tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583381875964273832024-03-13T07:57:09.317-04:00Microcosm KCooking. Eating. Drinking. Gaming.Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-52942553712510896372011-09-17T16:46:00.006-04:002011-09-17T16:55:52.066-04:00Brunch and Lotsa Perty FlowersAs it is with any Sunday when my wife and I travel, the first order of business was brunch. Our destination was Canteen which I’d read serves the <a href="http://www.nosaladasameal.com/2009/04/best-bay-area-brunch.html">best French toast in the city</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096110185/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 161 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 161" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6096110185_2dfa97d093_z.jpg" width="300" /><a name='more'></a></a></div> We arrived to what I can only describe as an upscale diner. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096655144/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 165 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 165" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6202/6096655144_50f1cc7c43_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I liked the look of the place, but the lighting was too dim and the back of restaurant (where we were seated) was insanely hot due to the open kitchen. Canteen doesn’t post its menu online, so aside from a few dishes I’d read about, I really didn’t know what they served.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096655044/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 163 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 163" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6206/6096655044_3772f21c46_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096655232/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 166 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 166" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6074/6096655232_45a2a435ba_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
One article mentioned that they do wonderful things with eggs, so I was torn between the Benedict and the French toast, but this place really evoked memories of the <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/09/1st-anniversary-road-trip-day-3.html">Sunday brunch</a> we enjoyed on our first anniversary trip so I decided to go along with my wife and ordered the French toast with a side of bacon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096655520/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 167 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 167" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6096655520_fe638a3a38_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
First up, however, was their other unanimously recommended dish: the brioche buns which were served with orange marmalade, black raspberry preserves, and softened butter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096656822/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 172 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 172" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6200/6096656822_0ee7a5374a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096112327/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 173 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 173" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/6096112327_5fe671221f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
These buns were packed with so much butter they struggled to maintain their physical state as a solid. They were perfectly dense and they pulled apart like wet cotton candy. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096657668/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 175 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 175" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6206/6096657668_1254633c09_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The preserves were fine, and the marmalade was a bit too bitter for my tastes due to too much orange rind. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096113257/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 176 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 176" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6079/6096113257_0acb0fc40a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The revelation came when I dipped my bun into the lake of blueberry sauce upon which my French toast was perched. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096656434/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 171 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 171" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6070/6096656434_c2816b3ace_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096113495/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 177 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 177" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6075/6096113495_6895323333_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
As you can see the French toast came swimming in a sea of blueberry sauce. It looked like <a href="http://www.officialpsds.com/Boo-Berry-PSD64943.html">Boo from Boo Berry</a> spooged on my breakfast. Ah, so that’s why he’s always got those lazy eyes. He’s not stoned, he just came all over your French toast. The sweetness of the sauce was offset by a hefty dose of lemon juice, which enabled the natural flavor of the blueberries to shine through… somewhat. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096659050/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 182 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 182" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6195/6096659050_73e915934e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096114661/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 183 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 183" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6096114661_d13a683066_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The more toast I ate, the more I discovered just how large the pile of blueberries underneath was. It was like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mount_Doom.jpg">Mount Doom</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candyland">Candyland</a>.<br />
<br />
If that wasn’t enough it came topped with a literally fist-sized dollop of sweetened cream cheese. It was smooth and tangy and paired perfectly with the lake of cartoon ghost semen. Ultimately, since the French toast wasn’t the star of the show (it was pretty much forgotten due to the deluge of toppings) I can’t justly consider this dish in the running for the best French toast I’ve had. Nonetheless, it was a pretty damn delicious mess on a plate.<br />
<br />
Finally, I feel like I have to mention a general complaint about their restroom situation. There aren’t any restrooms in the restaurant, you have to go next door to what I can only describe as a demented children’s museum. If there were a sequel to The Shining that took place in a children’s art school, this would be it. Freaky, freaky stuff.<br />
<br />
After brunch we took the 38 bus to Arguello Blvd then headed south to Golden Gate Park.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096660062/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 185 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 185" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6078/6096660062_cd2858e490_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Despite the dreary weather, this park was quite beautiful and really blew us away with how large and packed with awesome stuff it was. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096117275/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 193 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 193" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6096117275_f863014450_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
First up we made our way to the Coservatory of Flowers and after scoring a few discounted student tickets (never throw away your college I.D.) we toured the seemingly endless amount of rooms packed wall-to-wall with gorgeous arrays of foilage. Foliage. Something like that. I took about 70 photos in this place, so I’ll save your eyes and just show you a few of my favorite shots:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096665628/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 204 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 204" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6200/6096665628_b355770739_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096666470/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 208 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 208" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6069/6096666470_252e8307bd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096122175/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 210 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 210" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6187/6096122175_b8723b330d_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096668422/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 215 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 215" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6096668422_5b26e813f8_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096671358/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 224 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 224" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6070/6096671358_7a40e0e709_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096672524/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 227 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 227" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6062/6096672524_21ca3a57e2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096127935/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 230 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 230" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6096127935_e087b328ac_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After that we meandered around the park checking out the gardens surrounding the immediate area. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096678814/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 247 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 247" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6096678814_450d8fcd93_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096679800/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 251 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 251" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6207/6096679800_121100b293_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096680540/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 254 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 254" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6068/6096680540_ae3f0fe2b4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096136721/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 258 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 258" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6062/6096136721_f3c011ed7b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We decided against checking out the Japanese Tea Garden after realizing there was an admission fee. We crossed over Stow Lake and made our way to the top of Strawberry Hill where we found a little man made waterfall and our first view of the Golden Gate Bridge. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096691066/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 280 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 280" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/6096691066_b7aeb3e7c2_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096149319/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 288 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 288" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6096149319_411750538b_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Little did we know this would be the only time we actually saw the damn thing, but more on that later.<br />
<br />
Nikki had expressed interest in trying some Bubble Tea while we were in San Francisco so we made our way south and eventually came to Wonderful Foods Co. which was unanimously recommended on Chowhound as having the city’s best Bubble Tea.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096695362/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 293 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 293" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6062/6096695362_d7ea250e2d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The menu was pretty overwhelming with some flavors I’ve never seen before at any bubble tea shop. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096151157/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 294 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 294" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6096151157_322f8c9fe5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For me it came down to either oatmeal or sesame, but in the end I decided to go with the sesame. Nikki ordered her usual almond. Here is what I said in my voice memo for your enjoyment:<br />
<br />
“The black sesame is literally fucking my face right now. It’s like a peanut butter-sesame smoothie. The flavor itself blows away any bubble tea we’ve had anywhere. New York, anywhere.“<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096696572/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 296 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 296" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/6096696572_cf53b143d6_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
It didn’t have the slightest bit of grit like the <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2011/05/wet-in-nyc-part-2.html">one I had in Manhattan</a>, and they used crushed ice as opposed to cubed so as it melted it incorporated into the beverage and you didn't have to fight with the ice cubes to get at the boba balls. The almond was equally as good. The only thing that prevented this from being the reigning champion bubble tea experience was the boba was overcooked and a little soft for me. I like mine chewy. But the flavor really blew both of us away. A recommendation like this is why Chowhound is vital for food-centric trip-planning.<br />
<br />
This was only half of our lunch. We obviously needed a sandwich to go with our beverages. CH also informed me that great banh mi sandwiches could be had just a few blocks west at Irving Café & Deli.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096152523/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 298 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 298" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6074/6096152523_7d28ceac7f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096152889/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 299 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 299" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6189/6096152889_6c9da87627_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I had Nikki snag us some seats while I waited in the short line to order our sandwich. Since I’d enjoyed the <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/06/raging-windy-city-la-wind-god-gau-pt-2.html">BBQ Pork Banh mi at Ba Le</a> I decided to order that. All the sandwiches here are made to order, and they mostly do carry-out service since there are only three seats in the place.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096153483/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 302 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 302" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6202/6096153483_92e3337e4e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096153833/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 303 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 303" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6208/6096153833_f96012cdb3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The sandwich was good, but not great. The veggies were fresh and crisp, but the bread wasn’t quite as good as Ba Le. The pork was tender and just barely sweetened by whatever the woman behind the counter squirted out of a red ketchup bottle. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096699152/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 306 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 306" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6072/6096699152_af122c4246_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The Vietnamese chili sauce on the table added a little sour heat that complimented the flavors nicely.<br />
<br />
After we left Irving Café we hit the light rail to La Playa St. then crossed Great Highway and hit Ocean Beach where I laid my eyes on the Pacific Ocean for the very first time. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096154845/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 307 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 307" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6088/6096154845_612bc19af3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096155139/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 308 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 308" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6204/6096155139_8dca6e6e12_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Removing shoes and socks we leisurely made our way up the shore, snapping photos and happily greeting any dogs that came up to give us a sniff. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096156693/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 311 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 311" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6096156693_636845b2c4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096701586/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 312 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 312" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6204/6096701586_4088aa7e86_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096157273/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 313 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 313" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6186/6096157273_d2a8e3a005_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We passed by the awesome Dutch Windmill in the northwestern corner of Golden Gate Park and finally ended up at the end of the beach and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_House,_San_Francisco">The Cliff House</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096158415/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 317 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 317" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6065/6096158415_8f9600664d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096704240/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 320 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 320" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6188/6096704240_c548bcfca5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We stopped for a second to take in the view of Seal Rocks before heading a little farther north to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutro_Baths">Sutro Baths</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096160901/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 323 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 323" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6208/6096160901_dbb3c21949_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We walked around the ruins and through the caves to the other side of the shore. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096161743/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 325 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 325" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6084/6096161743_af564aacea_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096166541/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 345 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 345" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6201/6096166541_9876cac4c6_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096165601/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 342 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 342" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6201/6096165601_86abed9d73_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096163489/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 332 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 332" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6088/6096163489_3f2f6bfab4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096708788/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 335 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 335" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6096708788_b850ddfc33_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<br />
We spent about an hour here before we realized we were pretty hungry (and thirsty) so we decided against hailing a cab and hoofed it into Outer Richmond for some beverages and dinner...<br />
<br />
Micro--out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/6/81930/restaurant/Nob-Hill/Canteen-San-Francisco"><img alt="Canteen on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/81930/minilogo.gif" style="border: medium none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/6/1538494/restaurant/Sunset/Wonderful-Foods-Co-San-Francisco"><img alt="Wonderful Foods Co on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1538494/minilogo.gif" style="border: medium none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/6/85257/restaurant/Sunset/Irving-Cafe-Deli-San-Francisco"><img alt="Irving Cafe & Deli on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/85257/minilogo.gif" style="border: medium none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-53385898570119646922011-09-12T20:28:00.001-04:002011-09-12T20:30:04.949-04:00DuClaw's 4th Annual Real Ale FestivalOverall, my experience at the 2011 Real Ale Fest was not good. Actually, scratch that, I did have a good time at the fest--it was just mostly spent bashing the disappointing beers with my equally beer-savvy brother Ryan. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6142323252/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 013 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 013" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6195/6142323252_1ec6f9c931_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>We both agreed that it seemed like most of the breweries were pouring their “common denominator” beers as opposed to special brews that were unique and would generate buzz. Most of the beers were very mediocre, some were downright bad, and a few were less bad, although I don’t think either of us tasted a beer we would actually go out and spend money on. First up, the worst:<br />
<br />
Franklin’s Belgian Saison was by far the worst beer we had. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6142336468/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 057 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 057" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6079/6142336468_96cc3f58cd_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
It tasted like a homebrewer’s attempt at brewing a beer using Tang. Awful, awful stuff.<br />
<br />
Similarly Pub Dog’s Cherry Tart was an insult to sour beers everywhere. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6141779069/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 042 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 042" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/6141779069_2416e9fc2a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6141779353/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 043 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 043" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6075/6141779353_663407a1e8_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
This sample hit the dirt after a single sip from each of us. Another failed homebrewer’s project.<br />
<br />
The people from Old Dominion were extremely nice, and I had to give them praise as their Oak Barrel Stout is one of my favorites of the style, so it came as a heavy blow to find that their Dry Hopped IPA tasted like dirt.<br />
<br />
And, as expected, both beers Stone were pouring were imbalanced hop-bombs. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6141785139/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 061 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 061" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6205/6141785139_c8f46a4c49_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Plus, both of the guys pouring for them seemed to be drunk and were pretty belligerent. Way to be professional, guys. I felt no remorse as we dumped their samples on the ground right in front of them.<br />
<br />
Finally, I must say that I was very disappointed that Duclaw wasn’t including their brews H.E.R.O. (a Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter that won their homebrewing contest) or eXile #2 (an Imperial Wit which they released in August) in the festival. You could order a pint at the usual cost, but I felt it was kind of a cop out that they were hosting this event and not pouring their most talked about recent releases.<br />
<br />
In no particular order, here are some of the beers that weren’t too bad:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6141771141/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 014 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 014" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6158/6141771141_2fbe099ef7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Stoudt’s Fat Dog which is an Imperial Oatmeal Stout was probably my favorite beer of the day, unfortunately it was also the very first beer I tried...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6142323730/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 015 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 015" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6187/6142323730_f85872e0ea_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
...setting high expectations which were never fulfilled.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6141773275/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 022 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 022" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6160/6141773275_6db6d39c5a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Duclaw’s 2010 Oak Barrel Aged Devil’s Milk, which also happened to be the very first beer to be kicked...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6142326246/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 024 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 024" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6076/6142326246_22b840cf3b_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
...was decent with heavy oak notes and fruity bubblegum.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6141778071/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 039 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 039" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6063/6141778071_903416dc74_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Evolution Brewing’s Rise up Stout was a light-bodied drinkable coffee stout with no bitterness that plagues so many coffee beers. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6142331026/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 040 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 040" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6070/6142331026_8ccbb5d3b5_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I’d be interested to see how this would fare against Schlafly’s Coffee Stout and Kona’s Pipeline Porter.<br />
<br />
Franklin’s Sorachi Samaurai was a decent pale ale with hints of lavender, sage, orange peel, and coriander.<br />
<br />
The Raven Special Lager is a dry-hopped lager that had an intriguing earthiness that brought to mind portobello mushrooms...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6142334402/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 050 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 050" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6142334402_28b82e6715_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
...but not in an unpleasant way.<br />
<br />
The food was respectable for a Beer Festival, and ultimately somewhat justified the $45 ticket price. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6141774423/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 027 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 027" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6083/6141774423_a337cbcab5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6142327292/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 028 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 028" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6075/6142327292_fdd4f613db_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Our favorites were the crab rangoons, the Euphoria braised brats, and the pumpkin pie-type dessert. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6141782117/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 051 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 051" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6185/6141782117_34e870d077_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I asked for belly and shoulder meat from the whole hogs the executive chef of DuClaw smoked for the festival and it was pretty mediocre. I guess I'm just spoiled by my own smoked pig parts. I feel I must also note that the smore they were serving was literally the worst smore I've ever tasted in my entire life. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6142335452/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 054 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Breakfast and Real Ale Fest 2011 054" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6082/6142335452_f0c1e6134a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The graham cracker was soggy, the marshmallow was rubbery, and it appeared to be smeared with chocolate icing. An utter disgrace to smores everywhere.<br />
<br />
And there you have it. I could think of about a thousand better ways to spend $45 on a sunny Saturday afternoon, but if nothing else I can chalk this up as life experience. Or something.<br />
<br />
Micro--out.Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-59267078292382748882011-09-10T08:31:00.001-04:002011-09-10T08:31:00.183-04:00CommisCommis only serves one menu for a flat rate of $68 per person. You’re served five courses with a few bonus courses thrown in for good measure. It’s an extremely good deal considering the quality of food served. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096102393/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 117 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 117" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6075/6096102393_1412588af5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I called and specifically reserved counter seating so we could watch the chefs perform their magic. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096103107/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 119 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 119" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6200/6096103107_0b1756af30_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Sorry, no web or fireball spells… Well, not unless you count the web I cast in my pants when I tasted the second course.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
First up was a vegetable ash parmesan cookie amuse bouche served in a bowl of rocks. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096648178/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 121 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 121" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6210/6096648178_580c6d5d28_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Excellent presentation. Nikki described this dish as “a sophisticated cheezit” and I couldn’t’ve said it better myself. Quite delicious. We ordered two glasses of chardonnay with a retardedly long name and shortly after our second amuse bouche (this one being their signature) arrived.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096104657/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 124 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 124" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6063/6096104657_beba830278_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
A perfectly cooked poached egg served over pureed dates and sprinkled with smoked sea salt. Alongside were toasted steel-cut oats and topped with finely chopped spring onions.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096649690/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 126 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 126" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6067/6096649690_84d54c90c7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Sweet, custardy, and crunchy, you really can’t go wrong with any of the components in this dish. The toasted oats evoked a flavor similar to freshly popped popcorn.<br />
<br />
Bread service done be did happen right around now. House baked levain bread served with an entire stick of softened butter on a piece of slate. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096650072/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 128 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 128" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6065/6096650072_abc8383819_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096105889/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 129 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 129" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6201/6096105889_7fcd913388_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Nikki’s third, fourth, and fifth course were bread. My third course was when I took a huge hulking bite out of that stick of butter. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096106475/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 132 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 132" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6192/6096106475_f201ae6772_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The rolls were fine, but the heavy dusting of flour on top kind of irked me. I’d like to be able to take a bite and not look like I just did a line.<br />
<br />
Our first actual course was Albacore sashimi in padron pepper anchoiade, young radish, and toasted sea kelp.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096106185/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 131 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 131" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6096106185_5443bd6c70_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The dish was very delicate and herbaceous. Something was imparting a very bright “green” flavor—those microgreens would be my guess… or the sea kelp. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096651398/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 134 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 134" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/6096651398_b31e8a569b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The tuna was slightly fishy, but not unpleasantly so, and was dressed with a very aromatic olive oil.<br />
<br />
The second course was Roasted carrots with vinegar and cultured cream, peach and anise hyssop leaves. There were also some raw almonds sprinkled throughout.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096107073/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 135 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 135" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6096107073_d54ac0eb78_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The reason why I couldn’t remember much about the first course was because it lived in the second courses shadow. Not only was this the best thing I ate all week, but it was actually the best I’ve eaten all year. The combination of flavors was simple yet each component was so impeccably fresh and balanced I just can’t do the dish justice with words. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096107377/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 137 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 137" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6203/6096107377_6a945e98c8_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I thought those were flower petals decorating the plate until my wife pointed out that they were paper-thin slices of carrot designed to look like petals. The juicy hunks of fresh peach acted to offset the cultured cream which I would compare to a Greek yogurt. The crunchy raw almonds provided a nutty backdrop that kept the sweet/tart flavors in check. The licorice flavor from the anise leaves seemingly came out of left field, but after the flavors had a chance to merry the dish was elevated onto a virtually unattainable pedestal. Luckily, I had a change of pants in my backpack. Without question the best vegetarian dish I’ve ever eaten.<br />
<br />
The meal could’ve ended here and I would’ve gladly paid my $68 and skipped out the door whistling a jovial tune, but we had many more courses left. Our third ended up being my least favorite course of the meal. Usually the fish course is. What can I say, sushi and fish tacos aside, I’m not much of a fish eater. It was Petale Sole with squid confit in it’s ink, shelling and young Summer beans, Tokyo turnips, and bronze fennel.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096108279/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 141 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 141" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6081/6096108279_c2e0f1d0af_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Unfortunately, the ambient noise in the restaurant drowned out most of my voice memo about this dish. The squid was definitely the dishes saving grace and the overall flavor profile brought to mind mild blue crab with it’s mustard. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096653362/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 142 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 142" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/6096653362_7130c2829e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The beans were extremely flavorful and had to be eaten with restraint otherwise they completely overpowered everything.<br />
<br />
Our main course was Roasted and poached chicken with pig’s blood, foie gras, button chanterelle mushrooms, mustard flowers, and a reduction of chicken jus, lemon, and thyme.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096653708/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 145 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 145" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6084/6096653708_42bdb398fc_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The flavor of the mustard flower really jumped off the plate; otherwise these flavors were extremely deep and earthy. This was a very comforting and cohesive dish and every component served a purpose. The acidity from the lemon in the reduction served to balance out the other heavy and rich flavors. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096109407/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 147 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 147" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6089/6096109407_7a78f8e2db_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The chicken had a texture I’d never quite experienced, it was firm and so succulent it was almost custardy. The blood pudding was (bloody) icing on the cake. Our chardonnay went really well with this dish—the tart-sweet green apple flavors paired perfectly with the very pork tenderloin-like chicken. <br />
<br />
Prior to our dessert course we were served a palette cleanser of frozen cucumber, apple, and eucalyptus.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096654158/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 149 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 149" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6203/6096654158_d2f0308b54_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Yes, it cleansed my palette.<br />
<br />
Dessert was the only instance where we had a choice of how to end our meal. We agreed to order both just to try them. I had the Semi-frozen nectarine chiboust (basically a meringue) with hemp seeds, ice milk, and warm corn pudding. Nikki had the Artisanal cheese (cow’s milk and sheep’s milk), blueberry conserve with hazelnut toast and lavash.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096654238/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 150 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 150" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6068/6096654238_c5872d0f90_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I wasn’t too impressed with my dessert (generally speaking the dessert course is usually the weakest point of a tasting menu) but I was happy to see the toasted hemp seeds again. They’d make a great breakfast cereal.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096109621/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 152 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 152" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6185/6096109621_fa9be27f8e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I preferred the cheese course as I thought the nutty sheep’s milk cheese really paired well with the blueberry preserves and the hazelnut toast. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096109681/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 154 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 154" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6076/6096109681_d6e3de4639_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
You can’t really go wrong with cheese, preserves, and wine. <br />
<br />
Along with the check we were served a pair of peach gelees that were absolutely dreadful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096109775/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 155 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 155" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6183/6096109775_366d71791c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
If they wanted to murder us with sugar they could’ve just sutured HFCS to our veins. Ugh, a terrible way to end an otherwise very pleasant meal. We had our server call us a cab and watched the kitchen crew start packing things up for the night. Day one was over, but our adventure had only just begun…<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/6/1456668/restaurant/Commis-Oakland"><img alt="Commis on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1456668/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-66462223674233856782011-09-07T21:03:00.001-04:002011-09-11T07:21:30.373-04:00Labor Day Weekend 2011Saturday I smoked some butts for a little get together at my mom's place on Sunday.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125183249/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 002 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 002" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6201/6125183249_9ae96bbce9_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125728196/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 008 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 008" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6125728196_f10b546e7a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I smoked them over hickory and oak for 18 hours on the dot. Meanwhile I whipped up a batch of finishing sauce I'd conjured up in my head.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125729488/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 012 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 012" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6065/6125729488_8414de80d8_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It turned out to be a grand success in the finished product. I also took the time to enjoy a brew whilst the butts was on:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125730186/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 014 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 014" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6080/6125730186_74c6b192ce_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Smoked porters pair <b>amazingly</b> well with barbecue and Stone makes one of the best. I also planned on making some ABT's, but our bacon passed it's prime while we were on vacation so they were baconless, but no less delicious.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125731192/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 017 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 017" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6062/6125731192_b922354795_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Butts coming off the smoker at 1am on Sunday:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125189491/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 021 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 021" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6084/6125189491_0de9f3118a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Now that that was done, it was time for some doggie dress-up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125733186/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 023 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 023" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/6125733186_a958d52c26_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125190099/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 024 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 024" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6207/6125190099_176df578e9_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125733846/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 025 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 025" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6192/6125733846_2f545eb517_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We stopped when Sahara somehow figured out how to evoke the spirit of the devil. That was some scary shit.<br />
<br />
After double-wrapping the butts in foil and towels I transported them over to my mother's house and pulled them much to everyone's delight just past 3pm.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125734768/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 028 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 028" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6088/6125734768_d990c16cd7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125191759/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 029 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 029" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6062/6125191759_279c8246cd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125736192/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 031 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 031" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6202/6125736192_227c158134_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Want some?<br />
<br />
While I usually prepare the entire spread myself, my mother insisted I only bring the pork and her and her friends would take care of the rest. That they did indeed I reckon yessum.<br />
<br />
Plate 1:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125193291/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 033 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 033" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6192/6125193291_c8f0fe71f2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Plate 2:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125193681/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 034 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 034" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6184/6125193681_a681164ae4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
(Plate 2 was better, but shhhh, don't tell my mom)<br />
<br />
I went crabbing with my dad Monday morning. All-in-all it was a pretty rough day out there, but we caught 34 beauties. I went back home and got cleaned up and decided to concoct a little beverage. An ultra-ripe peach from our CSA, mint from our backyard, a little demarara syrup, and more Maker's Mark than I care to admit yielded some pretty goddamn fantastic peach mint juleps:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125737562/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 035 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 035" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/6125737562_5a9abba340_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125194343/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 036 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 036" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6125194343_c4847c3bd2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125195037/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 038 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 038" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6188/6125195037_f4c08b1a79_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125738828/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 039 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 039" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6185/6125738828_79921a8131_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After quaffing our beverages we headed over to my dad's for crabs, corn on the cob, and much, much more pulled pork.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125196087/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 041 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 041" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/6125196087_9606836e71_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6125739950/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Labor Day Weekend 2011 042 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Labor Day Weekend 2011 042" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6082/6125739950_f09956f0b6_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Check out that hammer in the corner for scale, those suckers were HUGE. <br />
<br />
I want to start a barbecue catering business. Tell your friends! I hope your weekend was as delicious as my own. Until next time.<br />
<br />
Micro--out.Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-3035839994140009262011-09-03T10:35:00.005-04:002011-09-12T20:29:31.742-04:00The SF Street Food Fest and Drinking in OaklandAs you may already know, my wife and I spent a week in the San Francisco bay area for our second anniversary. Honestly, this is the first trip I've planned where the non-food-related stuff outweighed the eatings. That's not to say some of the food wasn't great, it was, but we did so much other super cool stuff that for the first time my fondest memories don't involve stuffing my face. Our flight arrived mid-morning Saturday the 20th and after checking into our hotel and checking out the view we rushed out the door to stop our stomachs from further digesting themselves.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096073579/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 009 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 009" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6201/6096073579_f0a4c3e507_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The original plan was to check out the <a href="http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/farmers_market.php">Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market</a>, but once I heard about the <a href="http://www.sfstreetfoodfest.com/">San Francisco Street Food Festival</a> taking place in the mission on this day only, we scrapped that idea and made our way to the festival.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096618410/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 010 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 010" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/6096618410_e3576eb825_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The website provided a handy meal planner so I already knew some of the things I wanted to try, otherwise we just checked out whatever sounded interesting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096619064/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 012 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 012" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6200/6096619064_8796bd568e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
To begin, we needed something to drink and as soon as I saw Beretta’s Mint Ginger Lemonade pleasant memories of <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/08/tortas-falafel-and-concretes-oh-my.html">Taim’s version</a> danced in my head. Unfortunately, this iteration was barely drinkable.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096074721/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 014 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 014" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6208/6096074721_fd5478a43f_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
It was extremely tart and acidic. Drinks are supposed to quench your thirst, not make you dying to quaff the nearest birdbath. I shook and stirred the hell of out of the thing hoping that the flavors would blend, but it didn’t help. Strike one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096074997/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 015 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 015" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6096074997_9e01486c11_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Fortunately our luck immediately turned around for the first food item we tried ended up being one of the best bites of the entire trip. Feast your eyes on Azalina’s Penang Curry Bomb Bun:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096075357/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 017 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 017" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6070/6096075357_0e04a0596b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Slightly spicy coconut chicken curry covered in white sauce and blueberry cucumber pickles all served on a freshly baked, steamed, then fried green onion bun. Holy hell it was like the Ringling Bros. were performing in my mouth.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096076037/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 020 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 020" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6187/6096076037_f301601052_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
You’ve got your creamy spicy coconut and tart-sweet and sour pickles. There was crunch from the veggies and crispness from the bun. This bun had to be one of the most interesting sandwich delivery vessels I’ve come across. Oh, and don’t forget the green onion flavor, that was there too. We raved about this sandwich all day. This sandwich really made an impact, especially after the harsh realization that <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2011/08/journey-to-philly.html">Tony Luke's had completely sold out</a>.<br />
<br />
Since I only had two sips of that train wreck of a lemonade, I yearned for a worthy beverage. I found it at the Hapa SF stand in their Stonefruit Calamansi soda.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096620888/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 021 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 021" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6209/6096620888_167f51971d_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Now this hit the spot. Not too sweet, not too thick with a slight carbonation and strong flavors of peach and apricot. Although it did require some shaking for proper enjoyment due to the pulp’s tendency to settle at the bottom of the cup, my only complaint was that it could’ve been colder.<br />
