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. 

FAST FOOD FALAFEL - SUBWAY, NEW YORK CITY

My initial thought on the concept of  Subway Sandwich offering Falafel as a choice was intriguing which was quickly followed by the fact that I had better try one pronto because this just isn't going to last, much less stand a snowballs chance in hell of proliferating to their standard daily Menu.

After giving this a little thought during my test run today at a Subway Sandwich store (I will not call this place a shop) on trendy 14th street I pondered the fact of the many Vegetarians on the face of the planet who feel that Deep Fried Chick Peas might be a healthy choice.

I just plain like them.

So maybe the Falafel Sub will stick around, Only Time Will Tell.

9 Falafel Balls lay in wait for the next customer.

The Falafel Sub being prepared. 

First Six Balls (lets face it more like McNugget sized Patties) are placed on the Bread of your choice, in my case it is my go to, The Italian Herbs & Cheese Bread and heated in a microwave/convection oven

Then comes the mandatory and vaguely elaborate "toppings" portion of the Sandwich but we are almost all familiar with this back from the Blimpie days of yore.

Subway jumped the Blimpie gun with a wider array of toppings and fresh baked Bread that nary is there a Blimpies (sandwich location) to be found, at least in the five boroughs compared to the Dunkin Donutesque wide berth and stronghold that Subway and Starbucks has this city practically on their tastebuds and knees with.

Time for my premeditated move as I have actually put some forethought towards this moment and decided to get the typical Falafel Fixings and nothing fancy to obliterate any taste nuances inherent herein.

Cucumber, Tomato, Iceberg Lettuce, Bermuda Onion and Extra Tzatziki Sauce was called upon.

The Falafel Patties were exactly as to be expected from Subway, I have had better and I have had worse. Could use a tad more seasoning but the texture was just about right and I could tell it was Falafel with my eyes closed (not that I did close my eyes except to blink). All in all the Sandwich I had been intrigued with came out on the positive side but I will probably stick with the Italian B.M.T.

Prepared to pay five bucks for a six inch sub it was surprising to see the foot long on sale for such a price ($4.99) and in Manhattan of all places.

The window display campaign, suitable for framing.

HOSPITAL FOOD - (DELIRIOUS, APATHETIC & HUNGRY) - SUMMER 2018

Firstly, I would like to welcome myself back to composing this here BLOG. It has been some time and as the title implies I have been rather apathetic what with work and as is the subject of this entry Hospitalization, all is well Dear Reader. Tis' but a scratch, but enough of this self centered Mumbo Jumbo, this is all about FOOD and not Me.

Hospital Food is NOT a Culinary Delight to truly celebrate but,... Well, It Is Different.

This page shall return to Yummier Pastures forthcoming.

When placed under circumstances wherein one is stifled to go about as one pleases the Mealtime becomes even moreso a highlight of the day even with the Food being of a lower quality in certain respects. It may be somewhat tasteless but in my experience is almost always Kosher.

Breakfast time is usually around 7 a.m. and this is always welcome as there is usually a 13 hour break between Dinner and the next mornings Meal.

Pictured above is the average Breakfast served at Lutheran Hospital.

 2 Juices (Apple & Cranberry this morning), Coffee (Cream and Sugar optional as is your choice of Tea instead), Unsalted Margarine (a useless and Tasteless product), Single Serve Dry Cereal (Milk optional), Oatmeal (too Watery for my liking) and the creme de la creme on the platter to me. Chobani Greek Yogurt. 

This could be Dinner or Lunch, probably Lunch.

Mashed Potatoes with Gravy (always finished my serving), Salmon or Fish Paste, memory does not serve me well but I am sure they utilized a more Savory word in place of Paste but that is what it tasted somewhat like yet strangely retained the taste (couple of forkfuls, maybe finished it once) and Broccoli or Peas Paste (lucky to get me to even have a forkful, this was akin to warm baby Food).

Being somewhat adventurous I was rather pleased to find this served, Almost definitely Dinner.

Well, this might have been better with an Entire Loaf of Semolina Bread, yes I remember this well. Pretty much a Paste as well, not to be eaten with a Fork but with a Spoon, hence the usage of the description "Pureed".

Place Marinara Sauce, Overcooked Eggplant and Grated Cheese into a Blender and Pulverize it.

This is That.

The Classic Pitcher of Iced Water, much needed and a bedside companion but this was all about to change.

BROOKLYN CENTER (Rehabilitation Center).

The concept of Pitcher did not exist here, you might get a cup of room temperature water if you wanted to ring the nurses station for about 35 minutes at 2 a.m.

More about me again but briefly, After being discharged from Lutheran I was sent to a Physical Rehab center, this was rather horrific and certainly depressing. The Food Quality level went down on many levels but what they do get an "A" for effort on is that most dishes (I am being too kind) were home made for some part (yes the Veggies, etcetera were canned/pre packaged in most instances but not all). 

For exmple I enjoyed their Boneless Jerk Chicken.

Breakfast Brooklyn Center style. Also looked upon with anticipation (14-15 hour gap between Dinner and the morrows Brekkie), they would often serve a Dixie Cup of Ice Cream or a two pack of Cookies with a Cup of Juice about 10 hours prior to the next mornings Breakfast and this is why I had friends bring me junk Food (Cookies,Crackers,even Cheese to stash in my bedside table) to curb my hunger at 3 a.m.

It appears to be going downhill sire.

2 Whole Milks (they kept giving me Low Fat and I kept chasing down the nurse to switch them out with Whole), Coffee (Milk and Sugar optional), a solo Cup of Orange Juice, Packaged Whole Wheat Bread once again served with that useless and tasteless Unsalted Margarine, Generic Rice Krispies (sometimes it was generic Corn Flakes or Raisin Bran) and a cup of Cottage Cheese, this surprisingly did I gain a Taste for but have not purchased from the Supermarket since coming home.

Often a Hard Boiled Egg in a styrofoam Cup was served and I would just let that be sent back as well as the Watery Grits, the Oatmeal tended to be on the overly moist side but was decent one time (must have been an oversight).

Tis' A Mans Life In The Army.

No wonder I looked so much forward to meals if this is what I got to look at for most of the day. 

I did get quite a bit of reading done though.

Not wholly sure what this is but will surmise it to be Sliced Beef with Onions, Rice and Beans and String Beans both overdone and underdone possibly if you notice the color variation, however I have since learned I believe that there is a lighter and darker String Bean. 

Of course Coffee was served with all meals.

Kind of a strange styrofoam plate.

Peas, Carrots & Corn (obviously from the can), String Beans (also canned) and home made Mac & Cheese which was not awful.

Odd not to find Meat or Fish in the mix.

And it is usually correctly stated "Please Shut or Turn Off the light" but none other than Jim Woodring corrected me on Facebook informing me that the "switch" does indeed have to be open or closed for electrical current to flow.

Anyway, Apologies for making this FOOD BLOG a tad Unsavory. 

STAY TUNED.