7 posts tagged “food”

What's been your worst experience at a restaurant?

I'd rather talk about my best experience. I've had many a memorable meal - most of which were amazing because of the friends who were sharing the food with me, not because of the cuisine. But the most outstanding meal has to be the time I had cheeseburgers on the beach in Luanda, where I had gone with some co-workers to celebrate the completion of a job [1].

The restaurant was a series of tropical huts with sides open to the breeze and with a clear view of the ocean to the west. As we sat down, the sun was setting and a tanker was passing by. We ordered and soon had our beers and freshly roasted peanuts, still warm from the oven. After we had had time to finish the first round of beers, the second round came by along with our burgers, which were cooked to perfection, and mounds of crunchy "crisps" (potato chips). For dessert, we had fresh fruit, plucked from the tree that morning.

Part of the wonder of the meal was the setting. At the time, Angola was still in the midst of a 26-year long civil war [2], and the average person in Angola couldn't afford to buy gas, much less eat in a restaurant. Despite this, they were the happiest people I've seen in a long time. They invited me to join their nightly block party (which I did with a will), and joined in our celebrations. They worked as hard as they could to make ends meet and didn't blame me for my country's errors nor for those of other countries [3].

And part of the wonder was the perfection of the setting. I don't know if you've ever eaten a meal by the sea as the sun sets, but I recommend it to anyone. The sound of the waves and the birds, the smell of the food and the sea salt, the warmth of a nearby fire and the beauty of the stars - it can't be matched!

And the most important part was my friends. We knew that we were doing a good job and that our job was doing good for the people of Angola. Every hole we drilled meant more employment and more money for the locals, and every person we trained to do our jobs (which had been the point of this trip) meant a better educated, more productive workforce - which meant a more prosperous country. And, as history shows us, it is prosperity that creates security and happiness.

John

[1] One of the great things about my old job - I went so many interesting places. Luanda was the ultimate expression of a communist country; you were required to have a permit to take photographs, but nobody could tell you where to get the license. The day we arrived, I saw people breaking into the water main in the city so that they could get water for their homes There was a twenty story tall skyscraper structure in the center of the city that had been begun before the civil war and still wasn't finished.

[2] Who created the civil war? The US and the USSR.

[3] Such as Portugal, who had held Angola as a colony until the civil war began. It was the communist uprising that threw out the US-supported Portuguese regime that started the civil war. Had we supported the rights of the Angolans to govern themselves and helped to ease out the Portuguese, there would have been no civil war and the communists would never have been able to take hold; this was also the case in Vietnam, where the Dutch and French were the imperial power.

Man does not live by books alone (or words to that effect). Instead, we thrive on great meals and amazing flavors.

This week I'm bringing a bag full of food to Ken for his birthday. Included are Muscadine grapes [1], a dragon fruit, a cherimoya [2], a bunch of "apple" bananas [3], and a bag full of Mexican candy [4].

So- what foods would you bring to a friend to broaden his palate?

Life is a banquet and most poor sons of bitches are starving to death!

John

[1] These are the grapes of God! A thick skin with an intense grape flavor (like being hit in the mouth with a jar of jam), and a silky smooth flesh. These things are so good!

[2] A fruit so rare that the store didn't even have it in their checkout system! White flesh, like a cross between a pear and an apple.

[3] If the only banana you have ever had is the standard Cavendish, boy have you missed out on a host of taste treats! The plantain, green or ripe (especially ripe and pan-fried), the apple banana, and thousands of other varieties. The Cavendish is to bananas what the red delicious is to apples - popular because it is cheap and easy to ship, not because it tastes the best!

[4] Crema de leche, a rich cream and caramel candy; Leche y guayaba, guava married to carmelized milk; pulpaa de tamarindo, tamarind pulp wrapped in sugar; and boniatillo, a candy made from sweet potatoes.

