The Ultimate Culture Clash

Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards

Yesterday, President Obama went to the Bulls vs. Wizards game. The typical working man, who just happens to be our president, visited the Verizon Center. Which makes me think, would Obama prefer a Verizon Center hot dog, or a big old salty pretzel? (I'm sure the kid has utterly NO idea who he is sitting next to.)


Personally, as a Washington Capitals hockey fan -- I'm an advocate for the jalapeno nachos. But, that is only because jalapeno nachos and hockey hold the same sentiments for me. They're both spicy, can get a little bit heated, and always finish with a bang.

Different sporting events call for different foods.

Soccer games make me think of juice boxes and orange slices, but that's because I was 5-years-old when I played soccer. At a professional soccer game I would assume that you would eat fries or something. I wouldn't know.

At a baseball game, its hands down a hot dog and a over-priced beer.


However, at a basketball game I think there's an even tie between hot dogs and soft pretzels.
Verizon Center has some of the juiciest hot dogs and the saltiest of pretzels. The two reign supreme when it comes to indulging in gluttony that is a sporting event.

While we know Obama's preference (Bulls over Wizards). Perhaps he'll demonstrate bipartisanship with the two fan favorite basketball treats?



photo credits: girlychimp, zachstern

Fish, its what's for dinner.

Today, an odd craving overcame me. Fish.

photo: compfight.com

It being Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent season, and all... it seems fitting. But seeing as I have no religious affiliation, it was an odd craving.

I call them college-student-hunger-pains. Very similar to pregnant-woman-hunger-pains. Maybe subconsciously I know midterms are coming up so I should eat some "brain food" like my Dad always has called it.

That, or it is a devilishly clever marketing plan.

I was downloading grocery coupons (I know what you're thinking, and yes I am one of those people) I was accosted by tons of ads for "DOUBLE COUPONS: FISH FOR LENT!"

Well, I caved and bought two fillets of some gorgeous pink salmon for me and my roommate to delight in this evening.

I was raised on salmon and brie, a weird combination but a bite of heaven nonetheless. My grandpa cooks the salmon in a small hickory smoker on the back deck in a metal homemade smoker.

He then piles the crumbled, salty white fish on top of a healthy slice of gooey, buttery, all together perfectly creamy brie and club cracker.

The combination is the perfect amuse-bouche.

Now, my salmon dinner won't be any thing of this caliber...but there's still something to be said for a good piece of fish broiled to perfection with a bit of lemon zest.

I'm drooling

Photo: Papa J, in the flesh.

photo credit: terri_tu

"Sending Y'all Love & Best Dishes..."

Ohhh...Paula Deen.

How we all love your six pounds of butter, grease, and kitchen counter deep-fryer.

While Deen's food won't be found in any healthy eating cookbooks; this Southern diva's down home cooking is sure to please. After my college roommates and I made Giada De Laurentiis' "Ravioli Caprese" earlier this week, we decided to give Paula Deen's Southern Fried Chicken recipe a whirl.

Or, shall we say, we gave the recipe a try and it nearly gave us a heart attack. Deen's recipe calls for an undisclosed amount of oil for frying.

A word of advice, just dump an entire bottle into the griddle. Your arteries won't thank you later in life but your tummy will.

Deen's fried chicken is Southern to the core. It reminds me of my Grandma's fried chicken. Made on the stovetop in a kitchen not equipped for a grease fire or splattering molten lard all over the place.

I said this week's posts would be about trying out how celebrity chef's recipes and talk about the trial run of their preparations.

Deen's fried chicken couldn't be easier.

• Dredge the chicken in flour and egg
• Add a dash of Texas Pete hot sauce
• Plop the floured diddlies into a hot skillet
  
• Watch closely as they turn quickly into frittered goodness.

In true Paula Deen fashion, whip up some extra creamy mashed potatoes, make green beans and sprinkle them with bacon. Finish off with Devil's Food Cake.

After all, The Lady herself throughly enjoys chocolate.

