A Foodies Life

Shoestring Fries and Boo Fries

Last Friday night I did what your supposed to do on a Friday night.  I went out with some friends from work.  Not a normal group of friends that I go out with, actually I'd only really been out with two of them out of work once.  When you work with people day in and day out they become family so it felt like we'd been hanging out for years.  

First we went to my normal bar, if you know me I don't need to even tell you where it was.  If you don't know me, then continue to read the blog and you'll figure it out.  We imbibed quite a bit, dare I say I even smoked a few cigarettes.  We'll pretend you didn't read that though.  Although I will tell you that the cigarette addiction has taken over again.  Ok, start the comments a rolling.  

After many many drinks we were all starving.  It was probably about eleven o'clock at this time, late for me.  So we decided to try this little burger joint in the village.  I'd been there a couple of times and fallen in love with their fries.  They are small shoe string cut fries loaded with salt, crispy and incredible.  

All week long I have been thinking about these fries and thinking I have to find them.  I was talking to one of the guys who went out with us, we'll call him The D Man.  

"Ron you should just call the place, tell them your the chef here and ask them about their fries."  The D Man said.  

He walked away and I thought for a minute about it.  Trying to think of how else I could figure this out.  I called my food purveyor, who is a friend but she didn't answer.  I searched the internet for the restaurants number and called.  A young lady answered.

"Hi my name is Ron and I'm the chef at so and so.  I was in there last weekend and I love your fries can you tell me if you get them from (name of my purveyor).  

"Oh hi, yes we do get them from there."

"Great, could you give me a product number, item number, something?"

"Um we're really busy and the owner normally doesn't like to give out that information to other restaurants."  She said.

"Well I'm not a restaurant, I feed the elderly."  

"I know that but I'm going to have to call him, can you give me a call back in an hour?"

"Ok thanks."  

Well I was under crunch time in doing my order so I did a google search on the size of shoe string cut fries and came up with 3/16".  I found some online with my purveyor and ordered two cases.  

Cut to tonight.  The fries were on the menu at work.  I got to work at five thirty this morning and had every intention of leaving early, early was 3:30pm.  A long enough day.  When I got home I had to go and get dog food and do some errands, including re-stock cigarettes for my father who would have come home tonight to no cigarettes and I would be out on the street.  I know I know.  In the back of my head I was thinking 'man I have to go and try those fries out.'  

"I just knew you were going to be back."  The D Man said.

"How did you know?"  One of the servers asked.

"Because of the fries."  

I went over and got some out of the basket and they were just as great as the night before.  

"Hey how about some boo fries?"  The D Man said.

"Yeah sure."  I replied.  He took a plate piled them with fries, added some brown gravy and topped them with cheese, then put the plate in the oven so the cheese would melt.  He took them out and I started devouring the plate.  They were gooey, yummy, cheesy and melting in my mouth.   

I've had them before at Acme Oyster House.  After a few minutes of research on the web it turns out that they originated in New Orleans.  They are very similar to Poutine, which is the Canadian version except it's with cheese curds.  

If your ever at an Acme Oyster House give them a try.  Or if you ever feel adventurous enough to make it at home you can do that too!

The Oscars

There is something so amazing to watch people have their dreams come true.  That's what happened last night at the Oscars.  

Slumdog Millionaire seems to have taken away most of the awards, which it deserves.  It happens to be the only movie that I've seen that was nominated this year.  While it was painfully hard to sit through for most of the movie because it's a world that most of us can't even begin to imagine.  In the end it was worth it, extremely uplifting and the cinematography was wonderful.  

There were many moments that will stay with me, for at least a day or two.  Kate Winslett having her father whistle to her when she won for best actress.  Ben Stiller imitating Joaquin Pheonix on Late Night with David Letterman.  

One of the most touching moment's for me came on Barbara Walter's special beforehand.  Hugh Jackman was on her show and he recounted a moment when his father came to Carnegie Hall to see him.  It was not black tie and he told his father.  

"It's not black tie Dad."  He said.

"For me it's black tie."  His father said.  

He then talks about the tears pouring down his father's face when he was singing.  It seemed like such a powerful genuine moment.  

You know your fat when............

