Drinking and Eating

Thanksgiving Review

2005-11-26T15:55:00.000-08:00

Some random pictures of the aftermath of aThanksgiving's spread... sorry didn't get a shot of the turkey but it would have just been a pile of mangled bones by the time I got my camera out...
It did not go without comment that the only thing that was entirely eaten here were the sweet gherkins...

My brother in law is from California so maybe that explains this. But it was much better than it looked. It's a cucumber salad with mayo and a touch of sweet. I have no idea how it got so green.

Eh. Not a great Chardonnay but all the good stuff was gone so we cracked these bottles open.

One of the great developments of Thanksgivings recently is the advent of flavored mashed potatoes. I remember when it was just bland, creamy crap that came out of a box and the only way to eat them was to pour gravy. Here the gravy can be used as a light dressing. Lots of garlic yum...

I hate peas. Now that I'm an adult I can refuse to eat them.

This is one of the children's plates. Of course, if I had gotten a plate like this, there would never have been any problems about the peas.

Don't Drink the Flavored Water!

2005-11-13T08:33:00.000-08:00

First, let me UNrecommend the new flavored Dasani water. I bought the lemon-"flavored" water after a long walk this morning (awesome Fall weather in DC, by the way) and nearly spit it up. Thinking it would taste like fresh filtered water with a twist of the yellow fruit, I was instead appalled to get a nutrasweetish diluted lemonade taste. Not that I normally buy bottled water (big ripoff) but I was thirsty and still a mile from home.

(cross posted at Vinyl Mine Clip Shack)

Mayonaise and Chicken? Uh-hum!

2005-10-02T20:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a new recipe - take some chicken cutlets, rub 'em with sea salt and mix together a cup of Mayonaise, a couple of sprigs of thyme leaves, two cloves of garlic, 1/4 cup of lemon juice, pepper to taste and a bunch of scallions, chopped (up to the firm green). Marinate the chicken for two hours in this mayo and thyme conconction and then bake in the oven for about 1/2 hour at 350 degrees. The recipe is called "Crispy Chicken Cutlets" but there not really crispy, more like creamy and lemony but still good. Above is how they looked when I took them out of the oven.

Although I was solo tonight, this would make for a great date meal. The salad is herb with cheddar flavored French Onions and some sliced pecans and Italian dressing. I've dressed it with some cilantro (which I mixed into the salad) and some thyme (which is just for show). The wine is Veramonte Chilean Chardonnay 2003 - I recommend this but the reason I have it is because although I liked it, it didn't sell well at my local liquor store so I snatched up a bottle at bargain basement prices.
Here's a close-up of the dish.

This was a meal I had a few days ago. It's a chicken paprika with deli salsa, herb salad with mushrooms and French vinegarette and Delirium Tremens beer from Belgium.
Here's a close-up of the DT beer. An acquaintance left this behind after a pot-luck dinner I hosted (one of the benefits of hosting people is you never know what goodies -- and baddies (see previous post) -- you'll end up with. This is a sweet, frothy brew in a very cool bottle to boot.

See Rhetoric Pig, I don't just eat junk!

2005-09-26T16:06:00.000-07:00

If you read my last post, you noted that I kept the beef briscuit - here's what I ended up doing with it.

Transferrence of Catholic Guilt into Food Disposal

2005-09-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

Ever have friends over for a pot luck dinner? At the end of the night, their dishes are congealing and the wine has been drunk and they're like, "oh, can we just leave this here; I'm sure you can find someone to eat it." And you're like, "sure" because you feel all guilty that they had to lug all this crap through the Metro because you had to near-sighted foresight to schedule the party on the day of a big demonstration downtown as well as the National book fair and you're feeling all guilty that they couldn't drive and had to lug their stuff through throngs of aged bookworms and wingnuts.... so you say "sure!" as if you are real into it and soon your fridge is stocked with massive stuffed Idaho potatoes, stringy and tough beef briscuit and an unclassifiable white substance with shreds of something inside it (is it coleslaw? is it potatoe salad? is it??).

And is it right or wrong to feel guilty if the first thing you do in the morning is to roll all that refridgerated stuff right into a trashbag and furtively (which is dumb since none of them live here) take it to the trash chute working out excuses just in case they come over today for something and notice all the food gone - I mean should I pat my stomach and say "mmmm" or say, yeah, the desk attendant in the lobby and the janitor and engineer had a big party and wanted to tell you all thanks? Or do I just give them the sad awful truth of, well I would never eat this food in a million years and I'm not going to let it stink up my fridge.

Oh well, I'm gonna keep the beef briscuit at least and make some stew. And they did leave a bottle of Delerium Tremens beer behind.

God I hope none of them know that I have a blog.

PHOTO BY YOURFUTUREEX entitled "Gutted"
cross-posted at Vinyl Mine Clipshack

2005-01-20T05:35:00.000-08:00

More of... The pictures that James Lileks doesn't want you to see (sorry about the crookedness, it comes with the hysterical gales of laughter when trying to scan)...