<br />
Thirst quenched it was time for dessert. Luckily, I had one already picked out. Do the words Sweet Potato Pie Waffle with Bourbon Caramel Sauce get your juices flowing? They sure did mine.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096621762/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 024 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 024" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6063/6096621762_951d623055_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My main complaint with most waffles is texture. It seems like 95% of waffles aren’t crispy enough and the other 5% are leaden hockey pucks. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096077557/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 025 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 025" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6078/6096077557_a097f4a825_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This had to be the most perfectly textured waffle I’ve ever had. The key was that it wasn’t crispy, it was crunchy. Crunchy and slightly soft. Not only that, but the flavor screamed sweet potato pie. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096622784/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 027 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 027" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6074/6096622784_acdf6b40b5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
If there was bourbon in that caramel, I’ll be damned if I could taste it, but I didn’t care. The waffles themselves were so delicious that I barely noticed. These things got devoured just as fast as the buns, if not faster. I was tempted to walk over and give these ladies a big hug… Whilst not wearing any pants.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096623146/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 030 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 030" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6190/6096623146_afdd3f8109_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Our last two dishes were less successful. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096625974/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 037 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 037" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6067/6096625974_711e80841f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The Grilled Lamb Cheeks from Commonwealth were very tender and the mint sauce was good, but I would’ve liked more char and the quinoa salad seemed like nothing more than filler. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096627728/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 044 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 044" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6076/6096627728_d0be0b8ddf_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096628006/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 045 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 045" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6183/6096628006_fb5b0b58dc_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The Spicy Shrimp Onigilly featured perfectly cooked rice, but as you can see the amount of spicy shrimp filling was laughable. It was basically a $3 ball of rice. And with that we left the festival just as the crowds really started to get out of hand. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096624422/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 033 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 033" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6207/6096624422_703d821ff4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096627402/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 043 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 043" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6089/6096627402_9d5a546e0d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We walked back to the BART station and headed back to the hotel to unpack and grab a quick nap and then we were off to Oakland. Our only sightseeing stop was The Cathedral of Christ the Light.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096629900/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 049 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 049" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6181/6096629900_6a4af223f2_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
While I’m clearly not a religious man, I am a huge fan of interesting architecture, and there was definitely no shortage of it here.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096631002/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 054 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 054" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/6096631002_4510420830_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096087711/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 060 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 060" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6096087711_b80eb141df_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096088763/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 064 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 064" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/6096088763_9ddba477d6_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096089093/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 065 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 065" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6190/6096089093_94a15c3b53_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
From there we decided to walk to our first beer stop: The Trappist. On our way down Broadway we happened upon <a href="http://www.oaksterdamuniversity.com/">Oaksterdam University</a> which had a museum dedicated to all things cannabis--we couldn’t not check this place out. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096091897/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 073 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 073" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6062/6096091897_192bfde2f5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096634444/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 067 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 067" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6187/6096634444_6cb0d96cd3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096634778/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 068 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 068" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6082/6096634778_75693dc0a9_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
They had some very interesting things on display, but the best part was that I got a chance to catch up with an old friend I haven’t seen since college:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096636096/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 071 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 071" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6096636096_8bd3e95d45_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Finally we arrived at the Trappist. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096636940/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 075 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 075" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6207/6096636940_4733be7769_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096637408/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 076 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 076" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6188/6096637408_fcf534f0c1_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Immediately I really liked the space. With the high ceilings and great use of natural light it was very inviting. And just as we entered a couple at the bar was just leaving and offered us their seats. Score. The beer menu was very, very impressive. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096093469/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 078 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 078" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6184/6096093469_64f91901c5_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096093743/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 079 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 079" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6078/6096093743_085b457ce6_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I tried many before finally deciding on De Dolle Boskeun which the menu described as a “strong blonde ale brewed w/ Golding hops and re-fermented with native honey” at 10% abv. Nikki went with a bottle of Samuel Smith’s Organic Cider.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096094673/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 082 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 082" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6202/6096094673_8c9e6fc76c_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096094071/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 080 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 080" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6067/6096094071_268c27c32b_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Honestly, it felt like I was drinking beer out of a wine glass, but nonetheless I learned to enjoy myself:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096095255/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 084 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 084" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6206/6096095255_7f802bce94_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
My beer was quite light in body and hid its high abv frighteningly well. It finished a touch bitter and went down smooth with pleasing notes of apple and honey. I’m really starting to dig strong golden/blonde ales.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096095985/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 087 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 087" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6096095985_d5c0201bd1_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Whilst enjoying our beverages we got talking to a great couple from Atlanta who were in town for a wedding. If you look at the picture of the interior they’re the couple wearing blue and gray in the foreground. Once they found out we were celebrating our 2nd anniversary they insisted on picking up our tab. Dave and Nia(Mia?) were cool as hell and I wish we would’ve gotten their contact info.<br />
<br />
Next up was Beer Revolution. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096641052/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 089 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 089" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6075/6096641052_9c9f536856_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I went in thinking this would be my favorite of the two, but it was darker, louder, busier, and the beer list wasn’t quite as good. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096097623/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 092 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 092" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6200/6096097623_f9bb5ccfc7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096642400/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 093 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 093" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6075/6096642400_40892f0ccd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I guess the experience really turned sour when I went to use the coed bathroom and after knocking twice I walked in on a cracked out chick annihilating the shitter. Why would you not lock a public restroom? That image of her bracing herself against the walls is seared into my brain for all of eternity. What a horrible, horrible thing.<br />
<br />
Anyway, while there I sampled a few beers and finally settled on the Great Divide Old Ruffian barleywine at 10.2%. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096098693/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 095 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 095" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6078/6096098693_ddbc7d992e_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
It ended on a funky bitter note that I found interesting and the nose was very nice emitting notes of sticky molasses. I ended up not finishing my beer as the high abvs started kicking in. We changed here and hailed a cab to Adesso.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096646126/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 114 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 114" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6078/6096646126_835bc7f7fd_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096099979/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 107 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 107" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6067/6096099979_17ed770209_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The original plan was to have a round of cocktails, but neither of us were feeling up to it. So we ordered a few lattes and an appetizer instead. This turned out to be a very wise decision as these were some of the best lattes we had all trip (and we had a lot, you’ll see.) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096100641/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 109 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 109" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6096100641_405da45898_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
The antipasti was simply described as brandywine tomatoes, bread, and basil and that’s pretty much exactly what we got.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096645520/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 112 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 112" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6074/6096645520_8a155d5a59_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It was perfectly dressed in olive oil and the bread was crisped and crunchy like righteous croutons. The tomatoes were very flavorful and not mealy or bitter. Ya gotta love fresh tomatoes in the heart of the season. We cleaned the plate in about 20 seconds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6096645828/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="San Francisco August 2011 113 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="San Francisco August 2011 113" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/6096645828_f50b7725a8_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We lingered over our lattes and when the time came we paid our check and strolled over to Commis for our epic set menu multi-course dinner…<br />
<br />
Micro—out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/6/1475788/restaurant/The-Trappist-Oakland"><img alt="The Trappist on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1475788/minilogo.gif" style="border: medium none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/6/1448258/restaurant/Adesso-Oakland"><img alt="Adesso on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1448258/minilogo.gif" style="border: medium none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-22178388649491959982011-08-18T18:04:00.000-04:002011-08-18T18:04:08.179-04:00A Journey to PhillyTwo tickets to see Journey/Foreigner/Night Ranger at Susquehanna Bank Center provided me the perfect opportunity to reaffirm (or disaffirm) my favorite sandwich on the planet: Tony Luke’s roast pork Italian with broccoli rabe. The show started at 7pm, so after packing up the cooler with a few pre-gaming goodies, we were on the road by 2pm.<br />
<br />
The traffic heading north on 95 was pretty brutal. What should’ve taken 1.5 hours took over 2, so it was about 4:15pm when we snagged a great parking spot (in the middle of the street) and were presented with this disheartening sight:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051019714/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 002 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 002" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6207/6051019714_2f5535b46b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
I expected as much, however. In the 2.5 years since my last visit Tony Luke’s has received a lot of publicity on Food Network, and general media exposure from blog and other food-centric websites. I’d been there twice before, and both times it was the best sandwich I’d ever had, so I wouldn’t be deterred. We got in line and waited with the rest of these bandwagoners.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050468635/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 003 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 003" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/6050468635_85c6d265a4_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Luckily there was entertainment to be had during our wait. We got to watch this daring young fellow attempt Tony Luke’s Ultimate Cheesesteak Challenge made popular by Travel Channel’s Man V. Food. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050470787/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 009 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 009" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6074/6050470787_eb297952f1_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050470415/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 008 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 008" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/6050470415_d77ecf5f0c_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
He was about three bites away from completing the challenge when he lost his lunch in the street, much to the joy and horror of the diners around him. This was the first eating challenge I’ve witnessed in person, and it proved to be a great way to pass the time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050468923/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 004 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 004" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6184/6050468923_12bab3cced_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051021240/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 007 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 007" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6082/6051021240_31fd801cd0_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
25 minutes later we finally made it to the ordering window. My order was obvious, and Nikki went with a plain whiz steak. I’m so proud that she didn’t order <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2009/10/obx-in-effect.html">a turkey burger</a> or something. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051022440/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 010 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 010" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6207/6051022440_1120aa79a7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
15 minutes after that, we finally had our sandwiches. We grabbed a fistful of napkins and made a beeline back to the car. Oh yes, this was it. The moment of truth was upon me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050471547/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 011 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 011" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6075/6050471547_98fd0fcded_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050472267/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 013 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 013" height="480" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/6050472267_1fafbed29e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Sometimes the truth hurts. In this case the truth was like feeding my genitals to a pack of raving hyenas. The first thing I noticed after unwrapping my sandwich was a greasy flaccid slice of “sharp provolone” sticking out of one end:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051023824/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 014 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 014" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/6051023824_47100c8964_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
All I could hear was the guys from ESPN saying "C'mon maaaan!" As appalled as I was to see this, I decided to try it to see if at the least the flavor was still solid. It tasted like your grandmother’s foot bath water smells. The fact that the cheese wasn’t melted was just a kick to the groin, but throw in the unpleasant (and that’s putting it mildly) flavor and that’s when the hyenas came into the picture. Sadly, this was just the beginning of the sandwiches many downfalls.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050472899/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 015 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 015" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6075/6050472899_950df6175e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
By just picking the thing up I knew the bread had been sitting around for a while. Gone was the perfectly crusty on the outside fluffy on the inside roll (fuck hyphens) that I remembered from my previous visits. This thing was one spongy texture throughout. Dare I even take a bite for fear of even more disappointment? Dare I did indeed. Did done do it, I did.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W45DRy7M1no">And boom goes the dynamite</a>. Ah, where to begin. Well let me say that foot fungal-esque cheese aside, for the most part the flavors were still there. The huge glaring flaws came in the execution of the components. In other words, at this point a strung out elephant showed up, scattering the pack of hyenas, and straight up gored my bait and tackle. My cash and prizes. My (now trampled) twig and berries.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051024484/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 017 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 017" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6189/6051024484_e4fef838a7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The pork was dry, but there was plenty of juice squirting out of my slightly stale bread. You may be able to fool your every day tourist Porky Pete with this tactic, but I saw right through the ruse. Basically a massive amount of pork was (over)cooked all at once, and then left to stew in a pan of juices until service.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the rabe also fell prey to the ham-fisted execution. The flavor was solid--a little garlic, a little spice, and a lot of bitterness, but it was overcooked to the point that it could’ve come straight from a jar of <a href="http://www.gerber.com/AllStages/products/puree_baby_food/3rd_foods_vegetables_broccoli_carrots.aspx">Gerber NatureSelect</a>. With a look of utter defeat on my face, I turned to see if my wife was faring any better with her whiz steak.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051023096/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 012 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 012" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6183/6051023096_b0a6d22534_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After taking a bite I immediately noticed that her bread was significantly fresher. The flavor was better and the outer crust was present. I guess it’s just the luck of the draw on whether or not you get good bread. Come to think of it I did notice when I was ordering that the counter was covered in rolls topped with a slice of what appeared to be provolone. Maybe they prep the two sandwiches differently. It would explain a lot. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050473853/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 019 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 019" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6205/6050473853_e987ae3c02_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The whiz had a noticeable grit to it, and it also had a very pronounced synthetic flavor to it, but I still vastly preferred it to my provolone. This was also by far the toughest meat I’ve had on a cheesesteak anywhere in Philadelphia (and <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2009/10/retrospec-philly-cheesesteak-tour-08.html">I’ve had a lot</a>). It may have been due to the fact that it was sliced on the thicker side.<br />
<br />
Overall, I preferred the cheesesteak over the RPI, but neither is a sandwich I would bother ordering again. Yes, you read that correctly. After this severely disappointing experience, I won’t be patronizing Tony Luke’s ever again. The king is dead and the crown of my favorite sandwich on the planet sits unadorned, gathering dust in a forgotten corner of my perception.<br />
Well, fortunately we had dessert to look forward to. We roughly 10 minutes north and after a few circles around the block, found a spot just a few short blocks away from The Franklin Fountain.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051025582/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 020 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 020" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6085/6051025582_32bcc1fabb_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This was yet another place that has received attention on Food Network in the form of The Best Thing I Ever Ate. The place was much smaller than I’d imagined, and luckily not nearly as busy as Tony Luke’s.<br />
<br />
We got in line and after a few short moments we had the full attention of the entire staff. They joked back and forth while filling their short list of orders, and when we were ready to order, they couldn’t’ve been happier to serve us. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050475977/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 024 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 024" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6050475977_289b09b140_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
(A shitty picture, I know) The plan was to split a sundae so we went with the Franklin Mint which their menu describes as ‘Mint chip and vanilla ice creams striped in chocolate syrup, fluffy marshmallow glaze, and crème de menthe finished with home-made whipped cream and a mint green maraschino cherry.’ Quite a mouthful.<br />
<br />
Due to the disappointing sandwiches I wasn’t as full as I’d anticipated so I asked which phosphate they’d recommend. They asked if I’d ever had a phosphate and I replied that I hadn’t so they immediately recommended the Japanese Thirst Killer which is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orgeat_syrup">Orgeat</a>, grape juice, Angostura bitters, and citric acid (bubbles). They described it as the best grape soda you’ve ever had. Well, since I love grape soda I couldn’t ignore that recommendation.<br />
<br />
Let me start by saying that charging over $16 for a sundae and a soda is re-goddamn-diculous. I don’t care how artisianal your ingredients are, or how painstakingly crafted the food is, shelling out almost $20 for what would cost around $5 at any other soda shop is just wrong. This shit had better be made with Mother Mary’s tit milk. Is this what quality costs these days? No, actually, it isn’t. This is what happens when a place gets a little fame, they can charge whatever they want, and people will still pay it. I did. It was a black day for gluttons everywhere.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050476895/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 026 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 026" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6050476895_207d7a7d6e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Moving forward. We proceeded to the far end of the shop to wait for our order. The sundae was up in mere moments, but we were told the drink would take a little time, so I asked if Nikki wouldn’t mind securing us a table while I waited for our beverage. I made sure to give her the stink eye, ensuring that she knew that if a bite was taken out of that sundae when I sat down, there would be hell to pay. <br />
<br />
Blah, blah, blah let’s get to the food already.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050478733/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 033 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 033" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6050478733_e7c6bc91c2_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
The soda was a delightful magenta color and perfectly fizzy. It was light on the tongue and not syrupy in the least. It had the light body of a diet soda, with the full rich flavor of the real deal. The almond was subtle, but detectable. Out of all the things we tried in Philly, this was my favorite. My only complaint was the meager amount of ice in the glass, which all floated to the top. If I did a quick stir before I sipped it was slightly cool, but overall it was barely above room temperature. This was emphasized by the fact that we were eating a nice cold sundae along with it. Other than that, this soda was the tits.<br />
<br />
Minor flaws aside, the sundae was quite good. I don’t know about $10 good, but good nonetheless. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050478999/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 034 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 034" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6050478999_92ed699b70_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
As you can see, the presentation was very nice. I’m usually one that eats with his mouth, not with his eyes, but striping and the dots of whipped cream were very nice. That green glass dish almost went home with us. Almost.<br />
<br />
This was definitely some of the smoothest ice cream I’ve ever had. My complaints were that I wished they had mint/chocolate syrup throughout because once we polished off the top layer, the sundae was kinda bland. Plus, I wish it’d been all mint chip ice cream, since the mint flavor was fairly subdued. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051030594/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 035 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 035" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6190/6051030594_d94bf4d7c2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The same goes for the marshmallow flavor. Luckily the mint chocolate chips studded throughout saved the dish from doing a headlong dive into complete blandness. I usually don’t care for whipped cream in sundaes, usually acting as nothing more than filler, but here the fresh creamy taste complimented the mint perfectly. I usually prefer hot fudge, but the chocolate syrup suited this dish, not overpowering the somewhat delicate mint flavor.<br />
<br />
Even with all of those complaints we still housed this thing in about 90 seconds. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050479655/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 037 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 037" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6082/6050479655_d081dc5130_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Overall, it was a damn good sundae. It took me a while to finish off the lukewarm soda, and after our meal I did feel little queasy. Contrary to what you might think, I don’t eat a lot of sweets. We took our time getting back to the car and heading to the concert.<br />
<br />
It started sprinkling on the way, and by the time we paid ($25 wtf!?!) for parking and claimed our spot, it was a full-blown downpour. Luckily the showers were spotty, and we were able to listen to music with our windows down while we pre-gamed for the show. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050480405/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 039 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 039" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6067/6050480405_d1206bc9db_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051031318/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 038 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 038" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6062/6051031318_dc2017e957_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051032786/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 042 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 042" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6185/6051032786_290fc5a137_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I asked my wife to turn down the A/C and her merry monkey feet happily obliged:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051033196/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 043 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 043" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6051033196_cfa1c27d29_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051033614/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 044 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 044" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6051033614_e313eda11d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Night Ranger was the opener, so as soon as we heard them blaring <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO8JDZj2nTY">Sister Christian</a> we knew it was time to make our way inside.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050482555/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 046 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 046" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6050482555_b73efeb1f5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050483131/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 049 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 049" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6202/6050483131_813fc9cd57_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
How is it that when she makes silly faces she still looks beautiful and when I make them I look like Sloth? <br />
<br />
The show was quite good. Great, actually. The sound was VERY loud, I felt bad for the people down in the pit, but after fashioning some earplugs out of some extra napkins we were good to go. Foreigner completely upstaged Journey. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050483605/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 053 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 053" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6082/6050483605_682b47cb12_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6050483811/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 054 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 054" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6079/6050483811_a1e37fa3f4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051036148/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 060 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 060" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6051036148_09aff1d4e7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051036390/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 062 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 062" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6188/6051036390_f76363a194_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
They were both good, but Foreigner really put on a great show. Up there with some of the best live performances I’ve seen. They sounded better, they had a better stage and stage presence, and the hits just kept coming. I had no idea they sang so many great songs. When they closed with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5_qhnWByA4">Jukebox Hero</a> the place was going nuts.<br />
<br />
Journey played a decent set, but we sat down (as did almost everyone else) for the songs off their new album. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051037026/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 067 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 067" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6201/6051037026_a2d56b63c3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6051037384/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Journey Philly 069 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Journey Philly 069" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6202/6051037384_ef408ed4d0_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
They opened with Separate Ways and closed with Don’t Stop Belevin’ and Any Way You Want It, but we rolled out as soon as they started the piano intro to DSB trying to beat the traffic home. After refusing to pay $35 for a Foreigner t-shirt we made it back to the car… and it wouldn’t start. We flagged down a guy and his wife and after some coaxing he pulled his huge diesel pickup around and we hooked up our jumper cables, but it still wouldn’t start. Shit.<br />
<br />
Another cracked out dude in an Eagles jersey came along and informed us that we needed to scrape off the corrosion around the plug things (can you tell I’m not a car guy?) to get the juice flowing. After doing so it started right up. We thanked the guys for their help at which point the guy in the Eagles jersey tried to sell me a gold Rolex. You gotta love your fellow man. I respectfully declined, but chucked him a couple bucks for his help. After about 15 minutes we made it out of the parking lot and were back on the highway. While not the perfect day, it was definitely a trip worth taking, but Foreigner definitely made the day. <br />
<br />
Well this is my last post before we leave Saturday for our second anniversary trip to San Francisco and Napa Valley. I'm very excited since I've never been to the west coast before and expect tons of shiny new content on whats good to eat (and drink!) out there. Until then.<br />
<br />
Micro--out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/21/258117/restaurant/South-Philadelphia/Tony-Lukes-Philadelphia"><img alt="Tony Luke's on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/258117/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/21/252789/restaurant/Old-City-Society-Hill/Franklin-Fountain-Philadelphia"><img alt="Franklin Fountain on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/252789/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-51346029767743268352011-08-13T13:01:00.000-04:002011-08-13T13:02:34.316-04:00The Most Epic Day Ever IIIThis past Friday was supposed to be spent eating and bar hopping our way through NYC, but due to some excessive celebrating the previous night, one member of our party (Chris) was ridiculously hungover the next morning so we ended up cancelling the trip. After getting a couple more hours sleep, we decided to make the most of the day by getting breakfast and then smoking some ribs. It ended up being a damn fine day all things considered.<br />
<br />
Aside from the horribly slow service, our breakfast at Open Door Cafe was quite good. We chose to dine al fresco and after our hostess seated us, she mentioned she was the barista and that they had a fully functioning espresso bar so I ordered my usual decaf soy latte.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037758477/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 005 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 005" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6078/6037758477_c345b5295d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It was alright. I guess I should've ordered a cappuccino as I was disappointed in the measly amount of foam. After getting our drinks we had plenty of time to browse the menu. 20 minutes went by before our server even made an appearance. She was lucky we weren't pressed for time since our next stop didn't open till 11am, otherwise her face would've become very familiar with the business end of my pimp hand.<br />
<br />
I ordered the smoked salmon and red onion eggs benedict with a side (hah!) of grits. A still very hungover Chris ordered the BELT (BLT with a fried egg). <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6038307036/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 006 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 006" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/6038307036_7a20eee3b6_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Side of grits? More like a gravy boat of grits. Holy shit that was the largest serving of grits I've ever seen. While the flavor of the grits was quite good, they were extremely undercooked, one step above crunchy and seriously pasty. I likes my grits creamy, damnit! How come the only person who seems to know how to cook grits properly is <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vZblSTrUz9Y/TGSLBD5macI/AAAAAAAAB_A/KI5HPg7BZIU/s1600/063.JPG">Bobby freakin' Flay</a>? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037759369/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 010 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 010" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6065/6037759369_f664b9af06_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Luckily, the benedict itself rocked. My only complaint here was that it was served with melted butter instead of a freshly made hollandaise. I won't go over the components that make up a great eggs benedict, as I'm sure you're all quite familiar with the dish. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037759587/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 011 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 011" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/6037759587_4100791c94_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6038308328/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 012 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 012" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6074/6038308328_c8993939e6_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The salmon had a strong smoke flavor, and they didn't overdo it with the red onion. The english muffin was the perfect balance of soft and crispy and it was obvious that the chef had seasoned it with salt and pepper before putting it up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037758943/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 008 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 008" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6070/6037758943_c2242171a8_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037759139/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 009 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 009" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/6037759139_7923b46d5c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The BELT earned Chris's approval. The egg appeared to be cooked over medium, and, although ripe, the tomato slices were pretty small, but he appreciated the lightly toasted fresh bread.<br />
<br />
Due to our extremely slow service we arrived at Broom's Bloom right as they opened. I nabbed some sausage and bacon for my baked beans and then perused the day's available flavors.<br />
<br />
I ended up going with half Cinnamon Honey Vanilla half Coffee topped with hot fudge. A damn fine flavor combination if I do say so myself.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037760467/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 015 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 015" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/6037760467_3aa2ce7e20_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6038309512/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 018 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 018" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6067/6038309512_fedbe03724_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I like my ice cream melty, one step above drinkable, which is why I love hot fudge so much. I overheard one of the employees utter the phrase "Damn, skinny white boy can eat" You're goddamn right I can. Best recognize.<br />
<br />
After running around town picking up stuff for the smoke, we got back to my place and started cooking. As usual, I'll let the pictures do the talking.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037761503/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 020 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 020" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6065/6037761503_db9b1ae40e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037761767/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 022 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 022" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6080/6037761767_5d1ae4b062_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
While letting the smoke do it's thing we went for a little tromp through the woods out back. Sadly no goblins or ettins were found. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037762221/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 023 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 023" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6130/6037762221_87cbb829d2_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Lightning hit this tree right behind my house during a raging midnight thunderstorm last week. It scared the shit out of both of us and showered our house in shards of bark and splinters. Crazy stuff.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6038311564/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 024 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 024" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6038311564_9dac61f5d5_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037763459/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 025 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 025" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6037763459_29bf542066_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037770411/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 041 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 041" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/6037770411_bde367d9f4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037772443/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 046 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 046" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6185/6037772443_3046319e74_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
We got back and temps were holding steady at 255*. Chris still wasn't 100%, but I wasn't hungover at all so I cracked a 90 minute and we chilled in the basement giving my SNES a good workout.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037773119/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 051 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 051" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6205/6037773119_79426baaeb_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037775211/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 057 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 057" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6146/6037775211_a7b202f1c4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
R-Type 3 all up in your facehole. We also played Super Punch-Out and Final Fantasy III (of course). <br />
<br />
And now I present to you the main course. I'll leave you with these lovely pictures. Honestly, if I keep up my current upward trend, I truly believe I could make a living off of my cooking. These ribs were outstanding.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6038324248/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 062 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 062" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/6038324248_eeed5b92c8_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6038324600/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 064 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 064" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6188/6038324600_aa2025485f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6038325834/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 068 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 068" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/6038325834_4b724095b4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6038326044/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 069 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 069" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6140/6038326044_9bbf8cf35d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037778135/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 070 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 070" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6189/6037778135_c026c4186d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6038326904/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 073 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 073" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6038326904_8924b83ba1_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6038327386/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 074 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 074" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/6038327386_3de8ec6d26_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Who wants leftovers?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/6037780139/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #3 079 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #3 079" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/6037780139_f0e70853ea_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This day turned out to be as good if not better than if we'd gone to NYC. It just proves that all you need in life is great food, good friends, and a high quality beer or two. Oh yeah, and videogames. You gotta have those.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading, but I gotta jet. We're going up to Susquehanna Bank Center to see Journey. Not without stops at <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2009/10/retrospec-philly-cheesesteak-tour-08.html">Tony Luke's</a> and <a href="http://www.franklinfountain.com/">Franklin Fountain</a> first though. Woot.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/813111/restaurant/Baltimore/Brooms-Bloom-Dairy-Bel-Air"><img alt="Brooms Bloom Dairy on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/813111/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/813177/restaurant/Baltimore/Open-Door-Cafe-Bel-Air"><img alt="Open Door Cafe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/813177/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-11711399534242052572011-08-12T05:47:00.000-04:002011-08-12T05:47:36.528-04:0030/66 Chicago: The FinaleThe original plan (and original plans never seem to work out) was to get up early Sunday morning and partake in two separate breakfasts. Matt and I actually did manage to arise on time, but after dumbly staring at each other for 10 minutes we both went back to bed. There was an unspoken agreement that breakfast #1 was cancelled (it was supposed to be at <a href="http://www.southportgrocery.com/">Southport Grocery and Café</a> in case you were wondering.) Luckily, the entire gang was up in time for our 11am brunch reservation at Nightwood. After an ass-blasting drive down Lake Shore we arrived right on time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950140340/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 356 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 356" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/5950140340_5bf405ab94_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Everything about this place screamed uppity “our shit don’t stink” attitude, and it showed when I walked by a food runner with this permed fauxhawk abomination on his head two separate times and both times he gave me a look of utter disgust. I think he wanted a piece. Plus the acoustics blew goats. Luckily, our flamboyant server couldn’t’ve been nicer, and aside from the most uncomfortable chairs I’ve ever experienced in a restaurant, I really enjoyed our time here.<br />
Their brunch menu changes weekly, and luckily this week there were more than a few items that caught my eye. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950140592/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 357 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 357" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5950140592_a0e010cf7f_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I gladly accepted offers of <a href="http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/">coffee</a> and ice water (coffee may have been a bad idea, because after four cups I was quaking like a crack fiend in bad need of a fix) and we decided to split a few starters to, erm, start.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949584147/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 361 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 361" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5949584147_844fd76721_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949587711/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 381 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 381" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5949587711_5b0b9e0eae_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We went with both types of housemade doughnuts (read the menu for a full description) and the pop-tart.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950141800/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 362 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 362" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6147/5950141800_5a5242879d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The pop-tart was alright, nothing special. The salad was actually the component that received the most praise. Foie gras dough? I think they forgot the foie gras in our dough, because that component was nigh undetectable. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950142886/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 367 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 367" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5950142886_4486f7e172_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This is the <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/12/1st-anniversary-road-trip-day-9.html">second time</a> I’ve ordered a fancified doughnut and not been impressed. I don’t think I’ll be making that mistake again.<br />
<br />
Out of the two doughnuts, I preferred the bacon maple. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949584613/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 363 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 363" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/5949584613_a06a4908a6_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The bacon marmalade/compote wasn’t as smoky as I expected, which I actually enjoyed, and the maple was applied with a restrained hand and played nicely off the bacon. They made friends. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950142672/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 366 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 366" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6005/5950142672_f0d03a372e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I feel like putting bacon in everything has been done to death, but this dish didn’t feel like it was capitalizing on a trend, instead it was a well-executed example of a classic combination of flavors.<br />
<br />
I felt like I would’ve preferred the ‘affogato’ doughnut had I ordered it for myself instead of sharing it with the rest of the table in slivers. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949584823/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 364 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 364" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/5949584823_67df4e89c0_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I would’ve mashed it all up and used the dough as a vessel to get the great combination of espresso custard and vanilla ice cream into my mouth. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950142434/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 365 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 365" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/5950142434_a87a43c887_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Whenever I hit up the local Chinese buffet I always end my meal burying a Chinese doughnut in a pile of chocolate-vanilla swirl soft serve. I love that shit.<br />
