Wednesday, August 27, 2008

The Food List

I stumbled upon this very interesting tag at one of my favorite blogger's corner: GGPEDIA. Now this is a food blog, so I'm really hoping I score well!

The Rules:

1) Copy this food list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold in RED all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/ linking to your results


The comments in parenthesis are mine, the words in White have been previously looked up by GG for the definition.

Here goes....
THE LIST

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros (Thanks to SK and his love for Mexican food)
4. Steak Tartare
5. Crocodile (Yes, fried crocodile at Pappadeaux, was interesting, for want of a better word)
6. Black pudding - X
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba Ghanoush (At Gilbert’s Café, was delicious)
11. Calamari (Hell yeah!, fried calamari)
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo Gobi (Uhh, which Indian hasn’t?)
15. Hot dog from a street cart (Yes, the most memorable one being in NYC)
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes (Plum wine, I think though can't remember where)
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream (The best ever is the one at Naturals)
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans (I admit to this at the risk of sounding like a Mexican)
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters (I’m a sea-foodie if you haven’t realized as yet)
29. Baklava (Greece’s best gift to mankind)
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi Peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl (I’m sure the two count separately too)
33. Salted Lassi (prefer it sweet though)
34. Sauerkraut (comci comca, as G jn. would say)
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O (made it myself too!)
39. Gumbo (I’m salivating, a true Georgian huh)
40. Oxtail
41. Curried Goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken Tikka Masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs (once, Dad made me try it, I swear)
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake (Funnel cake at a 4th of July event)
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain (tried making it once, soaked up too much oil)
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette - X
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini (half a point for just caviar)
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill - X
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail - escargot
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky (Thanks to T, who introduced me to the little Japanese grocery store on Buford Hwy)
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers X (reminds me of the marigold eating guy in Monsoon Wedding)
89. Horse - X
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam - X
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake – X

TOTAL: 40/100

I solemnly swear to score at least 90 one day. The remaining 10, well I’m a conservative Virgo for a reason.

Birthday Cake


Twenty something and counting. A year older, Am I any wiser?

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Fresh 2 Order

Fresh 2 Order or F2O is a salad chain spread accross the country. They serve a variety of salads, soups and sandwiches. The menu isn't all that exhaustive actually, but what they lack in variety they make up for in taste and portion. The portion size is huge. The salads can easily serve two and it comes with a freshly baked bread roll. The salads are also mostly vegetarian and meat toppings can be added for a few extra dollars. It's a great lunch spot, the decor is bright and colorful and the service quick. However, I think it's a wee bit pricey. For almost the same price I can enjoy an entire salad buffet at Sweet Tomatoes!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Hibachi Express

Hibachi Express is a tiny Japanese restaurant located in Alpharetta. It is in a strip mall at the intersection of Old Milton Parkway and Devore Road.

To begin with, a Hibachi is a traditional Japanese grill, akin to the Indian tandoor. It is meant to slow cook food over charcoal. This is what gives the food the tantalizing aroma and tenderness. For the last three years I've been going to the Starbucks right next to this restaurant and have always appreciated the smells wafting out. Last week I decided to step in. I'm glad I did. They serve all kinds of Hibachi food, from chicken to scallops. The entree comes with a big portion of rice and a choice between various stir fried vegetables. The low-carb'ers like me can opt for additional veggies, no rice. All this for $8.


The picture alongside is a Hibachi. I'm definitely going back.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Veggie Delight


We had a 'Girl's Night In' a couple of weeks ago. D & S asked each of us to bring a 'surprise ingredient' for the Veggie Lover's Pizza. So as you can see for the picture above, the pizza was a rich medley of flavors; pesto sauce, capers, black olives, caramlized onions, sun dried tomatoes and feta cheese.
And who says Pizza goes with beer only? We paired it with Sangria, a great combination.