Brian-food

Food Challenge Fail

2009-08-23T19:41:00.004-04:00

I've hardly blogged since moving to the Philadelphia area and starting my new job, and bemoaning that fact recently inspired me to eat something I shouldn't have.

3 pancakes!

I know - three pancakes doesn't sound like a big deal, but at a little diner in Royersford, PA they have a challenge on the menu. If you can eat 3, you don't pay, otherwise it's just $5.50. So, I figured I could take 3 pancakes.

I was so wrong.

I know some strategies - don't drink too much, don't eat other things, stay in training...

After a little while I felt pretty good. I thought to myself, "I can manage this." "Should be no problem."

I've eaten plenty of big things in the past:

2 cheese steaks

a really big burger

this thing

and of course - The El Gigante

I even won a donut eating contest once.

To my shame this time it was not to be.

FAIL

Annamarie's Cafe - you win, please enjoy my $5.50.

Part of this nutritious breakfast

2009-04-27T13:03:00.001-04:00

Texas! Part of this nutritious breakfast

That's right - Texas! An important part of this nutritious breakfast.

The Residence Inn, Austin has been great so far. An easy walk to the Paramount Theater for the Q conference, and it's got a kicking breakfast.

Now I want more waffles in other shapes!

...maybe it's just me.

I Kin Do It

2009-03-27T18:40:00.002-04:00

So my plane was stuck on the approach to the runway in Philadelphia - number 23 for departure...

I'm on my way to BibleTech in Seattle. My flights are scheduled to go from PHL to Dulles, to Seattle. That's two Washingtons in one day - nice.

I breakfasted at the airport Dunkin Donuts. They have two ad campaigns going right now.
1) America Runs On Dunkin
2) You Kin Do It

The second campaign shows people in impossible situations overcoming them. How? Why - because they have a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee or a donut, or a waffle-sandwich.

I needed to get from my new home airport to Washington DC - Dulles in time to catch the next flight to Seattle, but there are roadblocks. Getting out on the runway and staying there for 40 minutes with the engines shut down so we don't have to go back to the gate to refuel is this particular hurdle.

But - I realized - I still had some Dunkin Coffee. I'm all set I guess.

...maybe it's just me?

tall lasagna

2009-03-02T11:02:00.001-05:00

tall lasagna

I'm not kidding, this thing is huge.

A recent business dinner brought a party of 7 to Maggianos for family style dining. One of the pasta choices was Mom's Lasagna. Will you just look at the height?

It must be oooh... at least... well... it's tall isn't it!?!?

... maybe it's just me.

Why You Are Fat

2009-02-11T09:16:00.002-05:00

Another food blog has taken up the challenge.

Thanks to my friend Rob for pointing the way.

Some awesome samples...

The Mega-Stuff Oreo

Corn Dog Pizza

And my new favorite....

The Double Bacon Hamburger Fatty Melt

And this time I can prove that maybe it's not just me...

breakfast in bed

2009-01-22T15:22:00.001-05:00

breakfast in bed

Honestly!
You know how in The Sound of Music, Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews are realizing that they are in love and they sing, "I Must Have Done Something Good"? Well that's how I feel.

However, that might be the gayest thing I've ever written in my life.

... maybe it's just me.

shrimp po boy

2008-12-26T18:11:00.001-05:00

shrimp po boy

The Shrimp Po Boy is a bunch of fried shrimp on a roll. Sounds simple? You'd think so, but the location of the really good shrimp po boys is hotly contested. This particular po boy came from the 49 restaurant in Gulfport, oddly enough located on highway 49.

To help you northerners understand, the shrimp po boy is the Cheesesteak of the south. Everybody makes one, and everyone disagrees over where to go to get the best one.

...maybe it's just me

Good to be that guy

2008-12-22T18:23:00.005-05:00

So now I'm the Director of Web Communications at my new company - a very old company - the American Bible Society. The pace is frenetic, the people are fantastic and I'm trying to clean up a bit of a web mess.

Our Development department has been working through a direct mail provider called Stratmark who, in a wash of Christmas spirit, has sent me a gift.
A gift of Chocolate.

This tower from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Company contained a plethora of cocoa goodness from the nutty caramels in the top to the lovingly wrapped pretzels in the middle down to the ensconced cashews and almonds in the bottom. All delicious.

It's good to be the guy who gets stuff from vendors for Christmas.

... maybe it's just me

Burgeriffic

2008-12-15T22:06:00.002-05:00

Five Guys

First of all, it's been a long time since I've posted anything and that's not because I haven't been eating - oh no. I've just been very busy...

Getting a new job

Moving to the Philadelphia suburbs

Getting engaged to Sylvia

I've been working hard and eating at home or at my desk a whole lot. But today at lunch TJ brought me over to Five Guys. It's the East's answer to In-N-Out.