<br />
For my main course I ordered the cleverly named “Full Monty Cristo” and added on a side of their signature tater tots. Nikki ordered the Three Sisters oatmeal with a side of bacon. I’m sick of saying housemade, so just assume everything I talk about is unless otherwise noted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950143120/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 368 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 368" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5950143120_d32db02c62_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949585847/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 369 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 369" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6129/5949585847_33d4588921_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Now isn’t that one of the sexiest plates of food you’ve seen in a while? I’m pretty sure the table next to us heard my johnson thump into the bottom of the table. That’s right, as the Chicago Gluttons would say: <a href="http://www.chicagogluttons.com/nightwood/">Nightwood made me pop wood</a>.<br />
<br />
The voice memo about this meal is hilarious. It’s a 3 minute babbling rant about every dish we ordered. Caffeine is most certainly a drug. Well, I’ll try to decipher some of this nonsense so I can compose a halfway decent post.<br />
<br />
My bread pudding was my favorite item of the meal, until I took a bite of those tots. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950143580/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 370 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 370" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5950143580_c3574c8c84_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Goddamn, those are some crazy wizard’s orbs of limitless potato power. The uninitiated trembled before me as I cast them across the room not unlike fiery meteors of utter devastation. Or maybe I just ate them, I don’t really recall. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949586525/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 372 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 372" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5949586525_869db29a9f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Ultra-crispy balls of potato shreds apparently can make a dude wet. They did me. Combine that with the best iteration of rhubarb jam that has ever passed these lips and I was a happy camper. Yep, a happy camper. Thankfully, I didn’t have to shit in the woods.<br />
<br />
Anyway, back to my main dish. I didn’t want to stop eating this either. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949586973/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 374 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 374" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/5949586973_74c74c8ba3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
While Matt said (he ordered the same thing) the flavor profile exhausted his tastebuds, as soon as I cleaned my plate I went right for his. Gluttony at it’s finest. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949587485/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 379 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 379" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5949587485_09a5ec5332_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The prosciutto was a little hard to cut through, and the smear of goat cheese seemed like nothing more than an afterthought, but the combination of creamy, gooey, custardy bread pudding, runny egg yolk, and rhubarb jam really worked.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950143840/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 371 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 371" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/5950143840_095d23b71b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I tried Nikki’s bacon and it kicked ass as well. Caramelized pig belly goodness. Unfortunately, while the texture was great, her oatmeal was a little too sweet for me, and she agreed. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949587257/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 377 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 377" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6145/5949587257_7293a35171_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Those cherries were like little HFCS bombs. The menu also states yogurt as a component, but I guess she ate it all before handing it over so I could have a bite.<br />
<br />
To summarize this meal: Bread pudding at breakfast is always <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2011/06/heaven-is-spelled-nola-part-something.html">a good idea</a> and note to Nightwood: Sell a basket o’ tots as an appetizer. It’ll kill.<br />
<br />
We toyed with the idea of hitting up <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/06/raging-windy-city-la-wind-god-gau-pt-3.html">Johnnie’s Beef</a> before heading to the airport, but in the end we were all pretty stuffed. So we used our last few hours in Chicago to explore the Museum of Science and Industry. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950145758/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 383 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 383" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5950145758_a56d74f88e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949591669/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 394 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 394" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6125/5949591669_b54bd4ecec_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949592203/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 395 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 395" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/5949592203_0ed9f7192a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950153018/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 411 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 411" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/5950153018_8692554df1_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949595803/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 413 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 413" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/5949595803_2687138a50_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949596961/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 419 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 419" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6029/5949596961_0aca22a3d6_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949598327/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 426 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 426" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/5949598327_9cda126b7a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949600385/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 438 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 438" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/5949600385_422ea160b3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949600905/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 440 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 440" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5949600905_fa6145d8ed_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950161774/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 451 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 451" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5950161774_4b575c3950_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949605185/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 454 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 454" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/5949605185_27bfe65c14_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950165556/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 464 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 464" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/5950165556_2d6c43dfd9_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
As you can see, this museum is fucking awesome. Apparently, Chicago is filled with <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/06/raging-windy-city-la-wind-god-gau.html">awesome museums</a>. <br />
<br />
To conclude our eatings in Chicago I had a Char Polish from Gold Coast Dogs at Midway Airport.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950166162/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 466 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 466" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5950166162_d753610064_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950166400/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 467 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 467" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/5950166400_8f6f4e8dac_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I think I would’ve preferred it Maxwell Street style (onions and mustard) as opposed to Chicago style. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950166650/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 468 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 468" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6002/5950166650_e451471349_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The dog itself was damn tasty though, especially for airport food. Charrededy bits are the true key to my heart.<br />
<br />
So there you have it folks, 66 hours later and we were on a plane on our way back to Baltimore. This was by far one of the best birthdays I’ve had (way better than B&O last year) and one of my favorite trips to date. I’ve really been knocking them out of the park this year. Both New Orleans and Chicago were incredible trips. Let’s hope our anniversary trip to San Francisco next week maintains the trend.<br />
<br />
As always, thanks for reading.<br />
<br />
Micro--out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1458965/restaurant/Pilsen/Nightwood-Chicago"><img alt="Nightwood on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1458965/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-81521279870078710442011-08-09T17:45:00.001-04:002011-08-09T17:47:11.115-04:0030/66 Chicago: Part 4Sorry to sound like a glitched out cyborg (i.e. repetitive), but Hopleaf was yet another venue where everything simply fell into place. Aside from the fact that it was pretty packed, and loud as F, I simply had no complaints.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949555119/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 224 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 224" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/5949555119_ac3a7c064b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949556205/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 227 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 227" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6134/5949556205_4d3aabb870_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949557365/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 231 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 231" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/5949557365_b9d58402dd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949556801/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 229 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 229" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5949556801_f0e0b2f8eb_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I perused their draft list for a few minutes, and then decided I wanted to take it all in before I made my selection, so I asked for the bottle menu. Little did I know I would be handed a text similar in length to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata">Mahabharata</a>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949557729/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 232 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 232" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/5949557729_067279d704_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I remembered reading a lot of good things about He’Brew so I finally settled on Bittersweet Lenny’s RIPA which is a rye-based double IPA at 10% abv.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950115550/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 233 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 233" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6029/5950115550_2d611d572b_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I was very happy with this beer in that it tasted exactly like Lagunitas Lil Sumpin Sumpin minus the slightly sour aftertaste that prevents me from drinking more than two or three at a time. Considering this brew had 2.5% higher abv, that’s quite an achievement.<br />
<br />
At this point I was in the nursing stage, so we just acted a fool and posed for some stupid pictures. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949559501/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 239 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 239" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6147/5949559501_fd18077c59_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949559709/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 240 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 240" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/5949559709_0af72a57e4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949560903/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 247 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 247" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6002/5949560903_6a8188c666_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This picture of Matt will haunt me for the rest of my days:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949558701/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 236 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 236" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6029/5949558701_91612b0418_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Everytime I look at it I can’t help but hear “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TVooUHN7j4">Heeeere’s Johnny!</a>” It’s like if <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Torrance">Jack Torrance</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Edgar_Allan_Poe_2_retouched_and_transparent_bg.png">Edgar Allen Poe</a> had a demon man-baby and that man-baby had had one too many and was trying to give you the stink eye from the across the bar.<br />
<br />
Quite unsettling.<br />
<br />
Matt was drinking Goose Island Sophie which (surprisingly) I really enjoyed. It’s a 6.5% farmhouse/saison with yeasty funk and citrus and herbs. Normally I can’t stand beers like that. Color me impressed. Chicago breweries seem like they know how to please Mr. Micro.<br />
<br />
For my next (and final) round I asked our curt but courteous bartender if I could sample two brews before I made my choice. I tried Mikkeller Monk’s Elixir (a 10% abv dark Belgian strong ale from… Belgium) and North Coast Brother Thelonious (a 9% dark Belgian-style strong ale from Fort Bragg, CA). I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw her pouring my goblet before I’d even made my choice. She chose wisely. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950119280/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 250 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 250" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5950119280_c0e60d400f_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
This was one of the rare occasions where I preferred the an actual Belgian beer over a Belgian-style beer. As a whole I find Belgian brews a bit too musty/funky for my liking. ‘Twas not the case here.<br />
<br />
I thought it tasted like a caramel apple cider with a fantastic aroma and a thick and creamy head. A touch of yeast, a touch of malt, and a touch of hops made me want to touch myself. <br />
After the re-emergence of our hardcore industrial beatbox duo Kompressor Chicken (myself) and Peg-Leg Pony (Zack) at some point someone must’ve ordered a side of Stilton Mac & Cheese because it magically appeared before me. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950120588/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 255 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 255" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6125/5950120588_c2e67830cf_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It reluctantly agreed to posing for a picture with our goblets of beer, and then we voraciously ran a train on it’s rich and creamy ladyparts.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950120818/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 256 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 256" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/5950120818_cf99f950fe_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I guess I was feeling it at this point because I took 10 pictures of this goddamned thing. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949564609/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 262 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 262" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6014/5949564609_0959ff3847_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949564857/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 263 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 263" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/5949564857_f36473d89c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Maybe I realized I wouldn’t remember eating it if I didn’t secure pictographic evidence. I'm sure it was rich, cheesy, and delicious, but honestly, I don't remember.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950123338/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 267 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 267" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5950123338_c2820d0dd6_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
And with that our time at Hopleaf had come to a close. I purchased my goblet as a souvenir of our lovely times here, and we headed back to M's place to relax and sober up before my big birthday dinner at The Girl & The Goat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949565809/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 268 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 268" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/5949565809_51e7cfb0b0_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Ah, how do I begin. Well I will say that the alcohol hadn't fully worn off by the time we arrived for our 9:15pm reservation. Those 10% abv beers stay with you for a while. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950123786/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 269 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 269" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5950123786_b27d011f51_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This place was super dark, jam-packed, and loud as hell. My friends voiced complaints about a serious smokiness permeating the air, but I didn't notice it, probably due to my crunkenness. We were sat at a large table directly in front of the famous Girl/Goat mural:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950123842/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 270 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 270" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5950123842_0a209e8f06_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949567015/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 275 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 275" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5949567015_418b13b7de_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Here's a picture of Meg and Matt where Matt isn't looking quite so psycho:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949567237/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 277 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 277" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/5949567237_3af5dfd3f4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After reading <a href="http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/04/barrel-aged-cocktails-girl-and-goat-stephanie-izard-how-to-barrel-age-cocktails.html">this post</a> about making barrel-aged Manhattans at this very restaurant, I was tickled to see that they were still available. Tickled in the pants.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950125464/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 283 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 283" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6130/5950125464_373be3257c_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Unfortunately, that ridiculous amount of work yielded a Manhattan. Yep, just a Manhattan. Nothing out of the ordinary. You can go to any decent bar and order one exactly like it. The best part was the cherry. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949570551/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 295 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 295" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6021/5949570551_15abbd856f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I wasn't disappointed, it was well made after all, but I felt very sorry for the guys who wasted all of that time and effort (glance over the article, it was a lot) into crafting this thing. So sad. Matt and Zack both ordered the Double Barrel which featured housemade ginger beer that blew my freakin' mind. I knew what my next round would be.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949568093/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 284 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 284" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/5949568093_b70e115b01_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
The order in which our dishes were brought to us was seemingly random. I'll just run through them as they hit our table, then sum up our favorites at the end. Sound good? Great, let us begin.<br />
<br />
First up was the Roasted Beets with green beans, white anchovy, and avocado creme fraiche.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949568653/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 286 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 286" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6147/5949568653_837c26660b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950126664/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 288 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 288" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/5950126664_aceb09c74b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I love beets because they're so earthy. Like taking a bite out of Mother Earth's tender bits. After tasting this, I realized that they definitely don't list all of the ingredients on the menu. Out of our first three dishes this was our least favorite. What made it were the crisp frisee and the fresh horseradish in the dressing.<br />
<br />
The second dish was one of the most universally recommended: the Chickpea Fritters with eggplant-tomatillo caponata and mozarella.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949569339/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 289 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 289" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5949569339_d7423e6a93_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950127612/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 292 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 292" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/5950127612_9aa859c699_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
As much as I love chickpeas, this dish was alright, not great. The best part by far were the little fried chickpeas. <br />
<br />
The last dish of our first course was the Goat Chorizo Flatbread with ramp pesto, pickled rhubarb, and fresh ricotta.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950127156/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 290 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 290" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/5950127156_4b2abd319a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I present to you the reigning champion of the first round. This flatbread annihilated the other dishes. It was like if Glass Joe tried to fight Soda Popinski. No contest. Google those names if you don't know who they are. Actually, if you don't know who they are, stop reading my blog. You're not worthy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949569831/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 291 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 291" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5949569831_e58886b420_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949570297/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 294 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 294" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6025/5949570297_e362df1589_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Take the list of ingredients in this dish and imagine the best iteration of each of them that you've ever tasted. Now imagine them all in one bite. I need not say more.<br />
<br />
After what seemed like eons later, our second round of dishes arrived. We were more than a bit peeved (we'd already been there an hour and ten minutes before our second course arrived) and I was quickly achieving crunk version 2.0. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI6CfKcMhjY">Boys, let's get to it</a>.<br />
<br />
After sending back a second Chorizo Flatbread (in hindsight we should've kept it...) finally our dishes started to arrive. First up we had the Escargot Ravioli with bacon and tamarind-miso sauce.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949571505/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 300 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 300" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5949571505_130c56b746_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Unfortunately this was one of the most disappointing dishes of the night. The tamarind completely overpowered everything else. From the description I thought it might've been the tamarind, but I think it was blood orange or grapefruit. A miss for sure.<br />
<br />
Next we had the Smoked Goat Rilette Empanadas with masala and ramp yogurt.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949571299/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 298 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 298" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5949571299_69a5565af9_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I honestly don't have a single note about this dish. I'm guessing it was forgettable? Yeah, let's go with that.<br />
<br />
Rounding out our second course was the almighty Skewered Lamb Heart with sweetbread crisp, potato aioli, ramps, and strawberry. Holy hell, my tastebuds just got proppa fucked. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950129252/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 302 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 302" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6028/5950129252_1aa9fa3c6e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949572501/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 305 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 305" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/5949572501_c1219be388_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The charrededity bits made me blow a load in my facehole. Take Blackened gamey meats and add cool creamy aioli plus a subtle funky crisp from the sweetbreads and the juicy bittersweet strawberries? My tongue was doing backflips. Not unlike <a href="http://www.backflipstudios.com/">Backflip Studios</a> (there's a plug for ya Zack.) This was another personal favorite of the night. <br />
<br />
There was another 30 minute wait between our second and third courses, but at this point I didn't notice because I single-handedly leading the expedition into the forgotten tomb of Sir Shitfaced. Speaking of which I took this opportunity to order a Double Barrel for myself. It was lovely.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950131420/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 311 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 311" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/5950131420_8b70984b02_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Course three is where The Girl & the Goat finally started justifying it's reputation. First we have Roasted Cauliflower with pickled peppers, pine nuts, and mint. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949574301/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 314 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 314" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5949574301_90c159dbf1_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I don't think I've ever met a roasted cauliflower I didn't like and this dish was no exception.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949574883/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 319 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 319" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6140/5949574883_aae37d270b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For me, pickled peppers are always a good idea, combined with the crunch of the pine nuts and the mint and it had a sort of pesto flavor profile going on. There was definitely some citrus hidden in this dish as well, and it really rounded it out nicely.<br />
<br />
The second dish of our third course was the Seared Scallops with brown butter goat XO (whatever the hell that means), bok choy, shiitakes, and white asparagus.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949574515/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 315 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 315" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6136/5949574515_14b896f01a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The scallops were perfectly cooked and had a great sear to them. The brown butter sauce was borderline scandalous and the ample use of shiitakes sent this dish over the top.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949574721/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 318 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 318" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6147/5949574721_c95f978d1a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Now the dishes started pouring in. This is Sugo with linguini, rosemary, and cape gooseberries.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950132786/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 320 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 320" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/5950132786_df3d209131_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This basically tasted like your mom's Sunday pot roast. If your mom won Top Chef. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950133234/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 322 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 322" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6028/5950133234_5d1c307cbb_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We all agreed that the gooseberries made the dish, cutting through the richness. I could've eaten the whole bowl by myself, and would've had my dining companions not kept me at bay.<br />
<br />
And then the Grilled Broccoli with smokey blue cheese and crispy onions hit the table like a goddamn atom bomb.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950133710/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 324 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 324" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/5950133710_ef888559e6_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949576487/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 326 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 326" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5949576487_011a3957af_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Without question the best broccoli dish I've ever had. Again, the blackenedness made it for me. I severed limbs in an effort to obtain a second helping. I emerged from the carnage in utter triumph.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950134434/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 328 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 328" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/5950134434_388a042563_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Finally our last two dishes arrived at the table. First up was the single most talked about dish: the Wood Oven Roasted Pig's Face with sunny side egg, tamarind, cilantro and potato stix.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950134878/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 331 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 331" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/5950134878_a43cf78fd8_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
This dish definitely won the award for the best presentation of the night, but unfortunately it ranked just outside of my top five.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949577681/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 334 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 334" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6128/5949577681_eeb26e0ef3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
As you can see the egg yolk was pleasantly unctuous and runny as it should be. We all swore this dish had some sort of maple component (maybe it was the tamarind?) This dish hit the perfect balance of smokey, sweet, and savory. This was definitely a table favorite.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately our meal ended on a bad note as the Confit Goat Belly with bourbon butter, lobster, crab, and fennel was disjointed and would've been better served as two separate dishes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950135732/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 336 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 336" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5950135732_d29a5e8ffa_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
On their own both the seafood and the goat belly were fantastic, but together it just didn't work. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950136160/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 338 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 338" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6014/5950136160_37bb629260_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Split into two separate dishes they both would've been great, but gamey fatty goat doesn't mesh with tender, delicate shellfish.<br />
<br />
At this point the savory segment of our meal had come to a close. Unfortunately they were all out of the dessert I had my eye on--the goat cheese bavarois, so we chose the Ganache Pork Fat Doughnuts with yuzu blackberries, salted oat strusel, and malted vanilla gelato.<br />
<br />
At this point Zack felt the need to entertain us with napkin animals. I had flashbacks of our honeymoon with Royal Caribbean.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949579633/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 342 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 342" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/5949579633_89f628ced3_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I think that rabbit was as drunk as I was. Our doughnuts arrived shortly thereafter, but apparently TGAG employs a fist of cyborg ninja spies, not unlike <a href="http://tmnt.wikia.com/wiki/Foot_Clan">the Foot</a>, because the next thing I know a complimentary Bittersweet Chocolate cake with shiitake gelato and toffee creme fraiche was being placed in front of me. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949580621/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 346 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 346" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/5949580621_0ce8198d8f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950137864/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 345 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 345" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5950137864_97f1a99ddd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The doughnuts, while good, were nothing mindblowing. These flavors we've all had before at Sunday breakfast at grandma's house. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950138324/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 347 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 347" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5950138324_f32ae325a2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Berries, streusel, cream. Basically an awesome bowl of oatmeal... doughnuts. It whiffed on the pork fat. The one thing that did set it apart was the malted gelato. Malt is a flavor I really <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775863581/lightbox/">can't get enough of</a>. <br />
The doughnuts were quickly forgotten in lieu of this tremendous beast of a chocolate cake. Even in my inebriated state this dish spoke to my loins. It made them fiery with passion. Luckily, I restrained the urge to make bittersweet chocolate cake babies right there at the table. Just barely, though.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950138588/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 348 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 348" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/5950138588_3587757b24_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950138830/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 350 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 350" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5950138830_efb0791381_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950139094/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 351 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 351" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5950139094_29820f0009_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The sour/tartness of the creme fraiche sent this dish over the top. Combine that with the slightly funky shiitake gelato and I drunkenly claimed it one of the top 5 desserts of my life. While I think I'd have to try it again (sober) to make that claim, it was a goddamn fine way to end our meal.<br />
<br />
So, this is what you've all been waiting for. I'll conclude this post with my top five dishes of the meal. This birthday is going to be hard to beat. 30s, here I come in all my righteous fury.<br />
<br />
1. Broccoli<br />
2. Chocolate Cake<br />
3. Veal Heart<br />
4. Cauliflower<br />
5. Chorizo Flatbread<br />
<br />
Ninja--Vanish!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/13211/restaurant/Andersonville/Hopleaf-Chicago"><img alt="Hopleaf on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/13211/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1535212/restaurant/West-Loop/Girl-the-Goat-Chicago"><img alt="Girl & the Goat on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1535212/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-87699061313041008112011-08-04T16:38:00.003-04:002011-08-05T16:11:36.912-04:0030/66 Chicago: Part 3Our destination for dinner was just a few short blocks away at Avec. I knew they didn’t take reservations and coupled with the fact that it’s one of the most highly recommended restaurants in Chicago, I was expecting a wait. But not quite this type of wait. When we rolled up right around 8pm the place was back to the gills with a huge crowd of people outside. Dismayed, but not deterred, I went inside and put our name in for a party of 5 and was quoted with a wait of 2.5 hours. Holy shit. That would mean we’d be eating somewhere around 10:30 and we had a show to catch at Second City at 11pm. Dinner at Avec simply wasn’t an option.<br />
<br />
After much brainstorming we finally decided to go to Abuelo’s since it was cheap, delicious, and we had a virtual guarantee that there wouldn’t be a wait. I loved the large windows and airy space, but was kind of annoyed that the only lighting they had were a few strands of Christmas lights hanging in the front window. So, therefore, I’m sorry that these pictures suck.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949527925/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 119 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 119" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/5949527925_d7a72fe63f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949528005/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 120 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 120" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/5949528005_46e85e9a60_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
M and Me told us that their claim to fame was their burritos so that’s what we all ordered. I asked our waitress what they had to drink and she said horchata and something called parsley water. Having never heard of parsley water I decided to try that (even though I’d never had horchata either…) I went with the namesake Burrito El Abuelo which featured steak, cheese, refried beans, red cabbage, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and sour cream and requested the addition of avocado--A request that was guaranteed, but not honored.<br />
<br />
The parsley water was just that. A shitload of parsley muddled with sugar water. It would’ve been pretty damn good, had there not been a literal cubic ton of sugar in my cup. I had high hopes that a liberal dose of hot sauce on my burrito would work to damper the sickly sweet beverage, but alas I could only bare a few sips. Z offered me a sip of his horchata and I immediately regretted my beverage decision. Damn, it was good. It tasted like liquid rice pudding. It was creamy and cinnamony and not too sweet or heavy. I’ll definitely be ordering that when we tour the mission in San Francisco next month.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950085798/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 123 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 123" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/5950085798_7ff90e7f6e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The char on the steak made the burrito. The flavors honestly reminded me of Taco Bell, but on acid, steroids, and crack (simultaneously.) Every ingredient could be tasted and therefore served it’s purpose. There was Cotjia cheese sprinkled throughout which also added a nice salty, squeaky chew. The salsas were both great on their own, but together they really shined.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950085958/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 127 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 127" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5950085958_a34df7c213_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
There were no surprises here: The green was creamy and bright, and the red had a bit more heat and a nice roasted smoky flavor. One other thing to note was they weren’t over-the-top huge portions like you’d normally find at your corner burrito joint. Parsley water aside, the only complaint I had was there were no complimentary chips and salsa. Otherwise this was textbook Mexican cuisine done with fresh ingredients for a reasonable price.<br />
<br />
That night we had tickets to the 11pm seating of <a href="http://www.secondcity.com/performances/detail/707/">Sky’s the Limit</a> at Second City. As expected, flash photography was prohibited after the show started, but here’s what the stage looked like moments before the actors made their appearance. All-in-all the show was good, but considering Second City’s reputation for being a breeding ground for SNL, I expected a bit more. The tall skinny white guy was hilarious, and the chubby Asian chick definitely had some great characters. I was surprised how many of the skits were more witty stories than actual comedy. Still, I couldn’t complain, I was in a great city celebrating with some of the most genuinely awesome people I know. Life was good.<br />
<br />
The next day the plan was to be at Xoco by the time they started serving tortas at 11am. Well, since we had such a late night the night before we didn’t get to Xoco until around noon. The line was to the door, which was completely expected and luckily moved relatively fast. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949529261/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 131 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 131" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5949529261_3da77f4664_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
As plate after plate of gorgeous food were put up or passed by, my mouth really started to water. We were handed a menus to look at and there was also a huge menu posted on the wall. As we approached the register we were asked if we wanted any beverages. While some of the agua frescas looked mighty tempting, I knew exactly what I wanted and wouldn’t be swayed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949529773/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 133 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 133" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/5949529773_77b957a8b7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The one hitch of the meal came when we finally got to the register. They don’t let you order until they have a table cleared for you, so you can place your order and immediately sit down afterwards. While this works great in theory, we held up the line for a good 10 minutes, waiting for a table. If I were in a party of two or three behind us, I would’ve been pissed.<br />
<br />
Ordering system aside, Xoco was universally hailed as great, and both myself and the Mrs. named it our favorite restaurant of the trip. Our order was quite long: I ordered the Torta Ahogado which is carnitas, black beans, and pickled onions which is served in a bowl of spicy arbol chile tomato broth. I also ordered the Mexican City Thick (Champurrado) drinking chocolate. My wife went with the Torta Cubano and we also ordered three churros with dipping chocolate to share, electing to have them brought to us after we finished our sandwiches.<br />
<br />
Z ordered the Woodland Mushroom torta with goat cheese, black beans, arugula, and 3-chile salsa and another order of churros. After seeing a sign posted on the register advertising ‘Iced Chocolate with Bayless garden mint’ he decided to order one of those as well. M went with the Saturday special Goat Barbacoa (after I did a little convincing since that was the other torta I really wanted to try) with Oaxacan passila-tomatillo salsa, avocado, onions and cilantro and yet another order of churros. Me ordered another Torta Cubana and the Aztec hot chocolate with chile and allspice.<br />
<br />
Let me just start by saying that every single item we ordered was delicious. That being said, there were definitely some standouts. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950091000/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 148 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 148" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/5950091000_a6e116816b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My overall favorite was the Goat Barbacoa as I loved the subdued gaminess of the goat combined with the bite of the onions and the ample use of cilantro. It also had my favorite bread of the bunch--Crunchy, but not teeth shatteringly so, the crumb was soft and slightly chewy with an addicting sourness. The accompanying salsa was also my favorite of the bunch. My second favorite was the Cubana. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950090450/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 145 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 145" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/5950090450_f73f91e2b1_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This was another case where the bread really made the sandwich. The pressed bread wasn’t as crispy as I’d expected, but it was perfectly firm throughout with a very subtle smokiness from the press. Where the barbacoa was simply and straight forward, the Cubana had multiple layers of flavor that worked together cohesively. Pork two ways did my mouth right with a strong backbone of creamy avocado. The only component I felt was a little lacking was the chipotle mustard. The fiery red salsa was best used in small doses.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950088744/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 139 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 139" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6006/5950088744_7c1af8e356_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I loved my Torta Ahogada, the flavors of the thick and tender carnitas paired beautifully with the black beans and the spicy tomato broth. The heavy handedness with the pickled onions may have turned off some, but I loved them. What kept this sandwich from the top of my list was the fact that it was served so hot I had to wait 10 minutes before I could even pick it up, and by that time all but the very end of the roll had completely soggified. See?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950090200/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 144 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 144" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/5950090200_93d039923d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know I love the mushy soggy slop. But after trying the other sandwiches, I really missed the great crispy crunchy texture of the bread. After the sandwiches got passed around the table, mine ended up being the table favorite, so I was in the minority. My favorite bite of mine was after sopping up the last drops of the soup with the crunchy nub of bread at the end of the roll.<br />
<br />
Before we get to the churros, we must talk about the beverages. Alas, my order was again my least favorite. Fortunately my good friends are always willing to share so I was able to try the three different kinds of drinking chocolate we’d collectively ordered. My favorite by far, and ultimately one of my favorite items of the entire weekend, was the iced mint chocolate. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949530641/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 137 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 137" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/5949530641_fb49ccf7c4_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Wow, this drink just kicked ass. Just imagine a mint chocolate milkshake served on the rocks. Now, imagine the mint leaves jumping out of the glass, raming their stems into your ears and brain fucking you.<br />
<br />
The Aztec was also lovely, although I neglected to take a photo of it. The oil from the chiles created kind of an oil slick on top and it had a pleasing depth of flavor, the spices serving to enhance the flavor of the chocolate, not overpower it. It thankfully thin and went down easy, finishing with a subtle kick. My Champurrado was literally like drinking liquid chocolate pudding. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950087766/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 135 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 135" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/5950087766_dd00029142_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For the people who complained that <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5306738096/">City Bakery’s hot chocolate</a> is too thick, this would’ve caused a full-blown riot. At the end of the meal, just for fun, Z let me mix the remainder of mine with his iced mint chocolate. The results were definitely delicious. Sometimes, it’s good to play with your food.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950091870/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 151 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 151" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/5950091870_c869da7161_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Having never had churros before, I can’t really say that these were the best churros ever, nonetheless they were pretty goddamn good. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949534737/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 153 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 153" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6005/5949534737_b453d1a560_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Crisp on the outside, doughy in the middle, the center reminded of me of <a href="http://www.oldtimecandy.com/cow-tales-vanilla-1pc.htm">Cow Tales</a>. My only complaint was they could’ve been a little lighter on the sugar dusting. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950092170/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 152 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 152" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5950092170_89f19c0b97_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I would’ve preferred a hefty sprinkle rather than a full blown encrusting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949536203/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 158 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 158" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/5949536203_41bd965667_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I think this was probably the most full I was the entire weekend. Thankfully, we had a lot of sightseeing to do, so the walking would aid in the digestionses. Here are lots of perty pictures of all the neat things we saw.<br />
<br />
First up was this abomination that was just recently unveiled. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950095220/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 163 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 163" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5950095220_f1eef392e3_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I didn’t realize downtown Chicago was owned by Hard Rock Café. She even had varicose veins. And skid marks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949537991/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 165 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 165" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6021/5949537991_62b58ea9d7_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Next up was the ridiculously awesome Jay Pritzker Pavilion which is part of the larger Millenium Park.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950097114/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 171 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 171" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6140/5950097114_262ccea0d2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950098376/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 175 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 175" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/5950098376_ecd5fd6398_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Doesn’t it look like a lion’s mane? The stage would be its facehole.<br />
<br />
