Weblog
Saturday, 24 March 2012
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What's Your Take on Competitive Eating?
Like any young hot-blooded American, my competitive nature was conditioned from an early age. I played almost every sport, worked hard, and excelled to beat out my competitors. Despite my competitive nature, I have mixed feelings about competitive eating.
With a society that largely suffers from childhood obesity and unhealthy diets, does this so-called sport send the wrong message?
When I was younger, like any growing boy, I could eat a ton. Due to nonstop sports I was always eating.
I remember one night after wrestling practice everyone on the team met at Cheeburger Cheeburger. We competed with one another in a race to see who could eat the 1 lb burger the fastest, and perhaps, be daring enough to eat two. I ate two 1 pounders. I was lucky to have a high metabolism and a meal like that didn't affect my health in a drastic way due to my lifestyle.
I initially enjoyed watching competitive eating, especially the Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest. It's truly a sight to see a person eating 60 plus hot dogs in 12 minutes.
I have mixed views on this subject. As I previously stated it's interesting watching these trained eaters compete with one another. But, food is sustenance. Food gives us energy, keeps us healthy, and is meant to be enjoyed. By presenting this perspective on food and treating it merely as means to a competition, then we can lose respect for what we eat.
I think competitive eating should not be glorified the way it is today.
Do you think there's nothing wrong with a little hot dog eating contest? Are these competitions feeding our youth the wrong message? -
Beer Bread Recipe
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At almost every family party one of my sisters brings homemade beer bread. Before the main course is served everyone crowds around the beer bread and munches away. My family loves beer bread. Whoever brings it always has two loaves on hand. I have a big family and we can eat.
I'm not entirely sure where my sister's got this recipe. It is very simple and delicious.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of self rising flour
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 12 ounces of beer
- 2 tablespoons of butter
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease the loaf pan with butter. Mix the flour, sugar, and beer together in a bowl. When mixed well enough, evenly place the dough in the loaf pan. Melt the 2 tablespoons of butter and pour it over the top of the dough. Pop it in the oven and let it cook for 50-55 minutes.
You are not home free yet. For good beer bread you need a tasty dip to accompany it to the party. For the best dip you need to buy Tasteyfully Simple Spinach and Herb Dip Mix. It is worth it to buy the entire bottle. The bottle can make up to 7 cups of dip.
Ingredients: (For 1 Loaf of Beer Bread)
- 2 tablespoons of Tastefully Simple Herb and Spinach Mix
- 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup of sour cream
Add and mix these ingredients together in a bowl. Place the bowl in the refrigerator to cool and wait for the beer bread to be ready.
Have you made beer bread before? Do you have a different beer bread recipe?
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Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Buffet
Do you dare dream of such a place? Where the ice cream options are limitless and you're free to choice whatever you like. I grow tired of being forced to buy one small pint at the grocery store. Ben and Jerry's ice cream costs a pretty penny.
My dream is to attend a party where the host serves a Ben and Jerry's ice cream buffet. Every flavor imaginable would be available and you could choose a scoop or even a pint of whatever you pleased.
The flavor options go on forever. There are too many Ben and Jerry Flavors to count.
I still remember my first spoonful of Half Baked and thinking, "cookie dough, brownies, vanilla, and chocolate ice cream...it can't get better than this." Oh it got better, much better.
You would be surprised at the unusual types of ice cream. Recently, Ben and Jerry's released a Jeremy Lin inspired kind called "Taste The Linsanity" with fortune cookies that caused a little uproar. 
The ice cream flavor lords even created a "Schweddy Balls" flavor based upon the Saturday Night Live skit. 
If I were in the fortunate position to scoop away at the buffet, I would choose my three favorite kinds.
3. Red Velvet Cake
I tried this two months ago. I wasn't expecting the smooth and silky similarities to actual red velvet cake. Sometimes, you can get the ice cream and cake in one pint.
2. One Cheesecake Brownie
I discovered this late night friend in college at the university convenience store. They offered a limited selection of ice cream options, but I wasn't disappointed when I plugged a spoon of this in my mouth.
Cheesecake and brownies are two of the greatest foods in the world. When smashed into a tiny container of ice cream they truly create an unforgettable taste memory. It's hard to put this pint back in the freezer after ripping the plastic seal off.
1. Everything But The...
The ellipsis says everything about this ice cream. Its greatness never ends. This is my favorite Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor.
This pint contains a jumble of vanilla and chocolate ice cream, white chocolate bars, peanut butter cups, chocolate covered almonds, and the best ever toffee chunks.
I feel as if I'm on a treasure hunt, digging through sand, and overjoyed by the wealth of variety and riches I find in a tiny pint of ice cream.
If you attended a party or restaurant with a Ben and Jerry's buffet, what flavor would you target first? What's your favorite Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor? What's the most unusual flavor you have encountered? -
My 3 Favorite Places to Eat Crab Cakes
"Crab cakes and football," that's how Maryland does it. Yes, I'm a Marylander and we do boast the best crab cakes around. There's nothing better than an incredible, rich, and tasty crab cake to lift your spirits on a beautiful summer day. Please don't tell me you're allergic to seafood or dislike crab because I may just cry and men who love football don't cry.
Whenever I'm away from my home state I'm hesitant to take the leap of faith to try a crab cake on a menu. I may be bold enough to order a crab cake sandwich if nothing appetizing on the menu lures me in. A bad crab cake can almost always be hidden by two buns, lots of tartar or cocktail sauce, lettuce, and tomato.
