The Mighty Rib

2010-11-15T06:05:00.002-06:00

New Site...New Name

2010-11-13T20:27:00.003-06:00

Grand Re-Launch...Coming Monday.

We change to: http://www.themightyrib.com

Check it out for a sneak preview.

Finding Balance: Week 5

2010-11-12T16:05:00.001-06:00

Life is all about finding that perfect mix of fun and hard work.

This week I want to talk more about practice and repetition. Though I’m still in the beginning stages of what I hope is a thorough transformation, I recognize the importance of developing and implementing a quality routine.

I’ve started to do that by trying to stick to eating certain things for breakfast every day, normally low fat Pop Tarts or a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of coffee. I try to follow that with a snack around 10am, usually a Kashi granola bar, some natural almonds or a piece of fruit. Lunch used to be a sandwich, but I’m doing my best to stay away from excess bread if I can help it. I’ve been eating a lot of Vietnamese food lately, usually sticking with a bowl of Pho Ga, which is essentially just chicken soup. The cilantro and bean sprouts I add to it give it more substance and keep the meal healthy, except for the sodium in the broth.

After going back over my food journal for the past month, it looks like my biggest challenge is controlling what I eat for lunch. It’s no surprise either, since I go out for lunch about 90% of the time. The key is to make sure I go places where I can track my calories, like Chipotle, Chick-Fil-A and other places where nutritional information is readily available.

Now, this week I did allow myself to splurge one morning for breakfast. I’m from Texas, so I have to get my Whataburger fix every now and then. Two taquitos always hit the spot…

The only negative to my routine so far is that I really haven’t developed a consistent enough workout plan. I’ll be honest, it’s been way too sporadic for my liking. The only thing that’s been a constant is soccer practice on Monday, softball games on Wednesday (which are killing me; I’m getting too old to recover quick enough) and soccer games on Saturday. Now that my son’s soccer season is winding down (for those that don’t know, I’m the player wrangler, er, coach), I’m going to have to find something else to drive me crazy, I mean, some other worthy cause to devote my time and energy to.

Another thing I’ve decided to do is weigh myself monthly rather than weekly. I don’t want to get discouraged if I do happen to gain a pound a two during a given week. I’m trying to stay in this for the long haul, so I figure once a month should suffice.

What do you do to exercise, other than the standard walking/running/weight lifting combination?

Happy Hour: Cranberry Mojito

2010-11-11T19:17:00.008-06:00

Get ready for the weekend with a Thursday Happy Hour.
NOTE: CHECK OUT THE NEW SITE:
http://www.themightyrib.com
You can find this recipe and so many others!

What happens when you take a scoop of this and dump it in this? You get the picture above. You also get a great drink. I used a little creativity on this one. Plus, I had a ton of leftover cranberry granita and wanted to put it to good use. Boy, did I. The tartness of the cranberry was perfect with the lime and mint of the mojito. This is a great drink for the holidays that's different from the heavy, creamy cocktails associated with this time of year. I highly recommend this Cranberry Mojito (Kevin style). It also makes for a wonderful presentation, and your guests will think you're an expert mixologist. If you're throwing a holiday party, this is a great drink to make ahead of time, throw in a punch bowl and top with the cranberry granita.

Unique Randomness

2010-11-10T16:11:00.005-06:00

My random thoughts...brought to you once a week!

The time change always f’s me up, but not in the way you might think. I can deal with the short days and temporary messed up sleeping. What I can’t stand is driving to work with that d@mn sun in my eyes. I’m practically blind. I know, poor me.

Don’t you just love the battle of the insurance commercials? I do. Progressive has Flo. Farmer’s has the dude from Juno. And State Farm has that guy I just want to punch through the screen. I know Flo is very annoying. Love the Juno guy in everything, and these commercials are no different. But for the life of me, I just can’t figure out what annoys me so much about the State Farm guy.

I watched some the of Breeders’ Cup while treadmilling the other day. Favorite horse name: Unzip Me. I wanted to pick him, but figured he was too much of a long shot. Hey oh!!!

Speaking of horse racing…name another sport that is so captivating when it comes on, but you could care less about when it’s not on?

Began the purge with a garage sale last weekend. I love to haggle. It’s really not about the money to me, it’s about the game.

My stages of every Pink song, ever: Stage 1: Denial-It’s just on the radio for the kids. Stage 2: Acceptance-I kind of like the beat and catchy lyrics. Stage 3: Glee-D@mn I like this song. Stage 4: Shame-What the f was I thinking? And they play it all the time. Stage 5: Intollerance-Turn the song off in the first three seconds. Stage 6: Further Denial-I never listen to that Pink crap.

We watched Date Night the other night. It had a few funny moments. Just a few. Overall, it was terrible. Mr. Carell, you are on thin ice.

Sports in Houston really suck right now.

I got another good report on Heights West. If you live in Houston, you should check this hidden gem out.

Another tough one...who is that in the picture?

Blog Update!

2010-11-09T17:05:00.002-06:00

The Mighty Rib is growing up. Get ready for a whole new look. Coming soon! Very soon!

Vegetarian View: Black Walnut Cafe

2010-11-08T16:05:00.002-06:00

Monthly Feature
Molly gives us a peek at a restaurant through the eyes of a vegetarian.

Overall Vegetarian Selection: (2) Stars
Black Walnut Cafe’s menu is very typical of my standard dining experience. It’s one of those places where the vegetarian selection is not great and I feel like they only threw in a sparse handful of meat free dishes to shut us herbivores up.

I didn’t order an appetizer, but their selection had four vegetarian options out of eight. Not too horrible, but the four items were nothing to turn my head at. They were spinach and artichoke dip, garlic cheese bread, toasted ravioli and chips and salsa with guacamole. Kinda boring.

BWC’s salad selection of 13 items only had two vegetarian options. I mean come on…this is a no brainer where a restaurant can easily win a vegetarian over. I really expected more here. And to add insult to injury their extra salad additions consisted of seven meat/seafood items and no tofu. At this point I am picturing the Twitter fail whale in my mind.

Now onto the “Signature Entrees” portion of BWC’s menu where not one meat free item is listed out of nine entrees. By now I am getting pretty upset at the menu creator but am not surprised in the least, because remember BWC is a standard sample of my dining experience unless I purposely visit a vegetarian friendly restaurant.

No time for ranting, it’s time to visit the pasta selection where again, it is easy for a restaurant to please a vegetarian. Pasta, like lettuce in a salad, is diverse and almost anything can be added to it. Out of 14 items to choose from BWC has a whopping two meat free pastas and one of them is blatantly named “Vegetarian Pasta,” which I will expand more on later.

The “Burgers and Sandwiches” section has 12 items and only one is meat free. That item is…drum roll please….a grilled cheese sandwich. Please keep in mind a grilled cheese sandwich is also on the kids menu here too.

There is a glass display case near the cashier with various gelatos, cannolis and other desserts. Maybe I should have gotten something here to brighten my dining experience at BWC.

BWC also serves breakfast with omelets, eggs benedicts etc. but this vegetarian doesn’t eat eggs by themselves so I won’t even go there.

Ordered Dish: (3) Stars
Since my choices were limited, I was able to quickly pick the Vegetarian Pasta for my lunch. (Thanks for spelling it out to me BWC.) My bowtie pasta dish was priced at $9.50 (a little expensive for lunch I think) and consisted of pesto, extra virgin olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, artichokes, garlic and shredded parmesan cheese. The meal was decent but nothing memorable. Since Mediterranean is my favorite cuisine I liked the theme of olives, artichokes etc. in the dish. I thought the ingredients and flavors went well together and the pasta was cooked just right for a cold pasta dish. My meal was a little salty because of all the marinated ingredients and pesto always leaves me running for the water fountain.

Healthy Rating: (3) Stars
My pasta meal was pretty healthy but certainly did not help me in my protein grams consumed for the day. I try to keep my protein at 50 grams a day and this dish probably brought me to probably ten. (The cheese was not abundant in the dish.) I will say the meal was low fat, but high in carbohydrates which bothers some people but I happily accept because of my running.

Overall Opinion: (2.5) Stars
Black Walnut Cafe’s décor is really quaint. There are a lot of different sized couches paired with tables to choose from. For the non-couch eaters BWC does have some regular tables. The interior is kind of dark but that adds to the cozy, sofa atmosphere. Plus they have a spacious patio in the front of the restaurant when the Houston weathers plays nice. Too bad BWC’s menu isn’t vegetarian friendly because I really liked their comforting and relaxed décor. The BWC I visited is located in the Village Arcade so parking can be a problem during peak hours. The service was quick and the restaurant seemed pretty clean. I gave BWC an overall score of 2.5 because even though they have a heavenly dessert case and unique dining room set up, I just cannot forgive the lack of vegetarian dishes. (And what they did offer was very boring.)

www.BlackWalnutCafe.com
5510 Morningside Drive
Houston, Texas 77005

Kevin's Food Find: Mountain Thunder Coffee (Kona)

2010-11-07T06:00:00.004-06:00

We're always on the hunt for some good products.

What is it?
I'm back with another coffee find. Sorry, I just can't help myself when it comes to coffee. Found this one while strolling in a little place I like to call Costco. Two things struck me--price and name. It was under $20 for a pound of Kona coffee. I know my Kona prices, and that's rare. I checked the label to make sure it was 100% Kona, not some f'd up blend. It claims to be 100%, but I didn't see the official seal (look for it). Now to the name. This might be my favorite name of any product I have ever seen--Mountain Thunder! I know you're not suppose to give yourself nicknames, but d@mn if I don't like Mountain Thunder.
Can't you just feel the power through your monitor?

Why it’s so great?
To be honest, this product wasn't great, but it was good. And given that it's from Kona and reasonably priced, I consider it a Food Find. Most Kona coffees run in the late $20's a pound and can run up to $50 for reserves. I knew this would be on the lower end of the Kona coffee chain when I broke the seal. It just didn't have that strong, unique Kona scent. But still pretty good. Smooth and low acidity.

What’s the price?
Like I said, under $20 at Costco....think it's $28 on the web site.

Where can I buy some?
Well, again...at Costco (Whole Bean French Roast). But they also have a pretty good web site to order from (http://www.mountainthunder.com/).

Test Kitchen:King Ranch Chicken Casserole III

2010-11-06T19:54:00.004-05:00

It's time for a Saturday Test Kitchen. You'll see the good and/or bad of every recipe.

The Dish
King Ranch Chicken is one of those dishes that seems to work its way into the mix every now and then. The last time I had some great KRC was at a bed and breakfast place outside San Antonio. Think of KRC as very chicken pot pie-ish, but with the spices and corn tortillas, it certainly can have more of a Mexican food flavor.

The Ease
For full disclosure, I didn't cook this. Sara did. That still counts because we are two hearts beating as one. Sorry, just messing with you. Actually, I had to go out, and wanted to make sure something was posted. So she was kind enough to make the King Ranch. I don't think it was difficult. When you see the word "casserole" in the dish's name, that's code for "we know you have kids, have no life, and have no time--so this dish will be easy".

The Taste
I only had a bite but it was good. The corn tortillas and the spices really made the dish stand out. Another example of a great dish to make on the weekend--for a the week. It yields plenty of leftovers and contains enough veggies to make it fairly healthy. And remember, this is the type of recipe you can add just about any veggie you want. Oh, one more thing. Sara used leftover turkey, so technically this was King Ranch Turkey. Didn't matter, still turned out great.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/King-Ranch-Chicken-Casserole-III/Detail.aspx

Higher Learning: Roasted Filet Mignon with Ancho-Red Pepper Sauce

2010-11-05T18:10:00.004-05:00

Monthly Feature
Get ready advanced cooks. Vivek brings the knowledge up a notch with Higher Learning!

Filet Mignon is luxury when it comes to steak. Its melt in your mouth tenderness is unmatched in the world of meat. It’s likely the first steak you get when you go to a steakhouse, and it’s also the likely steak you order when someone else is getting the tab! What I love about filet, as opposed to some other cuts like NY Strip and Ribeye, is that you can really use a lot of flavors to act as a supporting cast. Because filet does not have a lot of fat, it can use some help in the flavor department. So when I cook filet, I make this great sauce with spicy and fruity ancho chiles and sweet roasted red bell peppers – a perfect complement to the beef.

Like with all steak, I prefer mine medium rare – an internal temperature of about 125 degrees. I achieve that here by doing something counter intuitive – cook it low and slow. You almost want to cook the tenderloin roast as a prime rib, slowly, in order to achieve an even doneness throughout the meat. If the oven is cranked up to 400 degrees, it won’t be a good medium rare. Served with some roasted potatoes, this dish will take any ordinary steak menu and elevate it up to the level of Higher Learning!

Roasted Filet Mignon with Ancho-Red Pepper Sauce (serves 4)
(Recipe adapted from Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill Cookbook)

For the filet:
1 2 lb tenderloin roast, left whole
2 T fresh chopped rosemary
2 T fresh chopped thyme
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 T prepared horseradish
2 T dijon mustard

For the sauce:
5 tablespoons canola oil
1 large red onion, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
2 (14.5 oz) cans plum tomatoes and juices
3 red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, seeded, and chopped
3 ancho chiles, soaked, seeded, and chopped
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
¼ cup fresh cilantro
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.

Get started on the filet first. Combine the rosemary, thyme, garlic, horseradish, mustard, and a few cranks of black pepper. Rub all over the filet and then season the filet with salt. Insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the roast and cook in the oven until the roast hits an internal temperature of 120 degrees. Take the roast out of the oven and let rest, covered in foil, for about 15 minutes. This ensures the juices redistribute in the meat and keep it moist. At this time, the roast will continue to cook and get to that perfect 125 temperature we are looking for.

In the meantime, make the sauce. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, red peppers, and anchos and cook until the tomatoes soften and break down and the liquid thickens, 20 to 30 minutes. Carefully transfer the mixture to a blender and process until smooth. Add the vinegar, honey, and chopped cilantro, season with salt and pepper and pulse a few times just to combine. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as necessary.

If your roast still needs to get that great crust (and it might because we cooked it at such a low temperature), get a really heavy cast iron pan over high heat. Add some butter and when it is almost smoking, sear the filet. Since you are just searing, you aren’t going to cook it past it’s perfect temperature. Cook it for about 30 seconds on each side until it gets that great crust and carve away.

When ready to serve, put some sauce on the plate. Carve the roast into slices and give everyone as much as they want! Garnish with chives and some extra virgin olive oil.
*Note: If you want those fancy cubes I have, I just the roast into 4 steaks. Then I made the “circle” into a “square” by cutting off a little bit of each side. Those scraps are great for a sandwich the next day!

Hope you all enjoy this installment of Higher Learning! I look forward to bringing you some great recipes that will both challenge your culinary curiosity and take you on some amazing epicurean adventures!

Cheers,
Vivek
http://viveksurti.wordpress.com/

Finding Balance: Week 4

2010-11-05T06:14:00.006-05:00

Life's all about finding that perfect mix of fun and hard work.

As someone who has always been fairly athletic, I’m used to the idea of practice and training. You practice to get better, you repeat the processes so that they become second nature. And the old adage really is true – practice makes perfect (or at least better). The same holds true in my quest to lose weight and get in shape.

“Practicing” smart eating habits will help me make decisions without having to think about whether they are the right decisions. To me, practice is the physical aspect of growth or transformation, while training is the mental part. We have to train our brains to make the decision to practice healthy habits by doing them repetitively. Have I lost you yet? ‘Cause I’ve almost lost myself…but bear with me.

The thing I really need to focus on is the training. Staying strong mentally, forcing myself to be accountable (through this blog) and persevering when I want to give up are the challenges I’ve been facing.

Those of you who have kept up with this column know what my philosophy is – balance and moderation. Sometimes it’s easier said than done. This week has been a definite challenge. I had wings and fries on Monday night – smaller portions, yes, but still not the smartest choice. I also had lunch at a Chinese buffet this week. However, I tried to stay away from the fried things and focused on eating some soup before hand and tried to work in more vegetables. All in all, it’s only 2 meals out of 12 so far this week, but I have to train myself to be better at blocking those urges.

Basically, I have to remember to put my philosophy into action. I can continue to eat many of the things I enjoy most, but in moderation. Make smart choices and balance the bad with the good (exercise) – that’s my mantra. Now I have to live it.

Happy Hour: Chelsea Sidecar

2010-11-04T15:58:00.004-05:00

Get ready for the weekend with a Thursday Happy Hour!

This one is for all my gin lovers out there. Can't stand the stuff myself. Had a bad experience(s) with it many moons ago. I made the Chelsea Sidecar in shot form. This recipe is enough for two shots. Think of this drink as a way to take the edge off straight-shooting gin. Not sure there's people out there who imbibe on just gin, but if there are, this one's for you. The lime takes the edge off just a bit. But make no mistake, a couple of these will knock you down a few pegs. Also, be sure to use good gin with this one. This is not best suited for the cheap stuff.

http://www.drinkoftheweek.com/drink-recipes/chelsea-sidecar/

Unique Randomness

2010-11-03T16:09:00.005-05:00

My random thoughts…brought to you once a week!

I was at a Halloween party for six-year-olds on Saturday night. Great party, great hosts, great kids…head-scratching costumes. And I’m not talking about the kids.

I was waaaaay off with my Texans’ predictions. How’s life without steroids treating you Mr. Cushing?

The answer to last week’s question: President Andrew Jackson

Pet Peeves: Have you had this verbal exchange before?: “Hey, how’s your day going?” Response: “I can’t complain.” Response back: “Not that it would do you any good.” D@mn, that annoys me.

It pained me to write this about Octane, but the truth is the truth.

It’s absolutely official after last week: my new favorite show is Bored to Death. Zach Galifianakis has that ability to make me laugh without saying anything. The last person to do that was Chris Farley.

I have 223 friends on facebook. I think 100 of them told me to vote yesterday.

I have 223 friends on facebook. I think 100 of them posted pictures of their kids in Halloween costumes.

I’m good with both those things.

If you’re wondering where all the birds in Houston went, they’re on the corner of Ella and 43rd…or as I like to call it…Bird Sh*t Alley. Eat your heart out Alfred Hitchcock.

I’m getting very close to organizing a rib crawl…very close. Let me know if you want in.

Mighty Good Recipe: Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

2010-11-02T20:44:00.003-05:00

It's Tuesday...time for a Mighty Good Recipe!

Temperatures have finally fallen here in Houston. That always gets me to thinking about crock pot recipes. I'm a firm believer that you should have a good tortilla soup recipe in the arsenal. This one won't beat out your favorite Mexican restaurant's version, but for a easy alternative at home--it's tough to top. This is a perfect recipe to make the night before and just put on low the next day. Your home will smell great. Make things easy on yourself and buy a $5 rotisserie chicken at the grocery store. Take off all the meat and throw in the pot. Also, feel free to add healthy veggies like zuchini or cabbage.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Tortilla-Soup/Detail.aspx

Restaurant Review: Caffe Bello

2010-11-01T20:06:00.006-05:00

Mondays are dedicated to bringing you a restaurant review from around the country or right here in Houston. Let’s keep it local!

Caffe Bello

The Background
Caffe Bello, the Vallone’s latest culinary venture, has been written about a lot of late. I had read theses reviews and was very excited to check it out—plus, it was a chance to meet some fellow food bloggers at a media dinner organized by Htownchowdown. CB (located on Westheimer near Montrose) has a very modern and classy feel. The semi-circular bar, brick walls, exposed (yet painted) duct work, and modern art all help contribute to a cozy dining experience.

The Scene
I walked in, gave a quick scan of the establishment, and was told to head to the back. Times have definitely changed in the world when you meet someone and the conversation goes like this:

“Hi, I’m Kevin.”
Other person: “Hi Kevin, I’m John.”
We both look at each other cluelessly.
“I’m sorry…I’m The Mighty Rib.”
Other person: “Oh yeah, I’m John123Cooks-A-Lot.”

Get the drift? Thank you, Twitter. Anyway, I got a glass of wine and sat my butt down. The food had arrived.

The Food
I won’t go into every course, because writing long, comprehensive reviews just isn’t my style. I’ll give you the gist of how things went—the highs and lows. We started out with some pizzetas. They were made well, with a flat and crispy crust, and unique toppings, but when I’m at a place like Caffe Bello, I could care less about eating little pizzas. If this type of thing floats your boat, they have several to choose from, although I would stay away from the pumpkin one—all others are good. The rigatoni bolognese and pappardello al telefono came out next (on the same plate). The bolognese was average (just had better at Giacomo’s), but I loved the telefono. The flat noodles and sweet sauce made me want another portion.

Next came the burrata with shiitake, butternut, and balsamic caviar. This too was excellent. The texture of the mushrooms, along with the sharp bite of the balsamic, provided for a flavorful dish. Out came the red snapper on top of a tomato-shrimp ragu. The snapper was mild, under-seasoned, but perfectly cooked—crispy skin. I thought the somewhat bland fish worked well in this case, because the ragu was the best thing I had that night. The hint of sweetness worked so well with the fish. My lone shrimp was overcooked, tasteless, and not needed. This dish was fine without it. By the time the veal shank with creamy, cheesy polenta came out—I was just about done. Just about—I took a few bites and was quite pleased. Very tender, well-seasoned, and I thought a great value (even at its $27 menu price). They handed out straws to suck out the bone marrow. I gave it a shot (so I wouldn’t look like a douche). I acted like I got some, but didn’t. Oh well.

