Recession Meals

February 27, 2009

piggyThe News and Observer ran an AP story today about how some people are responding to the recession when eating out: by sharing dishes.  There’s little doubt that the tough economic times have made people cut back on dining budgets, but when the industry slows down, the industry comes up with lots of bargains to draw folks in.

I received a couple of emails from a buddy alerting me of a handful of great local deals.  Most locals are aware that Bloomsbury Bistro’s John Toler has been offering a very special three course dinner for two for $50 — that’s for the couple, not per person.  There’s quite a lot of choice with this menu. Read the rest of this entry »

8 Comments | General, Restaurants | Permalink
Posted by Varmint

Bacon is So Yesterday

February 24, 2009

I never really thought of bacon as a fad, at least among my friends, it’s not. But then, I did notice that a lot more people have been focused on bacon of late.  But here’s a video eulogy for the cured belly, a eulogy that is probably way premature.

8 Comments | General, Video | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Varmint

Paula Deen Should Say “No” to Crack

February 23, 2009

OK, never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I’d post anything about Paula Deen.  I also never thought I’d stoop as low as the tabloids.  But, this is something you’ve gotta see.  Unless you just ate, that is.

I do have to admit, Paula can be pretty damn funny, and this certainly goes to show why her fans adore her.  And it ain’t because of her grannie panties!

3 Comments | Video | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by Varmint

Pantry Cooking — For a Week

February 19, 2009

pantryThe fine folks at eGullet have initiated a new interactive project: spend a week cooking without going to the grocery store or market.  And no, you can’t load up at Harris Teeter on Saturday just to start this project on Sunday.   My friend Steven Shaw, the Executive Director of eGullet, hatched this plan, but he’s being reasonable, acknowledging some kids will get their lunches at school and there will be instances where you just have to get some fresh goods.  So if you need eggs and milk, it’s OK to get them, but don’t shop for anything else.  Just use the stuff in your freezer and your pantry.

It’s a pretty good concept, as during these tough economic times, it might make sense to do a “clean-up” of your inventory by cooking and eating it, thereby saving you money.  I’d have troubles foregoing all the fresh fruit and veggies I eat, but it’s very doable.

Unfortunately, I won’t be participating in this venture, as I’ll be out of town a fair amount, but let me know if any of you decide to participate.

And here’s more about the project from Kim Severson of the NY Times.

6 Comments | Cooking, Family and Food, General | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Varmint

Cypress on the Hill — New Chapel Hill Restaurant

February 17, 2009

cypress2Damn it, Chapel Hill gets all the luck.  This small town is already full of great chef-driven restaurants.  Places like Lantern, Bonne Soiree, and Elaine’s.  Then there are the old, great stand-bys like Crooks, La Residence and whatever they’re putting out at the Siena.  And now there’s a new kid in town: Cypress on the Hill.  I just learned about this place today thanks to a tip from one of my readers, and based on the menu, I’m looking forward to a trip to my old college town to give it a try.  Chef Alex Gallis has been Chef de Cuisine at Magnolia Grill for the last five years, and his menu shows his training under Ben Barker: locally-sourced ingredients prepared with a Southern touch.  But I also see that Gallis isn’t afraid to explore new concepts, using Asian ingredients (soba noodles, mizuna, pickled ginger) and techniques, too.

Restaurants with a Southern cuisine have struggled a bit in the Triangle lately, but I’ve come to believe that college towns are where they will still work.  If the food is as good as it appears, I suspect that Cypress on the Hill (COTH? — er, maybe not) will be hanging around for awhile.

Cypress on the Hill is in the old Trail Shop on West Franklin Street, next to Ham’s.  They’re open for dinner Monday through Saturday.  Dinner and dessert menus, which change weekly, are available online.

308 West Franklin Street

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

919.537.8817

9 Comments | Chapel Hill, chefs, Restaurants | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Varmint

Weight Loss Progress Report

February 17, 2009

It’s now been 6 weeks since I started keeping a food diary, and I have lost 16.5 pounds.  Yup, I’m down to 221.5 pounds, my Body Mass Index has dropped from 33.2 to 30.9, and my clothes are starting to hang on me a bit.  Heck, I’m wearing my belt a notch tighter.

