Millennium Featured on Avastar

 Millennium Featured on Avastar

MobCity Magazine- June 2014 Issue

The All-You-Can-Eat Buffet

By Oliver Hektor

 

Today marks the day that I have decided never to step foot in an all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant again.  You may think that it had to do with the particular restaurant I went to.  On the contrary, the new restaurant looked like a beautifully adorned grand banquet hall with wall to wall sumptuous entrees from sushi and dim sum to steak and crab legs.   The patrons however were a little less than remarkable.  One tiny elderly lady joined me in the Brazilian barbecue line where I waited patiently for one of the attendants.  She looked at me and eagerly pointed to the small sausages.  I nodded and called to one of the chefs to assist us and ordered a slice of top sirloin for myself.  She curtly informed me that typically the person who is waiting in line first should be served first.  Taken aback, I kindly informed her that I was waiting in line first but she denied it and indignantly turned her attention back to the meat attendant.  Later at the dessert line, I opened the small glass sliding door where more than a dozen types of tiny delectable desserts stood wait.  As I carefully chose my dessert and was removing it from the shelf, a woman opened the glass sliding door from the opposite end, bumping my wrist, causing my miniature mocha mousse cake to go kersplat on the counter.  With a huff, she stomped over to the other side of me, impatiently waiting as I reached for a new cake.  A few seconds later, an oversized woman towered over me in a different line as I used the small thongs to take a couple more items.  She impatiently snatched the thongs as soon as I was done with them.  Was I missing something here?  This was an all-you-can-eat buffet where they served food all day.  There was no impending cut-off time in which the restaurant would close the buffet lines or a time limit on how long you could sit in your table.  Why were people so strangely impatient?

As I looked around, I saw people dodging to and fro with their plates and a determined look on their faces as they made a bee line for the food.  They sat and inhaled their mound of food only to rush back to the buffet line two or three more times for more fodder.  Close by were glassy-eyed waiters who stood and watched all the guests gorge themselves silly and would step in occasionally to ask, ‘Are you done with your plate ma’am?’  Some guests were overweight, some were downright obese, a few had terrible acne and still others just had an ill-favored look about them is all.  I had a sickening feeling in my gut, and I don’t think it was from the sashimi.  A feeling of disgust crept up on me as I took in this alien all-you-can-eat buffet culture.  There is something inherently wrong with a system that asks you to come and shovel as much food as you want in one sitting for twenty bucks.  Perhaps people are caught up in the idea of getting their money’s worth and then some.  But if you look at it in another way, you are paying for a three-pound weight gain, indigestion and a lower self-esteem for eating like a bear going into hibernation.  It just doesn’t seem to be all that worth it.

If I could describe the atmosphere of the buffet restaurant in one word, it’s manic.  That is what happens when there is no official end to a meal and moderation goes out the window.  Each bite is a different dish and all the flavors just mash together under the constant, frenetic mastication.  I glanced up and saw a petite woman working on her dessert plate with a couple other semi-finished plates pushed aside.  I was reminded of a music video I saw called ‘Wide Thing’ where an Asian with blue hair shovels bite after bite of crappy fast food in her mouth in order to appease her boyfriend who’s into big butts.  By the end of the video, her butt is five times as big as before and her boyfriend nods approvingly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX0ZxbvVDPA Read the full article at: http://www.whoismillennium.com/press_room/the_all_you_can_eat_buffet

The Wide World of Fast Food

By Marcela Linton
 

Every June, the quest for the perfect summer body resumes.  There is no shortage of information out there on diet plans, exercise tips, juicing or pills to sift through.  But if anyone actually had the right formula, there wouldn’t be so many articles out there contradicting each other.  There would be more people out there proudly flaunting their chiseled bodies.  It’s time to scrap all of the outside information and begin really listening to your body.  Sometimes you need to give yourself permission to indulge. You’ll find that genuine cravings only come up once in a while.  Now let’s be honest, most fast food out there is total crap. But for those rare companies who’ve honed their recipe over time, credit must be given where credit is due. There is certainly a wide range of options available. We asked Los Angeles pop rock group Millennium, who just released their new single ‘Wide Thing’ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX0ZxbvVDPA], about their guilty food pleasures]. While they had no shortage of answers, here is their Top 5 list of fast food entrées that get it right.