Great burgers, fresh toppings, Bay's seasoning on the fries and Coke at the fountain.

This particular Five Guys is in a strip-mall, just about a mile from my office, and now I have a fun place to go for lunch from time to time.

One note - there are free peanuts in the shell available for munching. They are not roasted. They are raw peanuts. That is just wrong.

... maybe it's just me.

between the lines

2008-11-09T18:21:00.001-05:00

Line at Pat's

In Philadelphia there are cheesesteaks. Today, I had them for the second time at Pat's King of Steaks. Jeremy was kind enough to haul me around after visiting his church.

In this picture, you can see the lineup to order (wit or witout) the beef bricks slathered or insulated with cheese. Across the street, there's another line at Geno's Cheesesteaks. You gotta give Geno's credit for building competition directly across the street from the originator of this east coast yummy.

Clearly, they're not hurting for business.

... maybe it's just me

mmmm... Big sandwich

2008-11-07T08:23:00.001-05:00

mmmm... Big sandwich

Did you know Wal-Mart sells sandwiches?

I didn't either, but now I do. Living out of a hotel room in Philadelphia is strange enough and I honestly don't feel like a daily diet of eating alone at Chili's or Logan's is the best way to spend my time. I like to eat from the grocery store.

I found one with a salad bar my first night in town. Last night I noticed a Super-Wal-Mart (like Wal-Mart needed to be super-sized in any way). I made my way in and the first things I saw were these sandwiches in the deli.

Now I didn't bring a tape measure or anything, but I'm pretty sure this sandwich was about 20" long. Add mustard and I was tucked in for the night.

... maybe it's just me

Tony Packo's

2008-11-03T12:54:00.002-05:00

Tony Packo's

I was in Toledo on my way to Philadelphia and I had to jump off at the Front Street exit.
The chilli, the spicy dogs, the even spicier pickles are a magical combination on a cross-country road trip.

... maybe it's just me?

Saint Pat

2008-10-22T18:24:00.002-04:00

Today is my first day in my new office and I'm excited to start my new job at The American Bible Society in Wayne, Pennsylvania - near Philadelphia.

Pat's

With Philadelphia comes Philly Cheese Steaks.

This is Pat's King of Steaks, the claimed inventor of what might be the single greatest single contribution to American cuisine. I had this when I was here for my interview about 3 weeks ago. I also had Geno's across the street - also good, but I like Pat's better I think.

This last note might open me up to a horde of criticism and questions about my upbringing... you get the picture.

Maybe it's just me...

Twitter with a raspberry reduction

2008-10-20T23:35:00.001-04:00

Twitter w/rasberry reduction

It's Internet Ministry Conference time and the food is always amazing. Notice this dessert - white chocolate mousse in a chocolate shell with a raspberry reduction, next to an iPod touch with twitter running on it.

That's much better than an iPod touch with a raspberry reduction running on it.

maybe it's just me...

Fall - with a twist

2008-10-07T19:23:00.001-04:00

Fall

Whilst driving through my local Starbucks I like to make fun of Sylvia's order. She gets a "Venti, skinny, vanilla, latte" but when I order it I like to say something like this.

first I'm gonna need a big ole honkin' venti, skinny, no-fat, no-sugar, no-fun, no-nothin' vanilla, latte...

WITH WHIP

Sylvia laughs when I do that, and that's half the reason. This time, the intrepid barista in the drive-thru says:

wow - with that twist at the end I thought I was in an M. Night Shyamalan movie

We applauded when we got to the window.

I'm not a big fan of Fall - as it has fully arrived here in West Michigan, but I do like the Pumpkin Spice Latte an awful lot.
...maybe it's just me?

Crabs!

2008-09-22T10:11:00.001-04:00

Crabs!

My friend Steve Wilcox invited a bunch of us over for Maryland blue crabs.

Sylvia and I had a great time and Zeke ate almost a whole hot dog.

Note about blue crabs: after you cook 'em, they turn red. Kind of a political statement, don't you think?

...maybe it's just me

Best Juice Ever

2008-09-05T16:55:00.001-04:00

Best Juice Ever

Many years ago, Ocean Spray made Cran-Blueberry. It was amazing. Then, they stopped making it. It was sad.

Today, I found this in the grocery store. It is fantastic. I've started hitting the juice pretty hard today.

If you've had someone else's Cranberry-Blueberry concoction, that's fine, but this is the best juice ever.

... maybe it's just me

Wild Stallion

2008-09-04T15:00:00.001-04:00

Wild Stallion

As if we needed one more energy drink - this is mango flavored. I found it on tap at a gas station.

