The Layover: Los Angeles

I posted about it on What The Kimchi?!?!?!? but it could have and should have been here. ;)

The simple things.

I was just watching episode 4 of the latest season of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. He is in Lisbon, Portugal this episode and it starts off with him having a feast of sea food. It reminded me of the time Stig and I were in Jeju. Actually our last night in Jeju City. We found a seafood restaurant on a wharf and had a similar feast. God damn I am drooling just thinking of it!

I went back to WTK and tried to find a post about it ... and found none. Hmmm. May have to rectify that. But I digress.

I have said it before, and odds are I will say it again, often the simple foods are the best. The feast we had in Jeju was simple but great. The feast Bourdain had in Lisbon was simple but great.

Cheese Curds Burgers

A gourmet burger restaurant opened up in Dartmouth, Cheese Curds Burgers and Poutinerie. I have heard a LOT of good things about it but never managed to go there ... until today.

They have a large selection of gourmet burgers and toppings. (Here is a link to their menu.) The amount of toppings available is too large for me to remember. They have the standards (onion, dill pickle, etc) and a lot unusual ones (liked caramelized pineapple). Everything is fresh and your food is made to order.

I treated my mother to lunch from there today. My mother opted for just the basic Angus burger. I went for the TNT Spicy Burger combo. Plus we got an order of onion rings to split.

The TNT Spicy burger didn't disappoint. It is topped with hot pepperoni, fried jalapeño pepper rings, jack cheese and chipotle mayo. I had dill pickle and onion added to it.

It was nice and spicy but not over powering. You could taste all the ingredients. Four hours has passed since I ate it and I can still taste it, in a good way. :) Hell, I am still full!


Unfortunately, I didn't have room for the fries. I ate a couple and they were good.

The onion rings were great. They actually didn't survive the drive home. :)

Great food and service. I shall return!

Cherry & Chili Chocolate

I am not a big sweet eater so I was surprised to be given a chocolate bar yesterday. It is a Lindt 70% Cacao bar. Inside is a cherry-chili and truffle filling. What can I say, I figured I would try it but expected to be disgusted to some degree.

Was I wrong. It wasn't the greatest thing I have ever tasted. But it wasn't that bad. You couldn't really taste the chili until the after taste hit. Then there just a little hint of heat. After trying a piece I knew that I had to expand the experience.

I brewed up some coffee to try it with. Chocolate and coffee can often go together . It was a beautiful mix. The only thing I could think of that would make it better would be a cigar. So, I took the coffee and chocolate outside and sparked up a Montecristo torpedo.

Man oh man they complemented each other. I often enjoy coffee and cigar. The flavours usually go well together. This time was even better. The strong flavours of the cigar and coffee mixed with the sweet of the chocolate and the subtle flavour of the cherry and chili. It was like a symphony in my mouth. Definitely something I will have to try again sometime.

Anthony Bourdain - No Reservations - Japan

They were showing the episode of No Reservations where Bourdain went to Osaka a few years back on Travel & Escape. One of his comments when he was in a restaurant with 2 comedians was so true and so sad.

They were at a restaurant where you grilled up your own octopus balls. Bourdain quiped about how this would not flay in the US due to liability issues. He said something to the effect of "alcohol, hot grills, and sharp objects mean this would never work in the US". It is sadly true for Canada too. Their insurance companies would have a fit and jack their cost up until it was too high to pay.

It isn't even the combination here. In Halifax the Korean restaurant I knew of,before going to Korea served you the samkyubsal cooked. When asked why the owner said it was because the customers complained about the smell. What a bunch of wussies. So you smell of a little meat. Hell in Korea the restaurants usually have a bottle of febreeze or soemthing so you can get rid of the smell. If that is the only reason you don't like a place it is pretty sad.

The Urban Peasant

Recently on another blog there was talk about the use of the word peasant in a derogatory fashion. While it can be used that way I always thought of it to mean rustic and simple. As in, peasant food. All of this got me thinking of a cooking show I used to watch many moons ago on CBC. It was called The Urban Peasant and was hosted by James Barber.

The show was always good to watch. It had the right mix of cooking and humour. Now I would like to watch some episodes and reminisce but it isn't on any more. James Barber died in 2007 and there was only 1 DVD released, which I can't find. Anyone know of a good torrent site for episodes?

Eat shit!

