Holy Shit Batman! It's 2010, and almost over

Yeah boy, 2010 is almost in the can. Wham-o, Slam-o this year is almost done. What has happened? A whole lotta shit. Thats right; but what has been more constant than not is my never ending quest for food. Now that things are settling down a bit in my somewhat, but not really hectic life, I'll make an effort to post more. More food, more Lunch, more stuff.

So a quick update, whats been good lately? Well a recently read the Trib's food blog on Pho. Pho is always up, been to the usual haunts. A revelation I've come upon is that I enjoy eating Pho alone. Seriously. Take a good book, order a big ass bowl filled with the 'strange stuff' as some call it: tendon, tripe, meatballs? (I hope it's meat) and fatty backfatstrap, something. Then attempt, thats right, attempt to balance your book in front of your bowl of soup and eat. In the process destroying your book with little spots of broth on every page.

Right. Well this blog started about things in bowls and has digressed since. So look forward (all 0 people who read this) to some more comments about happy hours, beers and other shit. For example my crock pot has been doing overtime these past few weeks. With what? Anything. Thats right, throw anything in the pot, put it on low, add salt, walk away. I'll fill you in (talking to myself here) later. Cheers,
What Wah?!

Fried Chicken in a Train?

Fried Chicken in a Train?
In a former train station without a brain?
Fried Chicken on a table?
Fried Chicken, no napkins available?

So I'm no Doctor Suess, alas. However I did have a chance to sample the new fried chicken place down at Freighthouse Square. Here is the down and dirrrtay:
Chicken first; glowing under a standard food warmer (understandable as their was an intense lunch rush to accomodate) chicken got slightly non-crispified. Flavor was good, very tender (soaked/marinated overnight in something delicious!). However at the price they pegged it at, which for us consisted of: 10 pieces of chicken, legs, wings & thighs (out of breasts), 4 large sides (Mac n' cheese, Mustard greens, dirty rice & mashed potatoes) cost a whopping $24.00 bucks. Holy beeejeeezus. It did feed three people easily, but at 8 bucks a pop? Who can afford that! Bah, chicken good but not exemplary.
Sides: Mustard greens, good and spicy. Dirty rice, decent. Mac n' Cheese, what you expect. Mashed potatoes? Gross, flakes with gravy mixed in. a def. no-no. Hmmm slightly dissapointing, with all the good food down at Freighthouse I don't think they will be getting any of my money soon. However a greek salad.... maybe some fried fish.... now thats something I can wrap my wallet around.

Pad-isgusting

Today I visited Silk Thai. I've been interested in Pad Thai after a few failed attempts at creating my own Pad Thai. My main problems have stemmed around not soaking the noodles long enough and buying a tamarind concentrate that while brown, is NOT sweet and delicious. So I thought I would try the Pad Thai at Silk Thai and My-o-my (sorry I couldn't resist). It was disgusting, first the overwhelming stench of vinegar and fish sauce made it innedible, also the sheer amount of sauce made it more a soup than stir-fried noodles. My head hurts and I fear my digestion system will be out of wack for a number of days after this experience.

Also had were lettuce cups (not very good, reheated in microwave) and ginger chicken (bland, by ginger they mean wimpy brown sauce). Seriously come on guys! I dropped 20 bucks for what? A whole lot of belly ache... Boo, three thumbs down, and yes I used one of my big toes to round out that third thumb down. Step up your game Silk Thai, step it up.

Southern vs. Northern

The epic battle is staged. Two dominating forces stand poised across from one another ready to put their lives on the line. They alone hold the truth to the timeless question that is: What is better? Southern or Northern style Pho?

I have had the opportunity (growing up in the mecca of diversity that is CA) to sample a number of different Pho "styles". From homemade Pho with beef bones still floating around, complimented by numerous veggies besides the basic trifecta of: bean sprouts, basil, lime. To classic Southern style, both with broth and on the side. To the enduring Northern style that most are familiar with. My personal choice? Well, since all good food comes from the South, I tip my hat to Southern style Pho. Hear is why.

1) Garlic, garlic, garlic. You gotta love having floating fried garlic on you soup, whole cloves of roasted garlic in the broth, and ground meat mixed with fresh garlic. I could knock over a sumo wrestler due to my garlic breath after a bowl of this stuff.
2) Cilantro! Love it; while present in Northern style pho, Southern style puts a big emphasis on it including it in the trifecta of fresh veggies.
3) Toppings, i'm done with beef for now. God said let them eat pork! The glories that is pork is readily apparent in Southern style, along with emphasis on shrimp, wontons, uhhhhh delicious.

