Food I Like

Here are just a few of the food and/or beverage items I love:

• Aloha from Oregon
• Delice de Bourgogne (triple-cream cheese)
• French Press (the right way)
• Yancey's Fancy Buffalo Wing Cheddar
• Yogi Ginger Tea

Christmas 2009

Our new family had a great Christmas this year; Christmas Eve with my family, Christmas Day with my sister-in-law's family on Bainbridge Island. Very relaxing both days, and ate like a fiend (both days).

Scored on the goodies, too; my first pair of honest-to-god jammies since, probably, 1973 or so. I truly am middle-aged.

We are very lucky, indeed.

Beer and Brats. What could be better?

With more than a little time to kill, Miguel suggested we head out to Leavenworth for a brat and beer bacchanal.  Sounds good to me.

I drove to Miguel's house last Friday, and we headed out at 9 am.  First stop: Mickey D's for a little breakfast.  I rarely, rarely, rarely go there (I think it's the one of the worst of the big fast food places, 2nd only to Dairy Queen), but I do like the occasional Egg McMufffin or Filet o' Fish.  Bags of garbage delivered, we hit the road and ate as we drove. 

I've only been on Highway 2 during a non-snow season 3 times before, and each time I head out there, I'm always amazed at how beautiful it is.  River and mountain scenes, small towns barely clinging to existence, and depending on the time of year, leaves turning color before dropping to the ground. 

We pulled into town and got parked at 11:30.  Let's get this party started...  Let's eat!  The first place we found that could satisfy our beer/brat urges was a place called Munchen Haus.  I ordered Helga's Giant Kelbassi (1/3 pound, Polish, Beef & Pork).  It came with a small order of German Potato (What would Dan Quayle do here?) salad.  I was given one of those funny little vibrating coasters and was told it would let me know when my order was ready.  To order a beer, I was instructed to walk around the corner, into the patio, and order from the bartender there.  Doing as I was instructed, I walked into the patio and ordered a fantastic beer from Hirschbrau.  I don't remember what it was I ordered, but it was quite tasty.

When I was alerted to the fact that my dog was ready, I walked over and picked it up.  It was huge, and looked grilled to perfection.  The beauty part in all this was that they had the biggest selection of mustards I've ever seen.  If you know anything about me, you know I love my condiments!  They all sounded so good, but there are only so many condiments you can put on a dog before it overwhelms the link.  I went with three different flavors, one one each side of the bun, and one stripe down the middle.  I sprinkled some onions over the top of the entire dog, layered on some sweet relish, a quick squirt of ketchup, and a nice healthy layering of sauerkraut!  Now THAT'S a dog!  It was, in a word, fantastic.  Through the various layers, I could taste the individual mustard flavors, and found them to be some of the best mustards I've had.  The beer was equally good.  I don't remember what we paid for this meal, but it was money well spent.

After stuffing ourselves, we walked around the town.  Lots and lots of places to shop or eat, but not much else.  I guess in a small town that has made itself into a bit of Bavaria, it's not surprising that most businesses are geared completely around tourism.  We walked to the end of town and looked down into the valley were a small river flows past town.  We could see people in the park down below us, and people wading in the river.  With the mountains as a backdrop, the entire scene was idyllic.

OK, enough of that crap, let's get back to the eating and beer drinking.  Where to go, where to go...

Ah, let's head on up to the Italian place for a beer.  It seemed the entire building we found ourselves walking toward was geared mainly to the Italian side of things.  We walked into a meat shop that closely resembled some of the shops we saw while we were in Italy in 2003.  We left the meat shop and headed up the stairs to the Italian restaurant.  Nobody there.  Strange, but it was a little off the beaten path.  Plus, who goes to eat Italian food in a German town?  We got seated at the bar, and ordered a couple beers.  Nothing out of the ordinary, but they were good and cold.  Feeling a bit bloated, we passed on appetizers, and eventually got our bill, paid, and departed for parts unknown. 

Back out into the 92 degree heat.  It was definitely warm, but not miserably so, and the winds kept things comfortable.  We walked to the main square (if you can call it that), where artists of various flavors displayed their work (mostly photography).  We cruised through some of the stores that caught our interest, but nothing compelled either of us to buy anything.  This went on for a while before we decided to get more beer and possibly a bite to eat, though neither of us was hungry.

