South End Excursion

For someone who eats out as much as I do, it’s surprising how little I know about Boston’s South End. The South End is home to many of the best restaurants in the city and also my good friend Julia. She is well aware that now-a-days I can barely afford to feed myself, so in her infinite compassion, offered to make me dinner last night.

Not only was I offered dinner, I was also offered an impressive menu: chicken burgers, chicken mushroom sausages, Mahi Mahi, or sweet and sour chicken. I chose chicken mushroom sausages, as I am currently on a huge mushroom kick. They are one of the few foods that I never ate in my youth, so now that I know I enjoy them, they’re all I want to eat. See also: Fish, broccoli, & most varieties of beans.

The meal was nothing short of amazing. It featured chicken mushroom sausage, peas, and gnocchi in a ricotta tomato sauce (which I’ve been told is very Sicilian.) I don’t care where it’s from, because it was delicious.

I think next time I think I’ll try the Mahi Mahi.

Sunday, Lazy Sunday

It rained ALL weekend long! I spent most of my Saturday and Sunday running around in damp socks looking for an umbrella so I could run my errands. By the time Sunday came around I was exhausted, wet, and sick of being stuck inside. Not only was the weather bring me down, but I also realized that I have pretty much no money until I get paid a week from now. So in Lou of my usual take out dinner or restaurant excursion, I decided to have a college style dinner with my roommate. We did however; "Gussy" it up a little.

We went with cheddarwurst with sour kraut and 2 different kinds of mustard! We are fancy gentleman and we deserve no less than 2 types of mustard. Not only did we have 2 types of mustard, but we also decided that water was not an acceptable liquid in which to boil our cheddarwursts. We thought Miller Lite would be a more suitable alternative for men of our caliber.

I’ll Gladly Pay You Tuesday for a Hamburger in 12 Years

Wellness Educator Karen Hanrahan decided to keep a McDonalds hamburger for 12 years in the name of science. She purchased the burger in 1996 and set is aside so she could later expose the “meat's” inability to decompose. As you can tell from the image below, there is very little difference between the antique patty on the right and the brand new patty. It’s just a little darker and apparently exhibits an odor that can’t be found in nature.

Rumor has it that, burger antiquing makes a fine hobby for some people. Certain websites even give step by step instructions for how you can start your own collection of immortal hamburgers. I have no idea what would possess someone to take up such a past time, but who am I to pass judgment? Oh wait! That’s pretty much all I do.

These people are fools.

On a completely unrelated note, check out my friend Jen’s blog: Creative Confectionery. She’s an excellent baker and she even made me robot cupcakes on my birthday. Furthermore, in a bizarre coincidence, the cupcake is still sitting on my desk and has been for about 8 months. It has completely solidified and still smells as good as the day it was baked.

Starbucks Breakfast Blunder

Anyone who knows me knows that I love Starbucks. I don’t care what anyone says, they’re the best for a reason. Their coffee and service are vastly superior to the competition, but I will also be the first to admit that their breakfast menu is just… okay. They have a plethora of fancy muffins, scones, and a few varieties of breakfast sandwiches and wraps. Everything is just alright in my opinion. I can’t eat a muffin for breakfast. I just can’t have that much sugar that early in the morning; it makes me feel awful all day. I need protein for breakfast. Bacon, sausage, and eggs are the foundation of a good day.

Starbucks has now rolled out a new healthy menu that includes oatmeal, granola bars, and platters containing cheese, fruit, and hardboiled eggs. The only thing that is more disgusting than a hardboiled egg is a hardboiled egg that comes prepackaged. While I applaud Starbucks’ attempt to offer more healthy options, hardboiled eggs are an instrument of evil. The texture is ungodly, they smell like sewage, and nobody can eat one without getting it all over their hands and face. Thanks Starbucks, but no thanks. Just make my coffee and stick with that.

A Taste of Fall

Since yesterday I went on a diatribe about pumpkin shaped peeps, I thought today I’d speak positively of a pumpkin inspired food item. This item happens to be one of my favorite parts of the fall. I’m talking about pumpkin ice cream. At first it doesn’t sound terribly appealing. I'll admit that when I first heard about it, I figured it would taste more like a bitter vegetable paste than a delicious dessert. I was wrong. I made sure to mark that day on my calendar, as I am so rarely wrong that I felt it was of historical significance.

