Hot Potato
Even though this winter is milder than any I can remember since moving to New York, it’s still the time for winter cooking. For me, that often means boiling or simmering pots on the stove, and other dishes that cook low and slow over longer periods of time.
The goals here are simple. Stay warm, eat well, and be happy. Winter has a way of throwing even the most grounded person off their game. Comfort food is what the season demands. And lately, I’ve been finding comfort in a rather unusual place.
ISO Mind Blowing Beer Pairings
It’s Monday and I’m already talking about beer. This can’t be a good sign.
Actually, things are going great. This past weekend was a ton of fun. I made it to Chicken Joe’s for the very first time, and am delighted to find a place close to home that reminds me of Hoagie Haven in Princeton. How the sandwiches will stack up remains an open question.
I also went out for karaoke on Saturday night with a few people from the local Yelp crew, and sang my heart out. I busted out some old-man classics like Hot Patootie, Blitzkrieg Bop, Just Like Heaven, and more. It was a blast.
Somehow, despite all the singing going on, I managed to have a lucid conversation about pairing wine with food versus pairing beer with food. And it raised a really interesting question that I wanted to put out into the ether.
Sh’losha Sloshed
Beer. I drink it. I enjoy it. And I’ve been learning more and more about it. I’m making beer friends. So far, I’m not making any beer enemies. But there are clear factions in the local beer community. Some people may see them as personality clashes, but from my outside perspective it seems to be more based on ideologies.
I can totally understand how ideological differences have the ability to pit natural allies against each other. I’ve lived through a few of those in the realm of food. And we certainly see this in the world of politics.
But back to beer. The best way to learn about the stuff is to drink it. And I still have a lot of drinking to do. Sadly, I’m a bit of a lightweight these days, and that’s just going to slow me down. However, when I’m invited to attend events that will expand my knowledge, I’ll take full advantage of them.
This week, Shmaltz Brewing hosted a preview of two new beers, and I just couldn’t resist. Actually, they were featuring three beers that will soon be sold together in a variety pack. After tasting all three of them, I’ve got some thoughts.
May 2009: It Starts With Wine
Before this project begins, the kind and benevolent people at Moe’s Southwest Grill have asked me to tell you something. Since in theory, it can win you a couple hundred bucks worth of food, I thought I’d pass it along.
A new Moe’s is opening today in Glenmont. If you are one of the first 50 guests in line before the doors open at 11 a.m. you’ll win free burritos for a year. The address is 380 Feura Bush. God knows what time you have to show up to win the prize. It’s good for one burrito per week from the Glenmont location. So now you know. I love burritos. But the thought of eating 52 of them in a year is daunting.
But enough about me. On to cataloging the first month of the first year of the FLB. For a refresher of what this project is all about, you can read more about it.
Now, let’s dive in.
Joining Jasper In Supporting SPAC
My old friend La had a thing for men in uniform. Some people are into rock stars. Other folks are attracted to Hollywood icons. I guess in today’s day and age, there are those who gravitate towards the subjects of viral videos. My mom has a thing for rabbis.
I’ve got a soft spot for chefs.
To be fair, I also crush on bakers, farmers, and mongers of many stripes. And let’s not forget about distillers, brewers, winemakers, and those who are experts in the beverage field. I’m also into a handful of writers, editors, and cultural provocateurs. What can I say, I’m a lover not a fighter.
Stalking is such a nasty word. So instead, let’s just say I’ve been fascinated by one of our local chefs for the past few years. While our paths have never directly crossed, I’ve been getting closer and closer to him. Soon, he’s hosting a big food event in support of a great local arts organization. And thanks to my job with Yelp, I’ve got the chance to help promote it and give away a pair of tickets.
Things I Hate at Places I Love
At one point I must have shared the story of my worst meal ever. There was once the business lunch where I found a roach at bottom of my stuffed grape leaf. But it was a client lunch, so I found the willpower to keep it together, close up my styrofoam container, and get on with the meeting. That was unpleasant.
However, my worst meal of all time came from the old Ocean Palace here in Albany during the restaurant’s final days. Apparently at one point it had a pretty good reputation. But when Mrs. Fussy and I went there for our first meal in the Capital Region, every single thing was terrible.
Every. Single. Thing.
The fish tanks were dirty and depressing. The table was sticky. The clay pot tasted like soy sauce concentrate. The daily special of fried cuttlefish was greasy, rubbery, and practically inedible.
I cannot even begin to tell you how blessed I feel that over the years I’ve discovered plenty of places in the Capital Region that I truly, truly love. But I think I may have succumbed to some of the forces that I decried in the early days. And that’s cheerleading. It’s possible to love a place and still recognize some of its imperfections. In fact, I think it’s an important thing to do.
So, I’ll start the ball rolling based on a couple of recent experiences.
My Bad Idea For 2016
Show of hands. Who remembers The Meat Sheet?
Back in January of 2011 I had the bad idea to start cataloging my unhappy meat consumption. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but the daily updating of it became burdensome. Soon I started to dread the project. And after three months I finally gave it up.
This is the time of resolutions. And while there have been resolutions I’ve kept over the years, all the ones that stuck were stupid idea. Most notable was the one where I decided to limit myself to just one hamburger per month, which I wrote about all the way back in 2009.
Since the FLB started back in May 2009, I’ve written a lot of posts. Today’s is post 1943, if I trust the WordPress dashboard to keep an accurate count. And while for years, I was able to maintain a catalog in my head of everything that I had written, those days are now gone. It’s hard to tell how much is my advancing age, and how much is the expanding archive of posts.
Anyway, there’s been a side project that I’ve wanted to take on for a while. I figure it’s only fair to give you warning about what I plan to unleash upon you in the upcoming year.
Hot Dog It’s 2016
Multitasking. It totally sucks. It’s a great way of doing two things poorly. However, I’m constantly amazed by people who seem to be able to do it well. Maybe it’s generational, because I’ve had lucid conversations with people as they were texting. For me, I have a hard time texting without moving my mouth while I do it.
I keep saying that I’ll try to do less of it moving forward. But I’m off to a terrible start in 2016.
Do I really post every year on New Year’s Day? Going back to the archive, it looks like I do. Funny how I can’t remember writing those posts. And perhaps this year will be another one to add to the pile of forgotten memories.
Our New Year’s Eve celebration was a low-key family affair. It started with dinner at Taiwan Noodle, a rousing game of Catan, a viewing of The Lego Movie, and sparkling wine at midnight (cream soda for the kids) in front of the TV watching the ball drop in Times Square.
All of that partying made me hungry. So it’s off to the fridge for a late night snack.
Closing Out 2015
Tonight we say goodbye to 2015 and hello to a brand new year. There are so many new year festivities that it’s hard for me to get excited about this one as a time of rebirth and renewal. It’s been a few months since the Jewish new year, and the Chinese new year is just around the corner. But I’ve always been partial to the Vernal Equinox as the better time for a new year celebration.
Seriously, I don’t know who can motivate to start a new exercise regimen when it’s so cold out there. I’d highly recommend skipping the whole thing and hanging out with me to eat irresponsible quantities of food in January.
Anyway, the calendar year is coming to a close, and there was one thing I really wanted to do before that happened.
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