July 2, 2008
In case you missed it, check out today's Front Burner column about the Mason jar's 150th birthday this year. The actual birthday, I guess, would be the patent date of November 30, but with so many pressure cookers hissing away during the summer months to preserve veggies from the garden, it seemed like a great time to wax nostalgic about the versatile container.
As I wrote in the column, my memories are full of Mason jars. And those jars in my mind are filled with everything from Grandma's damson preserves to Paw-Paw's honey to the squirrel torsos Mom used to can for Dad's eating pleasure.
In fact, our pantry was always lined with a whole rainbow of fruit- and veggie- filled Mason jars. And that was just the beginning. They hung out in the shed, filled with seeds, and in the garage, filled with nails and pins and anything else my dad or my grandfather saw fit to fill them with.
I'd love to know your fondest memories of the Mason jar. Does anyone collect them? As you'll see in my column, they can be worth quite a bit of money if you know what you're looking for.
Matthew Rowley, who wrote a book called "Moonshine!" shared a recipe with me for the story, but it came in too late for press. I'll share it here instead.
It's not what you're thinking, you naughty kids! That stuff is illegal! This is a recipe for a spiced-up homemade "ketchup" that Rowley says is tasty on everything from sandwiches to soup to roasted meat. Sounds like a great way to spice up meatloaf, too.
Continue reading "Ode to the Mason jar" »
June 12, 2008
Since yesterday's blog post, I've received a number of insightful comments from readers.
My question was: What makes a great farmer's market? What is the perfect mix of products on the market, whether it includes fresh vegetables and fruit, meats, flowers, crafts, prepared foods and the like?
So far, here's what folks have said:
* Good deals
* Friendly farmers
* More local meats; maybe even a butcher
* More farmers, less crafts. Perhaps even a designated time when it is farmers only, so they can come and sell their goods and then get back to the farm
* Conversely, even more diversity in products
* Live music
* Prepared foods, such as BBQ
* Plants and flowers
* Ample parking
I am particularly interested in Jen's suggestion that we might need a designated time when the market is focused solely on local food. Mainly because while reporting the local food story, one farmer talked about that very issue.
Read on to see what he had to say...
Continue reading "Farmers markets, part deux" »
June 11, 2008
Last week, while driving through Mt. Pleasant, S.C. on a Tuesday evening, my husband and I happened upon a big fiesta in the middle of a school baseball field.
At least, it looked like a fiesta. There were tents set up, live bluegrass music was playing and we could smell barbecue. But then we saw the sign "Mt. Pleasant Farmer's Market" and decided to check it out.
Obviously, it was a temporary farmer's market. But we were excited by the mix of fresh vegetables and seafood, canned goods, honey, homemade tea bags, prepared barbecue dinners, baked goods and music all in one spot.
There were even people cooking huge, gourmet crepes to order at one booth (see pic)!
It got me thinking about farmer's markets and what makes a good one. It's an important question now as Roanoke leaders ponder the very best use of our market space. Should it be all food? Should prepared food be available? What about the crafts? Do they have a place there?
Continue reading "What makes a great farmer's market?" »
May 9, 2008
A little while back, I wrote about a weekend feast of pork ribs and red-skinned potato salad.
One blog reader requested the recipe for my family's all-time favorite potato salad, and I am now prepared to offer exact measurements for all the ingredients.
My sister came through with the measurements this morning, which is appropriate because she's the one who started this whole potato salad thing, in a roundabout way.
When she was in college, Sis dated a chef who ended up being a real jerk. But we did get this recipe out of him before they broke up, so you see something positive comes out of every relationship. Gee, I hope that guy isn't reading my blog.
The secret to this potato salad, I believe, is the bacon. We all know that bacon makes just about everything taste better.
I'll attach the recipe below. As with any potato salad, this one tastes a lot better after it has had a chance to sit for a few hours or overnight.
Continue reading "Tater salad and a BBQ opportunity" »
May 5, 2008
Faithful blog reader Debbie is headed to New York this summer, and lodging will be free! She's staying in a friend's apartment while he is away in Europe.
To show her gratitude, Debbie wants to leave her strawberry jam-loving buddy a couple jars of homemade jam. But she is seeking a great recipe.
With all this talk about fresh strawberries (I finally satisfied my shortcake craving last night), I think it's a great idea to share jam recipes. So if anyone has a time-tested version they'd like to share with Debbie, please pass it along!
