Yeah

Day... Uh, Thursday... The Lost Kitchen. Very elegant and delicious

Jay about belfast

Night one, delvinos... So far beer ok but marinated mushrooms very balsamic good

crap

I have been busy with some pretty heavy stuff.  That's right... I am now into rhino wrestling... 

Vacation next week then I will get back after it.

Jay About Misery Loves Company

My buddy DG gave me the head's up about the Misery Loves Company food truck and said it was going to be parked down by the Maglinero cafe yesterday.  Hey, I love me some food truck fare so obviously I was in!  We rolled down and it was parked in an out of the way parking lot in an industrial area surrounded by odd warehouses and shipping facilities behind a nondescript cafe.  The large red and white camper looking thing was half in the shade and beside a small table and a couple picnic tables in the shade.  The menu as you can hopefully see is ridiculous.  DG ran w/ the fried chicken lunch box that came w/ potato two ways... fries and potato salad.  It looked damned good.  I opted for the Anti Hero because if I didn't get it my wife was going to be mad.  Hey I will take that pork meatball bullet? Well, it was delicious.  Not too big but plenty filling with 3 silky porky meatballs, a heavy dose of Mozzarella cheese oozing all over the place, on a great bun.  The fresh tomato and basil sauce was what made it all come together.  It had a concentrated flavor that was fresh but at the same time just the right amount of oily.  It was great.  My only regret was not adding a beignet or two!  Prices were reasonable and the service was just fine.  I will go back whenever I see these guys.

Well, That is Dumb

In the April issue of Runner's World there is a large article about eating red meat to build muscle and strengthen your body.  That's good.  About 20 pages later there is an article about losing weight and red meat is a major non no.  That is bad.  Why was I reading this magazine in the first place?  It was in the crapper at work.  I find this to be pretty typical of the mag though.  Confused as to who and what it is trying to target and ultimately making me confused about how to take care of their body.  Unlike me who is a shining beacon of physical fitness!!

How about Paul Ryan huh?  I certainly don't know that guy personally but his public persona makes him seem like a huge asshole.  Smug, weaselly, untrustworthy.  Pretty typical move to the far right to appease a constituent base that probably cannot carry a full election.  Ryan strikes me as the kid who would totally rat you out in college for drinking in your dorm room. It is interesting but there are emerging parallels between Mitt and our old pal Howard Dean.  As a governor, Dean was moderate to somewhat conservative for a democrat.  Mitt was often seen as very liberal for a republican... especially when it came to social issues.  When he got to the national stage Dean bowed to the wishes of the liberal faction within his party and became a far left winger radical.  He pandered to the loud voices in the party and lost the majority of America who are not interested in extreme political views that exclude other voices and shout down competing opinions.  Mitt is now making the same move to the far right because he is worried about losing the money from the far right, even though that may ultimately cost him in the general election.  Unlike Bush II, Obama has not f*d up quite enough to make the move that far right.  It seems like a moderate who will not spend us into oblivion but will also not make radical changes to our social programs would have a real shot to unseat a president who is making enough mistakes to be beaten but has done enough right (Osama) to not just give it away.  So be careful Mitt... You might piss off Florida, you might piss off Ohio, you might piss off New Jersey... HHHHYYYYAAAAHHHHH!!!!!

Work is for Suckers

Now folks who know me well also know that I am currently in an interesting work situation where I have a bit more flexibility than in the past... this should be short term.  Why mention it?  Because they will laugh at what I am about to say.  Yesterday I was driving down Rt 7 south around 1PM and the traffic was insane.  Much worse than usual, approaching the 8AM and 5PM rush hour volume.  Thurs. at 1PM, how odd? Lunch traffic?  Sure who doesn't want to get in the car to enjoy Chipolte poops?  Well, I was again on 7 at 3PM and there was still a ton of traffic.  This morning my Special Lady and I had to run an errand or two in the morning.  Afterwards we wanted to grab a quick bits, it was around 10:30AM.  Today is Friday.  Still a workday as far as I know?  Church Street was very busy.  We went to Penneycluse which is always a stupid wait.  30 minutes.  Yikes.  How about Mirabelle's which is usually busy but reasonable.  Packed and a 10-15 minute wait. What the f***?  It was 10:30, not 7 or 8.  When did Friday brunch become so popular?  Even the coffee shop had a substantial line.  In past years when the summertime hits Burlington becomes a very manageable town.  College kids who make up a large portion of the population leave for the break and the soccer mom/dad traffic also abates during the week.  Usually there is no wait anywhere and things are active bot overly so other than on weekends.  This summer has been different.  There are people everywhere and it is a zoo?  Is it unemployment?  If so how can they afford a $30 breakfast?  Queebs?  That explains some but not all of the increase.  Have we become more of a vacation destination or is it worse?  I think we are seeing a noticeable uptick of a longstanding problem... wealthy folks w/ inexplicable income who come here to not work.  Like zombies they multiply and eventually instead of eating your brains they chew on your nerves until you too become a social mutant!  Beware!  BEWARE!!!!!