The desserts were forgettable. Although, it certainly didn’t help that I was stuffed. I took a bite of the cheesecake. I didn’t take a second. I’ll leave it at that. The mixed berry tart was not good. I enjoyed the mixed berries, but the cream was too runny, and the little crust barrel was too thick.

The Verdict
Caffe Bello had some misses, but all and all, served some excellent dishes in a beautiful and relaxed atmosphere. Hopefully, they can get their desserts straightened out to match the high quality of entrees.

322 Westheimer
http://www.caffebello.com/index.cfm

Check out these other reviews:
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2010/10/social_media_folks_caffe_bello.php
http://www.29-95.com/restaurants/story/cafe-bello-opens-its-doors-montrose
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2010/08/first_look_at_caffe_bello.php

Natalie the Nomad: The Dublin Pub

2010-10-31T13:10:00.003-05:00

Monthly Feature
Natalie will hit the Ohio-area restaurant scene and fill us in with top-notch reviews.

The Scene
The Dublin Pub is in the historic Oregon District in Dayton, Ohio. While this pub is a block down from the local legend, Thai 9, it could not be any more different. The Pub exudes the atmosphere of a 'typical European pub' - dimly lit, crowded booths, the bar, tchotchkes pinned to the walls and ceiling. There are plenty of tvs around the restaurant, all showing one kind of sport. Also, there is a stage at the front of the restaurant, for showcasing local bands during late nights.

The Bar
I initially started coming to Dublin Pub in college, totally uninterested in what the food had to offer. I was missing out big time, but with the bar with numerous Irish beers on tap and over 10 whiskey choices alone, that was the least of my 21 year old worries. But thank goodness for growing up and glancing at the menu...

The Food
The appetizer that you CANNOT miss is definitely the 'Blarney Stone'. You get four, initially, but can keep adding 'stones' for $1.50. They are huge, so 4 amongst the table is plenty. I'm just going to get to the point - deep friend mashed potato, with the perfect blend of cheeses, AND sausage. To say it was amazing would be an understatement. This was served with a spicy chipotle mayo, and it definitely paired with the stones perfectly. I personally think the Dublin Pub should have this mayo as an option to put on sandwiches...

For my main course I decided on the Huntsman, with a side of garlic green beans. Don't get me wrong, their fries have been voted 'Best in Dayton' but following up Blarney Stones with french fries seemed a little heavy. Plus, the garlic green beans are delicious. Fresh beans, swimming in a vinaigrette sauce and showered with chunks of garlic. The club sandwich was made to perfection. You might think 'well, its a sandwich how hard can it be?' - well Debbie Downer, I have news for you! The bread was toasted, making it vulnerable to 'sogginess' from the sauce spread but this was not. The perfect crunch, the blend of meat and spices; needless to say you overlook the juices running from the corners of your mouth.

While I was full from dinner, I was adamant about getting dessert. My fail safe, go-to option here is the Chocolate Volcano. Yes my friends, it is as scrumptious as it sounds. I usually get this with a side of cinnamon ice cream, but in my blarney stone garlic bean huntsman sandwich induced haze, I sadly forgot... Served with dollops of home made whipped cream, the chocolate molten cake is served in the center of your plate, swimming amongst chocolate and raspberry sauces. Digging your fork into the center of the cake you will be delighted to see even MORE chocolate sauce oozing out onto your plate. Coupled with the dollop of whipped cream, you've got a pretty hard core slice of chocolate heaven.

300 Wayne Ave
Dayton, OH 45410
937-224-7822
http://www.dubpub.com/index2.htm

Finding Balance: Week 3

2010-10-29T05:37:00.003-05:00

Life's all about finding that perfect mix of fun and hard work.

Trying To Find a Routine

Keeping a food journal has definitely helped me see where I am making mistakes. It’s helping me realize that a routine is extremely important to getting where I want to go.

Setting the tone for the day with a good breakfast in the morning has been a big key for me. When I take a banana and some pop tarts for breakfast, I tend to eat a healthy lunch and dinner. When I forget to take breakfast, I tend to slip up a bit more and not stay as strict with what I’m eating.

I am an organized person by nature, so keeping lists and maintaining a routine should be easy for me. But for some reason, I get easily distracted and bored with the status quo. There’s my challenge – stay the course. Easier said than done, I know…

I also need to drink more water. I used to have no problem drinking a half gallon a day, but lately I’ve only been drinking 32 oz. a day or so. This needs to be remedied.

As far as exercise goes, I’ve mainly been walking for a half hour or so. But that is starting to wear on me, as far as getting bored. Any suggestions for something new (and take into account, I am a large man – that means no running for now)?

Until next time…

What Ales You?: Warsteiner Verum

2010-10-28T20:06:00.004-05:00

Monthly Feature
Wayne and Leah give us the skinny on beer.

Gutentag Mighty Rib Readers, we're back again with another installment of What Ales You. In honor of Oktoberfest in Germany, we decided to review a German beer, in this case, Warsteiner Verum.

Granted, the German Oktoberfest is over by the start of the actual month of October, but damn it the name is Oktoberfest and we are in October. Anyways, Warsteiner Verum is the beer of the month.

Apologies in the case that we prove our ignorance on the topic of beer, for some of our commentary might seem elementary, but we're going to take this monthly entry more as a learning experience. Feel free to correct any uneducated statement on the background and research that we might provide on the beer of the month, some is going to come from the likes of Wikipedia, which can be an amazing resource, but at times, can be an inaccurate citation. One thing we've already learned is that there are many varieties and types of beer out there. Our beer of the month, Warsteiner Verum, is a premium German Pilsner beer. Pilsner can be considered a type of beer, however, to some beer organizations, it is more of a marketing description for many modern brewers. The term Pilsner and Pilsner beers originated in the Czech republic and it is generally acceptable to say that a Pilsner is a pale lager.

Overall Taste
Germany is oft considered one of the best beer producing countries in the world, and is known for their lagers. Apparently the proud German brewers stick to the Reinheitsgebot (purity order) for their beers, which is a good thing. With many contemporary brewers moving towards more complex ingredient sets and taste combinations, it is often difficult to find a simple, crisp, quality lager.

Wayne's Take
I really like Warsteiner Verum, it had a certain crispness, no skunky smell was present and there was no poor aftertaste. There was an adequate amount of hoppy flavor. It's my belief that sometimes brewers believe that because one of the ingredients of beer is hops, that the more the better. I don't agree with that, as too many hops overburdens the taste. Warsteiner had just the right hint of hoppiness.

Meal Pairing
I wish I could say that the first meal pairing that came to mind would be bratwurst and red cabbage, but that would be too easy and frankly it wasn't the first thing that came to mind. I would also loved to have described drinking a Warsteiner whilst sitting in a lovely autumnal biergarten and enjoying the briny salty taste of a traditional German meal, but again, it wasn't the thought that came to mind. I thought that Warsteiner Vellum definitely had a distinctive pleasant taste, but not an overly overpowering one, therefore, it would go very well with a meal that had a distinctiveness about it, but also wasn't overpowering. I think a Persian kabob, with traditional Persian rice would be the perfect complement for this German lager. I know its sounds a little off, but Persian cuisine does have a distinctive taste, but is also not intrusive.

Leah's Take
This is an enjoyable beer. The lighter color belies a good depth of flavor, and it somehow seems "old world-ey", but that may just be the power of suggestion given the traditional label. Its certainly one of those beers that needs to be served very cold in my mind... while you're hiking in Bavaria...in Lederhosen...singing "Climb Every Mountain"....

Meal Pairing
I would drink Warsteiner with something nice and salty like a soft pretzel or some nachos. Its got a strong enough taste that even if there was a bit of spice in the food you could still tell it was beer and not carbonated water, but is crisp and would cut through earthy/salty pairings.

Summary
Wir haben Wersteiner gern. Du sollst dieser Bier kaufen. Gemutlichkeit!!

Unique Randomness

2010-10-27T16:07:00.003-05:00

My random thoughts...brought to you once a week.

I had a great time this past weekend in Nashville. We went for my wife's Vanderbilt Homecoming Weekend. Got to catch up and visit with her awesome friends AND ate some outstanding food (for the most part).

Nashville struck me as being very underrated in the culinary scene. There's also a high level of food blogging going on.

Things I liked about Nashville: cool neighborhoods inside town, very clean, mild climate, friendly folk.

Things I did not like about Nashville: actually, just one...terrible drivers. No incidents or accidents on my part, but must every driver in that city get in my blind spot?

On to other things...

Why can't they turn the A/C on in airplanes before take off? Is this another cost-cutting technique, because it sucks ass.

Pet Peeve: Slow turners: I hate drivers that slow up to almost a complete stop to make a right or left turn.

You know what would be nice? Getting out of my car in Houston in late October, and not having my glasses fog up. High of 91 today!

I physically can't make it through an entire Black Eyed Peas song. There music gives me the bubble guts.

In a battle of who's aging faster, my wife has finally caught up to me in having to take lactaid pills before dairy consumption.

Why do I have a house phone line? Oh, I know. It's so politicians can call me 20 times a day. I remember about three months ago an actual human being that I know called me at home. It felt awkward.

Congrats to my sister-in-law Rachel, who was just hired to perform for the San Diego Opera in Carmen.

Quick...who's head is that up there in the pic? You get this one, and I'll be impressed.

Mighty Good Recipe: Chipotle Sweet Potatoes

2010-10-26T22:57:00.002-05:00

It's Tuesday, time for a Mighty Good Recipe!

I don't usually do this, but it's late and I'm tired. And it's not technically lazy because I did write this. Check out a great recipe for Thanksgiving that was posted today on the Houston Press blog Eating Our Words. This recipe turned out even better than I expected. The chipotle was a great match with the sweet potatoes. Give it a try!

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2010/10/cooking_through_alton_chipotle.php

Restaurant Review: Nashville (Several)

2010-10-25T22:20:00.004-05:00

Tour de Nashville
This week's Restaurant Review will be a little different. Check out some short takes on all the places I hit up in Nashville over the past weekend.

Calypso Cafe
My wife has raved about this place forever. She went to Vanderbilt and visits to Calypso were routine. This Caribbean-style restaurant was a mild hit for me. I wouldn't say it was rave-worthy, but I was pleased with all my items, the service was quick and friendly, and the price was right. Calypso specializes in healthy fare—I had the bbq rotisserie chicken with corn muffins and coconut sweet potatoes. The sweetness of the potatoes worked well with the jerky chicken. I also had some sort of a fruit tea. Interestingly refreshing. I almost forgot...we shared a black bean dip and chips for an appetizers. Very cheesy and very awesome—best thing we ordered.

Loveless Cafe
I was ordered to check this place out by my in-laws. Just kidding. They met in Nashville, lived there for awhile, and rarely tell me to check a restaurant out—so I listened. Located a short 20-minute drive outside of Nashville, Loveless Cafe is world-renowned (Bobby Flay, Conan, etc.) for their chicken AND especially their biscuits. Translation: tourist trap. The cafe is just one piece in the compound-esque puzzle that is Loveless. Small storefronts, a barn, and country store allow visitors to kill some time. Expect an hour wait. We dined at an offbeat hour and still waited 45 minutes. It's fun walking around the area and checking out the shops. But I've got plenty of experience with places like Loveless. All of this glitter usually means average food, small portions, and high prices. Fortunately, Loveless didn't hit the extremes on any of these. Yes, the prices were a bit high... and yes, the portions could have been bigger. But the quality of food was excellent. Sara had the fried chicken. It was lightly battered, deep-fried, and very moist. Not greasy at all. I wanted more seasoning in the crust, but the flavorful sides (mashed potatoes, biscuits, and green beans) brought the chicken up to code. My chicken fried steak was solid, not memorable, but solid. Nat's cheeseburger was very underrated, and and may have been the best thing on the table. That charbroiled flavor really stood out. The biscuits were the star of the show and they did not disappoint. Airy, light, and buttery—I've never had better.

German Town Cafe
We did brunch with Sara's Vandy crew on Sunday morning at the Germantown Cafe. This sleek bar and restaurant was a hit. I ordered a Bloody Mary (it was ok but mine are better), cheese grits and French onion soup. My friendly cohorts allowed me to try the smoked salmon with eggs, the frittata, the banana bread French toast, and the crab cake eggs benny. I had absolutely no complaints about anything, but the crab cake dish stood out. Just a fun experience getting to see all of my wife's old friends and eating some awesome food. I highly recommend this spot.

Noshville Deli
I blame Chompie's in Phoenix for this debacle. Did I ever think I could dine at an authentic NY deli in the middle of the desert? No. I was proven wrong. Did I think I could dine at an authentic NY deli in the middle of Nashville? No. I was proven right. My half-Jewishness can sniff out the real deal in seconds, and Noshville was not it. It was a standard breakfast joint. The service was excellent and the food was average.

Chicago Style Gyros
Bitter sweet dining experience on this one. Met my favorite fellow food blogger Vivek for a late lunch at Prince's Hot Chicken Shack. Closed. D@mn! The trusted internet said they'd be open. As Michael Scott would say, “I don't trust technology.” I was really looking forward to trying hot chicken—a Nashville classic. We were shaken a bit, but Vivek suggested this Gyro place—it was close and OPEN. It turned out being a good suggestion. My cheesesteak with pita bread was solid.

Pancake Pantry
The Pancake Pantry, alongside Vanderbilt's campus, puts it all together—a tourist spot with outstanding food! We drove past the place our first morning, but didn't stop. Why? The line to get in wrapped around the restaurant. Sara told me this place was the real deal. No pancake is worth an hour and half wait. Wrong. These were. We went the next day, waited zero seconds, and I ordered the Georgia peach pancakes. My goodness...three, good-sized rolled cakes, topped with peach compote and sweet cream. I've had slightly better pancakes (Lou's in Chicago) but never has the entire combo of cake and topping been better. This was my best meal in Nashville.

Molly's Food Find: Ginger Soother

2010-10-24T19:09:00.003-05:00

We're always on the hunt for cool products.

What the product is?
Ginger Soother
A ginger drink with lemon and honey. Can be served chilled or hot.

Why it's so great?
For those of us poor souls constantly plagued with upset stomach and nausea, the Ginger Soother is a life saver and a pleasant alternative to Pepto Bismol. Ginger is a natural remedy for nausea that chemotherapy patents and pregnant women with morning sickness commonly use.

Where do I buy it?
Whole Foods, http://www.gingerpeople.com/, http://www.amazon.com/

How much?
Around $1.55 for a 12 fl oz container

He Said, She Said: Giacomo's

2010-10-23T21:56:00.005-05:00

Monthly Feature
It's near the end of the month...and guess what's due...another He Said, She Said for Carrie and me.

Here’s how it works:

We went to the same Houston-area restaurant at different times.
It's our first time eating at the restaurant.
We read no previous reviews.
We write our reviews separately.
Once written, the reviews are not changed.

Giacomo's
3215 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77098
http://www.giacomosciboevino.com/

He Said Atmosphere: (5) Star
Beautiful, bright colors abound. Giacomo's had a hip, modern feel—while maintaining some old-school charm. I did take-out and was enamoured with the products available for purchase at the front of the restaurant. I loved the open kitchen, side bar, gelato counter, and chalkboard menu.

She Said Atmosphere: (4) Stars
Comfortable is the best way to describe the atmosphere at Giacomo’s. Bright, casual and simply decorated interior. Chalkboards with the menu and extensive wine offerings line several walls, but these items are also listed on a printed menu (take note, Café Rabelais). Nice outdoor patio, but since it faces Westheimer, it could be noisy.

He Said Menu Selection: (5) Stars
Giacomo's switches things up with a counter, food fast, and slow menu. I liked the concept, if for nothing else, it was different. I was a little short on time so I went with the food fast menu. Excellent selection of pastas, salads, sandwiches, and wines.

She Said Menu Selection: (4) Stars
Lots of options organized by the amount of time you have to wait…I like the concept! Counter items include antipasto dishes, soups, sandwiches and crostinis, “food fast” includes meat and cheese plates, salads, and a variety of pastas, while the “slow food” adds main course proteins, such as chicken, pork, rainbow trout and steak. Extensive wine list.

He Said Taste: (5) Stars
I got an order of the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, Tagliatelle Giovanni, and a lemon tart—and drove home fast. The smells in the car drove me crazy. Getting take-out was a true test. Could the food withstand the lag time and still hold its quality? The answer was yes. Sara ate the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, but I had a bite...awesome. It was well seasoned and I loved the flat noodles. My dish (Giovanni) was one of the best pasta dishes I've had in Houston. Creamy, but not too heavy—the chicken was moist and flavorful, and the veggies were nothing short of perfection. The brussel sprouts, sweet red peppers, and cauliflower stood out. Again, Giacomo's use of flat noodles was a great choice. The lemon tart was, for lack of a better adjective, lemony. That's a compliment.

She Said Taste: (3) Stars
I ordered the Gamberi Piccanti, described as “spicy shrimp salad in toasted baguette” and a house salad to go. Concerned that my sandwich may loose some of its appeal by the time I got home, I opened the container for a bite in the parking lot. Bad move. While the flavor of the shrimp was deliciously spicy, my sandwich was swimming in an unappealing pool of oil which proceeded to run down my arms, sending me digging for a napkin, tissue, baby’s burp cloth…anything to sop up the thick oily mess. The benefit? My steering wheel won’t need Armor All for the next six months. Once home, I could really delve into my dish. The baguette on which my oily shrimp were served was chewy and delicious. As you can imagine the bottom slice was soggy, but still…delish. The potato salad, which was in the same take out container as the sandwich, was also tainted by the dreaded oil. Regardless, the flavor of the potato salad was not really my thing. I’m more an American potato salad traditionalist and this caper-olive-vinegar version was just a bit too worldly for my liking. However, if you like a Mediterranean flavored potato salad this would be right up your alley. My side salad was nothing to write home about, but the shaved fennel on top was nice. I would have liked to try the green goddess dressing, but the vinaigrette was packaged up for me.

He Said Service: (5) Stars
I chatted with the owner Lynette while I waited for my food. She was very friendly, and even offered to get me something to drink while I waited. Nice touch. My food was out in fifteen minutes, packaged well, and ready to be consumed.

She Said Service: (4.5) Stars
Given the fact that I was just taking my food to go, the service was exceptional. The gentleman working the counter offered me a printed menu so that I didn’t have to squint to read the wall version. I was also offered a drink while I waited. I was told the wait would be about seven minutes and I don’t even think it was that long.

He Said Pricing: (3.5) Stars
The prices were a little high for pasta dishes, between $12-13. But location matter, and you gotta pay the rent...so the relatively high prices came as no shock. I will say that my dish was well worth $13.

She Said Pricing: (3) Stars
Maybe this is typical River Oaks pricing, but $17+ for a 4” sandwich, a little potato salad and a side salad seems a bit steep to me.

He Said Overall Opinion: (5) Stars
I loved Giacomo's. I am definitely going back and probably ordering the same thing...which I almost never do. It's hard to imagine that I am looking forward to eating brussel sprouts...but I am.

She Said Overall Opinion: (3.5) Stars
Maybe I just ordered wrong…From the moment I walked in I wanted to love this place. It has a good vibe and the service was above average. But my $10 little shrimp sandwich missed the mark and my expectations led me astray on the potato salad. If I were in the area I may give this place another shot, but I probably wouldn’t make the drive over to the Oaks for another go round.

Finding Balance: Week 2

2010-10-22T06:07:00.003-05:00

If you were hoping to see Back to Basics in this spot, I’m sorry to disappoint. But maybe we can work something out so you can get 2 for the price of 1 on Friday’s. What say you, Kevin?

Anyway, week 2 is in the books and it’s been a bit of a struggle already. For the most part, I’m sticking with my plan. If you aren’t familiar with my philosophy, check it out here.

The difference this week is that I’ve started to keep a food journal, where I write down everything I eat and drink. I figure if I can pinpoint where I’m slipping up it will definitely help in the long run.

I’m also trying to count calories more regularly. Based on my age, height, weight and physical activity, I need to consume roughly 3,700 calories per day to maintain the weight I’m at. For every 500 calories under that number, I lose a pound. So say I eat 2,700 calories a day during the course of a week, theoretically I will lose 2 pounds.

My physical activity this week consisted of walking for 30 minutes, three times a week. I also played 2 games of softball and coached soccer (not a lot of activity, but moderate running while chasing 6 year olds all over the field). I plan on stepping this up to 4-5 times a week while continuing to play softball to break up the monotony.

Food this week has been pretty standard. For lunch I typically have a sandwich and either potato salad or chips from Brown Bag Deli. Before you get on your soapbox, remember I normally consume more calories than the average person, so in the grand scheme of things I am still staying well below my daily allotment.

