PETER PAN DONUTS - Brooklyn, New York

For verification I had to look this up as I am not a big S'Mores guy at all but this is a creation of Peter Pan Donuts who has a wide reputation that precedes them. All Donuts and Cakes are Baked "in-house" to my knowledge and as I was in the area I had to stop in and it being late in their workday (they were closing in twenty minutes) had to choose from what was available which was a slim offering but did get to grab the last S'Mores Donut which was a target item.

A S'Mores is traditionally Marshmallow and Chocolate sandwiched between Graham Crackers and toasted over a campfire so I surmise this Donut is an approximation thereof.

S'Mores Donut - This to me which was very much anticipated was sadly tasteless (in flavor) and disappointing HOWEVER I did have a cold at the time so will put it down to that HOWEVER also I did in fact taste the Whipped Cream (Marshmallow ? Filling) which was not overly Sweet or seemingly Flavored by anything, what it did have was the classic Whipped Cream Taste of just plain Cream that is indeed proper but to me a key Ingredient being the Marshmallow was not represented but once again possibly due to my dulled senses due to sinus collapse (the cold).

The Donut Cake itself was above the standard as it had substance and a Chewy malleability which almost made this Food. Somewhat Bready in structure, definitely a plus and step up from the Crumbly Entenmanns and Dunkin Donuts Dough of the world. Topping was appearance wise Graham Cracker Crumbs with a Drizzle of Chocolate.

I was hoping this was not the paltry amount of Cream in the Donut and it was not, while not filled IN there was more around the circumference of the hole atop the Donut.

Brownie - Something which most of us have had and a bit of a yardstick can be thrown to conclude a ratio of perfection. Well, in this case it gets a 9/10 as in Brownies have been produced by other artisans just as good in Flavor and quality but only "just" as good as this one.

Top of its game, proper Icing, Moist Cake smattered with crushed Walnut and just the right amount of Chocolate Goodness with a slightly Chewy yet Crumbly composition. Delicious.

A selfie taken at the last minute after receiving my order, the reasoning behind this was somewhat nostalgic because I had been here years before sat upon these very stools.

Taken in 2006 seated with 28 Dates Later.

I dont recall what Donuts I had the dozen or so times I was previously here or what the Coffee tasted like but this visit was a brief trip down memory lane, if I was not in transit between jobs I would have sat down and had a Coffee as well.

A night time shot as you can see of the facade. During the day I am sure that window was filled with Donuts so I am glad they are making the correct amount as the scarcity of round thing activity on display is testament to the fact that donuts do not appear to be getting thrown away at the end of the night which produces Food Waste !!! Heavens To Murgatroyd !!!

FOOD DAY Vl 2019

And with the melodious chiming of the Unusually Contorted Crispy Noodle does the ushering in of Food Day Six begin.

Silver Star is a mainstay and Rule number one of Food Day for as long as they remain established and we do hope this will be for a Very Long Time.

Frank ordered some Dem Sem (this is the way it is spelled on their Menu) as an appetizer but was eaten along with his main Entree Shrimp in Lobster Sauce (not pictured) with Pork Fried Rice and an Egg Roll. 

Two more orders of Dem Sem along with a Quart of House Special Fried Rice and a Quart of Wonton Soup was also requested to go for a late night snack back home.

Beef with Snow Pea Pods flanked by an Egg Roll and Pork Fried Rice Lunch special portion.

The Architect of Food Day, Fearless Leader and all around Silver Star enthusiast Frank (A.O.F.).

This would have been a visit to Silver Star but to make it Food Day takes a few things. Firstly it must be planned as a Food Day, secondly Food must be Eaten and thirdly a visit must be made to the 18th avenue Bakery on 60th street for some take out Pastries.

In this case half a pound of 7 layer cake (cake ? well these are Franks words and there is a cake version of the Cookie), assorted Italian Cookies and 3 pounds of Cream Puffs (Cannoli Cream filled) was procured for the family. My God Daughter Amelia has grown quite an affinity for the Cream Puff incidentally and can chow down about 67 in one sitting.

And of course a Meal is not complete without Dessert. In this instance being Pistachio and Strawberry Ice Cream.

HOME FRIES

Not much to write about here but the Home Fries came out fine and dandy and garner an entry.

What happened was my counselor Dina mentioned Chicken Cutlets in passing and having Potatoes that needed to be utilized I decided to make some French Fries as a side, on the bus ride home the idea of Home Fries entered my consciousness and in some ways moreso was the fact that I had never made a batch. 

Thanks to my friends Ardella, Mimi, Dan, John and Jim for tips on a better outcome in preparing a batch of this classic Hash.

Simple Ingredients. Lashes of Bacon, Cubed Potato, Diced Onion and thirty five minutes (give or take) of prep time.

A Cat and Onion do not good bedfellows make.

Seasoned with Black Pepper and Basil and ready for a quick Fry Up.

IS THIS SOME KIND OF JOKE ? - Johns Deli - Brooklyn, New York.

Leaping at the chance for a Johns Deli BLT would be an understatement and being in the area I leapt, crashed and burned.

Years ago (and I am NOT looking through Pork colored lenses) their Bacon Sandwich was pretty much unequalled for a few reasons, first and foremost was they would not count the Slices placed on the Bread but prepare a well filled and rounded sandwich and the price was criminally cheap. A BLT Hero was four dollars but is now ten dollars in price, OK I understand inflation of the dollar and harbored no qualms concerning price, ten bucks is about the price of a Gourmet Hero.