1. El Pollo Loco Spicy Chipotle Chicken Burrito

‘Over the decades, El Pollo Loco has honed their Spicy Chipotle Chicken Burrito to a science.  I have been eating there on and off for years now.  The key I’ve found is to substitute the standard pinto beans for barbecue black beans. Not regular black beans - barbecue black beans.  Pure heaven after I come out of the studio starving.’ –Stryker

2. Fatburger Chili Cheese Fries

‘Once in a while, I crave chili cheese fries, but not just any chili cheese fries.  Fatburger makes the best ones.  If you order the skinny fries, then they are extra crispy and not soft and mushy like thicker fries.  I also order them with extra cheese.  The great thing about Fatburger is that they are open 24 hours because you never know when the craving might strike.’ –Sapphire

3. Rubio’s Fish Tacos

‘Now don’t kid yourself. It may be fish, but there ain’t nothing healthy about these batter-fried, sauce laden-babies. That said, they taste like awesomeness and for $1.50 each, you can’t go wrong. There’s a Rubio’s around the corner from our gym so, once in awhile, when I feel like undoing a week’s worth of fitness progress, I stop by for my fix.’ –Stryker. Read the full article at: http://whoismillennium.com/press_room/the_wide_world_of_fast_food/

7 Ways To Simplify Your Beauty Routine This Summer

By Kaitlyn Fleur

The temperature is climbing to near triple digits and as oppressive as the heat may be, there is an upside. Thankfully, you can dramatically simplify your beauty routine giving you more time to focus on the more important areas of your life.  In only a few minutes, you can be the hot woman you know you are rather than just a hot, sticky mess.

1.   1. For the body:  After a shower is the best time to massage a moisturizing lotion all over your body for smooth healthy-looking skin.  If you are used to hot showers, you may want to cool the water at the end of your shower so that you are not too heated when you put on the lotion.  Don’t forget to rub the lotion on your cuticles, elbows, knees and the heels of your feet.  We recommend Jergen’s Ultra Healing Lotion for soft, luxurious skin.  If you will be outdoors, do not forget to apply sunscreen as well to protect your skin from harsh UV rays.

2.   2. For the face:  Use a gentle exfoliating cleanser at least every other day to bring out your radiant, glowing skin.  For best results, make sure the exfoliating beads are small, spherical beads which are non-abrasive and gentler to the skin.  We recommend Tata Hara’s Regenerating Cleanser.  Follow with eye cream and an SPF daily moisturizer or nighttime moisturizer.  

3.   3. For the face:  Forget the foundation and powder this summer and use CC (Color Correcting) cream, which is not only more lightweight than foundation, but offers more benefits for your skin.  It hydrates, preps, and corrects the skin as well as offer hydration, SPF and anti-aging benefits.  In just a few seconds, you could dab a pea-sized amount throughout the face and blend.  Use your ring finger to blend a little more CC cream under your eye, the sides of your nose and mouth, and any other areas that need a little more coverage.  We recommend Smashbox CC Cream. 

4.   4. For the eyes:  If you will be mainly outdoors, skip the eye makeup altogether and sport a pair of stylish sunglasses.  If you want to look glammed up, instead of powdered eye shadows, glide on Sephora’s Jumbo Liner across the base of each eyelid.  Not only are they simple to apply, but they are waterproof and come in a variety of cool colors from Peacock to Gray Glitter.  Finish your eyes by curling the lashes.  If you do not feel complete without mascara, go ahead and swipe on one coat of waterproof mascara to your upper lashes.  If you are concerned about melting makeup, lightly spritz Urban Decay Makeup Setting Spray and leave your worries aside. Read the full article at: http://www.whoismillennium.com/press_room/7_ways_to_simplify_your_beauty_routine_this_summer

Millennium - Wide Thing (Official Music Video)

