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.

NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY (U.S.) (February 9)

There is a National Food Day for just about every Food I would imagine but certain ones jump out at you depending on individualistic taste of course, in my case Bacon Day comes to mind but I have yet to celebrate.

Pancakes are one of those comfort Food's that fit the bill and I happened to have Pancakes (albeit the toaster kind) in my freezer on the day (February 9) so I ran with it.

Pancakes with Sausage - Two Aunt Jemima Toaster Pancakes Schmeared with Key Food brand Butter (more like doused in this case but that is the Jedi way) and a side of Sausage. 

Broccoli Rabe & Cheese Sausage as the pantry was devoid of Breakfast Sausages but this became a complete boon on the tastebud level, it works folks.

Pancake Day continues.

The SpamCake - Unbeknownst to my Trepidatious FOODMIND (is this worth the plunge or am I wasting food and time) the SpamCake became the Rosetta Stone of these three dishes and reached a level of height unattainable previously.

In other words a Tasty little sucker.

A little over an inch was its height geometrically.

Pancake a la mode - Yes, for Dessert it was Pancakes topped with Ice Cream.

Any Ice Cream will do but on hand I had Friendly's (rich & creamy) Cookies & Cream.

On a side note just the other night I was eating the Friendly's right out of the tub with spoon in hand for the first time in decades and boy is it hard to close that container and desist.

And of course I got a bit of abuse on my Facebook post due to the overwhelming similarity between the Spiral Broccoli Rabe Sausage and another inedible item from the human condition but abuse is what I thrive on when it comes to social media in most cases.

This one is courtesy of my friend Peter R.

On another side note The SPAM Single Classic must be brought up.

This I found in the 99 cent section at my local Rite-Aid and a brilliant idea it is (as well as a cash cow for the SPAM people) since most do not need to Fry Up an entire 12 ounce can of SPAM in one sitting, a slice or two will do and its cut so neatly as well.

PANCAKE ON WIKIPEDIA

NEW YEAR 2016

New Years Day was spent indulging in a half a dozen Baked Clams (12/$8.99) from Sea Breeze Fish Market of 18th avenue and satiated my overdue longing for the Clam, now I want some Fried Clams even if they are from White Castle. 

On a personal side note I did find the Clam's a bit rubbery and chewy but that is the nature of this molluscan delight.

As a side dish to the Clams was prepared a box of my favorite Rice-A-Roni thus far, the Broccoli Au Gratin selection. When you really sit down and think of it all Rice-A-Roni's do taste very similar and would be a challenge to differentiate in a blind taste test but this is the tops for me.

NEW YEARS EVE.

The Return of the Son of the Bride of the Cream Cheese Ranch Pepper Roll Ups.

I didn't sample any of these on the night (see how spoiled one gets with familiarity) but as Laura and Caroline always send me home with a "goodie" bag guess what I am having for Breakfast today.

Spinach Pie perfection and these were of the frozen kind. Flaky, Cheesy, Buttery and Spinachy, I had a bunch, couldn't keep away actually

The Loin of Pork, One of my favorites and this was Yum-O. Juicy and Flavorful.

One can never have enough Keftedes and Caroline made these to utter perfection so my skewer could not resist skewing quite a few, and skew I did.

Caroline also Made homeade Garlic Hummus and Spinach Dip and brought over some Caviar which we all enjoyed with some Carr's Water Crackers and supplied a bottle of Champagne.

The Apple Crisp with Homeade Ice Cream for Dessert. I am not so much one for sweets but my plate was entirely cleaned off after this healthy serving.

The Eating of 12 Grapes after ringing in the New Year is a Spanish tradition (one grape for every month of the year) and after sensing trepidation of being able to fit a dozen into my very full tummy it was no problem at all. Laura provided the Grapes and Caroline provided the Latinaness.

It just wouldn't be New Years Eve without the ceremonial Bashing In of the Gingerbread house.

(L to R) - Coraline, Some Guy (again), Laura & Stanley.

Take us to your leader.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

RITA'S ICES - CUSTARD'S LAST STAND (NOT REALLY) Coney Island, Brooklyn.

Rita's is Outstanding and I must Implore you try the "Swedish Fish" Ice of which I have enjoyed on more than one occasion.

They do make an Outstanding "Water Ice" product with many Flavors on offer that are not pedestrian (Blood Orange anyone) but I did go out of my way to get some Custard of which I have not enjoyed in over 30 years yet what I was served was Vanilla Ice Cream, mind you of a high quality but this is not what I was seeking.

Custard contains more Egg Yolk and more air and is also made on a different piece of machinery. I suppose we shall call this the "Custard" machine but my memory does recall a slightly different Flavor as opposed to standard Ice Cream.

My Gelati of choice was served atop CHERRY Ice and was Quite Great, also the Cream did flow down to the last bite as I thought it might not but worked very well.

8/26/15 - I finally got around to trying the Blood Orange Ice of which I was very much looking forward to but unfortunately it was sadly lacking in the Flavor department, if you blindfolded me and asked me what Flavor it was I would be at a loss for words due to the blandness of this one. 

I do thank my friend Claudia for treating me however so as not to be completely disgraceful and ungrateful.

Window Display.

Claudia's Black & White Milk Shake, YUM.

8/27/15 - And the very next day we were back and this Green Apple Ice did not let me down, absolutely Delicious and Green Appley.

Blue Meanies not included.

This might be the one that started it all. Here we have a photo of Claudia's Swedish Fish Ice that I had sampled a few years back on a mini-vacation with Jamie in Atlantic City and guess what.

It tastes just like Swedish Fish.

RITA'S ICES WEBSITE

REESES PEANUT BUTTER ICE CREAM CUP

Reeses Peanut Butter Cups are Glorious and Ice Cream is a Treat. Or is it Ice Cream is Glorious and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are a Treat,... How About Both are True.

How About We Combine Them.

This has been going on for sometime and really the first recollection I have of "Brands" meshing successfully was Oreo's Cookies & Cream Ice Cream and then it went from there. Combining Ice Cream and treats such as Nilla Wafers and Pound Cake A La Mode (a favorite of mine) may not even be traceable in time but then the Snickers Brand Ice Cream Bar came out sometime in the 1990s and turned all of our heads. 

Snickers and Reese's Ice Cream Bars were also shaped accordingly giving a concentric familiarity that further heightened the senses but it was all about the Flavor as well, take for instance the inferior (my opinion) Milky Way and 3 Musketeers Ice Cream Bars, on paper yes but on palate perhaps not, they tasted pretty much like a mildly flavored Vanilla Ice Cream.

Haagen-Daz championed the Peanut Butter Swirl Ice Cream in the 1980s and I Loved that, I am sure Ben & Jerry's also had their equivalent but the Reese's Ice Cream bar manufactured by the older yet dare I say inferior Good Humor company got the Flavor down pat and also offered that strangely comfortable yet familiar Halloween orange Reese's box and brand. The first time I had a pint of it I went GaGa.

Truly one of the better "Candy" Flavored Ice Creams on the market folks.

For further reading here is the Ingredients panel on the back of the box. 

These are so good that I don't even care if there is a dose of Strontium-90 therein. 

I will take my chances.

REESES ICE CREAM GOOD HUMOR ONLINE