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Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 23:42:27
Cold Weather, Hot Cocoa
With winter's chilly wind starting to blow, it's time to pull out the hot cocoa. Some folks settle for powder; others add in marshmallows or cream. Still others make theirs from scratch, or add an alcoholic component.
A couple of chocolate afficianadoes add a kick of spice to their cups. Leif Hassell goes for a Mexican version of the warmth bringer:
"Mexican Chocolate (made with cinnamon, vanilla, and raw sugar), heavy cream. Melt in double boiler till chocolate is dissolved. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. The bomb."
"Hot milk (not boiling) with cocoa powder, a touch of chili powder or cinnamon, a dash of homemade espresso, and hand-whipped cream (not too much) with a sprinkle of baker's sugar on the top."
Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 13:50:22
Festival of Leftovers.
Now that the holiday has officially passed, how are you going about consuming your Thanksgiving leftovers? Chris Finklea's idea of a post-Thanksgiving lunch:
"The Ultimate Thanksgiving Sandwich... Turkey Sandwich with Dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, with perhaps some giblet gravy if you don't mind it messy. It is a bit of a Dagwood of a sandwich, but it is the distillation of a Thanksgiving meal."
Thursday, November 27, 2008 - 20:49:58
Black Friday Breakfast of Champions.
After a day spent with family, likely ended in a Triptophan coma, many Arkansans are calling it an early night. Some will wake in the early hours to take advantage of the plethora of Black Friday sales ballyhooed in circulars and flyers this week. Others will be heading out early to grab good parking ahead of tailgating at the LSU game at War Memorial. Whatever the reason, a breakfast of Thanksgiving leftovers and black coffee are on the menu for many of us.
Being a light day for food news, here's your chance to share tidbits of culinary conversation.... a foodie free-for-all. Like recent topics? Have an idea of your own? Suggestion for a review or your own review of a local hotspot? Time to share.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 16:50:21
In Praise of Pie.
Remember the fried pies McDonald's used to serve back in the '70s? The tasty treats were a personal favorite of mine, even more tantalizing than Happy Meals. I always tried to talk the adults I was with into purchasing one for me. There was something about the texture, the flavor, the sheer warmth and scent of a hot pie that made me happy.
Of course, times changed. Restaurants started going healthy. "Fried" became a dirty word. The delectable temptation under the Golden Arches disappeared and I stopped frequenting the franchise.
Over the years, I've tried all sorts of pies -- meringue, cream, nut, fried, baked. I've had all sorts of pie configurations -- round, square, wedges, some served cold and some served hot. I've had Mile High Pie from Ed & Kay's, Ms. Lena's Fried Pies, the momentous Strawberry Pie from Strawn's in Shreveport and Boston Cream Pie at the Omni Parker House in Boston. But I never found that first love of pie again.
That is, until earlier this month, when on a Saturday evening I happened to find an old friend in an unexpected place, a barbeque joint here in Little Rock. My joy in finding this blessing on a plate was only equalled by the more than reasonable price for the bubbling hot wonder.
More Than A Good Dish.
In Stuttgart, Duck Gumbo is more than just a delicious dish. More, even, than a popular competition at the Wings Over The Prairie Festival. It's a party of some extensive reknown.
Once your turkey dinner settles and the tryptophan coma wears off, consider a drive down to Stuttgart to enjoy the festivities. The carnival and midway open at 1 p.m. on Thursday -- something to enjoy with the kids in the light chill of autumn. But there's more -- including arts and crafts competitions, contests, and of course the World Championship Duck Calling Competition.
The big Duck Gumbo cooking contest is Saturday (corrected)... and it's about more than the food. 50 teams compete starting at 10 a.m. -- and at 3 p.m. the judging on taste begins. But it's about more than the food. The booths are judged on presentation, and thousands come out to enjoy the hospitality and hilarity. Some teams work all year to create their fabulous displays. It's certainly a sight to see.
Need more information? Check out the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce website for a full schedule and directions.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 11:59:53
Bargain Sushi That Ain't Scary.
Lunchtime buffets can be hit or miss, so when you find a good one you stick with it. Which is why I have to give kudos to Panda Garden in the new Shackleford Crossing Shopping Center. For a fast, easy lunch that suits a lot of different sorts of tastes, it's pretty darn good.
The restaurant offers a whole lot of choices -- a cold seafood bar, salad bar, dessert bar (complete with pie tower case), a bar that seems to be almost entirely composed of items that come with cheese, and a neat ice cream dispenser where you dial in the flavor you want to add.
All that's nice, but the part that really makes Panda Garden stand out is the sushi bar. That's right -- I said sushi bar. Sushi can be a scary proposition on any buffet -- there's no telling how long each piece or roll has sat out under questionable heat lamps or sneeze guards. But here, no worries. An actual sushi chef is behind the bar, ready and willing to take your suggestions and request. The daily "special roll" can be a bit of an interesting mixture, but there are also choices like Volcano Rolls, California Rolls, and other favorites like Spicy Crab, Philly, and Avocado.
And the price is more than reasonable. Lunch is $6.95 for the buffet (not including tax or drink) -- less than you'll pay for one of the "house rolls" at many of the other sushi joints in town -- and at those places you don't have items like fried wontons or General Tso's chicken to add to your plate.
Friends of ours went the other night for the evening buffet, a bit late. They report that the sushi chef on duty asked their preferences and then brought a couple of loaded sushi platters directly to their table, to make sure they had what they wanted before the joint closed down.
You'll find Panda Garden at Shackleford Crossing south of I-430... they also have a take-out menu, if you're interested. Dial (501) 224-8100. Open at 11 a.m. seven days a week.
Monday, November 24, 2008 - 18:11:54
Wine Time at Mount Magazine.
Off for Thanksgiving week and looking for something to do? Check out the Wine Country Tour at Mount Magazine Tuesday. Participants will gather at the Lodge to travel by van down to Altus for touring and sampling at the River Valley's fine wineries. Eat lunch on your own at one of the local eateries (Kelt's Pub is a favorite of ours) and enjoy a day with someone else doing the driving. Want to go? You must register at the Lodge front desk by 8:30 a.m. The tour lasts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and costs $10. For more information, call Mount Magazine State Park at (479) 963-5237 or check out the park's website.
Oh, Deer.
Cold Weather, Hot Pizza.
A Cranberry Conversation.
No More Bronx Bombers?
Eat. Drink. Repeat.
Helping A Good Cause -- For Free.
Holiday Cheer.
Teaching and Tasting.
Food, Drink, & More Food & Drink
Talkin' Turkey - Your Turn.
You only live twice
Sunday recovery
Savoring Stoby's.
Going Dutch.
The other red meat
A local barbecue giant closes, but...
Coming to the River Market
Rice is Nice.
Sensible or Senseless Snacking?
Now You're Cooking With Herbs
Remember Our Vets
Soup Weather
Tea for Tuesday
Holiday Thoughts Already
More Larry's.
If you go out in the woods ...
Tasting Time in Eureka Springs
Celebrating Herbs
The return of the Hop
Voting Time
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