When you think of wild stallions, raw power, rippling muscles, thundering hooves, and manes whipping in the wind as they gallop across the great plains - don't you just think "Orange Mango"?

... maybe it's just me

one please

2008-08-22T08:27:00.001-04:00

one please

There's got to be a way that I can set this up in my own kitchen.

I'd probably just end up sticking my face underneath and dispensing both barrels directly into my mouth.

... maybe it's just me.

Red Knapp's Dairy Bar

2008-08-20T22:00:00.002-04:00

Red Knapp's Dairy Bar

Rochester, Michigan is the home of Red Knapp's Dairy Bar. Until I was on the way there, I thought is was the Dairy Barn. Clearly, I'm a moron.

It's a 50's-style diner. It's been a 50's-style diner since the 50's.
That's actually really nice. Great burgers on homemade buns, shakes served in the can and fries.

You can't go wrong when those are all done well.
...maybe it's just me.
Thanks to Sylvia for taking me there!

Old Joke

2008-08-02T07:58:00.001-04:00

The Corner Bar

I have the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors for Greater Hopes, Inc. Adoption Agency and we had our first meetings this week in Rockford, MI - just around the corner from The Corner Bar.

Famous for their hot dogs and their hot dog contest. It seems if you eat enough dogs in a short enough amount of time, then you get your name on their wall. That's good fun!

When I ordered my hot dog I was reminded of this old joke.

Q: What did the Buddhist say to the hot dog vendor?
A: Make me one with everything.

...maybe it's just me

one pound of awesome

2008-07-30T23:13:00.001-04:00

1 pound...

One of my favorite places in Grand Haven is Pavilion's Wharf right there on Washington. It's a cute little place decked out like a red, green, and white cottage, but inside it's an awesome little restaurant and bar.

The burgers are clearly their best offerings. Cooked to order and available in 1/2 pound or... yes... Full One Pound options. Sylvia - posing with the One Pounder - and I split a big ol' Fiesta burger the other night. It has bacon, swiss, guacamole, and I encourage you to try the curly fries.

You won't go to bed hungry... and you wont wake up hungry the next morning either.

... maybe it's just me

Dairy Treat

2008-07-25T17:04:00.001-04:00

Dairy Treat

It's Summer time and that means ice cream. In Grand Haven, a lakeshore tourist community, that means you have plenty of choices. Today I'm talking about the Dairy Treat - at the request of my special guest requester - Brian.

Of all the gastronomic delights available, Brian had a hankering for a Rock Pile Shake. He said it was kinda like a blizzard but better.

When I arrived at the window I saw the slogan, "Home of the Rock Pile Shake". I was pretty geared up! You get a choice of peanuts or pecans. Brian asked for peanuts so that's what I got. I didn't know what else might be in there and I don't mind the adventure of an unknown. Brian hasn't ever steered me wrong before, so I received my first Rock Pile with salivary glands at the ready.

There were strawberries clearly visible. I like strawberries. I like ice cream, I like peanuts, what could go wrong? (see my food rules for examples of what could go wrong)

I like bananas, but not really in things. This was a banana split in a blender. I ate the whole thing anyway just because I love Brian so much and wanted to honor his food request.

nasty

Brian also wanted me to visit Butch's Beach Burritos (next blog post coming soon). I had to ask him if I should be worried about finding a banana covered in salsa hiding in there.

... maybe it's just me.

PS - got something you want me to eat and blog about? Add your comment and let me know!

Rick and Aedan

2008-06-27T23:42:00.002-04:00

Rick and Aedan

So what do you say to someone when you haven't seen them in 25 years? That's what my friend Aedan said this week when we met up for a visit. He's been living abroad for most of his adult life and lives in Finland now with his family. He found my website and recognized me by my toes.

He's kept in touch with our mutual friend Rick over the years and this week while I was in Chicago, speaking at a conference and recording a podcast and Aedan was in town visiting home - we all got together.

So - what do you say after 25 years?

Giordano's - that's what!

maybe it's just me...

Instantly delicious

2008-06-24T19:29:00.002-04:00

This is Jeff. Jeff wants his coffee. Jeff Parker is my oldest friend. He's actually about the same age as me, but I've known him longer than nearly anyone I know. Jeff moved to Chile about 15 years ago and we've been keeping in contact ever since.

This is the dark and robust Uruguayan Cafe de leche. After a couple days of that, I flew from Uruguay to Chile.

I was surprised to find that the Chilean coffee is all instant. In fact if you want brewed coffee you need to ask and pay special for it. Apparently they export all of their coffee.

However, this is like no instant coffee I've ever had. If you made it dark - and most places simply hand you the hot water or hot milk and a tin of Nescafe - it's really good. That was by far the strangest thing I ate/drank on my South American jaunt.

...maybe it's just me