Are next haunt was a restaurant that is located in the basement of one of the buildings on the main drag, Andreas Keller Restaurant.  Upon entering, we stood and waited to be seated.  And waited.  And waited.  And waited.  We could see 3 other parties seated in a space that could hold quite a few folks.  There were a LOT of empty tables.  The waiter looked at us (the waitees), and indicated that he'd be with us shortly.  Define "shortly".  Finally, he gathered us and seated us in a booth, handed us a couple menus, and disappeared.  We peeled the menus and were appalled at the prices.  I can see slightly higher prices in a tourist town, but these prices were ridiculous.  Given that we weren't all that hungry, it came down to ordering smallish portions, so as not to damage our innards or our wallets.  I decided on the Red Cabbage, Miguel ordered the German Spatzle with mushroom sauce, with each of us selecting a beer worthy of our sophisticated palates.  And then we waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Finally, a staff member came by with some plates, forks, and a tub of what appeared to be stone-ground mustard.  OK, that's all well and good, but what if we didn't order anything that required the mustard.  Do they through it away, or do they take it back to the kitchen and scoop it back into the big mustard bucket?  And then we waited some more.  I told Mike we should leave, which he was willing to do, but I said let's give them 2 more minutes.  4 minutes later, we decided to beat feet and Mike stood up to go, when the waiter started heading in our direction.  Damn!  Now we were stuck.  We should have just told him we were leaving, but we stayed.  He took our order and, suprisingly, it wasn't too long before we had our beer and "food".  My red cabbage was a pile of mush.  I've had pleny of red cabbage in my day (and I love it), but it's never been mushy.  This slop was barely a step above baby food in terms of its consistency.  I didn't expect a huge portion (and in this I was not disappointed), but for $4, it was severely over priced (even if it had been properly cooked).  Miquel's portion of spatzle was no larger than my red goo, and to charge $5 for noodles and an extra $2 for mushroom sauce, was beyond the pale.  This is the kind of restaurant that can screw their customers over because they are likely first-time (and last-time) suckers.  Tourists from far away places will likely never make it back to town, and any tourist that does make a return visit to Leavenworth, would likely never come back to this pathetic excuse for a restaurant.  When the waiter finally returned with our bill, he circled our table 3 times within a 5-minute period, presumably to make sure we weren't skip out on paying the tab.  It was this final treatment that fried my ham.  Oh, and as it turned out, we didn't order anything that required the mustard they brought out to us.  What do you think they did with it?

Cut loose onto the streets of Leavenworth once more, we continued to walk up and down the streets, occasionally stopping into any store that looked interesting.  Once in a while we'd see a dog that would seem nice to meet, so we'd strike up a conversation with the owners and get to meet some cool pooches.  As we walked past one store, I looked in to see custom pancacke griddles.  One had snowflakes embossed in them (all the same design snowflake), so that wasn't too interesting.  Right next to it, there was a pancake griddle that had the heads of 7 different zoo animals.  Knowing that the wife likes pancakes, and we'd soon have a boy to make them for, I had to have it.   For $32, I thought it might be a little more expensive than what I might pay if I were to order it directly from the manufacturer, but I wanted to bring it home with for the wife.  (I did check the price when I got home, and I would have paid $35 for the pan, plus whatever shipping charges I might have incurred.  Shockingly, I got a better deal in the tourist village).

If you've been to Leavenworth for more than 4 or 5 hours, things start to seem a bit repetitious.  With the day winding down, we decided to grab one final beer before heading out. 

We headed back to the place where we started our day.  We skipped right past the hot dog spot, and walked up to the bartender.  I asked the gal behind the counter if they had beer XYZ and she said she didn't think they did.  One of the employees went to check to see if they had any kegs in the back, and when he returned, he reported that they had, in fact, run out.  Oh, well.  I ordered another beer (not nearly as tasty), and after consuming our pints, we got back on the road. 

All-in-all, it was a great afternoon, with only the one unpleasant experience at the Andreas Keller Restaurant. 

The traffic was light, and we got back to Miguel's house around 8:30.  After saying our good-byes, I pointed the wagon in the direction of home and pulled up to the house at exactly 9 pm.  It was a long day, and I was beat.

Oh, and the wife loved the pancake pan.

Am I old? Another great birthday...