The Quest For The Ultimate Barbecue

By Matheu Cardoso

Memorial Day is a time to remember the brave men and women who died to protect our freedom and way of life.  And what better way to honor that sacrifice than by spending the holiday with family and friends, having a barbecue and enjoying a sumptuous feast.  Now, as you ponder the possible menu options that you will prepare for your guests, you may want to think about the last barbecue you attended.  Did you leave the barbecue feeling like you gained five pounds in just one sitting? Did your thoughts then turn to the next time you would visit the gym or how you might otherwise offset those extra calories?  Good eating from the grill does not necessarily translate to hot dogs and hamburgers with chips on the side.  That kind of eating will only create a house filled with guilty, overfed guests. 

Countries from all around the world have grilled meat as part of their cuisine.  Brazilians have churrascarias, Middle Eastern countries have kofta and the Far East has Korean and Japanese barbecue.  The difference between these countries and traditional American barbecue is that they complement the grilled meat with an astonishing array of healthy side dishes.  In fact, it would appear that the meat was one of the side dishes in a well-balanced cornicopeia of food.  To put this in perspective, there are two types of expressions that Brazilians use to describe how they feel just after a meal.  ‘Estou cheio’, which means ‘I’m stuffed’, has a negative connotation.  ‘Estou satisfeito’ means ‘I’m satisfied’ and reflects a positive feeling.  You want your guests to finish their meal feeling satisfied and not stuffed.

Because you have a three day weekend, it’s the perfect amount of time to get the groceries, marinate the meat and prepare the side dishes to please every guest and create a memorable Memorial’s Day.  Here is a sample menu that may give you some ideas on how to create your barbecue banquet.

Soy Honey Ginger Marinated Chicken

Notes:  Use chicken breast, thighs and legs.  Clean the chicken by removing the skin, rubbing salt and lemon on each piece and rinsing with cold water.  Pat dry with paper towel.  For the marinade, use low sodium soy sauce, honey, freshly grated ginger, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, salt and pepper.  Coat evenly and marinate overnight.  In the morning, stir the marinated chicken to recoat the top pieces.  Remove from refrigerator a few minutes prior to placing it on the grill.

Grilled Steak with Bordelaise Sauce

Notes:  Filet Mignon, New York Strip, T-Bone, Ribeye or Sirloin steak are all amazing coming straight off the grill.  Choose one or more cuts for your event.  Generously coat each side of the steak with salt and pepper.  It is best to make each steak ‘made to order’ since it is best served hot and cooked to individual preferences.  To up the ‘culinary ante’, prepare a Bordelaise sauce with red wine, shallots and fresh herbs such as thyme and rosemary.  Heat and occasionally stir the sauce until it forms a demi-glace.  Remove from the heat and stir in some fresh parsley.  Sprinkle fresh thyme on the cooked steak and drizzle a spoonful of the rich Bordelaise on top. 

Spinach Salad with Grilled Chicken

Notes:  Place spinach leaves, grape tomatoes, and thinly sliced red bell peppers and carrots in a large mixing bowl.  Add the grilled chicken cut in slices from above.  Just before guests arrive, mix in a small amount of dressing made with good virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar (so the salad is not left soggy after an hour).  Leave more dressing on the table for guests to help themselves.  For a sweeter twist, add chunks of just-ripened mango to the salad and add a little honey to the dressing.

Grilled Eggplant, Zucchini and Asparagus

Notes:  Choose vibrant colored vegetables at the store.  Cut eggplant and zucchini lengthwise.  Lightly brush the vegetables with olive oil mixed with salt and grill to desired doneness.  In addition to the eggplant, zucchini and asparagus, you could also pick up red ripe bell peppers and tomatoes.  When the tomatoes are soft and look like they are about to burst, take them off the grill and cut in half or quarters.  When the bell peppers are charred on all sides, place in a bowl for ten minutes.  Remove stem, seeds and outer skin and cut lengthwise.  Add a few minced garlic cloves, olive oil, salt and pepper for a delicious side.  Read the full article at: http://www.whoismillennium.com/press_room/the_quest_for_the_ultimate_barbecue/