Ahhhhh it's good to be back!!!!
What better way to return than with the first ever VIDEO LOVERDICT!!!!
Check out the link below to watch my review of a great beer I just tried; Dogfish Head's Urkontinent!!
Let me know what you guys think, feel free to critique my video making skills (they are minimal haha) as well as offer an opinion on this beer if you've had it before.
Lots more planned for the future, so stay tuned!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
"Good People Drink Good Beer"- Hunter S. Thompson
My beer bottle collection at home (Every bottle is unique/a different brand/type of beer).
I couldn't have said it any better myself, Mr. Thompson. Welcome to the first ever LoVerdict of that great beverage many of us (OF LEGAL AGE OF COURSE) enjoy: Beer! For those of you who have the honored privilege of knowing me personally, you know that I am what many would call a beer snob. Plain and simple, people: I fuckin' love beer! For those of you who have never gone beyond drinking Coors or Budweiser, you need to wake the fuck up and expand your beer horizons. There are thousands of breweries worldwide producing dozens of different styles of beer you have never heard of before. This Loverdict will focus on four different beers I have recently imbibed.
Before I go into the specifics on each particular beer, let me say that I am a Dogfish Head fanboy. However, I do not blindly believe everything they make is the best beer I have ever had. Dogfish Head just happens to be my favorite brewery.
First up: Dogfish Head My Antonia.
This beer is distributed in a wine sized (750 ml) bottle and is available in limited quantities. It is identified as an imperial pilsner, which is characterized by a malty backbone, an intense bitterness and notes of sweetness and spiciness. Dogfish has awesome artwork on their bottles and the My Antonia is no exception with its examples of old world Italian architecture and more modern designs in the background. The beer was first brewed outside of Rome but has since moved to Dogfish's brewery in Delaware. I am a huge fan of this particular beer, which was very mild. It had a slight bitterness as well as a flavorful warming sweetness.
Ta Hanket is the next beer I'll be discussing.
Personally, I enjoy about nine out of ten beers I try. That means there is always at least 1 beer that sneaks its way onto my shit-list. Unfortunately, Ta Hanket is one of those beers. Also available in limited quantities, this beer is part of Dogfish Head's Ancient Ale series. The recipe is influenced by ancient Egyptians brewing techniques. Ta Hanket is brewed with several ingredients I have never heard of before. One of the main ingredients is called Za'atar spice, which is a traditional blend of spices that includes oregano and salt. Doum fruits are also used, which grow on the doum palm trees in the fertile Nile Valley. Chamomile is also a main ingredient in this beer, which I thought was only used in teas.
A strong scent hit my nostrils upon opening this beer. I could not pinpoint what the exact smell was. It was not very pleasant. The YouTube clip below shows how this beer is made:
You will see why this beer smells almost rotten. It has a very strong flavor to it, but has low alcohol content. It tastes like rotten fruit juice.
The final Dogfish Head beer I sampled was the 120 Minute IPA. Word of warning here, people - this stuff is STRONG! It clocks in at an average ABV of 15-20%! In layman's terms, one bottle of this beer is the equivalent of drinking around 4 of your average light beers. If you're looking to get drunk fast, this beer may just be your poison. I picked it up for 12 bucks at a distributor in West Hempstead. I know what you may be thinking: “12 bucks for just one normal sized bottle of beer?!” Keep in mind, this beer is very strong and very hard to find. It has a very strong flavor - hoppy but smooth. The alcohol flavor is definitely present but not overpowering. It leaves a faint rum-like aftertaste in your mouth. Needless to say, I felt quite nice after drinking this one.
The last beer I will talk about today is Troeg's Nugget Nectar. This is by far THE BEST Imperial Amber I have ever tried. For those of you who have never tried an IPA (India Pale Ale) or an Imperial Amber you can usually tell them apart by their “hoppiness” (bitterness.) Even though Nugget Nectar utilizes around four or five different types of hops, it is not ultra-bitter. It has a faint sweetness to it that offsets the huge amounts of hops present. This beer is only brewed in March, which means it's available in very limited quantities.