Though I haven't been around the world yet [1], my life has taken me to plenty of places. TV last night reminded me of how lucky I've been by showing a woman eating a crêpe in Paris, and it reminded me of wandering down the Champs-Élysées, looking for the Count of Monte Cristo's home [2]. And that, naturally, got me to thinking about food.

So, for what it is worth, here is my list of what to eat (and sometimes where) in every city that I have had the opportunity to stay in:
Oklahoma - Hie you down to Ada and eat at Bob's BBQ, which is the best BBQ in the world [3]
Texas - Hie you up to Ada, OK, and eat at Bob's BBQ, which is the best BBQ in the world [4]
Chicago - This is a tough one. If you are in the mood for pizza, Giordano's is my pick for the best [5]. If you want beef, then Lawry's is the best. If you just want something fun, then go to Superdawg's and don't count the calories!
Southern California - Eat at any of the In'N'Out Burgers; great burgers, but terrible fries.
San Francisco - My favorite meal is the fillet of sole at Pompeii's Grotto, served with more sourdoughs bread than should be legal.
Benicia - Just across the Carquinez Straights from SF, it has a fun Chinese restaurant (Robert China Garden) that serves an amazing grouper with candied walnuts [6].
Lafayette, LA - Go to Soup's and have the boudin, the terducken, or the andouille.
New Orleans - Just like Chicago, it is tough to pick a favorite. For plain, good food, you can't beat the Quartermaster on Bourbon unless you go to Clover Grill which is also on Bourbon [7]. However, my favorite has to be the red beans and rice served at the City Diner in downtown. If you want South American food, go to Country Flame; a nice selection of Cuban and Latin American dishes at a reasonably low price. If you are in the mood for something fancy, and like traditional food go to Arnaud's for lunch; the prices are lower, the dress code is more relaxed, and the food is just as good. For dinner, go to Mr. B's Bistro (though Redfish Grill is good if you want seafood that isn't Cajunified).
Washington, DC - Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries. No contest.
Thailand - Go to a night market and eat there. Trust me; you may never be sure of what you are eating, but you can be sure that it will be great (and an adventure that will turn your friends green with jealousy!). Just say "Aroy" (Ah-roy), which translates roughly to "Delicious!"
Indonesia - Nasi Goreng, especially for breakfast. This spicy rice dish made from left overs and egg will get you up and moving. I was fortunate enough to get home-made nasi goreng served to me in a banana leaf. Yum!
Nigeria - Go to Luanda's Chocolate Royale, a wonderful patisserie with amazing macaroons and hot chocolate!
Angola - Try the fufu. Go ahead - I dare you!
Germany - Though beer and bread are central to any German experience [8], nothing beats eating Nuremburger (three sausages, fresh off the grill, in a crusty roll with lots of mustard) and sipping hot chocolate while walking around the Christkindlesmarkt in the snow! (However, avoid all schneeballen!)
Paris - This town is where the modern restaurant was born; there are too many choices to decide, but eating a crêpe while walking along the Seine should be high on anyone's list!
Grenoble - Le Tartare, hands down. I know what you are thinking: "A whole restaurant, based on raw, chopped food?!?" It is amazing and amazingly good. Just trust me on this one! However, avoid the pickled walnuts; they may be a traditional food of Grenoble, but they are definitely an acquired taste [9].
Naples - Avoid the cliché of pizza and feast at A Fenestella ("The Window"). With a wonderful view of the bay and incredible food, this is a meal not to be missed! BTW - try the Lachrimi Christi wine; a perfect complement ot the dinner!
Venice - Try the green slushies from the vendors in Piazza San Marco. The intensity of the mint flavor is amazing!
Miami - For Cuban food, go to La Caretta; great food in a family atmosphere. For Caribbean food, go to Tap-Tap and try the goat. Other than that, you are on your own - but try a media noche (cuban sandwich)

That's all I can think of right now - more as I remember them!

John

[1] Not even metaphorically speaking.

