What’s next? Passion fruit flavored Cigars?
I’m taking a break from my break from blogging to get us all ready for the third season of A Game of Thrones. And what can prepare us for all the spoiler and spoiler and even more spoiler, that is jam packed in the third (and by far the best) book of the A Song of Ice and Fire series than a parody 90s opening credits.
and a parody high school drama.
Please to enjoy.
I take a break from taking a break from blogging by presenting this top secret video that proves without even one shred of doubt that the terrorist attack on the Death Star was an inside job.
I’m taking a break from my break from blogging to present THE most interesting TED Talk ever.
All great things must come to an end. And as I finish one final bag of Sabor de Soledad, I give to you one last set of Facebook statuses gleaned from 30 Rock*.
* Yes, I stole this from JT
** OK, those last two were from Archer.
When Zoë gets treated in the same “in-your-face” manner she treats other dogs, she will have none of it.
For 2013, I’m going to handle restaurant reviews a bit differently. Instead of a letter grade, I’ll be giving restaurants a “Description of Future Interest” such as: Won’t Go Back, No Need to Go Back, Must Go Back, This Restaurant has Entered my Sex Dreams. Also, because writing is not my strong suit*, the reviews will be shorter, but hopefully more frequent.
Max’s Wine Dive calls itself a dive, but can a “dive” serve duck confit? I don’t like bars calling themselves a dive. If you think you’re a dive, you’re not a dive. And you can’t be a dive if your bar is in in sterile strip mall. You’re only a dive if you appeal to white trash alcoholics or hipsters who need a place to ironically sip Pearl. The wine list was ok at best**. And there was no sign of Max. So I have no idea how this place got its name.
The food was good, with the tuna and duck (not on the same dish) as highlights, but the atmosphere was atrocious. The place was way too well lit for either a dive or a wine bar. And some jackhole dumped enough quarters into the juke box to treat us to a seemingly endless stream of Elton John and Billy Joel. Neither of which should ever be played in a dive.
No Need to Go Back
I feel bad about this, because this is a place I was wanting to like – a fast food restaurant specializing in healthier choices such as grass fed burgers and pastured eggs, but Start did nothing for me. The grass fed burger I had was good but could have used a sear or some more seasoning. It was just kinda bland. And the tater tots were terrible. Even though they are baked, they tasted of rancid seed oil with virtually no crispiness.
“But Steve”, you ask “Isn’t Start very good compared to regular fast food?”
Maybe. If you’re comparing to McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Jack…, yes. Unfortunately, Start doesn’t price itself at ordinary fast food prices. For what I paid at Start I could have had an even better grass fed burger and excellent sweet potato waffle fries at Goodfriend. And for that reason, Start, you’ve been Chopped.
No Need to Go Back
If it’s a cold winter evening and maybe you’re not feeling so good about yourself and the only way to lift your spirits is comfort food, a bottomless glass of free sangria and a restaurant staff drunk off their collective gourds, then Jack’s Southern Comfort Food is for you. Although I would suggest you invite someone along to share in the hijinks.
First of all, the food is very good. There’s nothing fancy here. Just good comfort food. The Pigs in a Pashmina are decadent mash up of smoked sausage, cheese and puff pastry that will make you forget just about anything shitty that happened that day. Their upside-down pot pies (with the filling poured over a home-made biscuit instead of crust) will also bring a rib-sticking smile. And if you have room for dessert, the buttermilk pie is a must.
And if you’re interested in a dinner and a show, Jack’s is a great choice. Out waitress informed us up front of her four-shot/four beer afternoon break. And while no such proclamation was made by the chef, it was clear something was up when we came to inform us the pork belly would be delayed a few minutes as the restaurant filled with the smoke of burnt pork belly.
Oh, and until they get their liquor license, they give away free sangria, which is nice.
Will Definitely Go Back
* Probably not good for a blog writer.
** Yes, that means a dearth of Willamette Valley Pinots.
People ask me all the time, “Did your mom send you out dressed like that and who’s the best Dr. Zaius impersonating William Shatner impersonator going today?”
The answers are no and former Simpsons writer turned Huell Howser channeler, Dana Gould.
Dana Gould is Dr. Zauis as William Shatner reciting Santa Claus Is Coming To Town from Dana Gould on Vimeo.
Please to enjoy.
I will embrace change by blogging more in the future. But I’ve made that promise before. So, good luck to me on that.
What the fuck are you looking at??
I asked you a question!!
Just leave me alone.
Don’t make me tell you again.
I’m pretending to ignore you.
Squirrel!
Still South Dakota. Found a cute campground that most of the year is a hopping family holiday retreat. But it’s cold and snowy and latish Oc...