the world’s best pork chop” and considering it’s a fried pork cutlet, we’re inclined to believe him.

Check out the interview below and hit the recipe at the bottom of this page!

PART I — The Interview

Tell me about Somebody Feed Phil The Book.

Oh, well this is a book, it’s kind of a hybrid of sorts. It’s the companion book to the show, with my essays and writing about how the show got started and how we make the show, and a lot of behind-the-scenes photos that my brother, the producer, has taken on the road. And then it’s a fantastic cookbook because 60 of the most requested recipes from the audience, from the best chefs in the world that we’ve met, are in this book.

And they’re all tested and this is how you can make them in your home kitchen.

I just wanted to ask some questions about your travels in particular. And I know this is going to be kind of a tough question to answer for somebody who’s been to so many places. But what are some of your favorite food destination cities?

Well, Italy wins for some reason. I don’t know why, because I’ve now been to several places. But for me, maybe it’s because it’s one of the first places I ever went when I was in my early twenties and I just fell in love with the people. I always say, everywhere you look is beautiful there. Every bite of food is delicious, and everyone’s hugging and kissing you. So what’s not to like?

But I’ve, I’ve just been to Paris again and that is a knockout of a city and a place. And the food is also phenomenal. Also, I’m in love with Spain. I love every place that we go. I love Thailand. The food in Thailand, some of the food there, has been some of the most spectacular I’ve ever had in my life. There was a crab omelet that I’ll never forget. There was a bowl of Khao Soi in Chiang Mai that I will never forget. It also was a dollar, which is my second favorite price.

So one of the great things about travel, in addition to being the most mind-expanding thing we could do in life, is that you find things. Let’s take food for example, food you can find in the United States again. You get turned on to a dish, like Khao Soi for instance. It’s at most Thai restaurants. You can find it. You would never know to order it, but if you go to Thailand and have this fantastic thing, now you know to order it when you’re in a Thai restaurant in the United States. So it makes your life better for the rest of your life.

Right. Right. I know that one of your mottos is “food is the great connector.” Obviously, you’ve proven that in the show.

Thanks.

Can you make the case for why is it so important for people to expand their horizons and get traveling in order to experience new things? Why is that such a vital thing that everybody needs to do? I know that you famously pushed Ray Romano to travel.

That’s right.

What kind of advice you would give to somebody who might be as apprehensive as Ray once was?

Yes. Well, first of all, to answer the first part of your question, why is it important? ‘Cause I think the world would be better if we all could experience a little bit of other people’s experiences. I think maybe we wouldn’t have the problems that we have in this country if people were a little more open-minded. Two-thirds of Americans don’t even have a passport. And I just think if they were exposed to other people from other cultures, they would see that they have nothing to be afraid of. Right?

When you share a meal with someone, you’re already on common ground because we all gotta eat and it’s something that we all enjoy doing. I’ve never met a culture that doesn’t love eating. In fact, every culture that I meet says that they eat more than any other culture. “Oh, if you come to my Chinese mother’s house, she’ll never let you out of the house without killing you with food.” Same with Italian people. Same with Greek people. Same with Chinese. Korean people. We’re all the same in that way.

And why is that? Because it’s the way to show hospitality and it’s something that we naturally must do anyway. And it’s one of the most relatable things. I always say food is the great connector, and then laughs are the cement. If we share a laugh, then, over the meal that we’re having, now we’re friends and we’ll eat again.

If people who are nice people, and I think the world is mostly populated with nice people, they just don’t get on the news as much as the not nice. But it’s important for nice people to go to represent niceness in the world. And of course, what you put out is what you get back. I literally think it would make the world better. All you have to do is take that baby step out of your comfort zone, and that’s where the fun is.

And in terms of pushing people out of that comfort zone?

You get them to take baby steps. During Covid, we couldn’t go anywhere. So how did I travel? I traveled through the menu on my phone. I would look up a menu of an ethnic restaurant, let’s say that I hadn’t tried before. A whole cuisine that I never tried. It doesn’t cost anything to look. So you look: Oh, what’s this Peruvian place? I never had Peruvian. Oh, they have chicken and rice. You like chicken and rice? Yes. So try it. Oh, it’s delicious. Maybe I’ll try something else from there.

Now maybe Covid is over, I go to the restaurant. You meet the owner. Now you’ve fallen in love with it, and then the next thing you know, you’re in Machu Picchu. That’s how it works. That’s from looking at the menu on your phone. That’s all I’m asking of people. Try something, try it. Just try it. Because what’s the worst that can happen? We’re not children. The worst that can happen is I didn’t care for it. So you don’t have it again. But at least you tried it. And the journey, just like everything else in life, the journey is its own reward.

Is there a food out there that’s very popular that you just can’t seem to get behind? Obviously, on your show, you don’t show when you don’t like something, because that would be really rude to your guests and that’s not your vibe.