I celebrated my birthday yesterday. It was a great day, starting with opening my gifts, followed by heading out to a local pancake house the wife likes. I know, I know, it's my birthday, but I was happy to go along with that, knowing what she was going to sacrifice on my behalf...

After breakfast, we went to the Greenwood car show, which we go to every year. Love it! Took a lot of pictures, but because the wife is in a somewhat compromised state, I pushed through it much faster than I would normally.  Lots of women there, most tortured to the same degree as the wife.  I love old cars.

Afterward, we stopped off at the Fred Meyer to pick up a few bags of potting soil, before coming home to plant the Improved Meyer Lemon plant, which was one of my birthday gifts.

We later headed out to dinner at The Kingfish Cafe, one of my favorite places, and I ate myself into a near food coma. Why do I do that? No matter, the food was great and I enjoyed the best wings I've ever had!

Afterward, we came home to check on the dogs, and to take a little nap. Nap done, we headed out to catch a show of improv comedy. The idea is not exactly something I would have been drawn to, but it was much more enjoyable than I expected. At the intermission, the wife was getting her headache back, and given the long day, we were both exhausted, so we decided to leave and head home.

A great day, and I have the wife to thank for it. Thanks, babe.

Do salmon skin rolls count?

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/skin-and-hair/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100240557&gt1=31036

Content provided by:

Can Salmon Save Your Skin?

Omega-3 fatty acids may boost your skin’s defenses against UV damage.

By Fiona Kenny, R.D. , EatingWell.com

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If you spend your summer vacation soaking up the sun, your best defense (second to sunscreen, of course) may be what you order for dinner. Healthy omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish can boost your skin’s defenses against UV damage, explains epidemiologist Adèle Green, Ph.D.

In a study published in the April 2009 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers followed the eating habits of more than 1,100 Australian adults for approximately five years and found that those who ate a little more than 5 ounces of omega-3-rich fish—such as salmon and tuna—each week decreased the development of precancerous skin lesions by almost 30 percent.

The lesions, called actinic keratoses, are a common sign of chronic sun damage and can develop into skin cancer if left untreated.

Scientists think the omega-3s act as a shield, protecting cell walls from free-radical damage. So next time you head to the beach remember your sunscreen and hat, and make reservations at a restaurant that serves great seafood.

More promising findings on eating for healthy skin:

Researchers from Unilever linked consuming plenty of vitamin C-rich foods (such as oranges, tomatoes and strawberries) with youthful skin. Vitamin C’s youthful effects on skin may be due to its antioxidant properties, which help protect against ultraviolet rays, and its role in keeping skin firm via collagen synthesis.

A study of 177 men and women published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that people who consumed diets rich in olive oil, vegetables and legumes had the least skin wrinkling while those who ate lots of full-fat dairy and red meat had the most. "Eating foods rich in bioactive compounds (vitamins, phytochemicals) may minimize ultraviolet damage to the skin and improve its appearance," says Mark L. Wahlqvist, M.D., one of the study’s authors and director of the Asia Pacific Health and Nutrition Center at Monash University in Australia.

In one study, scientists in Germany showed that consuming tomato paste rich in the antioxidant lycopene (2 1/2 tablespoons daily for 10 weeks) reduced sunburn by 40 percent.

Research suggests that the nutrient beta carotene may help you stay young-looking by scavenging for free radicals that contribute to skin aging. Good sources of the nutrient include sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe and leafy greens.

Salmon and tuna recipes on Delish:

• Grilled Salmon & Zucchini with Red Pepper Sauce
• Salsa-Roasted Salmon
• Pistachio-Crusted Tuna Steaks
• Smoked Salmon Salad Nicoise

I want downer cows...

out of my food supply.

President (you'll note the capital P, I couldn't bring myself to use that during the previous administration), Obama today banned downer cows from being slaughtered . If you don't know, a "downer" cow is one that's too weak or ill to stand on its own.

This was all done in the interest of minimizing the chances that Mad Cow disease might enter into our food supply. That aside, if a cow is too sick to walk, there's definitely something wrong with it, why would anyone consider that animal safe enough to eat? You don't want to sit next to someone with the flu, would you want to eat a cow that has some bovine flu strain (or worse)? I should think not.

