1957 Menu from Woolworths

A History of the Diner Lingo:

adam & eve on a log, sink 'em damn straight; hash browns has browns don't be late!

Home Cooking Resurgence

We'll see how this plays out - just enjoy sobbing Englishman at the 1:29 mark...

Waco Whisky Wins Awards

Waco Tribune: Waco’s own Baby Blue, a homegrown Texas whiskey, is catching the attention of bartenders and appearing in award-winning drinks.


Waco Tribune: Waco’s own Baby Blue, a homegrown Texas whiskey, is catching the attention of bartenders and appearing in award-winning drinks.

Weaponized Chili? I Thought That Was Texas' Domain...

The bhut jolokia was accepted by Guinness World Records in 2007 as the world's spiciest chili. It is grown and eaten in India's northeast for its taste, as a cure for stomach troubles and a way to fight the crippling summer heat.

It has more than 1,000,000 Scoville units, the scientific measurement of a chili's spiciness. Classic Tabasco sauce ranges from 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville units, while jalapeno peppers measure anywhere from 2,500 to 8,000.

HuffPost Article

"The chili grenade has been found fit for use after trials in Indian defense laboratories, a fact confirmed by scientists at the Defense Research and Development Organization," Col. R. Kalia, a defense spokesman in the northeastern state of Assam, told The Associated Press.

ALDI hits FunkyTown

I hit the Grand Opening of the new ALDI Grocery on Wednesday in Fort Worth. The shop has a distinctly European feel, reminding me of the locations I used to shop in England. The grocery and produce are beautiful (it was the Grand Opening, after all) but in sharp contrast to the Big Box selections of chips and junk foods forming aisles in shipping boxes. The prices were reasonable, highlighted with some very good deals. New to Texas consumers may be the practices of renting your cart for 25 cents (refunded when returned) and the Bring Your Own Bag policy. Even more startling is the "NO Checks Or Credit Cards" policy. This chain is attempting to carve out its niche in North Texas, and has some formidable strengths:

Price - Man, who's not concerned about getting a good deal these days?
Good Website - Updated with Current & Upcoming Specials
Ease of Use - The limited selection may actually work in its favor by providing great value

Overall, I found the store to be a touch antiseptic - this coming from an admitted Fiesta & Carnival loyalist. While I shop those stores for their superb produce and rocking fish market, those stores both relish in their distinct character and feel. I also dig la musica piped in. ALDI's produce come pre-packaged, such as 20 oz of Roma Tomatoes and 8 oz. pepper portions (from River City Produce in San Antonio and Frontera Produce, respectively).

Fiesta smells and feels like a market, ALDI feels more like a drug store.

PRICE HIGHLIGHTS:

ALDI
Store # 61
700 Alta Mere, White Settlement, TX
Roseland HOT Italian Sausage - 1.24 LB - $2.79
Whole Pineapple - .99
Jalapeno Peppers - .70/LB
Serrano Peppers - .98/LB
2% Milk - 1 Gal - $1.79
All Purpose Flour - 5 LB - $1.29
Roma Tomatoes - 20 oz - $1.29

Sous-Vide - A Texan Asks WTF?!?

Have anyone ever heard of this? I was shocked to find out a chef friend of mine in England was doing it - he says it works like a charm! It just goes against all my years of grill experience.

If you've gone out to a fancy restaurant in the last five years or so, you've most likely eaten a protein that was cooked sous-vide in a water bath, whether you knew it or not. The process of vacuum-packing meat and cooking it in a precise temperature-controlled water bath has revolutionized the way fine-dining restaurants are run.

http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/03/how-to-sous-vide-steak.html

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/03/sous-vide-steaks-recipe.html

http://www.sousvidesupreme.com/

Now at TownTalk for $3.99

Regularly priced at $12-$15, Now at TownTalk for $3.99:


http://www.amazon.com/ILLY-Espresso-Coffee-Medium-Roast-Grind/dp/B0001GDE1K


I wouldn't share this if I hadn't already stocked up!!!

How To's:
http://outlawchef.blogspot.com/2010/01/intelligentsia-coffee.html
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2007/03/making_perfect.html





A Retread, but germane:

Espresso, Intelligentsia from Department of the 4th Dimension on Vimeo.

Intelligentsia Coffee

SPRING UNPLUGGED: Fred's Calendar

TUES March 9, 2010
7pm: Luke Wade

WED March 10, 2010
GOURMET PIZZA NIGHT!
7pm: Magee Payne

THURS March 11, 2010
7pm: Marty Christian

FRI March 12, 2010
7pm: Keegan McInroe

SAT March 13, 2010
7pm: Jack County Band

3pm: Jason Michaels

Noon: Stefan Prigmore

SUN March 14, 2010
6pm: Forgotten Space (acoustic Grateful Dead Tribute)

3pm: Dave Smith Duo

Noon: Kurt South

A Rainy Sunday - Time for a Frittata

From the New York Times:

Baked Tunisian Carrot, Potato and Tuna Frittata

Fast Food Shilling

After seeing McDonald's encouraging viewers to "Eat like an Olympian" during the Winter Games, I guess I shouldn't be surprised when Health.com shills for major fast food chains...

Health.com???

America’s Top 10 Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants

Healthiest Fast Food Indulgences: Best of the Bad Foods

The Best Fast Food Options

I'll take TWO...

Calling All Oil Sheiks: Here's the $160 Million Floating Island of Your Dreams