The Irascible Chef

—truth in advertising… I DON’T THINK SO! (isn’t there an obligation???)

Where do I start??? Okay, you decide:
It was late 9:30pm, but they don’t close until 10:30pm and they were still collecting money from the food and drink they served.

The bartender was occasionally attentive and sometimes not… When asked, and in not so many words, he told me that the fried calamari usually looks like a greasy, undercooked, small portion of partially coated, and unclean (still had the cartilage inside it—looks like plastic,) mess of scattered squid rings.

No wasabi aioli, not hot, small portion, undercooked, not cleaned—$11.00, "that's the way it usually is," that's nerve!

Oh, and it was served with a plastic cup of cold tomato sauce on a cheap plastic plate with plastic utensils—quality could be much better for something they charge restaurant prices for. No wasabi aioli as mentioned on the menu. The calamari was warm at best. However, even with a MAJOR lack of appeal, it still managed to have good flavor.
Calamari: FAIL!

The Double Bock seasonal brew was very good! The bartender said it was hoppy, but not close to the hoppiness of Hop Goes the Weasel Ale!
Beer: PASS!

The manager sat at the bar eating and drinking, but not engaging the guests or even asking how everything was.
Manager: FAIL!

I kept hoping to end on a positive note and ordered a grilled turkey sandwich with garlic fries. You gotta have garlic fries at Gordon Biersch! Looked like there were two spots of butter or oil that wasn’t grilled or even toasted. Very lacking in the cheese that the description on the menu mentioned “overflowing.” The inside of the sandwich was grilled in a shoemaker grilling technique. the fries were soaked in oil, cold, and didn’t have any parsley that the picture showed and I’ve had in the past. So, as it turns out you don’t always “gotta” have the GB Garlic fries!

Soggy signature fries, hardly any cheese let alone overflowing, grilled more on the inside than on the outside, 2 sips of beer left to finish all that food with? $11.80—and no offer for more beer???

Garlic fries: FAIL!
Grilled Turkey Sandwich: FAIL!
Menu Truth in advertising: FAIL!

Then the bartender never came back to see how it was or get me another drink, and even after I asked for the check he had to be reminded a second time that he had to get me the check because he was talking to his friend at the bar.
Bartender: FAIL!

I’ve been eating at GB since 1994 and this is the worst ever! I would start with a new manager and crew. I’ve even had better fries at Giants stadium at a baseball game. For the prices they charge and the brand name they are selling everything should be soooooo much better! I would highly recommend that you do not give this GB outlet your business!

Awful! Simply awful!

Gordon Biersch… San Jose Airport JetBlue Terminal
FAIL!

Fly by it!

Technorati Tags: Awful, Garlic fries: FAIL!, Gordon Biersch... San Jose Airport JetBlue Terminal. FAIL!, iChef Review, truth in advertising

Day One food travel journal…

San Jose Airport:

Brought with me 1 pound of prawn cocktail with homemade cocktail sauce, but could not find a Guinness anywhere—so sad!

Did however find a Burger King and something new and special—especially delicious that is—The Angry Burger!

The Angry Whopper!

Burger King released the Angry Whopper in the US, a version of the Whopper topped with spicy crispy onions, jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise, and spicy Angry Sauce. Visit the burger’s official site Angry-Gram to send the subject of your anger a personalized message screamed forth from an animated Angry Whopper.

Okay, not just good—GREAT!

Now, I knew I had the prawn, and that would be more than enough, but the fact I didn’t have the Guinness was unfulfilling, so nothing like fast food to fill that empty feeling…

But, I didn’t need to eat a whole Whopper, so I asked if they could make it on a Whopper Junior, the woman said sorry, but at this point I needed to know how this burger with spicy onion rings and jalepenoes would taste. When she called my order in over the microphone to my delight ordered it on a Whopper Junior! I guess it being very late and my devilish charm (I didn’t even have my crown on yet…) oh and it was also fathers day…

The burger was perfect, the right amount of heat from the jalepeno balanced with the right amount of sweetness from the onion rings and sauce—on a grilled burger with a nice tomato and lettuce—very good!

I did ask for a crown which she gladly gave me and I have yet to give it to my father whom I’m visiting and he is king… I knew I got him a present!