This week I did have a splurge day where I had some nachos from Taco Cabana. But I think it’s important not to deprive yourself all the time. The thing to remember is to not give in and constantly eat this way.

I didn’t eat out anywhere this week (other than the places mentioned above), so I don’t really have anything new to report in the way of restaurants or reviews. Maybe next time…

Happy Hour: Beach Bourbon Slush

2010-10-21T20:13:00.004-05:00

Time for a drink recipe with a Thursday Happy Hour!

Take notice, the first thing you see in my picture is the lack of slush. I didn't have the time nor freezer space to pull off the granita consistency. I imagine that would have made this drink magical. As it stands, no complaints. The bourbon wasn't overpowering and the lemonade and orange concentrate played well against one another. This drink recipe belonged on the blog months ago, but better late than never. Make a big batch, throw it in the freezer, and you've got a nice bedtime drink for awhile.

http://projects.eveningedge.com/recipes/fred-thompsons-beach-bourbon-slush/

Unique Randomness

2010-10-20T20:37:00.003-05:00

My random thoughts...brought to you once a week!

Warning...look away if reading about the happenings of another person's children induces vomiting. I've been there and take no offense. Just come back tomorrow or next week or whenever you check the blog.

My daughter (1st grade) had a substitute teacher. Her quote...“Dad, I had a substitute today. She wasn't the best teacher. Actually, she was the worst teacher.”

Same daughter...”Hey dad..I like Luke. I sure do like blirting with him.” How long do you think I've got until she realizes blirting is flirting? I just shook my head and agreed with the blirting.

That same daughter dropped one of her micro-sized hair “clippies” on the living room floor. Guess who's foot found the clippy?

I've got enough Silly Bandz in my house to Silly Bandz a small village of underprivileged children.

My 18-month-old daughter sounds like an Ewok. Her pastimes include eating large quantities of mac and cheese and pointing to her nose, and then saying “nooossse”.

Is it bad to teach a 6-year-old to say Cool HWhip instead of Cool Whip? I hope not.

Okay...enough about the kids.

I suffered my first major kitchen injury about two weeks ago. I was cleaning the seeds out of a butternut squash, and one jammed between my index fingernail and cuticle. That was two weeks ago! It's just now back to normal. Watch out this holiday season for those darn butternut squash innards.

Teaser Alert: Next week's restaurant review is gonna be an awesome one. Hint...it won't be from Houston and I haven't eaten there yet. And still know it gonna be awesome.

Quick...what movie is the picture above from? This one should be a lay-up.

Mighty Good Recipe: Laurin Stamm's Raisin Bran Muffins

2010-10-19T06:38:00.004-05:00

It's Tuesday, time for a Mighty Good Recipe!

The following recipe is from someone named Laurin Stamm, via my mother, cooked by my wife. I was only involved in the eating process. Awesome recipe. Make on a Sunday and you've got breakfast for the rest of the week (freeze the rest).

Ingredients
1 15oz box of Raisin Bran cereal
3 cups sugar
5 cups flour
5 tsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
1 quart buttermilk

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.Combine the first five ingredients. Add eggs, vegetable oil, and buttermilk--blend well. Bake for 20 minutes.
Note: This full recipe makes about 48 regular size muffins- huge! My wife halved the recipe and still froze the majority.

Dinner Club: The Opposite of Bacon

2010-10-18T05:24:00.006-05:00

Each month...six friends get together for great food and good times! Check out the recipes and rundown.

The Jaegers hosted and made the appetizers and entree. The Shalins brought over tasty beverages, and the Shooks were in charge of dessert. The theme was Vegetarian. After last month's Bacon Bonanza, our hearts needed a break. Here's how it broke down:

Appetizers
Squash Soup in Pumpkin Bowls
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/squash-soup-in-pumpkin-bowls-recipe/index.html

Cranberry-Brie Bites
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/saras-secrets/cranberry-brie-bites-recipe/index.html

Grilled Honey-Orange Figs with Mascarpone and Pistachios
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/grilled-honey-orange-figs-with-mascarpone-and-pistachios-recipe/index.html

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/spicy-sweet-potato-fries-recipe/index.html

Main Course
Potato Gnocchi with Wild Mushroom Sugo
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/potato-gnocchi-with-wild-mushroom-sugo-recipe/index.html

Dessert
Pumpkin Brownies (served with vanilla ice cream)
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Brownies/Detail.aspx

Sensational Chocolate Sauce
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sensational-Chocolate-Sauce/Detail.aspx

Drink
Cucumber Martini
http://www.drinknation.com/drink/cucumber-martini

The Rundown: Anytime you eat soup served from a hollowed-out pumpkin bowl, you know life is good. A hollowed-out, soup-filled pumpkin bowl to 30-somethings is like a three-kegger to college students. Staying with that theme, I treated those figs like they were jello shots...I popped about eight of them. So d@mn good. You haven't eaten a fig? Try it. The gnocchi was cooked to perfection and the pumpkin brownies really tasted like pumpkin. Judging by the plates, everyone enjoyed them. Conversation ranged from the Jaeger's dog Nona getting hit by a car (and surviving and back to normal) to head lice (non of us have it, at least at the time of this posting).

Kevin's Food Find: Camano Island Coffee

2010-10-17T16:41:00.003-05:00

We're on the prowl for great products. We'll give you the skinny on one every Sunday!

What is it?
Great coffee...that's what it is. I'm just a teeny bit addicted to coffee. My opinions on java even approach snob territory, When I want a good K-Cup I order here. When I feel like getting good coffee in Houston, I visit here. But when I desire fresh, whole-bean coffee from a distant roaster, I usually go to Camano Island Coffee Roasters. My brother-in-law Scott recommended Camano a few years back, and I've been ordering ever since.

Why it’s so great?
Listen, I wish I was smart enough to tell you why it's so great. I'm not. But if I must placate you...it's full-bodied with deep aromatic hints of cherried chocolate notes. Actually, it's just great coffee. They get their beans from all the standard growing countries and do a top-notch job with the roasting process. Camano's coffee is shade grown, organic, and fairly traded.

Where can I buy some?
Go to the web site. I became part of The Coffee Lovers Club. It's very flexible and affordable.

What’s the price?
Camano's coffee is very reasonable, especially for high quality roasted coffee. Most of the coffees run in the $11-$13 a pound range. I'm part of The Coffee Lovers Club. It's very flexible and affordable...three pounds of coffee for around $33 (free shipping).

Calorie Worthy: Superfoods

2010-10-16T06:13:00.006-05:00

Monthly Feature
Andrea is at it again with another Top 10 List.

Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap small buildings in a single bound (and available at your local grocery store), they’re…wait for it….SUPERFOODS! (cue Superman Music)

Unless you’ve been stuck under something heavy for the past few years, you’ve likely come across an article, doctor or Jewish mother who has told you about Superfoods.

Superfoods are foods with a high phytonutrient content which offer multiple health benefits. While “Superfood” is not a legal term and some dispute claims that these foods have “healing qualities” or will make an earth shattering difference in one’s health, I say these are foods that are super healthy and delicious to eat, and I recommend incorporating them into folks’ menus. Whether I’ll live to be 147 because I ingest these Superfoods by the vat remains to be seen. Check in with me in another 42 years.

And now, without further ado:

Top 10 Superfoods and Creative Ways to Cook with Them
(The Superfoods mentioned below happen to be my favorites. I did not include all Superfoods in this list. For example: Yogurt happens to be a Superfood, but in my opinion yogurt sucks.)

10) Broccoli- This yummy green tree is loaded with vitamins and fiber. Welcome to the
list, broccoli. My favorite way to cook broccoli is to roast it.

Toss together 1 head of broccoli with 2 Tb Extra Virgin Olive Oil, some red pepper flakes, salt and pepper and roast in the oven for 25 min at 375 degrees. When it comes out you can add some Parmesan cheese to it if you’d like.

For kids who “don’t like broccoli” or other “green things,” try a healthy version of Broccoli Cheese Soup.

Start a stock pot off on medium high heat, sweat down an onion, then add 1 cup of chicken stock and 1 cup of skim milk, bring to a boil and add 1tsp of chopped garlic and 1 tsp of dijon mustard. Turn down heat and add 2 cups of grated sharp cheddar cheese. (I find that low fat cheddar does not melt as well as the regular cheddar.) After cheese is incorporated into the soup, add 1 large head or 2 smaller heads of broccoli (chopped). Cover and cook on low for 20min. Then transfer soup to a blender and blend until smooth.

A blended cheesy soup should please the pickiest of eaters. When I was growing up my family taught me this philosophy: “If you can melt cheese on it, you can eat it.”

9) Olive Oil- Extra Virgin Olive Oil is so freakin’ good for you. You have no idea! It’s seriously some good stuff. Don’t buy the cheapy cheap brand, spring for one that has been cold pressed, if possible. If you’re fancy, you can keep two oils on hand; a less expensive one that you cook with and a nice one that you use for dipping and for salad dressing. Now, unless you’re totally clueless, you don’t need me to give you recipes on how to use olive oil. And if you are that clueless, why are you reading a food blog?? Here’s a tip that you might not know about olive oil: it’s a wonderful deep conditioner for dry hair. Yup, no lies. Use your less expensive oil and rub it into the ends of dry hair. Your hair has to be dry; oil won’t penetrate wet hair. After the oil is added, run a hairdryer over it. The heat will open hair cuticles and allow the oil to do it’s job. Leave the oil in your hair for as long as you can stand it, then shampoo it out.

8) Whole Grains- Yawn. Yeah, whole grains can be a little boring. Whole grains give your body much more fiber and protein than their plain white counterparts. It’s worth it to switch from white rice to brown rice, regular pasta to whole wheat pasta, and your bread should be the good whole wheat kind that’s made in the bakery at your store. Make sure that what you are purchasing is not loaded with sugar. Some products say “whole wheat” on the front, but if it’s got high fructose corn syrup in it, it’s probably not the product you want. When doing grains, stick to bread, pasta, couscous, rice and quinoa, skip the donuts that have the “now made with multi grain” label. I know many are reluctant to switch to these “brown” versions of our favorite starches, but give it a try. Here’s a recipe that can help:

Boil some whole wheat spaghetti, and make sure you salt the water! Once the pasta is cooked, drain and throw back into the pot in which it was cooked. In another bowl, whisk together ¼ cup peanut butter, 1/3 cup chicken stock, 1 tsp Sriracha chili sauce, and 1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce. Add this mixture to the pasta and toss in some chopped cilantro and green onions, if you wish. These spicy peanut noodles are tasty and full of whole grains!

7) and 6) Oats and Berries - I am combining numbers 7 and 6, because the recipe I am going to give you uses both! Everyone knows that oatmeal, (real oatmeal, not the kind that comes in a package and is ready in 4 seconds), is good for you. Most are also aware that fruits, especially berries, are good to eat as well. Here’s a really yummy recipe for homemade granola bars that uses both oats and berries!

Take a pint of your favorite berry and cook down with a little sugar (1 tb) and some water (1/3 cup) After berries have cooked down, blend in a food processor until you have a thick jam and set aside.

Combine : 1 ¼ cups Oats, 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour, 1 tsp salt, ½ baking powder, 1/3 cup white sugar, 1/3 cup brown sugar, ½ cup walnuts. Then melt 1 stick of butter and add to the mixture. In a greased baking pan, pour half of this thick and dry batter into the pan, then add the jam mixture and layer with the remaining batter. Bake for 30-35 min at 350 degrees. Let cool for about 1 hour before cutting. These granola bars make excellent morning snacks!

5) Salmon- This fatty fish has so many nutrients and omega 3s that it will forever have a place on the “Eat these foods, they’re good for you” list. Wild salmon is always going to be more expensive but also better. The farm-raised salmon doesn’t typically get as much exercise and is more often treated with hormones. Some markets sell farm raised yet hormone-free salmon, and this is generally less expensive than the wild variety.

One of my favorite salmon recipes is also super easy! Preheat your broiler. Be prepared for your kitchen to get really hot. Squeeze a lime over your piece of salmon and broil for 3 min. During these three minutes, mix together : 2 Tb honey, 1 tsp Sriracha chili sauce, 1 Tb Hoisin Sauce. Take the salmon out of the broiler and spoon over the honey mixture, broil for another 4-5 min and you’re done! This salmon dish with the spicy peanut noodles makes an excellent dinner!

4) Nuts- Nuts are an excellent source of natural fat and oils. I love to throw a bunch of nuts into the food processor and use them to coat a piece of chicken or fish.

A favorite crust of mine involves combining ¼ cup nuts (either walnuts or almonds), some garlic, 1 tsp fresh fennel, ½ tsp cayenne pepper, ½ tsp coriander and salt and pepper into the food processor and coating a piece of salmon with the mixture. Drizzle some olive oil over the fish and bake at 375 degrees for about 15 mins. Serve with the Roasted Broccoli…Oooh, that is good!

3) Hot Peppers- Peppers contain compounds called capsaicinoids. Capsaicinoids are compounds which have anti-inflammatory benefits. Eating peppers can also help with headaches. Hot peppers or chilis will provide you with the excellent \ benefits. The easiest way to eat a lot of chilis is to make a fresh salsa! You can also add chili into your favorite soup or chili recipe.

You could also try this spicy goat cheese dip: 1 container of fresh goat cheese (with herbs or not), 1 can of white beans, 1 hot pepper, sprig of rosemary, and ¼ cup of chicken stock. Drain and rinse the can of white beans and bring to a boil with the chicken stock. Add the sprig of rosemary (chopped). After the white beans boil, reduce the heat, add the chopped chili or hot pepper and let cook for 3 min. Then remove the pan from heat and add the goat cheese. Stir to combine goat cheese with the white beans and chili, then transfer to a food processor and blend until smooth.

2) Red Grapes- Red grapes contain phytochemicals that can improve cardiovascular health. They also contain vitamins C, B1 and B6. A lot of people enjoy eating grapes by the handful or drinking them by the glassful (wink wink). Here’s a creative way to devour this fruity Superfood.

Take 1 cup of red grapes, cut grapes in half, and toss into a bowl. Add ¼ cup chopped red onion, 2 Tb chopped green onion, 1 chopped jalapeno (with or without seeds), ¼ cup lime juice, and a chopped avocado. Toss together and then drizzle a little Extra Virgin Olive Oil over the top. This red grape salsa is super with some toasted whole wheat tortillas.

The moment you’ve all been waiting for….
The number one Superfood is….

1) Green Tea- Um, Duh. Everyone knows that green teas have tons of antioxidants. Green Teas also contains polyphenols,( which may help decrease cancer, heart disease and stroke risk). Some say that drinking lots of Green Tea can help support brain health and memory. A very wise container of green tea can also do your taxes for you. It’s great stuff, but how the *$^# are we suppose to cook with it? I don’t think Green Tea Ice Cream counts as a Superfood! Well, my friends, I have found one recipe that I can share with you all which incorporates some brewed green tea. It’s a spicy lemon basil dipping sauce.

Take ½ cup brewed Green Tea, mix with: 1 Tb. honey, 2 Tb. lemon juice, 2 Tb, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a handful of chopped basil leaves, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 chopped chili, and some salt and pepper. This sauce would be nice to dip Chicken Satay in, or to pour over any grilled chicken or fish. Now, this sauce will not give you enough green tea to receive all its health benefits. It’s recommended one have 2+ cups per day.

Well, there you have it kids. Top Ten Superfoods and creative ways to use them. Enjoy the recipes, enjoy the benefits of Superfoods. Hey, maybe you could even wear a Superman cape while you prepare these foods, that would be suuuuuuupppeeerr …Creepy, actually. Please don’t wear the cape. Just eat the foods and steer clear of kryptonite.

Finding Balance

2010-10-15T05:39:00.003-05:00

It's Friday, and Back to Basics has been put in the basement. Fridays are now about Finding Balance.

My name is Mike and I’m a foodaholic.

I like food. A lot. But I’ve gotten to a point where some changes need to be made. I’ve never believed in doing things in moderation until recently. My motto has always been, “Go big or go home”. But lately I’ve really tried to modify my habits and change my thinking. To really understand where I’m at and to get a good barometer on my new approach, click here.

I know I need to exercise and I know I need to eat smarter. But I’m also smart enough to recognize that I can’t give up the things I love cold turkey (mmmm, turkey). Nor should I have to.

My promise to you is that I will exercise regularly, reduce my intake of fried and other generally unhealthy foods, decrease my portion sizes and eat more fruits and vegetables.

I’ll update you every week on my progress and tell you what I’ve been eating, where I’m eating out and how I’m trying to order healthier, the type and duration of exercise I’m doing, as well as how much weight I’m losing.

So, to start things off I’ll let you know that as of this entry I have lost 4 pounds since Friday, 10/8. I really haven’t eliminated any foods other than fried ones, but I have really tried to focus on portion size and when I’m eating.

I did try a new place for lunch this week, Café Pita. We ordered hummus as an appetizer (a much healthier alternative to the fried cheese that I wanted). I had a cup of Bosnian bean soup as a warm-up, and then ordered a cevap for my entrée. A cevap is basically a sandwich made with Bosnian flatbread and grilled sausages made from beef and lamb with assorted spices. Really good, but really filling – I ate a little more than half and tapped out.

So there you go - entry #1 in Finding Balance. Please feel free to leave comments or ask questions. I know I can’t do this by myself.

Happy Hour: Cucumber Martini

2010-10-14T16:09:00.004-05:00

Get ready for the weekend with a Thursday Happy Hour!

I hated cucumbers for most of my life. Then something happened. I now rather enjoy them (no phallic jokes please). I made this cucumber martini the other night as a test run. Dinner Club this weekend is vegetarian-themed. I think our club's loyal members will enjoy this drink. The cucumber definitely shines through.I also enjoyed the little mint specs that made it past the strainer. They make for a cool presentation and a wonderful taste. This drink is refreshing and potent. i wouldn't change a thing about the recipe. Nice job on the garnish...right?

http://www.drinknation.com/drink/cucumber-martini

Unique Randomness

2010-10-13T16:06:00.005-05:00

My random thoughts...brought to you once a week!

The 1-A Awards
This week's UR is a tribute to Chicago....aka Second City. But to me, from a culinary standpoint, it’s just 1-A. I promise this will be my last Chicago post for awhile. My H-Town people have probably had their fill. I’ve got so many more restaurant reviews but will hold off, and disperse them throughout the year. Sorry, no links this time around. Just google the restaurant for more info.

Best Meal Award
Sushi Para II
$20 for all-you-can-eat awesome sushi!!! Are you kidding me? Nope. Houston needs Sushi Para.

Best Salad Award
RoseAngeli's Insalata
Check out that picture up top. How does that look? I know...about the best d@mn salad you've ever seen.

Best Atmosphere Award
Tied: Lou Mitchell’s and Al’s
I just couldn’t choose which place had the better Chicago feel…so I didn’t.

Fat-@ss Award
Houlihan’s
The only reason I ate at this Bennigan’s-But-Worse establishment was because it was late, we had just flown in, and it was next to the hotel. Even my salad was covered with fried calamari, except it was more batter than sea creature.

Place I Felt Like I Was Going to Get Shot Award
Ada’s
Nice place, nice neighborhood. But it was eerily quiet for breakfast, and it felt like some mobster was about to cap my ass.

Everyone Knows Your Name Award
Stanley’s
This Lincoln Park neighborhood sports bar was just plain awesome. It has ruined me for all other sports bars.

Best Service Award
Al’s
Just a nice counter guy. It was important to him that we enjoyed our sandwiches.

Worst Service Award
No where
Seriously…great, friendly service everywhere.

Worst Dish Award
Houlihan’s Fried Mushrooms
I’m a bit of a fried mushroom whore. But these were obscenely bad. Too big, too cheesy, and super greasy. Eating just one decreased my life expectancy by a week…maybe more.

When in Rome Award
Hot Spot Dog
I just had to try an authentic Chicago dog. My chronic TMJ (jaw problems) had me worried about this thing…it was loaded with tomatoes, pickles, etc. I’m glad I tried one…the ingredients surprisingly worked well. And don’t get me started with the super soft poppy seed bun.

Mighty Good Recipe: Best Cocktail Meatballs

2010-10-12T16:32:00.005-05:00

Tuesdays are dedicated to bringing you a Mighty Good Recipe!

I think "best" is a strong adjective to describe these meatballs. Let's call them "very good". More importantly, these meatballs make for a quick and easy appetizer--for anything from a small gathering to a large party. I've made them several times through the years (usually during the holidays). They're always a hit. Try to prepare them the night before and just get the crock pot going a few hours before guests arrive. Watch out for size issues...try not to roll too small or too large. About a tablespoon of meat mixture will do. Break out the toothpicks and watch them go.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Cocktail-Meatballs/Detail.aspx

Restaurant Review: Houston

2010-10-11T16:10:00.004-05:00

Mondays are dedicated to bringing you a restaurant review from Houston or beyond!