Yes.

But what’s a really popular food that everybody loves and you just for some reason can’t get behind? Does such a food exist for you?

It does exist. I’m not crazy about black licorice, for example. The world seems to enjoy it.

Same.

Also, in my hometown, I can’t understand why the Dodger Dog is popular.

I come from New York and I love hot dogs around the world. In Chicago, they make great hotdogs. And a lot of great hotdogs here in LA. And there are great hotdogs in Copenhagen. Right? This is my comfort food, from when I’m a child. The Dodger Dog is antithetical to all these things. I have no idea why it’s popular. But I understand that if your dad took you to a Dodger game when you were five and you had this hotdog, you love it.

Is there anywhere that you haven’t gone yet that you’re dying to go to?

Yes, India. And I haven’t been to Greece yet or Turkey.

Really? You haven’t been to Greece?

I have not. No, I haven’t. I haven’t been to New Zealand yet. These are all places I want to go. I haven’t been to a lot of Spain yet. I haven’t been to Sicily yet.

Oh, wow.

I know. The White Lotus killed me. I can’t wait to go.

Are there any other shows, like White Lotus, out there that you watch where you think, “Oh, I got to try the food.” Even if it’s not explicitly about food?

Every single Anthony Bourdain show that he ever did. He was on for 18 years. He was on so long that he went back to places multiple times. I dream of that.

How do you see your show continuing to evolve as it goes on in the years? Would you like to do what Bourdain did and re-explore places you’ve already been to? Or are there just so many places still that you have yet to go to that you’ll always have content?

Well, you’ll never run out of content. Because not only is the world gigantic, it’s 194 countries. I’ve done 32 shows, right? So I haven’t even hit every country. I don’t think it’s possible to do it, let alone the cities in those countries. There are places in the United States I’ve never been.

So yes, the answer is yes and yes. I want to go hit all the places I’ve never been to and revisit them. By the time I’ve done that, it’s time to revisit other places. Places change, especially giant cities like New York and Tokyo and London and Paris and Rome. I mean, it’s a big world out there. Somebody’s got to eat it.

Do you have a favorite American city for food?

Los Angeles.

And why is that, is it the variety?

Yes, yes. The variety is amazing! We have this great diversity. We have the largest populations of people outside their native homelands in, I think, the world. So there are more Chinese people in the San Gabriel Valley than anywhere else on earth outside of China. You can visit the different provinces of China just by going to the different neighborhoods in the San Gabriel Valley here. And we have the most Mexican people, the most Korean people. I could go on and on. Your chances of hitting a great meal are exponentially greater because of this diversity, because of the number of people.

What are some of your favorite places right now in Los Angeles to grab a bite?

Oh my God.

It doesn’t have to be a hard favorite, just whatever comes to your mind right now.

Off the top of my head, I think République is amazing, I think for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I love Sonoratown.

Me too!

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A post shared by 𝚂𝚘𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚃𝚊𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚊 (@sonoratownla)

Oh my God, it’s great. I love Sea Harbour for dim sum in the valley, in the San Gabriel Valley. I love Mozza for Italian food and Antico Nuovo for Italian food. There are so many. I mean, name a cuisine. There are so many great places. That’s just off the top of my head right now.

We’re pretty spoiled when it comes to food for sure.

I love Angry Egret downtown. None of this stuff needs to be fancy. In fact, I prefer places that aren’t fancy. I want great food. I don’t care about the setting, really.

You were just in the UK, right?

We did the book tour there. I couldn’t believe how many international fans we have, and it’s so nice. We’re selling out these 1500-seat theaters all over the place. I was in Amsterdam, in Paris, had two sold-out shows in London, and Glasgow and Belfast and Dublin.

It was so much fun. And I’m on the road now around the United States too, because I’m trying to promote the book because proceeds from my share of the book are going to, iamals.org and ALS is what my mom passed away from, so this is a labor of love for me to go. And I have to be honest, I’ve been having such a good time meeting all the people. They’re so beautiful and great to me. Who wouldn’t love this?

As a final question, do you have any favorite fast food brands?

There’s this chain called Nando’s that’s popular in England. I think there’s one in Chicago. Do you know it? It’s a chicken place. It’s fantastic. I love it. It’s just great.

But other than that, you’re just kind of sticking to the local places. You’re not hitting up a Wendy’s?

Not really. No. There are too many great places. You can eat just as well. I mean, you can eat just as reasonably cheaply at a mom-and-pop place. My favorite thing in America is diners. I think we’re losing our diners, and it’s my dream to open one. I would love to open one in my neighborhood.

What’s going on your diner menu? Just the kind of classic greasy spoon stuff?