I first discovered pumpkin ice cream at the ice cream shop where I worked as a scooper in my teens. I won’t mention the name of the establishment, because I despise the family that owns it and I don’t want to drive any business their way. Irrational personal grudges aside, their ice cream is pretty good. Pumpkin ice cream tastes almost exactly like pumpkin pie in my opinion. Depending on who makes this ice cream, it may have a stronger cinnamon or nutmeg presence than others.

Pumpkin ice cream is best from a homemade ice cream parlor, but if you must get your fill from your local grocer, then I recommend Edy’s Ice Cream. Edy’s has a great reputation for making deliciously creamy ice cream that is actually healthier than most commercial brand names.

For the ultimate fall experience, try dropping a scoop on top of some warm apple crisp.

I’m serious, do it right now… I’ll wait.

This One's for my Peeps!

There are very few foods on this planet that I don’t like. However, what I’m about to mention doesn’t quite qualify as food; at least not as I understand the definition. I’m speaking of the special edition Halloween Pumpkin Peeps.

Peeps, for those of you that are unaware, are essentially puffs of rubbery sugar that vaguely resemble holiday themed objects and characters. You’re most likely more familiar with their Easter version which are in the shape or either a baby chick or a bunny. Regardless of their color, shape, or religious affiliation; peeps are the worst.

Many people seem to think they enjoy these abominations of nature, but they're wrong. Even if you think you like Peeps, you don't. This edition is even worse than most, because they are sugar-free. All they are is sugar! What’s the point? The Peeps ingredient list contains two things: Sugar and partially hydrogenated nightmares.

Not only do Peeps have the texture and taste of a sweetened Tempurpedic mattress, but they also come with a handy warning.

I don’t know about you, but I like my seasonal candy treats to come with a surgeon general’s warning. Peeps stink. I'd rather take a bite out of a decorative autumn squash.

What are your thoughts on Peeps?

Break on Through...

To the Other Side.

Today, I want to talk about one of Boston’s hidden gems for 2 reasons: The first reason being that this establishment is rapidly becoming one of my favorite hang outs, and the second being that I couldn’t think of anything else to write about.

I’m speaking of course of the Other Side Café on Newbury Street in Boston. Described by many as a café with a drinking problem, the Other Side hosts a fantastic beer selection and won the Best of Boston 2008 award for best vegetarian menu. The food and drink selection are great, but the best part about the Other Side is the atmosphere. It certainly isn’t your typical Boston eatery, especially considering that it is located on Newbury Street.

I would describe the Other Side as “Artsy”. Almost everyone who works there is covered in tattoos (so I fit right in) and the walls are adorned with paintings, illustrations, and photos by local students and artists. The bathroom walls are giant murals that seem to change with the seasons, and the music appears to be from the iPod of whoever is working on that particular day.

I have eaten dinner there countless times, but learned this past weekend that they also have an incredible brunch menu. The name escapes me, but they had one brunch special that consisted of a giant waffle, bacon, coffee syrup, and a beer. They market this wonder as containing all 4 major food groups and I am hard-pressed to disagree.

Soda vs. Pop vs. Coke

Depending on the region of the United States in which you were raised, you most likely have a different name for soft drinks. Being born in MA, I've been reffering to these drinks as "Soda"( as represented by the yellow) my whole life. Unlike my roomate, who hails from Iowa, and calls all soft drinks "Pop" (Blue).

It's the little things that make this country great, isn't it? A friend of mine recently moved to Arkansas and has informed me that everyone in that great state calls these drinks "Coke" (Red), even those brewed by the Pepsi corperation. His story checks out, as the map below indicates.

It would seem those that use the word "Pop", dominates the soft drink naming world. At least they will until they all figure out that they're wrong and start calling it "soda" like they should.

"Pop" that in your pipe and smoke it.

The Future is Now! Sort Of...

I’m somewhat surprised that no one thought of this sooner, but I bring you the future of low calorie snacking: Slim Chips. How low in calories are they? How about none? That's right, none calories.

These “chips” are more of an art project than a snack item. The concept is pretty interesting, none the less. These snacks are made of edible paper and seasoned with natural flavoring. They come in 3 flavors: blueberry, peppermint, and sweet potato.

While you shouldn’t expect to see these Slim Chips in your local grocery store anytime soon, this could be the future of healthy snacking. People don’t eat chips for nourishment. They eat them because they taste good and have a crunchy texture. If this idea could be synthesized into a more practical product, it could make for the next generation of munchies. Or maybe they won't. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not a scientist.

