We had three impressive responses to my Female On A Plate contest, a contest inspired by a quote from Usher in New York magazine. Responding to the question, "What kind of dish would you like to inspire?" Usher answered: "Female on a Plate. It would be any kind of dessert I eat--chocolate cake, banana pudding. They have Sex on The Beach. Why Can't I have Female on a Plate?" And thus a contest was born.
And so here they are, three entries for Female on a Plate. Interestingly, they are all done by females. Please vote for your favorite in the comments. Please only vote once. The winner receives an USHER CD or poster. Lucky them! Now let's get to it...
(1) Kim M. of Convivial offers up her Female on A Plate--a fig tartlet with warm vanilla bean sabayon:
Kim writes on her site, "Consuming a woman should be quite an experience, I would think. At the very least your head should swoon from heady, erotic flavors. Ingesting a woman ought to fill you with the soft, soothing comfort of a feminine touch. But above all, it would be warm, sensuous and complex." The rest of her explanation is on her site--it's very thoughtful and worth reading.
(2) Taking a different approach is Brilynn F. of the blog Jumbo Empanadas. Here's her zesty entry:
Brilynn writes: "Here's my entry for your Usher contest, I thought the whole thing was pretty hilarious. Unfortunately, the dish that I actually tried to make didn't turn out AT ALL, but I hope this works for a substitute." Does it? You be the judge!
And now for the final entry...
(3) Sophie R. of Foodie and the Feast offers up not one but two delectable dishes that fit under the umbrella of "Female on A Plate."
She writes, "Is Usher objectifying women? Yes, definitely, without a doubt. But, Usher is an idiot. We all know from his break-up with Chilli, Usher was a sex addict and he cheated on her (go listen to Confessions). I don't think he meant he wanted a female slathered in bread pudding served on a plate. You can see that with his analogy of Sex on the Beach. The cocktail is just supposed to remind you of some good times that possibly happened on a beach.. not literally recreate some kind of scene in your glass. He just wanted something good on his plate. So good, that it reminds him of all those times he did all those females. Yeah, the whole female on a plate lingo is totally wrong... but the essence of it.. creating something that tastes so good that its orgasmic - it's an interesting challenge!"
Her first dish is: "Sumac Skirt Steak with Pomegranate reduction."
Sophie writes: "So I don't know if anything I make is THAT good (modesty is a good thing). Why not make a meal that is pretty good and get a boost from one of the ingredients by choosing an ingredient that is a known aphrodisiac? First thing that came to mind was the pomegranate. Autumn is the start of pomegranate season and its seeds look like jewels."
As her second dish, Sophie offers "Roasted Bosc Pear with Pomegranate Glaze."
You can read the full account of her dishes here.
*****
Ok, so now it's time to USHER in a winner. Choose your favorite and vote in the comments and do so by tomorrow night at midnight EST. Good luck contestants! And thanks for entering.
Comments (51)
i vote for kim! her dish looks delicious, her description is excellent, and it really seems to capture the essence of what i would want a woman on a plate to be. :)
Posted by Rachel | October 26, 2006 2:36 AM
Brilynn F. - Go Barbie!!!!
Posted by David Neubert | October 26, 2006 2:39 AM
I vote for Brilynn F. since she made me laugh.
Posted by Jason Sholar | October 26, 2006 7:23 AM
Am I allowed to vote for me even if the first entry is FAR superior? :)
Posted by Brilynn | October 26, 2006 7:27 AM
Although Kim's pomegranate reduction sounds delicious, my vote goes to Brilynn because I have a feeling that Brilynn's entry is closer to what Usher meant. (Pig!)
Posted by pageycooks | October 26, 2006 7:42 AM
Kim, no contest. Although I think a phyllo crust would have been a better choice (delicate, multilayered, etc) I think the figs are a genius choice.
Posted by kristyn | October 26, 2006 7:58 AM
Go Kim!!!!!
Posted by Robyn | October 26, 2006 8:27 AM
my vote is for kim m.it makes me excited just looking at it. makes me want to dive right in...
Posted by b_iguana | October 26, 2006 8:46 AM
Brilynn F. for sure....
Posted by Jer | October 26, 2006 9:34 AM
Kim for sure! I want to eat that right now! :)
Posted by tulip | October 26, 2006 9:44 AM
Kim, definately! The figs, so sensual.
Posted by Kate | October 26, 2006 9:47 AM
I'm torn between #2 and #3 so I guess I'll go with #3 since it is actually food. #2 is hilarious, though. (I'm not a fan of the fig. Sorry!)
Posted by eg | October 26, 2006 10:30 AM
I'm waffling between the first and the third, but I think that Kim really captured the essence of the idea.
Posted by Janelle | October 26, 2006 10:52 AM
I vote for Kim M - the clear winner in my opinion although number 2 is very funny.
