When It Doesn't Quite Work

I have been lucky in that most of my cooking experiments have turned out reasonably well. I did once singe a bunch of sweet potato fries but that's a different story. Tonight, I attempted to make "Catfish in Salty-Sweet Caramel Sauce". The recipe is straight forward - add this, mix that. It's also a really brief process compared to a lot of things. The entire list of ingredients and instructions only consumes half a page. Somewhere along the way, something must have gone wonky. The sauce refused to thicken. I gave it more time. Nothing. Adjusted the heat. Still no luck. After maybe 15 extra minutes of cook time I had to face that this was the best it was going to get. What resulted was decidedly Asian tasting and Asian smelling (as it was supposed to be) but, I can't help but feel I missed a certain glow that would have gone with a well thickened caramel sauce.

BURGR - Gordon Ramsay

Among the mere facade, panache, and decadence that is Sin City there is a humble eating experience in that of which I have partaken. Back on the twelfth night of November in 2014 I was intrigued by the opportunity to eat at a Gordon Ramsey established restaurant called BURGR. Now, I am not an avid Ramsey fan, but I have watched a number of his television programs and have noted his reputation as a world renowned chef and restaurateur. Everything I have seen and know of Mr. Ramsey would not come to my description of him being humble and would reflect quite the opposite. However, hamburgers, being a staple fastfood cuisine, are quite humble. So how does Gordon Ramsey approach the hamburger. I had to try it, but how does one approach such an experience when they have eaten countless hamburgers. Do I assume this will be the best burger I've ever eaten or do I compare it to what I know of other burgers. I needed this experience to be unique yet with elements that I was familiar with eating. Due to my years of experience foraging, cooking and eating chanterelle mushrooms I chose to have the Chanterelle Burger.

 

The menu at BURGR was not easy to choose from other than it seemed appropriate that I indeed have a burger. From the eleven selections given, not including the Fish & Chips Burger or The Hog Burger, it was difficult for me to choose between the American Burger and the Chanterelle Burger. All the options would have been wonderful, I am sure, but I needed a test. I knew this was a fine dining experience and I needed to compare it to previous knowledge despite my lack of opportunity with fine cuisine. The Chanterelle Burger ultimately was my choice due to my experience with the subtle flavors of this mushroom. The burger had, aside from the mushrooms, arugula lettuce and a fig-onion jam. I had my concerns that the lettuce or the jam could over power the chanterelle flavors, but I had faith that since Gordon Ramsey put his name to the restaurant that it had to be good. I ordered onion rings as a side. What came to me met expectation and yet it was so simple. There were no fireworks or sparklers. No jugglers on rollerskates swallowing swords. What came was a burger with a sesame seed bun on a square white plate. It was beautiful and I loved it. The onion rings were more flashy in the metallic cone in which they were served. It simply stated 'this is it'.

                                                                                    

 

Well, I see no need to praise Gordon Ramsey or the BURGR establishment. I would however like to thank them for the best burger eating experience of my life. The bun was excellent, fresh yet firm that yielded to each bite and not over powering any part of the experience. My fears of overpowering flavors were cast aside as the flavors of my beloved chanterelle mushrooms were complimented. They were enhanced and centalized with the balance of flavors of the smoky beef, sweet onion and fig with the spicy arugula. The meat was cooked perfectly to my request. Yes, the onion rings were the best I had ever had also, but it was the simplicity and amazing experience of the burger that put all other burgers to judgement. As a burger enthusiast this burger, unless I come across another, is the standard by which all others will be measured. In this I have been humbled.

 

Jason

 

Leftover Night

An evening of leftovers is relaxing, useful and necessary at times. Sure, you may end up eating zigni, cold pizza and dry roasted peanuts at the same meal, but you also create fewer dishes. Since washing dishes is one of my least favorite things, I greatly appreciate the trade off. Tonight, we'll relax. Perhaps watch an episode on Netflix. The Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl and I see hot wings in the future.

Okonomiyaki is a Wonderful Word

So many syllables! Okonomiyaki, also called a Japanese pancake, is both fun to say and a pleasure to eat. Basically, it's cabbage plus batter and what could be a variety of toppings and ingredients. Ours contained cabbage, carrots, zucchini, and green onions. They were topped with mayo, Worcestershire sauce, bacon and a sprinkling of green onion.

Last Night's Zigni

For dinner last night, Jason cooked up a meal we had in last spring's "Pancake Week". There was zigni (beef stew), injera (the pancake bread) and atakilt wat (the cabbage). While I enjoy the combination of the three, the spices of the zigni send me into an almost euphoric state. It was wide eyed happiness with my stomach cheering on my mouth. Once I came down from my high and eyeing other people's plates, I really wanted a nap.

Ginger Beer by The Ginger People

Admittedly, I like ginger a lot. In my younger days Canada Dry was my ginger ale of choice. Lately, I've sought out stronger and stronger ginger beverages which brought me to the ginger beer neighborhood. The absolute strongest, most flavorful, sit up and take notice drink I've found is The Ginger People's Ginger Beer. They actually put ginger juice in it which gives it that extra kick. If you do try Ginger Beer remember to turn the bottle upside down and mix it. Otherwise, the bottom is going to have a lot more attitude than the top. A word of warning - this drink is probably not for the casual ginger enthusiast.

The Ginger People - Ginger Beer

It's All About the Bun

In an effort to return to this food blog project of mine, may I ask that we consider the hamburger. I have eaten good, bad, blah and way to many condiments. In my opinion, what takes a good burger to great all rests with the bun. Store-bought, dried-out, or gummy can completely change my opinion about an otherwise nice assembly. Seriously, the bun should never stick to the back of my teeth while I'm eating. An in-house or homemade bun has no comparison. The bread is what truly makes or breaks the burger.