[2] Which can be found; Dumas had a vicious sense of humor.

[3] Everyone says this and everyone has the same reason for saying it - it is what they grew up on. So don't try to argue me out of it; this is what I love. Fortunately, my other choices were made after I reached my majority and so are less influenced by emotional factors.

[4] What?!? You didn't see that one coming? OK, seriously, if you are in Austin, go to the original Schlotzsky's; if you are in Houston, go over to Galveston for some fresh fish; if you are in El Paso, go to the Sunrise Diner and have their Huevos Rancheros.

[5] I know folks who prefer Pizzeria Uno, which at least has outside brand recognition, but Giardino's crust is better IMO.

[6] Of course, if you go over to SF, there are innumerable great chinese places, including Five Happiness.

[7] However, do NOT eat at any other place on Bourbon, not even on a bet. They are traps for the unwary tourist.

[8] For example, at Oktoberfest, which you should visit once. The tables fill up and have a five-hour waiting line by noon, so either get there early to be a drunken idiot, or decide to sit in the balcony where you can watch the drunken idiots.

[9] While you are in this charming city, be sure to climb the mountain for a view of CERN, and to walk through the hidden passage in the mountain citadel!

Well, yesterday was fun. I watched bad science fiction movies all day and ate the obligatory bowl of "Hoppin John" and cornbread. So now my success in the new year is guaranteed - how about yours?

John

The nights have gotten down to about 13 C [1], which means that one of my favorite times of year is near - time to make soup and chili and stew and all those other rib-sticking peasant foods. In the interest of showing just how much fun this is, here is my recipe for chili:

You'll need -
1 lb meat [2]
1 onion [3]
2 ribs of celery [4]
2 cloves garlic [5]
2 cans beans [6]
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Paprika
Cumin
Tabasco or other pepper sauce
Chili pepper [7]

Begin by cleaning the onion. take off only the outermost layer of skin and the very top and bottom of the onion. Leave the other bits on as they will add an unbelievable amount of flavor to the dish. Chop the onion into large bits and put them into a skillet with some olive oil over medium heat.

Now crush the garlic and remove the skin. Chop and toss in with the onion.

Slice the celery into large pieces and add to the skillet [8]. Cook until the onions are translucent and the celery turns a bright green. (The image below should give you an idea of how it should look when done.)

Once it is done, put it all into a crockpot with the beans [9]; season with the salt, pepper, paprika, and Tabasco to taste [10].

Now without cleaning the skillet add the beef. Top it with salt, pepper, and Tabasco as shown below. If you clean the skillet, you will lose much of the flavor that was brought out from the trinity by cooking. That is a mistake! So don't do it! Cook until the beef is brown and a liquid has separated from it.

Now use a slotted spoon to move the beef into the crockpot, reserving the liquid. Heat the liquid over high heat until it reduces down by half and pour into the crockpot. Adjust the seasoning and let simmer for at least four hours (overnight is better, but I can never wait that long). Once it is cooked, adjust the seasoning one last time and dig into the best chili [11] you've ever had!

And, four hours later, here is the meal. Yum!

John

[1] That's 55 F for you folks still thinking in irrational units.

[2] Cheap meat works better than expensive for this, as you will be letting the chili cook for at least four hours. This tenderizes the cheap meat and brings out flavor that those more expensive cuts lack, for all their tenderness.

[3] Guess what - cheap yellow onions work better than expensive red or white onions, because they bring more pungency and flavor to the mix. Ain't being a peasant neat?

[4] If you are like me, you grew up thinking that a piece of celery was a stalk and that the whole thing was a bunch. Well, we were half right. Celery grows as individual ribs and the entire plant is called a bunch or a stalk (depending on which authority you misquote). And while we're at it, celery doesn't have negative calories, but it does have a lot of fiber. Now go impress your friends with your knowledge of all things celeraic!