After that I finally laid my eyes on Cloudgate aka The Bean.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949541375/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 177 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 177" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5949541375_0652fb245b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950100908/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 184 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 184" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/5950100908_db76ef6314_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949542983/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 183 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 183" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5949542983_dc11cca73b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The most impressive part of this sculpture by far is the underbelly. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950101216/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 185 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 185" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5950101216_735f44b1b2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950101734/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 187 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 187" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/5950101734_c536b59438_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Holy hell, looking up at those designs made me feel like I was jacked up hallucinogens.<br />
<br />
Afterwards we headed over to the Buckingham Fountain. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950108076/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 209 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 209" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6140/5950108076_a14aca26ef_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Z dutifully loaded up the theme song from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze1sx9YR2Ec">Married With Children</a> as we approached it. This was one of the highlights of the weekend for me since I practically grew up on that show. Afterwards we grabbed some water and relaxed on the steps by Lakeside Drive.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950105958/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 201 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 201" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/5950105958_37fc822a3d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949549329/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 205 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 205" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/5949549329_0fcaf53df6_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950107310/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 206 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 206" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/5950107310_eafe0e1268_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
We eventually made our way back to the car and M took us on the scenic route through the city. We passed by Wrigley Field so I was able to snap a quick shot of it from the car. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950108660/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 211 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 211" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/5950108660_a5b94a4020_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We were thirsting for a good brew so we headed in the direction of <a href="http://www.halfacrebeer.com/home.php">Half Acre Brewery</a> hoping to score a tour or beer or something. We happened to park right in front of The Bad Apple so we stopped in for a quick round of beers and a bite.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950108966/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 212 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 212" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6142/5950108966_ce1908b8c1_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950109340/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 213 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 213" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5950109340_b1c8c3532b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This was another place I really, really liked. Chicagoans don’t know how good they have it. The beer selection was fantastic and the atmosphere was chill and hip without being pretentious. <br />
Having been so impressed with Cane & Ebel, I decided to try another Two Brothers offering. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950110320/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 216 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 216" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6123/5950110320_5d2701de02_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Hop Juice is their double IPA coming in at 9.9% abv. My better half actually ordered a beer! Ciders are beers… right? She chose the Original Sin Granny Smith Apple.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950110578/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 217 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 217" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/5950110578_7bd65bfee0_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Hop Juice was straight up Double IPA love. The advertised 100.1 IBUs were cleverly masked by the great tropical fruit notes, and overall this beer went down smooth and was dangerously drinkable. You gotta love a brewery that puts out a DIPA as a Summer seasonal. Now that’s a brewery I can get down with. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949553411/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 219 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 219" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/5949553411_54959595c6_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
While I don’t have any voice memos about the cider I do remember really liking it. It had a light body and fine carbonation which brought reminiscent of champagne and had a balanced sweetness and avoided the syrupy mouthfeel that plagues so many mass-produced ciders. A perfect warm weather beer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949554399/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 222 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 222" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/5949554399_6ddc7c1447_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
When the food runner brought by a basket of Old Bay fries straight out of the fryer, we had to have them. They tasted just as good as they looked/smelled. We emptied the bowl in seconds. It was a great little slice of home out here in Chicago. Old Bay makes everything better. <br />
<br />
Since we had much more drinking to do we settled up our tab and made our way to our next watering hole, the much publicized Hopleaf…<br />
<br />
Micro--out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1465889/restaurant/Pilsen/Abuelos-Pilsen-Grill-Chicago"><img alt="Abuelo's Pilsen Grill on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1465889/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1474343/restaurant/River-North/XOCO-Chicago"><img alt="XOCO on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1474343/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1473767/restaurant/North-Center-Irving-Park/The-Bad-Apple-Chicago"><img alt="The Bad Apple on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1473767/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-47859470935986014652011-07-31T16:26:00.004-04:002011-07-31T16:41:34.440-04:00Sucsexful Boobecue Recipenis TestesI'd say that's the most profound and intellectual post title I've come up with yet. The purpose of my most recent barbecue was to test some new recipes I've been wanting to try out. Overall, they came out very well. This was also the second meeting of our beer club the Maryland Beer Appreciation Society, which also went well.<br />
<br />
My favorite items of the day were my fried pickles with a nice remoulade for dipping, the chipotle brown sugar sweet potatoes, and the coffee cocoa stout barbecue sauce I whipped up. Honorable mention goes to Deana's crab stuffed jalapeno poppers, and Jen's oreo-stuffed cookies (yes, I've decided to use people's full names, that abbreviating shit was getting on my nerves.) And, of course, Karen's amazing apple pie, my favorite. Join me on this epic quest of smoking meats and quaffing brews.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993692433/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6002/5993692433_4098fdbc8e_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
A little beverage to start the day right. 10:30am isn't too early to drink when you've been up all morning barbecuing, right? Please agree with me so I don't feel like an alcoholic.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993693397/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6123/5993693397_823384c229_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The various components of my brisket rub.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993693809/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6025/5993693809_5019ac67cf_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Ain't it perty?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993694049/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6145/5993694049_0ec6ab2fd6_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Another beer? Don't mind if I do!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994254850/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5994254850_20030c0652_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
My rib rub, fully assembled. Transform and roll out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994255562/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/5994255562_43de0ff279_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Whipping up a batch of barbecue sauce. This recipes a keeper for sure (the secret ingredient was a few tablespoons of brisket rub, followed by a quarter cup of that lovely stout pictured above.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993696545/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6128/5993696545_7ff2afb71f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Something to snack on while I prep my meats. By far the best tomato I've had all year. Our <a href="http://www.sunnyhillfarmmd.com/Services.html">CSA</a> rocks!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994257792/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6006/5994257792_ecc00df103_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Barbecue sauce bottled in a sweet flask I picked up at Kitchen & Co. for only $3.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994258306/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/5994258306_4ed4743f2a_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Rubbing my meat is a dirty job.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994260650/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5994260650_ce16b4c77f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993698325/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5993698325_62f027a918_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Raw meat rubbed. Meat rubbed raw. Rubbed raw meat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993699811/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5993699811_af8a4d5b09_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS7Og1zvdy8">I have made fire</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994263244/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/5994263244_663f24950f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Rublin' the riblin's. Pigs need love too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994264176/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6025/5994264176_3b40e04547_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUFZC7uXQZc">Smokin'</a>. Or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGNTw_igEFc">in 8-bit</a> if you prefer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993704895/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/5993704895_427da77341_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
What a F'ing gorgeous day. While I do believe we ridiculously overpaid for our house, you gotta love the view.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994266696/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6129/5994266696_f090ab827d_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Roasted sweet taters.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994268460/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/5994268460_77b5c4ee32_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I don't remember how many hours in this was... Nonetheless it was looking pretty sexy. Some rib trimmings alongside that would later serve as a midday snack for the chef.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994269486/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/5994269486_db67f53eaf_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Sweet potatoes done after bruleeing the marshmallows with my <a href="http://www.bernzomatic.com/PRODUCTS/TORCHES/STANDARDTORCHES/tabid/250/ctl/Detail/mid/1259/xmid/6948/xmfid/3/Default.aspx">handy dandy blowtorch</a>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994269998/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6125/5994269998_955beb61c8_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
MMmmmm, pimento cheese. Sweet stanky Lucifer, I love this stuff.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994270422/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6025/5994270422_d4f6ef433f_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993710419/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5993710419_50e4f06b78_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The art of making frickles. Goddamn they were good.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994272270/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6142/5994272270_1051645022_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994272806/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5994272806_4f5a920d44_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Brisket sliced and ready to devour. It was alright. I'd say it was damn good for my first attempt. I erred on the side of caution, leaving most of the fat cap on thinking I'd rather serve fatty tender brisket than lean dry brisket. There's not much of a smoke ring since the temperatures soared early on due to the intense outdoor heat (it was 91 degrees out when I put the brisket on at 9pm Friday night.) The rub also left kind of a bitter aftertaste. Ideal brisket shouldn't require barbecue sauce, but in this case the barbecue sauce was just so good that it really served to elevate the so-so brisket into hall of fame status. I was happy with the results, given the not-so-ideal cook.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994275546/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5994275546_59db846850_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993715559/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6005/5993715559_f569d19cd5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The ribs were a tad overcooked (fall off the bone status) but, of course, everyone loved them. True barbecued ribs should have a little tug to them. I added a bit too much liquid to them when I foiled for the last hour. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994276994/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5994276994_91ea7cd68c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My plate. I must apologize for the unaesthetic overturned marshmallow. I assure you the top was seriously blackened and delicious. The gorgonzola bacon potato salad was also a winner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993717001/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/5993717001_af80b698fd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Jen's absurdly good oreo-stuffed cookies. I came.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994278512/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5994278512_60b4500735_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Karen's retaredly fudgy brownies. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993720089/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/5993720089_96a48082fb_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The lineup for the second meeting of the Maryland Beer Appreciation Society (MBAS). The theme of this meeting was brown ale. A damn fine turnout--better than I expected considering I'm not really a fan of brown ales.<br />
<br />
I leave you with a visual guide to the making of burnt ends. You see, the packer brisket comes in two sections: the flat and the point. You separate the two sections (slicing the flat to serve) and put the point back on the smoker for additional fat rendering. After 4-6 hours you cube the point and add all kinds of lovely flavor enhancers to it, in this case it was de-fatted meat drippings, the rest of the coffee/cocoa/ancho barbecue sauce, and some additional brisket rub, and then you put it back on the smoker to caramelize the fat even more whilst simultaneously creating a magical crust of epic proportions. So keep this process in mind as you view the following photos. While you're doing that, I'm going downstairs to gorge on some crispety, crunchety cow hunks. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994281048/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6136/5994281048_8cbc32acb6_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993721075/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/5993721075_23fc1470cd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993722179/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5993722179_a6733b7a49_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994283238/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5994283238_1de54740b2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993723089/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6146/5993723089_73cf46321c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I had to pull them off after about 2.5 hours because I wanted to go to bed. The next morning I fired the cooker back up and after an additional 3.5 hours the end result was this thusly thine anthropomorphic cow hunk beef nubblins:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993725549/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/5993725549_bbef37c33f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993726047/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/5993726047_3b561231b1_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5993727855/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6028/5993727855_45b07b7174_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5994290028/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="July 30th Barbecue by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="July 30th Barbecue" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/5994290028_41ece85ffa_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
All hail the supreme manifestation of smoked meats: Burnt Ends. Caramelized fat never tasted so good.<br />
<br />
A big thank you to everyone who was able to make it out. And a huge extra-special thank you to those of you who brought me those uber-awesome gifts. You know who you are.<br />
<br />
Do you ever wish you had cybernetic laser-bladed claws protruding from your fingertips? I do. All the time.<br />
<br />
Micro--out.Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-39820351439686288462011-07-24T20:39:00.000-04:002011-07-24T20:39:50.814-04:00Summer Sundays Done RightI hope your Sunday was as good as mine. Enjoy the (somewhat shitty) photos of our day spent on the water and then cooking and eating our catch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5972402862/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 004 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 004" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5972402862_03516e7f63_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971845289/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 005 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 005" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6130/5971845289_e55413a93a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5972403286/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 006 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 006" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/5972403286_75eb762c31_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5972403650/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 008 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 008" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/5972403650_0dbee0a81f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5972404548/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 012 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 012" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/5972404548_7fab2a0690_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971847129/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 013 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 013" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5971847129_25a537d761_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971847499/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 015 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 015" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/5971847499_e098f5b7c4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5972405396/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 017 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 017" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5972405396_7f8a9f341c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971848199/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 019 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 019" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6130/5971848199_6fae3bfe33_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971848737/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 021 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 021" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5971848737_7cdd28e8e0_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971848967/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 022 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 022" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5971848967_3e8e5ecea1_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971849987/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 024 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 024" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/5971849987_74212d2082_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971850361/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 026 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 026" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/5971850361_df2276850b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5972409490/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 029 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 029" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6136/5972409490_1d13c1d186_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971852191/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 030 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 030" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/5971852191_e383049988_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971853769/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 034 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 034" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5971853769_82d8c1334a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5972411746/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 038 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 038" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5972411746_8df3a6d8bf_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971854653/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 041 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 041" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5971854653_606a7b534d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971855427/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 043 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 043" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5971855427_549f162d82_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5972413496/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 045 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 045" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5972413496_04032bfd03_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971857463/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 049 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 049" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6025/5971857463_1e1ca177ec_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971857803/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 051 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 051" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/5971857803_88fd67bdca_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5972415892/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 052 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 052" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/5972415892_3e7d7d070e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5972416694/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 055 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 055" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/5972416694_f74d58e533_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971859317/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 057 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 057" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6145/5971859317_4d7bc49100_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5972417784/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 060 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 060" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5972417784_5c6a9907d2_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971860409/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 061 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 061" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6146/5971860409_bc2f78c9a0_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971861729/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 064 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 064" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/5971861729_a64c7f4e9d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971862151/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 065 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 065" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6134/5971862151_ba12236eb2_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5972420546/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 066 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 066" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5972420546_0947d1fd1b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5971863025/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crabbing et al 067 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Crabbing et al 067" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/5971863025_c486267e73_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Happy Sunday everyone.<br />
<br />
Micro--out.Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-82850968236124394632011-07-22T20:06:00.007-04:002011-07-22T20:23:46.087-04:0030/66 Chicago: Part 2After rinsing off all the sand and sweat from hours of Spikeball, we all piled into M’s car once again and headed down to Fulton Market. I’d done my research on how to score a reservation at The Aviary and was delighted when I received a confirmation email that afternoon. We scored a table for five at the 6pm seating. We turned our keys over to the valet and checked in with the doorman. He told us to have a seat on the snazzy outdoor couches for a few moments while they finished preparing our table. We took a few group photos and then a hostess led us to our table.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949523453/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 055 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 055" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5949523453_ee66c1ee64_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949524141/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 057 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 057" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5949524141_f9a22daf48_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
From left to right that’s M’s girlfriend Me, M, Z, and myself (and yes, I do realize M looks like Satan in that picture, that's why I wanted to share it with all of you.) We all really dug the décor inside, with Me and M falling in love with the huge piece dominating the wall behind us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950082084/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 061 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 061" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/5950082084_17b7fdeb77_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949524559/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 063 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 063" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6147/5949524559_5eb5ac6395_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Our waitress couldnt’ve been nicer or more accommodating and she went over the menu in detail while our amuses were brought to the table.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949524189/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 058 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 058" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/5949524189_d649c94403_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I’ll be honest, this thing was not good. We simultaneously downed them and I just gazed around the table as every face went from momentary pleasure to unfortunate distaste. The tiny puddle in the middle was warm and salty and didn’t work with the watermelon at all. Luckily, the cocktails were much, much better than the disappointing amuse.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950082408/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 066 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 066" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5950082408_a83a0eed1f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949524453/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 062 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 062" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/5949524453_e22796267e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We all decided to order a few a la carte cocktails as well as a cocktail flight and just pass them around the table. Our waitress said the practice didn’t break any strict cocktail laws, so we proceeded with our order. We were told that the a la carte cocktails are listed in terms of sweetness, the top being the sweetest. I went with the ‘Blueberry’ with verjus, sweet vermouth, and rye, and the Mrs. (recounting fond memories of <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Carousel%20Bar">the Carousel Bar</a>) ordered the Pisco Sour with (what else) lime, angostura, and pisco. M ordered the ‘In The Rocks’ with demerera, angostura, and bourbon, and Z went with the ‘Rooibos’ featuring lavender, almond, vanilla, and gin.<br />
<br />
The tasting menu was split into three groups, providing a choice of one from each group, for $45. Looking over the choices the first course appeared to be light and refreshing, the second smokey and robust, and the third sweet and creamy. Since all of our choices had to be made up front, after a short table discussion we went with the ‘Rhubarb’ with lemon balm, tonic, cocchi, and gin, the ‘Ginger’ with shiso, peychaud’s, and vodka, and finally the ‘Cold Chocolate’ with ecuadorian chocolate, fernet, and bourbon (I think the intriguing combination of chocolate and bourbon sealed the deal on this one, otherwise I probably would’ve opted for the ‘Root Beer’.)<br />
I refuse to provide exacting details on my voice memos because these beverages were simply too complex for my relatively inexperienced (in terms of cocktails, anyway) palette to do them justice. After a little searching on the internet, I found details on a few of the beverages that I will happily plagiarize for you.<br />
<br />
The succinct menu description doesn’t even begin to hint at what The Rooibos truly is:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950082474/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 067 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 067" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5950082474_176f54bed4_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
It’s basically a mad scientist’s spin on a Hot Toddy (which I’ve never had before.) A combination of Rooibos tea, lemon peel, orange peel, almond, vanilla, lemon verbena, mint, saffron, lavender, peppercorn, cardamom, Hendrick’s gin, Luxardo maraschino liqueur, citric acid, simple syrup, and water (whew) is placed in a glass pot over top a beaker under which sits a small bunson burner. As the liquid heats it rises up into the top chamber infusing with all of those aromatics.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950082612/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 069 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 069" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/5950082612_4d3b08b107_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950082666/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 070 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 070" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/5950082666_d9d1fd4e27_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
After the liquid dissipates from the beaker, the server stirs the beverage with a cinnamon stick, charred tableside, before finally releasing the valve at the bottom, causing the contents to be filtered back into the beaker below. The drink is then poured into a darling little glass for your sipping pleasure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949525097/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 071 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 071" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5949525097_924532d861_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Had this beverage tasted like it smelled it would’ve been my favorite by far, but unfortunately (my complaint most teas) some of the aromatics were lost in the brew. It was still great though—definitely a spicy citrus-forward belly warmer, the perfect drink to sip with a loved one on a crisp autumn night or in front of a chilly spring beach bonfire.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949525401/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 077 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 077" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6134/5949525401_3068af7510_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The ‘In The Rocks’ was just your standard Old Fashioned (albeit an extremely well-crafted one) the spin on this drink was the way it was served. The cocktail was encased in a sphere of ice and the waitress provided a wooden ring that fit perfectly onto the top of the glass. Attached to the ring was a thick elastic band with a metal weight attached to it. You hold the wooden ring down with one hand and slingshot the weight into the sphere, breaking it and mixing the ice shards into the cocktail. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949525481/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 078 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 078" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/5949525481_c0cd15b06b_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950083134/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 079 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 079" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6142/5950083134_39c13a1066_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950083194/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 080 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 080" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5950083194_3affe5ae01_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Finished with a little orange peel, this was a very clever way to serve the beverage on the rocks. The Old Fashioned itself was made of 10-year Eagle Rare Bourbon, demerera syrup, Angostura bitters, and a little water. It was perfectly smooth and slightly sweet. Truly one of the best Old Fashioneds I’ve had to date.<br />
<br />
The Blueberry was probably the prettiest drink of the evening, and my personal favorite of our first round. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950082786/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 072 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 072" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5950082786_fa2719cf08_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949525939/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 085 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 085" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5949525939_75222116fd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It is presented in a metal and glass canteen (designed by Aviary’s very own <a href="http://timeoutchicago.com/restaurants-bars/bars/7541629/martin-kastner-aviarys-glass-master">glass master</a>) and the waitress makes a point of positioning it right in front of the candle to create an excellent stained glass effect.<br />
<br />
The cocktail steeps tableside and the longer the glass sits, the more the colors change and the flavors infuse the liquor. See?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950083320/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 082 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 082" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6128/5950083320_a1416d3918_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949526015/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 086 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 086" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5949526015_811700c1f7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949526559/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 095 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 095" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6128/5949526559_a4be26e23f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
At first it tasted more floral and light with hints of rye and blueberry, but over time the frozen pomegranate seeds melted transforming the elixir ruby red and infusing their tart flavor. For the second and third pours, the blueberry was still present, but it was more of a lingering earthy aftertaste. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950083798/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 090 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 090" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5950083798_14167e93d2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
A truly unique and wholly delicious cocktail. I jokingly asked our waitress if I could take the canteen home with me, I mean canteens are badass by themselves, let alone a metal and glass canteen built for infusing cocktails. She said that while I couldn’t have the vessel, they do offer them up for purchase for a measly $150. I regrettably declined and inquired if any had been sold yet. None had.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949525343/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 076 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 076" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5949525343_066cfa9aba_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
The rhubarb was basically a flavored gin and tonic with lemon balm. The twist here was that the spherical ice cubes were actually frozen bitters (the cocchi?). Rhubarb being one of my favorite flavors, it was no surprise that I approved of this drink, even though I’m not huge on gin and tonics. After it had made it’s rounds and came back to me I fished out one of the ice cubes and popped it into my mouth. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950084042/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 094 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 094" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/5950084042_33fb1acf45_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
It tasted like mildly tart-sweet ice. I guess all of the bitters had already infused the beverage. A refreshing and tasty cocktail nonetheless.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950082912/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 075 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 075" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/5950082912_f403b5dc50_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I felt the Pisco Sour was fine, but not quite as good as those our good friend Marvin made us down in NOLA. The Aviary’s version lacked that tart kick that made me fall in love with the drink in the first place, ultimately tasting very smooth, but slightly flat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950083366/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 083 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 083" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5950083366_d53236a42c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My order of preference for those first five cocktails was Blueberry, In the Rocks, Rhubarb, Rooibos, and finally the Pisco Sour. No sooner did I finish relishing in the last few drops of my cocktail when Ginger hit the table. We also took this opportunity to order a round of ice waters to ensure proper hydration.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950084894/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 109 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 109" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/5950084894_516d679af9_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
That's how our waters were served. They were filled from a pitcher tableside. Isn't that a badass hunk of ice? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950084274/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 098 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 098" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/5950084274_a3f3803026_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The Ginger is a deconstructed Moscow mule. A glass is filled with ginger-flavored ice, dotted with slices of pepper and herbs, and served with a swizzle stick fashioned out of lemongrass. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949526815/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 100 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 100" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6128/5949526815_7bfe3de94d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Drinkers are instructed to pour vodka from a small glass pitcher over the ice and mix with the lemongrass. I was mesmerized as M spun the drink into a flurry of off-pink slush. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949526885/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 101 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 101" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6025/5949526885_9ba652aa60_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949526947/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 102 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 102" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/5949526947_a74d729f8e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950084756/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 107 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 107" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6145/5950084756_c987ff1b36_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
He took one sip, then another, and immediately passed the drink to me saying I had to try it. This is yet another instance when I feel like I must quote you my voice memo, because I can’t really describe it any better than this:<br />
<br />
“The Ginger is the table favorite. It’s amazing. It literally tasted like an old Thai lady came in my mouth. Like an old Thai grandmother squirrrrted in my mouth.”<br />
<br />
Yes, that’s really what I said. And I’m pretty sure that’s all you need to hear. If you go to Aviary you must order this drink.<br />
<br />
At this point we ordered one more beverage to go along with our Cold Chocolate. I asked our waitress if there were any more unique cocktails we hadn’t tried yet, and she said while the rest were all pretty standard, the presentation of the Hurricane was pretty unique in that the cocktail is presented in seven layers, and when poured over ice they all blend together. So we decided to try that as my friend D swears by the Hurricane, and I regretted not trying one when we were down in NOLA.<br />
<br />
Cold Chocolate arrived and it was definitely the least aesthetically appealing beverage of the night. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949527471/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 112 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 112" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/5949527471_9988045285_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950085128/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 113 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 113" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5950085128_c0fd925e56_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
It looked like a foamy shitshake. The cocktail itself was fairly straight forward, but what the menu fails to mention is the foam is scented with tobacco. Wow, now that was something I’d never quite experienced before. It was like eating a hot fudge sundae in a walk-in humidor. <br />
<br />
After we collectively killed it, I couldn’t help but notice that the ice cubes were opaque instead of translucent. Upon closer inspection I noticed they were solid white, so I popped one into my mouth and chomped down. I guess, like most of the other cocktails here, it was meant to be enjoyed slowly so that the cubes could melt and infuse into the drink. Unfortunately, being the hellbent drunks that we are, that small feature was lost on us. It was still quite refreshing to snack on the slightly chewy, frosty, creamcube.<br />
<br />
And finally, we have the Hurricane. The layers from top to bottom are as follows: Cranberry stock, passion fruit juice, blood orange juice, lime juice, Plantation 5 year rum, Banks rum, and a splash of Smith & Cross rum on top. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949527369/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 110 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 110" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6134/5949527369_a93aa71c26_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950085226/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 115 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 115" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/5950085226_29ae7cb843_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950085400/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 118 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 118" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6129/5950085400_60772aacf2_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
While the presentation of the Hurricane was truly impressive, we all felt it was too sweet. That’s probably the nature of the beast when dealing with Hurricanes, but there were also complaints that it was too one-dimensional. I disagreed, as I could appreciate the subtleties of the different fruit juices they used.<br />
<br />
So, to sum things up, we all really enjoyed our time at the Aviary. My final order of preference was Ginger, Blueberry, In The Rocks, Rhubarb/Cold Chocolate, Rooibos, Pisco Sour, Hurricane. It’s obviously a very hip and Chef Achatz and co. have obviously put a lot of work into developing the concept of their sidebar attached to Next. They do offer food, what they call bites, but since we had dinner plans immediately afterwards, we didn’t partake. From what I’ve read online they’re overpriced for what you get, but I’ll reserve my judgment since I didn’t experience them for myself.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1592762/restaurant/West-Loop/The-Aviary-Chicago"><img alt="The Aviary on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1592762/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-88540720523931176622011-07-19T20:25:00.002-04:002011-07-22T18:34:43.940-04:0030/66 Chicago: Part 1My 30th birthday, celebrated in 66 hours in Chicago, get it? Moving on. Our flight departed at 9pm and we arrived with about 30 minutes to kill so we checked out the bar at Phillips Seafood right next to our gate. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949517297/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 004 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 004" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5949517297_2481de20c7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I ordered a MM Manhattan neat, and apparently to this bartender neat means warm. I guess I have in the past said chilled, neat, but I never expected to be served a warm Manhattan.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949516823/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 001 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 001" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/5949516823_aedcaa5bc7_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
After I got over the fact that it was warm, the Manhattan itself was pretty good, similar in strength to the ones I make at home. The Mrs. ordered a glass of Sutter Home White Zin which I couldn’t help but laugh at. That’s the wine my mother used to drink.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949517449/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 005 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 005" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/5949517449_5af7874f99_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Fast forward to 10pm Central time and we were in Chicago. Our other friend was flying into O’Hare and his flight was delayed so we decided to take a cab and meet them for dinner.<br />
We arrived at Longman & Eagle at exactly the same time and after throwing our bags into my friend M’s trunk, we made our way into L&E and were (surprisingly) seated immediately.<br />
<br />
My mentality going into this meal was to take pictures, but ignore voice memos so I could enjoy my first night in Chicago unburdened by my blog. Well when I asked the Mrs. for the camera, she sheepishly informed me that it was still in her carry-on, in M’s trunk, a block and a half away. So, our first meal went completely undocumented, so I will do my best to recount the details.<br />
<br />
The four of us decided to split two small plates, two sandwiches, and one entree. We ordered the Porcini Agnolotti with Sweet Corn, Crispy Chicken Skin, Pea Shoots, and Grana Padano and the Slagel Family Farm Goat Sausage with Eggplant Baba, Compressed Apricot, Basil, and Black Olive Caramel. For our “main course” we split the Slagel Family Farms Burger topped with Aged Windmer’s Cheddar, Neuske’s Bacon, on a Brioche bun and a side of Beef Fat Fries (it looked like <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/triphenawong/5780048221/">this</a>) and the Wild Boar Sloppy Joe, Crispy Sage, Onion, Pickled Jalapeño, also with Beef Fat Fries (it looked like <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidyang/5632088428/">this</a>) and finally the Slow Roasted Cauliflower, Beluga Lentils, Caramelized Onion, Golden Raisins, Pickled Mango, and Cucumber Raita (it looked like <a href="http://www.chicagobites.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/le_cauliflower.jpg">this</a> [although with much less pickled mango]).<br />
<br />
Well I will say that we thoroughly enjoyed every dish, and with the exception of the burger, were quite stellar indeed. The sweet corn served with the agnolotti must’ve been flash fried for it had this great crunchy popping texture. The eggplant baba served alongside the goat sausage really enhanced the meats natural smokiness while rounding out its gaminess. The entire table raved about the beef fat fries, but I felt slightly less impressed. This was probably due to the fact that I was utterly enamored with the wild boar sloppy joe which proved to be one of my favorite bites of the weekend. The crispy fried sage really elevated the dish, but it was no surprise that, as a person who loves both sloppy joes and gamey meats, I couldn’t shovel this into my mouth fast enough. I even used the fry scraps to mop up every bit of sloppy joe from the plate. The cauliflower itself was great, but I had a few complaints. There were far too many lentils and not enough cauliflower. They also skimped heavily on the cucumber raita, there was barely a drizzle. I loved both the pickled mango and the golden raisins, but the raisins were far more plentiful. I guess I didn’t really have any problems with the components themselves; it was more of an issue of ratios.<br />
<br />
I noticed they had a spin on the Mint Julep listed on their cocktail menu. It was the Julep de Chambly (Old Taylor Bourbon, Fresh Lemon, Mint Syrup, Ephemere White Ale.) Not being a fan of white ale, I asked our very nice waitress if I could order a run of the mill Mint Julep. She assured me she would inquire at the bar. Moments later I had my drink. The drink itself was fine, but my qualm with the beverage was that most of the negative space in the glass was crammed with crushed ice so that the cocktail itself couldn’t’ve been more than a 1.5 ounces. It also wasn’t served with a straw so everytime I took a sip I came away with a nasal passage full of crushed ice. I slurped it down and after trying M’s stellar Cane & Ebel brew by Two Brothers Brewery I ordered up one of those.<br />
<br />
We caught up on current news and reminisced about old times for a spell, but it wasn’t long before the long day started wearing on us all. We paid our check and made it back to M’s swanky new (to me) and much larger pad in Roger’s Park, about 3/4ths of a mile from his old place. We passed out shortly thereafter.<br />
<br />
Having never been a huge fan of Chicago-style Deep Dish pizza, I was kind of hesitant to spend one of my precious meals on it, but after my wife expressed interest in trying it I decided to give Burt’s Place a call to reserve us some pies. I’d researched Burt’s for my <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/search/label/Chicago">last trip</a>, but never committed to it. I called a few days ahead and after reading <a href="http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2011/05/chicago-essential-burts-place.html">this article</a> on Slice, I decided to go with their suggestion of opting for double cheese and extra sauce. For our first pie my wife wanted pepperoni and half black olive. For the other pie I decided on sausage and fresh garlic and I asked Sharon (Burt’s wife who takes all of the phone orders) for a recommendation of either mixed bell peppers or mushrooms. She suggested mushroom.<br />
<br />
