Jay Definitely NOT About the Yangser Dorjee Himalaya Restaurant

So this place is in my building and right below us. It is the closest drinking/dining option w/out a doubt. I have eaten there a couple times and it is fine, not great, just fine. It is also always empty. Sometimes you see a few tables full at lunch but if you wanted a seat it is certainly not a problem. Why take the shot? Well, it helps set the scene for why this place is on close out watch. There is plenty of traffic down here at the waterfront, the Skinny Pancake down the street is always busy. That said it is a tough location where YDHR is and it was never easy for the Mexican place when they were there.

So after a couple months being open YDHR finally got a liquor license and it looks like they have a few beer taps. The sign (handwritten) on the door says the "Bar/Snacks" is open 2-5 and then dinner from 5-9 or whatever. So my co-workers and I had a brief window yesterday to have a beer and debrief on the day. We decided to pop on down and patronize our neighbor a little before 5.

When we came in the place was empty as usual. The hostess was no where to be seen. As we moved towards the back a couple waitresses were eating dinner. They gave us confused frightened glances as if we were robbing the place, and/or they were frightened natives from a remote island who had never seen other people before. I stepped up and asked the guy that looked like the manager if we could have a beer on the patio outside. He told us that they considered themselves a restaurant and did not serve drinks without food. I explained to him we were walking out of the empty "restaurant" and going down the street to another restaurant that does serve beers without food at 4:45PM.

When you are perpetually empty, serve pedestrian food, and do not advertise... are you in a position to turn any business away? Particularly what could turn into a food order or longer term regular clientele? I am not sure serving a couple of early beers will turn you into a bar scene by the way. Not when no one knows where you are, your location is not great and you have no TVs to watch sports.

I had thought that YDHR was not long for Burlington and gave them under 1 year, I am downgrading that to 4 months unless the owners have family money or are willing to go bankrupt. I feel bad for there employees who are now garnering 0 tips. Pretty poor effort all the way around, 2 huge thumbs down and a disappointing headshake.

Jay About Neil Young

So my special lady and I team up w/ LB Squared and the JBs for an evening w/ Neil Young. We started over at one of my legal council's place for some fun, conversation and a really nice meal. It was then onto the venue. We had to navigate at least one drunk driver and a couple other ya-yos as well as crazy traffic but LB's traffic app got us to our destination. I must admit I was not going in w/ high high expectations. While I really like Neil's music and he has never played in VT before... I have seen a few of the old guard play past their prime and it is generally not pretty. The voices are usually strained and hollow, and the musicianship is haggard at best. When you look at Neil Young he certainly looks like he will fill that bill.

Happily this was not the case. Hey, Neil Young has never had a beautiful voice but it is unique. What came through Sunday night was strong and sounded just like he has always sounded (more or less). I am not getting into the opener Nora Jones, she was fine. Neil opened on piano and banged out a couple classics solo on acoustic guitar and harmonica. He then moved to the first Monsanto tune on the pipe organ? He busted out the band and played a few more semi acoustic before breaking out the big stick to really rip. The backup band Promise of the New is apparently made up of some of Willy Nelson's kids and they were a nice accompaniment. One kid busted out Moonlight in Vermont and sounded just like Willy. Neil was fierce. His guitar ripped and he was bopping around invading other musicians space all over the place. He was great. They are touring for a new album and it kind of sucks but they mixed in a bunch of the old tunes that were great and they jammed out on the new stuff enough to keep you engaged. They played one long set trying to evade the weather that managed to remain at bay.

Overall 2 thumbs up. I was very pleasantly surprised at how hard a 70 year old rocks out. And apparently he dates the Mermaid...

Actually Not a Dilemma at All?

So I cruised into the recently opened Doughnut Dilemma this morning looking for a coffee and maybe treat myself to a doughnut. There were only 2 other people there and at least 4 employees so it was not busy. The guy behind the counter fumbled around for a bit as I perused the doughnut selection.He then presented me a tiny "large" coffee cup about 1/4 filled. He said it was almost a small and I could probably have it for free, the beans were doing something, they literally had no more coffee. At that point I cut him off and told him I was all set and took off. I have had doughnuts from the place and they are expensive but pretty good. That said, they are not open Mondays, sometimes open, sometimes closed on the weekends when they attend the local farmer's market, and I have had issues getting coffee before. The sheen appears to have worn off and the place is often empty. It is a tough location but I think they need something besides just a diner counter w/ nice doughnuts? So it will probably be another couple weeks before I venture back in there... the dilemma easily solved for now.