[5] Here we go again! Again, while growing up my relatives (who couldn't cook but could pontificate) that the whole bulb of garlic was a clove. Actually, the clove is that piece that you can break off from the bulb. Now isn't cooking educational?

[6] Don't give me crap for using precooked beans. This speeds up the cooking considerably and makes my life easier. Given that I am the laziest known being in the universe, this is a good thing. So there.

Using the tags on my last post [1] lead me to schustafa’s blog, where he linked to a list compiled by the BBC of 50 Things to Eat Before You Die. The list is:

1. Fresh fish
2. Lobster
3. Steak
4. Thai food
5. Chinese food
6. Ice cream
7. Pizza
8. Crab
9. Curry
10. Prawns
11. Moreton Bay Bugs
12. Clam chowder
13. Barbecues
14. Pancakes
15. Pasta
16. Mussels
17. Cheesecake
18. Lamb
19. Cream tea
20. Alligator
21. Oysters
22. Kangaroo
23. Chocolate
24. Sandwiches
25. Greek food
26. Burgers
27. Mexican food
28. Squid
29. American diner breakfast
30. Salmon
31. Venison
32. Guinea pig
33. Shark
34. Sushi
35. Paella
36. Barramundi
37. Reindeer
38. Kebab
39. Scallops
40. Australian meat pie
41. Mango
42. Durian fruit
43. Octopus
44. Ribs
45. Roast beef
46. Tapas
47. Jerk chicken/pork
48. Haggis
49. Caviar
50. Cornish pasty

Things struckthrough are things that I've eaten; things in red are things that could kill me if I ate them [2]. About the only thing that I could have eaten but didn't was the Durian, having been warned about the smell and texture by friends. Everything else uneaten is from Australia and hasn't yet made its way to my latitude...

So - how well do you score? And what would your alternate list of "50 things ya gotta eat" look like?

John

[1] This is one of the better features of Vox, IMHO; it encourages "browsing" in much the same way that looking up an unfamiliar word in the encyclopedia does. Inevitably, the information gleaned from those unplanned stops is more useful that what I originally went looking to find...

[2] Lobster was quite the experience. It was a good thing that it was badly prepared so I only ate a mouthful; that alone almost put me in the hospital. It turns out that I cannot eat anything with a shell, nor anything prepared with anything with a shell. This made living in Louisianna, where "crawfish boils" are a local tradition, somewhat interesting.

All that I can think about is food! This morning, a chance glance at a chocolate-covered blueberry reminded me of the old Roman dish:
Stuff a hummingbird's egg into a hummingbird.
Stuff the hummingbird into a quail.
Stuff the quail into a chicken.
Stuff the chicken into a duck.
Stuff the duck into a swan.
Stuff the swan into an ostrich.
Cook, carve, serve. [1]

Though my preference is for peasant food (and that dish most emphatically is not), the concept is interesting. How could it be applied to other dishes? Could one, in fact, create an entire dinner composed of nothing but layered dishes?

For appetizers, have mini-sushi with thin layers of rice and fish wrapped around wasabi or ginger and wrapped in nori. Accompany with a Reisling.

For the first course, have tomato soup covered by cream of leek with a lid of foccaia (heavy on the cheese). Pair with a nice Beaujolais.

For the vegetable course, serve a potato, yellow squash, and zucchini torte [2]. Match with a Vernaccia.

For the main course, have a carpaccio of beef, ham, and salmon in a chipotle-infused olive oil sauce. Only a bold Cabernet will do here.

For the dessert, make a crepe filled with Nutella, coconut, and fresh berries and covered with a light lemon sauce. Champagne is the perfect accompaniment to this course.

So, what do you think - have I completely lost it?

John

[1] This recipe has survived in various forms through the ages; the most recent incarnation is as a turducken in Cajun cooking.

[2] Yes, this needs work. The flavors can harmonize reasonably well, but the textures are off and the cooking times don't even come close to matching.