A truly amazing crab cake needs nothing extra. I judge my crab cakes by taste and texture. When I say texture I am referring to the type of crab meat in the crab cake.
A crab cake with solely back fin or crab claw meat tends to be overpowered or filled with too many bread crumbs and it leans more towards the mushy side.
An ideal crab cake finds the balance of jumbo lump and back fin crab meat with the right amount of filler. if necessary, that adds flavor.
People eat crab cakes because they don't want to burden of breaking open and searching for the meat within the actual crabs. I know, a great summer day is found with a bushel of crabs and case of beer. But not everyone is cut out for that.
If you happen to find yourself in Maryland be sure to visit one of my top three crab cake restaurants.
3. Calvert House Inn Restaurant & Pub
This small and old restaurant is located on Route 1 between historic Hyattsville and the University of MD/College Park area. I've been eating there my whole life. I ordered take-out from there the other night and got myself two crab cakes.
Their crab cakes are broiled with the perfect balance of jumbo lump and back fin crab meat. You easily forget about the tartar sauce on the side when biting into them. They weigh about 5 oz a piece and cost $27 for the entire meal.
2. Jerry's Seafood
This restaurant used to be my favorite place to find the ideal crab cake until the new number one came along. Their crab cakes are a little more pricey than the Calvert house.
You eat two crab cakes for $33 or pay one more dollar for the "Crab Bomb." This colossal crab ball is made out of 10 oz of jumbo lump crab meat, loved with Old Bay, and baked. If you prefer the fried side then you can choose the normal crab cakes which are cooked to your liking.
Either way you can't go wrong. If you hate fillers in you crab cakes, then this is the place to go since they claim to have "Absolutely No Filler!" For me, Jerry's jumps to the 2 spot with their tempting options and promise of jumbo lump.
1. Timbuktu
For the best crab cakes out there you need to hit up this place in Hanover, Maryland, a couple minutes away from Arundel Mills Mall. I first ate here with my brothers and sister five years ago. My brother begged us to go with him for the crab cakes. He called them "heavenly." He told no lies.
The "Famous Timbuktu Crab Cakes" costs $27 and each cake weighs a staggering half pound due to jumbo lump overload.
These crab cakes are so famous that you can even order 4 or 24 to be shipped to your home. They package them with ice packs in coolers to keep them fresh.
I love eating at these restaurants, but I'd much rather prefer sitting at a long picnic table, banging on crab shells, sucking crab meat and old bay out of claws, and drinking beers. Also, whether deep fried or broiled, nothing beats a homemade crab cake. You don't have to be in Maryland to make a great crab cake.
Are you a crab cake fan? Where restaurant is your favorite crab cake located at? Have you made crab cakes before?
Saturday, 18 February 2012
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Wholly Cow Burgers in Austin
A solid day in Austin,TX was all I had. I checked out of my hotel room at the Sheraton around 12pm, left my luggae in hotel storage, and headed towards downtown for lunch. I walked around and browsed different menus. I stumbled upon Wholly Cow Burgers on Congress and 7th Street (http://www.whollycowburgers.com/). “Local Grass-Fed Beef” called my name. I opened the door to find a line of 50 people long. The extended line might discourage some customers, but I stood my ground. Patience makes a good meal better.
I scanned the paper menu, thought deeply about my choice, but couldn’t set my heart on an entree. When the order girl reached my place in line, I asked her for guidance. She directed my attention to the “Wholly Cheesesteak Batman”, a chicken sandwich, or a burger. “Most people learn towards the cheesesteak." The description of a "Philly Cheesesteak with Thinly-sliced Grass-Fed Beef grilled with Onions & Smothered in Gooey Cheeses" lured me in.
As a Redskins fan, I naturally oppose everything Philly. I’m always searching for the best cheesesteak outside Philadelphia. I don’t dislike Philly since I have several friends from the area, but it’s always satisfying to find something that might displace Philly’s ownership of the cheesesteak. In Jersey you might discover a competitor in the summer, but that’s another story involving a place called Voltacos.
I ordered the “Wholly Cheesesteak” and answered yes when she asked me if I wanted it "filthy and trashy." When you add these two adjectives, chopped up jalapenos, onions, mushrooms, and red bell peppers join the party. Don’t fret or worry whether or not the trashy additions are sauteed, because they are far from raw.
I paid, sat down towards the front, and waited. Before it arrived I constantly wondered if “gooey” cheese description would stand true. I unfolded the white parchment paper and there it glistened.
My doubts disappeared. Every inch of the sub roll and meat were covered with cheese. The melted cheese oozed out. Cheese lived everywhere. I somehow managed to put down this beast sub but it left its cheese marks on my hands and face. Other customers peered at me with suspicion because I looked like a wild mannered child. This was the first time in a long time that I barely managed to finish a meal. I forced the last cheesy bite down. The cheese, tasty meat with the veggies and onions, plus the right amount of kick with the jalapenos fed me for the entire day. I couldn’t eat again until I was in Houston eight hours later. The Wholly Cheesesteak certainly matches up well to its Philly brother. It seems like no matter how far I travel away from Philly, their mark and inspiration follows me.What's the best cheesesteak you've eaten outside Philly? Do you think Philly should own the title for the best cheesesteak? If not, tell me why.
