So its official...my new title is to be Alise Brasch - flatlander. I will be moving to Vermont in mid-October. Home of Green Mountains, the Fresh Network, City Market, American Flatbread and the very patient M. Look for a change in scenary for the blog. And thanks to everyone for the well wishes and support.
Ok. Some of the items on this list are a bit daunting - others a no brainer. The UK blog Very Good Taste has issued a challenge. Are you up for it?
Here’s what I want you to do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/ linking to your results.
Here is my list.
The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:
1. Venison - yes. Tom Bennett's house in college. They told me it was steak then Tom leaned over and whispered "How's Bambi?
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros - spicy morning goodness - like my eggs scrambled please
4. Steak tartare - Fritzls in Lake Zurich - shared it with my uncle. I loved the spicy mustard and shallots that came with it. Come to think of it - I love ANYTHING with mustard and shallots as a side (pate!)
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue - ohhhhh one of my favorites. Started at Geja's at the age of 14 - its been downhill ever since!
8. Carp
9. Borscht - Miss Brandy's borscht - sitting in her lovely abode and slurping her bright pink soup.
10. Baba ghanoush - not loving the eggplant
11. Calamari
12. Pho - Tank Noodle on Argyle.
13. PB&J sandwich - WHO doesn't love it?
14. Aloo gobi1
5. Hot dog from a street cart - I keep breaking my 1 hot dog a year rule. I love hot dogs.
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle - yum
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes - Blueberry wine from Vermont.
19. Steamed pork buns - WOW BAO and long walks in the blue city
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes - the only tomato I like
22. Fresh wild berries - sweet strawberries
23. Foie gras - Le Francais for my grandfather's 90th. I would rather eat pate.
24. Rice and beans - like mine soupy and in New Orleans
25. Brawn, or head cheese - I think I accidently ate this in Germany. It was cold and nasty.
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper - do I dare?
27. Dulce de leche - from a spoon!
28. Oysters - Oysters Rockafeller after graduating from Clams Casino. Remember those summer motobike rides? Mmmmmm....
29. Baklava - Deb's baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas - make my nose run
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl - I''ll take the bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut - just starting to appreciate this sourness
35. Root beer float - pass on the root beer
36. Cognac with a fat cigar - I could get into this one but I will take hand rolled cigarittos please
37. Clotted cream tea - yum
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O - New Orleans Bourben Street - '08
39. Gumbo - see above
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk - does cheese count?
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu - risk your life for this one?
47. Chicken tikka masala - Hema's on Oakley.
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut - only warm they suck cold
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear - prickly pear shakes
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer - again Hema's
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal - Big Mac's are just TOO MUCH
56. Spaetzle - my family's comfort food
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine - really bad Poutine in the Montreal airport.
60. Carob chips - a little dusty but not bad
61. S’mores - i hate all marshmellows except burnt ones in this combo
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst - Blue's favorite
65. Durian - smelled this in Thailand - reeked right out of the plastic. Heard it tastes like custard
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake - yes to all please
68. Haggis - I think Brandy loved this one
69. Fried plantain - these are so good with rice and beans
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho - All kinds are wonderful. I remember watermelon gazpacho from that place.
72. Caviar and blini - salty and overrated
73. Louche absinthe - been dying to try this stuff
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill - does eating at the Roadkill cafe in Sturgis count??
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie - apple.
78. Snail - chewy and lots of garlic and butter
79. Lapsang souchong - lovely tea
80. Bellini - not loving the peach
81. Tom yum - oh yes - just tried this in the last few years. I love coconut milk.
82. Eggs Benedict - scramble the egg
83. Pocky - I remember sharing pocky - could have gone through boxes and boxes. Like the almond chocolate ones.
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef - Top Australian chef at a lovely Thai restaurant
86. Hare
87. Goulash - Kuhn's for Sunday dinner
88. Flowers - almost too lovely to eat
89. Horse - almost in Montreal. Blue was up for it - I wasn't
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam - NO NO NO
92. Soft shell crab - freaks me out. Eating the endoskeleton. But I will eat eggs - go figure
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano - rain, centro, deserted restaurant. feet out windows
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor - a version at Vermillion - not a big hit
98. Polenta - oh yes
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee - not as great as I thought
100. Snake
I have always loved road trips. Something about touching 5 states in a small amount of time - whether by car or motobike has always thrilled me. In the car, it is the challenge of filling 14 hours with conversation and finding the best pie. Motobike gave me temperature changes and the ultimate test of how long my ass could hold out.
