Fresser
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Posts posted by Fresser
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Of course given what they do to hotdogs and pizza, I'm not sure Chicago should be the arbiter of which ingredients belong in any specific cuisine...
Them there's fightin' words, EqualMark!!
A hot dog is mighty tasty with pickles, tomatoes, onions, relish, sport peppers & celery salt. Nestled into a poppy seed bun, I might add, is the best way to serve said doggie.
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IIRC, Fresser be from that great Chicagoland area.
Thanks for briefing the crew, Herbacidal!
Indeed, I am from Chicagoland, having been born, bred and educated here. I was an English major at the University of Chicago, where I still serve as an alumni recruiter and avid buyer of college sweatshirts and things.
From what I can tell, Sandy, Chicago is sorely lacking in barbecue, though I'm eager to try some genuine 'cue.
Wait--that reminds me of one of Fresser's Funny Stories!!!
When I was at the U of C (located on Chicago's South Side), some intrepid students would cross the invisible borders of Hyde Park into the decidedly rougher parts further south in search of barbecue and whatnot. One night around 1 A.M, a group piled into a beat-up tan Dodge Dart with a blue trunklid and schlepped to Leon's B.B.Q. at 79th and Stony Island Avenue for some fine repast.
When they exited, a neighborhood resident scowled at the group's driver and muttered, "Silly white boy--you in the wrong 'hood!" (When I heard this story recounted later, I thought, "It's the trunk of his car that's the wrong color, not the hood..."
) Resident then smashed a beer bottle on the car's windshield as the group all beat a hasty retreat.I never did find out how the barbecue was...
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Here's a picture of a couple of rippers (courtest of Holly Moore):
In Chicago, the hot dog buns typically come with poppy seeds. Are seeded buns uncommon in NJ?
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What I don't understand is the BF practice of serving burritos stuffed with among other things, rice. A rice stuffed burrito? Could they pehapse serve it also with a side of mashed potatoes or stuff it with pasta? Maybe they could make it a sandwich, Rice stuffed burrito with mashed potatoes on a hoagie roll?
I can just hear Tony Shalhoub in "Big Night" shouting out, "He ordered two starches!"
But enough movie quotes. Curlz was kind enough to invite me to the Jersey board, so I'll chime in here:
Many quality Mexican joints here in Chicago serve seasoned rice in their burritos. One of my favorites, the now-departed Burrito Buggy, served a Salad Bar Burrito with spinach, carrots, mushrooms, rice, whole beans and the typical tomato 'n onion mixture.
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To everyone:
Thanks for the votes of confidence and the effusive good wishes. It really means the world to me. I'm so excited to have so many potential visitors lined up from so many different places! How cool is that? I didn't realize I came with a following...
Herb:
No swelled head, I promise. I still have a lot of work to do, believe me.
Fresser:
You have an open invitation. We'll even call a special session of Pizza Club if you make it. I'm certain the Philly crew would be delighted to entertain you.
Katie,
You mean a Heartlander could be an honorary member of Pizza Club Philly? Woo-hoo!
Also, I can't wait to see you in your adopted habitat of the restaurant world. Your bio listed a bit of your previous career--as a hat model, I believe--so I'm curious if you parachuted out of the corporate world, as did our own Zaftig Zagat, Fat Guy.
I could stow away with my friend Big Mushy in Maplewood, NJ and make the jaunt down to Philly on my next sojourn east. Big Mushy is an ex-Wall Streeter who seriously considered purchasing a drive-in movie theater and donning a paper hat to work the concession stand. "Fixed-income derivatives now showing on Screen 3! Will that be a LARGE popcorn tonight?" he would say, practicing his script.
If the eGullet Welcome Wagon could lure Big Mushy into the New Jersey forum--he's already registered--he could provide much amusement. PM me, one and all, and I'll provide Big Mushy's e-mail address.
One final point in the Mushmeister's favor: he introduced me to the original http://www.shaw-review.com site, the predecessor of all things eGullet.
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how you feel about shellfish, fresser?
I like all kinds o' fish, especially if they're served with hush puppies.
I can't wait to meet the Philly crew!
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Hey come on now, let's stop the lovefest!
As someone who has semi-regular drinks with Miss Aprhodite herself,
the last thing I need her to have is a swelled head.
I'm hearing rumours about this wanton Lady of Libations...
Since I can't drink alcohol, matching Katie drink-for-drink is out of the question. But I'd be happy to share a few roasted heads of garlic with Katie & the Philly crew.
You too, Herb!!!
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On my last sojourn to NYC, my host Big Mushy, his wife & I were served by an appropriately sassy waitress at the 2nd Avenue Deli. I did not make it to Katz's, where the menu warns those who order the pastrami-on-rye to "(O)rder it with mayo at your own peril."
Frankly, I found most everyone in NYC to be gracious and accomodating, from the lady on the subway who pointed us toward Coney Island to the comedian-cum-waiter at Peter Luger's. Maybe it was my Friendly Fresser demeanor or my "Friend of Fat Guy" lapel pin, but I left NYC with a warm-'n-fuzzy feeling. I can't wait to go back.
Maybe I'll get to meet Momo this time...
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Congratulations from the Heartland, Katie!
Might I ask: what prompted the move?
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I've actually had some of the worst bagels from Jewish establishments recently. There's a Kosher bagel joint in Teaneck that I went to a few months ago upon recommendation from someone that is run by orthodox Jews, the bagels there were doughy and obese. Not unlike myself, but not the qualities that I seek in a bagel.
My local Bagel place is owned by Koreans and staffed by Guatemalans and Mexicans, and I like their bagels just fine.