Classic. If you saw our Maine episode, there’s a place called the Palace Diner, which is in an old railroad car, and it’s just like this. All this comfort food that’s been idealized by great chefs without making it fancy. They just used amazing ingredients to elevate a tuna sandwich, a burger, an omelet, French toast, and pancakes. Just the best of those you ever had. And I realized, “Oh, this is my favorite thing in life, is this food.”

PART II — The Recipe: Braciola all’Arturo

Serves 2 (1 for today, 1 for tomorrow)

When I opened this restaurant in 1968, people said I was crazy in Venice to have only meat, no fish. This is one of our most popular dishes. You need to pound the pork chop very thin. –Ernesto Ballarin

• 8- to 10-ounce (225 to 280g) pork chops, preferably bone-in
• 1/2 cup (60g) all-purpose flour
• 11/2 cups (165g) fine bread crumbs
• large eggs, lightly beaten Fine sea salt
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 1 cup (240ml) white wine vinegar, divided

• Use the smooth side of a meat mallet to pound the pork chops as thin as possible without tearing the meat (about 1/4 inch/6mm thick). If using pork chops with the bone, pound the meat up to the bone but leave the bone in place. Put the pork chops on a sheet pan, sprinkle the flour evenly over both, and toss the pork chops in the flour until well coated.
• Put the bread crumbs in a mound on another sheet pan and put the eggs in a large bowl.
• Dip 1 floured pork chop into the eggs, shake off the excess, then lay the pork chop on top of the bread crumbs and flip the pork chop in the bread crumbs until evenly coated. Dip the pork chop again in the eggs, coat it a second time in the bread crumbs, and sprinkle both sides with the salt, to taste. Bread the remaining pork chop the same way.
• Heat about 1 inch (2.5cm) of oil over medium-high heat in a large cast iron skillet or sauté pan (large enough for 1 pork chop to lay flat) until very hot. Test the oil by adding a few bread crumbs; they should sizzle. Add 1 pork chop to the skillet and fry until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, flip, then brown the other side, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer the pork chop to a plate.
• Carefully pour the hot oil from the skillet into a saucepan or metal bowl (save the oil for the second pork chop).

• Return the pork chop to the skillet, pour 1/2 cup (120ml) of the vinegar evenly over the surface of the meat, and cook over medium heat, flipping the pork chop occasionally, until the vinegar has mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes. Transfer the pork chop to a plate, let rest for 5 minutes and serve.
• When ready to cook the second chop, pat the skillet dry with paper towels, pour the reserved oil through a strainer into the skillet, and add more vegetable oil, if needed, to fill the skillet by about 1 inch (2.5cm). Fry the remaining pork chop the same way, let cool completely, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Serve the second pork chop at room temperature.

*Tip Use the smooth side of a meat mallet, not the textured (tenderizer) side to pound the pork chops to avoid tearing the meat.

Jonathan Isaac went more than two years between games for the Orlando Magic due to surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus. He returned to basketball in January of this year, and unfortunately for the 25-year-old forward, he was only able to play in 11 games before this season came to an end due to injury.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Isaac underwent surgery on Friday to repair a torn left adductor muscle, which the team discovered after giving him an MRI earlier this week. As a result, Isaac will watch the remainder of the season from the sidelines.

The team announced the news in a statement shortly after Wojnarowski’s report, saying that Isaac underwent a practice in Milwaukee on Tuesday and he informed the team that he was in some pain.

It is a brutal blow for Isaac and the Magic, as both sides were careful not to put too much on his plate once he got back on the floor this season. Isaac played 11.3 minutes per game for Orlando this year, averaging five points, four rebounds, and 1.3 steals a night. The news comes while the Magic are 4.5 games back of the Washington Wizards for the 10-seed in the Eastern Conference, as the team sits at 26-37 on the year.

Because Florida never ceases to be a bottomless well of weirdness, Governor Ron DeSantis has reportedly picked one heck of an appointee for the state’s new oversight board that’s now in control of Disney’s special tax district. Florida Republicans stripped Disney of the Reedy Creek Improvement District in retaliation for the media company’s denouncement of the state’s infamous “Don’t Say Gay” bill. That move allowed DeSantis to hand-pick the district’s board, and he certainly made an interesting choice.

Earlier this week, Orlando-based pastor Ron Peri was appointed by DeSantis to the five-member board, and it turns out Peri has some interesting views on homosexuality. Namely, how it’s caused.

Via CNN:

“So why are there homosexuals today? There are any number of reasons, you know, that are given. Some would say the increase in estrogen in our societies. You know, there’s estrogen in the water from birth control pills. They can’t get it out,” Peri baselessly said in a January 2022 Zoom discussion, later put on YouTube. “The level of testosterone in men broadly in America has declined by 50 points in the past 10 years. You know, and so, maybe that’s a part of it.”

Peri also blamed society for removing “constraints” on homosexuality, “and then evil occurs.” What a nice guy!