***

On the plane…

Yeah, I ate the shrimp too. Had them first (don’t get crazy on me I only ate 4 with a chardonay) had two beers—both Heinekin, but one light and one regular with the Angry Whopper that left me anything but… All on the house of the very sexy male attendents whom where very attentive on Jet Blue. Yeah, had a bag of blue chips, cashews, and two bags of cookies with the last beer. Nooo, didn’t, but should have thown up!

Did have a hard time eating brunch when I landed though…

Technorati Tags: Angry Whopper, food, journal, travel

Le BlehBleBleh—it’s french!

Le Boulanger—The Baker is know for it’s breads. They make some pastry, breads of many varieties, sandwiches, soups, salads, pizzas, and blah blah blah. It’s higher on the scales than fast food, but it’s really just a different kind of fast food. I think about going for lunch, but they also serve breakfast and coffee. The Monu.

Not cheap for what it is though, today I ordered a half sandwich and cup of soup and water and it was over $10. Should have went with the gut choice—McDonald’s… Never go wrong there!

The clam chowder they serve everyday was of the thick variety I don’t care for personally. (tells me they rely on too much flour to thicken what I believe shouldn’t be) Also flavored with too much thyme for my liking.

The sandwich was basic turkey (poor quality sodium filled) on dutch crunch (very good bread) with avocado (lumped in one place,) lettuce (ragged outside leaf,) two small tomato slices so close to the end—no seeds and remnants of the hard white stem area.) I rearranged all the pieces removing the awful lettuce, shoddy tomatoes, spreading the avocado and turkey over the entire bread length. It was tasty, but dissappointing to say the least.

Bummer!

Technorati Tags: bread, food, french, Le Boulanger, sandwich shop

8year old: Mommy, I want the Human Beef!
Everyone: *laughter* We all want the human beef on a stick!

Ah, kids you gotta love’em!

We changed our usual Chinese restaurant this year because the word on the street was that the sanitation in our favorite place had left something to be desired. The health department is constantly being called on by service companies who do work in their kitchen. I personally didn’t see dirt, or roaches, or rats, so I will be keeping their name out of this—however, I do believe the people who did say it to be so—we all have to roll the dice…

We went to Panda Garden.

We didn’t have the lazy susan, a crowd pleaser with my family. They did however have the crowd favorite Scorpion bowls for two—FLAMING with 3 foot straws! I shared the marvelous cocktail—however, there was a question whether the flaming liquid perched a float our cozy cocktail, was in fact, gasoline! Whether it was or wasn’t, wasn’t an issue cause it was GOOD! We liked it!
We had scallion pancakes, cold sesame noodles, fried won-tons, and won-ton soup to start.
followed by chicken lo mien, “Human beef,” (Hunan Beef) on a stick as my young nephew called it, Mu shu pork, honey prawn, shrimp chow fun with black bean sauce—not on the menu, but requested for.

They did an excellent job with the black bean sauce—those little beans have so much flavor!

The food was fresh, tasty and nicely presented . The food didn’t make you feel so full you want to crawl into a cave for the night, you didn’t feel like a grease slick and fat bloated either. The day after proved that the quality of ingredients and preparation were all on target and sanitation was adhered too. The kids as well as the grown ups all enjoyed it.

The waitstaff was attentive, friendly, not intrusive. Oh, don’t let me forget—accommodating, they made the dish, not on the menu, I asked for by ingredients. Seemed a little further away, but worth it in any case.

IrascibleChef Recommends! Panda Garden

Technorati Tags: Chinese restaurants, Connecticut, Danbury, human beef, hunan beef, Panda Garden, Scorpion bowls

The story itself was very creatively told with flashbacks and the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire in real time at the interrogation in the police station. The story is told in three generations of the same characters—all the actors at the different ages were great, believable, convincing and looked plausible that they were in fact the same person at different ages of their life.

Watching the life in the slum areas of India was telling and interesting to me. The level of poverty in some areas of the world is downright shocking. And although we see a rendition on the big screen there really is no way of really understanding unless you’ve lived through it and I am in no way saying I really understand the squalor or struggle. I’m just saying from what I could see it was shocking.