 

Not sure if I wrote about this last year...actually now I've gone through the website and I can't find that I did.  Well, last year I was asked to dress in this Jester costume at The Vinny, which is a celebrity golf tournament that I go to every year.  It's one of the best events and so much fun.  I'll definitely write about it this year.  The point is that they said I could keep the costume when I was done at the tournament so I brought it to work to dress up for the resident's.  I had to wait almost a year for the chance but this past Friday we had our Mardi Gras party/parade.  It's always so much fun to dress up like this and act like a fool because no one knows who you are and you can be very inhibited.  So I danced with as many people as I could, sweat was soaking the little hair I have on my head but I didn't care. 

 "Who is that?"  I heard one of the resident's ask a colleague.

"Oh it's just Ron."  She responded.  I was extremely frustrated.  Every thought went through my head, including you are going to be the one that dresses up in this freaking costume next year.  But I refrained from being too pissed.  Ok so it took a couple of hours to get over it.  Actually, if I was really over it would I be writing about it right now?  

"Can you believe she told the resident's it was me?"  I asked another colleague.  

"I told someone it was you."  I gave her an evil look.

"They were asking, anyway J guessed it was you.  She reckognized your ass."  

"She what?"  

"She said she knew it was you because of your ass."  I was mortified.  I'd lived through the butt comments all my life.  Even growing up being called "Bagel" because of my butt.  

I decided it was time to find the resident.  I went over to her table.  

"So I guess you really know you have to go on a diet when you are reckognized by your butt."  I said.  She smiled but didn't say anything.  Well at least I could give her a good laugh!

Saturday my friend A came over with her dog Miss Piggy. 

"A and Miss Piggy go well together."  Mom said when A left.

"Zoe and I don't go well together?"  I fished.

"No not really."  I was confused trying to figure out how you tell if I dog and their owner go together.  

"Actually I take that back you do go together.  The biggest part on both of you is your butt!"  

Ugh, time to diet after Mardi Gras!

Roasted Broccoli with Shrimp

Do you want a dish that is very healthy and can be cooked in under 20 minutes?  I can't think of anything better than this roasted broccoli and shrimp dish that I got off the Amateur Gourmet website. The original recipe that he posted was just of the broccoli, then he posted a follow up and added shrimp to it.  It seems that the recipe came from the Barefoot Contessa.  

This is basically how I make it.   For three people I get two bags of broccoli florets from the grocery store.  The kind that you open up and they are ready to go.  I put that in a big bowl and I add about 3 or 4 tablespoons of olive oil, a tablespoon of chopped garlic, cumin, coriander and a dash of chili powder. Mix it all together well.   I put the broccoli on a sheet pan and baked it in the oven at 400 degrees for about ten minutes.  While the broccoli is roasting I take a pound and a half of peeled shrimp and add it to the same bowl that I tossed the broccoli in.  I add the juice and zest of one lemon.  Some salt and pepper.  I toss it around and let it soak up the flavors of the bowl and lemon juice.  

Take the broccoli out of the oven after ten minutes and add the shrimp to it, tossing all together with a spoon.  Put in for another 5 to 10 minutes until shrimp is just done.  That's it!  You can serve by it self or I've become accustomed to eating it on brown rice.      

Joanna Pacitti and American Idol

Ok so it's been a week since the big announcement that Joanna Pacitti was disqualified from American Idol.  I have lots of feelings about her being let go and it should be stated that a long time ago I worked for a talent management company that represented her when she was a kid.  I have had no contact with Joanna in years and was watching along just as the rest of America.  

Here are my concerns.  If you read this article it basically says that the producers do background checks on the contestants during the time they are in Hollywood.  Joanna was let go because she has close ties with two of the producers.  Did the producers not realize they knew Joanna? They had to do a big background check before they figured that out?  Sounds a little strange doesn't it?  

Now let's talk about a few of the other contestants.  Adam Lambert has previously been in the musical Wicked.  You can see him perform here.  How about Von Lee Smith, who according to Wikipedia has had a recording contract with Kon Live Distribution , can't seem to figure out when it ended.  You can watch him perform on The View here.   But one of the best connections we can make is Jesse Langseth, who is Jonny Lang's sister.  Jonny is signed with A&M records, the same company as Joanna.  His producer is Ron Fair, the same producer for Joanna.  Sounds like connections to me.  We could go on with more but I think that's enough for now.  