Also, I don’t know how you’d dip them…

Uburger: Above All Burgers

If you want a hamburger fast, your options are pretty much endless. McDonalds, Burger King, Wendys; these establishments are everywhere! Most of us in the United States have grown up on this food, unfortunately.

I for one need something different! I'm sick of chain restaurants. In my hometown we had NOTHING but franchise restaurants. That's one of my favorite parts of living in the city; the food. In the areas populated by college students, I see a lot of chain restaurants, but for the most part, there is a wide variety of unique places to choose from. Uburger is one of those places.

Uburger (Short for University Burger), is a burger joint located in Kenmore Square, Boston, Ma. Built to sustain the Boston University college population, Uburger is very popular and in my opinion, rightfully so. Uburger has a wide variety of burger topping options, a fun atmosphere, and a surprisingly diverse menu.


Here's my meal. A Cowboy Burger, fries, and soda. The Cowboy Burger consists of an all beef patty, melted cheese, grilled mushrooms, bacon, and BBQ sauce. It was everything I hoped it would be. They also have burgers named after Red Sox players like the U Papi, Ubeckett, and a third choice that escapes me at the moment.

If you're going to commit to eating a burger and fries for dinner, you have to make peace with the fact that you're not going to feel great in about 20 minutes. I finished my evening with some red wine, which I think may have aided in my burgers digestion. I've dined at Uburger a few times before and this was definately my least painful experience.

I'll spare you the details.

Strange Fruit

The Japanese have done it again. Just when you think things couldn’t get any weirder, now we have green tangerines! These uniquely beautiful, yet strangely unsettling citrus fruits are known by the Japanese as ‘Aomikon’. They apparently have a wonderfully sweet taste that has been likened to that of a strawberry.


“Mikon’ is the Japanese word for ‘ripe tangerine’. ‘Ao’ translates to… you guessed it: Blue. Wait… what? Apparently, the Japanese don’t make it a habit of distinguishing clearly between green and blue. Never-the-less, this strange fruit is only green for a short while, so you have to catch them at just the right time. They are coming into season right now.

Along with their cool color combination and great taste, Aomikon are also chalked full of antioxidants and help lower high blood pressure. I am now on a crusade to find this illusive fruit, even though I’m not sure whether or not they are available in the United States. If they are, rest assured, I will find them and eat them. Then I’ll blog about it.

Hot Dog! We Have a Wiener

This weekend I went to my parent’s house, so that I could attend my step sisters’ Christening. I took this opportunity to try out the new grill that my parents had just bought. After a long day of playing Frisbee, my friends and I decided it was time to fire it up and throw down on some hot dogs.

We went to the super market and bought a handful of Pearl beef franks and one giant deli pickle. I’m a big fan of pickles and relish, but I prefer both to be more sour than sweet. I despise bread and butter pickles, for some reason. I also have a hard time finding a relish that isn’t too sweet for my liking, so I decided to chop up a sour deli pickle and make my own. I’m a man of action!

That's some mighty fine chopping.

Dogs and relish, ready for the grill.

Is that not the greatest hot dog you've ever seen in your life? These beef franks are also much more filling than a regular (spare parts) hot dog. While I can usually put down two hot dogs in one sitting with little issue, I found this one tough to finish. Also, the relish was a hit. Even though I guess I can't techinally call it relish, because it was lacking all the other ingredients that constitute a relish. It was really just a chopped pickle. None-the-less, it was better than any hot dog you've ever had, and I say that with no hesitation.

America's Finest Sports Bar

I thought I'd take this Friday afternoon to bring some attention to one of my new favorite bars in Boston: McGreevy's. Replacing the God awful Foggy Goggle earlier this summer, McGreevy's has quickly become a staple of mine on Boylston St.

The food is great for starters. While the Pour House is still my favorite neighborhood bar, and I happen to love their food, I'll also be the first to admit it's not that great. For some reason though, I still love it.

McGreevy’s has a small, yet diverse menu, offering a variety of bar and Irish pub food. Since it's opening, I have ordered the cheeseburger, turkey burger, and on more than one occasion, their steak tips. All of which, I highly recommend. The steak tips in particular were surprisingly good for a bar.