Jay About Catching Up

Hey we made it onto a website... check out the Prohibition Pig accolades page! What have I been up to lately? Actually quite a bit, but hard to find time or motivation to write about it.

For instance, a couple friends and I went up to Jay Peak to see Widespread Panic play. Hotels were pretty nice, very fun venue even if acoustics not great, super chill place to see a concert overall. We even learned a couple tricks but I don't want to give them away... suffice it to say, if you are going to a concert there, get a Stateside room. The water park is fun too. I enjoyed to waterboarding experience of La Chute. I even had fun trying to surf and nearly getting a concussion. When you see the overweight 65 year old woman who has trouble walking but floats effortlessly on the indoor wave it looks so easy! She is a ringer!!!! I have to imagine she may have even been attached to ropes from the ceiling it was that easy for her. Meanwhile, I was on my feet for 31 seconds before I face planted and lost my trunks. No one even laughed... they looked mad I was taking up their wave time. It is like the looks I get when I hit on 16 up in Montreal. Daggers.

I also went down to see college friends in NYC. I stayed a night w/ my buddy at the Baccarat Hotel. Swanky. Excellent service, super high tech (the TV is IN the wall mirror), and just super nice. Yeah, they thought we were 3 gay dudes staying there but whatever. Asked if we needed tickets to a show. The trundle bed was very comfortable. We then went to the premier of Ted 2. My buddy worked on the movie. I thought it was funny, even better than the first one. I enjoy toilet humor. Not ashamed to admit it. My GPS also took me all the way up Broadway to Hastings on the Hudson. What a journey. Neighborhoods I had never seen nor hope to never see again.

On a sad note we will soon be losing one of my favorite local spots Archie's. Heard the owner is ill and needs to sell. Great spot for kids and excellent burger fare. Will soon be home to a Dunkin Donuts. I have no ill will towards Dunkies but will miss Archie's.  Also closing down is San Sai. Best sushi in Burlington by a mile. Location was tough and no one ever ventured down there. Locals are not that into foreign food here in VT. Tourists never seemed to know it was there. If the Tavern can manage to always have a crowd but San Sai is never busy you know you live in a shitty food town. We do what we do (pub fare) pretty well but a very narrow scope. Also heard Tilt may be changing hands or closing. I like that spot as a place to escape when I am out doing chores on the weekend. I hope they stay open. A new pub will be opening near the Shelburne Meat Market where the old Town Tavern floundered. I hope they do a better job w/ the space... that corridor needs a place to have a burger, beer and watch a ball game. Besides the bowling alley of course.

So there you have it... if my kids stop peeing the bed, eating possibly poisonous berries, screaming in my ear, messing up the house, eating paint chips, playing w/ knives, somehow getting poop on their face, refusing to wear pants, I may try to keep this blog a little more current.

One last review, Maurice Sendak's Chicken Soup with Rice is an excellent bedtime book. Currently is my favorite and the kids dig it too. So whoopy once, whoopy twice, whoopy chicken soup with rice!!!

Hey, it's a poop story!!!

I work in a 7 person office housed in a large multi-use building. There is a Psychoanalysis practice across the hall and a couple marketing type places down the hall. I woman came into the office the other day and announced, "Uh, I was across the hall and I came out, somebody "diaree-ered" in the hall and I wasn't sure who to tell?" Um, sure, we were probably the best option. Well, someone or something did diaree-er in the hall. It was like a crime scene all over the floor and down the stairs to the first floor. Maybe somebody had there dog in and there was an incident. Doesn't really matter, it was super f*d up. Why am I involved in so many poop events. Does anyone else seem to be at the nexus of all things poop? Damn! 

I honked at a hippie in a vanagan (that VW van right?) who was sitting and gawking at an intersection this morning. After getting stuck in the middle of the intersection and then attempting to back into a line of 6 cars behind her, said hippie decided to get out of her car and yell at me for honking at her. She said it was inappropriate. What is a horn for if not alerting other motorists to potential driving situations what is it for... telling people you are horny? I would argue the honk was VERY appropriate. Did I mention Miss Vanagan had already been passed by another motorist for going too slow on my rural road? I was actually quite dumbfounded, so much so I neglected to unleash my usual angry double bird response. I just shook my head in a disapproving manner.