Everyday Italian

College Student Style.

I am completely and utterly obssessed with the Food Network and two its "celebrity chefs:" Giada De Laurentiis and Paula Deen. This week's posts will higlight home-made takes on De Laurentiis' and Deen's niches of the cooking world.

As I aspire to, one day, become a chef. I like trying out these recipes that are on De Laurentiis' show "Everyday Italian" and see just how easy they are. Or in some cases, how much pain-staking detail is required.

My roommates and I attempted to make "Ravioli Caprese." Or as we liked to call it, "rotisserie chicken and ricotta cheese heaven."

The ravioli filling was uber-simple to make. Mostly because the ingredients were already made. In De Laurentiis' recipe you buy a rotisserie from your local grocery store, nothing fancy like bourbon honey (We got ours at Giant for a reasonable $7.00).

Mix shredded rotisserie chicken and about a cup of ricotta (I recommend Sargento's brand, it works best). Why rotisserie chicken, you ask? Because of the way it is cooked -- the meat is mouth-wateringly tender.

(photo: Raviolis in infant stage)

Finally, the dough. Easy enough. Take 2 cups of all-purpose flour and mix with 1 cup SCALDING hot water. The combo makes a flaky dough that's easy to roll out and the best part is there's no waiting. Mix the dough and get to filling your pastries.

The only negative part to this recipe is cutting the actual ravi's. De Laurentiis had this nifty ravioli cutter that popped out cutesy perfect squares of goodness. Ours were more hectagon since we used a pizza cutter and fork.

All in all, this recipe is good but several hands are needed to make the preparation speedy. It's perfect for a dinner requiring a semi-effort, but if you're looking for some super quick eats check out Thursday's post for a Paula Deen recipe trial.


photo credit: Maxim Magazine, Lauren Jost

another round of...

Restaurants from London that should come the States!
This time, Yo! Sushi and Pizza Express.

These are two very affordable, very popular restaurants near Russell Square tube stop in London that are flanked by University of London (and George Mason University study abroad-ers) night after night.


Yo! Sushi is a futuristic sushi bar where the conveyor belt of sushi is all-you-can-eat and the table is self-serve. No really, this table was waiter free unless you desired a hot dish that was only available upon request. (And when you want said hot dishes, you press a red button in the center of the table with blares a siren, and all attention towards your booth.)


If I were to be lost at sea, I would want my raft to look like my booth from Yo! Sushi.

Why? Because it was completely self-contained.


Curls of the booth served as coolers for bottle of wine and beer. The table itself had all your little sushi-eating heart could desire. Wasabi, ginger, soy sauce, chopsticks...and it all popped up on command.

Did I mention there's fizzy and still water fountains at your table!? Oh, and aside from the fact that YO! Sushi's array of Japanese bites were delectable and everything sushi should be, there was a 25% student discount? Yeah, America, let's get on that.

II.) PIZZA EXPRESS

This pizza joint wasn't your run-of-the-mill Pizza Hut. This was pizza with class. With marble table-tops and wine glasses at every table you almost feel like you need to eat your gourmet pizza with a knife and fork (recommendation: I would, if not you tend to get stares).

With an air of high-class, Pizza Express delivers the favorites expected with pizza. Pepperoni, olives, onions, the works.

But what sets Pizza Express apart is the pizzas are literally made in front of you, and they have all fresh ingredients that really are fresh...not pulled out of a freezer.

Pizza Express offers pizzas like, "The American: A big helping of pepperoni for those who love their flavours strong and simple," "Diavolo: Devilishly hot with spicy beef, pepperoni, onions and
Tabasco, with hot green or jalapeno peppers." and my personal favorite, "Capricciosa: Prosciutto cotto ham, anchovies, fresh strips of red pepper, capers and olives, topped with a free range boiled egg."

Delizioso.

Yet again, Pizza Express was a popular favorite of London U students. It could possibly be the next favorite of GMU students, if it makes the trip across the Atlantic (following suit of Wagamama & Pret A Manger.)