Posted by Jeff | October 26, 2006 11:39 AM
My vote is for Kim
All of these far surpass anything I could have come up with
Posted by Ilana | October 26, 2006 12:03 PM
I vote for Brilynn, the photo styling alone should win it for her, Barbie in a studio with a whip cream bikini?! Brilliant. I think Usher would agree.
Posted by t. | October 26, 2006 12:11 PM
I vote for Kim
Posted by melissa | October 26, 2006 12:13 PM
Brilynn F. all the way! It may not be 100% edible, but come on: nothing says 'Female on a Plate' like a female on a plate.
Posted by JT | October 26, 2006 12:28 PM
I vote for Kim. She captured it exactly, I think. I'm impressed. (Although the Barbie is hysterical.)
Posted by Jill Rose | October 26, 2006 12:29 PM
Kim. Dang, that looks delicious!
Posted by gidget bananas | October 26, 2006 12:34 PM
I vote for the visually sensual pears. But nothing speaks to man like steak with pomegranates.
Posted by Blogless Kim | October 26, 2006 1:10 PM
I vote for Kim
Posted by Erin | October 26, 2006 1:26 PM
I vote Kim!
Posted by Kamilah | October 26, 2006 2:30 PM
Kim, definitely.. I love her explanation of her choices.. although like most everyone else, #2 did make me just cackle out loud :}
Posted by m.k. | October 26, 2006 3:08 PM
The food and sentiment in both the first and third entries are fantastic, but I'm gonna have to go with the Barbie because it's not taking Usher so seriously. Make those beautiful edibles for someone you love, not Usher! Unless you love Usher.
Posted by Tina | October 26, 2006 3:23 PM
Kim M - poetic, romantic and edible.
Posted by livetotravel | October 26, 2006 3:29 PM
My vote goes to Brilynn for capturing the rununculousness of Usher's comment; however, I'd like to state for the record that I would pay top dollar to eat anything made by Kim (not limited to that incredible-looking fig sculpture).
Posted by Laura B | October 26, 2006 3:34 PM
Kim's fig tartlet!
Posted by brenda | October 26, 2006 4:03 PM
definitely kim - esp. with the figs perhaps an intended reference to the original woman (eve) and the fig leaves...?
Posted by shirin | October 26, 2006 4:46 PM
kim, mmm.
Posted by Melissa | October 26, 2006 4:50 PM
Kim, definitely...ooh, I so want to bite into that tart. The second entry does win brownie points for being hilarious though!
Posted by seema | October 26, 2006 5:46 PM
I vote for kim.
Posted by beastmomma | October 26, 2006 6:06 PM
Bosc Pear - subtle
Posted by will | October 26, 2006 6:10 PM
Kim! That tartlet looks divine and reminds me that I haven't had figs in an awfully long time ... Sophia's entries look great, too, but you know ... FIGS!
Posted by Kim | October 26, 2006 6:23 PM
OH ! Kim for sure,--Love figs and thepresentaton is fantastic. T
Posted by spicydp | October 26, 2006 6:37 PM
Did no one make a boobies cake?
Posted by Jenni Loves Adam | October 26, 2006 6:51 PM
One more for Kim!
Posted by Coco-Strange | October 26, 2006 9:36 PM
Kim! partly because my cousin once used a fig as a womb in a science presentation. and besides, it's such a beautiful done tartlet. if i had to be one of the Females, that'd definitely be the one i'd want to be.
Posted by rachel | October 26, 2006 9:42 PM
Kim's is stunning, I think hers is the best. But, like everyone else I love Brilynn's humor. But figs..mmm...
Posted by Kelly | October 26, 2006 10:42 PM
kim!
Posted by cereus | October 26, 2006 10:47 PM
Kim!!
Posted by yael | October 27, 2006 12:11 AM
Brilynn's for sure!
Posted by amanda | October 27, 2006 12:47 AM
Kim
Posted by Christine | October 27, 2006 1:05 AM
Kim takes it all..her description sent me chasing after my wife!
Posted by Nick Teal | October 27, 2006 11:53 AM
Although it appears she doesn't need my vote, my vote is for Kim M.
Posted by Fran | October 27, 2006 6:35 PM
Brilynn
Posted by Leah | October 28, 2006 2:17 PM
Wow!! Three entries and one is a Barbie!
Posted by deccanheffalump | October 28, 2006 2:19 PM
Kim = Yum.
Posted by Skye | October 29, 2006 1:41 PM
Like the combination of flesh (steak)and pomegranate to represent woman. We're not all whipped cream and goodness.
Posted by Aimee | October 29, 2006 6:01 PM
Brilynn- Clear and to the point.
Posted by Hanna | October 31, 2006 12:56 AM
Hi,
You have a very interesting site. Kindly see our cookbook on www.pritya.com. We would appreciate your comments on it.
Posted by Sangeetha | November 4, 2006 8:11 AM