Smuttynose Robust Porter

Today’s beer is one of my favorite locally-available porters, the Robust Porter from Smuttynose Brewing in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The brewery has been available in the city for over a decade, and is one of the more consistently good breweries in the Northeast. I’ve rarely had a clunker among the wide range of ales, and a couple of lagers, that they churn out regularly. Smuttynose started brewing in Portsmouth in 1994, releasing their pale ale and brown ale that year. Robust Porter came along in 2001. The brewery is linked to the Portsmouth Brewery in town, and I’ve found quite a few of their beers on tap alongside that brewpub’s beers when I’ve been there. I’ve heard tell their biggest market in New York City, even larger than New Hampshire, which tells you a bit about how well-received its beers have been here. Robust Porter, as a style, is expected to be dominated by the roasty, even a little burnt flavors from the roasted malt in the grain bill, but never harsh. Obviously it’ll be brown... [continue reading]

Recipe Fridays: Super Supper Sunday #1

I mentioned a special project I’ve been working on, well, here it is: SUPER SUNDAY SUPPERS!!!  (Credit: TC for coming up with the name unwittingly)  Cook a huge blowout meal on Sunday, then eat the leftovers the rest of the week as I can.  I’ve been planning menus like crazy, trying to make them the perfect combination, and so far… so good.  First up: pulled pork, cole slaw, salad to be healthy, dinner rolls, and roasted brussels sprouts with bacon.  Nommm?Nommm.  Better shot for the brussels sprouts glory – because they were glorious.  Complete with dessert!  I’ve made this for the blog before – strawberry love cake – but had to fix a few problems from last time (YEARS ago).  Nommms!  And of course, I re-badged the leftovers after I got tired of eating it the way it was.  Pulled porkCole slawRoasted Brussels sproutsStrawberry love cakePulled pork “green chile” stewPulled pork: I used a random crockpot recipe to make pulled pork... [continue reading]

Menchanko-tei

Post-Midtown Lunch February HH, I needed some real food to eat before I passed out drunk on the sidewalk.  (Okay, I wasn’t that blitzed, but still.)  We headed over to nearby Menchanko-tei for some ramen yums!  I also opted to add on two rice balls or onigiri for $3.50, which is a meh price (I usually get them for about $1.50 each, but not freshly made that minute ones).  I got sake (salmon) and mentaiko (spicy cod roe), which were both underfilled and kind of eh for me.  My dining companions – my three bodyguards, hah – tried some and found them alright, but I’m picky about these probably because I’m picky in general, and because I make my own at home.  TT ordered the menchanko (I think) – I’m sure he liked it or else I’d have heard complaining TC ordered the Hakata ramen, which I know he’s had before and liked it.  Personally, I opted for the Hakata ramen special, which boasted extra fatty pork, plus half a boiled egg.  I was very pleased... [continue reading]

Project 365: Day 75

Today’s lunch: pulled pork, mac&cheese, and roasted broccoli.  Soon to be posted about a BBQ place in Queens   Giant mound of broccoli to make up for all the ‘bad’ food I’m eating…   It was absolutely gorgeous outside today.  I was very happy with the weather… wandering around the rolling hills of my school campus, sitting on a bench, just enjoying what promises to be a gorgeous spring.  Class was kind of crappy, and the night didn’t get better when I got to my car and found a f*cking ticket on my windshield.  I should have been parked in the school lot, but I parked a few blocks away in a residential area instead.  Still!  A $65 ticket that I can’t afford for something that wasn’t my fault (but it isn’t the city’s fault either).  My night didn’t really get better, to be honest, and I wish I could say I was happy right now, but I can’t.  Despite the plate of joy above, and the fact that I introduced a... [continue reading]

Southern Hospitality

You’ve all heard of my fried pickle quest – I do so love fried pickles, you know – but did you know how much I love Justin Timberlake?  YouTube “Plasticville” or his “immigrant” SNL skit.. or any of his Digital Shorts like “Dick in a Box” – well look, I love JT.  Now that the hype has died down from his restaurant opening eons ago, I swung by to check out the place and see if the BBQ was well, any good.  Y’know.  Cuz I’m such an expert on good BBQ, being a NYer and all, y’know.  As soon as I saw this item on the menu, I knew we had to get it.  Come on: BBQ glazed thick-cut fresh bacon, would you pass that up?  Even if you had about 15 more lbs of food coming per person alone?  Sweet, succulent, though it wasn’t quite what bacon is, in my vernacular – crispy, thin, crackly, – it was still damn delicious.  No knife required – my fork sliced easily through the tender meat.  Oh so good. ... [continue reading]

Next Page »