April 29, 2008
It's less than two weeks before Mother's Day (Sunday, May 11), which means some of us need to start thinking about the best way to treat one of the special women in our lives.
As an adult, it's fairly easy to send a card or flowers, call mom or take her out to a nice lunch or dinner. But as a child, it's a little bit harder to plan a wonderful day for Mom without a little help from Dad or another adult.
And sometimes Dad might be a little short on ideas.
For that reason, I was delighted to receive an e-mail lately from the Fruit and Veggie Guru that included simple recipes for delicious breakfast treats that kids can prepare for their mother on Mother's Day.
It makes me wish I had made breakfast in bed for my mother at least once.
I'm going to attach a recipe for strawberry breakfast pizzas. I'd love to hear from anyone out there who has a special food-related memory from Mother's Day, whether you were on the giving or the receiving end!
Continue reading "Breakfast in bed" »
April 28, 2008
The answer to our glove question can be found in great detail on the Virginia Department of Health Web site here. For those of you who have checked a restaurant's inspection history, this is the same site.
Essentially, these regulations say that ready-to-eat food should never be handled with bare hands. That means raw food that will be eaten raw, such as a salad, and cooked foods that have already come out of the oven, such as a baked potato.
The rules go on to state that cooks should limit their handling of any food with bare hands.
Of course, nothing is that simple.
Continue reading "To glove or not, part II" »
April 24, 2008
Yesterday's Front Burner column featured a photograph of two culinary students stuffing Roma tomatoes with mushroom duxelles.
An alert reader called me yesterday afternoon to ask me a question about that picture: Why aren't those students wearing gloves?
It's the second time I've heard that question since I started covering the food beat. The last time, I shot a video of a man making cheesesteaks without gloves.
Thinking back on Thursday's event, I'm pretty sure that some of the chefs did wear gloves while they prepared food. But more than half, I'm sure, did not. And since I've been hanging out with a lot of chefs over the past year or so, I've noticed it is not a practice that is always followed.
This morning, I called up Robert Parker at the Virginia Department of Health to ask him whether chefs are supposed to wear gloves. My bet is that they aren't required to -- otherwise, why would so many of them choose to go without?
"I think we're all starting to pay attention to that, and that's a good thing," Parker said.
I wanted to have an answer for you all right now, but Parker wanted to check with the proper folks at the health department for an accurate response. As soon as I hear back from him, I'll be back with an update.
Meanwhile, what do you think? Should chefs be required to wear gloves?
I know there are a few chefs reading this blog, so I'd love for them to chime in and answer this question: What are the issues that need to be considered here, from your perspective?
April 10, 2008
I had such a hard time deciding who should win "Roadfood" by Jane and Michael Stern that I tried something new this time.
I wrote down the names of all the best entries on little slips of paper and had my co-worker, Stephanie Ogilvie, draw one from a basket.
And the winner is........ Amy!!
Amy, if you'll e-mail me your home address at lindsey.nair@roanoke.com, I'll put this book in the mail for you.
Thanks to everybody who entered to win this time. The diner stories were awesome, from Marion's 50s diner in Augusta to Lori's honeymoon food at the Ohana diner in Hawaii. I also really enjoyed Greg's story about being a newlywed and a stranger to Maine, where he found a friendly place that served killer seafood chowder. What I wouldn't give for a bowl of that stuff today.
Thanks, everyone! My desk is stacked high with cookbooks right now, so stay tuned for the next giveaway!
Moving on, I wanted to address yesterday's blog entry about the missing recipe for peanut butter fingers. According to Whitney, the reader who was looking for the recipe, we have found a winner!
Continue reading "Cookbook winner...and a recipe found!" »
April 9, 2008
Yesterday, I received an e-mail from blog reader Whitney, who has been craving a favorite treat from her childhood.
Here's what Whitney had to say:
Today I attended a wake and there on the dessert table were Peanut Butter Fingers...the exact same ones that the Salem schools used to serve every Friday on pizza day. Not only were they delicious but they took me way back (it's been many years since high school). I would love to have that recipe to make for my kids but I'm not having much luck searching online and the container they were in didn't have a name on it. Do you happen to have the recipe or could you point me in the right direction to possibly find it...and maybe the pizza recipe too?
