TWO BOOTS 2/12/13

Jamie celebrates Carnival (pronounced Karnivale' or Karn Evil 9) every year and one of the best places (for atmosphere) to party up is Two Boots of Brooklyn. The first two (boots) locations I knew of were in Greenwich Village and were mainly Pizzerias with maybe a dozen "specialty" slices named after pop culture stars, I favored the Mr. Pink which was Marinated Chicken, Plum Tomatoes, Fresh Garlic and Mozzarella and there was a Cajun Seafood slice that I did not like as much but it was certainly unique. Two Boots also put Corn Meal on the underside of their Pizza which was also interesting and I also had my first Po' Boy Sammich there but enough of the Pizza Etymology and lets fast forward twenty years.

It's so good that Jamie and myself ordered the same thing, namely the Chicken Fried Steak with a choice of two sides, These two sides are also so good that we ordered the same thing, Mashed Potatoes and Greens (Collard Greens). While we ate every last bite it also occurred to us that this is not gourmet dining as we sent our Steaks back because they were a little "gamey" and even the second plates still had some game in them. The authentic recipe for Chicken Fried Steak is Cube or Minute Steak which can and most likely will be "gamey" so I cannot really complain and you will find me there next Carnival ordering you guessed it,... Chicken Fried Steak.

For Appetizer the Fried Okra with Dipping Sauce.

It's Not Carnival without a slice of King Cake, this one was on the dry side unfortunately but still Kingly in manner.

Jamie's sister Carol was out of town so we stayed at her place a few blocks away. Afraid I might not be able to sleep since Jamie keeps a normal sleeping Schedule and I probably awoke at 3 p.m. that day I picked up some cerveza at the Deli downstairs, a Beer drinker I have become less of over the years and it was difficult to imbibe Malt Liquor at 4 a.m. when i awoke while watching "Everybody Loves Raymond" and the famous Spanish Bumblebee sitcom "Channel Ocho" so when Jamie left for work at 10ish I left my leftovers by the corner mailbox and trashcan in hopes that a vagabond or transient might appreciate this gift. But this is Park Slope and transient vagabonds are in short supply.

PULLED PORK OF THE PACKAGED KIND -

Almost ALL sandwiches cry out for a side dish to compliment the flavor, I for one very rarely if ever have a Cheesburger without French Fries, even at Barbeques there is often Green Salad, Potato Salad, Guacamole, Salsa, Corn Salsa!!! or just plain Potato Chips that wind up on the plate but very few Sandwiches can stand alone without distraction and Pulled Pork is one of them.

To make matters risky and trickier I am sampling the Supermarket Packaged kind from their Meat Market.

2/5/13 - Jack Daniels - (pictured above) Pulled Chicken with Bread & Butter Chips on a Potato Roll. The Sauce was a little smokier than Tony Roma's "Sweet & Spicy" Flavor.

1/4/13 - Tony Romas - Sweet & Spicy Pork - This was the very first time I tried "Pulled Pork from the Package" and was only just surprised that it was Delicious and very close to what it is supposed to taste like!!!, In haste to get dinner done on this night I microwaved the "microwave safe" boil-in type bag for the recommended 5 minutes but some of the sauce became "candied" and stuck to the corners in the bag having been a bit attacked with heat, future endeavors have been pan fried with much better results).

This plate also features Homemade Potato saucers, Coleslaw (courtesy of Frank & Sals) and Princess Corn Casserole of the Dense. Still slowly getting rid of my first ever Casserole but it has been difficult it being such a dense dish and all.

ITS TIME FOR A MARTINI

Three Olives - Flavorful Vodka taste, minimal aftertaste and vaporous light burn (2) Frankly I was surprised after purchasing this as a mid-priced brand at $25.99/1.75 Liter

Smirnoff - Unobtrusive taste, slightly chalky aftertaste, light burn (3) (this was had directly after the impressive Three Olives Martini stated above). tag removed/375 mL*

Romanoff - Rough bite, vaporous aftertaste with lingering burn (4/5), virtually undrinkable. $13.99/ 1.75 Liter

Barton - Very similar to the Romanoff Vodka mentioned above and in the same "basement" neighborhood except this has a Rougher bite, much more aftertaste and prevalent burn (5).

Sobiewski - Light Taste, slight aftertaste, Light Burn (2). Very similar to Three Olives. This one is a Polish Vodka and recommended me by my friend Wendy. $19.99/1.75 Liter

* - found surplus in my computer table (January 2013), purchased for a road gig but unused.

The GIN Martini

A Real Martini or Original Recipe is the Gin Martini (I am so personally afraid of the Gin from previous experiences) and I have always liked my Gin but never had it around so in the wee hours as Jamie slept I crept to the Vermouth and spied the Gin in her bar.

Gordons - Gin snap to it but Very smooth surprisingly (it being Gordons "the most mixable") with barely an aftertaste and a very light burn if at all, my notes (iPhone) rate the burn a "1". Also my first Martini proper or Gin Martini ever if memory serves me right, Outstanding !!!

Had a Gordons Gin Martini at home and did not like it at all, very strange.