M and I decided to roadtrip down to NOLA for K and E's wedding. I loved the idea - M made faces about 14 hours in the car. We started out late on Wednesday after a lovely breakfast at Southport Grocery. A bit frustrating for me as they did not have my beloved peppadews. I believe I asked if they indeed had them, received an affirmative and then received a salad without them. M thought my frustration was very amusing.
We went straight to Memphis and arrived in time for dinner. As is totally uncharacteristic for me, I had forgotten all my research and we had no clue as to dinner locations. We did know we wanted BBQ - hey its Memphis! M did a quick search on the GPS and lo and behold there was Neeley's. Some of you know Neeley's from the Food Network - family does BBQ. So again I was excited. M was exhausted from listening to my mouth run for 7 hours. And you didn't think I talked much... *smirk*
We ordered the combination platter - brisket, pulled pork, and ribs. It also came with the lovely fatty sides - mac and cheese, cole slaw, etc. The brisket was dry - a disappointment after missing Miss N's brisket this holiday season. The pulled pork was yummy and the ribs were also good. A bit disappointing for so much hype. M and I both agreed we needed more sauce. Maybe its the northerners in us. I was craving the peach cobbler but felt overstuffed as is. So how does a Maytag Blue Cheesecake starter sound? Heard great things about this place. Maybe next weekend.
May Street Market
Ok. I am not a huge fan of the frozen meal. But I have been known to eat a Mac and Cheese Lean Cuisine in an effort to not totally blow my diet and as a way to appease that fat, cheesy craving. I do, however, realize they really are crap and not a great way to fuel my body at work.
I love them...I can't find them. They have disappeared from my favorite salad at the Southport Grocery - Prosciutto Salami Fig Salad.
I had lunch there on Friday and waiting with anticipation. Oooohhhh that salty, spicy, sweet goodness! I like a bite that includes a pepper (only half), a small piece of cheese, and dipped in the tart fig dressing. It is the best. So I waited eagerly...the plate was set down and DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!! Just some limp roasted peppers.
WTF people! I don't ask for much. Just my damn Peppadews. Sorry we are out. Bait and switch - pout.
These wonderful peppers are from South Africa. Sweet and spicy and usually marinated in vinegar. I used to find them in the olive bar at Whole Foods. Then I saw a jarred version at Fox and Obel and then poof.
So my mother recently came to visit me. I seem to have my food habits from my mother. We both love southern comfort - cut our teeth on it actually. But we both are a little too vain to just let ourselves eat to the point that they have to cut us out of the trailer. So we have this strange love/hate thing with food. We both make decadent food and then ask ourselves out of eating it. So during her last visit I asked her to help me make some healthy meals.
A side note: My mother is a fabulous cook. See past posts for more of her mighty tasty recipes.
Cabbage Hash: Simple, healthy but tastes so good!
1 head of cabbage, shredded
1 turkey kielbasa, diced
2 red peppers, diced
1 large sweet onion, diced
2 tsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Heat a large dutch oven and add 2 tsp olive oil. Add the turkey sausage and onions. Saute until the onions are translucent. Add red pepper and saute until softened. Lower heat to medium, Add cabbage and saute until soft cabbage is soft. Add more oil if the cabbage is slow to soften. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Lots of fiber - plus salty and a little sweet from the red pepper!
My relationship with food has been a bit contankerous over the last few months so please forgive the hiatus. When one seeks food for comfort and to fill voids that really should be filled in another way...writing a food blog can be a bit complicated.
But I digress...in an effort to shift my experience of food I have focused on healthy options. There will still be plenty of yummy bad food too. ;-) But all things in balance...can you tell I am in therapy? LOL
This Christmas I received two wonderful food related gifts...
1. A delicious raw food chocolate pie from JB. I do not have his recipe but I think this is similar...don't be put off by the avocados. This is extremely decadent and amazingly healthy!
Avocado Chocolate Pie
2. And TIVO. How is Tivo food related? Almost all the programs I record are from the Food Network. I am now addicted to Nigella Express and Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger. Ellie has a fabulous new cookbook out. Highly recommended!
Later..my mom's healthy cabbage hash!