Well, I wrote Whitney back and asked her for a little more information about the dessert and her time in Salem schools. She said the fingers "looked like they were fixed in a sheet pan...they were flat and cut into small squares." The bottom of these dessert bars were peanut butter, chewy and made with oatmeal. The top was chocolatey, like icing.
"I didn't enjoy school lunches much but I LOVED these. I was in Salem schools from 1980 to 1993 (which doesn't seem real to me somehow)," Whitney said.
I found a similar recipe online, which I will attach below. But it calls for chocolate chips on top so it may not be the same. While I call Salem schools in an effort to track down this recipe, I thought I'd check with all of my wonderful readers to see if any of you remember a treat like these. Better yet, maybe one of you has the recipe! If you do, please be sure to let us know!
Continue reading "Tracking down a mystery recipe" »
April 2, 2008
Sorry for the delay in approving comments between yesterday and today! I've had a couple of appointments that took me out of the office.
But what a response it has been! Apparently, I'm not the only one in Roanoke who is passionate about grilled cheese sandwiches.
Here's a rundown of the great tips you all shared:
1. Consider serving grilled cheese with macaroni and cheese. Well, on my desert island (providing that nutrition isn't important), that would be my perfect meal. With cheesy puffs, of course.
2. Try the French version, a croque monsieur: stack up gruyere cheese and ham, dip sandwich in egg batter and fry in butter. Mmmmmm. A croque madame is the same sandwich but with a fried egg on top.
3. Toast your bread before grilling for maximum crispiness.
4. Add mild, pickled banana peppers to the sandwich. I've also heard of folks stuffing dill chips inside the sandwich before cooking.
Continue reading "Cheeseheads come out of the woodwork!" »
March 18, 2008
No, I'm not talking about tongue.
Although, given the wide variety of meats that families choose to serve at their Easter table, I suppose we could be talking tongue.
My Easter plans include a visit home to the Alleghany Highlands for some quality time with mom and dad. Mom and I are going to have a nice dinner together on Saturday night and crack open a bottle of wine.
While chatting on the telephone about what we wanted to cook for dinner, Mom commented that "You can get away with cooking just about any meat at Easter -- lamb, ham, turkey, chicken, beef," etc.
If I had to put money on it, I'd say most families probably serve lamb or ham. My maternal grandmother is a HUGE fan of lamb, and I can also remember Dad's mother fixing a roast leg of lamb and serving it with mint jelly.
Although Easter is a Christian holiday, they say lamb at Easter goes back to the first Passover of the Jewish people. Then, the lamb was sacrificed, roasted and eaten in hopes that the angel of God would pass over their homes.
The reason ham is popular in the United States is equally fascinating to me.
Continue reading "Easter's mystery meat" »
February 13, 2008
Hey folks, as you might have noticed at the end of my Front Burner column today, I've got Sunday brunch on the brain again.
Ever since before I started this food beat, I've been dismayed by the lack of a truly unique Sunday brunch experience in Roanoke. I'm craving something quirky and cool that doesn't just serve standard breakfast options until 2 p.m.
Until recently, the best brunch I'd experienced around these parts was at Cafe Succotash in Vinton, which has long since closed. I can remember having some kind of twist on eggs Benedict with spinach and fresh tomato, all washed down with a poinsettia (champagne and cranberry juice).
Continue reading "Where's the best Sunday brunch?" »
January 29, 2008
I just got an e-mail from my sister, who wanted to know why I have been "getting a little slack" with my blog so far this week.
Isn't it fitting that my big sister -- who used to throw things at me in the bathroom when we were teenagers -- is lighting a fire under my butt about the blog?
Well, I've been out of town for two days on one of the best assignments I've had in ages. It's a travel piece about a hotel near Charlottesville called Keswick Hall. I could go on and on about the food I had at Keswick, but I think I'll save that for when the story is about to run. That's slated for the Sunday before Valentine's Day.
Meanwhile, on to something a little more pedestrian, but just as charming: a letter from a reader about Kar's Sweet 'n' Salty snack mix.
If you're thinking about navigating away from this page now because the letter doesn't sound very interesting, you'd be wrong. Oh, so wrong.
Read on.
Continue reading "A little salty, a little sweet" »
December 28, 2007
If Sherry doesn't respond by Monday, the free gift card to Provisions for the 1,000th person to comment on the Fridge Magnet blog will go to the 1,001st.
Just providing fair warning.