Slumdog, was very much a love story about a boy Jamal, who keeps losing the girl Latika, throughout his life to which he is constantly searching through the struggle that is his life. Jamal and his older brother Salim who lose their mother to Muslim killing rebels, have to survive in an utter squalid world alone on the streets, dumps, and slums. Battling poverty, starvation, ruthless adults taking advantage, the mob world doing what they must to survive—and they all do pretty well under the circumstances. A feel good movie ending that is hopefull—Definitely one of the top movies of the year, but I’m still liking Grand Torino a little bit more for different reasons…

*************

Segundo the Dinner: Aqui Cal Mex in Campbell was something to look forward to because the first time was caught us off guard good! Aqui is a casual, upscale, full service bar, seat yourself, cafeteria tray, pick up your own food when the buzzer starts beeping, but the food quality is really good.

Started off a little rough during ordering because I think they chose to be a little cut-your-nose-off cheap, versus penny-wise that would have made all the difference in the world to me. In fact the more I think about it, it was bullshit!

We ordered two drinks—Margarita on the rocks, and Sangria with NO ICE. Sangria is already chilled why do I need ice? When asked we chose the large 16 oz size. The cashier was new with a manager on his shoulder assisting. The Sangria and Margarita were both in one of those old style juice cooler with a tap on the bar. The manager informed me he would only be pouring the amount of Sangria in the glass that he would if there was ice in it. Umm-kay, if that’s what you think is good business… So he poured it 2 inches from the top. It cost $5.50 for the glass not that cheap considering the cost of the meal itself. If I would have ordered a glass of wine he wouldn’t have put ice in it, or poured less because there was no ice—same thing with soda. Okay, I understand you’re not talking about the same profit point, but… I’m telling you it comes across as CHEAP with a bad after taste. I will order beer in a bottle from now on!

I ordered the same thing as the first time because it was so good—crab cake on a bed of spinach salad and diced mangoes and zesty dressing, sprinkles with crunchy tortilla strips. It’s a very tasty number and for the price of $7.99 I don’t think you can beat it.

My Sous Chef had the Chicken Limon special $8.99 with some noodle cake and string beans. A whole breast of chicken that was tender and lemony, the noodle cake was interesting, but, and the beans needed some seasoning.

The Sangria or the Margarita $5.95 wasn’t as good as I remembered them to be the first time, but I didn’t ask to have the Sangria without the ice the first time and they didn’t tell me they were going to short sheet the bed either—not sure if that played into enjoying it less or not…

We’ll be back—probably.

Technorati Tags: Aqui Cal Mex in Campbell, Aqui restaurant, iChef, Margarita, movie review, restaurant review, Sangria, Slumdog Millionaire

I told the padre, I like it here, get to do what you want, nobody fucks with you, the only thing you have to worry about is dying, and if that happens it won’t matter anyway…

—Bunny (Kevin Dylan) from Platoon

The Internet is a funny place. You can find information about anything and everything 24/7. Go to places that are real and imaginary. Ask people questions and tell people answers, find/lose people, solve/create problems… The people that set up soapboxes make rules for their spot, but for the most part it’s the Wild West.

Anybody can put up information and anybody can say what they want and no one really knows anything—mostly opinions. People either agree or disagree, the information for the most part is free flowing, we’re not like China—not yet!

This blog posts information that is opinion based on: different personalities, different sources of information, different experiences, different days of the week—the variables are vast and ever changing. The content is controlled here—people can’t post whatever they want, whether that’s the authors of posts or those commenting. I don’t let people use my soapbox to spread spam, inappropriate, or hateful content. I make the rules here, but sometimes people try to break those rules and maintenance can be a job in itself.

Now, when you go to other places they make the rules.

Where I come from you need to stand up for yourself because its been my experience that no one is going to do that for you. And, if you don’t stand up for yourself you’re not going to survive.

So, one of the subjects we write about here is restaurant reviews. We actually go to restaurants with the intent to review them and share our results with the rest of the world. The people we choose for these assignments have decades of experience including University, real world training and dining.

Besides posting here we share our posts with other review websites. They all have different sets of rules, audiences, and people commenting. Today we will be reviewing ChowHound.com a pretty popular site dedicated to those who love to eat.