Pho Sai Gon

The Scene: Pho Sai Gon is located in an nondescript strip center off Tidwell (near 290). I live five minutes away, but have only recently been a regular patron. Thu-Thu is closer to me, and has always gotten my business. Take nothing away from Thu-Thu, but Pho Sai Gon is better.

The Food: What's the appeal to Vietnamese food? Ummm, just about everything. It's inexpensive, extremely tasty, and somewhat healthy. With food, I'm all about diversification. But with this cuisine...I'm type casted. Always expect me to get an order of crispy egg rolls, fresh beef spring rolls, a vermicelli bowl and maybe a rice dish. Don't worry...that's split up between the family. Two things that really stand out about Pho Sai Gon is how incredibly fresh the vermicelli noodles taste, and the things they do to a meat I like to call beef. How do they get beef to taste so good? Their beef vermicelli bowl is a must-order...the cucumbers, sprouts, noodles, beef, and cilantro are a perfect blend of freshness. Dump in a little bucket of fish sauce, and you've got yourself the perfect meal. Speaking of fish sauce...I honestly could drink it in shot form. It's that good. Maybe I'll do a little home experiment with vodka-infused fish sauce.

The Verdict: Let's see....awesome! If you live in this area and love Vietnamese food, you will not be disappointed with Pho Sai Gon. Plus, there's ten Houston-area locations, so go find one...and order a ton of food. All the food I just mentioned came to $20. Can't beat it.

7400 W. Tidwell
Houston, TX 77040
713-462-4935
Open 7 days a week (10-9)

Carrie's Food Find: McCann's Irish Oatmeal

2010-10-10T06:42:00.003-05:00

We're on the prowl for great products. We'll give you the skinny on one every Sunday!

What is it?
According to McCann’s, steel cut oats are the result of removing the outer husk from the oat kernel and cutting it into pieces (unlike traditional oats which are steamed and rolled). McCann’s produces regular steel cut oatmeal and this “Quick & Easy” oatmeal.

Why it’s so great?
Due to high fiber content, oats have all kinds of great health benefits…Yeah, yeah…health benefits, but does it taste good? YES! My mom turned me on to steel cut oats awhile ago and although I preferred the taste and texture, I couldn’t justify spending 25-30 minutes making oatmeal! Then, my mother-in-law introduced me to the best of both worlds. McCann’s Quick & Easy has the heartier, less slimy texture of steel cut oats in 5 minutes! Do I sound like an infomercial yet? Top with a handful of walnuts, a sprinkle of brown sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup and you’ll be in breakfast heaven. Also delicious with dried or fresh fruit.

Where can I buy some?
I was able to buy this locally once (Kroger), but have not found it since. Can be ordered online through several websites, including http://www.amazon.com/

What’s the price?
Grocery store - $6.99 for a 24 oz can; Amazon.com - $25.33 (and free shipping) for 6 cans

Vegetarian View: Jus Mac

2010-10-09T19:47:00.005-05:00

Monthly Feature
Molly gives us a peek at a restaurant through the eyes of a vegetarian.

Overall Vegetarian Selection: (5) Stars
Since Jus Mac serves only macaroni and cheese, I had a pretty good notion there would be a decent selection of vegetarian menu items. Seven out of the 17 unique mac and cheese dishes were vegetarian. So many choices I had a difficult time ordering! For appetizers the menu also offered fried mac and cheese balls, fried mac and cheese rolls and mac and cheese soup. This mac and cheese soup sounds very interesting. I didn’t see anyone eating it…maybe I will get it next time.

Ordered Dish: (4) Stars
I ordered The Puebla mac and cheese which consisted of roasted poblano peppers and Swiss cheese. The dish was brought out in a mini cast iron skillet with a heaping mound of fresh bread crumbs. The Puebla is priced at $7.95 and I felt I got my money’s worth in the amount of pasta piled in. This dish was very flavorful. The Swiss cheese was a nice alternative and the roasted poblano was a perfect amount. My only gripe was the dish could have been served warmer. Don’t get me wrong, it was warm when ate it, but it could have been hotter. That would have accented the gooey cheese a bit more. Maybe I will chalk this up to new restaurant timing woes and it will be better next time. The temperature of my dish is why I gave four stars instead of five.

Healthy Rating: (1) Star
The Puebla mac and cheese dish was not healthy – at all. Actually while I was eating, I mentioned to my friend I wondered how many fat and calories were in our food and she quickly whispered back “just don’t even think about it.” Maybe I got some calcium and a little protein from the cheese? But that is about it. Now from a running standpoint the pasta is helpful but that is neither here nor there because it was pretty high in fat.

Overall Opinion: (4.5) Stars
Considering I went on day three of business during their soft opening and limited business hours, I think the place is running pretty smoothly. My disclaimer to this is Jus Mac opened at 6 pm the day I went and I was waiting in line at the door at 5:55 pm along with other mac and cheese aficionados. Because I got there right when they opened, there was not any extreme wait on my food and no parking problems either. I will say the adjacent parking lot is super small and I am not sure what area street parking is like. The building Jus Mac is in used to be a coffee house so the inside is small and seats up to 47 people.

Final Verdict: After months and months of waiting for this place to open, Jus Mac has won my heart and I will be back. I can’t wait to eat here when the weather gets “Houston cold.” What is better than warm mac and cheese on a cold, blustery day?

http://www.jusmac.com/
2617 Yale, 77008

Back to Basics: Roasted Garlic

2010-10-08T16:55:00.003-05:00

Fridays are for the beginner cook!

Roasting garlic is simple and quite versatile. It can be spread on toasted bread, put in mashed potatoes, added to various dips...you name it. Follow these simple steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Take a desired number of garlic heads. Place stem side down and cut about 1/4 inch off the top. This should expose all of the garlic inside.
3. Place garlic on a sheet of aluminum foil.
4. Douse with some olive oil and a little salt and pepper.
5. Loosely wrap the garlic with the foil.
6. Bake for 45 minutes. Let cool and squeeze out the garlic from the casing.

Happy Hour: A Walk on the Moon

2010-10-07T16:46:00.004-05:00

Get ready for the weekend with a Thursday Happy Hour.

Don't ask me how you come up with A Walk on the Moon for a drink name. I could care less about the name. Does it taste good? The answer is "yes" for this one. It's certainly an after dinner dessert cocktail. It's almost like drinking a chocolate malt. Good luck trying to detect any alcohol, but it's there. If you're a fan of the college classic Colorado Bulldog, you'll enjoy A Walk on the Moon.

http://www.drinksmixer.com/drinko12n505.html

He Said, They Said

2010-10-06T17:19:00.003-05:00

Monthly Feature
Mike takes on the Houston Press with his latest restaurant review. And speaking of burgers, when is HTownChowDown gonna get over to Leonard's so he can bump a place off his top burger list?

Little Bitty Burger Barn

First Impressions: If you don’t know where you are or where you’re going, you might miss it (the sign is tiny). Little Bitty Burger Barn is in a double-wide trailer on Pinemont, near the corner of Antoine. The inside is tiny, with probably only 6-7 tables.

The Menu: This place does burger joint food. Lots of different burgers are the obvious highlight, but they also feature chicken and steak fingers, steak sandwiches, salads and wings. A plus is that in addition to French fries and onion rings, they also offer tater tots.

What I Ordered: I got the sliders with French fries and an iced green tea.

Okay, how did it taste? Full disclosure – I’ve been to Little Bitty before, but I’d never had the sliders prior to this visit. The sliders were average looking sliders. They were dressed with onions and not much else. A little more caramelization would have been preferable, but not a big deal. The bread was done perfectly – a nice crunch on the inside and still soft on the outside. The flavor of the onions mixed very nicely with the flavor of the meat. The fries were above average – they were nicely seasoned and were slightly crispy. The iced tea was iced tea – run of the mill.

Value: Everything I ordered was $8.12. Not bad, considering I’m a big man and left full (even left a few fries…).

Overall: I give Little Bitty Burger Barn a score of 4.0 stars out of 5. Everything was done well, but nothing was spectacular (other than the buns). But it’s a good value and the owners are very nice. I’m sure I’ll be back to the Little Bitty in the future.

They Said: http://www.houstonpress.com/2008-02-21/restaurants/little-bitty-burger-barn/

5503 Pinemont
http://www.littlebittyburgerbarn.com/

Unique Randomness

2010-10-06T05:37:00.004-05:00

My random thoughts....brought to you once a week!

I absolutely hate the word “uber”. People using it should be beaten with an uber big stick.

You know that little disc icon that's clicked when saving a file? Shouldn't it now be a USB drive?

From the makers of Mom Jeans comes the Cami Secret.

I think Sugar Ray is the worst musical group in the history of the universe. Listening to even one second of Every Morning makes me nauseous. I know this is old music...I'm just saying.

According to a recent email I received, I am the new proud winner of the Australian Lottery. Lucky me.

I watched Bored to Death and East Bound and Down for the first time last Sunday. I'm now a big fan of both...plus, Boardwalk Empire is heating up.

Someone needs to give Alton Brown a double bacon cheeseburger. That man doesn't look well. I hope he is.

Watching Arian Foster run is a beautiful thing.

Mighty Good Recipe: Kevin's Jambalaya

2010-10-05T20:34:00.003-05:00

You'll get a Mighty Good Recipe every Tuesday.

I channeled Sandra Lee on this one. This recipe has that semi-homemade thing going on. But it's very easy, very quick, and can be very nutritious. Follow these easy steps:

1. Follow the directions on a box of Zatarain's Jambalaya.

2. Chop one red and green bell pepper each, a couple handfuls of okra, and a link of smoked sausage.

3. When the jambalaya starts to boil, toss in everything, along with a cup of frozen corn.

4. Place top on pot and let cook on low for 13 minutes.

There are so many things that can be substituted with this recipe. Don't like bell peppers? Add some zucchini instead. Hate okra? Throw in some mushrooms or onions.

Restaurant Review: Jerome, AZ

2010-10-04T06:23:00.005-05:00

Mondays are dedicated to bringing you a restaurant from Houston or beyond!

The Haunted Hamburger

The Background: The Haunted Hamburger sits a mile high, atop the old copper mining town of Jerome, Arizona . The view alone makes it special, but when you factor in the beautiful now tourist town of Jerome, along with the spectacular food...you've got a memorable experience. I'm guessing the only way you'd end up in Jerome is if you were vacationing in nearby Sedona. It's about a thirty-minute drive, but is well worth it. I found out about the Haunted Hamburger from a local at the food market. Always listen to locals!

The Scene: The HH is a small restaurant, with inside/outside seating split right down the middle. A nice, cool afternoon with a great breeze made my decision easy. Like I said, the views are amazing, but a great view can only get a restaurant so far. I was here for the burger I had heard so much about.

The Food: Sara and I split a burger and fries. We weren't extremely hungry but had made it this far, and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to eat. Glad I did. The burger was fantastic...a thick patty, loaded with fresh roasted green chilies and crisp bacon. The bun tasted homemade and held its form. The burger was so juicy and flavorful.

The Verdict: I may not ever make it back to the Haunted Hamburger because of its remote location, but I am so thankful to have dined there at least once. Sometimes a great setting makes really good food tastes great. I've been guilty before of letting this affect my opinion...but I really feel that HH's dynamite burger can stand on its own.

410 N Clark Street
Jerome, AZ 86331
(928) 634-0554

Molly's Food Find: Vitacoco

2010-10-03T08:10:00.007-05:00

We're on the prowl for great products, and you'll read about one every Sunday!

What is the product?
Vitacoco...the liquid in unripened (green) coconuts.

Why it's so great?
Served ice chilled, it's more refreshing than water. Coconut water is a natural hydrator, and it's better and healthier for you than commercial sports drinks. One container also has more potassium than two bananas.

Where can I get some?
*Whole Foods, http://www.vitacoco.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/
*Out of all the coconut water drinks, the Vitacoco brand is the most popular (because in my opinion it's the best, and yes I've done side by side taste tests of competing brands) and flies off the shelves when Whole Foods receives a shipment. You are better off ordering online most of the time.

What is the price?
Around $1.65 for a 11.2 fl oz container.

Test Kitchen: Touchdown Chili

2010-10-02T16:10:00.004-05:00

I'll try out a new recipe every Saturday...you'll see the good and bad of it!

Description: I gotta admit...the name sold me. Sara is also allergic to beans, so I was on the lookout for a no-bean chili recipe. I love cooking chili this time of year, and it's a perfect dish to make with a few people coming over.

Recipe Difficulty (Scale of 1-10) 5
Chili is easy to make, you just need to exhibit some form of patience. In the end, it's all worth it. Once you finally get everything in the pot, it's just a matter of playing the waiting game. The longer it cooks, the better it is. I went against the directions just a bit and browned the meat and onions separately. I also pulsed the ground beef in the food processor.

Results: Awesome
I've made chili a million times and this recipe ranks near the top. The brown sugar added just enough sweetness, and the green chiles, Tabasco Sauce, and chili powder provided a nice little burn towards the back end. I will make this recipe again...probably soon. Wait for it...wait for it...this chili scores a touchdown. You knew I had to write that. Sorry!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Touchdown-Chili/Detail.aspx

Food Find

2010-10-02T06:13:00.011-05:00

New Weekly Feature
This will be a new weekly feature. I know it's Saturday, but Food Find will be our new Sunday post. Sorry Tip Jar...you're getting the boot. Thought I'd kick off the new feature with a great product I found last week in Chicago. Look for another Food Find tomorrow!

River Valley Kitchens
https://www.rivervalleykitchens.com/index.php

How did I find this food?
Sara and I found a farmer's market in the middle of bustling Chicago. See that picture on the left? That's what drew me in. I've got a bit of a mushroom addiction. I could eat them on just about everything...and think that I have. The friendly gentleman behind the counter told me about their mushroom farm back in Wisconsin. Sounds like a place I wouldn't mind working...they could pay me in portabellas...seriously.

What is the product?
Portabella Chili: I actually sampled this one in Chicago. And it's what hooked me on their products. This is absolutely a great, healthy alternative to a typical fatty version of chili.

Portabella Salsa with Cilantro & Key Lime: Ahh...my two favorite things in life: mushrooms and cilantro. This is a little thicker than what most Texans would consider for salsa, but it certainly doesn't take anything away from the product. It contains jalapenos, but I didn't find it to be spicy.

Shroomschetta Mushroom Bruschetta: The best for last. I may never make bruschetta again when I can just grab a bottle of this stuff. It's loaded with white and crimini mushrooms, but the tomato-base gives it that marvelous bruschetta taste . I put some on a turkey sandwich the other day. My god it was good!

Why it's so great?
Did I mention the mushrooms? According to their web site, mushrooms have some health value (vitamins B and D). This product is great for vegetarians or anyone who loves condiments (and more). The products are organic, low in fat, and in some cases fat free. And most importantly...they taste great. My biggest complement for this product is it's versatility. You could put any of these products on chips, sandwiches, potatoes, other vegetables...you name it.

Where can I buy some?
Online if you don't feel like driving up to the mushroom farm in Wisconsin. Don't tempt me...I might! I sampled three of their products, but they offer many more.

What's the price?
Around $5.50 for a 10 oz. bottle.

Restaurant Review: Chicago

2010-10-01T05:54:00.004-05:00

Did you think I was done with Chicago? Think again.

Lou Mitchell's

The Background: I did some quick detective work on the computer and found Lou Mitchell's. It was about two miles from our hotel and from the looks of their web site, screamed awesome. Lou Mitchell's sits on the start of famous Route 66, claiming to have the “Best Breakfast in America” and the “World's Finest Coffee”. So much for modesty.

The Scene: LM's was bustling at 9AM on a Tuesday morning. As you walk through the door, you're greeted by a lovely hostess offering up complimentary doughnut holes. I think I may, and I think I might. The place is all Chicago...and it's great. Better not get too caught up in the ambiance. The pace is hectic and although the waitresses are friendly, they don't have time for dilly-dallying.

The Food: I get it...when places claim to have the “World's Greatest Something”, it mainly just makes for some fun conversation. That said, the coffee was excellent, especially for a diner...which is typically known for serving up weak java (east of krakatoa). I ordered the egg sandwich. Oh my...was it good! A sunny-side-up egg, melted American Cheese and fresh sausage links jammed in-between two thick slices of toasted wheat bread. It came with a side of thinly sliced potatoes. One bite into the sandwich breaks the yolk..and it's on like Donkey Kong. A little ketchup, a little egg yolk, a little potato...and there's a party on my plate. Sara ordered the strawberry-stuffed pancakes. They were fluffier than Cartman's @ss and we both agreed they were some of the best we'd ever eaten.

The Price: A little expensive for breakfast. My sandwich was $6.25, but they tacked on a $1 for the cheese (which I think is bush league). I was more than happy to pay a little extra for the memorable experience.

The Verdict: If you're visiting Chicago and crave a good breakfast, Lou Mitchell's is almost a must-go. They even do lunch...maybe next visit.

Tips: LM's gets crowded and is a cash-only place. Kids and women get free Milk Duds. No kidding.

565 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60661
http://www.loumitchellsrestaurant.com/

What Ales You?

2010-09-30T17:07:00.002-05:00

Monthly Feature
Wayne and Leah give us the skinny on beer.

Greetings Mighty Rib readers. We will be writing writing a once monthly take on beer. Some months we will focus on multiple types of beers in one review i.e. lager, ale, stout and other months we will do one or multiple beers from a region. At times we will offer our opinion on a possible pairing the reviwed beverage with a specific meal.

For this entry we will focus on something simple, available in every store across America.

Miller High Life

Overall Taste: The huge American brewers are famous for producing large amounts of a product for a large consuming audience and Miller High Life is definitely one of those beers. Overall, Miller High Life taste is commonplace, similar to those of Coors Light and Bud Light. Non-offensive might be the best way to describe Miller High Life's taste. Definitely not skunky and with little or no poor after taste. While surely not the most ringing of endorsements, it surely doesn't dispel MHL as a choice, surely we would all want something simple now and then?

Meal Pairing: Miller High Life, the Champagne of Beers, an American Legend, a hallmark of Milwaukee, would go well with many many things. I can imagine this beer being very enjoyable amongst a wily group of Packers Tailgaters in the Lambeau Field parking lot, being used as lubricant to stuff down a Bratwurst with sauerkraut. I can also imagine a Pittsburgh steel worker, after the whistle blows, in a small neighborhood tavern enjoying a Miller High Life with Beer Nuts and pretzels, helping ease off the grime and industrial dust from a hard 12 hour shift. The Miller High Life could also be enjoyed around the chuckwagon with a meal of beans and beefsteak after a long day in the American West rustling dogeys. A MHL, would also go perfect in the Sunny Souther Cali sun with a nice chilidog at Chavez Ravine enjoying a saturday afternoon Dodgers game. It's my assertion that Miller High Life is an american symbol that is easily enjoyed by all, along with a standard meal. While some beer afficionados scoff at the large (former) american brewers products lacking taste and originality, I think that they are just fine for a good drink with a simple meal.

Summary: Miller High Life, while not the most tasty beer available is definitely a symbol of American progress and while taken excusive of other more exotic or micro brews it is a perfectly acceptable beer for many meals and situations. Doesn't have a heavy taste that makes you feel too full and leaves little or non bitter after taste.

He Said, She Said

2010-09-30T16:17:00.005-05:00

Monthly Feature
It's the end of the month...and guess what's due...another He Said, She Said for Carrie and me. Here’s how it works:

We went to the same Houston-area restaurant at different times.
It's our first time eating at the restaurant.
We read no previous reviews.
We write our reviews separately.
Once written, the reviews are not changed.

Shade
250 W. 19th Street
Houston, TX 77008
http://www.shadeheights.com/

He Said Atmosphere: (5) Star
Ever been to a day spa? Shade has that exact same feel to it. Calm colors throughout, with a beautifully simple décor. Last month's restaurant felt like I was sitting next to a septic tank. At Shade, it was just the opposite. Very clean. A smallish, granite countertop bar sits towards the front of the restaurant. Ironically, the enormous rectangular windows looking out to 19th Street were my favorite part of Shade's atmosphere.

She Said Atmosphere: (4.5) Stars
The pale green exterior and simple signage is carried through to the interior design of Shade. Dark tables, mostly for groups of four, with white linens litter the dining area. The front of the restaurant has a beautiful “bar” area. Large pendulum lights with shades hang throughout creating a calm, romantic atmosphere.

He Said Menu Selection: (4) Stars
I went for lunch, and I guess the selection could have been bigger...but it certainly didn't bother me. There was a good number of salads and sandwiches.

She Said Menu Selection: (3.5) Stars
Shade offers a seasonal menu, resulting in a smaller selection. 6 appetizer selections, several salads and soups, and 10 entrees, ranging from a vegetable plate to several types of fish to beef tenderloin. Good wine list and, as an added bonus, they offered Saint Arnold’s Amber for the hubby.