THE LOVERDICT
I have reviewed several different items this time and there's no overall rating I can give to this post. Each beer was unique in its own way, whether good or bad. Like I mentioned before, there are many different types of beers out there. As an avid beer enthusiast, I like to try as many different beers as possible and keep my mind open to trying new things. I suggest you folks do the same!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Hildebrandt's: Scrumptious Diner Fare with an Old World Twist
It's great to be back for my first LoVerdict in a long time! To mark this special occasion I decided to LoVerdict my most recent culinary outing: Hildebrandt's of Williston Park.
You may have seen Hildebrandt's on the well known Food Network show, 'Diner's Drive In's and Dives.' A large poster and hat signed by Guy Fieri was posted up on the dining room wall. Much like my previous Loverdict of the Golden Mall, I love visiting places that celebrity chefs have been to. I enjoy sampling the same things and seeing the same places on TV in person. As we were watching a clip from the Hildebrandt's segment of Triple D on my phone, our waiter said: "Oh look its me on TV!" Our waiter was actually the same dude that Guy Fieri was cooking with and talking to.
Upon entering Hildebrandt's you get a sense of its small size and old-school historical vibe. There's a long counter with stools you can sit at, and a handful of tables in the dining area. There is also a counter with some home-made chocolates and candies available for purchase. My girlfriend and I were greeted promptly and offered to sit wherever we liked. The place wasn't packed but had a good amount of customers already seated. A lot of the most popular menu items were written up on a large chalkboard with their prices. We were presented with a small paper menu and promptly given two glasses of ice cold refreshing water.
As I have mentioned before, this place has your standard diner fare; burgers, sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads, etc. What piqued my interest was their large quantity of Italian dishes. The menu didn't describe each dish so I was a little perplexed by dishes called 'Pasta a la Mama,' and 'Chicken Alyssa.' I asked our waiter for a little more info on the dishes and he gave us the regular menu which was larger and described each dish. The Pasta a la Mama was one of the dishes Guy Fieri tried, which is rigatoni pasta with garlic, olive oil, cauliflower, and bread crumbs. While this did sound delicious, I wasn't quite in the mood for something like that.
My girlfriend and I decided to start with the homemade mozzarella sticks (another dish Guy sampled.) They arrived pretty quickly, and I was surprised on how NOT greasy they were. Most of the time deep fried foods tend to be ultra oily and greasy but these mozz sticks were nothing of the sort. The cheese was really gooey and fresh, and the homemade marinara sauce they came with was sweet and savory. My only complaint was that the outer layer was a little tough and not very crispy.
For our main course, I opted for the Chicken Alyssa, while my girlfriend ordered the Pecan Chicken. Both dishes came with a small house salad, which was very crisp and fresh. I accidentally doused mine with way too much balsamic vinegar, so it was a little on the tart side. We were also served some dinner rolls which weren't very fresh. However, just like any good Italian knows, its all about the dippin' and dunkin'. Our main courses arrived shortly after and smelled delicious. My Chicken Alyssa was a crunchy and juicy breaded cutlet smothered in a homemade marinara sauce with both plum and diced tomatoes. It was served over perfectly cooked al dente spaghetti. My girlfriend's Chicken Pecan was served in a honey mustard sauce with pecans sprinkled on top. She opted for a baked potato on the side. Both dishes were excellent, and we used the bread to sop up all the sauce.
A trip to Hildebrandt's would not have been complete if we didn't order some of their homemade ice cream. We were both pretty damn full at this point so we didn't want to go crazy and order a huge sundae. We both decided to split a marshmallow sundae with one scoop of maple walnut and cookies & cream. I've gotta say this plain and simple folks: AWESOME FRIGGIN' ICE CREAM! The maple walnut was sweet and tasted just like maple syrup, while the cookies & cream had big chunks of chocolate cookie pieces in it.
The LOVERDICT
Hildebrandt's was an awesome experience! You won't find many of these classic old-style luncheonettes anymore; they are a dying breed. It's good to see a place like this still in business while holding fast to traditions and recipes that have been handed down for several generations. The food was fairly priced, the atmosphere casual, and the wait staff very friendly. All in all, a very satisfying food outing yet again!