(A big tip of the hat to Bill Maher for mentioning this on the latest episode of his show.) How many times have you been told, or told someone, to eat shit? Now, thanks to Japanese scientists, they can without the social stigma attached to someone sticking shit in their mouth.

Japanese scientists have found a way to create synthetic meat (steak) from human feces. I think I will pass on trying that. They tout it as an environmentally responsible way of making food and a solution for the world food shortage. Once you get past the fact that you are eating shit.

What is next? Apple juice from urine? Vanilla pudding from semen? Are they trying to convert the Japanese porn industry into a food industry? Bukkake pudding for everyone!

A Cook's Tour - Mexico

I was watching A Cook's Tour - Mexico - Tamales And Iguana Oaxacan Style and some of the food started making me think about Korea.

Bourdain was given a soup called Menudo to eat. It is supposed to be good for hang overs and for stamina. It is made out of tripe (Bourdain's had belly, eye, heart, leg, lips, head, and liver. This is added to some crunchy veg and a hot spicy broth. All in all, it reminded me of sunjae haejanguk without the congealed blood but with the same colour.

Yes, Bourdain did crack wise about the Mexican group Menudo being named after tripe soup. And rightly so. :)

While I have never had a hangover my friends in Korea swore by haejanguk. I still remember the 1st time Dave had it. He was half dead when he started and within 20 minutes he felt human again.

When I lived in South Korea kamja tang was my comfort food. it reminded me of how my Mother made ribs. Now I find the reverse, Mom's ribs remind me of kamja tang and South Korea.

No Reservations - Japan

They were showing the episode of No Reservations where Bourdain went to Osaka a few years back on Travel & Escape. One of his comments when he was in a restaurant with 2 comedians was so true and so sad.

They were at a restaurant where you grilled up your own octopus balls. Bourdain quiped about how this would not flay in the US due to liability issues. He said something to the effect of "alcohol, hot grills, and sharp objects mean this would never work in the US". It is true for Canada too.

A&W Sirloin Grandma Burger

Tried the new Grandma Prime Rib burger at A&W for lunch today. It consists of a burger made from Prime Rib, sauteed onions, a horseradish sauce, all on a bun. Overall I liked it. The flavour profile was good, you could taste all of the ingredients. My only complaint would be that the horseradish flavour wasn't strong enough.

I will definitely have another one.

Anthony Bourdain - No Reservations - Vienna

I just finished watching Bourdain's show on Vienna. It was pretty interesting, definitely a great food place. Two things REALLY stuck out.

The first was a Puss Stick. Bad name for a cheese filled sausage but it looked delicious. They call it the puss stick because if you aren't careful grilling it the sausage will end up exploding. If cooked properly it sometimes oozes in spots like puss from a finger. They say it is good hang over food, especially with some schnapps.

The second thing was Krampus, or as they called him in English Bad Santa. He is supposed to be Santa's Helper. They ate a pork dish called Krampus which was named after him and it is traditionally eaten the day before Christmas.

Great show.

Yesterday

... and I am actually talking about yesterday, not the Beatles song Yesterday. ;)

I spent the day out with my best friend. We hit the Halifax Municipal Archives in the morning. What a great spot, and one not many people even know exists. It is a treasure trove of information on the area. The staff is excellent. Very helpful and informative.

My main purpose was the afternoon excursion to the Nova Scotia Public Archives. I wanted to do some genealogical research. While I didn't find information about my grandfather I did locate some information about a great great great great great grandfather that had been confounding me for decades. (I started doing Family tree research when I was in high school.) As with the HMA, the staff here was great. They helped me find information I hadn't even thought of looking for.

Lunch was a bit of an adventure. For old times sake we went to Pizza Corner and ate at Sicilian. My friend thought there was some donair sauce on the table and kind of ignored it. A few minutes later a bird flew in and started walking around. I thought i had seen one fly out when we were walking towards the place but figured I was imagining things. The staff did nothing to get rid of the bird and continued to leave the door open. The donair sauce on the table was probably bird shit. To top it off, the pizza slices just weren't that good. The sauce had little flavour and they skimped on the pepperoni. I won't be eating at that place again.

Double Down

Odds are if you have a TV you have seen a commercial for KFC's Double Down sandwich. Sandwich is a misnomer as it has no bread or bun. My interest was piqued by the ads. I wondered how it would taste, but I just couldn't bring myself to try one. A couple of times I almost pulled into KFC for one but then reason won out. It just doesn't look that good.