He Said Taste: (5) Stars
Just based on what I ate, Shade is one of my favorite new restaurants (new to me). The food was a complete reflection of the establishment...clean, simple, and good. I ordered the BLT. They cheated a little bit by including fresh mozzarella, but is this really a bad thing? It wasn't...in fact, it was perfection. The thick cut wheat bread was buttery and toasted ...and VERY fresh. This sandwich was a complete work of art. The bacon had that perfect crisp, the lettuce did it's job, and the heirloom tomatoes were tangy goodness. The sandwich was a decent size as well. It came with a side of napa cabbage slaw and one devilled egg. Note to management...ditch the egg and double up on the slaw. That was some of the best slaw EVER...creamy, just a little sweet, and the red onions and napa cabbage were awesome together.

She Said Taste: (4.5) Stars
One word…delicious! I had the ahi and Warren ordered the lamb. “They” say you eat with your eyes first, and if this is the case, the ahi had me at hello. Beautiful presentation with a tempura shrimp served atop of a bed of colorful stir-fried vegetables (carrots, mushrooms, red onion, scallions) and the ahi perched on a crispy square of jasmine rice. The tuna and the shrimp were both perfectly cooked and combined well with the sweet soy glaze and spicy harissa sauce that were drizzled across the plate. The spicy veggies were cooked well with a little crunch left in them. And, that little rice cake I mentioned? SO good. How can plain old rice made into a cake and crisped on the outside taste so yummy? I don’t know, but it was! The lamb, also well cooked if a tad under seasoned, fanned out on a bed of minted pearl couscous with peas, topped with house-made lamb sausage. The couscous paired well with the lamb, and since I’m not much of a sausage eater, I’ll just have to take Warren’s word for it that it was good. We took an order of coconut cream pie home for dessert. A hazelnut shortbread crust topped with a coconut filling, a huge mound of whipped cream, and toasted coconut…how could it be bad? The crust was amazing and makes me want to try making my own version. My only complaint is that I could have used more coconut filling and less whipped cream, as I would have liked for more coconut-y goodness. The fact that I polished the rest of it off at 6am should tell you how I felt about it.

He Said Service: (5) Stars
The host, in our brief encounter, greeted me like we were longtime friends (and not in a weird way...in a good way). I thought my waitress was very attentive and my food came out in less than ten minutes. I asked her about the name Shade (paraphrasing)...”It's Houston, you need some Shade.” Right you are my good lady.

She Said Service: (2.5) Stars
To begin, the service was slow (hence our taking dessert to go before our child had a meltdown). While we were seated immediately and served water, our waiter took quite a while with our drink order. After ordering drinks, he turned and walked away, even though we were ready to order our entrees at the same time (we had had plenty of time with the menu!) We were not told of the soup specials and the waiter delivered another table’s appetizers to us. All in all, it left a little something to be desired.

He Said Pricing: (4) Stars
My iced tea and sandwich plate came to about $14 before tip. For that price, it better be perfect...and it was!

She Said Pricing: (4) Stars
On the pricier side, but after eating, I consider it well worth it. Although we skipped appetizers, the portions being delivered around us were quite generous, as were our entrees. Appetizers $8-$15, Entrees $20-$30, Desserts $8.

He Said Overall Opinion: (5) Stars
I think this is my first five-star restaurant since Carrie and I have been doing this. I know my sample size was limited (I went solo for lunch), but I honestly couldn't find one flaw with my experience. Maybe the egg, but it's not like it was bad...it just wasn't the slaw. Great place! I will definitely go back for lunch and dinner...no doubt!

She Said Overall Opinion: (4.5) Stars
This was one of the best meals I’d eaten out in a while. The bold flavors and beautiful presentation of my ahi far made up for any transgressions in service. And, honestly, the slow service probably wouldn’t have bothered me as much if we didn’t have the kid with us. We’ll definitely be making another trip to Shade without him…I’d like another date with that tuna.

The Mighty Give

2010-09-29T21:01:00.004-05:00

I don't normally do this sort of thing, but I wanted to use the blog as a platform to do some good this holiday season. Specifically, through the efforts of The Houston Food Bank, I thought we could do our small part in helping end hunger. Please go online and make a donation if you can. If you live in another city and would prefer to utilize your local food bank, please do. All I ask is that if you make a donation, please drop me a quick email at wcshalin@hotmail.com so I can tabulate our cumulative dollar amount. Thanks so much.

Restaurant Review: Chicago

2010-09-29T20:07:00.005-05:00

Sushi Para II

The Background: My cousin Joanna found this place for me. It's located in her neighborhood and came highly recommended. I had another sushi restaurant in mind, but she convinced me to give Sushi Para II a try. My family knows food. When they speak, you listen.

The Scene: There's a few Sushi Para's around town, but Sushi Para II in the Lincoln Park area is where we dined. Although Joanna was adament we go, she was less than enthused about the prospects of me posting a review on the blog. Why? Because Sushi Para is a neighborhood secret...a hidden gem if you will. I assured her that my Chicago readership sits at about four people...so her secret was safe with me.

The Food: Wow! I went to a lot of places in Chicago. When you take into account the price and quality of food, Sushi Para II topped my list. This is the first time in my life I am writing “sushi” and “inexpensive” in the same sentence. I had my doubts when Joanna stated it was an “All You Can Eat” establishment. I pictured one of those feeding troughs of cheap sushi on the side of a Chinese food buffet. Anything but. For $20pp you can select (about 60 items) from a variety of rolls, tempuras, and individual pieces. Everything is made-to-order and all the fish was super fresh and tasty. I ordered an individual piece of eel and octupus. No complaints. Some of the rolls that stood out included the Spider Roll, Christmas Roll (tuna and avocado), and Crazy Tuna Roll (pepper tuna and avocado) Tops for me was the Mountain Roll. How does avocado, cucumber, tuna and a spicy chef's sauce sound?

The Verdict: If you're in the Chicago area, have taste buds on your tongue, and half a brain in your head...you'll give Sushi Para II a shot. If you're disappointed, there's a defect in your personality. The atmosphere won't win any awards, but the sushi and service are excellent.

http://www.sushiparachicago.com/
2256 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
773.477.3219

Unique Randomness

2010-09-29T06:58:00.004-05:00

My random thoughts...brought to you once a week! This week...a view from Second City:

Is every person in the Greater Chicago Area issued gear from The North Face? That little logo on the upper right corner of the back annoys the sh*t out of me. Not sure why, it just does.

I wore my super sweet Mario Williams' jersey on Sunday. On my morning walk, I passed an older gentleman sporting some Colts' gear. I was able to hold my head up high and look him straight in the eye. No words were exchanged, but I could see the respect. That was the first time I've ever been proud to be a Texans' fan. Things would be different from now on. They were promptly embarrassed by the Cowboys two hours later. Oh well, it was a nice two hours.

In Chicago, they have TEAM sports bars. Like..."Hey I'm heading to the Michigan State bar or Iowa bar or LSU bar.” You get the picture. And they're neighborhood bars. In Houston, we just have boring sports bars like Wings N More.

Speaking of my visit to a Chicago sports bar...I randomly ran into someone I know. What are the odds...4,000,000 to 1?

And finally, speaking of sports bars AND odds...some dude asked me if I thought the Texans would beat the Cowboys (just before kickoff). I told him, “Look at my super sweet Mario Williams' jersey. What do you think?” He said okay and promptly put $500 on the Texans. Oops.

Have you ever walked two miles for coffee? I have...only because it was labeled “The Best in the World”. It wasn't, but it was d@mn good coffee.

I'm really sick of the word “flight” as it pertains to the food and beverage industry. It's just a cool, hip way of saying “sampler platter”.

Just Plain Random: If you're a clothing designer for Gap, do you get bored?

Restaurant Review: Cleveland

2010-09-28T06:48:00.002-05:00

Sorry...a Mighty Good Recipe will be back next week. We're sticking with a Midwest restaurant review. This time we're headed to Cleveland. Thanks Scott and Rachel for sending this in!

Pier W

Our Review: Pier W is our special occasion restaurant. We don’t go here too often as it is a little pricey, but in Cleveland, that’s still not as bad as other cities in this country. First of all, Pier W is an architectural feat – it is like a boat but above water. It juts out over Lake Erie, looking east towards Cleveland, the walls almost entirely glass windows. More importantly, the food is beautiful and tasty. Pier W specializes in seafood and deserves its reputation as the best seafood in Cleveland. I highly recommend the salmon – I have never been let down by this cedar plank grilling yummi-ness. The service is always spectacular and the wait staff clearly knows their products and are willing to help accommodate all of their guests. The Sunday brunch is the largest selection of food I’ve almost ever seen in one place. Upon entering, every guest is served a glass of champagne or a mimosa… that’s always a hit for me! The only problem with Pier W is its location. It is a little hard to get to and a bit outside of the city (if you’re just visiting and don’t have a car). Now we just need something good to happen so we have an excuse to go there again….

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
12700 Lake Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 228-2250
http://www.selectrestaurants.com/pier/index.php

AWESOMELY COOL DISTINCTIONS:
Voted Best Seafood in Cleveland
Voted Best Brunch in Ohio
Great view of the city of Cleveland and Lake Erie
Live music
5 star

Restaurant Review: Moline, IL

2010-09-27T09:23:00.002-05:00

See...I told you this week would be Midwest heavy. Check this place out. Thanks so much to my friend Amy for sending this review in!

Lagomarcino's
http://www.lagomarcinos.com/index.php

The Background: Lago's (as the locals call it) is technically a candy store. They have been in business in Moline, IL for more than 100 years and are still family owned. Seriously, THE. BEST. CHOCOLATE. I. HAVE. EVER. TASTED. They have been in the same old building in downtown Moline since 1918 (they have another location in the Village of East Davenport). It has the tiny hexagonal tiles on the floor, about a dozen mahogany booths with little blue Tiffany lamps and a big long candy display counter opposite a soda fountain with counter seating.

The Food: You have to love a place where the menu is mostly made up of various sundaes made with homemade hot fudge, soda made with syrup at a fountain, etc. There is a tiny little 1/4 of a page of the menu that has the non-ice cream type food. They have 2 soups every day, except in fall and winter when they have chili every day and one soup. Their chili is great - very mild with lots of tomatoes and peppers and some beans. But the really good stuff are the sandwiches. And it's not fancy sandwiches, just really dang good ones. They have a Ruben, but I am not a Ruben person, so I have never tried it. What they do have is very good homemade rye bread. It is a light rye with no seeds and a very mild flavor.

My Usual: Lago's is the first and only place where I have ever had a meal that I could order as "the usual." But Shelia, the waitress, knows me and knows that I LOVE tuna salad on toasted homemade rye with lettuce and tomato. I don't know how they do it, but Lago's gets good tomatoes year round. Sheila also knows what kind of day I've had at work if I order a sundae or a scoop of ice cream when I am done with my sandwich.

The Exception: I do not get my usual if they have tomato soup. If the soup of the day is tomato soup, I get a cup of that and a grilled cheese on that same homemade rye bread. I know, seems a little silly to pay money to have someone else make you a grilled cheese sandwich, but this is the best grilled cheese ever. Magnificent. Our office has been freezing and that is exactly what I had for lunch on Wednesday (photo attached). That, and I bought a caramel apple to share with the boyfriend later. The caramel is of course homemade and really frikkin good.

Other Things to Know: At Easter they do these big chocolate eggs that are like a shell around individually wrapped truffles. At Valentine's Day, they have about 700 different styles of heart shaped boxes to choose from. You can buy a loaf of their homemade rye bread, sliced and it makes amazing turkey sandwiches with leftover Thanksgiving turkey. My favorite items from the candy counter are dark chocolate pecan dainties or dark chocolate covered caramels (same caramel that's on the apples in the fall).

Restaurant Review: Chicago

2010-09-27T06:13:00.012-05:00

You'll get a restaurant review every Monday.

Al's Beef
http://www.alsbeef.com/

The Background: With all this Italian Beef talk of late, I felt almost obligated to give one a try. And I did...and it was good ...very good. KShil of the Houston Press (I just gave someone I don't know a nickname) is a big fan of the authentic Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich. And I'm a fan of her work. She recently went to Al's Beef. Guess where I was headed? As Eugene Levy's character Dr. Pearl said in Waiting for Guffman, "People say, you must have been the class clown. And I say, No, I wasn't. But I sat next to the class clown, and I studied him." Translation: Listen to the experts.

The Scene: There are a few locations around town...we hit the one on Ontario Street. It was d@mn near closing time, so we couldn't dawdle. The place was small...maybe ten, two-seat tables in the joint. As you walk through the door, you're greeted by the counter guy. I'm sure if you don't know immediately what you want, you're labeled as a tourist. Guilty as charged. It didn't matter...traffic was slow and the guy was super friendly.

The Food: We went with two #5's. This included a drink, fries, and a traditional Italian Beef Sandwich. Given the time of night, I wasn't too keen on getting the the beef and sausage combo. The thought of lodging a link down me was non too appealing. The traditional was all shaved beef, topped with sweet peppers, on a soft roll...then dipped in juice.

The Price: Each combo meal came to around $7. Very reasonable.

The Verdict: I'm so glad I tried this Chicago classic. The shaved meat was tender and obviously very juicy. And the sweet peppers were a perfect compliment. Sara loved the fries...in fact, she went back to the counter and order some more. I've never seen her do this, but it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside that she was finally catching up to my fat-ass ways.

169 W. Ontario
Chicago, IL

Tip Jar

2010-09-26T16:03:00.004-05:00

Sundays are dedicated to giving you a tip...take it or leave it!

The Butcher

Find a good butcher. That's my tip for the week. It makes a difference. Trust me. This is easier said than done, but they are out there. The cuts of meat are better, the quality of meat is better, the entire process is just better. In Houston, I think it's very difficult to beat B & W Meat Company. Their prices are very reasonable and I've never been disappointed with any purchase. Test it out. Go and just get a pound of ground beef...something simple. Tell me their ground beef doesn't taste better than a grocery store's. Find a good meat market where you live and try it out.

B & W Meat Co.
4801 N. Shepherd

Natalie the Nomad

2010-09-25T08:45:00.004-05:00

Monthly Feature
Natalie kicks off a great week of featuring Midwest eateries on the blog.

Marion's Piazza

The Background: This time around I decided to go to a place that holds a significant meaning to our family. Marion's is a place we would congregate after soccer games, swim meets, or for a quick congratulatory meal. The restaurant is in a diner-like setting, with tons of room and natural lighting. You can tell that this place hasn't been re-decorated since the since it opened in the 60's, but it works and to be honest I don't think I want it to change. The walls are littered with photos of famous celebrities eating at Marions, as well as newspaper clippings praising the piazza. They also have 5 huge fridge fulls of any kind of beer you can imagine, and a big room dedicated to arcade games.

The Food: I debated on ordering something out of the norm, but decided to keep my 15 year streak going with the mushroom pepperoni pizza. Ordering a small is definitely enough for one person, unless that one person is REALLY hungry and decides to finish her entire pizza and take bites of others'... The crust is the same with all the pizzas; thin, crunchy and dusted with cornmeal. Naturally, this would make a true-blue Chicago pizza fan keel over in disgust but I promise you, this stuff is GOOD. Piping hot from the oven, your pizza arrives, baked to perfection. Ooey-gooey cheese, crunchy crust, one-bite size square portions, and toppings so fresh and decadent you want to order 5 more pizzas to go.

While Marion's also offers subs, sandwiches, pasta dishes and [gasp!!!] salads, it would be a crime to have anything but pizza. I have heard from hungry sources that their subs are just as good as the pizza; their salads huge, and the pasta dishes 'run of the mill'. Again, hungry sources, because you can bet that I am not changing my mind anytime soon.

The Price: Between three adults and a courageous one-year-old, pizzas and sodas combined cost a cool $35. Not bad, considering we brought some home.

Fun Fact: Every year, all of the Marion's locations go 'retro' and have everything on their menu slammed back to the 1965 price. A small, deliciously amazing pizza for 80 cents??! I would make myself sick. The lines are ridiculous though, so be forewarned.

http://marionspizza.com/
multiple locations throughout Dayton area

Back to Basics

2010-09-24T05:44:00.002-05:00

Fridays are dedicated to the beginner cook.

Chocolate Sauce
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sensational-Chocolate-Sauce/Detail.aspx

I made a chocolate sauce for the first time last week. I thought it was important to highlight on the blog because it was tasty, versatile, and EASY! Just follow the few short steps in the link above, and you'll always have a solid chocolate sauce recipe in your back pocket. This stuff goes good on most desserts (and any solid, tangible object for that matter). I always thought making a chocolate sauce would be a little more complicated than this. It's not. I even threw in a little dark rum to mix it up a bit.

Check This Out!

2010-09-23T17:04:00.003-05:00

I don't usually post random things like this, but I just couldn't resist. I stumbled upon this food blog last night. With the subject of bacon at center stage this week, the timing just couldn't be better. Hope you enjoy!

Things I'd rather do than chew on a bacon flavored gumball:

http://nosweetmeat.blogspot.com/2010/03/things-id-rather-do-than-chew-on-bacon.html

Happy Hour

2010-09-23T05:21:00.003-05:00

Get ready for the weekend with a Thursday Happy Hour!

Vodka Gummy Bears
http://www.ehow.com/how_4648110_vodka-liquor-gummy-bears.html

I am so appreciative when readers send suggestions on things to try out. My cousin Casey forwarded this drink recipe a few weeks back. I was very intrigued. Vodka gummy bears seemed like a good idea. I think ten years ago (maybe more) vodka gummy bears would have been a good idea. I’m 33…vodka gummy bears are not a good idea. In fact, I’m absolutely, positively sure that the one vodka gummy bear I put in my mouth this evening will be the last vodka gummy bear I ever consume. A few adjectives that describe the experience: vile, disgusting, hideous, and liver-numbing. Imagine taking a shot of straight vodka, shaped like a mini-bear. Yeah...don't be fooled by the super cute picture above. Vodka gummy bears will knock you on your arss.

Unique Randomness

2010-09-22T06:53:00.003-05:00

My random thoughts...brought to you once a week!

Brett Myers, starting pitcher for the Houston Astros, is quietly putting together an unbelievable season. But every time I watch him pitch I just can’t take my eyes off his absolutely hideous facial hair. It’s frightening.

I watched Boardwalk Empire. I thought it was good, not great. But what show is great right from the start? Not many. I may give it a few episodes.

My favorite Will Ferrell line…from Step Brothers: “I have a belly full of white dog crap in me, and now you lay this sh*t on me?” I love that movie.

I know this isn’t exactly new, but have you seen the Shake Weight yet? Just google it. My job as a teacher prohibits me from making any further comments about this product.

Panera…my goodness…stop running out of my Cinnamon Crunch bagels. That’s like going to McDonald’s and they don’t have fries.

I know it’s still popular, but I honestly don’t know one person who still watches Survivor.

I’d rather watch Paula Dean cook naked than sit through an episode of Dancing with the Stars.

Gotta love those Texans right now. Andre Johnson is a beast.

Mighty Good Recipe

2010-09-21T05:43:00.002-05:00

It's Tuesday...time for a Mighty Good Recipe!

Turkey Sloppy Joes

Ingredients
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground turkey
1 onion (chopped)
4 cloves of garlic
1 Tbsp dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
1 large zucchini (chopped)
1 cup chili sauce
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 green bell pepper (chopped)
Buns

Directions
1. Brown the ground turkey with 1 Tspn of olive oil. Drain fat and set meat aside. Add remaining oil to skillet and toss in onion, zucchini, and bell pepper. Cook over medium heat until soft.
2. Add salt and pepper, garlic, and oregano to the mixture. Cook for one minute. Add cheese, chili sauce, and Worcestershire sauce to the pan. Bring to boil. Remove from heat and serve on bun.

Why so Mighty? This is a unique take on a classic dish. I love the original version of a Sloppy Joe, but this one is much healthier and still manages to keep the flavor. The zucchini is hidden and the chili sauce adds a sweet and tangy taste to the entire mixture.

Houston Restaurant Review: Lucky Pot

2010-09-20T06:34:00.007-05:00

Mondays are dedicated to bringing you a Houston restaurant review or one from around the country. Keeping it local this week with a visit to Lucky Pot.

The Background: I'm a sucker for dumplings. I love them, and am always in search of the next great spot for consumption. My favorite place to go in Houston is Lai Lai Dumpling House. But after perusing Robb Walsh's Top 100 List again, I figured it was time to give Lucky Pot in Chinatown a shot.

The Scene: Lucky Pot is small (about ten tables), but with high ceilings and plenty of white paint, the place feels a lot bigger than a typical hole-in-the-wall. LP is very clean and the service is fast and attentive.

The Food: Well, obviously I ordered the Lamb Dumplings (steamed). For some strange reason my order did not look like Robb's. Imagine that. No worries...the taste made up for the lack of presentation. Never before have I eaten a dumpling that needed no dipping sauce. The lamb filling was super juicy and well seasoned. The wrapper was thick and held together nicely. We also ordered some Beef Fried Rice, Tofu with Napa Cabbage, and Lamb Noodle Soup. The soup wasn't my style, but there's no denying the awesomeness of the lamb chunks in it. Some of the best meat I've ever had anywhere.

The Verdict: I love dining in Chinatown. It's hard to find a bad spot, and Lucky Pot is no different. My dumpling heart still lies with Lai Lai, but Lucky Pot hasn't seen the last of me.