2005-01-20T05:34:00.000-08:00

The pictures that James Lileks doesn't want you to see

2005-01-09T11:14:00.000-08:00

Squeezable Sour Cream is one of those great inventions of the past few years. No more opening up a sour cream containing and going yecccchh at the creepy puddles and slimy white goo. Just shake and squeeze. Here's one of my recent (Atkins-friendly) creations for today's breakfast table:

2004-09-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

My Dad had his sipping liquor - Jack on the rocks. I've tried for many years to find my sipping likker... - Jack, Bourbon, Vodka, Flavored Vodka... my long search has ended. Flavored Tequila... it's no coincidence... High-end tequila is my "shot liquor". TQ Hot goes down like a fine wine. Found for about $22 at Watergate Wines.

2004-08-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

Ptoo-ee... what's worse than Coors? Coors Light. What's worse than Coors Light? Welcome, Aspen Edge, a doomed attempt to topple Mich Ultra off the King of Low Carbs throne. SEEEEeeeee yaaaaaaaaaa..... wouldn't wanna swillllllllll yaaaaaaa.....

Dominos Pizza Delivers...Eventually

2004-08-17T06:31:00.000-07:00

- I had a very subtle experience today. I received a coupon in the mail from Dominos promising free Buffalo Wings (with the purchase of a pizza) because a recent delivery had been fouled up and took 90 minutes. When the delivery man arrived 1/2 hour late (after calling for directions to my rather large apartment building), he told me to "keep the coupon" for use on a later order. Because he was late and the pizza, I guessed, was cold, I gave him a smallish tip. He hesitated as he counted back the change I asked for, perhaps thinking I might relent and give him that extra dollar he thought he deserved. As I took my change, he said, "you know, I really do need that coupon after all." As I closed the door, I said, "no problem, I'll go reheat the pizza." I love it when I actually do get in some good comebacks.

Thank God Its Wednesday at Thank God its Fridays

2004-08-11T20:52:00.000-07:00

Part of the "new" Atkins menu (yes, I'm kinda one of those, wanna fight?) although I think its just recycled from a previous menu or stolen from someone else as it is indistinguishable from the similar fare at Applebys, et. al. I always like when they ask after you order the real buffalo wings whether you want "Atkins" or regular. It's the same thing, baby, same price even.

TGIFs is near-by, the servers are friendly (they have flair!), the food is relatively cheaper (the beer by the bottle isn't so) and I like the multi-racial clientele. Yes, the food is better across the street at Kinkeads but everything else is nearly opposite of this venerable chain (servers are snobby, food expensive, the clientele is nearly all white are wanna-be white). And yikes, a customer loyalty program - just get so many points and its free chicken wings baby. But where's the TV trivia games!?!

Being an "adventurous" sort, I tried the "buffalo" chicken salad - just 10 carbs and $8.29 (trust me, decent price for downtown DC). Not much "buffalo" in the chicken - I coulda stood for something hotter (more sauce, please) - I missed the so-called pico de gallo - tastes like a spicy ranch dressing to me. The iceberg lettuce was fresh and crunchy and you can't fault them for pairing it with the grilled chicken and cheddar cheese (which was bland). Overall, ambience B+ (a little bit too loud on one side of the bar and some smokers nearby), food: C-.

Beer: Mich Ultra (not cold enough for my tastes), the beer of sweaty working-out yuppies.

Image courtesy tgifridays.com...

2004-08-08T15:53:00.000-07:00

The unnamable (a funny guy) writes about San Francisco's coffee guy - who combines a random act of kindness with some sort of performance art.

Yesterday I was having coffee on the porch. And cigarettes. Because I so fucking oldschool. Then I brought my laptop outside because I have a difficult time maintaining “fucking oldschoolness” for more than 4 minutes. When my cup was empty, I had to actually stand up, put down my computer, and walk through my apartment in order to get a refill. And I thought, hell, my computer is out here surfing the interwave without wires, but my damn coffee maker has to be chained to one spot? This is not progress, people. At least one person is making a difference: meet marc, who likes his coffee in the goddamn park, thank you.

Check out the unnamable's full blog here. Now, if you'll excuse me I got to go check the short ribs -- I'm braising for the first time.

2004-08-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

Although this is about things that make like more enjoyable, it's also about things that give us more time to enjoy life. This is my "Swiffer" of 2004. If you're like me and do your laundry offsite, having to not carry a big ol' box of Tide is a welcome relief. I just stick this into my pocket, pick up my basket and off I go. Not the most economical thing, though, if you are on a budget.

2004-08-08T10:29:00.000-07:00

An okay cigar - not bad but not worth $9.75 either. I have no idea what the brand is, though, so just be on the lookout for the cigar band.

Deep Sparkle

2004-08-08T09:46:00.000-07:00

I picked up this unusual white while I was up in the Finger Lakes last month and cracked it open for a complement to Orange Chicken and Won-ton soup. Only slightly dryer than a French Vouvray, this went very well with the dish and probably would also work with spicy pork chops or ribs.

Bully Hill's Goat White page

Good News, Bad News

2004-08-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

First the bad news: Terrorists are threatening to strike buildings in NYC and downtown DC.