For the record, yes, there has been a drop in testosterone levels in recent decades, but it’s nowhere near 50% nor does it affect sexual orientation. Also, and this should go without saying, but birth control pills are not adding estrogen to tap water. As even CNN notes, that’s some real Alex Jones nonsense.

(Via CNN)

The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Dreamville, Masego, Slowthai, and more.

After what seemed to be a slow couple of months to start the year, things really picked up last week with releases from the likes of ALLBLACK, Don Toliver, Key Glock, Logic, Payroll Giovanni, and more. That momentum continued this week as Young Nudy dropped Gumbo, Don Toliver added four new songs to Love Sick, and Nas, Joey Badass, J. Cole, and Nicki Minaj all released new songs. But the new music didn’t stop there; check out more below.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending March 3, 2023.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Che Noir X Big Ghost Ltd. — Now Or Never

I’ll always have a soft spot for this Buffalo-bred rapper, whose self-sufficient style has been a charming inspiration for the past few years. Her latest project is actually one of several produced by Big Ghost this week, but her unique point of view has always been the most interesting of the producer’s street-centric collaborators.

De La Soul — Stakes Is High

I know, I know! This isn’t “new” in the classic sense of the term. But the pioneering hip-hop trio’s catalog will certainly be new for thousands of fans who haven’t had access to it until now. And while the “best” of their releases varies depending on who you ask, there is perhaps no more influential work among them than Stakes Is High. So much of hip-hop owes a debt to this one album. If you only check out one this weekend, let this be it.

Dreamville — Creed III: The Soundtrack

The trend of rap record labels taking over the production of heavily anticipated film soundtracks has generated some truly great collections, from the Black Panther soundtrack helmed by Top Dawg Entertainment to the 88rising-led soundtrack for Shang-Chi. Now, J. Cole’s squad gets in on the action, taking the baton from Mike Will Made-It (who produced the Creed II album) and the results are typically strong.

Kenny Mason — 3

The West Atlanta rapper’s one-of-a-kind style continues to set him apart from many of his fellow ATLiens. Influenced as much by the music of alternative rock bands like My Chemical Romance and The Smashing Pumpkins as by Future and Outkast, he offers a unique blend of genres that mashes up grunge and hardcore hip-hop into an aggro-emo gumbo that makes Kenny the bridge between sections of that Hot Topic T-shirt wall.

Masego — Masego

Coolly combining rap, soul, and jazz on his last projects, Masego returns from a multi-year break with a self-titled collection that is one of hip-hop’s most anticipated projects of this year.

Macklemore — Ben

Say what you want about Macklemore, he’s always been a solid rapper and a really earnest follower of hip-hop. He may have made some public missteps, but he’s always taken ownership of them. That tradition continues on his latest, most personal album yet.

Slowthai — Ugly

More thrashy but emotionally vulnerable grime-punk from one of the UK’s most compelling voices.

Young Nudy — Gumbo

Speaking of gumbo… 21 Savage’s cousin makes another stunning comeback full of weird, off-kilter production and brusque, unapologetic street rhymes.

Singles/Videos

Big Boss Vette — “Pretty Girls Walk (Remix)” Feat. Coi Leray

St. Louis, stand up! Big Boss Vette has been slowly building up her audience with brash, braggartly raps and thumping production that has found a following in the “bad bitch” niche. Employing one of rap’s it-girls in Coi Leray should vastly accelerate the process.

Cousin Stizz — “The Fan”

The Massachusetts rapper taps Snapz, Dilip & Berg for a ghostly instrumental in the first single from his upcoming project Game Ain’t Based On Sympathy.

Finesse2Tymes — “How to Act”

The Memphis rapper drops a fun party anthem with a thematically consistent video depicting one hell of a house party.

Larry June & The Alchemist — “89 Earthquake”

More laid-back luxury from Good Job Larry, whose Frigidaire cold flow is perfectly complemented by a signature production from Alan The Chemist. Their collab project, The Great Escape, drops on March 31 — we can’t wait.

Maiya The Don — “Dusties”

Say what you want about the modern trend of carefree Black girl rap, but it’s hard for me not to enjoy rappers like Brooklyn’s Maiya The Don dismissing and discounting the “Dusties” in their lives while sampling the hits of my youth (in this case, 50 Cent and Lil Kim’s “Magic Stick”).

Mike Dimes — “Heavy Metal”

Mike Dimes has been getting more and more attention lately, and tracks like the rumbling “Heavy Metal” certainly show the San Antonio rapper is intent on making it worth fans’ while.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

When it comes to unsubstantiated rumors about his DC Studios plans, James Gunn isn’t afraid to hop into fans’ replies and set the record straight on Twitter. He’s also not timid about defending his reputation, which was the case this week when a fan accused Gunn of being a “professional liar” following an unconfirmed rumor from Above The Line that Ben Affleck is in talks to direct the new Batman movie, The Brave and The Bold. The author of the piece even admitted that Affleck’s involvement is entirely speculative, but that didn’t stop fans from accusing Gunn of lying.