9888 Bellaire

Dinner Club: Bacon Bonanza

2010-09-19T16:29:00.010-05:00

Monthly Feature
Each month...six friends get together for great food and good times! Check out the recipes and rundown.

The Shooks hosted and made the appetizers and entree. The Jaegers brought over tasty beverages, and the Shalins were in charge of dessert. The theme was Bacon Bonanza. Here's how it broke down:

Appetizers:
Bacon Wrapped Pineapple
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bacon-Wrapped-Pineapple/Detail.aspx

Cayenne Candied Bacon
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/cayenne-candied-bacon-recipe/index.html

Avocado BLT
http://www.mealsmatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/45171

Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/spinach-salad-with-warm-bacon-dressing-recipe/index.html

Main Course:
Bacon, Chicken* and Tomato Pasta
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/guy-fieri/bacon-and-tomato-pasta-recipe/index.html
*Chicken was an extra the recipe didn't call for

Dessert:
Vanilla Ice Cream with Caramelized Bacon and Sensational Chocolate Sauce
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Caramelized-Bacon-3059
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sensational-Chocolate-Sauce/Detail.aspx

Drinks:
PDT's Bacon-Infused Old Fashioned
http://nymag.com/restaurants/recipes/inseason/45776/

The Rundown: My arteries feel violated. Even the bourbon cocktail was infused with bacon fat. I honestly don't even want to look at bacon for a good two weeks...maybe longer. I particularly enjoyed the Cayenne Candied Bacon. Thick cuts of bacon, super sweet, with a nice, slow burn at the end. Everything was great, and even the crumbled bacon bits worked well in the dessert.

On the Menu

2010-09-18T07:08:00.005-05:00

The Monthly Feature contributing writers have been awesome. Here's a quick look at some recent entries and what's to come:

September 2010
What's Been Served...
Vegetarian View: Molly gives Yelapa a glowing endorsement.

On The Menu...
Dinner Club: This month's theme is Bacon Bonanza. Take a look back at August.

He Said, She Said: Carrie and I head to Shade. Hope it turns out better than this.

Natalie the Nomad: Where will she go next? What interesting food will she try now? Tough to beat Pasha.

Calorie Worthy: Andrea is up to her lists again. Have you made the pesto yet?

Higher Learning: Bryan's last entry upped the blog's cooking IQ about 30 points.

The Junkie: Melissa wasn't too fond of this Jack in the Crack delight.

He Said, They Said: Mike had this to say about Sam's. What Houston Press restaurant will he hit now?

Back to Basics

2010-09-17T08:13:00.003-05:00

Fridays are dedicated to the beginner cooks.

Pan Frying Fish
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/good-eats/pan-fried-fish-recipe/index.html

I'll let the great Alton Brown guide you this week. The link offers a wonderful recipe, but more importantly, please pay close attention to his frying technique. It's brilliant and EASY! I tried it the other night with a nice piece of rainbow trout. Feel free to leave out the capers. I love capers but didn't have any on hand. I also fried up a couple extra fillets and had one the next day for lunch on a sandwich. The only negative about frying fish in the house is the lingering smell. Have a good candle on stand-by. You'll need it.

Happy Hour

2010-09-16T16:13:00.006-05:00

Get ready for the weekend with a Thursday Happy Hour!

Midori Illusion
http://www.midori-world.com/cocktail-recipe/varieties/midori-illusion.html

Guess which web site I snagged this drink recipe from? Summer is drawing to an end...and I figured you could sneak in a cool, refreshing drink like this one. I'm not big into drinks like this (even if I were, probably wouldn't admit it). But it has a subtle citrus taste, and the vibrant green color is nice to look at. And there goes that pesky maraschino cherry again. I am determined to get through that d@mn bottle of cherries.

Next week: Spiked Gummy Bears (need five days of prep time)

Unique Randomness

2010-09-15T16:22:00.004-05:00

My random thoughts...brought to you once a week.

I apologize in advance for the general fecal-theme of this week’s entry…just kind of fell that way.

Product Placement: Go-Gurt This kid yogurt has the most annoying name. I hate it. Also, it sounds like a bad case of diarrhea. “Hey, how was your weekend?” “Not too good, had a terrible bout of the go-gurts.”

I saw a car the other day that was covered in bird sh*t. I’m talking about 80% of the car. Don’t really know how the person could drive. It looked like an armada of birds unloaded on it.

In the news: A rig carrying human waste was involved in a major accident the other day in Houston. The article I read finished with this: “no human waste spilled on the road”. Think I would have led with that.

In the news: An Oklahoma woman was run over and killed by her riding lawnmower. There’s a million ways to go, but I can’t think of a worse one.

Watched Crazy Heart last weekend. Great movie, very depressing, but awesome movie. Great soundtrack as well. Nobody does a bowling alley scene better than Jeff Bridges. I think it should be a requirement for all his movies.

My wife Sara had a McD’s french fry craving. While waiting in the drive-thru, I happened to notice a new menu item…Angus Snack Wrap. At first glance, I thought it was a turd wrapped in a tortilla. Maybe it was.

The Texans could not have made me happier Sunday.

Mighty Good Recipe

2010-09-14T05:37:00.006-05:00

It’s Tuesday…time for a Mighty Good Recipe!

Creamy Southwestern Pasta

This recipe is pure genius. I found it on a great food blog and made it for the family last week. Everyone loved it...including both kids. I substituted ground beef, only because I needed to use some. This recipe is easy and very healthy. The black beans provided a wonderful texture for the dish and all the ingredients blended together quite well. This is a perfect “night before” recipe. Make it on a Sunday so all you’ll have to do is pop it in the oven on Monday. I see myself making this one a few times a month. This is also a great recipe to incorporate new vegetables for kids. Veggies like zucchini, broccoli, and spinach would work well.

Restaurant Review: Houston

2010-09-13T05:48:00.003-05:00

Mondays are dedicated to bringing you a Houston restaurant review or one from around the country. Keeping it local this week.

Leonard's Famous Burgers

The Background: A visit to Leonard’s Famous Burgers represented one of my top moments in food blogging. Not quite sure how I found this place on the net, but I did. Since reading Albert’s blog on a daily basis, burgers have been on the brain. I was looking forward to my trip to Leonard’s, but forgot to get the address. I went back to the computer and this time ran across Robb Walsh’s Top 100 list. Guess who was on it? Away I went.

The Scene: I’m not going to sugarcoat this one…the drive to Leonard’s won’t be showing up anytime soon on the Travel Channel. It’s in a rough area, and the structure itself is nothing more than a shack. But I loved it. You park and walk up. A voice from through the screened ordering window asked me what I wanted to eat. I had a feeling this was Leonard.

The Food: I ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger Combo. It came with fries and a soda. The patty was fresh and topped with salty, crispy bacon. All the standard fixings were there: mayo, mustard, lettuce, pickles and tomatoes. The soft-on-the-outside-and-perfectly-toasted-on-the-inside bun brought the whole thing together. Although the burger was super juicy and moist, it held its form. It never fell apart or got sloppy on me. The fries were soft, greasy, thick, and peppery…in short, awesome! For around $7, I couldn’t ask for more.

The Verdict: When my order was ready, I went back to the window and had a little chat with Leonard. I thanked him for making what I knew was going to be a great burger. I was right. In fact, it was the best burger I’ve eaten in Houston. But getting to meet Leonard was even better.

1913 W.Little York
Hours: Quote from Leonard…”I’m here from 9 til 9, every day.”

Tip Jar

2010-09-12T08:24:00.004-05:00

I'll give out a tip every Sunday...take it or leave it!

Cutting Peppers

Ever wonder the best, most efficient way to cut a pepper without getting all those little white seeds everywhere? Take the pepper and position it vertically (with the stem facing up). Take a sharp knife...starting next to the stem base, cut downward (curving away from the seeds). Cut all the way to the base of the pepper. Rotate pepper and repeat process. After a few rotations, you should be left with the stem, which holds on to the seeds. Efficient cutting and no mess!

Vegetarian View

2010-09-11T10:33:00.007-05:00

Monthly Feature
Molly gives us a peek at a restaurant through the eyes of a vegetarian.

Yelapa Playa Mexicana

Vegetarian Selection: (2) Stars
Out of a robust two-page menu, Yelapa Playa Mexicana only had two vegetarian entrées and five appetizers. Big thumbs down I say. Vegans, I don’t even think there is anything here for you. Go across the parking lot to Hobbit Café for a friendlier animal free selection. I believe all of Yelapa Playa Mexicana’s cocktails are meat free…does that count?

Ordered Dish: (5) Stars
I was so enamored with my food that I am willing to completely forgive Yelapa Playa Mexicana for their sparse vegetarian selection. There, I said it.

My before dinner cocktail was a peach mojito. The muddled mint and sweet peach blended perfectly. The mint stayed well at the top of the glass with the ice, while I quickly slurped the peachy-minty goodness with a straw. This was a great start to my variety less meal.

For the appetizer I ordered “The Real Guacamole” and “The Actual Pico De Gallo.” WOW! I have never in my life eaten such unique and flavorful guac or pico before. The guacamole was not mashed up but served very chunky with mango, black olives and fennel. It was the most gourmet guac that has ever touched my lips. The pico was also chunky, hearty and had ingredients like pineapple and cilantro. These two appetizers blew my mind. When the server first brought them out, I started to correct him because I thought he had the wrong table. Guac and pico are supposed to be mushy yet tasty, not vibrant and bursting with unique flavors.

The vegetable quesadilla was my choice for the entrée. It too was delicious and unusual. Even though it was only between the vegetable quesadillas or vegetable tacos, I was not let down. The cheese on the quesadilla was a different kind of cheese, one that I could not exactly put my finger on but I know I’ve had before. The vegetables in the quesadilla were uncommon too. They were squash blooms, pea leaves and a spicy lime aioli. All yummy.

Healthy Rating: (2) Stars
My cheese and vegetable quesadillas were not healthy at all – but neither was my luscious peach mojito. All I can take away from this dinner was that I got a lot of calcium, protein and some vegetables in for the day. Several laps around Memorial Park and days of eating like a rabbit were the only things that could negate this meal. But it was so good I don’t care.

Overall Opinion: (5) Stars
The service was A+. Our waiter Al was super informative and professional - actually all of the employees were very friendly and helpful. Parking is a bother but they have valet (complimentary I believe). The restaurant’s theme is Pacific coast-inspired Mexican and the food and décor accurately represent this. I gave Yelapa Playa Mexicana five stars even though they did not have a large vegetarian selection because it has been a very long time that a restaurant has swept me off my feet. The limited variety of meat-free foods that I did eat there were superb. Beware though; Yelapa Playa Mexicana is on the expensive side. We dined with a gift card so our ending bill was not that bad. Everything was very tropical and I felt like I was on vacation eating here. For a moment I thought I was in Key West, but then I stepped outside and was greeted by Richmond Avenue. Nope, still in Houston.

http://www.yelapatime.com/
2303 Richmond Avenue
Houston, TX 77098

Back to Basics

2010-09-10T05:42:00.005-05:00

Fridays are dedicated to the beginner cook.

Hollandaise Sauce

A few years ago I took a cooking class at http://www.urbanchefhouston.com. Great class and instructor! One of the things we learned from Chara was how to make an authentic Hollandaise sauce. I always thought it was difficult, but guess what? It’s EASY!

I lost her recipe, but I think it was close to this (I do it this way and it turns out well):

Ingredients
2 sticks of butter (throw in freezer for a few minutes)
2 TBSP fresh squeezed lemon juice
8 egg yolks
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
1. Take butter out of the freezer and dice into small cubes. Set aside.
2. Take a small pot and add the yolks, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Whisk well.
3. Take a larger pot and fill half-way with water. Bring water to a nice, rolling boil.
4. Hold the smaller pot (with the yolks, etc) over the boiling water. You’ve created a double boiler.
5. Whisk in 2 cubes of butter at a time. Don’t add any butter before the previous cubes have melted.
6. Continue to whisk until all cubes are melted.
7. Serve immediately.

If your sauce breaks, dump it…don’t try to save it. If you sense it’s about to break, move it a little further away from the boiling water. Hollandaise sauce traditionally goes with Eggs Benedict (shown above) and over vegetables such as asparagus.

Please note that Hollandaise sauce, also known as Fat Man’s Gravy, is extremely harmful to your health. Jamming sticks of butter into your arteries is never a good thing…well, almost never. Please don’t make this stuff more than twice a year.

Happy Hour

2010-09-09T05:35:00.003-05:00

Get ready for the weekend with a Thursday Happy Hour!

Konalicious
http://www.tradervicsrum.com/recipes/
Note: Scroll down the link to find this recipe.

I love just about everything associated with Kona. This drink is no different. The Konalicious is a very simple, three-ingredient cocktail perfect for slow sipping. In fact, that’s exactly what I’m doing as I write this. The coffee and coconut flavors balance themselves out nicely. The cinnamon topping ties it all together. The Trader Vic’s Coffee Liqueur is essential, but any coconut rum will do. Cut the recipe in half for a perfect nightcap.

Unique Randomness

2010-09-08T06:06:00.005-05:00

My random thoughts…brought to you once a week.

Tribute to the Little Man on Wakefield: I see this little dude every morning on my daughter’s daycare drop off. He walks down Wakefield Street. His destination…unknown. He’s probably in his 80’s, wears one of those 1920’s hats, and has a finely manicured mustache. Every time I pass him, he makes me think of the Dos Equis guy. I think at one time the little man that walks down Wakefield was the coolest man on the planet.

You know I’m not big on chain places. But d@mn if I couldn’t eat a Panera Cinnamon Crunch Bagel every morning for the rest of my life.

Football Alert! If you hate it, skip this part. If you’re not from Houston, you probably want to skip this part. I love the Texans. They disappoint me every single year, but who cares? These are my five main concerns going into the year:

1. QB situation: This is an easy one. Schaub will get hurt. It’s not a matter of if but when. Their backup QB situation is a mess. Orlovsky looks like he’s about to wet himself every time he throws and Leinart is just not good.
2. Young Corners: Not many people are talking about this, but it’s a big concern for me. I’d feel a lot better with DRob back there.
3. Running Backs: All aboard the Arian Foster bandwagon…just one problem, he’s never played a full season. That means in all likelihood he’ll either get hurt or run out of gas. I predict Slaton is done. Think the Texans wish they would have given Thomas Jones two million for this year?
4. Kubiak’s Coaching: Nice man, but way below average in clock management and quick, in-game decisions. Will cost the team 1-2 wins.
5. Weaker Cushing: Allegedly Brian Cushing took steroids. I remember when another top LB got busted (Merriman). He never was the same. I’m not saying this will happen with Cushing, but it does warrant keeping an eye on.

Gym Membership: D-Bags Notice I made it plural. D-Bags workout in pairs…never alone. D-Bags are distant cousins of the Prancer. D-Bags are in their early 20’s, chiseled, and sleeveless. They have college degrees, but are still dumber than a post. The D-Bags’ vocabulary revolves around using the f-word at least four times in every sentence. D-Bags are easily identified by the jug of “Red Drank” they haul around. This “Red Drank” helps D-Bags’ muscles grow. I had the pleasure of lifting weights next to D-Bags the other day. Lucky me.

Facebook Folly of the Week: Picture Woman You know that expression “A picture is worth a thousand words”? Well, what about 1000 pictures? Picture Woman takes 1000 pics of her weekend va-ca to the Hill Country, and posts every single one on Facebook. I’m all for posting beautiful pics on Facebook. I don’t enjoy ten consecutive pics of Picture Woman flashing the peace sign at me.

Mighty Good Recipe

2010-09-07T05:37:00.008-05:00

It's Tuesday...time for a Mighty Good Recipe!

Chicken Marsala
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/chicken-marsala-recipe/index.html

It’s always good to have a Chicken Marsala recipe in the arsenal. I figure this one is just as good as the next. I’ve made it a few times through the years and have never been disappointed. I switched it up a bit this time around and substituted seasoned panko for flour. I found it was probably better to stick with the flour. Either way, it tastes great. You can’t go wrong with a side of mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach. This is a safe, solid meal to make for family or guests. It contains solid, flavorful ingredients that aren’t too overpowering.

Restaurant Review: Phoenix

2010-09-06T07:36:00.005-05:00

I'll do a restaurant review on Mondays. Most of the time it will be a place in Houston. This week it's Phoenix.

Chompie's (several locations in the Phoenix area)
http://www.chompies.com/

The Background: If you’re a loyal follower of the blog, you know I started it off several months ago with my “Top 20 Favorite Places to Eat”. Chompie’s was #6 on my list. My brother and I first discovered Chompie’s on a Spring Training baseball vacation to the Phoenix area back in 2002. Three years later, we were back in Phoenix for baseball…this time with a few more friends. Guess where we ate three times? Fast forward to 2010…family vacation to Sedona. We flew into Phoenix. Pretty simple process: 1. Get off plane. 2. Rent mid-size car. 3. Head to Chompie’s.

The Scene: My favorite of the four Chompie’s locations is the one in Tempe...just outside the Arizona State campus. Chompie’s is an authentic, NY-style, Jewish deli. And when I say authentic…I mean it. My dad is from New York. I spent most of my childhood summers in New York. Chompie’s is the real deal. I walked through the door and it was just as I had remembered. You’re greeted by a full bakery of bready goodness…black/white cookies, Everything bagels, rye breads, etc. I glanced at the register, only to find a poster with a very recognizable figure. Yup, Man v. Food had just been here in July to take part in the Jewish Slider Challenge. My little restaurant was “all grows up”.

The Menu: Let’s dispatch with the formalities…every single menu item was sent down from heaven, so nothing is bad. You can order anything at any time, but you may need a good twenty minutes to read through the selections. Corned beef, pastrami, matzo ball soup, potato pancakes, burgers…just about any food you can think of. It was breakfast time so I went with a Steak Skillet. Time meant nothing to Sara…she went with the Reuben Sandwich. I gave her a funny look for ordering a Reuben at 9:30 a.m., but it only motivated me to order one of those Jewish Sliders.

The Taste: Awesome! The skillet and Jewish Slider were perfection. What is a Jewish Slider, you may ask…soft roll, tender brisket, potato pancake, and dipping gravy. I snuck a bite of the Reuben. Sara and I both agreed it was one of the best things we had ever eaten.

The Verdict: There are two restaurants in the country I’d jump on a plane for…Oklahoma Joe’s in Kansas City and Chompie’s in Phoenix.

Tip Jar

2010-09-05T16:38:00.005-05:00

I'll give out a quick tip every Sunday...take it or leave it!

Iced Coffee

You made a big pot of coffee in the morning and were able to put down most of it. Several hours later you go to clean out the pot. Wait! Don't throw that remaining stale, muddy 1/2 cup out. Pour it in a glass, add 1/4 cup milk, ice, and a pinch of sugar substitute. Hello coffee-flavored Yoohoo. It provides a little boost and tastes so good. Plus you're not being wasteful.

Test Kitchen

2010-09-04T17:47:00.003-05:00

I'll try out a new recipe every Saturday...you'll see the good and bad of it!

London Broil I
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/London-Broil-I/Detail.aspx

Description: Imagine the look of flank steak with the tenderness of prime rib. That's what this London Broil recipe was like. Check out this picture! How do you think it turned out?

Recipe Difficulty (Scale of 1-10) 1
You probably know my style by now....I go for easy recipes that make a nice presentation. All I had to do was toss the ingredients in a Ziplock, marinate the meat overnight, and throw on the grill. About 11 minutes on each side and let rest. Slice against the grain and get ready for the juiciest, most tender piece of meat.

Results: Awesome
At first, it seemed I had bombed on the London Broil. When I took it off the grill, I had concern it was overcooked. Just the opposite...it was perfect. When grilling London Broil, always err on the side of rare. Overcooking it is a sin.

Will I make it again? Yes
This recipe has Sunday football written all over it. It's a huge piece of meat (that's what she said) and can feed a lot of people. I am also guessing the rare, bloody nature of it will be a real crowd pleaser. The marinade is simple and provides a nice taste to the meat.

Note: London Broil is not a cut of meat, but it will be labeled as such in most grocery stores. It's fairly inexpensive.

Back to Basics

2010-09-03T05:23:00.002-05:00

Fridays are dedicated to the beginner cooks.

Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato fries are gaining in popularity. I usually just buy a monster frozen bag at Costco to be done with it. Sometimes, however, I make the real thing. Why? Because it’s still easy!

Peel and slice four sweet potatoes into preferred fry size. Throw them into a big bowl and toss with some kosher salt, a little pepper, a little brown sugar, and some canola oil. Line a baking sheet with foil and toss the potatoes on it. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and bake for 45 minutes. If you want them crispy…take out, flip fries and bake for another 20 minutes. As you can see, these aren’t crispy. It really just depends on what mood you’re in.

***PLEASE NOTE*** I don’t usually eat fries alongside four perfect drops of ketchup. I promise this was strictly done for blog aesthetics. If you ever see me eating fries like this, you have my permission to punch me in the face.