Now, remember there are people who post articles and people that post comments—both can post and or comment.

Let’s just say there are some miserable people in the world that have nothing good to say, pic nits, pee in Cheerios—you get the point! People who have nothing better to do in fact. They can sit behind their computer and poke holes in anything and hide behind their damn computer and anonymity.

So, I re-post on ChowHound about this orgasmic pizza experience at this wonderful pizzeria Portofino in New York. (Portofino Dreaming) The comments on my article on Chowhound have since been deleted and even the post was pulled down twice, but it’s back up and stands alone…

Excerpt from my post Portofino Dreaming (the reason I give why I think their pizza is the best):

First, they make a slice that’s as big a small child and when in a whole pie it measures at least a yard from end to end. (probably an exaggeration, but close!)

Second, the sauce is perfectly seasoned with the right amount of cheese per any size bite.

Thirdly, we can talk about toppings, but I’m going to talk about one topping—broccoli rabe sauteed in garlic and olive oil. I’m still not ready to talk about how unbelievable this combination is—O M G! No, I’m just not ready yet…

Lastly, and I saved it for last because it is in fact the foundation—literally. The crust is thin, not paper, not notebook, but I’m going to call it the Goldilocks Crust—just right! But it’s not just right it’s just perfect!

Obviously size does matter and their perfect pizza crust is thin yet supportive, 1/8 inch of crispy, crunchy, able-to-support-the-sauce-and-cheese (and broccoli rabe in my case) perfect!

Continue Reading »

Technorati Tags: Ace Wasabi, articles, Chowhound, Commentors, Goldilocks Crust, iChef, Irascible, Opinion, Portofino Goldens Bridge, posting, The Internet, Wild West

Secret iChef Returns for routine checkup on Ace’s health… (and some sake, suds, and sushi!)

As a follow up to my Ace Wasabi: How Important is the Waiter post I needed to check up on an old San Francisco treat—Ace Wasabi Rock and Roll Sushi.

Yes, the owner Ken Lowe called me and told me to tell him when I was coming so he could be there, yes he told me to introduce myself to the manager, and yes he sent me a gift certificate to make up for the disastrous experience I previously had.

No, I didn’t do any of these things including using the gift certificate—yet. You see I didn’t want special treatment on the revisit.

This needed to be a secret—like I was anyone off the street a regular customer (like I have been since 1994.) After all, I recommend this restaurant to my friends and family, I have a reputation! And unless they want whomever I send to call for a special meet and greet it better be great to the average Jane or Joe who walks through the door—or I’M GONNA STOP SENDING PEOPLE!

So How did Ace Wasabi Rock and Roll Sushi do on Thursday 1/8/09?

Let me set the table if you will…

We were sat right away way in the back—a table next to the table where the crime was committed some months ago. *There were still chalk outlines where our expectations were slain*

I asked the hostess in this coy, but obvious manner, “We won’t get lost back here, will we?”

“Oh, no,” she said, matter-of-factly.

And then we proceeded to be left alone. Not in a good way. Alone, to the point of craning neck signaling—something is a miss here, need some help please. I finally asked a busboy but that didn’t appear to help. No drinks, no nibbles, no food being prepared, blah blah, blah.

Oh, no Ken Lowe, please say it aint so!

I was catching up with a past colleague and friend, so that part was good, but I brought that part with me to the restaurant with my shoes for example. I wasn’t expecting the restaurant to provide that part, versus the food, drinks, and helpful and friendly service smile—I did expect that.

Let’s just say that when our waiter did report for duty,

Micheal B (as it said on the bottom of the check) was FANTASTIC! Helpful, friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable, attentive—what I expect!

The food that night, which has never been an issue, was as it always is—Fan-*Bleepin*-da-be-dosey—Tastic!

• Hot sake was hot—the right kind of hot, not the hot that shreds my rooftop or scorches my palate.
• Albacore Tataki—still the best I’ve ever had anywhere!
• Individual orders of sushi—salmon my favorite—couldn’t be fresher or more delicious!
• Salmon Tartare—Old School-style (and you have t ask for that because it’s not on the menu)
• Spider Roll—oh the spider roll… Mmm mm good!
• The Ozzy Roll—tuna and Jalapenos never tasted do good!
• The Steiner Roll—shrimp tempura, eel, and cukes—unbeatable combination!