The Buck Stops Here.

Gourmet this is Not. For starters I was kept away from witnessing the creation process which was part of the fun watching in awe as perhaps a half pound or more of Bacon was evenly distributed to fill the Sandwich. For many a year I would brag of this concept with my quote of "they don't even count the slices". 

Well from the looks of it Now They Do.

(see photo below).

Not to say I will never return for one of their trademark Home made Roast Beef, Melted Fresh Mozzarella, Fried Onions and signature Black Gravy Heros in the future but maybe this time on a Roll. I did actually see them prepping some Rolls with The Black Gravy so am glad that remains, even bought a side order of it one year for Thanksgiving.

A familiar sight which has now been slightly tainted. 

New Owners, remodeled interior, lacking in character,... all of this is fine but when the quality slips there is a problem. My sad Sandwich might be a case of Quantity over Quality but I should not be slightly upset EVER when eating Bacon. I would expect this Hero from the average corner Deli and not from (as advertised) a Best Heroes In Brooklyn location.

Brooklyn would not be known for its Hero Sandwiches if this was any example of Greatness.

Oh How The Mighty Have Fallen.

I can literally count the Slices.

The Hot Food showcase remains the same.

Unless of course that is old food on display.

Always good to see Mozzarella Carozza on offer.

This used to be my playground.

FRIEND OR FAUX - Fake Pudding Cake/Fun With Frosting

Had a dream about Boston Cream Pie (in the dream it was Cake) for no discernible reason at all, I am not a big fan and have never even ordered it from a Menu but upon waking thought to myself that I may never have had a slice proper at all.

Ideas began to buzz as they will especially at 6 a.m. and I contrived an easy way out.

Vanilla Pudding (only after purchase was I thinking Vanilla is not Boston Cream), Pound Cake Slices and Chocolate Frosting, DONE !!! well not so. I burnt the Pudding as it was made in the microwave in consideration of Cristinas washing the pots, pans and dishes and wound up making more work for her as the Pudding over boiled causing it to overflow into the Oven, Right In The Garbage it went, or more like down the drain.

*I was lightly chastised then napped.

In the interim Cristina made the other package of Butterscotch Pudding I purchased and wound up burning the Pot a bit, Thats It !!! only prepackaged Pudding from here on in. 

Sandwiched the Butterscotch between Pound Cake Slices and Drizzled Microwaved Chocolate Frosting over the top, this was a chancy operation but came out after refrigeration much better than I expected. Most Tasty and even if I was served this at a party there would be no complaints from me.

*I knew I had to let the Pudding set so to waylay any longing purchased was a Table Talk Boston Cream Pie. It still sits in the fridge, I took a nap instead.

MOTHERS SEAFOOD - Brooklyn, New York

Doing a job today and as I stepped out I saw the Classic Two Dollar Fish Sandwich advertised. Now I knew what I was in for and it had been so many years and I was in the proper neighborhood that I knew this would be The Real Deal even though there really is not much to speak of concerning this "On The Go" Finger Food. Did I type "I" enough ?

I wish it was a Fish Finger but was probably Tilapia.

Checked out the Take Out Menu. Has to be Tilapia as the going rate is five bucks (the least expensive fish on offer) and it is the two buck sammich,...

The Sandwich didn't stand a chance and was inhaled on the number 2 train platform.

Whole Wheat "Loaf" Bread with said "Fish". Very standard fare, I chose not to doll it up with Tartar, Ketchup or Hot Sauce but I do wonder what that Yellow Sauce on the counter was. I should have asked but the typical New Yorker in me who owns the place and knows exactly what he/she is doing reared its ignorant and modest head.

The other item I purchased was a small Sweet Potato Pie ($5.00), the customer before me had ordered one and I took a gander. Cristina happens to be a Sweet Potato gal so this was for her as I am not a fan, going to try a slice right now as I write (well during a brief pause from writing actually).

Had a bite cold and a bite warm, something in the ingredients reminds me of Indian Food. 

Preferred warm in my book. I could Eat this but am not over the moon about it as so many people are but all I can say is Good for Them, Food is Sacred and to be enjoyed.

LIKE A SUGARHOLICS TIT - THE DONUT PUB - New York City

A stranger and yet no stranger to this place, while passing by the decision was made to purchase an Iced Blueberry Square of which was enjoyed some years ago after a gig with the band and they had none at the time but what they did have I have been wanting to try since hearing of it. The sign on display had those magical words.

That magical word was CROISSANT.

Croissant Donut OR Cronut.

A Cronuts definition for the sake of anyone actually reading this thing and not aware is such.

Cronut (crow-nut) noun: Sugar Glazed Croissant which is Donut Shaped.

Totally fine, Perfectly Delicious but not really any different than a Zeppole. Glad I finally tried one and most welcome on a Coffee/Donut Shop Menu when dining at such an establishment but no big deal to me really, Just have a good Zeppole.

Also the inflated price of $4.75 was a bit radical.

Blueberry Cake ($2.25) - In lieu of them not having my Blueberry Square on offer and due to fond memories of this same item from the Krispy Kreme Menu I went with a Blueberry Cake Donut.

A "Donut" shape of things to come as I plan to make this sojourn ongoing for a finite time.

Peppered with Blueberry specks and Glazed in Sugar, the Cake was of a quality Donut construction and Flavor and the specks, well heck what can be said about specks.