November 30, 2007
I love it when you guys come out of the woodwork on a food topic. I don't think I've seen such a healthy response since the wings discussion back during the summertime.
It's a good thing I picked up a turkey sub from Subway for lunch on my way to work this afternoon (I'm working an odd shift today) or my stomach would have been grumbling something fierce by the time I finished approving your comments.
A few of your mentions don't surprise me at all. Firehouse, Jimmy V's, the Brambleton Deli, The New Yorker. The NY is right near my house, so I'm quite familiar with the delights of their mountains of meat. Good choice there. Just don't forget your cash!
I'm surprised to hear about On the Rise and Grace's, though. I know On the Rise has terrific bread, but I always forget about their lunch offerings. I'm going to have to stop in there and see what they've got to offer for subs. Grace's is another spot I'll have to try. Although when you think about it, most excellent pizza joints can also put together a pretty decent sub.
Technically speaking, I suppose a cheesesteak qualifies as a sub, too. And several pizza places have cheesesteaks that are to die for. I'm thinking of New York Pizza when I write this, but Cucci's is also terrific.
If you're like me, you've got a hankering for a sub after all this sub talk. So if you pick one up somewhere this weekend, try to remember to snap a picture of it before you dig in and send it to me at lindsey.nair@roanoke.com. Maybe we can put together a gallery of good-looking subs that will help us decide which restaurant puts together the prettiest one.
Either that or it will just make us hungry again.
November 13, 2007
You can blame my late blog posting today on an all-day assignment at Meadow Creek Dairy in Galax, Va., where I got to watch co-owner Helen Feete and company make a huge batch of Grayson, one of their award-winning cheeses.
On the way home, I told photographer Jeanna Duerscherl that my job assignments sometimes feel like school field trips. What better way to earn a living?
Continue reading "Tuesday tidbits" »
November 5, 2007
Sorry for the delayed blog entry and comment approval, folks; I just returned from a Sunday wedding in Baltimore. Ahh, the crab cake appetizers and wedding cupcakes. The theme was both traditional and trendy. Trenditional!
Happily, I returned to one of the best responses EVER on the FM blog. Who knew so many of you were holding onto a fabulous chocolate memory? I'm not a huge fan of chocolate myself, but I should have considered that it's one addictive food.
It's going to be difficult to decide which reader is most deserving of the book, "I'm Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas" by Marcel Desaulniers. The contest isn't even over yet. You have until Friday to join in the fun and share your own piece of chocostalgia.
In honor of the theme, here's a recipe from one of my fave dessert cookbooks, "1,001 Low-Fat Desserts" by Sue Spitler: Don't be turned off by "low-fat." This recipes is still loaded with sin.
Continue reading "Chocoholics take over the Fridge Magnet!" »
November 1, 2007
It was late summer, probably August.
On the hill across the road from my grandparents' house in Bath County, the huckleberry bushes were loaded with little blue treasures and we were ready for one of grandma's homemade pies. So my folks, my aunts, my sister and I set out to fill a bucket.
Aunt Cindy heard it first: the ominous rattling from under the same bush she was stripping. Looking down, she realized she was practically standing on top of a rattlesnake. Cindy, a cop who likes snakes about as much as she likes criminals, freaked out, unholstered her service revolver and blew the snake's head off.
Continue reading "What's your weird food?" »
September 19, 2007
My, my. It seems we are all not only food lovers, but wing nuts as well!
Rich gets my vote for the most amusing comment so far:
If you like thick meaty wings with amazing sauces, you'll like All Sports Cafe.
If you like dry, jerky like wings with uninspired cookie cutter sauces, and annoying buffalos, stay at BDub...just leaves more wings for those of us who have discovered this little jewel of a wing shop.
The votes are rolling in for the best wings in Roanoke, and so far it appears as if Mac 'n' Bob's in Salem, All Sports Cafe near Patrick Henry High School and Buffalo Wild Wings are running a tight race. But most who voted for BWW said they were attracted by the variety of sauces and heat levels, not the quality of the wings themselves.
If you haven't already, check the comments on yesterday's blog posting for a couple of delicious-looking homemade buffalo wing recipes. I believe I'll test one of them out this coming Sunday.
Continue reading "Wings, part deux" »
September 18, 2007
It's that time of year-- time for me to watch Jason Elam save my beloved Denver Broncos at the very end of every game. No, actually it's time to start eating some hot and spicy buffalo wings on Sunday afternoons! There's just nothing like a sweatshirt, a cold beer and a plate of wings on a fall football afternoon.