My guest and I left very satisfied!

Recommendation to the diner:

Get yourself to Ace Wasabi Rock and Roll Sushi. Tell Ken Lowe I sent you!

Recommendation to management of Ace:

I still say there needs to be a strong VISIBLE management presence that can see problems (act versus react) as they are happening so you can minimize the issue for the people paying the bills—let’s face it this is the restaurant business there are going to be problems—the nature of the beast!

—it’s how how big you let those fires get and how you put those fires out—that will keep the people coming back!

—I’ll be back!

I might even introduce myself the next time… We’ll see!

—iChef

*******

Technorati Tags: Ace Wasabi Rock and Roll Sushi, Albacore Tataki, Hot sake was hot, iChef, Ken Lowe, Micheal B, restaurant review, Salmon Tartar, san francisco, Secret Shopper, Spider Roll, Sushi, sushi—salmon, The Ozzy Roll, The Steiner Roll

If you spend enough time away from NY you might become disillusioned and believe that pizza isn’t that bad in California (or whatever part of the country you’re in that is not NY.) You might even start to believe that you can get the same great pizza at your favorite local joint. You might hear yourself saying:

Ah, it’s close enough. Very good. Etcetera.

After all you can get very decent pizza everywhere… You’ll be wrong.

Amici’s based in California, calls itself East Coast Pizzeria, and is what I have (convinced myself) settled for being the best where I live.

Even Amici’s which is maybe the best of the best in Northern California, is just good in comparison to the real deal in NY.

On the last day of my NY Christmas visit we finally made it out to Portofino, which is in Golden’s Bridge, in Westchester NY, where their pizza is heaven and everything else is hell! There was a plan to go to Portofino even before I left California, but time was running out.

My father usually makes pizza from scratch at least once when I’m back home, but he didn’t do so this year. Maybe it’s because we were there for a shortened visit, maybe it’s because we just “did” so much, and when I say did I mean we ate so much great food at so many great places including home, restaurants, and at families, that we just ran out of time. By the way father makes excellent homemade pizza!

Prior to coming back to NY I asked my young nephew over the phone what we would be doing while I was visiting and he said, “well, I know that we will be eating a lot of pizza, because you love the pizza from this country.” Now, this is funny because he’s only 8 and even if it was a mix up of words, he’s right—eating pizza in NY is like eating something from a different country or planet for that matter. I’ve eaten pizza from all over the place, even in Italy, and I think American Pizza, NY pizza, kicks more ass than there is ass. NY pizza is the best, I don’t care what anyone says on this subject—not the deep dish of Chicago, which is really good, but it’s still not NY pizza… it’s like it should be called something else because it is great in its own right—people from Chi-town would not disagree except to say that theirs is the best and NY should call their pizza something else…

So, as luck would happen, my brother lives close to possibly the best pizzeria in NY. (Which begs the question why only one visit…) Portofino’s happens to be close to the Blazer! (see my Blazer review post Hole in the Wall Alert! ) Unfortunately, we didn’t visit while I was back

First, they make a slice that’s as big a small child and when in a whole pie it measures at least a yard from end to end. (probably an exaggeration, but close!)

Second, the sauce is perfectly seasoned with the right amount of cheese per any size bite.

Thirdly, we can talk about toppings, but I’m going to talk about one topping—broccoli rabe sauteed in garlic and olive oil. I’m still not ready to talk about how unbelievable this combination is—O M G! No, I’m just not ready yet…

Lastly, and I saved it for last because it is in fact the foundation—literally. The crust is thin, not paper, not notebook, but I’m going to call it the Goldilocks Crust—just right! But it’s not just right it’s just perfect!

Obviously size does matter and their perfect pizza crust is thin yet supportive, 1/8 inch of crispy, crunchy, able-to-support-the-sauce-and-cheese (and broccoli rabe in my case) perfect!