Ciao.

skipping across the pond...

OBAMANIA? NO, WAGAMAMANIA!
(say that ten times fast!)

Two affordable, delicious, and speedy restaurants are debuting in the United States. Wagamama (location TBD) and Pret A Manger (located at 18th and I, NW Washington, D.C.)

The first is Wagamama, a healthy Asian cafeteria-style restaurant with a slogan that boasts "positive eating + positive living."

Famous for their ramen bar style of service, Wagamama says under their "About" tab on their website that they dislike "pretentiousness, slow service & msg."

The Asian cafeteria delivers an assortment of freshly squeezed juices with seemingly odd pairings, like pear and carrot juice.

In addition to their tantalizing juices, Wagamama offers a wide variety of noodle, teppan, and rice dishes.


Vegetarian? Want gluten-free food?

Wagamama is eager to please. Any dietary need is accomodated to the best of the staff's ablities. If the D.C. Wagamama is anything like the London Wagamama (which is, brilliant), this place is going to blow up on everyone's food radar.

Recommendation: start with the ebi goyza and share the yaki soba; wash down with the "cleansing" fruit drink.

The only catch is Wagamama doesn't open in D.C. until 2010.
2. Pret-A-Delicious.

Next up to the plate is Pret A Manger, a fast-but-delicious-and-healthy-food place which is somewhat like Panera with more international variety.

"Prets" as they are slangily referred to are as common as Starbucks on London streets.

Similar to the ideology of Wagamama, Pret's philosophy towards food is to create "handmade natural food avoiding the obscure chemical, additives and preservatives common to so much of the 'prepared' and 'fast' food on the market today."

Admist the freshly made menu is vanilla bean & honey yogurt, thai chicken curry soup, and herb chicken & rocket (British jargon for lettuce).

My favorite? Slim pret (a half of a sandwich) Super Chicken Club and red onion crisps (potato chips).

The UK can invade fast-food anytime they would like.



photo credit: stevenvanwel, Kenny Roden

The weather outside is frightful...so let's eat.

In my every family's food history, there have been meals that stand out as fantastic. They may be associated with holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Labor Day, and the occasional Graduation dinner. (Picture is from an early Thanksgiving, my cousin & I have been required to sit in the exact same spot every year since this picture was taken.)

But, the most meaningful meals from my family just so happen to come from ultra-cold days. And today, being the coldest day in D.C. in the past week, with the temperature feeling about 11 degrees Farenheit -- I was taken back to childhood days of comfort foods.

My personal favorite was a combination of my Grandma's twice-baked potatoes (oozing with cheddar cheese, bacon, and butter), my Dad's just perfectly seared fillet of steak, and my Mom's famously delicious carb-laden dinner rolls. Yes, my family loves their calories.

A recent poll taken amongst my roommates has shown that favorite comfort food dinners range from empanadas to fried hamsteaks dredged in butter and brown sugar.

On About.com, there's an article about comfort food where some favorites "take the cake": macaroni & cheese and french toast. Some surprises? Danish Puff Coffee Cake and Bean & Bacon Soup.

Needless to say, this cold weather is prompting all of us to pile on the comfort food. Good thing the gym is less than a block away.

Time for Top Chef on Bravo. I hope Leah goes home, she's a bit of a whiner and a cop-out.

More bites tomorrow.


photo credit: Me

Hello, My Name is Sadie, and I'm an addict.

Yes, I'm an addict.

Addicted to food.

This blog, a stem off of Lady Sadie's Rag & Bone will be dedicated entirely to food and everything we love about it: gadgets, celebrity chefs, comfort foods, new restaurants, cheap greasy spoons, and overall good eatin'.

However, in this stage the blog is in somewhat of a infantile cake stage. The butter and eggs have been mixed but give me some time to make the filling and finish the icing.



Until then, Bon Appetit.

Or as Paula Deen would say, "Best Dishes!"