(CHECKING OUT) CHECKERS - COURT STREET - BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

Always one to check out a new or personally unexperienced Fast Food place indeed I am. My friend Claudia has often mentioned this chain as we made our jaunts to and from work so I was overly keen Plus there was an ATM machine within which helped procure my Meal. 

I was stuck at work school for a full 8 hours and was starving, I now know to bring a homeade PBJ Sandwich or two with me.

I ordered the recommended Mozzarella Sticks but they are no longer available so I opted for the 6 piece Monsterella Stix ($2.99) as the receipt says or maybe this is what Claudia was speaking of, either way this was a different Munching experience. 

American Cheese, Breaded and Fried, OK I will take it. Quite Yummy, I won't be running back but maybe I will, these were served rather HOT but I was there pre 11 a.m So, Hot off the Toaster Oven they were.

RULE ONE - Never Open A Fast Food Burger to seek its innards.

RULE TWO - Never photograph an open Burger for a Food Blog.

RULE THREE - There are No Rules.

The Beef Pattie itself was sub par with McDonald's and not even close to Wendy's or BK but only just, this is and was to be expected, close but not touching.

So There It Is.

Do We Even Have To Ask

Yes It Is The Winter Of Our Discontent But Look !!!

Off In The Distance, Its A Checkers !!!

CHECKERS ONLINE

MILON BANGLADHESHI RESTAURANT (PANNA ll), NEW YORK CITY

The Sixth Street Strip of Indian Dining was Rampant at one point but now has dwindled greatly. I was determined to visit the longstanding "Sonar Goaan" but they have since vanished as well have most of the Indian Restaurants amongst their Ilk as they stood side by side like a Mighty Tribe of Basmati Rice Warriors and Kings of Spice.

Many restaurants stood with their gates down and I can only hope they are open for the late night Dinner crowd.

Sixth street and second avenue has been landmarked Bill Graham's way due to the fact that the legendary Fillmore East stood here. I wonder if Bill Graham enjoyed a nice plate of Curry not to mention after show excursions by The Mothers of Invention, Jefferson Airplane and The Grateful Dead to mention but a few of EVERYONE who performed at this hallowed venue.

The site of the Fillmore East is currently a savings bank.

Part one of my Lunch Special ($7.95) was Papadum and Soup. Pictured above are the standard Toppings which are (from 10 o'clock clockwise) Tamarind Sauce, Onions and Coriander Sauce.

What do you get when you top a Papadum Chip with another one ? A Papadum.

Here enhanced by Onions and Coriander Sauce.

The name Papadum originates from the Tamil word "pappatam"

Mulligatawny Soup, a standard favorite of mine.

Sometimes served with Lemon and Coriander on top, This one wasn't but I finished every last drop.

Mulligatawny Soup is a British Recipe deriving from an Indian sauce the name is from the Tamil words "mullaga/milagu" and "thanni" which is translated as Pepper Water.

The Samosa, in this case a Meat one, the Vegetable Samosa is more popular so I often go with the underdog.

Samosa goes by many different names but Samosa is based off of the Persian word "sanbosag"

Now its time for The Main Event. I ordered another standby of mine which is Chicken Tikka Masala served with Dal (Sanskrit for "to split" as this is split pea based) and Basmati Rice (deriving from Sanskrit word Vasmati which means "fragrant").

I have had better and there is no such thing as worse meaning Tikka Masala is Always Great, either way I Loved it and even got some for takeaway.

For afters a Scoop of Mango Ice Cream. YUM.

The festive lighting which adorns the entire room. It's Christmas all year round in this place.

Either they're misspelling Samosa or I have been for all these years.

The facade of what I am almost sure was Panna ll which is now Milon. I mentioned to my waiter that I remember Panna l (which was around the corner) and he knew exactly what I was talking about.

IF 5 WAS 10 - CHUNKY SOUP (5 MORE SELECTIONS)

1/22/15 - Philly Style Cheesesteak - Could use some Salt, Definitely Tasty but not as Cheesey as one might suspect. Actually kind of bland from what you would expect to be a Sodium Drenched Soup.

(790 mg 33%)

Really a Potato Soup with some Steak Slices, the Broth is hardly Cheesey.

9/29/15 - Creamy Chicken & Dumplings - I have been eyeing this one in my collection for awhile and do recall my dad mentioning homeade Dumplings on more than one occasion, if I ever did have a Soup Dumpling it has been rarely and I have no recollection.

The addition of String Bean to the almost "Pot Pie" Broth is suitable. I am totally Digging On The Dumpling, really just a ball of Flour but great in a Broth. a few Peas and Carrot Cubes herein as well, Very Good.

CHUNKY SOUP 2013 ENTRY

DIRCK THE NORSEMAN ll

Dirck Welcomes You.

Being more "Seasoned" with the Menu there are certain must haves and the Chicken Schnitzel is one of them.

Dirck's Sausage might be the Greatest thing on the Menu, Just the right amount of Zip and perfect amount of Tang.

Sauteed Mushrooms, the surprise winner from our previous visit, OK maybe not beating out the Sausage but,...

The OTHER Schnitzel, Mushroom Schnitzel.

Everyone Loves Spare Ribs.

Well I just had to Didn't I. Being a fan of the band MAGMA how could I pass this up.

Magma Noir, quite the Fruity little number.