Saw Total Recall yesterday.  It sucked.

Was thinking about a vacation in the fall or early winter and just could not seem to find the right thing but then like a bolt of lightning...

Holy Muffled Voices Batman!

So we finally went to see the new Batman movie this weekend and it was great.  I have been a big fan of all 3 of Christopher Nolan's Batman movies and this one really was a capper.  The muffled Bane voice was the only real distraction.  Otherwise, good characters, lots of action, and an excellent use of the musical score to help build tension.  2 thumbs up.

We also ventured out Sunday night to the Vermont Fresh Networks event at Shelburne Farms.  They do a nice job bring local merchants and chefs to the event to show their skills attempting to use as many local ingredients as possible.  My special lady will most likely correct me but we really liked the zucchini cupcake from Shelburne Farms, the blueberry dessert from Mirabelle's, the pork empenada which I think was from Ariels and the pork Bahn Mei which I am totally flaking on... Jay Peak Resort?  Surprisingly weak efforts from Michael's on the Hill, Pistou, and Hen of the Wood.  Surprisingly strong efforts from 3 Tomatoes (nice meatball mini sub), 60 Battery in the Hilton, The Jay Peak folks.  The Eden Ice cider was also a revelation.  Really delicious.  As usual the Strafford Organic Creamery did a great job finishing w/ delicious ice cream.  I started with mocha that my wife absconded with leaving me with an also tasty cinnamon.  Good job all around and a fun event.

Last night I had a huge porterhouse steak at Church and Main.  It was actually quite good.  The Cesar Salad was good.  The Pinot from Willamette was also a great drinking wine.  One of the better meals I have had there... nice work.  I am nervous that the steak has not made another appearance yet.  Wish me luck.

I Have Been Chipolte'd!

A Chipolte Grill recently opened on Rt. 7 next to 5 Guys and I finally stopped by last night to grab a couple burritos to go.  First off, I got in line and was on my way.  2 spots in front of me was some high school kid who looked like he was just out of basketball practice or something.  Why else would you wear really long shorts and a tank top in public?  His buddy rolled in and butted in to the line next to him. Normally people might have been annoyed except this kid was so trashed (8PM) that it was like watching a car crash.  He was getting in his pal's face, nose to cheek, to tell him stuff in a loud voice (quiet restaurant).  He also was swaying a little and rubbing his hands ind a really weird way.  The best was when the kid went to order... "Steak Burrito"
"Any rice or beans?"
"Rice, no beans"
"White or brown rice?
"Steak burrito... beans... no rice."
"Um, ok."

It continued from there, pretty funny stuff.  I rolled up and got a veggie burrito and a chicken one.  I got guacamole and hot sauce, with brown rice on both.  The veggies did not look all that fresh, the chicken was also a little heat lampy.  Once home and eating it tasted ok.  The guac. was pretty good.  The hot sauce I had on the chicken was quite spicy.  Overall it was ok, not great.  And then the evening happened.  Heartburn for 2 at 3AM.  Funny, I don't remember ordering that?  Terrible stinky farts for me all night.  I do remember getting that as a side.  Finally, in the morning I had the worst burny shits.  I am still suffering mid way through the day!  So be careful w/ the old Chipolte Grill.

One other review, stopped by Soyo on Pine Street for a frozen yogurt.  I think the claim to fame is they try to use local milk?  I don't know if that is the case or not, I had a couple drinks before going there and was only partially paying attention.  I had, on the advice of a friend the plain.  She kind of steered me wrong, apparently you can get a twist w/ 2 flavors.  Thanks KB!  Well, to be fair, the plain was quite good.  Solid flavor, tangy, it tasted like yogurt.  I also opted for strawberries (my call) and mochi (KB advised).  They were a good addition.  The mochi balls were delicious, sweet with a great consistency to balance the froyo.  It was good, I would definitely go back.

Finally... Boo to the new Dream Team in U.S. basketball.  They set all kinds of records in beating up on a hapless Nigerian team.  This team is the sum of their parts... Lebron, Carmelo, Westbrook... they are just bullies.  They beat up on weaker teams but when a good one steps up, they shrink.  There was no need to run the score up as they did, every team knows how to take the air out of the ball.  I dislike this team very much.  Boooo.  Go Gabby Douglas and the rest of the U.S.A., I am digging the rest of the competition very much.