These pizzamakers are the real deal from the old country ginzos and I mean that with total respect and admiration. This is also a full blown restaurant with unbelievably delicious entrees. Little expensive if you think in terms of a pizza joint, but it’s not and it’s worth every penny!

*clicking my heels together* There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home…

Technorati Tags: Amici's, Best, California, ginzo's, Goldens Bridge, New York, Pizza, Portofino, the Blazer, Westchester

When I want a very good, solid, Italian, meal at a very reasonable price, there’s no question that Pasta Pomodoro is the place. Consistency is key and they’re almost the definition of consistency.

We took the 3 kids there the other night and it was great! I must say the waiter was the best part on this particular night! The food was delicious, but the food is always delicious, like I said—Bubbie(def. #1), it’s consistent, and I expect it to be.

We didn’t have to wait to be seated and were sat at a nice spacious table—perfect for kids and the food and the drinks and the fun / educational placemats and crayons that keep them satisfied / occupied while waiting for their food.

The kids drinks were Shirley Temple cocktails (remember when they were fun and before you were too cool?) and PP has figured out that it just might be best to serve large spill-able drinks with covers for the kids! The focaccia was still warm right out of the oven and perfect in their seasoned olive oil pesto mix—we all love that!

The waiter came by many times to make sure we were happy—we were! He brought us extra bread when we needed it—which we did, you can’t let those delectable sauces stay on the plate when they can be in your belly with a little-bread-wrist action! He also brought refills for the kids drinks. Our Moretti’s were just fine—cold and perfect with the food!

Pasta with tomato sauce and meatballs (no as good as mine—but NOBODIES are!) grilled cheese pannini, Gemelli with chicken, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, in a garlicky cream sauce, and a half order of lasagna and small salad lightly and properly dressed.

Yummy, yummy, yummy!

Did I mention that the kids $6 dollar meals (in a sit down, waiter service, restaurant) come with ice cream sundaes? How can you beat that? You can’t! But Pasta

Pomodoro can!

On Tuesday’s, for every adult meal, the kids meal is free! Wahooo! Now in our case one of the kids had an adult entree, but our waiter brought three sundaes (no extra charge) because he knew it would make everybody very happy! (He probably also knew that it didn’t cost them anything because we had 3 Adult meals and probably were entitled to 3 kids meals if we wanted—the customers and the House won on this night!)

Special thanks to the waiter this evening! See, how important the waiter can be???

Oh, by the way Pasta Pomodoro can be enjoyed with or without the kids (though not as much fun) and a bottle of wine for a romantic delicious dinner for two or party of ten—and, regardless of the size of your dinner party, very affordable!

What are other people saying:

Melon Scrapings Stuff that wants to get out of my head. Life, and other things like it.

B O N N E T bitching and moaning inspired by teenage angst

Technorati Tags: Affordable Italian food, food review, Pasta Pomodoro, Restaurants, Shirley Temple

I want my baby back baby back baby back ribs! I want my baby back baby back baby back ribs! Chil… — wrong restaurant, wrong jingle, wrong, wrong, wrong! (Austin Powers, Fat Bastard’s version)

We’ll go Outback’s tonight! Life will still be there tomorrow!

We did the old-barnstorming-pop-in before the movie, Eagle Eye, trick. Told the waiter that we were in a rush. He handled it like a champ! We split: a No Rules Burger—medium, with everything except tomato and onion with the blue cheese dressing on the side, fries and a 22 oz Sam Adams October fest. Man O’ Man do they make a tasty burger at Outback! Menu and descriptions.

And I would dare say it was picture perfect! Fluffy bun, plump juicy burger, and fresh nicely done toppings! The perfect amount of food for two. Not too full, just right!

Of course we still got the buttered popcorn, sour something candy, and a large diet to wash it all down with.

Advice: Stick with the burgers, fries, and beer and you won’t be disappointed! Every once in a while (get a little excited drooling at the pictures on the menu) we stray from the proven recipe of perfection and we are muy disappointed—you will see the pretty pictures and get sucked in—don’t, just take our advice! Or don’t, you’re a big-boy (or big-girl, but you have to be careful with that one!) you have free will, live and learn!!!

—iChef

Technorati Tags: food, food review, iChef, Opinion, Outback Steak House, Restaurant