I've seen video take and slaughter yards of these downer cows, and they'll tie a rope around a leg and drag it up to be killed. I've always felt very bad for the cows under these conditions.

What I want to know is: Why has it taken so long any one of a number of past presidents from taking this step?

It's not clear to me what they will do with these cows, but at least it won't wind up in my next bit of Wendy's perfection. This really seems like a no-brainer and should have been done a long, long time ago.

Don’t be an idiot

 

I’ve been seeing a lot of these ads lately advertising making all sorts of ridiculous health claims; laying the key to physical health at the foot of the lowly acai berry.  Look, it may be a tropical fruit with lots of health benefits, but it I will NOT turn you in to a ripped stud, no matter how much you consume.  If you want to look like the decapitated body on the right, Alex Rodriguez can probably introduce you to someone…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That said, let’s look at this add.  Our new buddy, “Jason” is touting the health benefits of acai (I’m assuming it’s juice because he mentions that you drink it).  He claims that if you use this product, you won’t have to work out “too much”.  Define “too much”.  It also states in the ad that he went from flab to fab (the pictures you see at the bottom of the screenshot) in one month.  YGBFK!  Uh, yeah, sure, Jason.

Now, if Jason is so proud of his new physique, why did he crop the heads off both the before and after picture?  Wouldn’t you want to prove that it was really you in the photos?  I know I would. 

Our new buddy also mentions that he submitted this story to GetMeASixPack.com, but the URL shows that we’re looking at "areyouagenius.org”.  If the answer is based solely on my response to the add, then I’m a freakin’ genius because they aren’t getting a dime from me. 

I’ve recently been seeing ads geared toward women in which one woman claimed to lose 43 pounds in 2 weeks.  Now, come on…  Please.  Does ANYONE believe this crap?

To illustrate my point, I made a screenshot of an add a few months ago because it was so ludicrous, I couldn’t believe it.  In fact, this revolutionary product is so amazing that it can turn you from a massively obese black woman into a merely overweight woman.  Don’t believe me?  Look for yourself.

See?  I told you.  On top of this, even if it was the same woman (not that I’m conceding this point, mind you), the picture on the left would have represented a much greater weight loss than 12 pounds.  I realize they haven’t made the claim that these pictures of the “same” woman were taken two weeks apart, but that’s the implication.

Do yourself a favor.  Put the fork down, go outside, and take a nice walk around the neighborhood.  Meet your neighbors, walk the dog, get active.  There are no shortcuts, so just be reasonable and set your expectations appropriately.  You’ll get there.

Dinner and a Movie

Friday we (that would be the wife and I) got together with our friend for a movie, Slumdog Millionaire. Great movie, if you haven't already seen it. In the end, you know they boy and the girl get together, it's the weaving of the threads that make it interesting.

After the show, we decided to get a bite. Where to? Made our way to Broadway and encountered a Greek restaurant, The Byzantion. I like all things Mediterranean, so I was game. It was cold outside; nice, warm and fragrant inside. Got seated, got a beer, and perused the menu. It's a big one, with lots of options, so you'll probably need some time to check things over. I got the roast 1/2 chicken. This was no scrawny birdy, but a monster that took up half the very large plate with enough room for the salad that came with it. It was a bit steep at $15, but very, very tasty. I would definitely go back.

All in all, a great end to a hectic, first week back at school.

Organic, grass-fed beef is…

gross.

We just had the first meal prepared with the organic beef we purchased a few months ago.  The wife first pulled it out of the oven, and found a BLOOD GEYSER (great movie title, don’t cha think?) upon removing the fork from the roast.  I cut into it to see if it was cooked enough, and for someone who likes their meat medium rare, it was still quite red.  Combine that with the fact that the fat was a queasy-making yellow color, and I was happy to throw it back in for another 10 minutes.  When we pulled it out the second time, it was cooked, but the fat was still a disgusting yellow.  Is is supposed to be that color?  A quick internet search for “organic beef yellow fat” turned up that the color was correct.

OK, fat color aside, what did it taste like?  Slightly strange, and it was tough as hell. 

I don’t know about the what it must have been like to eat beef before the introduction of grain-fed, hormone-pumped production methods, but if it was anything like I had tonight, it’s a wonder eating beef became so popular.

I’ll take a slab of cow from Costco ANY day of the year.

Sadly, we still have a lot of organic cow to get through.