Happy Hour

2010-09-02T05:36:00.003-05:00

Get ready for the weekend with a Thursday Happy Hour!

Guava Delight
Serves 2

--6 oz. Jumex Guava Nectar (juice box found in international section)
--3 oz orange juice
--3 oz. vodka
--3 oz. Licor 43
--Dash of grenadine

News flash…the Guava Delight is of my own doing. This concoction turned out pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. And I do. Several years ago on a trip to Hawaii, I had my first experience with guava juice. We spent a few hours at a guava plantation (since closed) and it’s been my favorite juice ever since. Very underrated. This is a solid drink, and surprisingly not too sweet.

Unique Randomness

2010-09-01T05:48:00.003-05:00

My random thoughts…brought to you once a week!

Why are 9 out of 10 deli-counter workers complete morons? On top of that, they’re insanely slow and always pissed off. Is the deli like the wasteland for grocery store employees? I wouldn’t trust most of those people with a mop, much less handling finely cured meats alongside a slicer.

Keeping with grocery stores…try this little experiment the next time you’re about to check-out. Spot two lines…go to the line that looks like it will take longer. I bet you’ll be finished before the other one. Try it.

We rented Hot Tub Time Machine. Ummm, I spent a $1.08 for it and still felt like I got robbed. I love comedies. I love stupid, silly comedies. Hot Tub got the stupid part down, but without the laughter. John Cusak should be ashamed. Best Cusak film: Better Off Dead. Most Underrated Cusak Film: The Sure Thing. Worst Cusak film: Con-Air.

Foods Getting Smaller Alert: Reese’s Cups now have the circumference of a quarter. This is not a good thing. My little one likes Nutri Grain Bars ( I can’t stand them). My goodness they’ve shrunk through the years.

Facebook Folly of the Week: The Weight Watcher I don’t care that you’re on a diet. No one does. I sure as heck don’t need a daily synopsis of your rabbit food. Does this look familiar? “Hey everyone, today I had an English muffin for breakfast, a Lite Hot Pocket for lunch, and for dinner I drank six glasses of water.” Great…let me know how that diarrhea is treating you.

Gym Membership: Slippery When Wet Hate to get all gender specific on this one, but Slippery When Wet is always a dude. SWW does thirty minutes on the treadmill and then hits the weight machines. One small problem…dipsh*t doesn’t bring a towel with him. As much as all these other gym people annoy me, SWW is the worst. I want to punch SWW. Me and my germaphobe ways don’t like SWW. Please stop marking your territory with sweat secretion.

The Junkie

2010-08-31T16:48:00.003-05:00

Monthly Feature
Melissa delves into fast food...one item at a time!

Jack in the Box’s Grilled Bourbon BBQ Sandwich

To be perfectly honest, I consider Jack in the Box to be a trendsetter in the fast food industry. Jack, in all his wisdom, gave fast food diners healthier options with the addition of salads to his menu. While keeping the good ‘ol fashioned hamburger available, Jack has delved into the realm of fajita pita pockets, teriyaki bowls, sourdough sandwiches and milkshakes made with (gasp!) real ice cream. Not food not typically found on a drive-thru restaurant’s list of fare.

I also give Jack big props for allowing patrons to order off the full menu at any time of the day. When I was pregnant, I craved meat. Specifically hamburgers. But only at "non-traditional hamburger eating” times of the day. Do you know how hard it is to find a hamburger at 8:30 in the morning? But thank goodness for Jack. I was there so often on my way into work that the drive-thru worker and I got to be friends. He was the most beautiful he/she I had ever seen. He would tell me stories about his pregnant sister who also craved weird things. I would question him about his favorite makeup application techniques. It was a match made in drive-thru heaven. I wonder if he ever got that sex change….

But I digress. Back to the point.

For this month’s fix, I frequented the new Jack in the Box down the street from my house in Katy. Upon driving up to the big board o’ deliciousness, I had absolutely no idea what I was going to order. My plan was to be inspired by the bright colorful pictures. Bingo! A new sandwich….the Grilled Bourbon BBQ Sandwich was just released and it looked like a winner. Grilled? Good. BBQ? Good. Bourbon? Good!!!

So I ordered, paid my $7.77 and brought it back to the house to see if Jack had scored another hit. Here’s the low down.

Visual Appeal: 7
Upon opening the wrapper, I was impressed that the bread was indeed grilled. It was very crunchy and actually had remnants of dusting flour on each piece. The sandwich was cut in half (it was pretty big) and when I pulled it apart the cheddar cheese oozed out. Score! I love melty cheese!

Overall taste: 2
Big disappointment! I took a bite and almost spit it back out. The meat was bland, chewy and had a slight slimy feel. I’m not sure if that was the BBQ sauce or not but either way it was not pleasant. Upon closer inspection, the meat had a gray tint and looked like it had been sitting out a while. The cheese and sauce couldn’t mask the horrible flavor of the meat. And speaking of the sauce, there was hardly any on the sandwich. I pulled back the bread to see if it was even there. It was, but just a very tiny amount. I tried the sauce by itself and it had an alright flavor. Nothing outstanding but not terrible. I put the sandwich back together and gave it another try. My second bite was even worse. I got a piece of gristly meat that was so tough my dog could barely choke it down. Fool me once Jack, shame on me. Fool me twice and I feed your stinking sandwich to the dogs.

Health Rating (Scale of 1-10): ???
I checked the Jack in the Box website to find the nutrition facts and the Grilled BBQ Bourbon Sandwich isn’t even listed. I guess it’s too new. Or else they know how bad it tastes and they're not wasting their time adding it to the site. I doubt it will be around long.

After Effects: Only the sadness that I wasted $7.77.

Would you eat it again?
Absolutely, never ever again. Maybe up North where they know nothing about real BBQ the Grilled Bourbon BBQ Sandwich is a big hit. But I caution any true-blooded Texan to stay far, far away from this sandwich. I’d rather chew on my own hand than eat this thing again. Thank goodness for the curly fries or I would have gone hungry.

Sorry Jack. The Grilled Bourbon BBQ Sandwich is a loser. But keep your head up! I’ll always be a fan of your Chicken Fajita Pitas, Jumbo Jacks and those delicious real ice cream milkshakes. Leave the BBQ to someone else. Anyone else.

Mighty Good Recipe

2010-08-31T16:40:00.004-05:00

It's Tuesday...time for a Mighty Good Recipe!

Spaghetti Pie III
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spaghetti-Pie-III/Detail.aspx

Think of this recipe as a culinary canvas…it’s a good starting point, but you may want to change things up a bit. I’ve made it before, and followed the directions and ingredients precisely. It tastes great, but it’s WAY unhealthy. If you don’t want your family’s hearts exploding...try these suggestions:

Go ahead and cut the cream cheese down to ¼ a block. It still gives the overall dish a creamy texture. Also, cut all the other cheese amounts in half.
Ditch the sour cream.
Substitute ground turkey for the beef
Chop up a cup of fresh spinach and throw into pasta when boiling.
Finally, roast one eggplant (415 degrees for 45 minutes). Remove eggplant skin, give the insides a good chop and mix in with the pasta. It’s very healthy and the kids will never know it’s there.

He Said, She Said

2010-08-30T17:01:00.009-05:00

It's the end of the month...and guess what's due...another He Said, She Said for Carrie and me. Here’s how it works:

We went to the same Houston-area restaurant at different times.
It's our first time eating at the restaurant.
We read no previous reviews.
We write our reviews separately.
Once written, the reviews are not changed.

Daniel Wong’s Kitchen
4566 Bissonnet Street
Bellaire, TX 77401-3102
http://www.danielwongskitchen.info/

He Said Atmosphere: (1) Star
Let’s see…where do I begin? Just walk through the door and you’re blasted in the face with a smell that’s reminiscent of my sixth grade gym locker. That sure does get the stomach growling. Random pieces of art are crookedly hung on the walls. The general look of the restaurant is that of a two-star, 1980’s Florida hotel room. Only reason this place didn’t get zero stars is that I fancied a few pieces of art.

She Said Atmosphere: (2) Stars
Don't expect much in terms of atmosphere here. Kind of a strip-mall feel...random artwork, lattice walls...not much to write home about. I was slightly disturbed by the dirty 70's highchair we were given for the baby and the description my husband gave me of the bathrooms (which are through the kitchen). Enough said.

He Said Menu Selection: (5) Stars
Very unique ingredients for a Chinese restaurant…crawfish, turkey, lamb, okra….just to name a few. Maybe I’m a bit sheltered, but these are items I’ve rarely, if ever, seen on a Chinese restaurant menu.

She Said Menu Selection: (5) Stars
With 78 dinner items, it's hard to give Daniel Wong's anything but 5 stars. And, the website indicates that if your favorite Chinese item is not on the menu, please ask for it. Does it get any better than that?

He Said Taste: (1.5) Stars
We ordered one cup of won ton and corn chowder each. Average…nothing special. We followed that up an order of Garlic Lovers’ Pork, Good Morning to You, and Crispy Hermann Park Duck with Vegetables. There were elements of every dish that were appealing (mostly the vegetables), but every dish as a whole just lacked in certain areas. The chicken in the Good Morning to You was thinly sliced, tender, and very tasty. This dish included whole okra…which I think needed to be cut into pieces. The pork dish was ok, but salty. The Crispy Hermann Park Duck was the real head-scratcher. Beautifully prepped veggies were the star. The duck was awful…tasted as if it was gunned down in Hermann Park and dragged into the restaurant. In all fairness, maybe I’m just not familiar with this type of duck preparation.

She Said Taste: (4) Stars
We started with an order of Crispy Spring Rolls and Crispy Crab Puffs. Yum! Clearly, Daniel Wong's has their grease at precisely the right temperature. Spring rolls and crab puffs were crispy, as advertised, and not at all greasy. The menu stated that the crab puffs are made with fresh crab and since I could not detect any strange red imitation crab, I'll believe them. Gotta love that! Following our server's recommendation, we ordered the #74 (Rib Eye Steak Kew with Fresh Green Beans) and the #75 (Stir Fried “George” Shrimp with Fresh Garlic and Onion). Both were very good. The steak was cut into bite-sized chunks which was a welcomed change from the usual paper-thin steak served in most Chinese dishes. My only complaint was the fat visible on the steak. I will readily admit that this is more of a personal issue, as I generally perform surgery on my meat to eliminate any traces of fat. What did I expect on a rib eye at a Chinese restaurant, right? Anyway, the steak was perfectly cooked and well seasoned, as were the green beans. The shrimp dish was good, but not outstanding. Good flavor, but rather greasy, and because it lacked any veggies (except onion, which really doesn't count), I felt a little gross after eating it. Regardless, we finished off both entrees for dinner the following night. I love leftovers!

He Said Service: (5) Stars
Great service…nice people…liked the kids.

She Said Service: (4) Stars
Fast, helpful service that passed my two tests – made a recommendation when asked and refilled my drink without being asked. And, oohing and ahhing over the baby didn't hurt, either.

He Said Pricing: (3) Stars
Maybe a $1 more per entrée than the usual Chinese restaurant, but I attribute that to a more exotic menu.

She Said Pricing: (4.5) Stars
$2.50 for two spring rolls, $3.75 for 6 crab puffs and $13 each for our entrees. Most entrees were$8.50 - $11, but even $13 was good, considering we got two meals out of each one.

He Said Overall Opinion: (2) Stars
Good service and nice elements to certain dishes are not enough to rate this restaurant as even average. Given the wide variety in menu selection, maybe it’s just about ordering the right dish at Daniel Wong’s. Unfortunately, I didn’t do that…and doubt I’ll ever go back.

She Said Overall Opinion: (4) Stars
Good food, large portions and friendly service make Daniel Wong's a winning establishment. However, I would probably opt to make this a take out location, as the décor and grimy highchair left me unimpressed.

Restaurant Review: Austin

2010-08-30T05:39:00.004-05:00

Mondays are for restaurant reviews. Tracy checks out Mulberry in Austin.

Mulberry
360 Nueces Street
http://www.mulberryaustin.com/

First Encounter
First and foremost: space is limited, so you may want to make reservations. Patio dining may be the best option for intimate conversation with a group of 4 or more. Otherwise, you may get stuck at a bar, facing a mirror. The menu does change frequently, as does the wine list. This is a great thing.

The Food
I hesitate to call Mulberry a “wine and tapas” bar because that does not give the food the credit it deserves. Portions are tapas-sized and it’s almost mandatory to share with your party so you can taste everything on the table. I highly recommend listening to the wait staff and sticking to the specials. Our waitress paired our food and wine perfectly. We started with a round of “snacks,” which included the Devils on Horseback, a lovely blend of fig, cheese, bacon, and awesome. We also had the watermelon salad with a side of bruleed goat cheese, which was heavenly and refreshing (in reverse order). They have a fabulous cheese and meat selection, so we had a plate of Prosciutto Di Parma, Delice d’Argental, Coppa, and Salami Nostrano. All were very high quality; none were disappointing. The next course was a real treat - we had the (special) ratatouille which was so good that my friend nearly licked the dish, a (special) delicious white fish with vegetables, and (menu item) Truffled Porcini & Cremini Risotto, Parmigiano. Believe it or not, we still had room for two wonderful desserts: a Mixed Berry Cobbler and the Butterscotch Brulee.

The Wine
Now we’re speaking my language. I really enjoy wine, but I did not recognize several of the labels on the menu - many of them were European. Unfortunately, our first choice was out, so we went on a blind recommendation from our waitress. The Grenache she chose was so perfect that we let her guide us on our next three bottles. Yes, three. But in our defense the last was only a half bottle. Mulberry does serve by the glass, and there is an extensive list, but ordering by the bottle appeared to be more economical (and fun).

Overall
I think Mulberry was a great restaurant and cannot wait to go back. It was a perfect evening with friends on the patio and the food and wine were just spectacular. I noticed several couples stopped in for a glass of wine and a snack and left quite satisfied. If you are ravenous, be prepared to shell out quite a bit of money. There are several vegetarian dishes, but vegans may have to stick to a liquid diet!

He Said, They Said

2010-08-29T05:26:00.009-05:00

Monthly Feature
Two opinions are better than one. Mike takes on the Houston Press and here's how it works:

Mike takes a random restaurant already reviewed by one of the Houston Press writers.
He only reads the headline to get the name of the place...nothing more...scout's honor.
Mike writes his review of the restaurant.
We'll post Mike's review, plus a link to the Houston Press review and see the similarities and/or differences.

As an added bonus this time around, we'll also include a link to a review written by Htownchowdown. BTW, great food blog.

Sam’s Deli Diner 11637 Katy Freeway

First Impressions
Sam’s sits in a nondescript retail center, nothing fancy. Ample parking is a plus.

The Menu
Sam’s is your typical diner fare. They offer an impressive 15 types of burgers as well as standards like chicken fingers, club sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, fries, rings, milkshakes, etc. Pretty run of the mill.

What I Ordered
Bacon cheeseburger, onion rings, and a buttercrunch (butterfinger) milkshake. Burgers come standard with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion.

Okay, how did it taste?
First thing we did when we sat down was talk to some ladies sitting next to us. One of them mentioned she used to ride her bike to Sam’s when she was a kid. And she’s still coming back – guess she likes it.

The burger was pretty plain looking, but that’s not a bad thing. It resembled something you might make at home. There was little to no ooze coming from my burger, not very greasy at all. The patty was dense and heavy for a 1/3 lb. burger. The vegetables were crisp and fresh (I got mine with no lettuce; there’s no place for it on a burger, in my opinion). Overall, it tasted above average, but not anything that overwhelmed me.

The onion rings were above average as well. They had a good, beer battered taste. I wish they had been a bit more crisp, and I lost some of the onion when I bit into them. Good, but not as good as my standard bearer for rings (Christian’s Tailgate).

The shake was outstanding. Sam’s uses Blue Bell and that makes all the difference to me. Beats soft serve anytime…

Value
Everything I ordered above, plus a coke was $11.60. I thought the value was excellent, considering the quality of the food. I would have paid upwards of $15 at a place like Fuddrucker’s and I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as I did Sam’s.

Overall
I give Sam’s Deli Diner a score of 4.5 stars out of 5. The only things to improve on are the quality of the rings and the burger could have been marginally better. Definitely a good place for a burger and a great value.

Houston Press take:
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2010/08/i_admit_to_having_an.php

Htownchowdown take:
http://htownchowdown.blogspot.com/2010/08/sams-deli-diner-how-mighty-have-fallen.html

Test Kitchen

2010-08-28T06:12:00.003-05:00

Every Saturday I'll try out a new recipe I just found on the net...you'll see the good and the bad of it.

Dijon Garlic Salmon
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Dijon-Garlic-Salmon/Detail.aspx

Description: I’ve been on a bit of a salmon kick lately. Last week’s recipe was a hit. This week…yeah, not so much. I wanted to find something completely different. I succeeded in that area. This one lives up to its name…heavy on the mustard and garlic.

Recipe Difficulty (Scale of 1-10): 2
It’s just a matter of dicing a few things, mixing together, and slathering on the fish. That’s the great thing about fish in general…it’s quick and easy. It took me about five minutes to prep and 30 minutes in the oven. Given the ease…I really wanted this recipe to be good.

How it turned out: BAD!
First thought…would you like some fish with that mustard? Too much mustard...too much garlic… and too much red onion! It looked pretty, was extremely healthy, but definitely missed the mark.

Would I make again: No.
I followed the recipe precisely, so I’m not taking the blame. On a positive note, the salmon was very moist. I ended up scraping the mustard spackle off the top and was quite pleased. I mixed the topping with potatoes and that worked. Saved!

Vegetarian View

2010-08-27T16:19:00.005-05:00

Monthly Feature
Molly gives us a peek at a restaurant through the eyes of a vegetarian.

Bowl
607 Richmond Avenue
Houston, TX 77006
http://www.eatatbowl.com/

Overall Vegetarian Selection: (5) Stars
Brief Take: Sometimes I think the two words “vegetarian” and “salad” are synonyms, well at least at Bowl. Bowl is a salad bar in Montrose where you choose from an overwhelming amount of ingredients (many organic) and then the salad masters behind the counter whip up your fresh, made-to-order salad.

Bowl receives five stars for a vegetarian selection because they offer 64 vegetarian salad toppers, wow! (Vegans, there are a lot of choices for you here too, including the some salad dressing options.) There is a wide variety of vegetarian salad toppings such as star fruit, zucchini, pistachio, sweet potatoes, sugar snap peas…this list could go on forever. I like Bowl because they have unusual salad toppings, not just the run of the mill tomatoes, carrots etc.

There are four base salad greens to choose from. You can combine any of them if you wish, but I usually go for just the plain spinach. Bowl also has 10 cheeses to choose from. My friend goes bonkers over their soft goat cheese but other tasty options include, but are not limited to: buffalo mozzarella, smoked gouda, manchego (if you are in to sheep) and feta. Bowl has 13 salad dressings and all are vegetarian. Bowl’s creamy lime cilantro, tomato basil and raspberry vinaigrette dressings are some of their best.

I’ve never ordered any, but Bowl also has 10 sandwiches, two of which are vegetarian - the Hummus Veggie and Portobello Mushroom.

Ordered Dish: (4) Stars
Brief Take: Bowl has two salad options. First is Solo - your choice of greens, 10 toppings, one cheese and one dressing. Second option is Doppia which is your choice of greens, 15 toppings, one cheese and one dressing. (If you want to add a protein, they offer six kinds of meat for an additional $3. Since this is the protein category, I would really like to see a tofu option here which is why Bowl received four stars instead of five.)

I ordered the Solo salad with spinach greens and tomato basil dressing. The toppings were numerous so I won’t list them all but my favorites were the broccoli, avocado, heart of palm and asparagus. The broccoli was some of the freshest I have ever tasted! When ever I eat uncooked broccoli now I always compare it to Bowl’s. The asparagus was perfectly ripe and how can avocado ever go wrong? I could have slurped up the tomato basil dressing with a straw. All of the ingredients were A+ in quality but my small issue with Bowl, and why I gave them four stars instead of five, is the small serving portion. I’ve been to Bowl several times and while each time I was impressed with the quality of the vegetables, I didn’t leave completely full. Maybe a Doppia salad option is the solution to this? I don’t know.

Healthy Rating: (5) Stars
Brief Take: My salad at Bowl easily receives five stars for the healthy rating. All of my toppings were nutritious and high in fiber. Plus think about all those vitamins in the vegetables! I didn’t get cheese on my salad but if I did, that would have knocked off the healthy rating just a tiny bit. The tomato basil salad dressing was one of their healthier offerings but the creamy lime cilantro….not so much.

Overall Opinion: (4) Stars
Summary: Bowl is a small eatery on Richmond with an even smaller parking lot that is shared with other businesses. If you want to visit, go early or you will be stuck parking on a side street, which can sometimes be scary.

The inside of Bowl is decorated nicely and I like the chalk board menu behind the counter. The restaurant was very clean and the employees were friendly and chatted with you as they made your salad. Even though they are making the salad from scratch, the service is fast. The prices at Bowl are a little on the high side, especially for their small portions but I guess that is to be expected from the restaurant location and high quality ingredients.