We had a few minutes to kill before we headed out, so M took the opportunity to show us the little beach on Lake Michigan roughly 5 blocks East of his house. It was the first time I’d been close to the lake and the water was surprisingly beautiful. It made the Chesapeake Bay and the water at Ocean City look like raw sewage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949518153/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 008 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 008" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/5949518153_ddd2629de9_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949518437/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 009 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 009" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5949518437_d15cfb2b89_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949519395/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 012 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 012" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5949519395_3d39acb838_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After a short ride through Greater Chicagoland we arrived at Burt’s Place in Morton Grove exactly 10 minutes prior to our 11:30 pie reservation. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949519719/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 013 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 013" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6002/5949519719_2ecdb16bcd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950077618/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 017 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 017" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/5950077618_4bbf13c559_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I was extremely surprised to find that we were the only eat-in diners, and aside from two men who picked up to-go pies, we were the only patrons we saw throughout the entire duration of the meal. After Sharon greeted us and showed us to our table she quickly produced water for the table and a salad to start. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949520227/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 020 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 020" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6136/5949520227_7d3d94c17b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I asked for garlic vinaigrette, and it turns out that they were two different dressings. The garlic dressing I could only compare to an aioli, so I quickly reached for the vinaigrette which was much more palatable. As she scurried back into the kitchen I took the opportunity to walk around and flash a few shots of the famously kitschy collection of knickknacks adorning the walls.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949520095/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 018 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 018" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5949520095_1ef5522651_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949520155/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 019 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 019" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/5949520155_c54dde0cf9_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
After only a few bites of salad Sharon brought out our pies and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.youtube.com/watch?v=enSYlCEz5VI">there was much rejoicing</a>. She set the pies on a central table and after asking which pie we preferred she served us our slices. First up was the sausage, mushroom, and garlic.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950078218/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 024 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 024" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/5950078218_c7e3bf7425_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949520837/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 028 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 028" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/5949520837_f6d72cf1ed_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950078478/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 027 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 027" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/5950078478_6dfd10f5c7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Immediately the freshness of the ingredients transported me to Di Fara in Brooklyn. The garlic was so fresh and abundant that it burned my tongue. The mushrooms were slightly caramelized, retaining their natural earthy funk. Even when doubling up on sauce and cheese they still played back fiddle to the toppings and the crust. The cheese was soft, smooth, and creamy, although I would’ve preferred a bit more. The same goes for the sauce, while it was beautifully savory and spiced (not spicy, mind you) with all of the other strong flavors it was kind of lost in the mix. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949520957/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 030 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 030" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5949520957_faf3874299_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The other dominant flavor was the cornmeal crust, the best part being, of course, the caramelized outer crust. I alternated bites from the point and the crust just to make the most of that addicting crispy blackened edge. Burt applies his sausage so that there is one large central hunk for each slice. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949521051/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 031 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 031" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6147/5949521051_81a18424a8_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
When I bit into it I looked across at M and said that it was the best fennel sausage I’d ever tasted. He wasted no time in agreeing with me. <br />
<br />
We brainstormed the idea for the perfect addition to Burt’s menu: A circle of caramelized crust covered in sausage with a side of sauce for dippin’. It’d be the best-seller, of that we have no doubt. After Sharon offered seconds I realized she taken my order down wrong. The second pie turned out to be black olive half-pepperoni instead of the other way around. Luckily, no one minded, and I was able to secure a slice with both toppings for myself. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950078332/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 025 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 025" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5950078332_007eb541a1_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949521233/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 034 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 034" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/5949521233_3554dd32db_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It seemed Burt was a little sparse with his application of the pepperoni for I only found two on my slice. Overall I preferred this slice more, however, because it was apparent that there was more cheese and the sauce. Not only that, but the sauce appeared more spiced, as you can see from this photo:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950079052/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 035 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 035" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5950079052_3bde9106c6_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949521405/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 036 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 036" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/5949521405_85b8a0372a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
At this point my friends started glazing over and rubbing their stomachs, signalizing that they had had enough. I wasn’t quite defeated just yet, so I asked for half a slice of the sausage pie, which put me down for the count. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950079266/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 038 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 038" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6125/5950079266_f4db8c5fae_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Sharon quickly wrapped up our leftovers and saw us to the door. She actually went on at length about Chicago and the crime and gentrification of neighborhoods, all the while we were slowly creeping out the door. Eventually we got out the door, and headed back to M’s place to chill out for a minute before heading to the beach.<br />
<br />
After watching a few episodes of Parks & Rec on Netflix, which we streamed through his PS3, we piled into the his car and headed down to Foster Beach for our first taste of the most addicting and fun beach game I’ve played in years: Spikeball. It’s basically just like volleyball (which I hate) except you have to bounce the ball off of a circular net on the ground in order to change possession. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949521921/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 045 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 045" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/5949521921_8a7664f013_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5950079752/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 046 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 046" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5950079752_39033cf7ec_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949522171/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 049 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 049" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/5949522171_a760874c27_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5949522229/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="30th Birthday Chicago 050 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="30th Birthday Chicago 050" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/5949522229_96635b4742_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We were all pretty evenly matched (alright, I was the weakest link) and we played for hours. It required the perfect amount of physical exertion—diving for the ball, running for stray hits, but without really wearing us out. It was the perfect way to work off our lunch and prepare us for our evening downtown...<br />
<br />
So, do you think my new camera was worth it? I sure do. Aside from using the low-light setting, every one of those photos was shot using the auto function. Pretty sweet, eh? Stay tuned for part 2.<br />
<br />
Micro--out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/1504518/restaurant/Logan-Square/Longman-Eagle-Chicago"><img alt="Longman & Eagle on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1504518/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/864048/restaurant/Chicago/Burts-Place-Morton-Grove"><img alt="Burt's Place on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/864048/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-70820562939347111902011-07-10T21:40:00.001-04:002011-07-10T21:41:38.843-04:00The Most Epic Day Ever IIWhile maybe not quite as epic as our <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2011/04/most-epic-day-ever.html">first dude day</a>, this day was still pretty amazing. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI6CfKcMhjY">Boys, let's get to it</a>.<br />
<br />
I had a haircut at 9am. As usual I arrived a few minutes early to partake in the goodness next door at the Cockeysville PA Dutch Market. MMmmm, doughnuts.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922652125/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 005 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 005" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6028/5922652125_122eecdb25_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I also nabbed two sexy NY Strips for dinner later that night.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923235792/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 048 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 048" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5923235792_9577851aaa_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Afterwards I hauled ass to New Market to C's house and from there we commenced the insanity. Our ultimate destination was Gaithersburg, but before we raped our livers we needed some sustinence. After a quick search I'd found that for the most part Gaithersburg was a food wasteland, but one recommendation that kept coming up was Taco Bar located in a quaint little strip mall liquor store. Authentic tacos out of a liquor store? Count me down.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922652473/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 007 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 007" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/5922652473_e4ffaf0597_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923219140/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 009 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 009" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5923219140_3e9dc86c06_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We walked up to the counter and I went with my go-to choices of chorizo and lengua (beef tongue.) Since C was a little less educated in the taco arts he mirrored my order. Our order was up moments later so we hit up their sweet fixin's bar and went with the traditional toppings of raw white onion and cilantro. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923218820/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 008 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 008" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5923218820_6a56bdb42d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I tried their spicy salsa verde on the chorizo and their spicy salsa rojo on the lengua. We chose to sit outside for the natural light, although the heat and humidity made it feel like we were dining in a bayou whorehouse. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922653777/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 010 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 010" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5922653777_1fe5212163_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Both tacos were definitely great, but my favorite was the lengua. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923218466/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 011 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 011" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5923218466_2995dae5e8_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922657491/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 014 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 014" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5922657491_e565d28765_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The salsa rojo complimented the flavors well, and the lengua was a smaller dice than I'm used to and had a strong beefy flavor with an underlying layer of funky musty goodness. Beef tongue at its finest.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923217602/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 012 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 012" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5923217602_fbe0e7d772_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922655253/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 013 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 013" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/5922655253_e7f18fb0a3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The chorizo had great little caramelized bits from being cooked on the flattop, but it was a tad dry, and it wasn't nearly as spicy as the chorizo I get from La Familia in Bel Air. It was still a damn fine taco, the salsa verde was bright and fresh. <br />
<br />
Bellies adequately full, we made haste to our true destination: The Gaithersburg branch of the Dogfish Head Alehouse. Giddy up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922656187/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 016 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 016" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6142/5922656187_72a9705c54_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923221344/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 015 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 015" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5923221344_2229649c96_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Immediately upon entering we were greeted with the beer list for the day:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922655721/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 017 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 017" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/5922655721_2ae0c12e5a_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
They had a lot of my favorites and many more that I'd never had before. My mission was to try them all...<br />
<br />
We grabbed two spots at the close end of the bar by the windows to, again, make use of the natural light. The interior was like any other decent brewpub.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923223120/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 022 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 022" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5923223120_43f218718c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923226016/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 024 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 024" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5923226016_6706ceda84_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I was sad to find out that I couldn't customize my own sampler, but the bartender did tell me I could taste any beer I wanted before committing to an order. So I opted to try the 90 min IPA and the Chicory Stout.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922656675/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 018 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 018" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/5922656675_f32869f841_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Mmmm, don't those water stains look delicious? I immediately fell in love with the 90 min. It had all of the great qualities of the 60 minute, just turned up a few notches. The chicory wasn't great, it tasted overly roasted and too bitter. Next up I sampled the Black & Red which was one of the most unique beers I've ever had. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923223546/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 019 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 019" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6123/5923223546_2d36043856_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
This beer literally smelled like Ande's Mints. If only it tasted as good as it smelled. It tasted great at first, but then it finished on this bizarre syrupy Robitussin note that immediately turned me off. C felt the same way. So with that we decided to start ordering like men, C went for the Theobroma and I went with an old favorite that I hadn't had in quite a long time: the Sah'tea. While they look virtually identical, they couldn't taste more different.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923222114/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 020 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 020" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/5923222114_f7fb3a5c28_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
The Theobroma had pleasing, but surprisingly faint notes of dark sweet chiles and chocolate. It was very sessionable and one of my favorites of the night. Bonus that it had a badass tap handle:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922659915/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 023 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 023" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5922659915_1fc562e304_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922658189/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 021 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 021" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6142/5922658189_6d1887f306_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
The Sah'tea had more of a witbier flavor than I'd remembered, which would usually turn me off, but the flavor from the tea curbed the bandaidy and rounded it out nicely. I had to physically restrain myself from guzzling both snifters myself. Our first round was definitely a great one. Round two featured Palo Santo Marron for myself and Sah'tea for C.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922660635/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 025 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 025" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5922660635_cd0cce6636_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
While PSM is one of my favorite beers, it is in no way a session beer. It is a sipper through and through. For a visual guide of the art of sipping please refer to the visual guide below:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923224410/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 026 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 026" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6134/5923224410_4ae96ac7ef_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922661337/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 028 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 028" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/5922661337_3bc6cec6da_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923225116/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 027 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 027" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6014/5923225116_bcd5d8e41e_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Sexy little monkey, aren't I?<br />
<br />
I sipped away, like any real man should, while C and I discussed the finer points of love and life and entertained a drunken local. Since C was driving he nursed his Sah'tea while I sallied forth on to the 90 Minute IPA.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923226430/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 029 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 029" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5923226430_14cd53521e_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923227840/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 030 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 030" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6021/5923227840_b50b7ca9d2_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I would say the 90 Min was definitely the discovery of the day for me, with the Theobroma coming in a close second. I can't really pinpoint what makes it so damn good, it just is. It's not overly bitter, and it hides it's 9% abv surprisingly well. A new favorite, for sure.<br />
<br />
We decided to go out with a bang so we opted to split a bottle of the World Wide Stout as our last DFH beer of the night. The bartender said that this particular batch was a whopping 20% abv. Holy hell.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923228832/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 034 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 034" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/5923228832_a47184267c_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923229256/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 036 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 036" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6029/5923229256_8f4182985f_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
While the Palo Santo is a sipper, I'd call this an eyedropper. Meaning the only way you could enjoy this beer is to drink it drip by drip. Holy hell this drank like cybernetic joint lubricator. This is the shit that the Autobots bleed. After that many rounds of delicious beer we could only stomach a few sips before we waved our flags of surrender. The bartender simply refused to charge us for it and whisked away our glasses. The price of the bottle was directly rolled into his tip. A fine bartender, indeed.<br />
<br />
We departed Gaithersburg and on our way back to C's place in New Market we rocked out to such artists as <a href="http://www.facebook.com/threeinchesofblood">3 Inches of Blood</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/thelonelyisland">The Lonely Island</a>, and <a href="http://www.krypteria.de/">Krypteria</a>.<br />
<br />
I'll be honest. After getting back to C's house, the details become somewhat fuzzy. Kinda fucked up, considering this just happened last night. Ummm, I remember booting up FF3 and eating some cold pizza. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922667191/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 040 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 040" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/5922667191_99530d661c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I thought it was funny that when I bit into my slice two pieces of pepperoni fell directly onto my crotch, so I took a picture of it for you:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923230164/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 037 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 037" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/5923230164_34d3aaee82_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I chastised C constantly for his inability to perform Sabin's Fire Dance. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922668037/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 043 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 043" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5922668037_8d53072bcb_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
At some point we cracked open the sixer of Flying Dog and Brewer's Art collaboration beer Table For Two. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923215342/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 001 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 001" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/5923215342_f1a900ec5f_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I've had it before and its good, not great. Very roasty toasty, and would probably go really well with cheese and crackers. We played a round of darts in the basement and then the time came to make some dinner. We ran out to the produce stand on the corner and picked up some sweet white corn from the good old Eastern Shore. This was by far the best corn I've had this year, and, honestly, it was some of the sweetest corn I've ever had. It was like candy. I tried my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776405292/">new method of cooking burgers</a> on our steaks and they turned out phenomenal. <br />
<br />
As before I preheated my cast iron skillet on C's gas grill for 15 minutes with all of the burners on high. I rubbed our steaks down with bacon fat and a thick layer freshly ground black pepper. When I threw those bad boys on there they hissed like a burlap sack full of rattlesnakes. 4 minutes on one side, 2.5-3 minutes on the other. I definitely lost more than a few arm hairs flipping them, even using tongs. The grill was showing temps beyond 450*. This is how you should cook your next steak, it is amazing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922670589/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 051 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 051" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/5922670589_0350f6a7e3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922673813/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 052 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 052" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6147/5922673813_b6df293c8a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
While I let them rest I busted out the bomber of Flying Dog Barrel Aged Gonzo I'd brought.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923237340/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 055 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 055" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6146/5923237340_c098017a3c_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
While it didn't necessarily go great with our dinner, it was definitely a great beer. It had all of those uber-dark flavors, but drank surpisingly smooth. After a few more minutes, our faces made sweet sweet love to our plates.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922674969/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 056 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 056" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6129/5922674969_05763c1112_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5922676837/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 061 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 061" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6028/5922676837_5789ff5521_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5923242332/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Dude Day #2 064 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Dude Day #2 064" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6014/5923242332_70125082b2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Not too shabby if I do say so myself. I want to open my own restaurant in the semi-near future, do you think these pictures would tantalize potential investors? Just leave a comment and I'll tell you where you can mail your checks.<br />
<br />
The rest of the night featured much, much more FF3 and at some point I'm pretty sure we made Manhattans. C likes to make his on the rocks and never uses bitters. I told him I'd show him how to make a real Manhattan next time he visits the Micro residence. Well, I'm off to Chicago in a few days to celebrate the big 3-0. Yep, I'm gonna have a shitload of stuff to blog about, and I just ordered myself a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-S95-Stabilized-3-0-Inch/dp/B003ZSHNGS">shiny new camera</a> (happy birthday to me) off amazon that I'm hoping gets delivered before we leave. Until next time...<br />
<br />
Micro--out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/7/1515363/restaurant/DC/Northern-Montgomery-County/Taco-Bar-Gaithersburg"><img alt="Taco Bar on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1515363/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/7/101819/restaurant/DC/Northern-Montgomery-County/Dogfish-Head-Alehouse-Gaithersburg"><img alt="Dogfish Head Alehouse on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/101819/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-44940972175122170042011-07-04T18:51:00.000-04:002011-07-04T18:51:26.908-04:00Happy 10 Days before My 30th BirthdayNah, I'm not trying to sell it. If you can comprehend basic math, then you can deduce my exact birthday from the title of this post. Are you up to the challenge?<br />
<br />
This is just a pic post. These were probably the best ribs I've smoked to date. 7 hours total, six hours naked, one hour foiled. Temps held strong at 250 degrees. Four fist-sized chunks of hickory provided the perfect level of smoky goodness. Transported to my dad's place and sauced on the grill at around 300 degrees to caramelize and serve. Also tried a new <a href="http://www.meatwave.com/blog/tangy-pit-beans">baked bean recipe</a>, which, after some serious tweaking, turned out pretty damn good. To drink? Lagunitas Lil Sumpin Sumpin, Flying Dog Raging Bitch (pictured below) and Table for Two. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5902986870/" title="Ribs for the fourth 002 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Ribs for the fourth 002" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6052/5902986870_f8dfa34432.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5902987702/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Ribs for the fourth 003 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Ribs for the fourth 003" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6035/5902987702_03694b6e3b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5902992600/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Ribs for the fourth 011 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Ribs for the fourth 011" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6014/5902992600_0061b7d86f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5902434417/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Ribs for the fourth 014 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Ribs for the fourth 014" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6036/5902434417_df68035939.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5902434821/" title="Ribs for the fourth 015 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Ribs for the fourth 015" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6032/5902434821_845a8c2334.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
Happy Independence Day everyone. Micro--out.Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-76953143126439941162011-07-03T08:09:00.000-04:002011-07-03T08:09:18.533-04:00Heaven is spelled N.O.L.A... The FinaleMo' pics, less clicks (that would be my fingers clicking the keys.) That's the name of the game for this post. My ass is spent talking about New Orleans, so I'm going to give you very sparse details for this post. But don't worry, there'll be lots of perty pictures.<br />
<br />
After brunch at Commander's Palace, we found a brochure in the lobby that offered a mapped walking tour of the Garden District. Since this was what we were planning on doing anyway, we grabbed one and ran through your wicked garden... district.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838511037/" title="New Orleans 112 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 112" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/5838511037_6463f14fd8.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5839063958/" title="New Orleans 118 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 118" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/5839063958_689f9a0e66.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838515507/" title="New Orleans 126 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 126" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5838515507_614e6e84f5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5839067520/" title="New Orleans 130 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 130" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2752/5839067520_2684769ec1.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838518347/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 135 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 135" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2432/5838518347_9d86ef798c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After our walk we did some shopping along Magazine Street. Guys, listen up. If you ever read online that there's great shopping along Magazine, realize what I failed to in that there's great <i>women's</i> shopping along Magazine. I've never seen so many damn women's clothing, shoes, and accessory stores in one place in my entire life. While I was bored to tears, I kept my happy face on as my wife went door-to-door.<br />
<br />
After freshening up at the hotel we went to <a href="http://www.uglydogsaloon.net/">Ugly Dog Saloon and Bar-B-Que</a> who said they'd put the Caps game on for me. I had a few Abita beers, which didn't hold a candle to the brews at NOLA. A regular made some barbecue shrimp and brought them in and they insisted we have some. That was really nice.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890179559/" title="New Orleans 146 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 146" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6043/5890179559_b51794d428.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890179369/" title="New Orleans 145 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 145" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5890179369_aa442b7b99.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890747372/" title="New Orleans 144 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 144" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5032/5890747372_4cd67d42ec.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890179957/" title="New Orleans 148 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 148" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5235/5890179957_69a0594eba.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890179777/" title="New Orleans 147 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 147" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5070/5890179777_e32027883c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Unfortunately we had to leave prior to the conclusion of the game as we had dinner reservations with my mom and her fiance at Emeril's.<br />
<br />
Despite reading from many many sources online about how despite Emeril's being a very highly trafficked restaurant, the quality of the food was definitely down a peg or two from the other places we ate over the weekend. And I'd also read glowing reviews of the service, and the waitstaff at Emeril's was the worst we experienced in New Orleans. They were slow and indifferent.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890749634/" title="New Orleans 155 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 155" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5890749634_e40ac72074.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890749394/" title="New Orleans 154 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 154" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5305/5890749394_71e6e4619f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
The Sazerac I ordered was an insult to cocktails everywhere. When our waiter handed it to me I honestly thought it was a sample:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890181797/" title="New Orleans 156 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 156" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5079/5890181797_7548549b39.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
The best bite by far was the little complimentary corn muffin. It was some of the best cornbread I've ever had.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890182025/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 157 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 157" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5236/5890182025_5399d9cd87.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My soup Crawfish & Tomato Bisque tasted not much better than something out of a Campbell's can.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890182331/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 158 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 158" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5890182331_8b9c07ba4b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My wife ordered the Creole Marinated Calamari and while the calamari itself was overcooked and chewy, I did like the inclusion of the olives for a nice salty punch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890750658/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 159 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 159" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6039/5890750658_b711a39a98.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My complaints were few for my entree as well which was Grilled Sea Scallops with creole tomato-okra stew, spicy boiled peanuts, and spring onion-popcorn rice.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890750946/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 160 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 160" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/5890750946_4a1637c06e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838524717/" title="New Orleans 163 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3126/5838524717_a5d715911b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="New Orleans 163"></a><br />
The grill marks were definitely present and flavorful, but again, these were slightly overcooked. My favorite component of the dish was the spicy peanuts. They could've served as a very addictive bar snack. The popcorn rice didn't come close to Mr. B's. The fried coating killed any taste the pickled okra may have had.<br />
<br />
Even though I had my heart set on Emeril's famous Banana Cream Pie ever since I <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sazerac/2575625089/">laid eyes on it</a>, my mother detests bananas and I was simply too full to finish an entire slice on my own. So I ordered the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890752482/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 166 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 166" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5305/5890752482_db63d12eac.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It was fluffy and light, but again, nothing really memorable. It tasted like something from Cheesecake Factory. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890752240/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 165 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 165" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5273/5890752240_c4638edc01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Afterwards we headed over to Harrah's since my mother wanted to check it out. The Mrs. tried her luck again on the Lord of the Rings machine, but unfortunately didn't walk away a winner this time. I found the machine that was put on this earth specifically for my entertainment. May I present to you the Hoot Loot:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890754236/" title="New Orleans 173 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 173" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5269/5890754236_80a6e4914f.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
'at's 'em hoot owls up in dem dere trees. Hooka-looka-chooo! I have the coolest grandpop whom ever lived. And with a middle name like Oden (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPebxAOWSN4&NR=1">Odin</a>), he damn well better be.<br />
<br />
After Harrah's we decided to head back to the Swizzle Stick Bar to see if their bread pudding was still as good as it was when we were fitshaced. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890186495/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 175 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 175" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5307/5890186495_48775bf0ac.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890186795/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 176 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 176" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5304/5890186795_7cf0d75159.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This time around we decided to sit in the lounge area. No more than 5 minutes after we sat down Obama came on the air with a live announcement that we'd killed Osama Bin Laden. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890756594/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 182 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 182" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5152/5890756594_36fc4e210f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
You could hear a pin drop as the entire bar stood in awe listening to the monologue. I wanted to redeem myself after that pathetic Sazerac I had at Emeril's so I tried a 'Japanese' which had brandy, almond syrup, and Angostura bitters.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890188169/" title="New Orleans 181 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 181" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5269/5890188169_a33eae8f2f.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
Unfortunately this was way too sweet. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890756128/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 180 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 180" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5159/5890756128_80e4c5c097.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The bread pudding was still damn tasty sober, but not quite as perfect as the one we had at Jazz Fest. I think it was still my wife's favorite of the trip, but for me it was a very strong second.<br />
<br />
The next morning the wife and I rolled out of bed and headed out the door. Our destination was Surrey's, but this time we had full intentions of sitting down for breakfast.<br />
<br />
I ordered another Apricot Green Tea and a Jazz Fest special Crab Cake Benedict with a biscuit. The wife ordered the Bananas Foster French Toast.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890189185/" title="New Orleans 186 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 186" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5200/5890189185_49fec2f74b.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890189379/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 187 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 187" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5890189379_b416ce1f06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890190313/" title="New Orleans 191 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 191" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5116/5890190313_57e996911d.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
The eggs were perfectly cooked and oozy. The cakes themselves were good but over-seasoned, masking any actual crab flavor. I loved the strong lemon flavor in the hollandaise, but it was very thick, bordering on goopy. The biscuits were clearly baked in-house and they were very dense and moist. Although my dish was fine, after seeing plate after plate of amazing-looking shrimp & grits go by, if I could've ordered again, I would've went with that.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890757934/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 188 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 188" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6044/5890757934_aaefe1761b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The french toast, however, was the star of the show. The thick slices of brioche were literally stuffed with bananas cream cheese filling. I'd never seen this before. When she cut into a piece, the filling gushed out like an open wound. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890758238/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 189 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 189" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5078/5890758238_84e78658a8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It was magical. The banana's foster sauce was a tad grainy, but otherwise this was some of the best french toast we'd had. The bread was light, moist, and custardy with a great outter crust from the being pan-fried. She didn't come up for air until her plate was cleaned.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890758474/" title="New Orleans 190 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 190" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5314/5890758474_99fa2d9f6e.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
If it weren't for the grainy sauce, this would've been in the upper echelon of french toast stardom alongside <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2009/09/city-of-brotherly-dry-humping-pt-3.html">Day by Day</a> and <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/09/1st-anniversary-road-trip-day-3.html">Madre</a>.<br />
<br />
We headed back to the hotel, packed our bags, and checked out. The lobby said they would gladly hold our luggage while we spent our last day in the city. After walking around town for a little while we had lunch reservations at Cochon and Herbsaint. But after walking and talking with my wife, we came to the same conclusion when we were trying to decide our last bite of Jazz Fest: Let's just go back and re-order our favorite things. So that's exactly what we did. After two heaping bowls of Mr. B's BBQ Shrimp and round after round of Pisco Sours by the hands of my main man Marvin (who caught me creepin' as I peeked in the window to see if he was working), we picked up our bags at the hotel and trudged off to the bus stop to catch the shuttle back to the airport. I'll leave you with no words, just pictures. Thank you all for reading through our amazing weekend in New Orleans. We will most certainly return, and in the not-so-distant future, I hope.<br />
<br />
Micro--out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890190911/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 193 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 193" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5890190911_e10084c695.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890758900/" title="New Orleans 192 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 192" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5064/5890758900_ce59fa2945.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890759670/" title="New Orleans 195 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 195" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5275/5890759670_0a68d8f6b1.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890759414/" title="New Orleans 194 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 194" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5077/5890759414_4d86a15f58.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890760164/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 197 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 197" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5890760164_5f38669924.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890192217/" title="New Orleans 198 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 198" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5239/5890192217_6b17f07aae.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890191727/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 196 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 196" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5315/5890191727_35be8e550d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890192407/" title="New Orleans 200 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 200" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/5890192407_9ab037cae7.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890193103/" title="New Orleans 204 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 204" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5890193103_37a0e2389a.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890762524/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 211 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 211" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5890762524_6c7ba6b23f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5890762052/" title="New Orleans 209 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 209" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5319/5890762052_79ebe43bc3.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/57/620695/restaurant/Warehouse-District/Emerils-New-Orleans-New-Orleans"><img alt="Emeril's New Orleans on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/620695/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/57/621969/restaurant/Lower-Garden-District/Surreys-Cafe-Juice-Bar-New-Orleans"><img alt="Surrey's Cafe & Juice Bar on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/621969/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/57/621343/restaurant/French-Quarter/Mr-Bs-Bistro-New-Orleans"><img alt="Mr. B's Bistro on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/621343/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-58140572519279342792011-06-24T19:04:00.001-04:002011-06-24T19:22:09.454-04:00Heaven is spelled N.O.L.A. Part... SomethingAs we left the gates of Jazz Fest and observed the throngs of pedestrians fighting for a cab/bus/shuttle we decided to just hoof it down the Esplanade until we could flag down transportation. Some of the neighborhoods we strolled through were a little shady, but we never really felt in danger since there were a few other groups of people walking nearby.<br />
<br />
Welp, next thing we knew we’d walked all the way to the FQ. I didn’t feel like dealing with the Bourbon Street crowd so we hung a right on Dauphine Street which proved to be a much more relaxing atmosphere. It was no coincidence that it happened to lead straight to our next destination: Bar UnCommon located inside the Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel. <br />
<br />
I’d read from numerous sources online that the chief mixologist Chris McMillian was not only the best cocktail man in the city, he was one of the best in the country. Oh, did I mention he’s also the founder of the Museum of the American Cocktail? Yeah, that too.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787664377/" title="New Orleans 448 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 448" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3485/5787664377_55b1430051.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
We scored two seats at the bar and after a few short words with the man he set to making our drinks. I mentioned I enjoyed Manhattans so that was that, and after a few short descriptives from the wife, he knew what he wanted to serve her. At this point we had a moment to glance around and really take in our surroundings. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788220266/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 449 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 449" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/5788220266_4661318c39.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This was probably the fanciest bar I’d ever been to, but luckily all of the patrons were casually dressed. As you can see in the pictures the bar is softly lit and a soothing blue color with millions of tiny bubbles encased in the bar top. It struck the perfect balance of chic and hip without being too over the top. Mr. McMillian was very approachable and eager to speak with us about anything cocktail-related. He was happy to serve anyone, but he always seemed to drift back to us, knowing that we could appreciate the finer points of his handiwork.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787641809/" title="New Orleans 014 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 014" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2609/5787641809_f944725555.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
My Manhattan was made with Booker’s Bourbon and “the original sweet vermouth from Turin, Italy” which I tried googling, but too many results came up. It was also garnished with a magical cherry. It had to have been soaked in fairy tears. The beverage was extremely smooth, and went down a little too quick. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788198392/" title="New Orleans 015 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 015" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5062/5788198392_0de6a000c4.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
The Mrs.’ mystery drink turned out to be a Pimm’s Cup loaded with fresh lemon, cucumber, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Yes, it was one hell of a drink. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788199252/" title="New Orleans 022 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 022" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/5788199252_cb9661745c.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
She’s been dying for a chance for us to recreate it at home, and now that berry season is fast approaching, I might give it a shot…I’d only tried a Pimm’s Cup once before, at my birthday dinner last year at <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/07/birfday-shenanigans-pt-2.html">B&O American Brasserie</a>, and I wasn’t really impressed. This was smooth, light, and fresh. A wonderful warm weather cocktail.<br />
<br />
After downing my Manhattan I told Mr. McMillian that I heard he makes a great Aviation. He said while it was a great cocktail, he wanted to make me something better—a cocktail called The Blue Train.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787642395/" title="New Orleans 020 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 020" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/5787642395_a3403130a5.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788199552/" title="New Orleans 023 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 023" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2041/5788199552_c4c6b9daa9.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
