Saturday, October 30, 2010

It's you that I Adore

Taylor "Little J" Momsen showed up in Los Angeles this week looking like she was suffering from tuberculosis. 

"Not exactly royalty uptown"

Being close to Halloween this could have been her attempt to look like everyones' favorite "lunger" Doc Holliday,


"Very cosmopolitan."
or Billy Corgan from 12 years ago.

"you will always be my whore."
I guess TB is the new look for fall.

XOXO - Jimbo

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Ribeye at home - September 4, 2010



This was dinner on 9-4-2010:  A half ribeye cooked medium, Eckridge smoked sausage, homemade macaroni and cheese (with the disappointing Hatch chiles), mixed vegetables, grilled zucchini squash, a half baked potato, and some toasted bread. 

This was an excellent and well rounded meal.  The grilled zucchini and the macaroni and cheese were particularly palate pleasing.  Although the macaroni would have been better without the chiles.  The steak might have been cooked a little over medium, but that's because I have a new grill that I'm still getting used to.



That is sour cream AND mayonnaise on the baked potato.  DON'T JUDGE ME!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Bert's Bar B-Q - Austin, TX, October 21, 2010


The Austin area is well known for its great BBQ.  In fact, it is probably unrivaled for Texas style beef brisket BBQ.  As this several years old Slate article can attest to, here and here.  Not everywhere can be the "best" or pilgrimage worthy however.  That doesn't mean it can't have really good BBQ.  For Austinites who can't go to Lockhart, Taylor, Llano, or Lexington on their lunch breaks there are several in-town options.  Rudy's is probably the best known, but there is also Ruby's (never eaten), Bill Miller (personal and family favorite), Iron Works (never eaten), Stubbs (fortunate to have a concert business to keep them afloat), and Poke-E-Jos (just OK). One of the places that can get lost in the shuffle is Bert's

Bert formerly had a location near the UT campus (that was one block from a fire station) that burned down when 911 told a caller "don't worry about it, the smoke is just the BBQ".  It wasn't.  Luckily for lovers of UT campus traditions they maintain another location on Far West.

I used to be pretty boring with my lunch choice at Bert's.  I stuck to the brisket plate or the brisket sandwich with one side.  What I should have been ordering was a true Bert's tradition, the T-Man.  After ordering it once I never looked back.

Long live the T-Man


The paper tray contains all kinds of BBQ goodness.  First, BBQ beans, then sausage and chunks of sliced brisket all drowned in sauce (I ask for extra sauce).  You get your choice of white or "wheat" bread.  Bert's brisket is very good.  It doesn't have an overwhelming smoky flavor and is fork tender.  The beans are BBQ style with chili powder but it's the right amount, and they don't taste anything like those horrible "ranch style" beans that come in the black labeled can.  The sausage is nothing special, but mixed into the T-Man it is complementary.  The thin sauce is one of my favorites.  I prefer it to Rudy's and Poke-E-Jos.  Like most BBQ restaurants pickles and onions are available at the bar.

The regular T-Man is $6.50 and the large T-Man is $8.50.  It is on special on Tuesdays for $5.99/$7.99.  The T-Man does have several customizable options.  Cheese can be added for $.50.  It can be turned into a Turbo T-Man, a small T-Man and small Frito pie mixed together.



Head to Bert's and give it a try.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Cut It Out

On Gossip Girl, "A Touch of Eva", Serena wore a dress that everyone seemed to love, but was universally hated at my house.

Blair, exasperated at the attention Serena's horrible dress is garnering
What's with the cut outs?  Why is the dress so high waisted?  Are rib cages the new ass?  It's awful.  Once again she's totally outclassed by Blair and no one seems to notice.

Obligatory food:  Vanessa made Dan pancakes because he was sad about his not-son, and his horrible haircut.


XOXO - Jimbo

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Why I Workout

So I figured my first post should be be something mind blowing and make you want more...then I decided screw it! Just post something already! Mondays are usually my longest day at the gym to help propel my progress for the week should I screw up my eating which I usually do. This week I did 40 minutes of cardio and then BodyPump . So of course after that I felt entitled to a treat and there is a conveniently located Church's Chicken on the way home from the gym. Here is my order....They didnt have spicy but it was still delicious. I understand it's not down home southern but its my preference when I need a fix. The perfect crispiness of the skin and the chicken even the white meat was juicy and flavorful. It may have set back my week a little but totally worth it. I did add some jalapenos for that kick to my metabolism.....but really just cause you HAVE to when you eat this fried chicken. Until next time..... I promise it will only get better

Whole Foods lunch - Austin, TX, October 19, 2010

I've been sick (not a stomach issue!!!) the past week which has resulted in decreased appetite and decreased posting. I went to Whole Foods Gateway, but just wasn't in the mood for my go-to (and currently unwritten about) "best sandwich ever", so I opted for pizza. Thankfully they had plain pepperoni today as opposed to their oft served pepperoni and jalapeño. It is a good deal for lunch, $2.99 for a slice and $5 for two slices.

