PIZZERIA UNO 12/6/14 Brooklyn, New York

I have been wanting to try Pizzeria Uno for years specifically because they make the Chicago style Deep Dish Pizza but after viewing Jon Stewart's "Rant" on New York Versus Chicago Style Pizza It only escalated my interest. 

Well, Jon was completely right in my opinion insofar as a "Deep Dish" does not conquer a "Slice" but now I know for myself. 

The Deep Dish was Great, actually kind of like a Sicilian square but in a Pie form, no complaints at all and I only conquered one Slice as it was preceded by the Sliders pictured below but I do have four slices in my Fridge A La Leftovers. This was the first time in my life that I actually had to Eat Pizza with a fork and a knife.

Nuovo Deep Dish Italiano (pictured above) - Italian Sausage, Roasted Vegetables and Chunky Tomato Sauce topped with Mozzarella, Ricotta and Fresh Basil just like the menu says, Did I like this ? Yes I did.

Guac, Chips & Dip - Well as the Menu says this is exactly what this appetizer is, Basically it is Guacamole, Chips and Dip consisting of Creamy Guacamole, multi-colored Tortilla Chips and Spicy Salsa Dip, exactly the type of thing you cannot stop picking at even realizing that the real Food is coming to your table shortly.

Burger Sliders - Cheddar Cheese topped mini Burgers served with "Ultimate Burger Sauce" but where was the Sauce ? it certainly passed me by but on the other hand I was too busy chowing down to notice even though I was in anticipation on trying said sauce as touted on the menu. 

Served with a Pickle.

OK, Who buys a Burger for the Sauce,... these were quite good.

Chicago Classic - Crumbled Sausage, Chunky Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella & Romano.

UNO ONLINE

OTHER PEOPLE'S FOOD - CEVICHE - GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR

The Plate Map courtesy of Maria

My friend Frank and his girlfriend Maria had some authentic Ceviche in the country that makes it the best and boy do I wish I could try this and someday I most certainly hope to. 

Pictured above is a smattering of various other dishes of the republic and boy do I hope to try these as well someday.

A glimpse of the Menu.

The storefront window I take it. This I am told is an out of the way place and as is the case with the best Foods available in any country this is the way to do it.

Ceviche On Parade, Just looking at that Shrimp makes my mouth water.

Ceviche is purportedly a Peruvian dish based on Seafood cured in Citrus Juice.

Ceviche flanked by Plantain Chips and Fresh Plantains.

I will have one of each please.

Let us hear from Frank who took these photos and lived the experience.

- On my last trip to Ecuador Maria and I had the pleasure of stopping at one of the best Cevicheria's in Guayaquil, "Aqui Esta Marcelo's"

The Ceviche was especially good, the place was packed. The walls were open to the street and I could see and hear downtown Guayaquil as I ate my Lunch. One thing that caught my attention was that I was the only "gringo" in the place... a good sign I was eating the best local Ceviche made by Ecuadorians for Ecuadorians who know good Ceviche. The Shrimp Ceviche I had was perfect. Not too tart, not bitter, and not too sweet. The Onions were Delicious and in perfect proportion to the rest of the dish, I could hardly taste them, adding only a fresh squeezed Lime and about 1 teaspoon of Ketchup. Perfect ...

SI CLARO

THEY'RE RED HOT !!! - TAMALES IN A CAN

I had been eyeing these canned Tamales literally for months attending SMOOCH rehearsals in Staten Island. Never had I seen these on the Supermarket or convenience store shelf in my hometown of Brooklyn and becoming overly intrigued I plunked down my cash and grabbed a can ($2.29) because I just had to.

Surprisingly the Food Artisans at Hormel got the Corn Masa just about right and the Sauce was indeed on the Spicy side, the Beef was of the typical canned kind which is not the worst yet certainly not the best (think Chef Boyardee) but what are we to expect. 

I will never buy these again but at the same time this vacuum packed oddity has finally been sampled and was not an inedible dissapointment. BRAVO Hormel.

This Mesoamerican Mayan Dish has now been canned.

I suppose Corn Husk (as unique Tamales are encased in) may wilt in the suspended animation of the canned state so Hormel has substituted wax paper, however the Corn Masa would not stand a chance otherwise so they had to.

Actually this Casserole sounds pretty good.

Only Three Grams of Saturated Fat too.

HORMEL ONLINE

LOCK YARD - Brooklyn, New York

Maybe just a mediocre Frankfurter but certainly an authentic Dog, the kind where you cannot truly eat off the end/tip because there is a proliferation of tubing at the cut off point in some instances.

Pictured above is the Monster I had to go for, The Seattle Sound.

RC Cola Caramelized Onions, Banana Peppers, Sriracha Aioli, Everything Bagel Seeds and CREAM CHEESE, Sold me completely. 

Always go with the Weirdo

Who knew Cream Cheese would work with a Hot Dog,... Well it most certainly did and being an architect in my own mind of Genoa Salami and Cream Cheese (I thought 28 hours later) can I really protest ?

Seriously though, where did the Everything Bagel Seeds come from ? are they in cahoots with another business.

Just half of the extensive Hot Doggie Menu on offer, Kill Me Already, one of each please.

Zuckerman's Famous - Simple and Sweet, Cheddar Cheese and Thick Cut Bacon.

Can You Go Wrong ?

umm, NO !!!

LOCK YARD ONLINE

OTHER PEOPLE'S FOOD - SEAN'S TORTELLINI CARBONARA

Like Bread, rules are made to be broken so for the first time in this Blogs current forty two months of existence I am going to report on someone else's Food. 