It may sound like a group sex act involving Smurfs, but it’s actually a damn good cocktail. The flavor reminded me of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKiUou_odzM">Purplesaurus Rex</a>. I actually preferred this over the Pisco Sours we’d had at the Carousel Bar. But it was soon to be trumped by our next round.<br />
<br />
After mentioning he was also known for his Mint Juleps, my wife decided to try one of those for her next round. Aside from actually drinking it, watching him craft this drink was one of the highlights of the evening. He grabbed this huge mallet from one of the shelves behind the bar and proceeded to bash a pile of cubed ice into oblivion. He lightly muddled the perfect amount of mint, making sure to flavor the sides of glass as he did so. He stuffed the glass to overflowing with crushed ice, and then the long pour of Maker’s Mark he put into the drinks was one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen. It moved. He stirred it up, topped it with a fresh sprig and there it was: The best cocktail I’ve ever had. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788200276/" title="New Orleans 031 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 031" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5067/5788200276_2dc870991f.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
The funny thing was this was also the first Mint Julep I’d ever had. A few weeks ago a coworker of mine gave me a huge bag of fresh spearmint from her mother’s garden and I’ve been working on perfecting the drink myself. I’m very happy to say that I’ve come damn close to matching Mr. McMillian’s iteration.<br />
<br />
After tasting hers I immediately ordered one of my own, but he suggested something different, which proved to be his only misstep of the evening. Honestly, it seems like he doesn’t like to be pegged for specific drinks, either that or he doesn’t like making the same drink twice. Either way he decided to make me a Queen’s Park Swizzle, offering me some interesting history behind the name and origins of the cocktail, which I promptly forgot. Hey, it was my third round in less than 90 minutes, what do you expect? Google saves the day: It was apparently created at the Queen’s Park Hotel (ah yes, it’s all coming back to me now…) in Trinidad and it’s basically a glorified Mojito. Actually, it’s exactly like a mojito…<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788200614/" title="New Orleans 035 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 035" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/5788200614_7ae682c292.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
While I love <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vZblSTrUz9Y/TDnXa9THVyI/AAAAAAAABuo/kbu8vTkT2V4/s1600/Ribs+and+Skydiving+002.JPG">my mojitos</a>, this one was just a tad too sweet for my tastes. I told him as much and he sampled a sip and told me that I should give it a minute as the crushed ice should melt, loosening it up a bit. Frankly, I don’t really remember if this happened or not, since my tastebuds were going numb, fast. As we were enjoying our third (and final) round of beverages we got to talking to a local sitting next to my wife. A very friendly and cool chap, he recommended a few small dishes for us to try at the Swizzle Stick Bar over at Café Adelaide. Since this was another bar I’d had on my list, we decided to check it out after we finished our drinks. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788201878/" title="New Orleans 040 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 040" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5788201878_e08dec425c.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
The Swizzle Stick Bar was also a pretty chill spot, although slightly more packed. There was a pretty nifty crystal ship, spreading its soft light over the bar and its patrons. The dishes our drinking buddy recommended were the Shrimp & Tasso "Corndogs" with five pepper jelly, pickled okra, chicory greens and Crystal Hot Sauce and the White Chocolate Biscuit Pudding with Abita Root Beer caramel & LeBlanc's pepper jelly pecans.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788202236/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 041 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 041" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3392/5788202236_0d4db645e4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The complimentary bread came with whipped butter which was nice and spreadable. The bread also proved to be great for sopping up every bit of that five pepper jelly. That jelly definitely made the dish for me. The corndogs were great with a light crust and a prominent shrimp flavor, but the spicy-sweet jelly was bold and addicting. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788202988/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 043 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 043" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3649/5788202988_019a99609c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Upon first bite I proclaimed this to be the best bread pudding of the trip. The toasted pecans really brought a great crunchy dimension to the dish. They were toasty and woodsy and awesome. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788203402/" title="New Orleans 044 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 044" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2126/5788203402_8d92afb0aa.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Accompanied by a pudding and sauce that were both equally as custardy and rich and not too sweet just like the one from Jazz Fest and I didn’t hesitate to crown a new king. The ice cream didn’t hurt, either. Fortunately, we had the foresight to return the next day to see if this claim would hold true when our palettes weren’t quite as numbed. Now that’s dedication. See what I do for you people?<br />
<br />
The next morning I shot out of bed like a lightning bolt. Wasn’t I hungover? Nah, I don’t really get them. Proper hydration is key. I was jazzed (har, har) because we had 11am reservations for Jazz Brunch at Commander’s Palace. In the garden room no less. My excitement may have been a tad excessive as we got off the St. Charles streetcar at Washington Ave. with about 40 minutes to kill. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5839050056/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 057 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 057" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2604/5839050056_ff90f5a272.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I took this opportunity to snap a few pictures of the Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 and when I turned around I noticed Still Perkin’ which looked like the perfect place to grab a pre-brunch beverage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5839049772/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 056 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 056" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5839049772_c36e12e82d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838496613/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 046 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 046" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/5838496613_64c05a2941.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
As soon as I glanced at the menu I knew what I wanted. The words “Southern Pecan Cold Drop Iced Coffee” sang to me like flocks of happy little bluebirds. Luckily they didn’t shit in my coffee. I seriously doubt anyone got that movie reference. If you did post it in the comments and I’ll give you a prize. So, I ordered a large and tacked on a shot of soy milk.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838496735/" title="New Orleans 047 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 047" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5838496735_73953ed908.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
I couldn’t drink this thing fast enough. The Southern Pecan syrup made the flavored syrups at Starbucks taste like licking a camel’s nuts. I pretty much took my first sip and didn’t stop until my straw made that loud obnoxious slurping sound. Yeah, I was that guy. But I didn’t care, this drink hit the spot like no other morning beverage has in a long time. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5839049028/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 053 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 053" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2438/5839049028_081dd945fe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My only slip up was that I failed to notice the words “Decaf Southern Pecan” right next to the regular. Oops. By the time we sat down at Commander’s Palace I was literally shaking. I highly recommend stopping by this quaint little shop if you are looking to kill some time before your meal at CP. <br />
<br />
We did show up a tad early, but they had our table ready and immediately led us away. I felt like we were chasing David Bowie through an M.C. Escher painting a la The Labyrinth, but eventually we arrived at the garden room. This room was gorgeous with huge windows looking out over their lovely garden, and every table was adorned with a colorful trio of balloons. Our hostess assured us that hot garlic bread straight from the oven would be arriving in moments. I told her she reminded me of the babe. What babe? The babe with the power. What power? The power of voodoo. A few moments later the travelling jazz trio appeared and wasted no time in helping me belt out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8jT9FVIVSU">Magic Dance</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838504345/" title="New Orleans 082 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 082" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/5838504345_677f7f92f7.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
What better way to start our celebratory brunch than with cocktails. I was intrigued by the Apricot Fizz made with Italian Prosecco (I thought that a little redundant, isn’t all Prosecco Italian?), apricot brandy and Calvados. The Mrs. went with a Mimosa (sorry no photo.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5839053090/" title="New Orleans 070 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 070" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3014/5839053090_fd33297386.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
The Apricot Fizz was exactly what you expect a drink called Apricot Fizz to taste like. Light, refreshing, not too sweet, bubbly, fruity, and slightly bitter. The mimosa was… a mimosa. If you’ve had one, you’ve pretty much had them all.<br />
<br />
I read online that they do this insane <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ulteriorepicure/4290044668/">Foie Gras Pain Perdu</a> dish and to ask for it even if it’s not on the menu. Ya know, a little wink, wink nudge, nudge action. Well, the waitress happily assured me that while she hadn’t heard of the dish she would ask the chef if it was available. It wasn’t. She then brought out a huge rubber stamp with the word ‘JACKASS’ on it and promptly slammed it into my forehead. After the pretty stars faded from my vision I went with the Shrimp and Tasso Henican described as ‘wild Louisiana white shrimp stuffed with spicy Cajun ham with Crystal hot sauce, pickled okra, and five pepper jelly’ as my starter and for my main course I chose the Barbecued Shrimp Pain Perdu (I had pain perdu on the brain) ‘wild white shrimp sautéed with toasted garlic, lemon, and Abita beer over Cognac French toast, grilled 5 onion salad, and New Orleans BBQ sauce.’ Since we’re required to order all of our dishes at once I chose the dessert they’re most known for--their Creole Bread Pudding Soufflé. <br />
<br />
Despite our waitresses strong recommendation for the Henican my wife stood her ground and went with the Louisiana Shrimp Remoulade ‘chilled white Louisiana shrimp over marinated hearts of palm & creole tomatoes with Louisiana lettuce, ripped terragon, and spicy lemon vinaigrette’ for her first course, the Eggs Couchon de Lait (her self-proclaimed favorite dish of the entire trip) ‘two farm fresh eggs over slow smoked should of pork with warm buttermilk biscuits, mushroom fricassee, and spicy tasso hollandaise’ as her second course, and finally the Ponchatoula Strawberry Shortcake ‘first of the season local berries layered with warm buttermilk biscuits, Chantilly cream, and Dominos sugar’ for dessert. Apparently I was on a shrimp kick and she was on a biscuit kick. I also tacked on a cup of their famous Turtle Soup, as I’d been told not to leave CP without trying it.<br />
<br />
For our second round of beverages I chose the Whiskey Smash which the menu describes as ‘A King Cocktail Dale DeGroff creation, the smash begins with the muddling of fresh spearmint leaves, orange liqueur and lemon then mixed with Maker’s Mark Bourbon and served over crushed ice.’ <br />
The Mrs. opted for her usual Bloody Mary which was adorned by a veritable garden of pickled okra, long beans, and green olives.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5839053556/" title="New Orleans 073 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 073" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2579/5839053556_5a36bb7007.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
The Whiskey Smash was great, but didn’t hold a candle to the magical Mint Julep we’d had the previous night. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838504939/" title="New Orleans 087 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 087" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/5838504939_6f22f2993b.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
The Bloody Mary was finished tableside with the iceblock vodka. It was very smooth and finished with an aggressive bite that tickled the back of my throat. The pickled okra was nice and spicy. Our only complaint being that only half of the rim was salt/peppered.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838503959/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 080 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 080" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/5838503959_52ef9472c4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838503547/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 078 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 078" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5313/5838503547_99a88425e5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My Henican was magical like a level 12 Warlock. The sweetness from the five pepper jelly, pickled okra, and pickled onion helped to counterbalance the smoky Tasso ham, which apparently they cure in-house. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, but I have a pet peeve about eating shrimp tail-on. I get frustrated whenever I lose half a shrimp to a clinging tail. The spice level was utterly perfect, definitely noticeable but not to the point where it numbed my invaluable taste buds. I would’ve gladly ordered this dish for all three courses if I could have. One of the culinary highlights of the weekend for sure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838502909/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 075 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 075" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5033/5838502909_500612f265.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The turtle soup, unfortunately, wasn’t quite on the same level as the one we’d sampled at Jazz Fest the day before. If someone had told me this was beef stew, I wouldn’t’ve batted an eye. The other iteration was thicker, brighter because of the use of the greens, and much more complex. It also had a lot more noticeable chunks of turtle meat. I was glad we were able to sample Chris Montero’s turtle soup, because I wasn’t impressed at all with this so-called “famous” version.<br />
<br />
The complimentary bread was good, although quite frail and flaky to the point that when I went to rip off a hunk to sop up the rest of the five pepper jelly on my plate, it literally disintegrated in my hand. The whipped butter also garnered rave reviews from my wife.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5839056486/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 090 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 090" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/5839056486_3012c0fc77.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The first thing I have to mention about my entrée is the rich and buttery New Orleans barbecue sauce. I’d never really tasted a sauce quite like it. I mentioned this to the waiter and he wasted no time in jaunting down to the kitchen and coming back with a list of the primary ingredients: Butter, Abita Amber, Worcestershire, hot sauce, rosemary, cracked black pepper, and lemon juice. New Orleans definitely knows a thing or two about sauces. I searched the intarwebs when we got back and found the exact recipe, so that’s a giddy up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838506053/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 093 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 093" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5118/5838506053_772f978f9b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
These were the best shrimp I had all trip. They were perfectly cooked (the tails slid off easily) with a light dusting of Cajun spice and had the perfect touch of char. The pain perdu’s texture was great, with a hearty crispy crust. The sweetness from the caramelized onions and the flavors of cognac and anise from the microgreens really rounded up this carnivale of flavor. It took me quite a while to sort out my rambling voice memo about this dish. It was truly unique and quite spectacular. I think my favorite part was that every bite was different, there was salty, sweet, smoky, tangy, bitter… I turned more than a few heads as my culinary wood thumped the bottom of our table. It made our water glasses tremble like the ominous steps of the T-Rex.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838505867/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 092 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 092" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/5838505867_322a909461.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My wife’s Eggs Cochon de Lait were no slouch either. Along with the Crawfish Monica, she proclaimed this her favorite dish of the trip. It was a wrecking ball of savory goodness. While there wasn’t much textural contrast, the biscuits had pretty much disintegrated when the plate hit the table, the strong flavors made me sit up and take notice. The waterfall of yolk after she pierced the eggs was something truly wonderful to behold, adding richness so the smoky softly shredded pork. It tasted very brown, and in no way is meant to be a bad thing.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838506659/" title="New Orleans 096 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 096" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5838506659_dd986af46b.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
The Creole Bread Pudding Soufflé was the better of the two desserts, but I felt it didn’t quite live up to the raving reviews it has garnered across the internet. Without a doubt my favorite feature was the whiskey sauce, which had a very strong whiskey flavor. It was served piping hot, as is the case with any good soufflé and as I probed the dish I loved finding the spots along the edge and bottom that were slightly crispy and caramelized. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5839058632/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 101 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 101" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/5839058632_88f5fb5bf6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Since the sauce is added tableside, I don’t think the flavors of the dish really get a chance to meld and seem a little disjointed. There was also a slight undesirable eggy flavor, and the texture was a touch dry. The dish itself had a very bizarre texture, unlike any I’ve ever seen in the food world. The pictures don’t do it justice, but I can only describe it as soft and almost elastic. The smallest amount of pressure caused it to buckle and roll like whitewater rapids. I felt this was an interesting marriage of the flavors of bread pudding with the textures and execution of a soufflé, but in our weekend tally of our favorite bread puddings this one came in dead last.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5839058026/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 098 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 098" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5158/5839058026_b9a4e6b7c6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I was expecting to be wowed by the Strawberry Shortcake too since we were dining in the height of strawberry season, but this dish fell a little short as well. The pastry had a nice crust, and the fresh whipped cream was a welcome addition. It lacked the punch of fresh strawberry flavor I was expecting, but the ratio of tart to sweet was spot on.<br />
<br />
This was without question the best brunch I’d ever had. It was up there with <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/09/1st-anniversary-road-trip-day-3.html">Madre in Montreal</a>, and <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/search/label/Locanda%20Verde">Locanda Verde</a> and <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/search/label/Shopsin%27s">Shopsin’s</a> in Manhattan. Along with Mr. B’s and Bar UnCommon, if you’re a food enthusiast and are taking a trip to New Orleans you simply cannot miss the Jazz Brunch at Commander’s Palace. We’ll be back for sure.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5838508401/" title="New Orleans 104 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 104" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/5838508401_6e75f63eeb.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/57/621929/restaurant/Garden-District/Still-Perkin-New-Orleans"><img alt="Still Perkin' on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/621929/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/57/620517/restaurant/Garden-District/Commanders-Palace-New-Orleans"><img alt="Commander's Palace on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/620517/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-64053892028841239702011-06-11T10:23:00.003-04:002011-09-12T20:36:46.907-04:00Heaven is spelled N.O.L.A. Part 4Saturday morning we were feeling lazy, so instead of looking up the various methods of public transportation to Jazz Fest we simply phoned the front desk for a cab. 10 minutes later we were on the road. One great bonus that came with being lazy is we drove right past the Superdome which has to be one of the most impressive man-made structures I’ve ever seen. It looked like a steampunk airship battle arena. I loved how it wasn’t plastered with advertising like so many other stadiums are these days. A very impressive sight indeed.<br />
<br />
The cabbie dropped us off at about 10:40 so instead of waiting around for 20 minutes for the gates to open I decided to go check out Parkway Bakery now instead of waiting until after the festival. A short walk had us in front of the doors and what I thought as the first people in line. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788204244/" title="New Orleans 391 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 391" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/5788204244_26c59f32d2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Little did I know there was a back entrance, luckily there were still only a handful of people waiting.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<img alt="New Orleans 394" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2455/5787647641_2255c05f70.jpg" width="500" /><br />
The ordering process was still pretty sluggish, but I didn’t mind since the reason for this was that the guy behind the register took care to find out exactly what each patron wanted it and wasn’t shy about providing suggestions. When it finally came to my turn I went with a roast beef w/gravy po boy, dressed, extra pickles, a diet Barq’s (I didn’t care that it came in a plastic bottle instead of glass) and Zapp’s Spicy Cajun Crawtators potato chips, after the guy told me they were the best-seller.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787650001/" title="New Orleans 398 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 398" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3051/5787650001_1308da61b5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
I munched the chips (modeled by my lovely wife above) while we waited for our sandwiches. They were pretty disappointing, and in my opinion extremely overrated. People rave about these things? They had a nice crunch from a thicker than average cut, but the flavoring was pretty much non-existant. A waste of precious stomach space!<br />
<br />
After a short 10 minute wait my name was called. As we finally sat down with our sandwiches I was very fortunate to have the foresight to peel mine open like a Chipotle burrito. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788207648/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 401 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 401" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3594/5788207648_190da89c9c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Genius move, because the bread was completely soaked through before I even opened it and would’ve disintegrated in my hands. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788206586/" title="New Orleans 400 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 400" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5027/5788206586_1b79cca542.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
The sandwich did benefit from this however, because after trying a bite of the Mrs. fried shrimp po boy, the semi-tough bread made no less than six fried shrimp shoot out of the sides. I’m pretty sure one shot across the room and took an old lady out at the knees. I wasted no time in going over to silence her cries. Nasty work, that, but I felt obligated to finish the job. Mores the pity.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787650659/" title="New Orleans 399 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 399" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/5787650659_3c4ce6367e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
The beef tasted like straight up uber pot roast. The long thick shreds of beef were pretty terrific and the crunchy pickle slices added some much needed texture. The table hot sauce complimented the sandwich dandily. It also worked quite well with the fried shrimp, creating a buffalo shrimp sandwich of sorts, a personal favorite of mine. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788209076/" title="New Orleans 403 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 403" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/5788209076_c554330374.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
The fried coating on the shrimp was just a shade tough, but I couldn’t deny the strong presence of fresh shrimpenis. These sandwiches were damn good, but I think they’re a tad overrated. I know most people would say that a sandwich is a sandwich and that someone shouldn’t have such high expecations. I would say it’s very likely those persons have never had <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2009/10/retrospec-philly-cheesesteak-tour-08.html">Tony Luke’s</a> or <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/06/raging-windy-city-la-wind-god-gau-pt-3.html">Johnnie’s Beef</a>.<br />
<br />
We got back to Jazz Fest and entered the main gates just after noon.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788210962/" title="New Orleans 410 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 410" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3400/5788210962_894ca4544b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
The Mrs. noticed the craft stalls peppered along the entrance so we spent our first minutes browsing all of the interesting vendors. We were both trying to stay hydrated so I grabbed us a large Rosemint Iced Tea that I’d read so many good things about on Chowhound.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788212248/" title="New Orleans 413 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 413" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5061/5788212248_34dfb1c185.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
It was light and easy to drink, with a light presence of mint and the dominant flavor being rose. I didn’t think it was too floral, which would’ve immediately turned me off, but the Mrs. didn’t care for it.<br />
<br />
Originally I’d planned on hitting Prejean’s gumbo and the Cochon de Lait Po’boy first, but since we’d just had po’boys we nabbed a cup of gumbo first while I contemplated our options.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787656343/" title="New Orleans 414 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 414" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2109/5787656343_1487a13952.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Now this was some damn tasty gumbo. Just look how freakin’ dark it is! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788212950/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 415 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 415" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5788212950_2b1c32353c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It was a lot more spice forward and the winged creature (I honestly couldn’t tell the difference between the pheasant and the quail) was sublime. The sheer amount of tender, succulent meat in the cup really surprised me. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788211984/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 418 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 418" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5308/5788211984_5b231a816f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I did prefer the popping texture of the rice at Mr. B’s, but otherwise I considered this to be the superior gumbo by a fair amount.<br />
<br />
I decided to try the Crawfish Monica next, despite reading that it’s too heavy for this type of event. Well, I’m most certainly glad I didn’t listen to that dumb bitch because this dish was amazing. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788214310/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 421 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 421" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2793/5788214310_004e19da16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Definitely one of the top 10 pasta dishes I’ve ever had. It reminded me of a hot crab salad. I’d never had straight up crawfish tails before and for me they landed somewhere between crab and shrimp. The pasta was perfectly al dente, and the sauce was creamy without being heavy. But what really made this dish sing was a hearty application of hot sauce. I’m glad I grabbed a fistful of them after ordering. They made a world of difference. They added a little saltiness and a nice buttery heat that elevated the dish to crave-worthy status. This was definitely one of our favorite dishes of the weekend. Whoever Monica is, I bet she’s a pretty good lay.<br />
<br />
After eating we wandered around a bit, checking out a band here and there. I think the first band we stopped to watch was the Dixie Cups, but we didn't stay long due to the insane crush of people crowding around the stage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788213342/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 424 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 424" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2798/5788213342_73cff78cae.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788215598/" title="New Orleans 425 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 425" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5105/5788215598_44cdf24dfa.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
I expressed interest at checking out some cooking demos so we made our way over to Zatarain's Food Heritage stage inside the grandstand. We stayed for two cooking demonstrations: We caught the last half of Chris Montero making a pot of Creole Turtle Soup and then we watched Susan Spicer of Bayona, the main chef I wanted to watch, make some Crab Stuffed Artichokes with Tomato Vinaigrette. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788215918/" title="New Orleans 428 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 428" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/5788215918_e978b5cdee.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787659881/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 429 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 429" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/5787659881_e2920053c9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787660159/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 430 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 430" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/5787660159_d134708253.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
While both of these dishes were far from pretty, the flavors were quite impressive. The Creole Turtle Soup blew Commander's Palace version out of the water (more on that in my Sunday post), but what really impressed me was the bright zing from the fresh tomato vinaigrette from Susan Spicer. It was clean, simple, and fresh. Yet another sauce I'd like to bathe in. And not the last, either.<br />
<br />
Next up we decided to try two more so-called "can't miss" dishes the Crawfish Strudel and the White Chocolate Bread Pudding from Coffee Cottage Catering.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788218216/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 433 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 433" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/5788218216_51ed1cdffa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788217032/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 434 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 434" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5788217032_6b1101131c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The strudel was a very hearty and filling dish. The strudel was nice and flaky and a touch greasy, which didn't detract from the dish. The flavors brought to mind the strong acidic punch of a cheesy eggplant parmesan, with a little spice in the end. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787661315/" title="New Orleans 435 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 435" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3506/5787661315_8226582318.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
My only complaint was that the flavor of the crawfish tails was long among all of the other dominant flavors. The bread pudding on the other hand, blew my sack back. <br />
<br />
This was definitely the best bread pudding we had all weekend long. I wish I'd gotten more photos of it, but I was too busy making sweet stanky love to it. Yes, not stinky, but straight <b>stanky</b> love. The sauce was very rich and the bread pudding itself was so smooth and custardy. It coated the mouth and wasn't too sweet. This was the first time I haven't missed raisins in a traditional bread pudding. This dish was simple and executed to sheer perfection. While I can't say the strudel was a "can't miss" dish, this bread pudding defined the term.<br />
<br />
At this point we walked around a bit more, checking out some more vendors and stopping to watch the Hot 8 Brass Band for a bit. The Mrs. picked up a sweet hat at one of the vendors, which she wore pretty much continuously for the remainder of the trip. I wasn't complaining, she made that shit work! I got a really bad haircut a week before we left, but unfortunately I have a gargantuan ogre freak-head, so none of the hats fit me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787661533/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 432 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 432" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2268/5787661533_edfa86a5e9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787661065/" title="New Orleans 437 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 437" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5148/5787661065_37f80b6a36.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
With our sweet-tooth not quite satiated the wife expressed interest in trying a Mango Freeze. I was hesitant to try it, expecting some bullshit artificial mango-flavored icee. I couldn'tve been more wrong.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5788219318/" title="New Orleans 439 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 439" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2526/5788219318_020aaa3a52.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
I honestly think this dish is more mango than ice. It was velvety smooth and punch you in the tit with tart-sweet mango flavor. A great cold treat on a beautiful sunny New Orleans day.<br />
<br />
At some point in our journeys we also picked up an Iced Cafe au Lait for myself and an Old Fashioned Hand Made Ice Cream Sandwich from La Divinia Gelateria on wheels. It was literally served out of a small portable freezer on the back of this chick's bike. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787662115/" title="New Orleans 438 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 438" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5144/5787662115_2fd51fc6c7.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787658451/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 431 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 431" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/5787658451_df8c32b324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The coffee was great, and I eagerly gulped it down. In a matter of moments I was so wired I felt like I could've sprinted all the way back to Maryland. The ice cream sandwich on the other hand was pretty lame. I understand they were trying to go all "old-fashioned" on us, but this thing honestly wasn't even as good as the ones you can find in the freezer section at 7-11. Definitely the most disappointing item we tried at the festival.<br />
<br />
We had time for one more round of treats before making our way over to the Acura stage to see Bon Jovi. I still had a huge list of dishes I wanted to try: The Cochon de Lait Po'boy, the Fried Soft-Shelled Crab Po'boy, the Shrimp and Grits, the Fried Eggplant with Crawfish Sauce... among many others. After a quick discussion with the wife, we said screw it, we wanted to end the fest on a high note, so we went back for a second round of our two favorite dishes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787663717/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 440 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 440" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5187/5787663717_daa0140fc5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This time around I opted for the large portion of Crawfish Monica, and three hot sauce packets was the perfect amount to send it off into another stratosphere of flavor. We didn't regret this decision for a millisecond. Goddamnit, I wish I had those two dishes in front of me right now...<br />
<br />
Seeing Bon Jovi really capped off the experience perfectly. He somehow sounded better than he does in their albums, which was truly a feat in itself considering how long they've been together. His voice is so rich and soulful, and not in an annoying way. One thing that did start to wear on me, was his stage antics, which were clearly directed towards the females in the audience. I mean how many times can you shake your ass and reach towards the camera and do spirit fingers? <br />
<br />
Now I'm no Bon Jovi fanboy or anything, there are definitely better bands out there, but you bet your ass I was screaming my head off when the first song of their two song encore was Wanted Dead or Alive. That's one of my signature Rockband jams. The only song they didn't play that I wanted to hear was Blaze of Glory, but after such a great day, I couldn't complain.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787665351/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 444 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 444" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/5787665351_b92125def5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5787664691/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 445 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 445" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5787664691_7b7c9f83b8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
So that's it for this post. While our day at Jazz Fest had come to an end, our night was just getting started.<br />
<br />
Micro--out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/57/621496/restaurant/Bayou-St-John/Parkway-Bakery-Tavern-New-Orleans"><img alt="Parkway Bakery & Tavern on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/621496/minilogo.gif" style="border: medium none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-71938346972015968362011-05-30T14:28:00.006-04:002011-06-03T13:34:00.248-04:00Various FoodsingsI wanted to take a little break from the NOLA love to catch you up on what I've been up to lately.<br />
<br />
A week before our NOLA trip Daddy Micro and I saw Rush at the 1st Mariner Arena. Beforehand we got some gyros at Samos in Highlandtown right off of Eastern Avenue. I was jonesing for a gyro and this more than satiated my craving. The Greek salad was pretty damn good too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775831255/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="RUSH 002 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="RUSH 002" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/5775831255_1a6e283930.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776374616/" title="RUSH 004 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="RUSH 004" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2396/5776374616_c4421f7dc3.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775833939/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="RUSH 005 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="RUSH 005" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/5775833939_2a7cba77b2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>After dinner we headed over to Fells to check out Max's for a beer before the show. We weren't the only Rush fans with this idea so the place was relatively hopping. I overheard that the bartender was also going so I knew I had an immediate hookup. On Fridays Max's serves Big Ass Drafts which are 32oz. drafts for only $6. I asked the bartender what the abv cutoff was for the offer and he said usually around 7%... but since we were fellow Rush fans he let me order Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball which is 9%. Score! Unfortunately I don't remember what my dad ordered. I wish I had a frame of reference for this picture, these beers are freakin' huge!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775836607/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="RUSH 009 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="RUSH 009" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2286/5775836607_86707b4226.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
32oz. of 9% beer meant I was feeling no pain by the time we got to the show. It was good, not great. The instruments sounded awesome, but Geddy Lee's voice literally sounded like a dying cat. I definitely cringed more than once on those high notes...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776376856/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="RUSH 012 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="RUSH 012" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/5776376856_a54b1e582e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775836091/" title="RUSH 011 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="RUSH 011" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/5775836091_0eb3e98634.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
When Cinco de Mayo came along, the wife and I decided to celebrate with some tacos at Fiesta Grill in Bel Air. They have some pretty authentic fare. If you ever check them out I highly recommend the yucca fries, lengua tacos, and the pupsas. On this visit I ordered a lengua taco, a camarones (shrimp) taco, and even though it wasn't on the menu, they honored my request for a chorizo taco. <br />
We also split an order of yucca fries.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776380788/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 003 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 003" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2583/5776380788_37b428f27d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776381298/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 004 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 004" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2126/5776381298_3c8d8641df.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I'm really starting to love yucca fries. They're super crunchy on the outside, with a soft slightly sweet inside. I was surprised that they served the chorizo taco undressed. It was some pretty damn good chorizo though, it bled orange all the way to my elbow, and had a great lingering spice. The shrimp taco tasted good, but the shrimp itself was a tad stringy. The lengua was definitely the star of the bunch: juicy, tender, and supremely beefy. <br />
<br />
My taco craving wasn't satiated so two weeks later I decided to have a full blown taco feast. <br />
<br />
Here I am with my chorizo nunchucks. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776386724/" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 014 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 014" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5776386724_7ec7e6bcdb.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
And here is the pretty platter of authentic carnitas I made (using manteca I purchased from La Familia which is right next door to Fiesta Grill and under the same ownsership.) I bought the chorizo and the corn tortillas there too, score!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775844857/" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 013 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 013" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5775844857_f1496c0ea0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
And finally a plated picture. That salsa verde I made was bangin'. That's definitely going on the restaurant menu.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776388150/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 017 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 017" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5187/5776388150_2dfb463066.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Memorial day weekend we had a nice little Saturday planned. No, it didn't involve picking out wallpaper at Home Depot or Bed Bath and Beyond. Firstly we went to the Visionary Arts museum with our friends J&J. There was a pretty great <a href="http://www.avam.org/exhibitions/smile.shtml">What Makes Us Smile?</a> exhibit with all kinds of fart and poop pieces, but the exhibit that really blew me away was a collection of artwork by <a href="http://www.vonbruenchenhein.com/">Eugene von Bruenchenhein</a>. The best part is that all of his most famous pieces are available for download from his website for free! In high-res no less! I'm not kidding when I say that by the time my next BBQ rolls around, I might have a few of his pieces on our walls. Awesome, awesome stuff.<br />
<br />
After that we headed on over to The Little Havana for some mojitos overlooking the water. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776392142/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 025 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 025" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2123/5776392142_0a738377e6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775850009/" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 023 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 023" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5104/5775850009_d66c3af3a9.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775852227/" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 030 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 030" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/5775852227_27813d56a3.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
The weather was gorgeous and the mojitos were surpisingly not overly sweet. Actually, I don't think they were sweetened at all, and they were quite tart. After two rounds of mojitos and an order of so-so Masitas de Puerco Frita (my friends loved them, but I thought they were a tad dry...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776392658/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 026 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 026" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2356/5776392658_f48352d2de.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776393194/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 029 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 029" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2767/5776393194_b39f4b80a7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Then again, that didn't stop us from popping them like candy) a co-worker of mine met up with us and we went to check out his (relatively) new digs just a few short blocks away. He lives with three roommates in a pretty swanky rowhouse with a rooftop deck.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776394542/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 032 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 032" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2329/5776394542_874247d4eb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Man, my wife is right... I don't have an ass... After a short tour and another round of beers we headed on over to our dinner res at Bluegrass Tavern at 7. This is the second time I've dined there where I can honestly say I really liked every single item on the table. This place is definitely one of my favorite spots in Baltimore.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775855723/" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 037 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 037" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/5775855723_29930bef9e.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
For starters we had the pimento cheese and skillet corn bread. I decided to split the beet & arugula salad with J and then I ordered the soft-shelled crab for myself. The wife had the burger with a side of mac n cheese, J had the shrimp n grits and her husband had the smoked fried chicken.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776399272/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 043 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 043" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5776399272_96752ea455.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775858363/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 044 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 044" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/5775858363_35592b6028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776400140/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 045 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 045" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2420/5776400140_c3d091e558.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The butter was served ice cold, but when it hit that piping hot cornbread it melted almost instantly. The pimento cheese was every bit as good as last time, it's definitely becoming one of my favorite dishes. And I'm not exaggerating when I say that this salad was one of the best I've ever had (that might not be saying too much since I hardly ever order salads.) It was perfectly dressed and all of components played off of each other without any singular item overpowering the others. Quite fantastic indeed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775859301/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 046 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 046" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5267/5775859301_19bf9ab117.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
All of the entrées were just as good as the apps. The fry on my crab was perfectly light, and the avocado butter on the plate was a stroke of genius. My wife's burger reinforced my initial reaction the last time I ordered it that it's one of the best burgers in the city. The spicy mac n cheese was very smooth and not overly cheesy or too heavy. It went down a little too easy and I had to physically restrain myself from devouring it. Both the shrimp n grits and the fried chicken received very high marks from J and her husband.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775859915/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 047 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 047" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2166/5775859915_7428071b5c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776402602/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 050 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 050" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3305/5776402602_6a2cebaa2c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776403570/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 052 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 052" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2140/5776403570_b6a2d6abb9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776403006/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 051 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 051" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/5776403006_d5dd1c8c42.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776401662/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 048 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 048" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2557/5776401662_c7ccfa3a80.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776402106/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 049 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 049" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/5776402106_13dff6cb66.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It's amazing what natural light can do for the quality of your photos, isn't it?<br />
<br />
The night finally concluded with a semi-tipsy (we had a few more rounds at Bluegrass) jaunt over to Woodberry Kitchen to see if we could snag seats at the bar and feast on some C.M.P. action. Did we succeed? You tell me:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775863581/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 055 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Cinco de Mayo - Rush - Bluegrass Tavern 055" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2457/5775863581_0f03ea04d0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
But at $11 apiece, that is some seriously expensive dessert. But they're just soooo fucking good! It's the malt ice cream that makes it for me.<br />
<br />
