*Warning: spoilers Since I'm focusing on Mad Men in a historical, cultural, and political context this week, I wanted to do something related to JFK. There is an episode in season one devoted to the election of 1960, and then his assassination shocks the characters of Mad Men in season three's penultimate episode. After much […]
Mad Men-Inspired Food & Cocktails
Back at the beginning of the blog, I did a project for Vegan Month of Food where I created Mad Men-inspired food and cocktails and wrote about the show. I styled the photos with authentic 1960s props and a cinematic touch.
I tried "Rocket Fuel" (vodka and Mountain Dew) and imagined an ad for Sugarberry Ham using seitan ham as a nod to Peggy.
Whether you're a fan of the show or not, you'll want to try Don Draper's signature Old Fashioned or a Peach Pie inspired by Sally.
Make Homemade Vegan Milk Duds
These vegan milk duds are just like the real thing! They have a chewy caramel filling coated with chocolate. *Note: This post is spoiler-free. "Everybody likes to go to the movies when they're sad." While the first week of MoFo focused on classic Mad Men food and episodes, this week will center in on Mad […]
"I'll have an Old Fashioned."
It's Mad Men Cocktail Friday! Every Friday for the duration of Vegan MoFo, I'll be featuring classic cocktails that are significant in the Mad Men world. It seems appropriate to start out with Don's signature cocktail, the Old Fashioned. Don Draper's preferred Old Fashioned recipe is made with rye, but feel free to use bourbon or […]
"No one's ever on your side, Betty."
Brace yourselves, dear readers, for a double dose of Betty Draper. She may be a Mad Men woman scorned, but "victim of circumstance" and "dramatic, manipulative, and vindictive child" are not mutually exclusive titles. Put on your crazypants and join me for a modern interpretation of Betty's "Around the World" dinner party from the season […]
Rocket Fuel
Welcome to the second installment of Mad Men Cocktail Fridays! In season 4 of Mad Men, SCDP takes on Mountain Dew as a client. Given the task of creating cocktail recipes, the copywriters can't figure it out because they are focused on ignoring Peggy's authority. While Peggy is busy "pioneering the science of wet blanketry" […]
Vintage Vegan Brandy Alexander Recipe
Inspired by Peggy Olson from Mad Men, this vegan Brandy Alexander cocktail is made with dairy free creamer and crème de cacao. <<< [wprm-recipe-jump] >>> Peggy's copywriting career begins during a focus group for Belle Jolie lipstick company. After some instigation, half the women in the group break down, sobbing about their relationships and insecurities. […]
"Sally, go watch TV."
*Warning: season three spoilers! When I was watching Mad Men for the first time. The second time around, I was supposed to pay attention to food, design, and table setting for this project, but alas, I got sucked in and forgot for the greater portion of six seasons. However, there are some scenes that I […]
Tom Collins: "Okay, you don't smash the cherry on that."
It's Mad Men Cocktail Friday and I'm borrowing Sally Draper's Tom Collins expertise for the day. From Tom Collins to Bloody Mary, the eldest Draper child knows her stuff when it comes to cocktails. "Just plop it in at the end. Try to keep it in the top of the glass. Gin." On a seemingly […]
Meditations in an Emergency
Welcome back to Mad Men Cocktail Friday, Thursday edition. After a week largely focused on Betty Draper, I thought an extra cocktail was in order. We see Betty with her signature drink, the Vodka Gimlet, in season one, but the most notable one she orders is the one accompanied with her affair in the season […]
"I watched the sunrise today. Couldn't sleep."
"How was it?" "Average." I decided to turn a room into a camera obscura for this photo (no Photoshop!). A camera obscura is created by letting a small amount of light into a pitch dark vessel through a pinhole. Such vessels include a camera, cardboard box, or in this case, a room with the window […]
"I made French toast."
Don: "What's on this?" Sally: "Mrs. Butterworth's." Don: "Go get it." ... Don: "That's rum. Read labels." Sally: "Is it bad?" Don: "Not really." This exchange between Don and Sally happens in season four's 'The Beautiful Girls' when Sally Draper proudly presents homemade French toast to her father. ("Oh daddy, I do it all the […]
"Our hams are worth fighting for."
In Mad Men's season four premiere, 'Public Relations', Peggy and Pete orchestrate an unconventional and unofficial publicity stunt that involves actresses fighting over a Sugarberry ham in the grocery store. As planned, the stunt is written up in the paper and leads to a spike in Thanksgiving sales for the ham company. Peggy proudly composes […]
“We’re gonna sit at our desks typing while the walls fall down around us."
The pitch meetings on Mad Men always feature a spread of New York delicatessen, appetizers, and glasses upon glasses of Bloody Marys. The food is hardly the main attraction of these scenes. I don't recall the partners or clients actually eating it on-screen because, well, booze. It seems that Don and Roger frequent the beverage […]
Death is My Client
*Warning: spoilers! While Mad Men's Paul Kinsey was not necessarily a major character during his three season stay on Mad Men, it was evident that he marched to the beat of his own drum, especially compared to the other Sterling Cooper employees. For that reason, his transformation in season five was not all that shocking. […]
“But that's life. One minute you’re on top of the world..."
...the next minute some secretary’s running you over with a lawn mower." Hey, remember when Lois the secretary runs over Guy MacKendrick's foot with a lawnmower at Joan's going away party? And right after he got his foot in the door?! (Thanks, Roger.) After two days of Betty, I felt that this week needed some […]
Mad Men MoFo: Behind the Scenes
This is the end of Vegan MoFo 2013, and it'll end as it began! This is the final post in which I share the secrets of Mad Men MoFo! "Secrets" sounds far more scandalous than I ever wish to be, and in reality, it's just some old fashioned planning and the Mad Men props used in […]
Mad Men Dinner Party, Betty Draper Style
Welcome back to Betty's dinner party. You better be enjoying yourself! For the main course, we're having rosemary seitan "leg of lamb" with mint jelly, and German egg noodles (Spätzle) like Grandma Hofstadt used to make. There is French Burgundy wine and Heineken to drink. And the napkins match the dress Betty will wear for […]
"Hawaii. The jumping off point."
Welcome to the final Mad Men Cocktail Friday and the penultimate episode of Mad Men MoFo! We're taking a trip to Hawaii for today's cocktails, so read on for Piña Coladas, and the Blue Hawaiian recipe. Mad Men season six opens with Don and Megan's Hawaiian vacation. Shortly after, Hawaii becomes the inspiration for an […]
"Advertising is based on one thing: happiness."
I am beyond excited to announce my theme for Vegan MoFo 2013, Mad Men! This year's MoFo combines so many of my interests: Mad Men, television, photography, cinematography, Joan Holloway, food, veganism, writing, art, psychological drama, research, history, storytelling, Mid-Century modern design, and convincing myself that spending tons of $$$ on antiques is an investment! […]