I've been pondering several possible wing-related articles for this fall and I'm hoping that some of my faithful foodie friends can assist me with some brainstorming.
Continue reading "Wings, glorious wings!" »
September 12, 2007
Got an e-mail this morning from a reader named Norma who must have read my chile story in this morning's paper.
She writes:
Attached is a picture of a plant I took at Pigeon Forge at The Christmas Place a few weeks ago. My husband says that they look like real edible peppers. What do you think? You are free to display the picture, if you like. Your article in today's Roanoke Times was very interesting. I personally cannot tolerate peppers BUT my husband has a "cast iron" stomach and he loves them.
I can recall seeing these plants in the gardens at the Roanoke municipal building a few years ago. Every time I walked by, I was tempted to pluck a few. But I figured the city landscapers wouldn't appreciate a fascinated reporter ravaging their little plants.
Apparently, I wasn't the only fascinated reporter. Roanoke Times writer John Cramer did a story on the peppers. Here's an excerpt:
Continue reading "Edible or just ornamental?" »
August 31, 2007
I've been working all this week on an article about chile peppers-- what's hot, what's not, what can you find around Roanoke and what can be done with them.
The column comes out on Sept. 12 and includes some fun facts about chile peppers as well as a recipe for "Habanero Hellfire Chili." You chile heads watch out-- that one's for you.
But as I described all the wonderful varieties I found at grocery stores and markets around Roanoke, I came to the lovely poblano, a nice dark green chile with just a hint of sweet and spice. And thinking about the poblano makes me think of chiles rellenos, that delicious Mexican dish of stuffed chile peppers.
Continue reading "Chiles rellenos, anyone?" »
August 28, 2007
Blog reader Henry and I have been having a hot little side conversation about chile peppers, and I think it's time to invite the rest of you to chime in.
Cooking can be a complex task even with a detailed recipe to follow. But let's say your recipe calls for a jalapeno, which varies in score on the Scoville Heat Units Scale from 4,000 to 50,000 units. That could be the difference between a pleasant tingle and a real scorcher!
I recently tried two different recipes that called for jalapenos. Granted, I didn't really follow any recipe to the T or anything. Why would I do something so smart?
Continue reading "Feel the burn!" »
August 23, 2007
I have broken my cardinal rule of blogging by not blogging until almost the end of the day today.
I was kept busy by my continuing efforts to weasel my way into the Paula Deen appearance. I've pretty much given up now, don't worry. I will not become a stalker.
When I finally checked comments again this evening and saw all the wonderful stuff from readers, I was inspired to continue our discussion of breakfast. To some, the most perfect meal of the day.
My speculation that many folks do not like sweets for breakfast was confirmed by a few of you. But even those who do like sugar for breakfast occasionally partake of something.... well...WEIRD instead.
Here's a sampling:
Continue reading "Breakfast ALL DAY LONG!" »
August 14, 2007
Well, the much-anticipated Paula Deen appearance is looming before us with less than two weeks to wait. In fact, ticket winners should be notified by Kroger officials this Friday, August 17.
Yesterday, I was told that a local public relations firm is handling some press for Deen and there's a possibility I will get a chance to interview her. Here's the thing: I like Paula's show, but I'm not a Deen maniac like a lot of folks out there. I can ask her a few questions of my own choosing (and I'm betting that's about all the time I'll get, too) but I'd MUCH rather ask her what her biggest fans are dying to know.
If you send me some great questions, I will probably use them. And, if you send me your real name at lindsey.nair@roanoke.com, I may even tell Paula that you're the one who wants to know.
Hey, this is all dependent on me actually getting the interview, but why not plan ahead? Send those questions on!!
July 27, 2007
Got an e-mail this morning from an acquaintance, Patrick Old. He writes about the heavenly experience of eating his first tomato sandwich of the year. It makes me imagine a big, juicy slice of red tomato between two soft slices of white bread. Yummer. Of course, in the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit that tomato sandwiches-- while hailed as a Southern favorite for many-- is not my favorite way to eat homegrown tomatoes.
My fave is a big old slice of fresh tomato, still warm from the garden, with just a little salt and pepper and a scoop of cottage cheese. There's just nothing better in my book. Except MAYBE a hot biscuit topped with bacon, cheese and a slice of tomato in the morning.