That all aside the biggest thing that irks me is Kara Dioguardi.  Something that is hidden deep in the depth of the internet is the fact that Kara shares a re-write credit on a song sung by Joanna for Coty Cool Water.  Go down to the comment section of this article and you can read all about it.   I can't find the song anywhere, wish I could.   Oh and there is also the fact that Kara co-wrote a song on Joanna's boyfriends album.  

Let me say that I am in no way defending Joanna.  Somehow I feel like this was all in a plan.  There are just too many factors that do not add up.  As Shakespeare said "something is rotten in the state of Denmark."

The best and most ironic part of this all you can see by going to the 19 Entertainment website.  After you get through their introduction their motto is "Redefining the Rules of Entertaintment."  Seems to me they are creating their own rules.  

A night out with Miss Piggy

Ok don't tell Zoe but I cheated on her tonight with a cute little pug named Miss Piggy.  She is owned by my best friend A.  The original plan was to get Zoe and Miss Piggy together but Zoe as you know is under the weather, recovering from being spayed.  A and I decided that we would meet at Hammerheads where she used to work.  When she got there she asked if we could go to PF Changs. I called to ask if they would allow us to eat on the outside deck with a dog, no was the answer.  

We talked it over and decided to go to the Marlin Grill.  Just to make sure I called and asked what time they opened, it was only 4pm at this time.  I also asked if they would seat us outside and could be we bring the dog.  They said that was fine.  We left Hammerheads and started walking up the road to Marlin Grill, we got side tracked by some friends who were on their balcony.  We played for a few minutes and then made our way down to the restaurant.  I walked in why A stayed out side with Miss Piggy and asked if we could sit outside with the dog.  

"We are not seating guests outside this evening."  A hostess said.  

I gave an annoyed look.

"Let me go ask the manager."  The other hostess butted in.  

She came back a few moments later saying they would set up a table outside.  I understand not wanting to set up a table outside cause it is kind of annoying and it was cold outside.  They did a great job setting the table up and then they decided it would be too near the smoke of the fire so they moved us over to another table.  It was a big production and they did a great job.  

We were hungry and we ordered accordingly.  We started off with the baby baked brie plate, a must have if you are going to the Marlin Grill.  It is a baby brie that is baked off and then topped with strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, a sugary glaze and different flavored crisps.  It's almost the reason why I go there.  A ordered the crab cakes and skillet potatoes and onions which the waiter described as hash browns.  I ordered a 14 oz grain fed ribeye with onions and stuffed with blue cheese topped with a red wine demi glace.  I also had to order their creamy, parmesan topped cream spinach.  

The brie came and we dug in.  Our entree's came and they were wonderful.  My only complaint about my steak was that I didn't remember it was stuffed with blue cheese until I cut into it about three quarters of the way through.  Other than that it was cooked perfectly.  A's crab cakes were wonderful as was the spinach.  The skillet potatoes reminded me of an awesome blossom that you would get from Outback.  They did have the same consistency as hashbrown but were overly salty.  For me to say something is over salted you know it has to be.  I consider myself a salt fiend.  

Stuffed and freezing I gave Miss Piggy some kisses, she returned with plenty of her own.  I said bye to A and I was on my way home.  Probably not the way to spend a evening when your recovering from a cold but sitting outside was so worth it for a wonderful meal and getting to meet Miss Piggy!

Conehead

It started Tuesday night as we prepared for Zoe's womanly surgery.  Or should I say the violent ripping of womanhood away from her.  We now have confirmed that there will be no little Zoe's running around in the world.  What a shame!  Zoe went in to be spayed on Wednesday morning.  I was smart enough to have my mother take her so she got to see me when I picked her up.  She was very glad to see me, although very lethargic.  The instructions included no walking up and down stairs, keeping her confined to small spaces, including her crate for ten days.  Making sure that she doesn't chew on her sutures otherwise an E-Collar would be put on her head.  Why do they call it an e-collar and not just a freaking cone?  

Zoe was doing great.  Until yesterday afternoon when I got home from work and noticed that she had ripped one of her sutures out.  That's what I like to think but the fact is that the suture disappeared.  Panicking I took her to the vet who decided it was time for an E-Collar.  So now I'm living with a conehead dog who I have to put ointment on and who can't walk, run, jump like she wants.  The next ten days should prove interesting.