By February 16, 2006
Amidst a myriad of mediocre reality TV shows, Project Runway shines like a diamond in the rough. The show appears on Bravo, and brings new life to the network last famous for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Project Runway appeals to a varied audience ranging from the fashion-obsessed to people who know nothing about high fashion. The outrageous time constraints and high pressure atmosphere help to emphasize the enormous talent that each contestant has. The top four contestants have proven themselves to be innovative designers,and are able to deftly switch gears from haute couture to designing an outfit for Barbie.
Irrefutably, the most creative designer is Santino. Santino’s design for Nicki Hilton was hip, yet classy, and enabled him to nab first place in the challenge. His girly, ruffled lavender Barbie dress was also unique, and closely rivaled Nick’s “Socialite in Capri” design. Santino’s greatest downfall however, is his tendency to over-embellish (honestly, that vulgar, Dutch-milkmaid lingerie line was ridiculous). If he makes it to the top three, his biggest obstacle will be whether or not he can channel his creativity, while still making things wearable, and not outlandish.
Daniel V. (our fave) is also unbelievably gifted. His designs, compared with Santino’s, are much more marketable and tend to be trendy, yet classic. He has a unique ability to infuse every project with elements of elegance and style, while still keeping his designs young and updated. His Banana Republic dress was gorgeous, and his Garden Party dress was incredibly chic. However, Daniel did fall flat on two occasions: during the “Barbie” challenge and the most recent “Makeover” challenge. All in all, we really think Daniel is capable of taking the fashion industry by storm!
Chloe has two wins under her belt, and she has been the most consistent contestant so far. Chloe shined during the “Makeover” challenge when she made her first ever menswear debut by designing a tailored, pinstripe suit for Nick. The suit was great, and the pink button-down made it more modern. Her least creative project was her garden party outfit, which entailed gluing flower petals all over a basic linen dress. Her garment construction has been flawless; however, she needs to be more innovative if she expects to win.
The final contestant is Kara. To her credit, Kara has made vast improvements during the course of the show, and she generally executes her designs very well. We also thought it was very selfless and commendable of her to help Chloe finish her garden party dress. However, being nice in a cutthroat, competitive industry isn’t enough. Kara lacks the ability to plan beforehand and work through her design. Her nervous breakdown during the Banana challenge won’t help her either. In addition, her Barbie outfit was hideous (a ruffled denim skirt and a terrible looking hat) and her design for the “Inspiration” challenge was atrocious. However, her talent and creativity have made her one of Tim’s favorites. Her black and white graphic design Banana Republic dress was beautiful, despite the fact that the judges didn’t seem to care for the white jacket. The intricate designs, particularly the braiding and purple flowers, that she used on the bodice of her garden dress were also exquisite.
Overall this show is a must see. Watching the designers create their work from scratch and being able to see the finished product is amazing. The judges’ commentary, especially Michael Kors’ critiques are also really entertaining. Now that we caught you up to speed, you really should watch the show that everyone who is anyone is talking about.
By February 16, 2006
It was a nasty Ithaca day: slush on the sidewalk soaked my jeans, snow blew in my face and wind sent chills through my ski jacket. If it had been a weekday, I would have skipped class and stayed in my cozy bed. But it was a Saturday, and I was hell-bent on getting to the Commons. With two friends in tow, I sloshed down Buffalo Street in search of the fabled mechanical bull. What I discovered was much more: a chili eating extravaganza. Tasting was not confined to a select set of judges – it was available to the entire Ithaca community. For a few dollars, you get a punch card and access to the largest variety of chili in one area you could imagine. Everyone in Ithaca was in on the action. With people buzzing around the Commons in masses reserved only for summer days, even restaurants that don’t serve chili boasted chili stands.
Three years have passed since my inaugural visit to the Ithaca Chili Festival, and the 2006 cook-off is scheduled to happen February 18th. Did you know that the term “Chili” actually refers to the pepper used to spice the dish? Below is a “chili glossary” to help you navigate the crowds.
Capsaicin: Refers to the chemical that makes chiles hot, ranging from Red Savina Habanero (unbearable) to bell pepper (mild). Because different chiles contain different levels of capsaicin, beware of substituting chiles in recipes-don’t add more than a pinch of Habanero to your chili unless you want to spend the next week re-growing taste buds. And don’t be fooled by popular belief: the Thai chile actually contains a higher level of capsaicin than the Habanero.
Chili Con Carne: The tomato based bowl of meat and beans that is well-known around the country. In spite of legend, folklore, and name, chili con carne was not brought to America from Mexico. It was founded in Texas and gained popularity first in San Antonio. It would figure that in 1977, Texas laid claim to the dish and named chili the official “state food.”
Chili Plus: Add chunks of sweet potato, mango, or peach to your favorite chili for a tantalizing contrast between hot and sweet.
Chili with alcohol: Either a cup of dry red wine or a bottle of beer adds a curious flavor punch to any red chili.
Chili with chocolate: The ancient chocolate drink, cacao, was often prepared using a pinch of chile. In modern America, we turn the recipe around and toss one ounce of semi-sweet chocolate into our favorite tomato-based chili.
Cincinnati Chili: Cincinnati is infamous for its strange chili-eating habits. This city’s chili is spiced with cinnamon. People eat pasta topped with chili more often than with marinara. And chili is built in “layers”: layer one is the meat, layer two is the meat with chopped onions, layer three adds beans, layer four adds shredded yellow cheddar, and layer five adds the spaghetti.
White Chili: Prepared with green chiles, chicken broth, chicken chunks and Great Northern beans. Add corn, cilantro, and cumin for extra flavor.
Vegetarian Chili: Chili can be hearty without the meat! Substitute corn, tofu, and/or extra beans and you’ll never miss the meat.
It might be tempting to stay inside this Saturday and offer up the excuse that Cornell serves chili in the dining hall every day. But the world of chili extends outside the confines of Trillium – go taste for yourself!