I was nowhere in the vicinity of this Creamy Goodness nor did I even get any olfactory proof of its sheer existence (much less a taste) but as these photos were texted across the wire to me on my personal device I could only ooh and aah.

The proof is in the pictures folks, you know this is The Good Stuff.

Sauteed (upon a thin coating of Bacon Fat) Mushroom, Onions, Garlic and what I must surmise is Frozen Peas due to the greenness of their hue.

Add some Bacon, Heavy Cream, Butter and Grated Cheese and it gets even better. As I said I was not in the room so I am only going from memory and the brief conversation I had with my good friend and all around old bean Chef Sean as I praised these photos.

Incidentally credit must got to Chef Joe whom while roomating with Chef Sean many years ago this monumental dish was first introduced into our lives after which the light bulb went off, more like Gigantic Taste Bud Explosion went off but you know what I mean.

The Carbonara Sauce reduces and thickens awaiting its courtship and marriage to a small army of Cheese Tortellini.

Am I Jealous ? YES !!!

IHATEAMUSHYTORTELLINI - Chef Sean

FOOD DAY - 2014

You can take the man out of Brooklyn but you can never take the Brooklyn out of the man.

My friend Frank (A.O.F.) takes his two hour commute back to Brooklyn a few times a year to stock up on some Foodness which is unique to the area of which his youth was ensconced and we always meet up and indulge. While this BLOG is strictly Food and not "people" the back story must be mentioned as he is the deviser and entitler of FOOD DAY and this entry is hopefully the first of many more. 

Frank did get some 7 Layer Cookies, S Cookies and Anisette Cookies at the 18th avenue Bakery on 60th street prior to rendezvous.

If you look carefully our mystery man is somewhere in the epicenter of the photo above, don't blink or you might get a "Rice Ball In Da Head !!!" (in a thick Brooklyn accent).

First stop was Lioni's and while I was pacing myself (foolishly perhaps) my friend got some Prosciutto Balls and a #44 The Paul Sorvino Hero (Sausage & Broccoli Rabe) of which we shared.

I snapped a photo of the Deli Fridge showcase and as we can see it is full of Meatballs, Chicken, Chicken/Turkey Meatballs (not sure) and Sausage.

Two Manhattan Specials (diet and original) Espresso Soda's to go with Meal one at Lioni's and some Fresh Mozzarella (salted and smoked) to bring back for mom.

Afterwards we stopped in next door to Romeo Brothers Meat Market and my friend picked up some Cocktail Franks and I spied with my little eye Bacon and Cheese Spiral Sausage !!! which is unheard of, he got a piece and gifted me a piece as well.

11/16/14 - Bell & Evans Chicken Sausage with Bacon & Cheese - Out of this world and of course its Chicken, Bacon and Cheese and not Pork, Bacon and Cheese, makes much more sense. I overcooked mine a bit unfortunately being so used to making Pork Sausages.

When in Brooklyn Do as the Brooklynites Do. 

Onto the train we went Metrocards in hand to Nathans Famous on Stillwell avenue, The Original Nathan's !!!.

I was still foolishly pacing myself but did for the first time sample Nathan's Shrimp & Chips which was quite good, I cannot say the same for the Cornbread and Coleslaw served as sides but,...

Watcha gonna do ?.

Amongst the Best Sicilian Slices in Brooklyn, Da Vinci's !!!

They fell short this time, my theory is the Squares were sitting out for a bit (45 minutes was my estimation) and I have never been disappointed, this time I was. 

We still had Go Ba at Silver Star on the horizon. I will be back to Da Vinci's of course, you can never truly ruin a Classic until the Chef's change of course and I recognized the Chef's so that wasn't it.

Seven months prior a noisy sizzling Platter passed our table while dining which is not uncommon but always intriguing. My plates never sizzled but as with Indian Food there are sizzling dishes which pass by intriguingly and I asked the waiter what it was, he replied "Go Ba". Well, we made a plan to get this on the next visit.

Seven months later and it was time, "Go Ba" it shall be.

Really Great as expected, Barbecued to an extent of perfection, basically Pork, Chicken and what I can only surmise as being Shredded Pork (of which I am usually not a fan of but I loved this time) with mixed Chinese Vegetables served with a good portion of Rice and Soup of choice, my friend got the Won Ton and I was Still pacing myself but left the table completely Stuffed.

FOOD DAY was a Complete Success and I await FOOD DAY 2.

Silver Star Restaurant on Video. Frankly (A.O.F.) I was surprised to find no previous footage on Youtube of this Classic eatery, Well here we begin the cinematic Dynasty 70 years into this iconic Restaurants existence.

DARTH NOODLE.

Even Darth Vader likes Silver Star unusually long and contorted Noodles - Fast Frankie Cee 2014

LIONIS HERO MENU

NATHANS FAMOUS ONLINE

LIONIS - 11/10/14

It took me less than 5 minutes to make a decision, I wanted to treat myself to something on my birthday and Lionis Prosciutto Balls was just the ticket. I have mentioned this before but whenever I do take a walk over I am surprised at how close it is to my apartment and wonder why I don't go more often. As usual everything was on offer and it was difficult to contain myself.

Delicious Fresh Baked Italian Bread, probably 3 footers.

Some Nice Bocconcini with Plum Tomatoes in Olive Oil.

Would I wear this on a t-shirt ?, Hell Yeah !!!

I Love my Lard Bread but Lard Rolls ? Hell Yeah !!!

As seen from 78th street on the 14th avenue side.

LIONIS ONLINE