The DC Studios had previously said that he’s talked to Affleck about directing a film, but not the new Batman movie. Although, that situation could have changed, which isn’t a lie. Talks with Affleck may have started after Gunn revealed his DC Studios slate, and the writer/director defended his right to alter plans as needed.

“For years it’s been my commitment to the fans that I will never lie to them… and I never have,” Gunn responded to the fan who accused him of lying about Affleck’s involvement. “I’d be very curious about what it is you think I’ve lied about.”

“Not wanting to run DC, and not wanting to make a Superman film, for starters,” the fan fired back. Gunn dismantled his argument piece-by-piece.

“Neither of those were lies,” Gunn said. “I was offered Superman but did Squad instead. A few years later I saw how to tackle Superman & took it on. I didn’t want to be the sole CEO of DC, but when they came & offered it to me AND Peter I said yes because I could focus on the creative side.”

Gunn then got ahead of any more accusations of lying by pointing out that his plans aren’t set in stone, and he will have to make adjustments throughout his tenure as studio chief.

“Again, I’ve never once lied to the fans, and never will,” he said. “That doesn’t mean I’m never going to change my mind about anything.”

The DC Studios chief then exited the conversation as fans peppered him with questions about the Snyderverse, which Gunn has already said is dead and not even Zack Snyder cares about it anymore. That’s a sure sign that it’s time for everyone to let it go.

(Via James Gunn on Twitter)

Hey ho, happy humans!

It’s that wonderful time of the week again, when we round up 10 of the internet’s most smile-worthy finds to share with you all. And this week’s list does not disappoint.

We’ve got celebrations of friendship, the kindness of Martin Short and Disneyland’s Evil Queen, Drew Barrymore and Pink talking candidly about motherhood, U.S. presidents with mullets, the cutest barista ever and more.

---

The more people find reasons to smile, the better our world will be, so don’t forget to share the joy. Off we go!

1. This is much, much better than the ‘dirty art’ people usually leave on rear windshields…

u201cDirty art.. ud83dudc4cu201d

— Buitengebieden (@Buitengebieden)
1677420702

Can you imagine coming back to your car and finding this? I’d never be able to wash it. The rain would have to do it for me.

2. Woman shares the power of platonic love in a sweet celebration of friendship

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There are many kinds of love, and we create unnecessary limitations if we view every close emotional bond through the lens of romance or sex. Yay for platonic love and genuine friendship.

3. Disneyland’s Evil Queen shows she actually is fairest of them all, making an autistic boy feel welcome

@magicwiththomas

The not so Evil Queen offering him to feel her cape #autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance #asd #specialneeds #disney #disneyparks #disneyland #disneytiktok #disney100 #snowwhite #evilqueen #fyp #foryoupage

Autistic kids have different sensory needs and preferences, and this queen seems to know how to connect with Thomas by inviting him to feel her cape. Disney magic at its best. Read the full story here.

4. By chance, Chance the Rapper had a kindness run-in with the legendary Martin Short

Chance the Rapper boarded a flight with his 7-year-old daughter, Kensli, when he realized their seats weren’t together. A man immediately offered up his seat so they could sit together, and then Chance realized it was the legendary comedic actor Martin Short. Chance said he didn’t think Short even knew who he was—he was just being kind. Read the full story here.

5. The music cut out in the middle of a cheerleading competition, and the crowd immediately stepped in to save the routine

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The counting reaction from the cheerleaders in the crowd was immediate. Talk about awesome sportsmanship.

6. Drew Barrymore and Pink had a couch chat about motherhood that was refreshingly real

So open, so sincere and so wise. Love seeing moms being honest about their fears and struggles. Read the full story here.

7. Cutest barista ever makes coffee with her patient, loving dad

@sailorkinsley

Coffee made by my mini 🫶🏽 #fyp

It’s adorable, but also a masterclass in positive parenting. The family’s videos demonstrate how letting kids try and letting them make mistakes and messes helps them learn. Read the full story here.

8. Kid’s drawing of what ‘safe’ means to him is just pure ‘Awwww’

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Does anyone have tips for when a preschooler’s drawing makes you cry all the good tears?

9. All 46 U.S. presidents looking ‘cool’ with a mullet is the greatest use of AI ever

As writer Tod Perry quipped, “Barack Obama looking like he played an informant on ‘Starsky and Hutch’ in 1976.” And hello, Babe Lincoln. Check out more mulleted presidents here.