And finally we had a few friends over yesterday for a nice little holiday weekend cookout. I grilled some burgers and veggies and made up a few pitchers of sangria and we played Mushroom until the sun went down.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776407296/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Memorial Day Weekend 005 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Memorial Day Weekend 005" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5266/5776407296_9c7640b5ef.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776407854/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Memorial Day Weekend 006 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Memorial Day Weekend 006" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/5776407854_e82616fe8f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776405292/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Memorial Day Weekend 001 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Memorial Day Weekend 001" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3504/5776405292_e99dcb3b3f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5776409374/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Memorial Day Weekend 009 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Memorial Day Weekend 009" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5229/5776409374_8d256a98e5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5775870411/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Memorial Day Weekend 012 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="Memorial Day Weekend 012" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/5775870411_59e9d35fa6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Goddamn, that last shot would've been awesome if it had focused properly. Ah well, can't win 'em all. A great night had by all.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/352358/restaurant/Canton-Highlandtown/Samos-Baltimore"><img alt="Samos on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/352358/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/351752/restaurant/Fells-Point/Maxs-Taphouse-Baltimore"><img alt="Max's Taphouse on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/351752/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/351643/restaurant/Federal-Hill-Locust-Point/Little-Havana-Restaurante-Y-Cantina-Cubana-Baltimore"><img alt="Little Havana Restaurante Y Cantina Cubana on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/351643/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/1517340/restaurant/Federal-Hill-Locust-Point/Bluegrass-Tavern-Baltimore"><img alt="Bluegrass Tavern on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1517340/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/352815/restaurant/Hampden/Woodberry-Kitchen-Baltimore"><img alt="Woodberry Kitchen on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/352815/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-68224178254869352022011-05-26T19:41:00.001-04:002011-05-26T19:41:38.729-04:00Heaven is spelled N.O.L.A. Part 3Just to refresh your memory we'd just arrived at NOLA Brewing after sampling some wonderful Pisco Sours from Marvin at The Carousel Bar. I approached our “tour guide” and he assured me that I was in no way late, they usually wait until a quarter after to start the tour, ensuring any stragglers (us) have had a chance to make it. He pointed me over to a small table where another brewer handed us our glasses and pointed us to the taps. That day they had their Hopitoulas IPA, Blonde Ale, and Brown Ale on tap and the Flambeau Red on cask. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719035452/" title="New Orleans 307 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 307" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2045/5719035452_95b0620cf3.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>I immediately went for the Hopitoulas while the Mrs. took a small sample of the Blonde. I definitely enjoyed all of them, but other than that I didn’t have any details since I was already pretty much drunk at this point.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719034676/" title="New Orleans 306 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 306" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/5719034676_6f0d86b419.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
The actual tour itself was short and sweet and awesome. I thought it was great how while they couldn’t sell us beer (they didn’t have the necessary permits) we could drink as much as we wanted for free. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718478423/" title="New Orleans 309 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 309" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2052/5718478423_b5d2dd3a37.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719037034/" title="New Orleans 310 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 310" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2021/5719037034_97e146b5bd.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
At every transition in the tour he would pause for a minute encouraging us to refill our pints. These guys sure do know how to party. When the floor was opened up for questions I jokingly asked if I could have a job and the brewmaster said I could show up Monday morning in pants and no open-toe shoes. He actually took me seriously. I was floored, and half-tempted to drop everything and move down to New Orleans to take him up on his offer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718477773/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 311 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 311" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/5718477773_3a8300703a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
These people were just very passionate about beer, and they thrived in a laid back casual atmosphere. I immediately felt among friends, and while I didn’t chat with any other people in our small tour group, we hung out with the NOLA crew in the merch room for a good 30 minutes after the tour concluded. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718476763/" title="New Orleans 313 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 313" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/5718476763_2c3a25fcc8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
We happily walked away with our pint glasses and two t-shirts to boot. What a fantastic experience. We called a cabby and waited by the curb. I figured what better way to follow imbibing massive amounts of beer than by indulging our sweet tooth? Luckily Creole Creamery was just a short jaunt away.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5762623991/" title="New Orleans 316 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 316" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/5762623991_21cb23eed5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
I’d read some pretty great things about this place, and once I saw their flavors for the day, I knew coming here was a very, very good decision.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5762623749/" title="New Orleans 318 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 318" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5105/5762623749_2354bedd14.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
Being an indecisive guy--wait, let me correct that--a drunk indecisive guy, having this many choices was a bad thing. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5763168726/" title="New Orleans 320 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 320" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2205/5763168726_7987e521a6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
They offer a 6 mini-scoop sampler so I just shouted out whatever sounded good for my first five flavors then let the girl behind the counter choose the sixth. I ended up with…<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5762624599/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 322 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 322" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2634/5762624599_f02d8668cf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Starting in the upper left and going clockwise: Peanut Butter Fudge Pie, Chef’s Perfect Chocolate (the employee’s choice), Butterscotch English Toffee, Steen’s Molasses Oatmeal Cookie, Coffee Pecan Brittle, and Salty Smoky Chocolate Almond. Normally I would’ve coordinated with my wife so we could try a bunch of different flavors, but the alcohol put a stop to that idea right quick. I needed ice cream and I needed it now. So, for my wife’s order…<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5762625133/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 324 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 324" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3031/5762625133_1961bf30f9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Starting left, going clockwise: Salted Caramel, Coffee Pecan Brittle, Peanut Butter Fudge Pie, Chocolate Amaretto Cheesecake, Cookie Monster, and Steen’s Molasses Oatmeal Cookie. My top 3 were the PB Fudge, Steen’s, and the SS Choc Almond. The Mrs.’ favorites were Steen’s, CA Cheesecake, and PB Fudge. The Butterscotch English Toffee was butterscotch overload, but it paired really well with the Chef’s Chocolate. The Coffee Pecan Brittle was good; it was just kind of lost among all of the other powerful flavors. This was some goddamn good ice cream, and I can honestly say that starting with Mr. B’s and ending here, I can’t really think of a better way to spend a lazy Friday…<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748665653/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 333 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 333" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5748665653_64fbaa530d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748666885/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 337 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 337" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/5748666885_e304b442ff.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We walked a few blocks north to St. Charles Ave and caught the streetcar back to our hotel. We freshened up a bit and wasted no time making it to our dinner destination: Cochon Butcher.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748671219/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 347 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 347" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2671/5748671219_267a488e91.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Upon entering we were greeted by no less than four separate employees. It was like they all had just experienced the perfect BM. We felt very welcome. Hopefully they didn’t notice the slight wobble in my step. I think my secret was out since tall icy glasses of water were produced before we even sat down. Unfortunately, we were simply too stuffed to order any sandwiches, which was my main reason for checking this place out. ‘Twas a double dagger when I looked at their sweet cocktail list. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748667739/" title="New Orleans 342 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 342" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/5748667739_1afd3b1eb7.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
The Adonis DNA and the Winning looked especially enticing, but if I’d had one I most certainly would’ve had to have been scraped off the floor. Ah, but there was definitely good eats to be had! Poopchute the Magician.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748667297/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 343 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 343" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2301/5748667297_8fd70ace73.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After much deliberation and asking of questions we decided to go with the Charcuterie Plate and a side of Marinated Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta Mac n Cheese.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5749221368/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 350 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 350" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3374/5749221368_95e5b865a9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
God these photos fucking suck. My 30th birthday is coming up in July, does anyone want to contribute funds to a new camera? I really enjoyed the sprouts, they were nice and blackened with a hefty dose of vinegar and bitter citrus notes--just how I like to make them at home. The only drawback was that they were served cold, I really would’ve preferred them to be warm. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748673079/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 352 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 352" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5107/5748673079_159eea3aaf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The M&C was smooth and creamy without being heavy and the addition of pancetta only gilded the lily. The breadcrumbs on top were fine, but I have no idea why they were green. I should’ve asked. The curiosity is gnawing at me. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5749220100/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 355 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 355" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/5749220100_e5484ea21f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I couldn’t handle that much cheese after just putting down so much dairy at CC, but the Mrs. gladly tore it apart like a ravenous pack of wild dogs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5749222688/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 356 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 356" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5749222688_a267d1e224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
From left to right the Charcuterie plate featured Spicy Fennel salami, Genoa salami, Duck prosciutto, Coppa, and Pork Rillette. My favorites were definitely the prosciutto and the rillette. Apparently the prosciutto melted in my mouth and the rillette was very buttery and uber-smooth. The accompaniments were horseradish whole grain mustard, housemade sweet sour pickles, and poppy seed crisps. They were all great, and they all compliments the meats well. The mustard went especially well with the salamis, and I liked the crisps so much I found myself munching on them naked.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748668129/" title="New Orleans 341 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 341" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5184/5748668129_f9e54c466d.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
Around this point I noticed the bottle of their housemade Sweet Potato Habanero hot sauce on the table and couldn’t resist taking a taste. As expecting it had a smooth cool refreshing sweetness at first taste and then the heat from the habs hit me like a ton of horseshoes. Me likey. One bite I found particularly good was the cracker topped with duck prosciutto, pickle, and hot sauce.<br />
<br />
Overall I really enjoyed the vibe of the place, the music selection in particular was great, and the servers couldn’t’ve been nicer, so it was unfortunate that we didn’t have the necessary stomach space required to sample more of the menu. While no one particular thing really blew my mind here, overall it was a great place and I’ll keep it on my list for future trips (of which there will be many, I have no doubt.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5717230010/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 360 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 360" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2288/5717230010_253c32cf29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After “dinner” we decided to wander on over to check out Harrah’s Casino. While neither of us are big gamblers, it’s always fun to check out the nickel slots while also spectating along some of the high dollar tables. The interior had a great Mardi Gras theme and I snapped a few shots of some of the more interesting pieces of artwork furnishing the wide open space. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748677851/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 363 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 363" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3408/5748677851_fd6765da6c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5749224488/" title="New Orleans 364 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 364" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2329/5749224488_d7f5ede7d4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
We found the Lord of the Rings slot machine which my best friend C and I spent hours on in Atlantic City for our other friend’s bachelor party a few years back. I played a dollar or two and hit an $11 dollar pot so I quickly cashed out, feeling like a badass. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748677523/" title="New Orleans 365 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 365" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/5748677523_afe0bdfe52.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
If only I knew what was about to go down on my wife’s machine. She played a $.40 bet and hit the button and happened upon some bonus round where she got 7 free spins all the while Gandolf’s fireworks display from The Fellowship of the Ring could be seen on the screen above. She racked up a bonus count of 7095 on her spins, but kept assuring me it wouldn’t amount to much. <br />
Both of our jaws dropped as we watched her go higher… and higher… and higher until it finally stopped at $142.10! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5749226440/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 367 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 367" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3594/5749226440_c73fd22fe8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
You can imagine how blown away we both were. This definitely made our night. We both cashed out our winnings and after a bit more exploring made our exit. We couldn’t believe our luck.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748679161/" title="New Orleans 368 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 368" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5748679161_ba3ae0a522.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
Our luck would continue as we descended the stairs the Mrs. happened to catch a glimpse of some hockey being shown on TV in a hotel bar across the street. We made a beeline over there and it just so happened to be the very thing I was talking about as we left, it was game 1 of the Caps vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning. Not only that, but the whole bar was filled with Caps fans from D.C. and Virginia. It seemed our spout of good luck had turned into a full blown streak. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748679591/" title="New Orleans 370 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 370" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5185/5748679591_413ae19356.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748680373/" title="New Orleans 369 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 369" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/5748680373_59d8496fb8.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
It was the 2nd intermission and the Caps were down 3-2. I ordered an Abita Amber which was good, but easily outclassed by the NOLA Brown Ale. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748680015/" title="New Orleans 371 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 371" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5184/5748680015_669ae29244.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
I also took this opportunity to sample one of the Bacon Pralines we purchased at dinner. It had chewy cubes of smoky bacon, crunchy pecans, but again it was a touch grainy. It was rich and a little too sweet. Unfortunately, our luck didn’t quite extend to the Caps because they lost the game 4-2 after an open net goal in the last moments of the 3rd period. Boohoo.<br />
<br />
I called up my mom (it was her who orchestrated this entire trip) and she was barely coherent. Apparently, after much deduction, I learned that she'd been partying it up on Bourbon Street at one of the many Tropical Isle locations so we decided to head on up and see what all the fuss was about. <br />
<br />
I can basically sum up Bourbon Street in it's entirety in one simple word: <br />
<br />
Shitshow.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5716670973/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 385 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 385" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/5716670973_c5089b1afb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
But, it was the first weekend of Jazz Fest so that was to be expected. What I didn't expect was the fact that the entire street smelled like a jolly old mix of rancid vomit and human excrement. I'm not joking, it literally smelled like shit and vomit. Nonetheless, it was interesting to walk northward, all the while checking out all of the drunks and peaking inside every venue--Live music was blaring from every set of open doors we came across. <br />
<br />
When we finally found the place my mom was dancing like a spider monkey covered in napalm. I danced a song with her, but just one. While I was dancing the Mrs. took it upon herself to order us one of their famous Hand Grenades. I was very excited to try one since I read from numerous sources that they're very strong and not sickly sweet like Hurricanes are. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5748684951/" title="New Orleans 379 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 379" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/5748684951_8cbb7fe57d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Well whoever wrote those reviews couldnt've been more wrong. I took one sip and almost gagged. What a horribly disgusting beverage. It tasted like sour mix and corn syrup with a dash of melon liqueur. I don't know how people can down that awful, awful drink. This was by far the most disappointing thing of the entire trip. It's possible that the one we ordered wasn't made properly, but I wasn't about to try ordering another one. Blech!<br />
<br />
As we sat and watched the band they started pulling people from the crowd to play the... Metal washboard thing... and almost immediately my mother and her friends heartily volunteered my poor, poor wife. So here's a shot of her doing her best to keep a beat with the band. While not the greatest washboard spoon thing player, I must commend her effort, for at least she tried.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5749232174/" title="New Orleans 381 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 381" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2090/5749232174_c391cdd705.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
We only stayed for a little while as we weren't really feeling the music. We decided to keep heading north to check out Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, which lays claim to the title of oldest bar in New Orleans. They also don't have electricity. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5749234348/" title="New Orleans 384 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 384" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5103/5749234348_81f7ee5e0b.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
The atmosphere was pretty awesome, but definitely not photo friendly. The entire place was candlelit and there was a piano player in the back belting out all of the classic piano bar tunes. It would've been great if the place weren't clogged with drunken douchebags. We didn't stay long and made our way back south. Along the way we happened across Fat Catz music club where a pretty rockin' 80s cover band was belting out some of our favorite hair metal ballads. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5717236270/" title="New Orleans 387 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 387" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2229/5717236270_5a97409d33.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Journey plus Van Halen always equals a good time. We didn't stay long though, for the place was close to bursting at the seams. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5717236426/" title="New Orleans 388 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 388" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3619/5717236426_95a7459819.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
That concludes day 2 of our long weekend in NOLA. Stay tuned for an epic tale of eating our way through Jazz Fest.<br />
<br />
Micro--out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/57/620553/restaurant/Uptown/Creole-Creamery-New-Orleans"><img alt="Creole Creamery on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/620553/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/57/1453096/restaurant/Warehouse-District/Cochon-Butcher-New-Orleans"><img alt="Cochon Butcher on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1453096/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-90597967545044992972011-05-18T19:26:00.003-04:002011-05-19T13:46:45.377-04:00Heaven is spelled N.O.L.A. Part 2We rolled out of bed and got ready and made the short walk down Magazine to Surrey’s Café and Juice Bar for a morning beverage. This was a very funky little joint that immediately reminded me of <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/11/1st-anniversary-road-trip-day-7.html">Silly’s in Portland</a>. There was a hefty wait for a table, so I inquired if we could simply order our drinks to-go from the bar. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718453461/" title="New Orleans 245 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 245" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2654/5718453461_c4c5f0effc.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
They had no problem with that so after a quick glance over the menu we both chose the apricot green iced tea. They brought out our drinks in a matter of moments along with some sweeteners and a few lemon wedges. After sweetening up our drinks, we headed back out onto the street and walked north up towards the FQ.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Apparently I forgot to take a picture of it... Oh well, you'll see it again soon. The tea was very good, although a touch lacking in the apricot department. This is one of those drinks that has the “essence” of fruit more than the actual flavor. Light, and refreshing it went down easy as we meandered up to the FQ on this gorgeously sunny day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719017660/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 256 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 256" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/5719017660_8e7d540911.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719014150/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 255 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 255" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2792/5719014150_2cd2760f5a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719016556/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 258 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 258" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2107/5719016556_2ba53c0b4f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We poked our heads into a few shops along Canal Street and tried on some Mardi Gras masks and picked up a souvenir or two. We got to Mr. B’s about 15 minutes early so we decided to walk a few more blocks up to Leah’s Pralines for a few gifts for friends and co-workers. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719020400/" title="New Orleans 262 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 262" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2151/5719020400_5488ffc2ed.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719018760/" title="New Orleans 264 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 264" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2337/5719018760_246cd54156.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718460493/" title="New Orleans 263 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 263" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2453/5718460493_85116bc85e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Their case of chocolate covered goodies looked quite fantastic, but alas we weren't able to purchase any due to melting (your face.) We chose a large variety including traditional, creamy, chocolate, peanut butter, and rum. I’ve tried a few since we got back and I wasn’t all that impressed mostly due to the fact that they were quite grainy. My favorite was the peanut butter, but I haven’t tried the rum or chocolate yet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719018028/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 260 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 260" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/5719018028_cb60d23394.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We made it back to Mr. B’s just as they were beginning seating and I was able to snap that sweet shot of Colonel Sanders out front. I informed the hostess that I had reservations (which were completely unnecessary, although during our meal the place did fill up rather quickly.) <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719019678/" title="New Orleans 266 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 266" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/5719019678_ae71e6cd6e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
We were shown to yet another corner table, right in front of the bar. I immediately fell in love with this place. While I felt August could’ve been in any city, the setting at Mr. B’s just oozed New Orleans. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718459645/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 265 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 265" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/5718459645_d90eda446a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It was dressy and lively without feeling stuffy or touristy in the slightest. Undoubtedly genuine, this is a balance that only the greatest restaurants of the city have truly mastered.<br />
<br />
As I quickly realized, Mr. B’s is a restaurant where one can get truly sloppy, both due to the nature of the BBQ Shrimp and because of the ridiculously low drink prices during their weekday lunch. I made it a personal mission to sample as many as I could. The Mrs. went for her usual Bloody Mary ($1.50) and I opted for the intriguing Blood Orange Margarita ($3). <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718461487/" title="New Orleans 271 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 271" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/5718461487_7ac16fb084.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718462417/" title="New Orleans 270 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 270" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/5718462417_5cbbcf8e63.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
The service was great and this had to be the fastest water service I’ve ever seen in a restaurant. You take one sip and there they were topping you off. More than one voice memo had me stopping in mid-sentence as I thanked them for refilling my glass. I guess after sweating through that many brutal New Orleans Summers, they’ve learned the proper hydration is important.<br />
<br />
While my beverage was good, I loved their BM. It finished very smooth and was perfectly balanced and not over peppered. The green olives really added a nice aroma while sipping the drink. A couple shakes of Crystal, and I couldn’t believe how good it was for only $1.50. Most places that have drink specials like that give you V8 with a dash of pepper and a stalk of celery. As I said, my margarita was good, but nothing about it really screamed blood orange (aside from the slice garnishing the glass.) It just tasted like your basic every day margarita. And to think I could’ve had two BMs for the same price. Bah!<br />
<br />
I knew exactly what I was going to order, but looked at the menu anyway just to humor myself. I went with the Gumbo YaYa (A rich country style gumbo made with chicken and andouille sausage) and the BBQ Shrimp (A Mr. B’s signature dish! Gulf shrimp barbequed New Orleans style, served in the shells with a peppery butter sauce, and French bread for dipping). My wife was hellbent on ordering outside of her usual box so she chose the Duck Springrolls (Two house-made Springrolls filled with duck confit, shiitake mushrooms, spinach and goat cheese; served with sweet ginger-garlic dipping sauce) and the Warm Yellofin Tuna Salad (Pan seared medallions of yellowfin tuna served a top angel hair pasta with tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers and creamy wasabi dressing.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719024646/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 273 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 273" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/5719024646_82125ebdac.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
While the complimentary French bread was pretty good, the crust was a tad tough. I was sad to find that the butter was quite salty, ice cold and any attempts to actually smear it onto the bread proved futile. Unspreadable. Yes, I just made that word up exclusively for you, don’t you feel special?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719022978/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 274 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 274" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/5719022978_b3904b8313.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So what did I think about my first bowl of genuine New Orleans gumbo? It was good, but it was easily trumped by the fantastic Duck Springrolls. I liked how they served the gumbo in a small tin cup and then dumped it into the bowl tableside. It was rich but not quite as thick or dark as I expected. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718466823/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 278 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 278" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/5718466823_5cd2f6df86.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I assumed the andouille would be my favorite part, but I really enjoyed the tender shreds of chicken and the great popping texture of the popcorn rice. The spice took a few moments to show up to the party, but by mid-meal the back of my throat was pleasantly tingly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718464441/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 275 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 275" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/5718464441_bfaf745e44.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Now the springrolls on the other hand, that was a dish that I would heartily recommend not overlooking. The duck was tender and smoky, and the shreds were surprisingly long and thick. The gaminess of the goat cheese paired amazingly well with the duck. The wrapper was perfectly crisp and not soggy. The heavy dose of ginger in the dipping sauce made a world of difference, elevating the sticky-sweet and thick sauce into just the right balance of sweet and savory. A squeeze of lemon over the rolls also helped balance the sweetness from the sauce and my blood orange margarita with the salted rim paired wonderfully with this dish. I had to give her a hand, she found the dark horse of the trip. Fear not, put all of your money on those spring rolls and you’ll go home a very wealthy glutton.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718466381/" title="New Orleans 280 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 280" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2413/5718466381_acd9533926.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
After draining my margarita I opted to try the Champagne Spritzer ($6) which was pleasantly reminiscent of the L'indecis I had at <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/09/1st-anniversary-road-trip-day-4.html">Le Pain Beni</a> in Quebec City (alright, maybe not quite that good.)<br />
<br />
Luckily, I was able to even the odds when our entrees hit the table. These BBQ Shrimp are one of the few dishes I’ve come across in my culinary travels that is simply impossible to overhype. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719027906/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 282 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 282" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/5719027906_00389f3e09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Without hesitation I can say that Mr. B’s BBQ Shrimp is one of the best seafood dishes I’ve ever had, and having lived my entire life mere minutes from the Chesapeake Bay, that says quite a lot. I think some of this can be attributed to the current trends in my palette. I’ve been hugely into shrimp, lemon, and black pepper lately and this dish highlights every one of those flavors to an almost unprecedented level.<br />
<br />
The sauce was surprisingly creamy and rich without being heavy. It had a great oceanic flavor to it without being fishy. It was spicy from the copious amounts of black pepper, but the genius stroke was the sprinkling of whole black peppercorns on the dish which provided the intoxicating aroma of fresh pepper. A now it's time for another edition of What Did Mr. Micro Say on His Voice Memo:<br />
<br />
"Nothing I read on the internet prepared me for this broth. It is ridiculous. I want to live in the broth, I want to bathe in the broth, I want to make babies in the broth. Sauce broth. Sauce broth."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5735166828/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 012 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 012" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/5735166828_406d94a07e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The shrimp were just slightly overcooked and the shells were on the soft side and a pain in the ass to peel, but considering how many plates they must turn out during the lunch rush I didn't dock them many points. The size variance on the plate was almost laughable. I had three average size shrimp and three enormous shrimp. I found that very strange, almost as if they have “filler” shrimp and “presentation” shrimp. Bury the three small ones in the sauce and place the three big ones on top. A conspiracy? Perhaps… <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719026838/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 284 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 284" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2246/5719026838_414ccc3df6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Nikki's tuna was cooked perfectly, although it was soft all the way through. I was hoping the sear would've created some sort of outer crust to provide some texture. I loved the strong presence of wasabi in the dressing and the pasta wasn't overcooked. That's about all I remember in my sauce induced inebriation. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719027242/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 285 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 285" height="400" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2420/5719027242_98bc4fb621.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
As I slopped away at my shrimp, I was sopping up the sauce with the complimenary bread. Please, learn from my ignorance, the bread that comes with the BBQ Shrimp is <b>infinitely</b> better than the table bread. The crust had a great chew to it, and the crumb was similar to fluffy raw cotton in texture. You put a slice of that bread into the sauce and it disintegrates (in the best possible way) into a gushy little ball of joy. We both agreed that while the shrimp were great, the bread with the sauce is really what made the dish. If they sold just the sauce with dipping bread as an appetizer for around $10 it would be the best thing on the menu.<br />
<br />
Don't for a second think you won't need every square inch of clean linen in a five foot radius, this is probably one of the messiest dishes I've ever eaten. See?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718469569/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 288 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 288" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/5718469569_e49627f109.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
You should've seen all of the smears on the screen on my iphone from taking notes. It had a mean case of skid marks. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718470297/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 289 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 289" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2331/5718470297_7b9d1f3a87.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
All done, right? Shit, you must be new around these parts. Usually dessert isn’t even a consideration for us at lunchtime, but New Orleans is famous for their bread pudding. Plus, famed New Orleans restaurant critic <a href="http://www.nomenu.com/joomla1/">Tom Fitzmorris</a> deemed it his favorite bread pudding in the city. While we weren’t quite blown away by it, it was still pretty damn tasty. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719029988/" title="New Orleans 293 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 293" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/5719029988_08607a7e3c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
My complaints were few: I wish the pudding itself was a consistent temperature all the way through. There were both hot and cold spots. I would’ve preferred a warm pudding topped with a cold sauce, therefore enabling me to control my hot-cold ratio. My second complaint was that there were three raisins inside. Three. Why bother putting any in there at all? They surely didn’t add anything, and this is coming from a guy who really likes raisins in his bread pudding.<br />
<br />
On the positive side it had a light crust and a beautiful custardy inside which instantly soaked up the sauce. The sauce was light and not too thick, although I don’t quite recall there being any actual whiskey flavor. The dish was gobbled up in about 30 seconds, so obviously my complaints didn’t stop us from heartily gobbling up every last crumb.<br />
<br />
Stuffed and a tad giddy from our cheap cocktails we happily paid our check, and made our grand exit. I hate the term "can't-miss" because it's overused to the point that it's practically meaningless, but I really must say that if you're ever planning on visiting New Orleans make it a priority to get to Mr. B's. And ask for extra bread (with your BBQ shrimp!) I felt like I was on cloud nine as I knew we had a great day ahead of us, which consequently began right across the street at the Hotel Monteleone.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719030636/" title="New Orleans 296 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 296" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/5719030636_ca1b9d92e7.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718475211/" title="New Orleans 305 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 305" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/5718475211_d2e51c5d2b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
I’d read a New Orleans cocktail guide that recommended we go to the Carousel Bar attached to the hotel lobby and find Marvin and ask him to make us a Pisco Sour. Well I’ll be damned if the first guy I saw behind the bar was none other than Marvin himself. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719032850/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 297 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 297" height="300" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/5719032850_8d7c915b5a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
That's him on the right. Aside from a few patrons we had the bar mostly to ourselves so we grabbed two seats and Marvin quickly greeted us and asked us what we were drinking.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719032110/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 300 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 300" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/5719032110_9106b02f7b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After telling him I’d heard he made a mean Pisco Sour (a drink I’d never even heard of, much less tasted) he immediately warmed up to us. We got to hear all about his passion for bartending and how he flew down to South America to learn about the Peruvian brandy straight from the source. He said the drink was simply comprised of pisco, simple syrup, lime juice, and an egg white. He vigorously shakes the ingredients and serves the beverage neat. The egg white naturally separates, creating a lovely foam crown and it is topped with a few hearty shakes of Angostura bitters. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5718474783/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 304 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 304" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2008/5718474783_d63b9bbf45.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
In terms of taste it’s very comparable to a margarita, although lighter and, to me, far superior. Pleasing to the eye, and to the palette… And it gets you crunk. What more could you ask for?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5719032502/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 302 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 302" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/5719032502_48fb783473.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Along with our beverages we were given a huge bowl of housemade bar snacks that tasted like Chex Mix on crack. Even though we’d just finished lunch, I found myself dipping my hand into the bowl. Crunchy, spicy, and salty, it was a perfect accompaniment to our Pisco Sours.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5735266012/" title="New Orleans 212 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 212" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2694/5735266012_cf6118c33d.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
I guess I should also mention that this bar does indeed rotate like a carousel. The bar is perfectly round and there is no opening, meaning the bartenders have to leap over the bar to enter/exit. I couldn’t help but chuckle during Marvin’s intriguing stories as he had to stop mid-sentence to let the taps stroll by (the interior of the bar is stationary.) While I could’ve easily whiled away the rest of the afternoon here, it was high time for us to hail a cab to our next destination. We thanked Marvin for an amazing experience, and tipped accordingly. His service at the Carousel Bar is truly representative of both Southern hospitality and New Orleans charm.<br />
<br />
We hoofed it down Royal Street and hung a left on Canal, waving for a cab all the while. We finally found one just before reaching Decatur. We told him we needed to get to the corner of Tchoupitoulas and Seventh by 2pm. He assured us he’d do the best he could. Along the way we found out that our cabbie was a retired New Orleans firefighter who always drove a cab on the side to help put his kids through college. He had some amazing stories about when Katrina hit and I was sad to see that when we called for a cab later, it wasn’t his. He got us to New Orleans Lager & Ale (NOLA) Brewing about 7 minutes after 2, but luckily the tour hadn’t started yet. It was time to drink some beers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/57/621343/restaurant/French-Quarter/Mr-Bs-Bistro-New-Orleans"><img alt="Mr. B's Bistro on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/621343/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-76048029377760282022011-05-13T17:36:00.001-04:002011-05-13T17:46:33.085-04:00Heaven is spelled N.O.L.A. Part 1I really am floored by how many great dining experiences I’ve already experienced this year, and New Orleans definitely ranks up there with some of the best. One thing I was really impressed by is that even though most of the restaurants I visited were considered tourist destinations, they (for the most part) served food of a very high caliber. I guess this is how New Orleans came to be known as a food town, even to those of us who may not consider ourselves to be food enthusiasts. I have quite the story to tell: foie gras 3 ways, shrimp on top of shrimp with a side of shrimp, the best Mint Julep in the world, and more bread pudding than I’d like to admit, so let me waste no more of your or my time and join me on this fantastic culinary quest to stuff my face and drink myself retarded in New Orleans.<br />
<br />
Our trip definitely started on less than ideal ground. Thursday was plagued with flood watches and tornado warnings which lead to our flight to be delayed. The Mrs. and I drove to work together and left straight from here to go to the airport. We dropped off our car at the blue lot of Airport Fast Park (which ended up costing only $45 for five days, not too shabby) and in a few short moments were through security and eagerly awaiting our flight at gate D7. The wife had a busy day at work so she needed some sustenance before boarding so we took a load off at the festive looking Rum Island Bar. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5693214444/" title="New Orleans 218 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 218" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5070/5693214444_0e055ff032.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
I ordered a Manhattan after I spied Maker’s Mark behind the bar and the wife went with a Bloody Mary and an order of chicken quesadillas.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5693215062/" title="New Orleans 221 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 221" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5150/5693215062_da18c65bdc.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
My Manhattan was surprisingly decent, albeit not quite as strong as the ones I make at home. Bonus that I got a nice smear of mayo on the side of my glass. It made for a great chaser!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5692645983/" title="New Orleans 222 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 222" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5307/5692645983_d1e8bf6a12.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
When I inquired about the BM my wife replied that it tasted like “liquid beef jerky.” Now this wouldn’t be all that surprising coming from my mouth, but from hers? She rarely makes claims like that. But upon tasting it, her assessment was spot on. Liquid beef jerky--A perplexing flavor indeed. Her chicken quesadilla was surprisingly large, a stack of four huge wedges simply oozing with cheese. As you probably already know from reading this blog, my wife is a huge cheese fiend, but that much cheese was too much even for her, which says a lot. She managed to finish about two and a half wedges before waving admitting defeat. Since I’d eaten practically nothing all day (conserving stomach space for the multi-course dinner we had in store later that night) my Manhattan went straight to my head and I boarded the plane slightly tipsy. A first for me.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5693215232/" title="New Orleans 224 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 224" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5693215232_dd414c7e5e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
With views like that, I don't know how some people hate to fly... Unfortunately our flight arrival caused us to miss the express bus into downtown New Orleans by two minutes, so we had to wait 30 minutes for the next one. This was a great opportunity to experience some of the local flavor firsthand. I was entertained by a babbling toothless leathery-skinned bike-toting gentleman about all manner of New Orleans news, history, and culture. At least, that’s what I think he was talking about, I stopped listening after realizing I could only understand one out of every five words he sputtered out. After explaining to the bus driver exactly where we were trying to go he assured us he would tell us when it was our time to disembark, so we sat back and gazed out into the various passing neighborhoods. We were surprised to see just how much cheaper gas was here then back home in Maryland. We eventually jumped ship at the corner of Loyola Ave and Poydras Street and hoofed it the 8 or so blocks to Hotel Le Cirque located directly on Lee Circle. After checking in and freshening up in our room we phoned the front desk for a cab and were standing outside of Restaurant August on the corner of Gravier and Tchoupitoulas minutes before our 8 o’clock reservation.<br />
<br />
When we announced our arrival the hostess informed us that they were just setting our table and we would be seated in just a few moments. There were a few people in the bar area, but for the most part it was empty. The dining room, however, was packed and extremely lively. Loud, even. I was extremely relieved when the hostess finally lead us to our table that it was located in the much quieter, much better lit back dining room. In the corner no less, my ideal dining seat. This would prove to be a trend, for in every single restaurant we dined in while staying in NOLA we were sat either in a corner or against a wall. And with a view like this, I couldnt’ve been happier.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5692686505/" title="New Orleans 017 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 017" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5692686505_c573dfdd12.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
We inquired about the wine list and our waiter offered to send the sommelier over. She was a very nice woman who patiently waited while I explained our dilemma. I was trying to decide on which moderately priced bottle to go with our entire meal. She suggested we just do a few glasses that she would personally pair with our courses after we’d ordered. And it would be cheaped than buying a bottle. Genius! So that’s exactly what we did.<br />
<br />
The menu offered some very tantalizing dishes, and the ability to customize my own tasting menu made it quite difficult in choosing what to order. There were two dishes that I knew I had to try and those were the Fois Gras prepared Three Ways and the Handmade Potato Gnocchi tossed with blue crab and black truffle. I was also set on ordering the Sugar and Spice Duckling, but then I saw the lamb. More specifically the Whole Roast Saddle of Ellensburg Lamb with crispy lamb sweetbreads, baby turnips, and pied du mouton mushrooms. I’d been meaning to try sweetbreads and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. I asked for the waiter’s recommendation and he convinced me to go with the lamb since it was a special whereas the duck is a mainstay. Done. Since my wife and I were splitting the gnocchi she ordered the Curried White Shrimp Bisque (the first of many, many shrimp dishes ordered during our trip) with steamed dumplings and crispy shrimp tempura and the La Provence Mangalista Pork for her main course which featured three preparations: herb roasted tenderloin, slow cooked shoulder, and crispy belly with creamy polenta, spring onions, and baby squash.<br />
<br />
Before I could even think about taking notes or photos, plates started hitting our table. First was the complimentary French bread and our amuse bouche—a seafood custard garnished with caviar and brioche served in an eggshell.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5692646877/" title="New Orleans 232 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 232" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5145/5692646877_296055d816.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5693215934/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 234 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 234" height="400" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5693215934_f3fd3565a4.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
An interesting start to our meal, the custard was light, although I was perplexed as it became much more dense near the bottom of the shell and had to be scooped rather than spooned. I’m not sure if this was intentional or not, but I would’ve preferred one smooth texture. It pleasantly coated the mouth with a rich silky texture. The caviar added the expected salty punch and the greens (chervil?) had a nice bitterness reminiscent of scallion. I have no idea what the point of the brioche was, texture maybe? I think they could’ve come up with a smarter way to incorporate textural contrast into the dish. Personally, I could’ve gone without it. A decent start, but nothing compared to the Bacon Guacamole at <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/06/raging-windy-city-la-wind-god-gau.html">Topolobampo</a> or the Scallop Ceviche at <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2009/12/harris-family-does-nyc-day-1.html">Le Bernardin</a>.<br />