McGreevy's is probably now the best place in the Back Bay area to watch a sporting event in my opinion. I have watched countless Red Sox games there and almost every Celtics playoff game. It's a fun atmosphere and all around a great time. The bar is also owned by the Dropkick Murphy’s, so the music selection is different, and in my opinion, better than most of the stuff you here in a Boston bar. It's a great mix of classic rock and Irish punk rock.

Just go there.

The Omnivore's Hundred

I've seen this list on several different food blogs over the past couple of weeks and I thought it was pretty cool. Since I've been struggling to find something to write about today, this seemed like as good a time as any to add it to my blog. I've only eaten 28/100 things from this list, so I guess I have a lot of work to do before I die. The only thing I refuse to eat from this list is Fugu.

I don't think any fish can possibly be tasty enough to risk becoming paralyzed and then slowly suffocating, but that's just me. I bet it doesn't even taste that good. That's like chocking to death on a food you don't even like. I'm sure even once the panic sets in you're still thinking "This tastes awful" in the back of your head. At any rate here's the list. See how you scored.

Here’s what 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.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth $120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Wine, a Plan, & a Hammer

It’s happened to the best of us; you’re all set to sit down and enjoy a nice bottle of wine with dinner or alone in a hammock, when you notice that there isn’t a corkscrew in sight. What do you do? Give up? Of course not! I was reading Wired Magazine, for some reason, and I picked up this helpful little trick. Next time you need to open a bottle of wine and you can’t find an opener, don’t head for the kitchen, head for your tool box. While frantically chipping away at the stopper with a steak knife may seem like a great idea at the time, no one likes chunks of floating cork in their Chardonnay. Look for these 3 tools next time you find yourself in need of an opener.

· A long screw
· A screwdriver
· A claw hammer

Step 1) Gently screw the screw into the top of the cork or stopper. The trick is to go deep enough so that you can safely pull out the cork by grabbing the screw. Try not to go too deep or you’ll come out the other side and end up with cork in your wine.

Step 2) Smash the bottle with the hammer and you’re done! I’m kidding, don’t do that. Why would you do that? Next, position the claw end of the hammer over the screw, so you can pull out the screw like you would a poorly laid nail.

Step 3) Lastly, pull the stopper out slowly, so as not to rip the cork or hit yourself in the teeth with the hammer. Ta-dah! You’re wine is now cork free and ready to drink!

(Enjoy responsibly)

Muppet Show Cake

I found this photo album on Digg.com yesterday afternoon and I had to pass it along. How do you not click on a link entitled Muppet Show Cake? I was shocked at how well done it was. I'm assuming the muppets themselves are made of marzipan, but I could be wrong.

Look at the detail! Especially in Fozzy's fur and Sam Eagle's feathers, it's amazing. I'm also glad they decided to include Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Can you tell I was a huge muppet fan growing up?

If I ever get married (and that's a big if), I want a cake like this, not some dolled up 4 story bore with a plastic bride and groom on the top. If a wedding planner ever showed me something like that I'd karate kick it right off the table. Mark my words, my wedding cake will be either Ghostbusters or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle themed.

That's right, ladies. Get in line.

Burgers, Buddies, & Football Injuries

Good morning. This weekend I took a trek to Winthrop to visit an old friend of mine and watch the Patriots game. I was not only surprised at how nice her new place was, but I was even more surprised to find that there was a town called Winthrop that I never knew existed. I forgot what it was like to cook in a kitchen that had counter space. We went to the local grocery store to pick up some BBQ supplies when I noticed a pineapple and had an epiphany... Hawaiian burgers!

I first discovered these beauties at the bar down the street and have been hooked ever since. They're great because they're a welcome change of pace after a summer full of regular burgers and hot dogs. Also, they're wicked easy. All you need are burgers, a pineapple, and some Teriyaki sauce.

You can core the pineapple with a pineapple corer if you have one, which I didn't, so I just used a knife. Next, I sliced the pineapple into semi-thin slices for the burgers. I also took the top of the pineapple and wore it as a hat to the amusement of no one, but myself.

While I was grilling the burgers and eating Doritos, Tina from Carrots N Cake, cut up some vegetables and opened up some hummus for the girls. I was content with my Doritos. Though, I think I may have eaten a red pepper by mistake.

Here are the burgers, hot off the grill. Grill the burgers and the pineapple separately. You can cook the burgers to your liking and grill the pineapple until its warm to the touch.