That's it, i'm not discounting Northern Pho by any means. But when given a choice I will choose the South. Alas not many places offer these two distinct 'styles' get it while you can. Where can you get it? Vien Dong, woot woot. Cheers and happy slurping all! (if anyone actually reads this)

Fried Chicken @ Terry's

God, fried chicken good. Waiting 3 hours for?!?!?! Terrible. Thats all that needs to be said. 3 freaking hours. Hmmm, maybe thats why the chicken was so good, because I consumed 4-10 beers over the three hours. Goodness.

T-Town Taco Trucks

Growing up as a teenager in California led to a certain father-son ritual which revolved around eating; well as a teenager, all father-son outings involved food. One, however did endure over the years, visiting and sampling various Taco trucks around the area. Now, for the past six years I find myself here in Tacoma. A place where my father does not live, the Mexican food is consistently decent (at best), yet the yearning for a plate of dollar tacos of various and questionable meat origins, still exists. So I present you this, my story of long lost love, of midnight eats, and an attempt to rekindle that feeling in your stomach that only 10 bucks worth of cheap, delicious tacos can fill.

The smell that triggers the memory:
It was 1:00am, I depart with several lovely friends from the New Frontier bar downtown. My head is filled with thoughts of grandeur, success, dreams & inventions on the horizon, and for some reason terrible jokes about Jesus & Heaven. I know tomorrow I''ll be flat on my back disowning my lovely friends, and swearing off alcohol for 10 hours. Then the noise begins, it starts in my stomach and soon spreads to my soul. It represents a hunger, a need, for cheap, delicious, soul-satisfying food. As we open the door to leave, the light shines upon us, blinded the smell hits me first, I know this smell. Composed of a certain type of grease, fresh cut limes & onions mixed with cilantro, add to that a hint of exhaust. This is the smell of a taco truck. Enriques taco truck to be exact. 3 Tacos later (damn those bartender tips, alas that's all the cash I had), uno de birria, uno de carnitas, y uno mas de pollo. I was satisfied. What I remember from the experience? Not much, but i'm in doubt as to whether or not the experience happened, after all how often do you wish a taco truck into existence? And it works?

South 12th & Junette
I've consumed ~ 15 Tacos from this truck. Good? Yes, they add the nice compliments of a roasted jalapeno, pickled carrots, spicy verde salsa. Carnitas were delicious, not dry, Birria (consistently my favorite) was good with ample amount of grease/fat (growing up Chinese, you gotta love it). I stayed away from the chicken, because seriously? Who would get chicken when pork is available? My co-worker/friend/fellow fried chicken lover, had a burrito. Skip the burrito, this truck has TACO written on the front for a reason. One regret, it has been to damn cold to eat tacos outside.

Yakima & South 38th
My bud and I stopped here to refuel before heading into the East Asian Supermarket (more on this establishment later). Wolfed down a carnitas & birria (the staples) taco in 35 seconds. Delicious, they also have a 2 for a buck deal on puerco y pollo tacos... I'm wary of this. Not great tacos I would say, use a red salsa, skimped on the cilantro and onions. Birria was good though, stewed and cooked much longer than other taco trucks, had that delicious red look to it. Damn, i'm getting hungry.

I know there are more Taco trucks out there. I will find you, believe me that, I will find you...
Side note: Thanks Pops for getting me hooked on these

My Lunch List... Part 1

I eat out for Lunch a lot... to much. And yes I capatilized "Lunch" because I see it as an event, something to look forward to and plan. I also try to keep my lunch options below 10 bucks. So in an effort to provide me with something to do at work I will try to critique my lunch outings. Here are the past two days:

Thursday, February 19th - All Star Burgers (6 of 10)
Grease is good, and if your in the mood for a it then stop by. Had a mushroom swiss burger that fell apart due to the large amount of grease involved in its creation. Delicious! Onion rings are better than normal with the proper crispy/almost burnt ratio I enjoy. Remember! GREASY & SALTY are the main qualities of All Star Burgers. It was also very reasonable priced with a normal burger going for 2.50ish, fries 99cents. boyah!

Wednesday, February 18th - Tatanka Take Out (7.5 of 10)
Should get a higher rating. Had the salad (in an effor to curb my terrible eating habits, seeing my lunch for today didn't help). Which included: Feta, Kalamata olives (diced), Tomatoes, Romain lettuce, Ground Bison, piece of rye toast. Very good, very filling, very expensive (9.50!!!) Thus, if your into this kind of health food then knock yourself out. Otherwise skip the bison, skip the salad. Hit up Freighthouse square... More on this later