TACOS LOPEZ

T - GIVE 2017

Independence Day Barbecue Bash - Brooklyn, New York

The Rainbow arcing the skyline of my block predicted good tidings for the Independence Day Barbecue festivities I was about to attend and the Rainbow was right.

Laura & Stanley prepared some good old fashioned American Eats for the evening.

For instance Baked Beans with Bacon. I behaved myself and did not eat ALL of the Bacon, must leave some for "the others".

The Classic Bacon Cheeseburger.

The Cheddar Cheese was on the bottom of the Burger.

A Burger Bar was on offer much to everyones delight.

Lettuce, Tomato, Pickle Slices, Fresh Jalapeño Slices, Home Made Picco De Gallo, Pickled Red Pepper, Bermuda Onion and BACON.

and of course Condiments.

Caroline supplied some Delicious Bakery Cookies as well.

At Lauras request I brought some Pocky for the daughters.

POCKY PARTY !!!

And a splendid time was had by all until I was called into work at 2 a.m. but how else would one afford POCKY without work.

FOOD DAY lV 2017

Twas' another marvelous Food Day.

My Bro' Frank and his clan travelled into town to procure some Brooklyn Eats and this is always a joyous occasion with much merriment, conversation and Well,... FOOD

I have only had Spumoni from THE PLACE several times in my life as I do not have a sweet tooth so I can count my Spumoni experiences from The L & B Spumoni Gardens on two hands.

Spumoni Garden - The half tray of Sicilian Squares are unveiled.

Malkito ate 11 of the 12 Slices but we all shared the other one.

Next Stop - Silver Star of which a lifetime of Chinese American Food heritage has been built on.

This is my dish of Chicken with Peanuts flanked by Pork Fried Rice as I continue my journey into the unknown trying dishes I have previously not from their Illustrious Menu.

La Famiglia - (L to R) Malkito, Adrianna, Frank, Maria and my Beautiful God Daughter Amelia.

Taken under the Classic Silver Star Arch.

Malkito still found room for some Chicken Fried Rice after his Eleven Sicilian Slices at L & B Spumoni Garden.

I am kidding around, he may have had the majority,... O.K. 10 Slices.

18th Avenue Bakery, Franks stopover for 7 Layer Cookies and Cream Puffs.

LIONI'S for take home Foods.

I purchased a Dozen Prosciutto Balls.

(6 for $5.00)

Six for Laura's Barbecue and six for the Fridge.

Best Prosciutto Balls in town.

WHAT'S THAT SMELL ?, ITS TACO BELL - 6/27/17

IT'S A MANS, MANS, MANS WORLD - THE MANWICH.

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST - VEGAS DINER

With the proliferation in the continuing advance of co-ops going up and Diners going down one wonders WHERE THE HECK DO I GET A BURGER OR BREAKFAST SPECIAL AT 4 a.m. !!!

Well Vegas Diner is the next in line to leave us.

I personally am not even a Diner dweller but they do come in handy after a late night gig with my band or a late night gig seeing someone else's band.

As the seconds tick by Vegas shall join the "Was" list and will be missed.

Pictured above is my mainstay the Bacon Cheeseburger Deluxe with a Cup of Gravy on the side. 

Onion Rings, Steak Fries, Lettuce, Tomato and BACON. 

Of course Coleslaw and Pickles are served pre Dinner.

My last experience at Vegas fifteen years prior to this posting was a tad unsatisfying and overpriced but the price remained close to the target on this next sojourn over a decade later and the Burger was Delicious, pretty much an 8/10 so I was completely satisfied.

As many of these Diners are Greek owned/run I am always tempted (actually never) to get the Gyro Platter or (heaven forbids) a Greek Salad but how can I resist with a Delicious Burger on offer.

My ammunition of choice when and where you can get one.

The LIME RICKEY.

Vegas does make the Perfect Lime Rickey and are amongst a dying breed producing this Old-Timey fountain Soda. Perhaps before their closure in just days I shall cry into my proverbial Beer Rickey.

My first Lime Rickey nigh 30 years past was at the long gone and revered Richilieu Restaurant on 18th avenue & 64th street and my life has been enriched never to be the same again.

THE CUP OF GRAVY.