10. Third time’s the charm for this adorable joey trying to climb into mama’s pouch.

u201cBaby kangaroo entering its mother’s pouchnhttps://t.co/KSNOpSTFEbu201d

— Fascinating (@Fascinating)
1677826645

“If at first, you don’t succeed,” am I right? We’ve all been there. Next time you fall flat on your face, just remember this baby kangaroo’s undeterred perseverance and tell yourself to keep trying.

Hope that brought you some joy! Come back next week for more.

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It’s Bottled In Bond Day in the whiskey world — that means that it’s time to drink some good BiB whiskeys, folks! If you’re deep enough into American whiskey, you know that “bottled in bond” is often code for “the good stuff” from a brand. In short, a “bottled in bond” expression — either of bourbon or rye — is the expression that you want to be sipping and mixing with all of the time.

Today, I’m going to break down what “bottled in bond” whiskey is and then conduct a blind taste test battle between the two biggest distilleries producing iconic bottled in bond whiskeys — Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill. Let’s get the lesson out of the way first. To be called a “bottled in bond” rye or bourbon whiskey, the following parameters have to be met:

• 100% of the liquid has to be distilled in the same distilling season (spring or fall) at a single distillery.
• The whiskey has to age for a minimum of four years in a federally bonded warehouse.
• The whiskey must be bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV).
• The label must clearly state the distillery that made it.
• If it was bottled at a location other than the distillery where it was made, the label must also clearly state the bottling location.
• The final product cannot have anything besides water added to the liquid.

Those rules are in addition to the already strict guidelines that both rye and bourbon whiskey have to adhere to be called “straight rye” or “straight bourbon”. That includes having a specific mash bill (recipe) that includes at least 51% rye or 51% corn respectively. Legal guidelines also inform the proof the liquid comes off the stills at, is barreled at, and is bottled at. Along with a minimum of two years of aging.

So by the time you add the additional “bottled in bond” rules, you’re dealing with a whiskey that has a lot of parameters. And that’s what makes it “the good stuff” … in most whiskey drinkers’ estimation anyway. Why though? Is it that much better? Well… yes, I think so. And so does Harlen Wheatley, the Master Distiller of Buffalo Trace, who I was chatting with about bottled in bond whiskeys recently. He had some plain-spoken wisdom about them.

“‘Bottled in bond’ expressions showcase the producer and the whiskey and is probably the best way to guarantee the quality,” Wheatley says. “The flavor of a ‘bottled in bond’ whiskey has more impact than normal, due to the 100-proof.”

Basically, “bottled in bond” is just another expression from a brand where the ABV or proof is a little higher, allowing for the whiskey’s natural flavor notes to shine through a little more in the glass. And that’s what makes it feel like “the good stuff” from any given brand because, well, it is made to be exactly that. All of that leads me to the fun part, tasting some whiskeys labeled “bottled in bond.” For this exercise, I had my wife line up three bottles each from the two biggest and finest producers of bottled in bond whiskey in the whole game — Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill.

The point of the blind tasting and ranking was super simple: Find the absolute best-tasting bottled in bond whiskey to drink right now. That makes our lineup today the following bottles:

• Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond (Buffalo Trace)
• Heaven Hill Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond (Heaven Hill)
• Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky Bottled-In-Bond (Heaven Hill)
• Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond (Buffalo Trace)
• Henry McKenna Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond Aged 10 Years (Heaven Hill)
• Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond (Buffalo Trace)

Let’s dive in!

• The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2022, Ranked
• Our Head Drinks Critic Reveals The Expensive Bourbons He *Won’t* Pay Above Retail For
• The Absolute Best Bourbons Between $50-$60, Ranked
• Every Single Buffalo Trace Whiskey & Spirits Brand, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Bourbons Between $20-$30, Ranked

Part 1 — The Whiskey Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a sense of soft corn mush with a hint of fresh green chili, Saigon cinnamon (a little sweet), orchard tree bark, and the black mildew that grows on all the whiskey warehouses in Kentucky.

Palate: The palate leans into buttery toffee with a twinge of black licorice next to cinnamon-spiced dark chocolate tobacco and a hint of huckleberry pie with vanilla ice cream.

Finish: The end has a salted caramel sweetness that leads back to a hint of sweet cinnamon and dark tobacco with a light sense of the fermentation room with a hint of sweet gruel.

Initial Thoughts:

Well, this is delicious. It’s a good start but there are some big hitters in this lineup. Let’s see how it goes from here.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose draws you in with this rich and creamy vanilla ice cream (you know the kind that’s likely labeled “Tahitian”) that’s drizzled with a buttery and salty caramel sauce next to soft leather and dried apple blossoms with a hint of old cedar bark braids.

Palate: A floral honey vibe melds with Graham Crackers on the palate as creamy toffee covered in crushed almonds mingles with vanilla-laced pipe tobacco and old leather-bound books.

