Featuring the grossness of the drinkable bacteria byproduct known as kombucha, a tasting of Zima's demon spawn, the phrase "timz is hard, thighs iz cheap," and much more! Take a look.

I've been dropping hints about a big project on this blog, and here it is: Table Matters. We launched yesterday. I'm absolutely thrilled.

From our About page:

Table Matters is an online publication about the intersection of food, drink, and culture from people who dream about lunch during breakfast, dinner during lunch, cocktails during work, dessert during dinner, and breakfast before bedtime. We recognize that food is more than just what we put in our mouths — it's a political statement, a commodity, a status symbol, a declaration of love. It's entertainment, seduction, fantasy. We realize that food is becoming more politicized, more precious, and more divisive than ever. But too many foodies have forgotten that food and drink can (and should) be fun. This is why we get excited when we hear food and drink discussed in news and pop culture. And it's why we celebrate eating an adventurous, gourmet eight-course meal as much as sharing grilled cheese sandwiches with friends.

The site looks a lot more amazing than a screenshot can do justice. Our designer and photographers did a really fantastic job, and we have a lot of wonderful people (and me) writing about everything from terrible Halloween candy to classic cocktails to the awesomeness of fake meat and much, much more. I do hope you'll take a look.

I know, I know; I've been bad at updating this blog recently. But I have an excuse: I've been jet-setting. Thanks to my patchwork employment and rugged good looks, I've been to Chicago, Minneapolis, the beach, and New Orleans this summer. Regular posting will commence shortly. For now, here are photos from some of those places, as well as a few from closer to home:

Here's a tip: if you're going to the slots casino in Chester, PA, look up public transportation directions online. Otherwise you might end up getting off at a train station only to discover that you need to walk down the five-inch shoulder of a road appropriately named Industrial Highway where you can see pretty bridges and pray that you don't fall into oncoming traffic. Actually, here's a solution: never go to the slots casino in Chester.

Thankfully, the Broad Street Line Balloon Monster had just eaten a child, and it did not attack me for taking this picture.

Chicago, 3 a.m. This is what happens when you decide not to get a hotel room for the night because your flight is at 6 a.m. We also stayed in a bar until last call and did crosswords in a 24-hour Dunkin' Donuts where Rob was served some of the worst coffee of his life.

It has been a summer of good food. Artichokes at Ansill in Philadelphia.

Filming a sketch and/or auditioning to be an MTV VJ. Oh wait, nevermind. MTV doesn't show music anymore. Phew!

When we visited the Mall of America just outside Minneapolis, the New Kids on the Block played a show. Celebrating a boy band and extreme shopping in one place felt disturbingly patriotic.

Absinthe tasting at the new absinthe museum in New Orleans. JJ Sutherland was interviewing people while I was there. I like the absinthe device in this picture, but I can't get over the fact that it was impossible to photograph without also getting copious crotch. Now maybe you can't get over it either.

Performing at Snubfest in Chicago. I had just shoved a piece of chocolate cake in my mouth. Photo by Bruce DeViller.

Mojo costume at Wizard World Chicago. This very rightly won the costume contest.

Oh, I look calm, but I know the truth: the giant face on the outside of the Guthrie in Minneapolis will kill us all.