Whole Foods pepperoni pizza


I was underwhelmed, this could have been my recent illness, but it seemed to me that they've changed the sauce from my previous Whole Foods pizza purchase. The pepperonis were very large and tasty, and the crust (for a thin pizza) was very good also. Unfortunately my heart wasn't into it, and I only ate one slice. Even with the sauce change, it's still a good deal for lunch, and the pizza is better than Papa Johns, Double Dave's, and the last time I had Gattis.

The soap at the WF made my hands smell like Fruity Pebbles.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Chipotle


Dear Chipotle,

We need to talk. When it comes to a relationship, there has to be some sort of compromises made. I know that you offer me burritos, bowls, tacos (with crispy or soft corn or flour tortillas), and even salads, but there is still something that bothers me. I like guacamole. I really do. Yours is delicious and seems to be made fresh on the premises daily. The thing is.....must you charge me $1.75 to add it to my meal? I know, I know - the quality is amazing. It's just -hmmm,how do I say this - you're smothering me, er, my burrito bowl. I don't need a pint of guac on top of my food.






Like the old saying goes, "Where's the Beef?" No, seriously, I can't find it.







Could you please offer me like a $.50 portion? My girlfriends (the cast of Sex and the City) said sometimes its not the size that matters, its how you use it. In this case I recommend using it a little more sparingly. As a really really smart and I'm sure extremely reliable (and not at all manipulative) website taught me, "A ɡrеаt test οf a man’s trυе feelings іѕ tο mаkе yourself scarce....It’s thаt longing tο see уου thаt wіƖƖ push hіm tο want tο bе together wіth уου permanently." Lets give that a shot.


xoxo,
tre

Saturday, October 16, 2010

TV Food Pairings: 30 Rock

In honor of 30 Rock’s very meta, LIVE!!! episode this week I was encouraged to finally post about my love of television and food.
It all stems from me telling someone I had to have Italian food on a Wednesday night so I could have an excuse to drink red wine with the crew on Cougartown.

I realized when LOST was on that it was not only the show I looked forward to the most, but it became an event where I’d cook and my fellow LOSTies would come over. We’d eat and drink and hold each other’s hands in case there was a sad Sun/Jin moment. So to me, television watching has become almost as much about the food as about the show itself.
It’s not necessarily about what the tv show puts you in the mood to eat (e.g. pineapple during Hawaii 5-0), but it could also be about food products the show created or featured (e.g. Apollo Bars during Lost) . So back to 30 Rock. Liz Lemon loves food so much that this hangs in her office:
So what better show than this to post my first TV/Food pairing for?
30 Rock fits into the category where you’d have a 30 Rock themed meal. When Dealbreakers began she sang for someone to bring her some ham (Plus, the spokesperson for Jon Hamm’s John Ham has been a frequent and well received guest star). I also faintly remember her walking around with a deli-meat tray at some point in the first season. Ham sandwiches could be a great 30 Rock meal if you were in a hurry. The side of Sabor de Soledad is optional. However, my suggestion for the perfect 30 Rock meal would have to be Cheesy Blasters.
Here's the recipe:
Your final product should look something like this:
Enjoy! Oh, and thanks Meat Cat. Be careful on that skateboard.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Fully Vested

These have been lazy days at comidablog.  I haven't been writing, but I have been eating and watching TV.

In the last two years there seems to be an explosion of TV characters dressing like Han Solo.  This is particularly pronounced on Gossip Girl, as Dan has never seen a vest he doesn't like.  Mr. Schuester from Glee is also partial to vests.  Here they are doing their best Han Solos.
Dan Solo with Serena (who is wearing maternity clothes), and Han Schuester
However no one has pulled off Han Solo better than Chuck Bass, and we know Chuck would shoot first.
Chuck Solo and the actual Han Solo
It's not the first time Gossip Girl has dressed their characters like other famous characters.
Vanessa and Fred Flintstone
Obligatory Food:  One time Serena dressed like a vintage Burger King.

We will get back to the food soon.
XOXO - Jimbo