Now the good news - last-minute reservations at Kinkead's are possible:

George Ronetz, general manager of Kinkead's restaurant, several blocks west of the IMF and the World Bank, said some customers started changing their dinner plans soon after Ridge's briefing. (link)

This Website Could Save Your Life

2004-08-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

Well, it at least saved my second cup of coffee. See, I've been using this French press for several years now but was always frustrated about how bitter the coffee got on the second cup or if it stood around too long. Even if drip brewed coffee didn't taste as good on the first cup, at least it stayed pretty much consistent if you kept the brew in a caraffe.

Coffeegeek gave me the pointer that the problem wasn't my stirring method or the amount of coffee I was using but it was the GRINDER I was using. Seems the cheaper Braun grinders don't give you a consistent size of grain and its important that your coarsely ground coffee be consistent with the presses.

There's some other stuff on here although its a bit sparser than you might think and one gets the sinking suspicion that its some there's some sort of evil coffee accessory cabal behind the whole thing. However at least one recent article recommended that you don't get into trying your own expresso since its too much trouble and expresso is best experienced in a cafe, preferably with another person. Makes sense to me.

Nevertheless, there's still plenty of good information written by people who actually drink coffee and are very, very, very enthusiastic. Although, that must might be the caffiene typing.

2004-07-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

Me (before I started drinking and eating)

2004-07-25T07:31:00.000-07:00

10 feet. That's the size of the hole I am digging to bury the nostalgic impulse that led me to eat this for breakfast. Stale pie crust with consistency of baseball card bubblegum surrounding a unclassifiable toxic red goo covered with a lacquer of nearly indigestible glaze. Digesting this, if that's what it can be called, is followed by a flopsweat inducing sugar buzz that clashes with and turns the taste of the heretofore excellent coffee ("Major Peet's Blend") into that of cardboard dipped in venison sweat. Ewwwww... and I used to like these as a kid. Haven't had one in years and now I know why.

Portal del Alto Merlot/Cab Sav Variety, 2000

2004-07-23T17:23:00.000-07:00

I like red wine that actually tastes like grapes and not cedar chips or pears or whatever. Among my fondest memories of breakfast (besides my Dad's eggs) was grape juice and while I've moved away from so much sugar in the morning, I still look for it in my wines. I can smell a bit of cherry in here as well and I'm not complaining.

This is a inexpensive ($7) wine that my local wine store (Watergate Liquor and Wine) always seems to have in stock. It goes great with pizza, steak and just sipping (no, I haven't tried it for breakfast, thank you).

Photo courtesy of the
Portal Del Alto Website

Vie de France, K Street, Washington DC 7 July Breakfast

2004-07-07T11:44:00.000-07:00

Vie de France, K Street Washington - somewhat reminiscent of those places in Paris except here you can order scrambled eggs and sausage, y'know American food! But you can pick up french rolls, butter croissants and all sorts of sugary confections (croissant pudding cake?) and a fairly decent (but slightly burnt) French Roast coffee (albeit served in take-away cups, the coffee lovers equivalent of beer cans).

But unfortunately, the scrambled eggs are stiff and dry and the bacon is limp and undercooked. Instead try their baked croissant embedded with cheese and sausage. That's right, they cook the croissant with the breakfast staples inside it making for a wonderful fusion for the breakfast meat lovers pallette. Of course, this is not challenging food - the ingredients can be found nearly everywhere but it is inexpensive and you don't have to dress up for it. Plus you can walk away with a decent loaf of pannella bread.

Service is an experience. Unlike the Parisan cafes, where the waiters know English but feign ignorance, here the servers, from who knows where, are English-challenged but feign comprehension. Not so oddly, the latter is much more endearing than the former - at least they are trying and not laughing at you behind their hands. So if you ask for a side order -- better spell it out for them and ask them to repeat it.

2004-07-05T06:57:00.000-07:00

Battle of the low carb cranberry almond breakfast bars!!!

On the top, clocking in at a light 1.0 oz is the Merry Dutchman's entry (Quaker Oats). Thin and colored lightly brown with a non-descript frosting, the cranberries are hard to find and it isn't very crunchy. Odd title - Q-smart? What's the Q stand for? Quickly through the intestines? Quietly down the gullet? But, for the true dieter, it's the choice at only 3 grams.

And in the bottom corner, from our good genetically enhanced friends at Post, it's Carbwell, a 1.23 Oz crunchy pile of smiles, reminiscent of those Rice Krispie bars your Mom used to make when you had friends over (which in my case was like twice, good times, good times...). The cranberries and almonds can clearly be discerned among the soy nuggets and tricalcium phosphate. Has a nice bouquet, too.

The choice for those controlling carbs: Post's Carbwell and for those truly dieting, well, I'm sorry your SOL when it comes to cranberry almond bars.

2004-07-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

I'd say unforgettable except for the horrible taste it left in my mouth. This was a 3.95 cigar that should be .99 cents. Not recommended. More proof that my theory that the price of a cigar generally correlates with the quality (as a necessary condition at least).

Stoudt's American Pale Ale

2004-07-04T06:06:00.000-07:00

Yummy, rich bitter with only a little of its edge taken off in a lovely 4th of July label.