Here's what Patrick had to say:
Continue reading "Homegrown 'maters: Where do you get 'em?" »
July 12, 2007
I need some help from my readers in the New River Valley.
Every time I blog or columnize (I just made up that word) about restaurants in Roanoke, I feel a little guilty for ignoring the NRV. Truth is, I haven't had the opportunity to do a lot of dining out in Blacksburg and that's on my list of things to do this late summer/fall.
If you know about a restaurant in the New River Valley that's doing it right, please shoot me a comment and let me know. And, of course, anytime a new spot hits the scene or an old favorite bites the dust, it's worth letting me know.
On to food.........bread pudding.
I spotted a package of hot dog buns laying on the counter in the newsroom the other day. I suppose they were leftover from our news department picnic a week or so ago. A close inspection turned up no mold, and since they were obviously separated from their weiner partners, it seemed like an excellent opportunity to transform them into bread pudding.
The recipe I chose from my Low Fat Desserts book could be altered in several ways to make anything from a blueberry bread pudding with lemon sauce to a rum raisin pudding with warm rum sauce. I took the latter route because I had those ingredients laying around.
Here's how it worked:
Continue reading "New River hot spots" »
July 6, 2007
After my column about Roanoke Bagel Co. ran this week, I received a couple of e-mails from readers who said they've found great bagels elsewhere in Roanoke, too.
Priscilla wrote:
"When we moved to Blacksburg ten years ago, we knew what 'real' bagels were, not just 'bread with a hole in it,' and we could not find any locally. But for the past couple of years, Our Daily Bread Bakery and Cafe has started baking bagels the right way. They are not available every day, and there are just two or three varieties, but hopefully they will bake more when customers learn the difference between real bagels and bread bagels.
You might want to check out their web site: www.odbb.com."
And a reader named Dan wrote:
"Although it's not strictly a bagel shop, Full Moon Cafe on Brambleton Avenue makes and bakes their own. They have about 5 varieties, and I've always preferred their bagels to Roanoke Bagel. Downside: no exotic varieties like pesto or sun-dried tomato. Upside: some other truly excellent pastry options.
I'm going to NYC next week, so I'm looking forward to eating some of the best in the world!"
As always, I enjoy getting feedback from readers. And now, because today is Friday and I know that many of us, including myself, love to break out a new recipe over the weekend and do some experimentation, I'm going to dip into my thick recipe file and pull out............
Porcini-crusted beef tenderloin!
Read on, and enjoy your weekend.
Continue reading "Spreading the word on bagels" »
June 26, 2007
A few readers have written in about my bagel post yesterday, including Nathan, who says he bakes his own bagels at home because he has a hard time finding a good bagel in Southwest Virginia.
First he broils it, then boils it, then bakes it. He says it would be most convenient to have two ovens.
OK, this guy is incredibly motivated! I love bagels, but I'm not much of a breadmaker myself and the idea of making my own bagels from scratch at home seems so daunting. I'd much rather there were several shops in Roanoke that sell quality homemade bagels.
Anytime I travel to larger cities, such as Richmond or Washington, D.C. and thereabouts, I see bagel shops. Many are chains, granted, but at least they have a Chesapeake Bagel Co. or some other bagel shops to choose from. I've never even known there to be a chain bagel shop in Roanoke. But I've only been here for about 9 years now. Maybe we had one before and it didn't work out.
Keep those ideas and suggestions coming. And Nathan, you're the man.
June 25, 2007
The state of bagels in Roanoke has distressed me for some time. The simple truth is that it's just not easy to get your hands on a great bagel in these parts.
Having grown up in Alleghany County, I'm well aware that we live in the South and the South just isn't as fond of bagels as the North. We are biscuit bakers and biscuit eaters. But that doesn't mean that Southerners like me don't love a delicious, fresh-baked bagel once in a while.
I had what I would call a perfect bagel at H&H Bagels in New York City last October. Not only was it my favorite flavor-- sesame-- it was fresh out of the oven, soft on the inside and chewy on the outside. Mmmmmmmmmmm. Now THAT was a bagel.
Where do you look for great bagels in Roanoke? That's a question I will attempt to answer in my next column. They definitely must be properly made-- boiled first, then baked. Many bagels at chain establishments are simply baked from a frozen state.