LIVERWURST & VELVEETA ON A RITZ

A mainstay of the New Years Eve parties of my youth when I used to drink White Rock or Key Quality Black Cherry Soda out of a shot glass with my dad at my side, he introduced me to this Snack and I always adhere to the certain Original Recipe Ingredients.

• Liverwurst (or) Braunschweiger in Sausage Casing shaped tube.
• Velveeta Cheese Original Flavor (Brick).
• Ritz Crackers Original Flavor.

Still tastes the same except maybe there's a little less Salt on the Ritz, but then again maybe not.

PANKO CHIPOTLE CHICKEN (Homeade) 1/19/13

This was mouth-wateringly good, Sometimes even a Great Chef outdoes herself and that is what Jamie did with some simple ingredients, The Panko chipotle Bread crumbs are amazing but then Jamie did add some other Secret Spices as well.

this is what I wrote on facebook.

Chef Jamie outdid herself with a simple dish of Panko Chipotle Chicken Cutlets and Sazon Rice with Cheese.

CAMPBELL'S CHUNKY SOUP (5 Selections)

1/15/13 - Savory Pot Roast - Tender Beef and Hearty Broth, a little Veggie undertone to the overall taste.

The can says Pour Over Mashed Potatoes.

1/16/13 - Kickin' Buffalo Style Chicken - Melt in your mouth Chicken in a Cayenne Pepper Cheddar Cheese Broth with Potatoes, Celery, Red Peppers. In Broth This is the Soup version of Tostito's Salsa Con Queso Dip AND DELICIOUS !!!! would probably be good with Jalapeño Slices and/or Bacon.

The can says Serve Over Cornbread.

My very first impression came from pouring this into the pot to be taken aback by the almost bright yet inviting cheddar cheese coloring of the broth which answered my questions from the photo on the can and also left me with the forethought of the "Get the kids to eat soup too" campaign in the pipeline.

Bright and Inviting Kickin' Buffalo Style Chicken'

10/21/14 - I Love This Soup, I bet they don't make it anymore, Bastards, Two cans down, one to go.

1/17/13 - Chipotle Chicken & Corn Chowder - Once again very tender (possibly stewed) Chicken Meat in a slightly Spicy (Chipotle) Corn Chowder broth with Potatoes at the fore and a Beany, Corny undercurrent and aftertaste.

The can says Pour Over Rice.

So impressed and Excited was I with the "Kickin' Buffalo Style Chicken" that I made a special trip to the store for the "third" new soup from Chunky, the Corn Chowder. So far the Buffalo Chicken is the favorite.

A none too enticing (to my eye) Corny Yellow Broth.

1/22/13 - Beef with Country Vegetable - Potato, Carrots and Peas with Tender Beef in a "Meaty" Broth reminiscent of Dinty Moore Beef Stew.

The can says Pour Over Rice.

Incidentally the "Beef cube" in the photo above while from the same can was in fact brought to the surface with the soup spoon so was in fact staged for the shot.

3/6/13 - Jammin' Jerk Chicken with Rice & Beans - The Least hearty of the bunch, Chicken, Potato, Carrots, Celery, Rice and Beans in a somewhat thin broth. Could be Spicier but this is Campbells U.S.A.

The can doesn't suggest anything, well I suppose there is already Rice in the soup.

A Bit Runny but it is Soup NOT Stew.

We know it isn't Health Food, Leave Us Alone.

CAMPBELLS CHUNKY SOUP SITE

DRAGON GARDEN 12/9/12 Brooklyn, New York

Chinese Tex-Mex has become a staple of New York's cheap eats now for about twenty years (early 90s) and the first place I came across this was in Times Square offering a 99 cent Taco (Crunchy or Soft) so I had to have one (I mean two), first thing I realize is its chinese people making mexican food,.. OK I guess, certainly did not make me walk out. These days lots of chinese take out restaurants offer a full chinese menu and   tex-mex menu to maximize sales and variety, They also make the Tortillas from scratch with a Tortilla pressing machine transforming a ball of Flour and Water into a Bready Pancake made to order as you wait, you can usually watch too.

Pictured above is a Steak Burrito that I ordered late one night (10:30 p.m.) before closing time, when I arrived they kindly informed me that they were out of mexican Rice and would I mind them substituting yellow Rice. I did not mind and it was even more Delicious. 

The counter at Dragon Garden on 18th avenue. All of the chinese take out places in Brooklyn are pretty much modeled this way.

I added some Cracker Barrel Cheddar Cheese to my Steak Burrito and I am aware that partially eaten food does not a good photo make but it was So Good. A chinese tex-mex Burrito is mexican Rice, Beans (black or pinto), Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato and Guacamole with Salsa and Sour Cream on the side.

The Facade of Dragon Garden at night. I am forever grateful to them for feeding my mother Inchu in her last few years, my mom stopped making white Rice daily but would always order Fried Pork Dumplings (Mandu), a half a Chicken (of which the cat got some) and white Rice from them. It was the saddest thing when I stopped in there after my mother's passing and was asked "how's your mother ?"
I will always be loyal to Dragon Garden and their Delicious Food. These days I tend to order tex-mex because I have had chinese Food a million times but have recently taken a shining to the Lunch Special Sweet & Sour Chicken with Pork Fried Rice and a Wonton Soup.

Maneki-Niko the good luck cat.