Hildebrandt's
84 Hillside Avenue
Williston Park, NY 11596
516-741-0608
http://www.foodnetwork.com/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/from-mozz-to-matzo-balls/index.html (Link to the Triple D episode site with recipes to a couple of Hildebrandt's dishes)
Back in Action
It's been a long time since I've written a Loverdict folks. I apologize for the hiatus, but I am finally ready to start writing again and I got some great reviews in store for you all! Stay tuned over the coming days and weeks as I have a lot of "back-ordered" reviews to resurrect and re-hash. I have also decided to move into a new category of reviewing and talk about one of my favorite topics: BEER!!! Thank you all for your patience and support, I look forward to your feedback!
Friday, May 6, 2011
New page design!
Hey everyone,
Just got a visual upgrade from my good friend Christian Arichabala. He designed the banner above and helped me design this blog. You can see his portfolio of work here.
Expect more posts in the future, updates to come!
Just got a visual upgrade from my good friend Christian Arichabala. He designed the banner above and helped me design this blog. You can see his portfolio of work here.
Expect more posts in the future, updates to come!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Bellerose "In front of CVS" Halal Cart
A view from the side of the cart (Note: these picture are from my most recent trip to the cart)
What follows is an account of my very first experience of the Bellerose Halal Cart (the one in front of CVS, not the one next to Subway).
It was a blistering cold night out on the town in Floral Park. A few hours of consuming a good amount of alcoholic beverages had left me with a sense of distant hunger. As the night drew to an end, that hunger grew exponentially. It was 3:30 in the morning, and nothing was open anymore! No Taco Bell, no Mickey Dee's...NOTHING! It seemed I was 'shit out of luck.' "Wait! What about that cart on the corner of Hillside Ave. and Little Neck?" It's only a short distance out of my way on the long trek home. "Screw it, you only live once," I thought. I began my walk up Tulip Ave., across Jericho Tpke. and headed up Little Neck with a sense of purpose.
I don't know what to think about the Halal cart; it seemed a little shady at first glance. Although I have heard good things from friends, I've never eaten from one of these carts before. It's definitely better than one of those greasy, stale Taquitos from the 7-11 across the street. The neon signs adorning the cart called to me from the distance.
The menu below the ordering window
I finally arrived and looked down at the simple menu posted on the side of the cart. The fare consisted of gyros (either chicken or lamb) and combination platters. I was greeted by the young guy working inside the cart and he gave me a few moments to decide. I decided to go ahead and try the chicken, lamb, and rice combination platter. Seemingly without pause the guy went to work and started grilling up the meats for my platter.
The smell emanating from the cart was making my stomach growl; it smelled awfully good. A mere two or three minutes later I could see the guy loading my Styrofoam container full of these great smelling ingredients. I was then asked if I wanted white sauce on my food. White sauce? Sure thing. "Hot sauce, sir?" As I was about to answer he warned me that it was very spicy. I told him to load it up.
The platter came with a drink and a hefty amount of food for a mere six dollars. I briskly began my walk home to sit down and try this new and mysterious fare. I arrived home and sat down with my drink in hand and container in front of me. The second I opened the container a vast array of smells hit my nostrils. It smelled spicy, sweet, and smokey all at once. I dug right in.
While I have had lamb and chicken separately in the past, I never ate them together in the same meal before. The two meats went great together, and neither one seemed to overpower the taste of the other. Among the pieces of meat were chunks of onion and peppers. It came with a side of fresh, crispy, and chilled lettuce. Underneath it all was a bed of very interesting rice. I never tasted anything like it before. The closest thing I could pinpoint it to would be Basmati rice that you can find in any Indian restaurant. It had a great flavor to it, with a minor kick of spiciness.
At the time, I couldn't figure out why there was lettuce included with this dish. I now realize it's a great way to cool down your palette from the intense heat of the hot sauce. For those of you who are afraid of anything spicy, I would definitely tell the guy to hold the hot sauce. It's pretty damn spicy, even by my standards. The white sauce, however... holy shit is it good. A simple combination of mayonnaise and vinegar, the white sauce is out of this world. It combines very well with every item in this platter.
