Tag: food

Beer for Breakfast

I spent my morning doing important stuff. No details, but trust me on this. Important Stuff. By the time I’d finally showered and dressed, it was nearly time for lunch, so instead of grabbing my regular breakfast bar I headed to Tallahassee’s newest and coolest restaurant, The Edison, for brunch.

  
If location, location, location means anything at all, then the Edison has that in spades. Situated on one side (southeast?) of lovely Cascades Park, The Edison provides diners a front row seat to the park’s ponds, walking trail, a variety of Florida waterfowl, and a dramatic waterfall. I chose outdoor seating on this perfect fall Friday and was just delighted by a pair of egrets landing nearby.

  
My server was exceptional and knowledgeable about the craft beers on tap at The Edison. I ordered a Leinenkugel Harvest Patch Shandy. When the server brought that she also brought me a sample of Southern Tiers Pumking beer. Oh my! About halfway through my shandy I began feeling lightheaded. That’s when I realized I was essentially having a beer for breakfast. Oops!

  
My meal was good, not outstanding, though. I had a whole wheat flatbread topped with sundried tomatoes, broccoli rabe, and chicken, among other ingredients my uneducated palate wasn’t familiar with. The flavors blended nicely, but I found it a little dry. I’m no food critic, but I thought it needed a light olive oil or cheese base. The meal was served with a side of fries that weren’t served quite hot enough for my taste.

The Edison is still new.  Overall it has great ambience, and I observed impressive looking meals being served. In addition to the multi-level restaurant there’s a wine bar, a casual coffee area, and a great indoor bar with a pair of big screen TV sets. I will definitely give The Edison another try.

   
   
    
 Peace, people!

Helpful Information Regarding Bacon

Just remember folks, you might’ve read it here first, even though I borrowed every bit from Pinterest. Read and learn. You can thank me later. Or now. I like being thanked. With bacon.

 
Every man should come with a side of bacon.  
 I have been known to steal bacon. I’m not proud of it, but I’ll probably do it again.  
The next one, I have to disagree with a little. That’s still not enough bacon.

 
True story, I really thought it was called bacon soda for years.

   
Studly only looks at bacon like its bacon. 

 
Really, this happens.  
And now I’ll return to my previously scheduled diet.

Peace, people! 

Seduction or Ode to a Peach

round, sweet 

pink, firmly soft

easy on the eyes

heaven on the lips

let me fill myself with

your summer scent

with all the beauty

you possess. 

  
Peach, people!

Hot! Hot! Hot!

The Daily Prompt asked, “Do you like hot and spicy foods, or do you avoid them for fear of what tomorrow might bring?”

el mercado en la Antigua de Guatemala

I like my food hot.
Spicy.
Gratuitous heat;
The kind of heat that
Makes me wipe the
Sweat from my
Brow as I eat.
Any residual suffering
For the sake of spiciness
Should be borne with
Stoicism and great
Quantities of
Pepto-Bismol.

  

Cooking for Studly: In Progress

My roast chicken and potatoes are in the sixth hour of slow cooking. The odors emanating from the crockpot are seriously mouth watering. Since I could no longer resist the instruction manual’s admonition against lifting the lid, I did so very briefly. Mmmmmm.

The chicken is tender and appears to be as potentially tasty as it looks. Now is the time my anxiety kicks into high gear. In my limited cooking experience I tend to screw a meal up in the final stages of cooking. So the time is ripe for doing something ill-advised.

I never know what form the screw up will take–over cooking? Under cooking? Dropping said meal? Realizing too late that the instructions were continued on another page that I didn’t read? Opening the lid one too many times? Oh yes, I’ve done them all, and more.

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Damn! I opened the lid again, but I need input. How does it look to an experienced cook? I wish I had an “add aroma” button on the iPad.

Studly should be home around 5 p.m. Eastern time. I’ll cook corn and put together a salad to complete the meal. And just for good measure, I’ll have a fortifier, or two, ready. Tell me, white whine or Blue Moon or both? I think both.

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What’s the old adage, “Cooking Lasts, Kissing Don’t”? I’m planning on puckering up anyway, just in case the cooking goes awry.

Here’s the recipe:

Slow Cooker Roast Chicken and Potatoes
Serves 4

1 whole chicken, skinned (4-5lbs.)
4-5 garlic cloves (Studly doesn’t much care for garlic, so I used only 2)
1 onion, quartered
4-5 golden potatoes
2 tsp. Kosher salt
1 tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Onion powder
1/2 tsp. Dried thyme
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. black pepper (I used freshly ground pepper because I feel chef-like turning the grinder.)