This I need not explain, Used to Dip your French Fries (and possibly morsel of Burger in).

Would be kind of sick to drink like a cup of Joe (Coffee) but remember in Food there are no rules.

Cristina got a Veggie Burger which I had a bite of and quite enjoyed, there actually were whole Peas and Corn interspersed throughout. 

Flanked by Sweet Potato Fries, Onion Rings and the ever present Lettuce & Tomato.

The Cheese was placed separately for individualistic Vegetarian preferential guidelines.

While I personally never ordered a glass of Wine at a Diner it is on offer.

VIVA LAS VEGAS !!!

IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE McKnow IT

Cristina was craving some Mickey D's and for the life of me I cannot explain why but she did. 

As we sauntered on over I was a pessimistic critic of the corporate evils and brainwashing techniques employed to cloud the public at large into lusting after such items as the BIG MAC.

But while I was there I would just have to get something all the while presciently ready to complain on this here Blog.

Being of sound mind and meager pocket I ordered a McDouble and small Fries from the 2 for $3 menu ($ 17.95 after tax). This was the usual fare that I expected but after opening a can of Coke at home it improved somewhat, and Yes I am still hungry.

Quarter (actual size).

Yes, the Food is edible and the Fries should be imbibed while Hot as opposed to after a walk back home. 

The Burger is extremely paltry, at least when you shop White Castle that is part of the charm. 

An unsatisfying experience. Burger King wins Big Time.

McDonalds recently introduced the Larger sized MEGA Mac of which I cannot speak for and my franchise did not appear to have it on offer. 

Anyways, not to complain,...

(what the heck was the last buncha malarkey)

McDonalds is my least favorite Fast Food Restaurant thus far.

Cristina got a paltry Hamburger, Chicken McNuggets (no extra charge for the Filler) and a medium Fries ($67.50)

Look, Up in the sky, It's a bird, It's a plane, It's The Golden Arches.

One of the straws almost dwarfs the size of my entire order.

The Fifth Ring Of Hell - Dante.

MSG falling into the corporate maelstrom.

PUFF'N CORN MEATBALLS (need I say more)

It was a normal night and I set out to make some Meatballs around 1 a.m. but that is a reasonable hour since Cristina and her mom are awake most of the night and I wanted these mainly as microwaveable leftover fodder so I set about the typical process of mixing the mixture.

Chop Meat, Diced Garlic, Bread Crumbs, Salt, Pepper, Onion Powder, Parsley,...

Just like normal.

Then I decided to up the ante a tad and mind you I have not smoked pot in years.

I resisted adding Diced Onion in favor of Diced Water Chestnuts, Cotija Cheese as opposed to Grated Parmesan, a Dash of Soy Sauce, some Semolina Bread moistened with water just like old timey Stuffing and some Ground Puff'N Corn Hulless Cheese Snacks by UTZ.



Delicious and Juicy, could use a dash or more of Salt but is not that almost always the case ?

I would never guess there was any Puff'n Corn in this beast but it is only my first try.

FUKI SUSHI (part Vl) - Spring/Summer 2017

WEIRD TACOS INSIDE THE GOLDMINE

Rice-A-Roni, Tomato, Spanish Olives, Jalapeño Pepper, Pimento flanked with Avocado topped with Codjita Cheese, Iceberg Lettuce topped with Sour Cream and a Stuffed Grape Leaf.

Refried Beans, Ground Beef, Tomato and Deli American Cheese and Iceberg Lettuce topped with Sour Cream with a couple of Ore-Ida French Fries on the side.

SPAM and American Cheese flanked by Iceberg Lettuce Korean Bean Paste.

Chicken Cutlet, Refried Beans, Tomato, Diced Onion topped with Codjita Cheese. Flanked with Iceberg Lettuce topped with Sour Cream and Fresh Jalapeño Pepper.

Sausage & Peppers (Frank & Sals), White Cheddar, Trappeys Hot Sauce, Fresh Jalapeño Pepper. Flanked by Iceberg Lettuce & 2 chunks of Provolone Cheese.

Chicken Cutlet, Refried Beans and a Cheese of an undeterminable nature flanked by Iceberg Lettuce and Sharp Provolone Chunks.