DIRCK THE NORSEMAN 2014 ENTRY

THINK BIG NOT TEENY WHEN ITS TORTELLINI

1/18/15 - "The Kitchen Sink" - I had lofty goals for my first Tortellini Salad but then decided to go with what you got as in stuff I had lying around, sounds like a good solid plan and it was. Asking around for Dressing advice there were many on offer but Chef Joe answered "Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Salt, Pepper and Parmesan Cheese" of which everything was on hand except I just had plain Red Wine Vinegar.

I added some Sliced Red Pepper Rings, Pimiento Olives and Diced Bermuda Onion (had to shop for that) along with a dash of Lemon Juice but what spoiled the broth was my insistence to do everything by eye and I splashed a bit too much Vinegar, next time I will use a teaspoon and go from there.

Tortellini and Tupperware work well together.

1/4/15 - Twelve Tortellini French Onion Soup with Grated Cheese of course.

IT CAME FROM A BOX - HAMBURGER HELPER ll

And I am not going to apologize for it. Hamburger Helper is one of those mainstays that I can only say that I honestly really enjoy. Every now & then I truly crave it so when on sale ($1.99) I tend to stockpile a few boxes and stockpile I did. While seeking what Pasta's I had on offer to make a what turned out to be Rotelle w. Meat Sauce (which I turned into Lasagna by adding Mozz and Ricotta) I found FOUR boxes of Hamburger Helper way in the back on top of my fridge, Well now I have Six Boxes !!! Its A Party !!!

Cheesy Enchilada - Spicy, Cheesy Rice with a topping which you make separately that can only be likened to powdered Sour Cream, might not sound entirely appetizing but I am already planning on my second bowl. Upon  further inspection of the packaging I see they were going for a Blue Cheese Topping and not Sour Cream, could've fooled me, still Delicious.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

HAMBURGER HELPER 2014 ENTRY

SPICY MELA INDIAN CUISINE - Long Island City, New York

I was in an alien neighborhood this morning, I mean there weren't actual extraterrestrials there but I mean to say the neighborhood was alien to me. On the way to the train I spied a hole in the wall take out place boasting a $1 Samosa, well I am a sucker for Samosa's, after all they don't call me Samosa Sam for nuthin'.

Of course rarely having Indian Food these days I had to get more than just a Samosa. Pictured above is Chicken Tikka Masala, Chili Chicken and plain Basmati Rice ($7) with two helpings of Tikka Masala sauce (I got a third helping on the way out with my leftovers) and the food was indeed passable but not nearly as good as a sit down restaurant but I was still happy.

And a Samosa shall lead us.

My first choice is the Meat Samosa but they only serve Vegetable ($1) so Vegetable it shall be, available with a choice of two sauces, Sweet or Spicy and I went for the Spicy. Decent Samosa but nothing I had was even vaguely Spicy, let us see how the leftovers fare.

Addendum - The leftovers fared well, all gone now.

Top Row (L to R) Chicken Curry, Paneer (Indian Cheese) Tikka Masala, Vegetable Tikka Masala, Zucchini Curry

Bottom Row (L to R) - Chili Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, ?, Cauliflower

SPICY MELA ON YELP

AEROSOL CHEESE IS MAGIC AND IT COMES IN A CAN

For a few months I had been seeking Aerosol Cheese at my local supermarket to no avail, it is just one of those (dare I say) Foods that I crave on an annual basis. My friend Carl told me to check the Cracker aisle since there was no Easy Cheese to be found whence it usually sat amongst the other Pasteurized Processed Cheese Food Products (Cheez-Whiz and Velveeta) and while diligently seeking for Original Flavored Wheat Thins there it was nestled towards the bottom of the shelving amidst the boxes of Crackers.

Easy Cheese and its ilk are most commonly served on Crackers and also work really well on those little Hors D'Oeuvres sized Rye & Pumpernickel Breads.

BUT, LETS SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO WITH AEROSOL CHEESE.

Construct an Aerosol Olive.

Mac & Cheese the Rotelle Way.

Goes Great with your Cold Cut of choice.

Some say the Potato Chip is the construct of Life.

Others say it is better with Easy Cheese.

Even Olive Loaf bows down to the Greatness.

Leggo My Cheesy Eggo.

Goes Great in Soup.

The possibilities are quite endless.

THE HISTORY OF EASY CHEESE ON TUMBLR

PROGRESSO SOUPS ll

12/17/14 - Chickarina - Possibly one of Progresso's top sellers because I don't think any of the major canned Soup companies produce an item quite like this.

Meatballs, Chicken, Celery, Carrots and Pasta in a Chicken Broth. I found there to be too much Pasta in my serving but still a great one and of course don't forget the Grated Cheese of which like Italian Wedding Soup reviewed below Romano Cheese is amongst the ingredients listed.

1/3/15 - Italian Wedding Soup - This Looks Fantastic with Meatballs, Spinach, Carrots and Tubetinni in Chicken Broth. Very similar to Chickarina but I'm going have to give this one the edge, less Noodles but sometimes I don't want so many Noodles and the Spinach really helps. Now I will add some Grated Parmesan, Wedding Soup contains Romano Cheese but you can never have too much can you.

1/5/15 - "Light" Zesty Southwestern Style Vegetable - Big Chunks of Carrots and Red Peppers and of course the Corn is always a nice touch, the Broth is slightly Zesty but could use more Zing in my book. The Black Beans and Celery also give it a nice touch but kind of Bland and I was in the mood for a Meatless, Noodless Soup. The Ingredients also read Tomatoes and Green Sweet Peppers.

Well it is part of the "Light" line, not Bad but not Great.

PROGRESSO SOUP 2013 ENTRY