1. Scrub potatoes, prick with fork, wrap in foil, and place in bottom of slow cooker.
2. Clean, skin, and rinse chicken; pat dry.
3. Stuff cavity with onion and garlic.
4. Combine seasonings and rub over chicken.
5. Place chicken over potatoes, breast down.
6. Cook on high 4-5 hours or on low for 8 hours.

Because I’m really slow at prep work, I got the chicken ready last night, and let it hang out in the fridge wrapped in foil. I sure hope that was ok.

Peace, People!

Cooking for Studly: The Adventure Begins

Today is the day! If you’ve followed my blog at all you know that I am:

1) a 58 year old narcissist
2) married for 38 years to a man I lovingly call Studly Doright, and
3) about to embark on a long overdue adventure in cooking for Studly.

By cooking, I mean real, healthy “cooked at home” meals. Heretofore, my cooking has consisted mainly of heating things in the microwave and making reservations at my favorite restaurants. I excel at both.

In preparation I’ve bought some kitchen gadgets. I even know what some of them are.

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I’ve also solicited advice from friends and complete strangers. Pinterest has been consulted. I’ve got this.

Here are my choices for tonight’s dinner:

1) Chicken Tortilla Soup
2) Chicken Stroganoff
3) Roast Chicken and Potatoes

Notice a commonality? Yep, chicken. That’s because Studly really likes chicken and very little else.

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I am open to suggestions for future healthy, EASY meals for two. Just keep in mind that Studly will not consume seafood of any kind, any type of pasta with marinara sauce, ground turkey, meat loaf, mushrooms, any vegetables except for corn and green beans.

He does like plain old steak and potatoes, some Mexican food, rice, and the aforementioned chicken. If food poisoning doesn’t kill us, boredom most likely will.

Wish me luck, and send recipe suggestions! My life might be in your hands.

Peace, People!

Food Glorious Food

One of the best things about moving to a different part of the country is finding the really good eateries.

I ate at Food Glorious Food in Tallahassee on Friday. With a name like that, it had better be good. And it was. Really, really good. I don’t often write about food, and I’m not one to post photos of my culinary adventures. I won’t now because I devoured every morsel before I even thought to snap a picture.

My lunch was their Maison salad and a club sandwich served on the softest, tastiest bread I’ve ever had. For dessert, I had a slice of Key Lime pound cake. Mercy! I wish I had the skills to tell my readers just how incredible this was. All I can say is, if it were human, this pound cake would make George Clooney look like Elmer Fudd on a bad day. If there is food in heaven, their Key Lime pound cake will be elevated above angel food cake which has the whole name thing going for it. This is why I’m not a food critic. I tend towards hyperbole.

Tallahassee isn’t a big city, but it has a surprising number of top notch places to dine, perhaps because it serves as the state’s capital. Here are some of the non-chain restaurants Studly and I have discovered:

Paisley Cafe is a breakfast and brunch place. They have the most delightful selection of baked goods, along with fresh fruits, omelets, and lots of other yummy stuff.

The Front Porch Great atmosphere! Situated in a big old southern style house, The Front Porch specializes in seafood and killer mimosas. I drank 7/8 of a carafe all by myself one morning. I don’t remember much after that.

Wells Brothers “Monk’s” has a ridiculously large selection of gourmet burgers. Studly likes PB&J on his.

Voodoo Dog is near Florida State University and caters to the college crowd. Their Wake n Bake is the best hotdog ever imagined. They take an all beef wiener, wrap it in bacon and lay it on a fried egg before putting it into the bun. Oh, and there is cheddar cheese baked on top of the whole shebang. Paradise on a bun.

The Seineyard has terrific seafood. Of course they fry 99.99 percent of it, so I don’t eat there often. They also have world famous cheese grits. I’ve become a fan. Their hush puppies are just right, too–perfectly crisp on the outside, soft and flavorful on the inside.

Z Bhardi’s Italian Cuisine is the best Italian place I’ve ever experienced. The atmosphere is romantic, the service impeccable, and the food divine. Even Studly liked it, and he doesn’t do Italian.

Ok, I’ve made myself hungry. Remember that Key Lime pound cake? I saved a piece and I’m having it for breakfast.

Peace, People!