The bagel was actually created in Poland, so I would have guessed that Eastern European stock would make for a good bagel.
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Watching the Mummers Parade on TV Saturday (yes, I did wander over to Broad Street briefly in the middle of the string bands), I saw several ads for a recently-opened burger joint on Chestnut Street, Hamburger Mary's.
This is the Philadelphia version of a legendary San Francisco eatery/bar that has spread to about 15 cities, mostly on the coasts. Menu is, of course, burgers, along with related grill fare and some salads in a nod to the California sensibility...
What I haven't done yet is eat there myself. I'm more than game, though. Anyone else? The restaurant's straight-friendly.
"Straight-friendly" probably wouldn't make an impression on me. I'm totally lacking in GAYDAR.
One time in college I was schlepping down Kimbark Avenue when I ran into a guy from an English class. After chatting a bit, I asked if he wanted to grab some dinner. (It was dinnertime, mind you.) His eyes LIT up and he exclaimed, "I'd LOVE to go out with you! But I have this rash on my back..."
I cocked my head to the side and gave him my most incredulous Scooby-Doo look, thinking, "Why would you take your shirt off at a dinner table?"
Then the light bulb went off and he realized--"Oops!!" I staggered off to dinner solo that night.
Anyway, I'd be willing to try a burger here the next time I'm in Philly--especially if KatieLoeb shows up.
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"Diner" was a favorite of mine--especially the scene where one character eats every dish served on the left side of the menu.
I won't even mention Popcorn Suprise...
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I actually just recently quit my job because I found out that the owners of the restaurant that I was the chef at was pilfering money that the servers were giving to the bussers and dishwashers. When confronted, they said that the money was used to have holiday parties for the entire staff. ...
So the owners stole the employees' money to finance a party for those same employees!
How generous.
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I worked for a very upscale restaurant with a very wealthy clientele. Three things routinely pilfered were:
Salt & pepper shakers
Toilet paper (
)...
Elaine Benes must have visited your restaurant.
Beware the woman with big, poofy hair and a face like a frying pan...
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For those of you who don't know, the historical stereotype is that the "West Side Jew" was the poorer immigrant from Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia, Etc.), and the "East Side Jew" was the more affluent immigrant, mostly from Germany. (O.k., I don't mean to start a discussion on that, so if you disagree, let's not fight, it's not important.)
These folks were known as Yekkes to the rest of us unscrubbed immigrants.
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(Author's note: This topic idea came to me after reading about Martha Stewart's culinary complaint over in Food Media and News.)
I have now spent nearly two decades toiling in the groves of academe, most of them at one of America's most prestigious universities. More recently, I've added a short stint at a wannabe top-tier technological school to the list. And before all this, I spent the requisite four years pursuing a college degree, in my case at America's most prestigious university, bar none.
That school would HAVE to be Harvey Mudd College.
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Mama Fresser is a wizard at turning leftover veggies into tasty treats. Years ago, Mum would mix leftover spinach with eggs, matzo meal and spices and then fry the mixture up into Spinach Pancakes!
One time when I was about fourteen, the whole family was happily noshing on these Popeye Specials and cracking jokes about the sailor himself. All of a sudden, my seven year-old niece (who had been chomping on the pancakes herself without knowing the secret ingredient), got the joke and exclaimed, "It's spinach!!
" But then she realized how tasty they were, and continued eating anyway. -
I once read that in England, more than 750,000 workers have to work on Christmas Day including a good number of students....
On Christmas Day and New Years Day, one sometimes can get double pay which is a very attractive offer for students or anyone who desires the extra cash.
So, how do you handle these special holidays if you are in the hospitality business?
Inner anger?
Accustomed to it and therefore not feeling any pain at the prospects?
Pleased to make extra pay?
Workload easier than usual because of the holiday? Patrons more pleasant? Larger tips?
Let it all hang out if this is your personal situation: pros and cons alike!
Mama Fresser & I ate at the International House of Pancakes (known locally as the IHOP) on Christmas Day, and I was amazed at the number of patrons I saw leaving skimpy tips. One couple to our right tossed a crisp $1 bill on the table as they sauntered out--this on what I guesstimate to be a $12 to $15 tab. Another set of big-spenders did the same a few feet away. It all looked like the opening scene from "Reservoir Dogs": "Everybody throw in a buck..."
Frankly, I'm grateful for people who work on holidays to provide some hospitality for others, and I think they should find such hospitality returned in their tips.
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Connoisseurs of Harold's Chicken Shack would often create a Fry Sandwich. Take the white bread that sits atop the chicken, pile on the greasy french fries, top with hot sauce and fold up the bread.
Of course, who can forget the Captain Crunch sandwich that Ally Sheedy made in "The Breakfast Club"?
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I like eating chocolate pudding off a woman's chest.
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You must try A & D Ointment. This is the best stuff for healing dry, cracked skin as well as minor wounds.
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Warm 'n Toasty Makes it Tasty!
Are you a Grits girl?
in Southeast: Dining
Posted
I just came across this riotously titled book: Grits Guide to Life. Grits here is actually an acronym for Girls Raised In The South.
Being a Yankee (and single, did I mention?) , I'm enthralled by Southern Belles. So I had to peer inside.
Along with recipes for Dolly Parton's Favorite Meatloaf (start with two mounds of ground beef?
) and House Tea ("The house wine of the South," says the book), the book includes such pearls of wisdom as, "If you can be ready to go in less than thirty minutes, you probably shouldn't be leaving the house at all!"
So I ask the fine ladies of eGullet: are any of y'all Grits Girls? And does a woman have to be from the South to be a grits girl?