Needless to say, I could not finish all the food in my first sitting. I closed up the box and left it in my fridge to attempt it again the next day. I went to bed, drunk munchies triumphantly stomped to the curb.
THE LOVERDICT
You've all seen one of these carts, especially if you grew up in Queens, NY or have traveled around New York City. With such a large population of Arab and Mediterranean folk, these carts are in abundance all over the NY/Metro area. Since my first visit to this cart about a year or two ago, I have frequented several other carts in my quest to expand my food horizons and educate my palette.
The gyros at this cart, while not the best, are definitely a great option if your looking for a little less food; the platters are quite a good serving size. Don't be scared by the usual lack of cleanliness and barely English speaking cooks at these carts. This food is some of the best stuff out there, and from what I've seen and heard, is what the Eastern laypeople eat on an almost daily basis. Also, if you call ahead and order, you can expect to arrive and have your food already done. Just pay the man and you're set.
I have since moved away from Bellerose, but you can still find my friends and I here. It will usually happen on the weekends, in the very wee hours of the morning, smoking cigarettes and waiting for our platters to be ready.
Halal Cart
On the corner of Hillside Ave. and Little Neck Pkwy. (In front of CVS and across from 7-11)
(718) 908-4163
The usual chef
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza
Another day, another debate on what to get for lunch. My friend Mary stopped by after a job interview and we decided to hit the town. Westbury, New York has a plethora of restaurants and eateries as far as the eye can see. We decided to try out this new pizza place on Old Country Road called 'Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza.' Located in a large shopping center with a Barnes and Noble and a Guitar Center, the place seemed like a choice lunch destination for local business people on their lunch breaks.
Upon entering we were greeted by a gigantic juice-head of a host, his greasy spiked hair leading us to our table. The place was strangely decorated. There was a lot of movie and music memorabilia on the walls, and several flat screen TVs tuned to ESPN. It was kind of a mish-mosh of decor. I didn't really feel the whole Italian pizzeria vibe. However, the place smelled great.
Our waiter (I think his name was James) was friendly and helpful, guiding us through the menu and explaining the lunch specials. I noticed that the table had a nice condiment holder with a circular metal apparatus on the top. After giving the place a once over, I concluded that this was where the pizza would rest. We decided to split a small pie, half regular and half "Paul and Young Ron." I was a little disappointed when the drinks came and they gave us a cup of ice and a 20 oz plastic bottle. No fountain drinks? WTF.
The bar seemed nice, with large wine racks along the back wall. Would I ever want to come in here for a drink? I highly doubt it. I overheard the guys at the next table talking about how good the chicken wings are. I decided that if I were to come back here again, I'd have to try them.
Our food arrived and was placed onto the metal apparatus by a very nice looking waitress. She asked to serve us our first slice. The meal was on.
The small pie was actually quite large and was cut into 6 slices. My "Paul and Young Ron" consisted of meatballs, sausage, hot Italian peppers and ricotta cheese (Italian pronunciation: [riˈkotta]). My only real complaint about the pizza was not lack of flavor or greasiness, but how the peppers were presented. Anyone who has had or seen spicy Italian peppers know that they are quite large and thick. Instead of chopping up the pepper it was laid to rest atop each slice whole. Taking my first bite resulted in the pepper falling right off onto my plate.
Mary and I opted to trade slices and I tried her regular slice. The sauce was quite delicious and sweet. The cheese also tasted very fresh. I was very full after eating only 3 small slices so I decided to take home my last slice to give to my parents to try. The pizza was actually quite expensive at $16.25. My theory on price is: if I am satisfied after the meal, not too full, and not still hungry, then it was worth it. You know it was a decent meal if you're craving that cigarette after-wards, as we both definitely were.
THE LOVERDICT
Anthony's is definitely worth a shot if your in the Westbury/Carle Place area, a prime destination during this holiday shopping season (Roosevelt Field Mall, one of the East Coast's largest shopping centers, is located here.) Although I have had pizza like this many times before (See my review on Scotto's), it was pretty damn good. I would like to try this place again at least one more time and get the chicken wings, which are also cooked in the coal oven.
Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza
137 Old Country Rd.
Carle Place, NY 11514
(516) 877-7750
anthonyscoalfiredpizza.com
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