About 30 minutes, a 1/2 bag a Doritos, and a Tom Brady season threatening knee injury later, we were ready to eat. After you assemble the burgers, drizzle a little Teriyaki sauce on top of the pineapple and you're done! I say a little, because you're probably used to drowning your burgers in condiments. Teriyaki sauce has a bit more kick to it than ketchup, so take it easy.

These burgers are definitely different and a crowd pleaser as far as I'm concerned. I have to admit at first, I wasn't sure how excited I was about mixing pineapple and hamburger, but now it's all I want to do. Good thing grilling season is all but over.

The Beer Can Chicken Experience

Last night, I decided to make beer can chicken for the first time. Don't ask me how I did it, but somehow it was a complete success! I had a few issues here and there, but the end result was an incredibly moist and deliciously spiced chicken. This will definitely become a new BBQ standard of mine, and everyone in attendance last night agreed that it was well worth the time and effort.

Here are the birds, gizzards removed, rinsed, and seasoned generously with a spicy chicken rub. I decided to take the easy route and just use a store bought rub. I'm a busy man, I don't have time to mix ingredients!

I did, however, have the time to place the chickens in hilarious poses for the camera. With the cans... in place, the birds are now ready for the grill!

Unfortunately, the grill was too small and I could not put the cover on properly. I had to rest the cover on top of the birds, leaving a small amount of space between the cover and the grill. I was afraid that this would result in the birds cooking unevenly, but luckily it didn't make a difference. In all the blogs I've read about beer can chicken, most people complained that they had a hard time balancing the chickens on the grill. I didn't have any problem at all, but I suppose it all depends on the size of the birds and how good you are with your hands. That's right.

Here's me, more posing for the camera and not really checking the chicken.

Here is the end result. Don't ask me why, but I love this picture. Once I took the chicken off the grill and into the house, the smell was amazing! I have never cooked a full chicken before, especially on a grill, and it was definitely a fun time. Just make sure you measure the grill before you buy your chickens. Or don't, because apparently it doesn't really matter.

Caffeine or Die

In an effort to calculate my daily caffeine intake, I stumbled upon this little website: EnergyFiend.com. At Energy Fiend, not only can you find the amounts of caffeine in a wide variety of food and drinks, but they also have a tool that shows you how much of that particular food or drink it would take to kill you. Sadly, my morning coffee is not widely recognized enough to appear on the list, but I was still able to calculate my daily caffeine intake.

For those of you that are wondering, the average person should consume about 200 - 300 milligrams of caffeine a day. After crunching a few numbers I came to the conclusion that I consume roughly 1000 milligrams a day. That's almost 5 times the 'healthy' dose. Whoops.

The website also contains some fun caffeine related articles and news. I suggest checking it out.

A Day at the Beach (Literally)

In a desperate attempt to make the most of my summer, I decided to head to up to Ipswich for Labor Day. I haven't made it to the beach nearly enough this summer, so I felt obligated to at least make one appearance this year. The beach was crowded; I got one heck of a sunburn, and hit a little girl with a renegade volley ball (accidently of course).

On the way home we stopped by the Ipswich Clambake, for a little seafood. One of my favorite parts about beach trips is the restaurants. I love seafood and beach days are one of the few times I get exposed to clams, lobster, and other deep fried foods. After baking myself in the sun all day, all I could think about was a lobster roll for dinner. We wanted to eat at Ipswich's famous Clam Box, but sadly the line was out the door and around the block and we were all starving and couldn't stand to wait. We took a quick drive further down the road and settled on the Ipswich Clambake, which was considerably less crowded.


Two of the people in my party were from Iowa, which is not known for its fresh seafood. I was told the closest thing they ever get to fish over there are fish sticks. Needless to say, they were shocked at the variety of choices they were offered. They finally settled on fish and chips, which was the closest thing to fish sticks on the menu. Good work guys...

I ordered a lobster roll and I was not disappointed. It looked a little small for the price, until I bit into it and realized I couldn't even finish the whole thing. It was packed with big chunks of lobster meat and very little mayonnaise, which is always good. What's even better was the fact that I remembered my camera! I’ve been to no less than 20 restaurants since starting this blog and I have successfully forgotten my camera every single time, but not this time!


The summer is now pretty much a thing of the past. In Ipswich, the leaves were already starting to change, which was as beautiful as it was depressing. Now I can look forward to 15 minutes of fall and 8 months of winter. All in all, I'm very glad that I was able to squeeze one last summer day out of 2008.

And that’s what I did on my summer vacation.