Great episode of Top Chef tonight, so I’m gonna kick off this collection of food thoughts with TC talk. (Spoilers ahead.)
1) How cool was Eric Ripert? He’s one of the most celebrated chefs in the country and he came across as down-to-earth, warm and supportive — more a good teacher than famed chef. Who knows if that’s what he’s really like, but I was impressed. Not so impressed with Leah though; how is she still on the show?? She “gave up” and they didn’t boot her? She’s the youngest of the remaining chefs and it’s showing.
2) I finally made the Jamaican rice and peas recipe I posted a while back, and it’s a keeper. Not a quick recipe — there’s a lot of inactive cooking time — but worth it.
Paired up with jerk chicken and it was almost like visiting Golden Krust.
3) If anyone owns the Slap Chop, please email me and tell me if it works. That guy Vince kills me. First the Slap Chop and now the ShamWow? He’s on fire! Where did he come from? And why is he wearing a headset?
4) The Foreman Grill — still useful after all these years. Been grilling up Boca Italian meatless sausages with peppers and onions recently — not like having the real thing outside Fenway Park, but surprisingly satisfying. The Foreman also grills a mean turkey reuben, or any sandwich for that matter. Who needs a fancy panini maker or sandwich press when you’ve got the FG? Plus it knocks out the fat.
5) Has anyone eaten at Il Sogno, the restaurant that replaced Pacifico in Port Chester? I was sad to see Pacifico go — horrid parking situation, but I always had good meals there. At least Sonora and Palomino are still around (have yet to try Palomino, but it’s on the list).
6) If a “World’s Slowest Eater” competition existed, I’d be an elite competitor. At Memphis Mae’s everyone at the table finished eating about 15 minutes before me. In college it was a running joke — other people would be getting up for seconds, and I’d barely be halfway through firsts. I could never figure out if I was interminably slow, or they were absurdly fast. The fact that this still happens today makes the answer crystal clear: I’m interminably slow.
7) Swing by Stew Leonard’s Wine of Yonkers this Saturday to meet Danny DeVito and sample his very own Limoncello. Details here.
2 Comments
I’ve never seen that Slap Chopper infomercial before. I’m a sucker for the food gadget informercials – that one looked very interesting! I liked how it could blend things together and how it chopped garlic and onions with the skin on. (And how it said kids could use it – Emma would love it.) My friend Keith bought one of those choppers for his mom and Joe’s mom has one too – although I’m pretty sure it’s not the Slap Chopper. Oh and why he’s wearing a headset? Because when you call in to order you’re going to be talking to him, of course.
The Slap Chop is a knock off of the Pampered Chef Chopper….