Tag Archives: good-eats

KSLY’s Gone Country!

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Jeez, you leave for 2 years, and everything goes to hell.  Not that there's anything wrong with country music, but when you're bombing down the Cuesta Grade at 11:30pm, and there's nothing on the XM radio, and you've listened to the CD in the deck about 47 times since you started driving, the next natural step is to turn on the good ol' terrestrial FM radio and tune into the stations that you know will play some good Top 40 tunes.  Instead, I got an earful of manure.

Othere notable changes since the last time I was in SLO:

  • There is a COSTCO
  • Tortilla Flats has closed down, and a Karaoke bar took its place
  • Lots of previously open spaces have been developed
  • Cal Poly has been seriously developed – new dorms/apartments, and mondo additions for the College of Engineering
  • There is a HUGE Apple store downtown
  • Sakura is no more – it's now called "Sushiya"

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One thing that is still the same is the presence of elephant seals up north of San Simeon.  As you can see from the picture above, they are quite fat and lazy.  Get a job, ya bums!

Also, the weather is just about perfect compared to the cesspool that is the Sacramento Valley.  Glad to see that hasn't changed.

We're having fun driving around, reminiscing about all the good times down here.  It's hard to believe it has been over 10 years since I first came down here to go to school.  This city is just so awesome.

We're also trying to hit all of our favorite restaurants while we're here.  Yesterday, we hit up Cugini's (for me), Nucci's (for Kelly), and Mandarin Gourmet for dinner.  That's always the dangerous part of coming back to SLO.  There's just too much good food here.

As for Troy, how's he handling all of this, with the moderate climate and the fresh air and the beautiful sights?  Let's just say that he "exploded" with enthusiasm, "unloading" his glee at being in new surroundings.  He is "relieved" at the prospect of finally seeing where Mommy and Daddy went to college. 

(I'll just come out and say it: he's no longer constipated.  Yesterday was a BIG day for TroyTroy's colon.)

It was a great day

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Many thanks to my family for coming over to celebrate.  Little Man got me a new 22.5" Weber One Touch Silver charcoal grill (how did he know???), and we used it to 'cue up some juicy cheeseburgers.  Coupled with the various side dishes and ice cream brought by the guests, we had an awesome early summer BBQ.

I couldn't have asked for a better day.

Kimchi: One of the World’s Healthiest Foods

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I love kimchi.  It’s spicy, it’s crunchy, and it has a fantastic flavor.  Served over white rice or alone, it’s the perfect complement to Korean dishes such as Bibimbap and Bulgogi.  And now, according to Health.com, it’s one of the world’s healthiest foods:



Kimchi (or kimchee) is loaded with vitamins A, B, and C, but its biggest benefit may be in its “healthy bacteria” called lactobacilli, found in fermented foods like kimchi and yogurt. This good bacteria helps with digestion, plus it seems to help stop and even prevent yeast infections, according to a recent study. And more good news: Some studies show fermented cabbage has compounds that may prevent the growth of cancer.


This is horrible news for Kelly.  If you’ve never experienced kimchi in the flesh, it stinks, and it looks like the Syracuse mascot barfed in a jar and let it ferment for a couple of decades.  So even though Kelly thinks it tastes alright, she just can’t get past the smell.  It’s always a struggle to get her to buy it for me.  Lately, I’ve had to resort to bargaining.  I’m now down to one kidney and 1/2 a lung.  And whomever was the recipient of my duodenum, you’d better enjoy it.  I miss you, Duod.  You were always like an intestinal tube to me.


But back to my point, I love kimchi, and I now have a valid excuse for eating it, stink and all. 


(On a related note, I have unilaterally decided what Troy’s first “solid” food will be: puréed kimchi.  Mm, mm, good.)

Thanks, Hunters!

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Thanks to Bret and Vanessa for a fabulous evening of dinner and drinks.  The tri-tip was outstanding, and the shrimp?  Oh, the shrimp…  Succulent.  Juicy.  Cajuny.  Very, very good.


Sadly, I was too distracted by Señor Coors Light to even attempt to take any pictures, so you’ll have to use your imagination.  Or, look at some of our old ones.

Voodoo Doughnut

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A coworker brought in a box of doughnuts today.  “Ho-hum”, I thought, until I looked into the box and saw a maple bar covered with two bacon strips.


Meh?


Turns out his wife had been to Portland, OR recently and visited the Voodoo Doughnut store.  They make all kinds of crazy doughnuts, sell t-shirts, and perform legal wedding ceremonies underneath a large portrait of Isaac Hayes.  The fee for the wedding is $175, and includes doughnuts and coffee for 10 people.  AWESOME.


BTW, I tried one that was covered in crushed Oreos.  It was pretty good, and definitely better than a doughnut you’d pick up at your local Safeway.


Anyway, just wanted to give you a heads up in case you’re ever up in the Pacific Northwest.  Check it out!

Bacon Popcorn

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Rad:



Nosheteria cooked up this batch of Bacon Popcorn by first frying up some bacon until it was nice and crispy, then using the leftover grease to pop the corn, ensuring a bacony taste in every bite of popcorn.  Imagine having that at the movies!


The only thing I’m imagining right now is Kaiser’s cardiologists hunched over with evil grins on their faces, tapping their fingers together and saying, “Good!  Good!”

The Melting Pot

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No, I’m not talking about New York.  I’m talking about the restaurant called The Melting Pot.  We ate there last night in celebration of our 11-year anniversary.  I was extremely skeptical about this place going into it since I knew it was pricey and that it was “just” a fondue joint.  But…


Gadzooks, man.


It was worth every penny.  Bread and cheese?  Excellent.  Shrimp?  Excellent.  Lobster and Filet?  Excellent.  Even the salad was primo.  And don’t even get me started on the dessert fondue.  Wow. 


I don’t have one bad thing to say about my experience.  It is unfortunate that the prices are so high, but I guess that’s what makes eating there so special.  It was a real treat.  So if you have a special occasion coming up, or you’re just looking for a different dining experience, head on over to the Melting Pot nearest you.  You won’t be disappointed.