THE LAFFA BREAD MADE ME DO IT

I Blame this all on the Laffa Bread.

This barely warrants a posting but well,... The Laffa Bread even it being from a package does warrant a posting. I had a "Eureka" moment and decided to use Ground Chicken as opposed to "Chop Meat" (Ground Beef) and this came out gangbusters.

Speaking with my friend Stanley on all things Bread we were discussing the Pita Bread without the pocket and yes I was familiar with this as well so when I came across a possible candidate at the local corner store I took a chance and was correct in my purchase, cloud like puffiness and lacking of a pocket, just what the Chef ordered.

Caramelized some Onions, Peppers and quite possibly Garlic.

With the addition of a Hot Sauce extravaganza courtesy of my Christmas gift from Christina this topped it all off.

CHRISTMAS 2016

Roast Beast - Caroline outdid herself once again, so much so that we had no room to Eat Dinner after the appetizers were served and hastily devoured (in a gentle person fashion of course). The Roast Beast was done to perfection accompanied by a gathering of La Potato Y Carrots.

Seafood Assortment Appetizer - This was Shrimp and Lobster Claws served with a Dill/Mustard/Vinegar based Sauce and was aimed towards Cristina's pre-Dinner Fulfillment synapses, not that the rest of us did not indulge.

Matzoh Ball Soup - This was Delicious but truth be told I had it as a leftover and added perhaps too much Dill Weed accompanied by a Dash of Pepper after checking the reheated temperature so cannot truly report on its savoriness. Most Fine Indeed after the fact and Caroline doesn't mess around.

Let us not forget for Dessert there was home made Italian layer Cookies and Greek Sugar Cookies.

Cranberry Bread - This fell under the "Too Much" Food and not served as we were all Bloated from the gist of Appetizers (and Champagne) pre-Dinner but Cristina was enjoying a Slice here & there for Breakfast the next morning and room for a Slice was certainly made in my appetite, I felt this would be perfectly complimented with a Schmear (Sandwich style) of Cream Cheese.

Guess What ? I was Right.

12/24/16 Christmas Eve - Sea Breeze Fish Market was out of Salmon Pinwheels just a day prior to Christmas Eve Dinner and quite the crowd of shoppers were lined up outside mongering for their Seafood so Cristina told me on the phone "Don't worry about it, we can go to Silver Star instead" and that is exactly what we did, and We Loved it. 

No Mess, No Clean Up.

Yes there is a sense of achievement in Cooking for persons but for once I exited fulfilled, happy, in the spirit of the holiday and not even one drop of dishwashing liquid used. 

(Well afterwards at home but only for minor things).

Above is my Dinner of Chicken with Black Bean Sauce, Egg Roll and Pork Fried Rice.

Cristina enjoyed a new Dish to herself and even surprised the Chef by ordering Shrimp with Peppers & Onions which it seems is an rarely ordered plate due to the slight confusion that ensued but in Silver Star fashion was placated in under 10 seconds.

A POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES & A CHEESE DRAWER TOO.

ITS LIKE TRYING TO FIT THREE POUNDS OF BALONEY INTO A TWO POUND BAG

Not too much to report here except that I need to make MORE CHILI !!!. 

Going to get a few tips from Chef Joe as the Youtube clips I have viewed have not enlightened me with anything new recipe wise.

My Chili needs to be Hotter as in Spicier and Chili Peppers seem to be the Obvious remedy. 

As a new addition I added Diced Steak Pizzaiola alongside the Chop Meat to my Recipe which has only proved an improvement.

Freshly Diced Jalapeño and Garlic.

Diced Onion and in this case Beef Pizzaiola which may (or may not) differ from Steak Pizzaiola.

The best part of adjusting Spices is the Tasting test.

Some of the aromatic ingredients that are integral to a home made Chili.

And with the other Pound of Chop Meat I made Meatballs.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS - TANGRA MASALA Queens, New York

T-Give 2016 - Wild, Wild Planet

My dearest Coraline prepared a Thanksgiving Feast of massive proportions this season as is in her wheelhouse. 

This was the first time Cristina attended a Santo's suarez and no stone was left unturned nor was a plate left un-Yammed. We had the pleasure of meeting Sharon and Joel (with whom I discussed Horror and Sci-Fi films of the golden era with much pleasure) and I finally got my Cider.

The Food was Delicious but this goes without saying.

Pictured above is something called Turkey complimented with Mashed Potatoes, Turkey Gravy, home made Cranberry Sauce, Sausage Stuffing (oh dear) and The Yams flanked by a glass of Apple Cider.

Bravo Coraline !!!

It always begins with Appetizers, at least thats the way "we roll".

Here we view (clockwise from 1) Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp white Cheddar, Vegetable Medley with dipping Sauce, Shrimp Cocktail and a remote control.

I was given the precarious honor and privilege of Carving the Turkey, something of which I have only attempted a few times in my life and to my fullfillment did what I consider a decent job of.

Our hostess (with the mostest) also had her birthday fall on the day and due to the nature of the calendar this is a slight rarity. Sharon was thoughtful to provide the birthday cake.

And of course Bartholomew Eck the Thanksgiving Rooster.

GYRO ll - "you'll love it, it's a way of life" - New York City

"Since 1972, same owner" is what the employee told me without question and I did not ask him, he was taking a break at the entrance and I friendlymumbled how much I love this place and that is what he proudly and casually replied, after all this is midtown Manhattan and a billion kooks per second is the norm, meaning me mumbling and not the employee of information. 

A lot of my buddies and myself have been frequenting THE Gyro ll since the early 1980's as a pre-concert Snack/Dinner haven it being placed one minute away from Madison Square Garden and offering a plethora of Foodiness of the not so usual manner which spelled backwards is GYROGOODMcDONALDSBAD.

How do you go to Gyro Two without having a Gyro Too.

Me and my bro' Frank (A.O.F.) are meeting up nearly 40 years after our initial oneminuteawayfrommadisonsquaregarden sojourn for a recreational event (see below) and I emailed him my interest in Gyro ll's Pizza (see below) to which was replied "This is a time honored tradition that does not include Pizza !!!".

This indeed does not bely their Pizza making prowess but a gravitas, dedication and fandom towards their Gyro. This is not just any Gyro, THIS IS A GYRO, at least american style.

Competitive Prices abound, you would be lucky to get a can of coke on 34th street for eleven bucks much less a meal.

Taking up a large portion of the operation is PIZZA. 

and it does look good too.

Whilst America and New York City is a melting pot of ethnictricity it is quite possible that many have no idea or interest in whatever a Gyro is so I must assume that Gyro ll ventured into other areas like PIZZA !!!

A friend of mine was introduced to Pizza for the first time via this joint and he claims its Greatness, so my next step shall be into the Pizzaness of it all,... and a Gyro to go.

It was his first Slice of Pizza ever, keep in mind.

And then we saw a RUSH movie.

11/5/16 -  Well, the Slice (Chicken Parmigiana $4.50) was just "passable" and I made a whole early morning sojourn for one. I was not disappointed however and did eat the whole thing but it was of a Rays Pizza style wherein the Crust is a little thicker so as to withstand the girth of the Toppings and I prefer a thinner Crust and also it being pre-noon the variety on offer was a shortcoming compared to a few nights before.

GYRO ll POSTING ONE