I’m also sleeping better, am more alert throughout the day, don’t snore anymore (my wife loves that one), and my reflux hasn’t been nearly as problematic.  I’m also spending less money on food, because I’m going out a lot less.  And since I limit my drinking to the weekends and special occasions, my alcohol expenditures have dropped, too.

So the benefits aren’t just with my weight, as there are lots of other things to be happy about.

I don’t expect to continue losing weight at this pace, but I do expect to be able to drop 3-5 pounds a month, provided I keep exercising and keep making smart decisions (which have been easy ones so far).  Not to be a broken record, but keeping the food diary has without a doubt been the single most important part of this process.  It makes that much of a difference.

2 Comments | General | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Varmint

Sick Food Humor

February 16, 2009

My 10 year old son loves comics, so much so that perhaps his highlight of our family trip to Alaska last summer may have been meeting Chad Carpenter, the creator of the Tundra comic.  Well, in today’s funny pages, we both let out a guffaw and an “ew” when we read today’s offering from The Argyle Sweater and the warped mind of Scott Hilburn.  Enjoy.

argyle

2 Comments | General | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Varmint

Beard Award Semi-Finalists Announced

February 13, 2009

jamesbeardSeveral local chefs and restaurants are on the semi-finalist list for the 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards.  Ben and Karen Barker’s landmark Southern restaurant, Magnolia Grill, is one of 20 establishments in the running for Best Restaurant (that would be in the entire country, thank you very much).

Four local chefs are on the list for Best Chefs in the Southeast: From Chapel Hill we have Bill Smith of Crook’s Corner, Andrea Reusing of Lantern, and Chip Smith of Bonne Soirée.  Durham is represented by Scott Howell of Nana’s.  Hmm, no Raleigh institutions were recognized, although two Charlotte-based chefs are on the list.

I also have some sentimental favorites I’m pulling for: John Currence of Oxford, Mississippi’s City Grocery should win for Best Chef in the South.  Sean Brock of Charleston’s McGrady’s is clearly one of the Rising Star Chefs in the country.  And there are so many worthy candidates for Best Chef, it would be hard to pick one.  But that’s why this is all fun, right?

2 Comments | Best Of the Triangle, chefs, Restaurants | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Varmint

To Drink or Not To Drink

February 4, 2009

moonshine

By now you know that I’m doing my best to drop 50 pounds (I’ve dropped 12 so far, thank you very much), and one of the changes I’ve had to make is to reduce my alcohol consumption.  In the past, I’d drink wine 3-4 days a week (usually a half bottle!), and occasionally I’d have a cocktail or beer.  With dinner parties, I could drink a buttload of wine (actually, the imagery of a buttload of wine is not all that pleasant, but we’ll just move on, nothing to see here).  Not only did I consume a lot of calories through alcohol, but I also read a couple of reports that alcohol depressant properties slow down your ability to metabolize other stuff, like fat.  Makes, sense, I guess, but I had to take a closer look at what I was drinking.

I’ve not by any means become a tee totaler, but I only drink on days where I’ve earned it with a lot of exercise.  I’m less likely to have a 5-glass binge, and that’s good for me in so many different ways.  But I do miss the cocktails, and then I recently re-connected with a friend who has a cocktail/spirits blog, and folks, this is something that is fun for any libation lover.  Matthew Rowley is the author of Moonshine!, a book that tells you how to make it, how to deal with “the law”, how to drink it, and more.  Talk about a labor of love!  I’ve been a moonshine lover since the 80s, when a buddy of mine brought me some ultra-clear corn liquor that had been distilled by a North Carolina state trooper.  Of course, the George Jones song, White Lightning, makes you pine for some of that shine, too!

But I digress.  Rowley has a great blog, Rowley’s Whiskey Forge, and if you like to make your own infusions or cocktails or cocktail ingredients, check it out.  Today’s enty talks about how to use quince for a nice brandy or cordial.   Now wouldn’t you be the coolest kid on the block if you broke out the quince liqueur at your next party?  Rowley does venture away from alcoholic pleasure from time to time, talking about pickles or beef roasts, but the focus is on spirits, often of the homemade variety.   So please be sure to check out Matt’s blog, and buy his book, too.

1 Comment | Cocktails, General | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Varmint

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