I am having a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day. Apparently that happens, even in Australia.

BTW, finally had some food from Butch N Babes in the north end. It was really very good and deserves a much better post so it will get one at a date in the very near future. But go there, it is a nice space, good drinks, and good food.

Jay About Bluebird BBQ

It is funny, I love BBQ, and I tend to like the Bluebird group's offerings. So why is it I have never been to the BB BBQ joint over on Riverside? Well, it is just such an off the run location. After we had kids it became even harder to justify going to Riverside. I had also heard not great things, mostly having to do with a little much salt. So how did I finally get there after all these years? Well, my wife read that kids eat free and as my folks were in town and we needed to be out of my house for a few hours late one Sunday afternoon... well, f* it, let's check it out!  As usual, my special lady was spot on. We cruised in around 5PM and the place was lively but not packed. There was a party in the side room that looked fun and there were families everywhere. They sat us in a back room giving us plenty of space. Our waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, and patient. There were a ton of things we wanted to try so we went w/ several small plates, dinner for 2, and a couple extra sides.

The buffalo chicken on a biscuit was one of the big hits. Great flavor, well cooked chicken, delicious pickles and a sick biscuit. I liked the asian inspired pulled pork bun sandwich. We all thought the sweet potato pierogies were tasty. The pulled pork was pretty good and they have nice sauces to add flavor. The brisket was tender and delicious w/out having too much fat or gristle. The ribs W/ a maple BBQ mop sauce were great, lot's of meat, w/ a little extra vinegar sauce they really popped. The sides were good as well. The beans had nice flavor and were not mushy, the coleslaw was excellent, and the braised greens and ham almost made you think you were eating healthy. The beer list was pretty solid as well.

I thought the whole thing was pretty great as a stand alone and when you factor in the kid friendliness of the place... well sir, that is 1 3/4 thumbs up and covered in BBQ sauce!

Jay About Taverna Khione

Hey Jay... what the f*** have you been doing?!  F*** you!!! Whatever I want!! And by that I mean cleaning up after my punk kids. Well, last night they were w/ my folks so my special lady and I went for a date to the new Greek place in Shelburne. The last place that occupied the Cafe Shelburne space was a bust, a Greek joint?  Tough sell, but we had high hopes as we both like Greek food and feel like the area needs an infusion of ethnic fare. The first tentative steps were tough. I may have parked in a handicap spot... it was raining and hard to see what the sign was referring to. Also, at 7PM on a Thursday there was no one there. Uh oh. The new owners did do a nice job freshening the look up. It no longer felt like my Grandmother's favorite brunch spot but like a more updated and contemporary but very casually comfortable dining establishment. Service was new car smell as to be expected. Our guy did not tell us the specials even though we were the only people there. He also neglected to tell us they had beer. He also did not know other pretty relevant points to the menu but it is still new. How about the food? Excellent.

We started with stuffed grape leaves that were delicate and featured a tasty sausage filling that was not at all greasy. They sat on a nice fresh tasting yogurt sauce. So far so good. The Greek wines were very unfamiliar to us and our server was little help. The white my wife tried was not great but we settled on a big fruity red they considered like a house red. It was nice and approachable. Next up was the pistachio crusted feta with honey drizzle. What a treat. I would eat that shit all day long and double on Sunday! We also nibbled on grilled octopus that was solid and came on a fava bean hummus type spread that was delicious as well.

We finished up sharing a baked pasta dish w/ cinnamon tomato and ground beef and bechamel sauce. Whoa! Glad we were sharing as it was a decadent delight. Nice flavor, nice consistency, nice presentation.

Finished up with a Greek after dinner drink that was very much like Sambuca and was a nice way to finish. We took a desert home and I will not even get into it, was not the highlight of the evening.

By the time we left there were a few tables full and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. We thought it was great and with tighter service a real solid addition to the scene, 1 1/2 thumbs up with upside. I fear the unrefined palates in Shelburne who love the dumpster fire known as the Bearded Frog will not accept a small reach out of their dining comfort zone and that could be a real challenge but if you are looking for a good meal that is not the same old same old... give these guys a run, it is more than worth it!