DONT FORGET THE GRAVY: July 2019

July 31, 2019

LOCO BURRITO Brooklyn, New York

TAJ MAJAL RESTAURANT 7/29/19 Brooklyn, New York

Mulligatawny Soup.

Nan Bread.

Shrimp Poori.

Meat Samosa.

Chicken Tikka Bhiryani.

July 20, 2019

INTERESTING SOFT DRINKS lll

Coke Raspberry came with much anticipation to me since it was not available in New York (Brooklyn at least) for some months until after its first appearance, I did get to enjoy the other new flavors on the block that were Georgia Peach and Strawberry but the Raspberry variety is the one I was most impressed by.

Still am waiting for them to can this stuff or two liter it by me but the glass bottle is just fine and to aficionados the true way to appreciate a carbonated soft Drink.

With almost impeccable timing was the Dark Berry Dr. Pepper launched as I had recently been on a bit of a Pepper binge myself.

Snatched up a twelve pack of cans to be followed by two more twelve packs and the 20 ounce bottle serving when I can find it.

This seems to be disappearing from the shelves sadly and is most likely a limited Flavor.

My take on it is a Dr. Pepper but slightly Sweeter with a Berry tinge and if what I read is correct a hint of Black Currant as well.

Came across Ting maybe a year prior to this writing and was instantly impressed, so much so that I ran across the street and bought a second bottle to bring home.

Pictured here is another sighting of this elusive brand (due to my neighborhood) and I was just about to purchase a bottle with excitement when I recalled I am forbidden from Grapefruit by doctors orders.

My initial impression a year back was

"Like Fresca but with Sugar"

I hear there is a Pink Grapefruit variety as well that I so want to try but have not spotted one and now Grapefruit is marked from my books.

I was forbidden my Taste O' Ting but right there close by on the shelf amongst the Jamaican brand of Sodas was a can of Vimto.

This was akin to Champagne Cola plus Fruit.

A favorite of mine but it makes the list due to its serving size.

I have even pondered the thought in my spare time

"Why don't they make Schweppes Raspberry Ginger Ale in a 20 ounce size ?"

Well Now they do and I am very pleased.

This was recommended to me by my friend Dianne and as soon as I spotted one I purchased it, This is a 7/11 product it appears and I made a special trip with it in mind.

Very tangy and sweet just as it should be. I have no negative response to it BUT whenever I see the word Lemonade I think non-carbonated. This one was carbonated and it even says so on the bottle but as I did not read the bottle upon initial tasting I was somewhat surprised.

This I have yet to try but what better time than while I am writing about Sodas I have known.

Excellent just like I expected from the Jones Soda company.

Its not just Orange, its Blood Orange.

There was a mistake when buying this incidentally, you see I was in a 7/11 and spotted a Sour Patch Kids Watermelon Soda and to me there are not enough Sour Sodas in the world so I was completely all for it, however Watermelon would not be the top choice of Flavor Sour or not so snuggled in the chute with the Watermelons was an Orange. When I got it home was when I noticed it was not a Sour Patch soda but shrugged it off with a "Well, I am a fan of blood Orange anyways" attitude.

Like many of these Drinks they were purchased during work and this one certainly was. The common Ginger Ale but a new brand for me and also after purchase I noticed it was made with Cane Sugar which is always a plus.

Thi almost did not make this list but might not be around in five years time so we will put it here just the same. I did notice when finishing this bottle that the Cranberry Flavoring was quite powerful but in a very good way.

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF CREAMERS

Staying cool in a local 7/11 while waiting to end a phone call with my boss so I could catch my train I noticed Reese's Peanut Butter Creamer amongst the Flavor enhancers by the Coffee station and was somewhat taken aback but with pleasure. I even dabbed a drop on a Napkin piece to sample it after I searched and discovered that the International Delight line of Flavored Creamers was for sale in the Dairy section.

This began as a possibly promising new hobby as I do Drink Coffee daily and even though at the moment take mine Black with Sugar I am not against some Flavoring especially if it might make my cup of joe taste a bit like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

Is it still Coffee then ?

Thats a whole other conversation.

The Reese's Creamer was pretty damn superb and tasted just as it should.

Like a Reeses Peanut Butter Coffee.

My promising new hobby may have come to an all too quick finish as I tried my second choice in the Flavor running.

While I investigated the availability of the International Delight Creamers that fateful night in 7/11 whence the Reese's was discovered I took note of some of the other perfumes on offer and White Chocolate Raspberry stood out as a serious contender for Taste Bud elevation.

While this variety does indeed taste exactly as it should it was not as exciting as the Reeses, I even just today took great enjoyment in having two cups of Coffee without Creamer but I am not beaten yet or should I reword that.

My Creaming Days Are Not Over Yet.

July 9, 2019

RICE

Rice

STUFFED CABBAGE BOWL - While out pounding the pavement my mind wandered towards the dilemma of what to do with the leftover Saurkraut and this seemed an interesting idea, in preparation of actually executing it a day later not so much so and here I sit with my first sample.

Certainly could use Salt and this I preambled.

First impression is that it can actually use more Cabbage.

And more Cabbage was added, does not taste so much like a Stuffed Cabbage as it does the separate amalgamation of its parts but then again I haven't had Stuffed Cabbage proper in probably about 40 years !!! Growing up I frowned (and this is being overly polite) upon friends of mine occasionally Eating Rice with Ketchup (a distinctly abhorrent concept) but the Tomatoness of it all is barely perceptible on the taste buds, in this case it is Tomato/Spaghetti Sauce so not nearly as Salty or Vinegary.

This one is Ground Beef, Fried Onions, White Rice, Tomato Sauce (canned) and Saurkraut with Salt to Taste.

Does not work, Rice is close enough to Pasta being a Carb to be coupled with Tomato Sauce so I was thinking this is akin to Spaghetti and Meat Sauce with Saurkraut which I would never do so why do this, well I tried.

CHOP MEAT & RICE - I can really call this a Bowl as that is what it is served in but screw trendy fashionable labels.

This is Chop Meat and Rice that my mom raised me on.

Of course the Rice is not as good as moms nor is anything else but this is a queer psychological paradox that we all face as human beings, nothing is as tasty as your memory recalls and also your mom had more practice at it and it was usually the first time you tried many things in being prepared by his or her hands.

This is the classic (to me) Chop Meat (Ground Beef), Fried Onions and White Rice.

Thats it,... maybe a little Salt but definitely some Soy Sauce.

The String Beans are present here as they were leftovers to be had, a healthy addition and also added some color to the photo.

MILON BANGLADESHI RESTAURANT (PANNA ll) TWO, GREENWICH VILLAGE, NEW YORK

At this juncture I have written about Indian Food to the point that there is nothing to add, this being Milon Restaurant which I have enjoyed for years and also trying nothing new for my palate, well Cristina did order her "mild" version of Chicken Vindaloo which they recommended as Chicken Balti so that was new to me.

Everything was great and service was adequate even though the waiter could not identify the photo on the walls details (Cristina wanted to know if that was Cardi B. in the photo) and they assumed my sixty bucks for the price of a fifty two dollar Meal included an eight dollar gratuity (which it did) never returning my change. It is nice to offer though.