I could order bagels from H&H and have them shipped to me, but that would be expensive and the bagels certainly would not be hot from the oven when they finally reached my doorstep several days later.
In next week's column, I'll be telling you about what became of Five Boro Bagels and where the Roanoke Bagel Co. out at Oak Grove Plaza fits into the picture now.
If you ever eat at Roanoke Bagel Co., I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. And if you think you know of a different source for delicious bagels, I'm begging you to please send me a comment. While you're at it, you might as well tell me what your favorite bagel flavor is and why. Do you think a person's favorite bagel says something about their personality? I hope not, because then I would just be seedy.
June 11, 2007
This is just a reminder that I'm putting together a list of the best, cheapest lunch deals in the Roanoke and New River Valleys for Inside Out, the Thursday entertainment tab in The Roanoke Times.
This list will be much better if you guys help me come up with deserving deals instead of me brainstorming them all myself. Who cares what I think anyway?
I do reserve the right to add my two faves, which are the half-order of pad thai in the market building for $3.50 and the red beans and rice with salad and garlic bread at Pasta Perfection for $3.25.
So far, folks have written in about hot dogs at Texas Tavern, teriyaki chicken at Sakura in Salem and some specific lunch specials at China Kitchen and El Guads in Blacksburg.
If you tell me your favorite place to score a quick, delicious and filling lunch for $6 or less, it might make the list. So bring it on!
June 5, 2007
You might have noticed that I haven't blogged in a day or two when I typically try to blog every day. Well, I'm just taking a little break this week but will be checking in once or twice to see what kinds of discussion are underway.
Sounds like one reader can't stand Ben Gui-- calls it the "best restroom" in Roanoke. Other than slow service (extremely slow on some occasions) I've always enjoyed the sushi at Ben Gui. So what gives? Do tell!
ShutEye is worried about my initial report on the new Irish pub in downtown Roanoke. All I can say is that I understand his concerns about a few things like no Guinness on tap. But we'll have to give them a chance to get their ABC license and figure a few things out before anyone comes down on them too hard. It's definitely worth having one of our reviewers take a look after they've been up and running for more than a month. And ShutEye has got one thing right: the old ambiance of Kara O'Caen's is still intact, which gives the new place a few points to start out.
Thanks to those of you who have posted about food and restaurant pet peeves. One reader is bugged by servers who refill water but not lemons. Another hates it when servers don't clear empty glasses from the table after bringing a refill. I completely agree with that one. I also get irritated when stacks of dirty dishes are left on the table. Even if customers are sitting around chatting after the meal doesn't mean they want to do it over that grungy, empty nacho plate.
Here's a new challenge for you guys this week:
I want to do a piece, perhaps in Inside Out or in my Wednesday column, about the best lunch deals in town. That includes both Roanoke Valley and New River Valley, and I'm not talking about restaurants in general. I'm in search of specific dishes that are the best, cheap lunch.
Two of mine are going to be the half-order of pad thai at the Chinese restaurant in the market building for $3.50 and the red beans and rice with salad and garlic bread at Pasta Perfection for $3.25. It doesn't get much cheaper than that!
If you've got a great one to add to the list, let me know!
May 29, 2007
A couple of readers wrote in this weekend with suggestions for David Speight, who has been looking for a good softshell crab. Nona says to try Wasabi down on the market and Tom says he regularly gets a hankering for the softshells down at Kim's Seafood in the market building. A friend of mine also mentioned Stephen's on Franklin Road. A little higher-priced, but worth checking out.
Of course, someone who goes by Shemp says the only way to find good ones is to head for the coast. I'm heading for the coast of North Carolina next week myself, but when I get there I won't be looking for softshells. I'm hoping some blue crabs are in the seafood markets. I'm ready to do a little picking and grinning.
Over the weekend, my mom's fiance caught a bunch of trout in the Cowpasture River. I know there's some concern with the fish kill on the Cowpasture and the James these days, but none of these little beauties appeared to be sick. We slid some pats of butter up inside them, seasoned them, wrapped them in tin foil and cooked them on the charcoal grill. I haven't had as delicious and fresh a piece of fish in many years.
Reader Debbie Franco wrote in the other day looking for Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream, a fairly new flavor of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. I wrote a Corner Shot about that flavor several months ago, but I've never seen it on grocery shelves in Roanoke. Debbie says a co-worker finally found it at the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op and brought some in to work.
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