Now I don't have to try one. Stig decided to have one and he didn't sound impressed. In fact, he pronounced it too salty. Considering Stig uses more salt in cooking than I do, and likes things salted more than I do, for him to say it was too salty would probably equate to me saying it is way too fucking salty.

Desire to try one ... gone.

What the ... nachoes

I want to have chili cheese nachos tomorrow night for the hockey game. Since I already have chili and cheese the hardest part was done. It should have been easy to just pick up some nachos and be good to go. Should being the operative word.

What the hell?!?!? I would never have thought it would be that hard to get normal corn nacho chips at Sobey's or any other big grocery store but it was insane. They had umpteen varieties of nachos but none of them your basic regular nacho. They bite size, multigrain, multi flavour. Someone please explain to me why the fuck I would need salsa "flavoured" nacho chips when one normally dips the fucking things in salsa?!?!?!?!?

I started to feel like Denis Leary trying to get a cup of coffee flavoured coffee. All I wanted was regular flavoured and shaped nachoes. In the end, after 5+ minutes of searching 2 shelves, I ended up with Old Dutch Restaurant Round style but at least they are regular flavour.

I had less trouble getting nachos in South Korea! Indian brand nachos were at every Home Plus and a few other places. There was no other choice but them however they were nachos not the crap multi flavour crap Tostitoes and others put out.

Thirsty Traveler

I downloaded all 4 seasons of the Thirsty Travel and have started season 3. every episode has to do with some type of alcohol and the area it is from. In season 3, episode 4, the Thirsty Traveler goes to South Korea and looks at soju.

Unlike Cooking in the Danger Zones South Korean episode, it was an interesting show. I found the guy who did cooking in the Danger Zone to be a prat. The Thirsty TYraveler actually looked at a lot of aspects of drinking and soju in South Korea. Drinking customs and etiquette and original compared to modern soju. Keving Brauch, the Thirsty Traveler, wasn't condescending in the least. He gave a view of South Korea and Soju that touched even my jaded sensibilities. I recommend watching it if you haven't.

It also made me miss South Korea. I love being home but there is nothing to compare with a night out with friends in South Korea for soju and samkyubsal. Whether you go for the Korean drinking etiquette or not. I had a fantastic dinner with familty followed by a great chobia and some corona with lime. But I would kill for galbi and soju with friends.

The show also has me kicking myself for not going to Andong when I had a chance.

Tomorrow my niece is trying out a Korean restaurant with some friends. I gave her some tips. if it is any good I will be visiting. :)

Taco Bell or Tasteless Hell?

With all the chatter on the Korean Blogs I read, and write, about Taco Bell I found myself hankering for some Mexican food. since I didn't feel like driving into Halifax and going to Mexico Lindo (stupid me, that would have been best) I settled on Taco Bell.

I got the Big Box Meal. It gives you a beef taco, a cheesy gordito, and a bean & chicken burrito. It also comes with a drink and cinnamon twists.

A word of warning. Unless you like the texture of pork rinds with a mild cinnamon taste stay away from the cinnamon twists. My dog eats ANYTHING and he had second thoughts about the cinnamon twists. He ended up eating them but you could see him almost turn his nose up at them.

The beef taco was about what I expected. A little bit of soupy minced beef. The spice was ... missing. I used the hot sauce. The hottest sauce they give. It didn't live up to what you would expect with the word hot in the title.

The gordito was palatable There was more beef goop and you had a meaty flavour. Nice crunch with the 2 styles of taco shells. Once again the hot sauce disappointed.

The burrito was bland. Actually using the term bland is being nice. It was a little too goopy which made it messier than a burrito usually is. When I compare it to the burrito I used to get at Road King in Cheongju it pales. The Road King Burrito was very flavourful. You could taste the meat, the veg, everything. Hell the dump I would take after a Road King Burrito would have been better than the Taco Bell one I had. Then again what can you expect from fast food?

So, my desire for Mexican food was not sated. I can't in good conscience call the Taco Bell stuff Mexican Food. If I was in Korea the odds are curiosity would have seen my trying Taco Bell once, IF it was in Cheongju. It isn't something I would ever go out of my way for. After having some today it confirms that I could get a much better taste of Mexico at Road King in Cheongju than I could at Taco Bell.