Coming Soon...Like...in the Next Week

2010-08-26T18:26:00.004-05:00

He Said, They Said

New Monthly Feature! Mike takes on the Houston Press. Okay, that's a bit dramatic...but I did get your attention. This will be a similar set-up as our monthly feature of He Said, She Said. Here's how it will play out:

Mike takes a random restaurant already reviewed by one of the Houston Press writers.
He only reads the headline to get the name of the place...nothing more...scout's honor.
Mike writes his review of the restaurant.
We'll post Mike's review, plus a link to the Houston Press review and see the similarities and/or differences.

What does this random picture of a groundhog taken on my Sedona trip have to do with all this? Nothing!

Happy Hour

2010-08-26T17:12:00.007-05:00

Get ready for the weekend...Thursday Happy Hour!

Guerrieri’s L’Amico Ciliegia

My brother-in-law Scott and sister-in-law Rachel are opera singers. They spend their summers in Italy roughing it. They eat fresh pastas and exotic cheeses, frolic in the vineyards, and bathe in tubs along the Tuscan hillsides (sorry, that was in a Viagara commercial). Anyway, upon their stateside return, they generally send me a couple bottles of this fine wine. It’s cherry wine…and it’s just about the best d@mn thing I’ve ever consumed. I’m guessing it’s meant for after dinner imbibing, but for me… anytime is a good time. It’s sweet, but not too sweet. It’s smooth, without that heavy, syrup taste associated with some ports. The sour cherry taste is beyond good. Here’s the bad news. I don’t know where to find this stuff. If you do, please drop me a note. I did some google searches on the brand and then cherry wine in general. Please help! This is my last bottle. Please! Any cherry wine will do.

Natalie the Nomad

2010-08-25T05:56:00.005-05:00

Monthly Feature
Natalie is back in Dayton, Ohio this month for a little Turkish cuisine!

Pasha Grill
72 Plum Street
Beavercreek, OH - 45440
http://www.pashagrill.com/

The Scene
I want to go ahead and start this review by defending myself… A few hours before the review, I had participated in a half marathon, so the copious amounts of food I inhaled are perfectly justified in my mind! Pasha Grill was regal from the get-go, with huge wooden doors and private dining rooms separated by curtains. I’ll admit that I didn’t really walk around the restaurant much but from what I saw, it’s your typical Middle Eastern décor, and although it all seemed very warm and inviting; we opted to sit outside instead.

The Food
Appetizer:
As soon as we sat down, we were met with fresh, hot bread and a sundried tomato/olive oil/rosemary dipping sauce. It was VERY good. Something very simple, but I tucked this in the back of my mind and promised myself that I would whip some up back at home. We ordered the small appetizer sampler. This included sections of Hummus (Puréed chickpeas flavored with a hint of garlic, tahini, fresh lemon juice and olive oil), Ezme (Finely chopped tomatoes, onions and hot peppers mixed in olive oil and herbs), Babaganoush (Smoked eggplant Purée flavored with tahini, olive oil and garlic), Tabuli (Cracked wheat tossed with tomatoes, sweet onions, fresh peppers and parsley. Dressed with olive oil), Haydari (Thickened homemade yogurt with fresh dill, mint, garlic and walnut) and Soslu Patlikan (Cubes of lightly fried eggplant combined with fresh red peppers, onions and garlic in our homemade tomato sauce). All of these where pretty good, but to say that I absolutely loved the babaganoush would be an understatement for sure. Others at the table favored the Tabuli as well as the Hummus, but with that said we didn’t leave anything behind either. Mercimek Cobra (lentil soup – red lentils combined with puréed potatoes, celery, carrots and onions.) was also ordered by a huge lentil fan, and I was told that this soup did not disappoint. It also had a bit of a bite to it, but it certainly was not a problem.

Main Courses:
Chicken Kebab: This dish was huge, presented well, and you could smell the freshly grilled chicken from across the table. I’m lucky that I was dining with my parents, because my arm dashing across the table and snagging a piece was expected. This was served with mixed vegetables and a bed of rice. I couldn’t tell what seasoning they put on the chicken, but it was great and was perfectly moist.

Etli Turlu (Vegetable stew w/lamb): I did not get a chance to sample this dish, but was informed that it was the real deal. My dad has spent the majority of his life travelling the globe, and has spent time in Turkey. This plate came very close to what he lived on, and was ‘only missing the country of Turkey itself’. It literally just looked like a tomato based stew over a bed of rice, and again, this dish was pretty danged big.

Mousakka (Tender minced beef and lamb layered between slices of eggplant and topped with a bachamel sauce): This was HUGE. I honestly could not finish it, and that says a lot, considering I ran 13 miles earlier… I will say that I enjoyed this dish, but the chunk of mozzarella on top of the meat got to be a little much. It definitely needs to be a smaller slice, but cheese lovers would flip out of they saw it. This was also served with rice, and combining it with the juices was perfect. Think of this as a lasagna, but substitute the pasta layers with eggplant.

Dessert:
While we were all full from dinner, I coerced my partners in crime to have some desert. I ordered the Baklava (Sheets of phyllo dough stuffed w/crushed pistachios), while my parents ordered Keskul (Our homemade almond pudding topped with almonds and cream.). Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE baklava, and I always it eat it as soon as it is put in front of me. Pasha Grill certainly did Baklava well, and I would have had more if it were available to me. The Keskul was the perfect palate cleanser, the subtle hint of almond eradicating the previous meal.

The Verdict
Their portions were a bit large, and we even went when it was still considered “lunch”. This place IS a little pricey, but we happily did the damage to ourselves!! An appetizer, 3 main courses, 2 deserts and a tip came out to an even $100. But I can say with ultimate confidence that it was worth every penny. This place is definitely worth the visit, and it’s also conveniently located right off the highway in a growing shopping center. I would also recommend visiting said stores and walk off the meal a bit.

The Bi-Annual Mighty Choice Awards

2010-08-24T06:34:00.008-05:00

The Mighty Rib is 6 today…months that is! To celebrate the occasion, I’m going to move up this week’s Unique Randomness one day and replace it with…The Mighty Choice Awards. Think of it as a “Best Of” from the past six months. I didn't include any links...if you're interested in something, just do a "search" in the box on the right.

Best New Drink Recipe
Cherry Fizz Bomb
This one just agreed with me…simple ingredients and very refreshing.

Best New Recipe
BBQ Marinated Flank Steak
There were many to choose from, but in the end, I fancied this one the most.

Best Dinner Club Food Item
Carrie’s Mussels
I could have eaten the entire beautiful plate by myself.

Best Dinner Club Dessert
Molly’s Coconut Angel Food Cake
Just like grandma would make!

Best Dinner Club Drink
Warren’s Swamp Drink
Tasted great, but the scary green color won it this award.

Top Service at a Restaurant
Heights West (Houston)
I went two times…both times ended with either myself or someone in my party hugging a staff member. That...like...never happens.

Top Five Dishes at a Restaurant
5. Mushroom Swiss Burger-Christian’s Tailgate
4. Duck-Heights West
3. Bread Pudding-BB’s Cajun Cafe
2. Rueben Sandwich-Chompies (review pending)
1. Signature Pork Chop-Perry’s Steakhouse
I still wake up in the middle of the night and think about that pork chop. Ok, I don’t…but it was d*mn good. I want to go back…soon!

Best Line from a Monthly Columnist
Natalie the Nomad in her review of Minnie’s: “Summertime in Georgia is hotter'n a hooker’s doorknob on payday."
I don’t usually LOL…this one made me LOL. How many people really LOL when they claim they LOL? Probably not a LOT.

Best Follower
Margie
This self-proclaimed nutso had me running for the restraining order. She’s settled down, been very complimentary of my awesome posts, and seems to be fairly normal…I think. Her comments are steady and the blog would be a better place with more readers like her.

Best Food Blog I’ve Come Across
Vivek’s Epicurean Adventures
http://viveksurti.wordpress.com/
I think this is a fairly new blog and I just love reading it. Why? Great pics and great recipes. I’ve wanted to jump through the monitor several times and grab what’s cooking. Plus the blog is simple and straightforward. I’m a little sick of these food blogs filled with ads and promotions. This one’s a great read….and eat!

Bi-Annual Humanitarian Award
This award is shared by all my wonderful contributing writers…Molly, Carrie, Natalie, Melissa, Andrea, Bryan…and everyone who has written a restaurant review for me (Lettie, Tracy, Amy, Mike, Rich, Scott, Rachel). I can’t thank them enough for their hard work. It’s done out of kindness, and I greatly appreciate it.

Restaurant Review: Houston

2010-08-23T16:23:00.003-05:00

Every Monday you'll get a restaurant review.

La Plaza Mexican Restaurant
1803 Bingle Rd
Houston, TX 77055

The Scene: I love the scene. Just a good, old-timey vibe right when you walk through the door. La Plaza was established in 1964, and from the looks of it, not much has changed. I'm glad…wish I saw more of that around Houston. This relatively small restaurant has bar seating. Park yourself there and stare endlessly at the simmering pot of beans in the open kitchen. The place is adorned with college sports memorabilia (mostly UT) and has a few tables along the outer walls.

The Food: The menu is simple and includes several of the Tex-Mex classics. They don’t overdo things at La Plaza. I went with the Chili/Cheese Ground Beef Burrito. I was hesitant to order this at first. On paper, it sounded like I was about to consume one of those heavy brick-like burritos. Not so. The chili gravy was fairly light and they didn’t drown it in cheese. The burrito wasn’t overstuffed and oversized…it was just right. I enjoyed the mild taste of the gravy topping and kicked things up with some hot sauce. Oh yeah, the pre-meal consists of the standard chips and salsa (more like hot sauce). The hot sauce was a beautiful orangey red color with a nice slow burn. It came in those plastic ketchup bottles and I was squeezing that shizz on everything. La Plaza also includes a nice cup of queso at no charge. Nice touch.

The Verdict: Loved it. I will definitely be back, and next time I’m bringing the fam to better gauge this place. I went for lunch, but I’m guessing breakfast is really where it’s at. Prices were reasonable, not cheap, but certainly not expensive. The service was excellent and the place was clean. La Plaza even has a little outdoor patio area. La Plaza is a Houston hidden gem.

Note: Cash only spot.

Calorie Worthy

2010-08-22T13:13:00.007-05:00

Monthly Feature
Hey there, my name is Andrea, I’m a personal chef and an avid diner outer. I’ll be appearing monthly to give you a top ten list of personal favorites, ranging from cooking to restaurants. This month’s list focuses on cooking in your very own kitchen using one of best inventions next to the Flowbee,(how hilarious were those infomercials?), the mini prep food processor!! (cue horns)

Top Ten Ways to use your mini prep food processor
We’ll do this David Letterman Style and count backwards…

10) Thickening Soup - stop yawning, the beginning of a top ten list isn’t suppose to be exciting. If you desire your soup to be a little thicker, simply pour about a ¼ of it into a mini prep processor, blend away and add that to your soup in the pot. Taa daa! Thicker soup!

9) Making a “crust” for Fish or Chicken- Throw a few handfuls of walnuts, pecans or almonds into the mini prep and you’ve got a fine mill of nuts, perfect for crusting that piece of fish or chicken.

8) Homemade Breadcrumbs- Now something you’ll come to learn about little miss Andrea is that I do not enjoy using processed products. If the box has ingredients that I cannot pronounce, forget it, I’m not eating it! Homemade breadcrumbs are super easy to make and way better for you than what you’ll purchase in a tin! Throw some bread in a toaster, butter the bread, tear apart into pieces to put into mini prep and add some seasonings. Pulse away you now you have your very own homemade breadcrumbs!

7)Finely Chopping Veggies- Raise your hand if you’re lazy! (I’d raise mine, but it’s too much effort) Well, for those of you who did raise your hand, or at least thought about raising your hand, finely chopping veggies can be an extremely taxing task. “Rough chop” those puppies and throw them into the mini prep…D-O-N-E. Donesville.

6) Fresh Salsa- Boil two Roma tomatoes with a Serrano pepper in 1 ¼ cup of water for about 20 minutes. Add the tomatoes, pepper, and water they boiled in into the mini prep along with a small wedge of onion and a little garlic with some salt. Process until smooth and it’s delicious!

5) Whipped Guacamole- Love this! 1 Avocado, 1 chopped Serrano pepper, little garlic paste, salt and 3 tablespoons of milk into the mini prep….so good, you have no idea.

4) Fresh Salad Dressing- My favorite and easiest dressing to make is to take 1 Shallot, 1 tablespoon of Dijon Mustard, 1 teaspoon Sugar, 1 tablespoon of Balsamic Vinegar (the good kind, not the Safeway brand, folks) and some Olive Oil…this dressing is wonderful over any fresh greens and also good over green beans!

3) Olive Tapende- Get a mixture of olives, add to them some lemon juice, garlic and olive oil…that’s it, chop and blend them in the mini prep! It makes a great fancy looking appetizer over some crusty bread.

2) Hummus- I like traditional hummus. Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas, boil in 1 ½ cup water for 20 min. Drain, but reserve the liquid. Throw into mini prep. Add to that 2 tablespoons of Tahini, the juice of one lemon, 1 tsp of garlic paste, ½ tsp salt and about ¼ cup of the cooking liquid. Process that mixture for a bit, then add some olive oil and continue to process until smooth.

And the number one way to use your mini prep food processor is….(drum roll)

1) PESTO!! -Me. Loves. Pesto. Grab a bunch or a package of fresh Basil leaves, combine in mini prep with 1 garlic clove, handful of freshly grated Parmesan Cheese, 2 tablespoons of walnuts or pine nuts, whichever you’d prefer, squeeze of lemon, a little red pepper flakes, and some olive oil. You may also add some salt and pepper.

For a fancy trio, serve some pesto, hummus and olive tapende at your next party! Look who’s fancy now…all thanks to your mini prep food processor.

Peace out and Peace with your food.

Test Kitchen

2010-08-21T07:16:00.006-05:00

Every Saturday I'll try out a new recipe I just found on the net...you'll see the good and the bad of it.

Broiled Sockeye Salmon with Citrus Glaze
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/broiled-sockeye-salmon-with-citrus-glaze-recipe/index.html

Description: Any salmon will do for this recipe, so don’t get scared off by the “Sockeye” in the title. This piece was about 1.5 lbs.

Recipe Difficulty (Scale of 1-10): 1
You know I typically go for the easier recipes. This one definitely fits into the “Easy” category. Just go to the grocery store and buy a big slab of salmon. The remaining ingredients are few in number and easy to find. I will say that it is absolutely critical to have a hand zester for this one. It makes life a lot easier. I used one lemon and one orange just to mix things up.

How it turned out: DOUBLE AWESOME!!!
There are so many good salmon recipes out there and this one is no different. And it’s the trifecta of greatness…good presentation, tastes great, and less filling. Sara and I were both impressed by the simple ingredients producing such a nice range of tastes. The sugar, salt, and citrus play off one another quite well.

Would I make again: Yes...absolutely yes.
We are trying to eat fish once a week, so we’ll be seeing the Salmon with Citrus Glaze again. It’s just too easy and too tasty not to put in the mix. Just be a little careful with the cooking time. Depending on your thickness of fish, you may want to leave it under the broiler a couple extra minutes. Just remember to flake the fish before removing from the oven. As you can see....I flaked mine, then took out a big sample chunk.

Back to Basics

2010-08-20T06:50:00.003-05:00

Fridays are for the beginner cooks.

Sauteed Spinach

Remember...Fridays are for beginners...so don't judge. Preparing a little spinach is about as easy as it gets. It certainly adds to the presentation of any meal with its beautiful green color. And last, but certainly not least...spinach is very healthy. Also...for lack of a better word...cooking up some spinach can really get you out of a "bind" in the kitchen. Why? Let's say you're preparing fairly complicated and time-consuming meat and starch dishes. The spinach ties it all together and only takes about three minutes to prepare. Here's how I do it:

1. Take a bag of pre-washed spinach. Throw into a pan.
2. Toss in some minced garlic, a decent pour of olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.
3. Turn burner to Medium and cover.
4. Come back in less than five minutes...give a good mix, and you're done! It's that easy.

Happy Hour

2010-08-19T16:25:00.003-05:00

Get ready for the weekend with Happy Hour.

Dry Comal Creek: White Black Spanish
http://www.drycomalcreek.com/

I’ve written about this winery before, but my previous post highlighted the Comal Red. Today’s entry features Dry Comal Creek’s White Black Spanish. I’ve had just about every Texas wine, and in my opinion, this winery produces the top wines in the state. I believe the White Black Spanish is their top seller. It’s quite versatile, can be eaten with just about anything, and takes on a completely different taste when slightly chilled. I enjoy mine at room temp. To me, it falls somewhere between a blush and a red. I’m sure that’s not a technical wine term, but who cares? Although we head up to the winery once a year for a case, we are also fortunate that Dry Comal Creek wines are found in H-E-B’s and at Central Market.

Note: Some of you have written me about the lack of focus on beers. Don't worry, I like a nice beer from time to time and there will soon be a Monthly Feature focused solely on beer.

Unique Randomness

2010-08-18T06:59:00.003-05:00

My random thoughts...brought to you once a week!

Sara and I love the show “House Hunters” on HGTV…we never get tired of the formulaic concept. Raise your hand if your favorite part of the show is making fun of the couples? Does this sound familiar…”He’s a teacher and she’s a stay-at-home…why is their budget $500K”? Here’s an added twist to the show. Next time you’re watching, count how many times you can add “that’s what she said” into the mix. It’s astounding!

I love commercials…well, making fun of commercials. Have you seen the latest from Subaru? Dude is standing in-between his totaled Subaru and his sparkling new Subaru. He gives one more farewell to the old one, professes his love for the automobile, then takes the gear shift knob from the totaled car and drives off into the countryside. It begs the question…what is he planning to do with that knob?

We took a quick trip to Austin last weekend…stayed at the Barton Creek Resort. Nice place, not such a good breakfast bar, but the resort was awesome. On a side note…ate at the Jimmy John’s down the street from the resort…great sandwich shop. I hope more start popping up in Houston.

Syd, my one –year-old, enjoys dropping a deuce by walking over to the coffee table and hugging it out. Interesting tactics.

Recently, I went to an average winery in Sedona, AZ. I bought a bottle, walked out to the patio for consumption, and noticed they had two separate sitting areas. One area was a regular patio with chairs. The other area was fully covered, with leather chairs, and sweet tables. But that area was marked for “Members Only”. At that moment, I didn’t even want to be a “Non-Member”.

Gym Membership: Racquetball Dude: Racquetball Dude is 45-50-years old…sports the double knee braces, goggles, and headband. He comes to the gym for one purpose…that’s to play him some r-ball. R-ball Dude typically has a gut, is terrible at racquetball and sweats obscenely. If you are unfortunate enough to bump into R-ball Dude, take an immediate shower.

Facebook Folley of the Week: Day of the Week Guy When did Sunday become Funday? Or…why is Tuesday…Snoozeday? Day of the Week Guy never misses a chance to tell us about the current day and how it makes him feel. Do you know how it makes us feel? Oh, and I am especially thankful for the countdown to the weekend. I understand that once we hit Humpday, we’ve got tunnel vision for Super Saturday.

Mighty Good Recipe

2010-08-17T15:59:00.006-05:00

Tuesdays are for delivering you a Mighty Good Recipe!

Potstickers
Adapted from a Dorothy Huang recipe (from Central Market cooking class)

Ingredients
1 lb. ground pork
2 TSPN fresh ginger (minced)
2 TSPN green onions (chopped)
12 oz. frozen chopped spinach (squeeze well to remove excess water)
2 TSPN soy sauce
1 TSPN sesame oil
2 TSPN canola oil
1 tsp fresh ground pepper
1 package dumpling wrappers (found at Central Market or Asian grocery stores)
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup water

Directions
1. Take a large bowl and add pork, ginger, green onions, spinach, soy sauce, sesame oil and pepper. Get dirty...mix with hands.
2. Take one dumpling wrapper and dip fingers in the cup of water. Rub wet fingers on the inside edges of the dumplings.
3. Place a small spoonful of mixture in the middle of wrapper. Fold over and press together, forming almost a taco. Make sure there's no openings in wrapper.
4. Place canola oil in saute pan. Make enough dumplings to fill entire pan (should be around 20). Once the pan is completely full, turn burner to Med-High heat.
5. Wait 6-7 minutes and pick up one dumpling to check the bottom. If it's a crispy brown, pour 1/4 of chicken broth into the pan, turn burner to Medium, and cover pan. Let cook for 6-7 minutes. Give pan a good shake.
6. Remove top of pan and transfer dumplings to plate. Repeat process for the second batch.
7. This recipes yields about 40-45 dumplings.

This recipe is the culmination of our Asian-themed recipe series. And it's the best recipe in my arsenal. Be patient...the more you make these pockets of joy, the better you'll get at it. Enjoy!