Trial..and Error

I had the opportunity to taste the new Doritos Locos Taco from Taco Bell, and while I am partial to the delicious pulled pork tacos from 3BROS, I did my best to base my opinion upon my love of the bell alone. I can sum it up in one word...gimmick. All of my expectations led to disappointment as I took that first bite. The shell delivered on the orange finger phenomenon that results from consuming Doritos, but when it came to taste, I would have been better off adding crumbled chips as a topping. Believe me, I would have considered developing a Doritos taco shell to hold my BBQ taco contents as a test run, but if this is the best that a juggernaut like Taco Bell can offer, there is very little that I can see to warrant a venture down that road.

Hot Damn That Is Some Lamb

The Easters are over, and I am sad to say that with the exception of some exceptional rack that my brother made, I did not get nearly enough lamb. For the most part, I regard holiday meals with a hearty "meh," including those prepared by my very talented mother. I can live without Thanksgiving turkey forever, I hate lasagna, and baked ham reminds me of Don Ho. However, there are two exceptions to this rule. One is the Christmas Eve feast of the seven fishes. Admittedly, I don't adhere to the seven fish thing and it is usually an excuse to gorge on my favorite seafood delicacies. The other exception to holiday food boredom is lamb. Studded with garlic and Parmesan like my mother makes it, whole roasted like my Greek friends prepare or anyway it comes to me, I love the gamey rustic flavor of it. This year I didn't get enough, struck down with a stomach flu, I was forced to observe as the holiday roast was slowly consumed over the course of the week. I didn't even get any for Greek Easter. Good thing about not caring about holiday meals though, I think I will declare this weekend "Joe's Easter" and prepare a leg of lamb for myself.

Baseball Swings Into Town

Sports have been good to us this year, the Giants winning the Superbowl, Jeremy Lin reigniting the Knicks and the Rangers storming into the NHL playoffs. And now baseball is back, with the Mets fielding a team full of questions and the Yankees rolling out a team of veterans that may be looking for their last hoorah. Unlike the drama surrounding the other New York sports teams, baseball seems mild, and it is promising to be a long season of blah. But not for the shop...if it is anything like last year, good times are guaranteed. Barbecue and the butcher shop are tailor fit for baseball, whether it means grabbing a bite on the way to the Stadium or Citi Field, celebrating on Bell after a win or setting up the grill at home. One thing is for sure, baseball season is good for families and friends, fathers and sons (or daughters) and neighborhoods to get together to enjoy good food and our national past time.

Yup It's An Edsel!

Caught sight of this at one of my favorite restaurants, Major's Steakhouse, in Woodbury. I snapped off some photos and promptly sent one to my dad. To my surprise, he didn't recognize it. Chalk it up to his ancient phone if you will, but the fact remains that even with infamy, a brand that dies disappears from people's minds. For any business owner who cherishes their legacy (and most do, given the fact that most are not still in it for the money) should take this lesson. You can do everything right...or so you think, and end up doing everything wrong, vanishing in the process. I pondered this as I enjoyed my ribeye steak, thinking of my own shop and legacy.

Autism Awareness Now

Everyone should be aware that April is Autism Awareness Month. My wife and I have both been touched by autism through work and through family. It is critical that we come together as a community to fund research and awareness campaigns to support the children, adults and families that are affected my this disorder. Realizing that in lieu of a cure, therapy, especially early intervention therapy, is critical to helping children who are on the spectrum lead more enriched lives. Education, awareness and fundraising can only be accomplished with the participation of communities and organizations.

Umami Burger Test Run

I love umami. This otherworldly flavor experience that stems from glutamate rich foods is a taste that I can't get enough of. So while reading about Umami Burger in California, I had to give it a try. Our burger meat is ground daily, providing a perfect foundation for my experiment. A quick search on the internet provided the recipe and I was on my way. As I added fish sauce and truffle oil  to my burger and ketchup, I kept thinking.. "No way this will fly in Bayside." So I was making it for myself, good enough. Topped with a Parmigiana Reggiano wafer, and this was a knockout. I am anxious to try the real thing when I get a chance.

My Kind of Whopper

Ft Lauderdale, circa 2008. I was too drunk to remember the name of the restaurant. All I know is that I ordered a six pound lobster. I was celebrating life with my best friend and future wife and decided that you only live once. Sure I felt bad about eating this old beast, and yes, I did feel guilty when I ruined everyone's meal by upstaging their 1.5 - 2 pounders. But I have to tell you, it didn't stop us from enjoying the heck out of that lobster. I think we ate lobster salad sandwiches for breakfast for three days after.