Finish: There’s a bit of freshly ground nutmeg near the end that leads to a light cherry tobacco note with whispers of old cellar beams and winter spices on the finish.

Initial Thoughts:

This was a tiny bit thinner than the last pour but had more depth. I know that shouldn’t make sense but it does. There were more flavor notes in the actual nose and sip but they didn’t run as deep and long. It was more like a tease almost.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose on this one is bold with layers of cherry, vanilla, winter spices, and old oak staves.

Palate: The palate is classic rye with a sprinkling of black pepper next to cinnamon sticks and cloves with a lush underbelly of vanilla cream that’s nearly eggnog.

Finish: There’s a hint of orange that leads back to the cherry with a touch of old wicker and woody spice rounding things out.

Initial Thoughts:

This is pretty cheap whiskey. It has a very good flavor profile but it feels very shallow.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Dried dark fruits and a hint of vanilla wafers mingle with fig fruit leather, a touch of orchard wood, and a deep caramel on the nose.

Palate: The palate holds onto those notes while layering in dark berry tobacco with sharp winter spices, new leather, and a singed cotton candy next to a cedar box filled with that tobacco.

Finish: The finish lingers on your senses for a while and leaves the spice behind for that dark, almost savory fruit note with an echo of blackberry Hostess pies next to soft leather pouches that have held chewy tobacco for decades and a final hint of old porch wicker in the middle of summer.

Initial Thoughts:

There’s zero shallowness in this pour. This is classic bourbon from top to bottom with a serious, expansive profile. It’s also really f*cking delicious.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens slightly tannic with rich orange zest and vanilla cream next to woody winter spice, fresh mint, and wet cedar with a hint of gingerbread and burnt cherry.

Palate: The palate hits on soft vanilla white cake with a salted caramel drizzle and burnt orange zest vibe next to apple/pear tobacco leaves dipped in toffee and almond.

Finish: The end has a sour cherry sensation that leads to wintery woody spices, cedar bark, and old cellar beams with a lush vanilla pod and cherry stem finish.

Initial Thoughts:

This is also a spectacularly well-rounded whiskey. It’s so deeply hewn that it kind of just keeps going down beautiful bourbon-y paths. It’s also very clearly rendered and distinct in every note from the nose to the finish.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This nose is vibrant with hints of freshly plucked pears next to black peppercorns, soft cedar, winter spice barks and berries, and a hint of fresh mint chopped up with fresh dill that leads to a minor key of spearmint and maybe some fresh chili pepper on the vine.

Palate: The palate holds onto the fresh green chili pepper as the pear gets stewed with those winter spices and drizzled with a salted toffee syrup cut with sharp burnt orange and bitter chinotto leaves.

Finish: That sweet and citrus bitter vibe leads back to dark and woody clove and anise with a dash of sasparilla and salted black licorice before some fresh mint and dill return to calm everything down.

Initial Thoughts:

This is magical.

Part 2 — The Whiskey Ranking

6. Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky Bottled-In-Bond — Taste 3

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $28

The Whiskey:

This rye is very much a bourbon drinker’s rye. The mash bill is only 51% rye with 37% corn, and 12% malted barley. The juice then matures under the federal regulations allowing it to be “bottled-in-bond” and is barely proofed down to 100 proof with that soft Kentucky limestone water before bottling.

Bottom Line:

This was the easiest slot to rank on this panel. This was clearly a cheaper whiskey that just didn’t have the same depth as the rest of the pours. To be clear, this is good whiskey. It’s just also cheap whiskey. There are no faults at all. It’s just a cocktail base and nowhere near the heights of the rest of this list.

5. Heaven Hill Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond — Taste 2

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $56

The Whiskey:

This expression has been a touchstone “bottled-in-bond” since 1939 and remains a go-to for many bourbon lovers. The whiskey is the classic Heaven Hill bourbon mash bill that’s left to age for an extra three years compared to Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond (also from Heaven Hill and the same base spirit).

Bottom Line:

This is really good. But it was just that tad shallower than the Taylor Bottled In Bond Small Batch. And when I say a “tad,” I really mean that. I’m splitting serious hairs to rank these whiskeys. That all said, I’d reach for this as a great cocktail base. It’s a quintessential bourbon from top to bottom.

4. Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond — Taste 1

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $149

The Whiskey:

Buffalo Trace’s Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch is an entry point to the other 12 expressions released under the E.H. Taylor, Jr. label. The whiskey is a blend of barrels that meet the exact right flavor profiles Buffalo Trace’s blenders are looking for in a classic bottled-in-bond bourbon for Taylor.

Bottom Line:

This had that little more depth to it that helped it stand out. It’s superlative bourbon through and through. Again though, I usually reach for this when I want to make a really good bourbon-forward cocktail. That’s not to say you can’t pour this over a big ol’ rock (please do). It’s more that it works better as a deep foundational block to build a great cocktail.

3. Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond — Taste 4

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $299

The Whiskey:

These whiskeys for E.H. Taylor, Jr. are aged in the famed Warehouse C at Buffalo Trace from their mash bill no. 1. While the exact parameters of that bill are undisclosed, this is the same recipe as Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, and Stagg. In this case, the barrels are picked for their Taylor flavor profile and bottled one at a time with a slight touch of water to bring them down to bottled-in-bond proof.

Bottom Line:

I was shocked this didn’t win. This is excellent whiskey. If you can find it, buy a case. You won’t be disappointed.

2. Henry McKenna Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond Aged 10 Years — Taste 5

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $99

The Whiskey:

This classic offering from Heaven Hill is actually getting easier to find again (after years of being nearly impossible to find thanks to hype). The juice utilizes a touch of rye in the mash bill and is then aged for ten long years in a bonded rickhouse. The best barrels are chosen by hand and the whiskey is bottled with just a touch of water to bring it down to bottled-in-bond proof.

Bottom Line:

This was the most well-rounded whiskey on the list. This was the one that I wanted to go back to immediately as a sipper. It’s a classic super-hyped whiskey for a reason. It lives up to it (and I often don’t rank it this high when I know what is because of that). But tasting it blind — it’s just exemplary whiskey.

1. Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond — Taste 6

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $349

The Whiskey:

This rye from Buffalo Trace is a beloved bottle. As with all Buffalo Trace whiskeys, the mash bill and exact aging are not known. It’s likely this is made from a mash of very high rye mixed with just malted barley, maybe. We do know that it is not the same mash bill as Buffalo Trace’s other rye, Sazerac.

Bottom Line:

This was a “wow” whiskey. It’s so complicated and complex while still being the most engaging and wonderful whiskey on this panel. I’m going to say, if you track down only one bottle, make it this. It’s that good and worth the effort to find. When you do snag a bottle or pour, take your time with it. It’s worth really diving deep into the nose and palate to find all the nooks and crannies hiding in this whiskey’s flavor profile.

Part 3 — Final Thoughts

If I had to skip one of these whiskeys, I’d skip the Rittenhouse Rye. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just not that exciting (or interesting, really).

But when it comes to finding a great “bottled in bond” expression, any of the other five is going to be great. There is such a tiny distance between each of the top five that it’s damn near microscopic. That said, if you’re looking for the best damn rye whiskey to drink right now, then you need to track down a bottle of that E.H. Taylor Bottled In Bond Straight Rye. It’s next level.

Bia has come a long way since her reality TV days on Sisterhood Of Hip Hop. Although many rap music fans were introduced to the rapper from her viral song “Whole Lotta Money,” the Boston native has made it clear that she hasn’t always lived the fabulous life she bragged about her in the song (that spiked sales in Bottega Veneta heels).

On her new rags-to-riches single, “16,” produced by AzizTheShake, the musician shared just how far the rough road stretched before arriving in the lap of luxury.

The first verse opens with Bia rapping, “Waitеd my turn, now I’m havin’ that / I want that man, you can have him back / So sick of showin’ b*tches how to rap,” continuing, “Who the f*ck gon’ pay my bills, ho? / I ain’t even did my nails, ho / You gon’ make me beat your ass, at sixteen, I done had to pay my bail, ho / Dryin’ my clothes on the radiator / Movin’ in silence, can’t wake the neighbor.”

In the chorus, Bia doubles down on her come-up story, rapping, “I came from a place where there’s nobody to look up to / We weren’t broke together, tell me how the f*ck I trust you / I left mama house, b*tch, I ain’t have nowhere to run to.”

It is unclear if “16” is the lead single to any forthcoming project, but Bia did share with People that she has wrapped up her album and that “it should probably be out within maybe a spring, summer vibe.”

Listen to the song above.

The two newest members of the Fast and Furious family are Jason Momoa and Brie Larson. The Dune star plays Dante Reyes, the villain of Fast X who director Louis Leterrier described as “100 percent Momoa,” as if the frequently-shirtless Jason Momoa could be anything less than 100 percent himself.

As for Larson, we don’t know much about her character, Tess, other than she’s a “guardian angel” for Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto and a “very strong” connection to the franchise at large, according to Leterrier in Total Film.

Could Tess be related to Brian O’Conner, played by the late Paul Walker? That’s what a lot of people believe. But if you want to think differently and come up with your fan theory, “Brie Larson is reprising her character from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World under a different name” is up for grabs.

Here’s the official plot synopsis:

Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto and his family have outsmarted, out-nerved and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced: A terrifying threat emerging from the shadows of the past who’s fueled by blood revenge, and who is determined to shatter this family and destroy everything — and everyone — that Dom loves, forever.

Fast X opens on May 19.