<br />
The bread, on the other hand, was a sorry excuse for French bread. Well, that may be a little extreme, but considering Chef Besh is a James Beard award winner, I was expecting something a little better than what I could find at my local Subway.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5693215456/" title="New Orleans 235 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 235" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5693215456_2ed8ff28aa.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
The sommelier chose a Prosecco to go with my foie gras, and it was pretty standard. That’s not to say it was bad, it was a solid pairing. It was light and crisp and just a touch sweet, but nothing extraordinary. Now on to the foie gras. Ah, yes the foie gras. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5692647495/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 237 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 237" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5692647495_a625bb6866.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The presentation was stellar, but unfortunately I was so busy gawking at my pretty plate of duck liver that I neglected to catch the finer details of the dish as my food runner splurted them out. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5693216630/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 238 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 238" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5268/5693216630_9db8a12718.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The dish was accompanied by the most magical brioche that has ever crossed my lips. The substandard complimentary bread was completely forgotten in the wake of this Bread of the Gods. It had to contain the most butter possible without actually leaking butter onto the plate. The crust was perfectly seared, lending a touch of texture and caramelized flavor without tasting burnt or being too crusty. It was simply magical. When slathered with creamy foie gras, well, lets just say I was a very happy boy. In the mouth. And in the pants.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5693216902/" title="New Orleans 243 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 243" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5693216902_80f54ca8f5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Now about that foie gras. I know the leftmost preparation, which was my favorite of the three, featured alternating layers of foie gras and oxtail and was garnished with strawberry compote. If there were any other details they eluded me. Sneaky buggers. It was silky smooth and rich and light, as any great foie gras should be. It was also very light and I loved the texture and subtle sweetness that the compote added. My mouth is literally watering right now.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5693217152/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 244 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 244" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5264/5693217152_df3eab7e19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The second preparation was a foie gras stuffed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baumkuchen">baumkuchen</a> accompanied by a champagne gelee and a balsamic reduction. Honestly, while the first preparation was my favorite, the flavors of this iteration stick out in my memory the most. I think it was due to the sweet/savory interplay of the foie and cake. The gelee was something truly special, adding a nice tartness that rounded the components together. They were like miniature champagne jello shots. The balsamic reduction was nice, as most are, but didn’t really add much to the overall experience. Since this preparation wasn’t spreadable I took alternating bites of tiny wedges of cake and buttery brioche. Not only is my mouth watering now, but my stomach is growling. And I just ate lunch.<br />
<br />
The last preparation was braised or… something… in whiskey and was accompanied by a citrus (literally that’s all the guy told me, citrus) which I believe was either blood orange or some type of grapefruit. It had a very bitter tartness to it that slightly overpowered the richness of the foie. This was the most velvety of the preparations, so much so that it was almost impossible to scoop it up with my knife to spread it on the bread. The balsamic reduction on the plate worked better here, helping to reign in the bitterness from the citrus, but even after that I felt it was just a touch unbalanced. The whiskey flavor was very powerful and I loved it. It was basically like taking a shot of whiskey and a bite of foie and swishing them together in your mouth. A foie chaser? Yes, please.<br />
<br />
Goddamn, that was a lot to say about one appetizer. Onto the next dish, my most eagerly anticipated dish of the entire meal, the gnocchi. Ultimately, I was underwhelmed with this dish, simply due to the fact that our serving lacked any noticeable black truffle. I’d seen/read/heard so much about this dish, so my expectations may have been a tad too high, but I was expecting it to look like <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gjmYysWisC4/TWxeovNAjCI/AAAAAAAAEng/OIcOmmBInyY/s1600/Gnocchi.jpg">this</a> or the insane one shown <a href="http://www.alwayshungryny.com/thought-for-food/entry/alwaystraveling-restaurant-august-new-orleans-la/">here</a>, but I didn’t see a single speck of black. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5693212982/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 004 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 004" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5263/5693212982_6e46ba2b4d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
That being said, these flavors were quite good. The lump crab was abundant, the sauce creamy, and the gnocchi had a wonderful light texture, but I was left longing for some sort of textural contrast. The shaved parmesan added nuttiness and a touch of salt. Again, it was a very good dish, the flavors that were there were all great, and I’d be happy to eat a whole bowl of it, but had the black truffle been present, it had the potential to be great. I was warned on Chowhound that I may experience a dumbing down of the finer restaurant’s food due to this being Jazz Fest weekend and New Orleans was overrun with tourists. Another explanation could be that those pictured dishes were doctored up for the visiting bloggers. Either explanation I could cope with, but to completely omit a featured, albeit expensive, ingredient? Shame on you Chef Besh. Shame on you.<br />
<br />
We had a Chablis paired with our gnocchi, which I didn't get a picture of, and it really made the dish. The wine pairing enhanced the cheesy tang of the parmesan and also helped lighten the relatively heavy dish. If you order the gnocchi, trust your sommalier and go with the suggested wine pairing, you'll thank me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5692644575/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 026 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 026" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5185/5692644575_e9beb910d3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
While a beautiful piece of meat, this was BY FAR the gamiest piece of lamb I’ve ever had. It was fairly tough too. While it packed a veritable wrecking ball of funky lamb flavor, it was a bit too gamey even for me, a lover of gamey meats, to truly enjoy. On my voice memo I described it as “blow your head back gamey” and a “gamey funk-o-rama.” I was given a 80/20 Cab/Syrah blend from Sonoma pairing which had that little spicy funky flavor at the end that I didn’t quite care for on its own, but when paired with my lamb, it served to partially subdue the gaminess and greatly emphasized the minerality of the lamb.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5693213552/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 028 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 028" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5693213552_824cf13f6d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The crispy fried sweetbreads I could only describe as the best chicken nugget ever, they were moist and tender, but I wasn’t really sure what I was supposed to be tasting. I really enjoyed them, but I didn’t feel like I got a sense of what makes sweetbreads such a revered ingredient. The lamb belly also had a slight toughness to it, a rareity in my experience. It was crispy fried, which I usually don’t prefer, but it worked here. It was topped with a perfectly dressed bitter green salad that helped round out the caramelized fat and friedness. Surprisingly, my favorite thing on my plate was the turnip. I’d never had a turnip that tasted like that, I thought it was some sort of potato until I went back and read the ingredients. It had an intriguing sweetness to it and a pleasant toothsomeness.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5692644439/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 024 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 024" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5301/5692644439_0fe2f09734.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I only had one bite of my wife’s pork done three ways, but it was a damn good bite. I had the tenderloin paired with the polenta. The pork was tender and smoky, but the polenta stole the show. Creamy, cheesy, and (almost) as smooth as butter. I’m a huge fan of grits, so now I see why people love polenta so much--when done well, it’s a great dish. She was given a Pinot Noir from Truchard Winery in Napa which we enjoyed so much I made a note to check them out when we’re out there for our anniversary in August.<br />
<br />
Surprisingly, the dessert course was where I thought this meal really shined. We ordered the Napoleon of Nougatine with Valhrona chocolate bavarois, and salted toffee ice cream and the Ponchatoula Strawberry Streusel Cake with meyer lemon curd, rhubarb, and buttermilk ice cream. Our waiter commended us on ordering the two best desserts on the menu. Yay!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5692644975/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 033 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 033" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5228/5692644975_40dedf9b3a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
By this time the wine was starting to kick in so my notes are a little less detailed and a little more rambling. I think what really made this course was the combination of the two dishes. First the nougatine featured in the napoleon had a crispy crunchy texture similar to brittle that I’d never before experienced in a dessert. The strong toffee flavor from the ice cream paired extremely well with the buttermilk ice cream of the streusel. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5693213994/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 034 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 034" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5693213994_7a58c47007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The streusel itself was supremely balanced with a heavenly tartness from the lemon curd pound cake and the rubarb. Eaten alone, I probably would’ve preferred the streusel, but when eaten in alternating bites the flavors in both dishes really played well off one another. John Besh obviously knows how to choose his sommeliers, all of our wine pairings were stellar, but after having these desserts together he should seriously consider hiring someone who’s sole job is to suggest these two desserts together. Consider our sweet tooth satiated. But wait, there’s more! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5693214172/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="New Orleans 037 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="New Orleans 037" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5148/5693214172_d082565d84.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We were given a lovely little silver tray of petit fours along with our (ouch) bill. There were two pralines, two macarons, and bittersweet chocolate truffle. The praline blew my fucking mind and fought for the title of the best bite of the night. It was creamy, buttery, and melted the instant it hit my tongue. The pink macaron was utterly revolting. It was so floral that it completely overwhelmed my palette and I had to resist the urge to spit it into my napkin. It tasted like a blue ribbon rose garden money shot. The truffle was everything you expect in a great truffle: rich, silky, and decadent.<br />
<br />
Looking back I really enjoyed Restaurant August, but while it was one of the nicest restaurants I’ve eve been to, was it one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had? No. After the conclusion of our meal I really thought about just how much goes into a bill other than just the food. You’re paying for service, ambience, setting, etc. There’s definitely a point when fine dining gets exponentially more expensive, ingredients and technique can only cost so much, right? Our bill at August was $300, our jazz brunch at Commander’s Palace that Sunday was $150. Was August was twice as good as Commanders? No. If given the opportunity to have dinner at August, or do two jazz brunches at Commanders, without question I would go for Commander’s. I think the recent trend in the success of food trucks really illustrates this point. Skip the setting and the service and just give me the food. It’s a hell of a lot cheaper that way isn’t it? I’ve always said that I’ll eat out of rundown shack in a dark alley as long as the food is good, and I mean it. This new line of thought is really making me question whether or not to try to obtain a reservation at The French Laundry. I’m probably looking at a $800 bill if we dine there, but will the food really be that much better than the place down the street that might only cost $150? I’m not so sure about that.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/57/621682/restaurant/Central-Business-District/Restaurant-August-New-Orleans"><img alt="Restaurant August on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/621682/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-89475824101701077922011-05-09T20:25:00.001-04:002011-05-09T20:25:58.600-04:00Wet in NYC: Part 2I apologize for the delay of this post, but I kept forgetting to email myself the Word doc (I sometimes type up posts on my lunch break and then email them to myself.) Apologies all around as I'm sure you've all been dying for juicy new content. So heres the stunning conclusion to our wet and wild day in NYC.<br />
<br />
Whilst en route to Chinatown we happened upon a few Steve Madden outposts in SoHo. I was giddy as a schoolgirl because I LOVE Steve Madden shoes. Yes, he makes men’s shoes and no, I’m not gay. Can’t you tell by the way I live/write/roll that I have an eagle talon-sharp sense of fashion? Hell yeah I do. So I picked up a nice new pair of brown boots for $99 marked down from $149. Score! Soon after we broke into Chinatown and I spotted Teariffic Café on Mott Street. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626678771/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 060 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 060" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5626678771_064dc8d4bc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I told the ladies that it looked like a good place to get their bubble tea fix, so we headed and inside and after verifying that they took to-go orders, placed our order. I wasn’t ordering one for myself, those things are quite filling, but I gladly sipped off of theirs. The Mrs. went with Almond, K ordered a bubble tea without flavoring, and after pointing out the fact that they had sesame on the menu, R went with that.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
There were complaints that the bubble tea without flavoring didn’t taste like anything, but I wasn’t sure how to judge it since I’ve never had one straight-up like that. Soo… I was handed the sesame while R excused himself to the restroom, bad idea. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627264010/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 063 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 063" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5150/5627264010_96ee2fc543.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
I took one sip and that immediately turned into about a third of his beverage. This was my first encounter with actual black sesame seeds ground up in the tea, and I loved it. It added a chewy texture that confused the mouth on whether to gulp or bite. I could see that this texture isn’t for everyone, but I loved it. The beverage was creamy with a strong tea flavor, and the boba was perfectly al dente with a nice bite, yielding to a perfectly soft center. One of the best bubble teas I’ve had (which in my very limited chain/shopping mall experience with the drink doesn’t really say much.) <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627263622/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 061 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 061" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5150/5627263622_194a522745.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
We walked as we sipped, and after wrestling with my walking directions on my POS iphone, we finally got to the block where Xi’an was supposedly located. It wasn’t until after R asked someone that we found the stall around the corner from the address posted on their website. I flashed a quick storefront photo and clamored inside, as the rain was really starting to pick up. There was another couple eating at the one solitary metal counter, but by the time we placed our order they were walking out the door--we didn’t have to eat our noodles in the rain.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627264386/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 065 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 065" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5025/5627264386_be5b3e2afe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I suggested we get two dishes to share, so we ordered the Spicy Cumin Lamb Hand-ripped Noodles to accompany our Liang Pi. Those two dishes along with a Diet Coke for R came out to only $11. Ya gotta love Chinatown. Unfortunately I didn’t whip my camera out in time to catch the woman behind the counter slapping out the noodles, but it truly was an interesting method to behold. She stretched the dough balls out over the counter, slapped them up and down a few times like a jump rope and spun around and threw them into the pot.<br />
<br />
I turned around to chat with my travel buddies and the next thing I knew our food was up. Take a look at these two plates of noodly goodness:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627264630/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 066 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 066" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5269/5627264630_25d6f7f1a8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627265138/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 068 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 068" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5301/5627265138_b5eaac98c7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The Liang Pi was just as good as we’d had in Flushing <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2009/12/micro-family-does-nyc-day-2-3.html">a few years back</a>. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627264828/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 067 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 067" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5627264828_be5b4bc527.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
It tasted more buttery and a little less bitter/acidic, but that didn’t hamper it’s utter addictiveness. A truly unique and tasty dish. But the lamb noodles stole the show. I guess it’s not unsurprising that I loved this dish, being a huge fan of all things cumin and lamb, but, damn it was good. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627265388/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 069 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 069" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5627265388_1f375a9233.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
I liked the irregularity of the hand-pulled noodles, they added a very rustic feel. The spice level was perfectly balanced, enhancing the other flavors instead of masking them, and the abundance of smoky cumin really brought it up to another level. My only complaints were that it was just a touch too oily for my taste, and the lamb really could’ve been any mystery meat as any actual gamey lamb flavor was masked by the other powerful ingredients. This was my overall favorite dish of the day.<br />
<br />
I was amused that one member of our party has an extreme aversion to spicy food, but she found that she simply couldn’t stop eating these two dishes, no matter how much her tongue and lips burned. A testament to just how good they really are. Not to mention cheap!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627265590/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 070 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 070" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5023/5627265590_c1d9a0f589.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Unfortunately this is when the weather really turned to shit. I could barely understand my voice memos taken outside Xi’an due to the whipping wind and pelting rain. We scrambled for a cab, but when our efforts proved fruitless we made a beeline for the East Broadway metro station. It was 4pm and I wanted to get to Paulie Gee’s when he opened his doors at 6pm, so we had ample time to stop by Barcade for a beer or three.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626682735/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 078 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 078" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5626682735_55ec26f557.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
As I’ve noted in the past, Barcade is definitely one of my favorite bars in New York City, simply because of the genius combination of a great beer list paired with old school arcade games. If only they had some of the classics from my heyday like the 3 screen X-Men, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or The Simpsons, it would be truly epic indeed. Nonetheless, first and foremost we were there for beers. Unfortunately, they only had one bartender working (we asked the other guy behind the counter for a beer list and he simply said gruffly “I’m not a bartender,”) and the place was relatively busy, which I account to the shitty weather conditions, so ordering a beer proved to be a lengthy endeavor.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627266632/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 076 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 076" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5627266632_3a8d621324.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626682283/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 077 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 077" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5021/5626682283_a8d363ba7d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Eventually I chose the Brooklyn Brewery Main Engine Start which was a 6% abv Belgian Pale Ale out of Brooklyn (duh), which proved to be too light and watery, with that band-aidy flavor that I can’t stand. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626681453/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 072 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 072" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5309/5626681453_17816a2a09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Once again, R one-upped me with his choice of the Smuttynose Barleywine 10% abv from New Hampshire. I’d never come across a barleywine I cared for, but this just so happened to be the first. It was quite delicious with a very strong chocolate aroma that R couldn’t stop raving about after I pointed it out to him. It had a little citrus, and a little pine. My mouth is watering right now just remembering it. One positive about my beer was that it went down in a matter of seconds and after spending another 10 minutes trying to get the bartenders attention, I ordered a glass of barleywine for myself and sauntered on over to the games. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627266394/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 073 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 073" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5627266394_a464bfb811.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
It was at this point that the urge to make peace with the porcelain gods hit, so I grabbed my PSP from my bag, because it knew it was going to be a doozy. Well a little while later I emerged semi-victorious and realized that it was about time to head up to Greenpoint. I’d only taken a few sips from my lovely BW so I manned up and downed the thing. Thus, the beginning of the end.<br />
<br />
As we got off the G train at Greenpoint Avenue I noticed it was only 5:45, but I knew the best way to kill a few minutes, why more beer of course! We walked into Brouerij Lane and it was just as laidback and awesome as my last visit. These were my type of people. Not only did they sell a huge variety of beers, they also had a fairly large line of taps and are very generous with the free samples (chatting them up about beer and travel helps!) If I had a place like this around here, I would most certainly be an alcoholic.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626683463/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 080 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 080" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5224/5626683463_4db53d274d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626683081/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 079 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 079" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5230/5626683081_154366e36e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I noticed they had a ‘Dry Chipped’ Stone Oak Aged Arrogant Bastard so I inquired as to what the difference is between that and the one I tried earlier. He said that they apparently steep oak chips into the beer itself to add an even more profound oak flavor. I felt that this really made the beer great, rounding out some of the pineyness to a more manageable level while adding a veritable sledge hammer of oak woodiness. Now this, I could get down with. We couldn’t help but notice the extensive lineup of Pretty Things brews they had on tap. Apparently they just hosted some sort of beer event there (around this time the barleywine started to kick in, blurring some of the finer details of the evening) so R decided we should try their Fluffy White Rabbits a hoppy Belgian tripel at 8.5% abv out of Cambridge, MA. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626683747/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 081 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 081" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5626683747_46ffa125df.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
It was “light, smooth, and delicious” according to my slightly slurred voice memo. Yep, that’s all I got. If I ever decided to drop everything and move to New York City I would probably want to live in Greenpoint. I mean with this place and Paulie Gee’s within walking distance, what more could I ask for?<br />
<br />
As we quaffed our brews the ladies moseyed on down the street to see about getting us a table. Apparently there wasn’t a wait as I got a text almost immediately after to hurry on down as we were being seated. We ordered a glass of Gragnano for myself and R, and we convinced the Mrs. to try a Mexican Coke so we could compare it to K’s regular Coke. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627269068/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 085 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 085" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5307/5627269068_46d0a4e940.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627251046/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 005 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 005" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5306/5627251046_f5caaa68eb.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
There was most certainly a difference, albeit a negligible one, so I really don’t get what all the fuss is about. Coke is freakin’ Coke. I ordered the Greenpointer with prosciutto, having really enjoyed it <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/04/2010-nyc-pizza-conquest-part-2.html">last time</a>. The Mrs. went with her standard Regina, R fell in love after he read the description for the Baconmarmalade Picante, and, keeping in line with her love of ricotta, K went with the In Ricotta Da Vita.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626668515/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 014 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 014" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5301/5626668515_46028bc9ba.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627252360/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 011 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 011" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5627252360_19637ec54b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627252618/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 012 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 012" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5269/5627252618_da895ca62b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627251832/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 009 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 009" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5064/5627251832_b9023900ce.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Unfortunately, the quality of my voice memos rapidly declined, and by 6:30 my ass was to’ up. Don’t believe me? Here’s my first (rambling, drunken) voice memo:<br />
<br />
“Okay. The Greenpointer with prosciut was good, but the In Ricotta Da Vita and the Baconmarmalade just killed it. They killed it! They fuckin’ killed it. The Regina was good as well, but again, the best pizzas on the table were those two. They blew it out of the fucking water. They’re so good. Those two pizzas win. Everybody’s having a good time. I’m slightly drunk, so I’m sorry if this voice memo makes no fucking sense. Big, big titties!”<br />
<br />
See what I have to work with? I sometimes tack on something random at the end of a memo to make myself laugh when I go to blog about it. This was no exception.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626669043/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 016 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 016" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5626669043_3784ee975c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627253382/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 015 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 015" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5627253382_d986f79cc0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I do remember the urge to wrap myself up in a cocoon of that crust. Goddamn, it was pretty much perfect. Charred and slightly dusty perfection. I did note that the Gragnano went really well with the Baconmarmalade Picante. Apparently my drunken ass thought the caramelized onion flavor really paired well with the beverage. I have no idea how or why the order for the Baconmarmalade (getting sick of typing that) Sundae was made, but there it was on our table.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626669295/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 019 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 019" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5626669295_571814cc64.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Now this I do remember eating, because there was a shitload of that stuff on top, and eating it straight like that really shows just how powerfully concentrated the flavors were. Salty, sweet, smokey, and spicy this stuff required a lot of ice cream to bring into balance. Spoonfuls with more marmalade than ice cream weren’t very pleasant. An interesting dish, but not really one that I would go out of my way to order again.<br />
<br />
I guess we got the check and paid for it at some point. I’m pretty sure I also flagged down Paulie Gee to say hello and chat for a few moments although you could pay me a million dollars and I still couldn’t tell you what we talked about (sorry Paulie!). The clock was ticking and I wanted to hit another place for (another) dessert before we caught the bus. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be as we simply did not have enough time. A Levain uber-cookie procured from my backpack sufficed nicely. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627269422/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 086 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 086" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/5627269422_7f58a19b63.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We took the train back to Midtown and I actually had to jog most of the way through stinging sheets of rain to the bus stop since it was scheduled to leave in roughly 10 minutes. Relief/anger hit as I arrived to find out that the 730pm bus hadn’t even arrived yet and our 830pm bus was running 50 minutes late. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626685607/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 090 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 090" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5626685607_926b96bc1b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
So our trip ended on a slightly moist note, but all in all it didn’t really damper the day as a whole. Had it been 5-10 degrees colder it most certainly would’ve been horrible, but it was warm and I was drunk so I didn’t really mind being a little (hah!) damp.<br />
<br />
That's it. Massive amounts of New Orleans intel is forthwith. Or something. I'm actually already done my first NOLA post, but I can't saturate you with that much juicy blog action, now can I? I don't want you to develop an unhealthy addiction. Because, ya know, I've got an addictive personality. Why am I still typing?<br />
<br />
Micro--out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/182209/restaurant/Chinatown/Teariffic-New-York"><img alt="Teariffic on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/182209/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/1503159/restaurant/Lower-East-Side/Xian-Famous-Foods-New-York"><img alt="Xi'an Famous Foods on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1503159/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/1496893/restaurant/New-York/Williamsburg/Barcade-Brooklyn"><img alt="Barcade on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1496893/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/1515375/restaurant/New-York/Greenpoint/Paulie-Gees-Brooklyn"><img alt="Paulie Gee's on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1515375/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258338187596427383.post-16402808901336205692011-04-22T08:23:00.002-04:002011-04-27T19:34:39.470-04:00Wet in NYC: Part 1I thought long and hard about what I wanted to plan our most recent trip to NYC around. My first inkling was a burger tour, three great NYC burgers in one day, but as my idea developed and the Mrs. added her input, the goal developed into a reaffirmation of NYC favorites. It’s tough to put my Micro stamp of approval on a dish that I’ve only sampled once, you understand? So, I moved forward with that idea in mind.<br />
<br />
As a travelling food blogger, sometimes one chance is all I have. Luckily NYC is only a (relatively) short bus ride away, so I planned accordingly. Our first planned stop was actually an insistence on behalf of my wife and her unstoppable rebel force of a sweettooth. But as we emerged from the Lincoln Tunnel, the idea of a piping hot cup of coffee to accompany our cookies popped into our heads. While, yes, there is a Starbucks literally right across the street from where Megabus drops us off at 7th Ave and 28th Street, I insisted we make the short 3 block walk to Stumptown Coffee in the lobby of the Ace Hotel.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I ordered my standard medium soy latte and my wife opted for the Mocha. Our friend K went with a cup of English Breakfast. My latte art was the usual heart shape, or a mean case of the green (or in this case brown) apple splatters, but my wife’s was a very cool looking flower (sorry for not getting a picture, I only saw it in passing.) <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627254774/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 024 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 024" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5627254774_c02ba19783.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
With our hands warming from the sides of our coffee cups we made our way back to the subway and snagged the train (I was VERY pissed to find out that they no longer offer unlimited day-passes… WTF?) to the UWS and our first planned stop: Levain Bakery.<br />
<br />
Welp, the plan was to drink coffee with our cookies, but mine was gone before we boarded the train. I don’t know theres just something about soy foam that I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF. It’s funny because foam is one of the last things on earth I thought I would be obsessed with, but it’s just that good. I always drink my lattes with a straw so I can imbibe equal parts foam and coffee. What’s the point of ordering a latte if when you’re done all the foam is sitting in the bottom of the cup? Don’t knock it till you try it! My latte was just as delicious as I <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/12/two-dorks-one-apple.html">remembered it</a>, but the Mrs. didn’t think the mocha quite lived up to the one she was truly craving at <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2009/12/harris-family-does-nyc-day-1.html">Roasting Plant</a> in the West Village. I actually thought it was quite interesting, not tasting of the sweet mocha syrup, but tasting of real true cocoa powder.<br />
<br />
While doing my research I’d read that there are a few other items to check out besides the jumbo cookies. The <a href="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2010/08/sugar-rush-chocolate-stuffed-sourdough-at-lev.html">Chocolate-Stuffed Sourdough</a> and the Chocolate Chip Brioche were front and center and they both looked heavenly, especially the brioche. But with burgers dancing in my head I refrained from over-indulging (we had quite the day planned!) and just ordered one chocolate chip walnut cookie to share, and two to take home (only one actually made it, but more on that later.) K bellied up to the counter and placed one hell of an order, I don’t remember the specifics, but she walked away with 6 or 7 cookies in total. She apparently had a soup kitchen to feed back home.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627255018/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 027 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 027" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5307/5627255018_de0b57548c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I had previously deemed this my favorite cookie, and after a third tasting, I can’t quite say it retained it’s crown. It might be that my tastes have changed (that seems to always be the case with me, hate it one day, love it the next), but my wife agreed that it just wasn’t as good as last time. For me, what I really missed was chewiness, which this cookie completely lacks. There is a slightly crusty/crumbly outer shell containing a gooey center of straight raw cookie dough. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626671317/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 032 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 032" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5109/5626671317_490b062d78.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The chocolate chips are melty and awesome, but the walnuts were chopped much more finely, and while they could still be tasted, I missed the large nutty chunks. It’s a goddamn great cookie, don’t get me wrong, but chewiness has become a crucial quality in my perfect cookie, and Levain left me wanting more. As we walked on to our next destination, I couldn’t help but think of the supremely chewy gooey decadent <a href="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2010/11/sugar-rush-the-situation-cookie-and-holiday-cucpakes-dessert-club-chikalicious.html">The Situation Dark</a> that my brother and I had the pleasure of sampling from Dessert Club Chikalicious. As we left I noticed a couple sitting on the bench out front enjoying two very sexy Chocolate Chip Brioches. I yearned.<br />
<br />
At this point we had some time to kill before we made it back down to the West Village for brunch, and once K pointed out she’d never seen Central Park we headed in that direction. We skirted the Western edge, stopping a few times to snap a few photos…<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627256592/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 034 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 034" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5263/5627256592_de5606244c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626672577/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 035 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 035" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/5626672577_31ae6dd7de.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627257376/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 036 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 036" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5627257376_d231417fa2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
…and to pet the fattest Pug I’d ever seen. We made it all the way down to Columbus Circle and caught the train down to Christopher St – Sheridan Square. Brunch service at the Spotted Pig starts not a minute before 11am, and when we arrived we were happy to find only a few couples standing outside. The strange part was there were people dining inside. We asked what was going on and apparently if you know the right people, you get in early. Bah! They redeemed themselves however when they let us all in to stand in the waiting area to get us out of the brisk morning air. I was relieved when after telling the host we were a party of three he immediately lead us upstairs to a corner booth by a window. We weren’t crammed into the small round tables downstairs and we had natural light, score!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626673669/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 039 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 039" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5307/5626673669_6c83862b74.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627258484/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 040 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 040" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5181/5627258484_97a7b7ab22.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
I asked our waiter if I could sample the Six Point Cask Conditioned Chocolate Rye Porter and was very pleased with it. It had a surprisingly light body, with a very persistent head, a fine carbonation and went down so smooth. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627250628/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 002 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 002" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5109/5627250628_919b7d12da.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
There was no sweetness whatsoever, a hint of chocolate, and a bucketful of rye goodness, and was served at the perfect slightly cool temperature. I was lucky that the Mrs. ordered the other drink I had my eye on, the bloody mary, which the Spotted Pig is known for. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626666617/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 007 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 007" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5064/5626666617_0f21979ace.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
The best BM (hehe) I’d had in a while, it was rimmed with salt (and pepper?) and garnished with two supremely briny Kalmata olives. Again, it drank very smooth, even though there were visible chunks of freshly grated horseradish floating around in the glass. If we didn’t have such a long day of eating and drinking ahead of us I would’ve lingered and drank one or two myself. One to our orders, I ordered the burger medium rare, my wife ordered the Dutch Baby with house cured bacon and maple syrup, and K, being a huge fan of ricotta (more on that later) went with the Prosciutto & Ricotta Tart with marjoram.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626675325/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 048 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 048" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5301/5626675325_a66ab87cbd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626675547/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 049 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 049" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5228/5626675547_49499c7459.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Well was I 0/2 you ask? Yes, actually I was. The burger simply wasn’t as good as the last time I had it, and therefore I could no longer label it as the best burger I’d ever had. If you want all the reasons why I loved this burger the first time I had it, <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/05/nyc-april-2010-burgers-buns-and-bagels.html">please click me</a>. Firstly, the fries were not quite as crispy as last time, and they were just a touch thicker. We all still really loved them, especially combined with the ample amounts of rosemary and slivers of roasted garlic. Combine that with a healthy dose of Maille French Dijon, and you’ve got yourself some damn fine fries. Onto the burger, there were two major faults that threw off the perfect balance it achieved last time. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626676127/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 051 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 051" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5224/5626676127_58c5c08d38.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Firstly, the bun seemed almost over-buttered, weighing down the burger and making it entirely too rich and heavy. The bun also seemed to have an unpleasant cottony texture which I didn’t care for at all.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627260934/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 052 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 052" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/5627260934_5e5797a176.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Secondly the cheese was extremely salty. I think my sensitivity to salt is due to my semi-recent diet change, but this simply couldn’t be ignored. No, unfortunately this is no longer my favorite burger. What is? I have no idea.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626674499/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 045 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 045" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/5626674499_041d7b54d9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The Dutch Baby didn’t fare much better. House cured bacon, eh? Welp, it may have been good, had they cooked it right. This bacon was flaccid and fatty, the only crispness being at the very edge. Had it been nice and crispy it would’ve provided some much needed textural contrast. She said she was expecting a more substantial pastry, something akin to a pancake, and so her overall assessment of the dish was that it wasn’t substantial enough to justify the $15 price tag. I’m not so sure I agree with that, it kind of comes with the territory my burger being $17 and all, but I can see where she was coming from. She’s a simple gal, with simple needs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626674799/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 046 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 046" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5626674799_8f7721fb68.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The Tart was the unanimous table favorite, although it suffered from some structural problems. K claimed that due to the substantial pile of greens it was hard to cut through and get a little bit of every component. Those complaints aside, this was a much more balanced dish with salty, creamy, and bitter points (from the ricotta, prosciutto, and greens respectively) and while greens were perfectly dressed, a little acidity from some citrus would’ve gone a long way. The bite I had didn’t contain too much of the pastry, but it looked quite flaky.<br />
<br />
As expected, obtaining our check and then paying it required more time than I would’ve liked, but again, this is a very popular brunch spot so I was expecting it. The restaurant was about half full as we left, with a line running just to the door, I’m sure it would only be a matter of moments before the every seat was full. There are still a number of dishes I’d like to try at the Spotted Pig (Devils on Horseback, Cubano, Ricotta Gnudi) but with all the other great destinations in New York, I don’t see myself returning anytime soon.<br />
<br />
Afterwards we wandered down Bleecker, poking our heads into shops, mostly so the women could check out clothing. We walked into Faicco’s and also tasted some spectacular olive oil and aged balsamic at O & Co. Sadly the imminent forecast of wind and scattered t-storms began to rear it’s ugly head, the grey clouds flowed in and the gloomy drizzle began. On a positive note, my friend R who was supposed to meet up with us at Levain recovered from his hangover and caught up with us at Murray’s Cheese Shop. Ah finally, a beer drinking buddy! I immediately directed our party to Blind Tiger Alehouse.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627261956/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 055 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 055" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5627261956_e84ba07679.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627262210/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 056 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 056" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5304/5627262210_e02b054900.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Ah, now this was my type of place! Full, but not cramped, bustling but not loud, and very friendly efficient bartenders. I could’ve spent the rest of the day whiling away the hours over a couple mugs of great brew here and been fine with it. My choice was the Stone Self Righteous which is a Black IPA out of California at 8.7%. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626676641/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 053 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 053" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5105/5626676641_ca079964d5.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
It tasted very very similar to the Back in Black IPA I love from 21st Amendment Brewing, but was a touch smoother and had quite a bit more piney hops. It was a bit much for me, but I could see it being great under the right circumstances. Like taking a money shot from a can of Pine-Sol. Did you know they like to be snowballed, too? Sick bastards.<br />
<br />
On a whim R tried the Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball an (8.8% American strong ale also from California) on the cask list and congrats to him for choosing the better beer of the two (a trend that would continue throughout the day.) <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626676981/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 054 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 054" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5626676981_a12599d80b.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
This was a very complex beer with many layers of flavor. It starts slightly bitter, then transforms into this smooth and spicy-sweet beast of a beer. Smoooooth drinker this be. Yar, me thinks. The wife ordered a nice tall bottle of Lindeman’s Framboise Lambic, which tasted a bit sweeter and less tart than I remember. It must be that palette changing thing again. Or maybe the lambic changed, fuck if I know.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5626677961/" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 057 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 057" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5626677961_b746c5f47a.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
R also perused the food menu to get something in his stomach before he started binge drinking again, so he went with a nice plate of tampenade. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57628994@N05/5627263086/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="NYC Day-trip April 2011 059 by Mr. Micro, on Flickr"><img alt="NYC Day-trip April 2011 059" height="300" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5627263086_75a15bbc8e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Even though we were sitting at the bar, the bartender gave him one of those little flashy vibrating devices they give out at Chili’s to signify him when his food was ready. I thought this was a strange practice because the doorway into the kitchen was about 6 feet away and only a blind drunk would’ve missed the food runner bringing it out. Maybe they get a lot of blind drunks wandering the streets there in the West Village, who knows? It was the deep dark purple of kalmata and while not quite as awesome as the olive that came with the BM, it proved to be some pretty terrific tampenade. The buttered toast made the dish.<br />
<br />
Besides Levain, the wife had voiced interest in trying some Bubble Tea while we were in the city and I thought this would be a great opportunity to head down to Chinatown to reassess another one of my <a href="http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/2010/08/mr-micros-top-10-nyc-bites-so-far.html">all-time favorite dishes in NYC</a> Xi’an Famous Foods’ Liang Pi. So, we weatherproofed ourselves as much as we could, and started heading roughly Southeast.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for the stunning conclusion to this 2 part series. Micro—out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/1477090/restaurant/Chelsea/Stumptown-Coffee-Roasters-New-York"><img alt="Stumptown Coffee Roasters on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1477090/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/32701/restaurant/Upper-West-Side/Levain-Bakery-New-York"><img alt="Levain Bakery on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/32701/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/39999/restaurant/West-Village/Spotted-Pig-New-York"><img alt="Spotted Pig on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/39999/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/22503/restaurant/West-Village/Blind-Tiger-Ale-House-New-York"><img alt="Blind Tiger Ale House on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/22503/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Mr. Microhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01415438534836983283noreply@blogger.com0