food

Day 342: Snack Time

Seafood City Snack Aisle

Seafood City Snack Aisle

My wife and I enjoyed Korean spicy tofu soup tonight and we were craving dessert. She opted for Jolibee’s delicious peach mango pie (think old school McDonald’s apple pie, but better) while I spent way too much time at Seafood City’s snack aisle (shown above).

I wanted Pocky, but they didn’t have the regular ol’ flavor. Instead, there was strawberry, green tea, and some ultra-thin variety that looked like the regular, but I wasn’t in a trusting mood. I just wanted straight-up Pocky.

I went to the knockoff Pockys next, like Pejoy (no chocolate flavor available) and Jack and Jill (I didn’t like these last time). There was even something called Pretz, but when I saw they had pizza flavor, I decided to go with something else: Lucky.

Lucky wasn’t exactly Pocky, but it had a similar taste and it looked like a chocolate light saber, which is all I ask for in any Pocky rip-off: chocolate flavor and a shaky resemblance to a Star Wars weapon.

Day 329: Tacos El Gordo

Tacos El Gordo. Perfect taco al pastor.

Tacos El Gordo. Perfect taco al pastor.

One of my favorite places to eat in Las Vegas is Tacos El Gordo. There are a few locations in town and each is an unassuming taco shop, always busy and consistently serving mouth-watering tacos.

It’s all about the al pastor here, the marinated pork that’s carved off a rotating spit. I always eat a few tacos whenever I’m in town and they’ve never let me down. I think I have a Pavlovian response now: the second I enter the city limits I crave that al pastor, which is some of the best I’ve had north of the border.

Pro tip: ask for pina (pineapple) while they’re making your taco al pastor.

Day 322: Green Tea Pocky

Green Tea Pocky

Green Tea Pocky

Thanks to my stepdaughter, I tried Green Tea Pocky for the first time. I also had a Green Tea Kit Kat, but I preferred the Pocky.

According to this website, “For those who are interested in experiencing the soul of Japan, please try the Wagokoro Series!” which includes the Green Tea Pocky (Kyoto Uji Matcha).

I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad flavor of Pocky and the green tea was tasty. I’m not sure if I experienced the soul of Japan by eating a snack, but I’d do it again in heartbeat.

 

Day 319: Persimmon Bread

Persimmon Bread.

Persimmon Bread.

Thanks to family and friends, my wife and I were able to make our first batch of persimmon bread this weekend. We made two loaves and they were delicious.

My sister-in-law and one of my wife’s friends gave us the persimmons, then I got my friend’s mom’s recipe for the bread. With the holidays coming up, it felt like we got a great start on the good times with our friends and family.

Day 316: Tomato Basil Soup

Tomato Basil Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Tomato Basil Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Another cold-weather craving has been satisfied. My wife whipped up a batch of her genius-level tomato basil soup in the slow cooker tonight. I had a big ol’ bowl of it, along with two grilled cheese sandwiches.

I never ate tomato soup when I was a kid, but this tastes like comfort food to me. And dunking the grilled cheese sandwich in it just feels right.

Day 307: Cold Night, Hot Pho

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Tonight was the first cold night we’ve had in a while, so that meant my soup craving kicked into high gear. The local pho spot had a line out the door, so my wife and I tried a new place. It wasn’t quite as good, but it was still delicious and the filet mignon pho satisfied my craving.

Day 305: Street Food Cinema

Shaun of the Dead

Shaun of the Dead

A few years ago my wife and I experienced our first Street Food Cinema in Hollywood. It’s a terrific event of live music, food trucks, and a classic movie shown outdoors in different parts of Los Angeles. I love the picnic atmosphere; it’s family friendly with a laid-back  vibe.

For Halloween last night, my wife scored tickets to the final event of the season at Exposition Park for one of my favorite movies: Shaun of the Dead. Since we’d already dressed as zombies this year, we decided to do a DC/Marvel crossover with my wife going as Spidergirl and myself as Clark Kent-changing-into-Superman (an easy costume for me since I already have the eyeglasses).

We arrived in time for the last song of the band, found a spot near the front to lay down our picnic blanket and beach chairs, then did a quick scan of the food trucks before deciding on our dinner: shish kebabs for my wife and a shrimp po boy and chicken/sausage/corn bisque for me. The food was delicious and we cracked open a bottle of a wonderful wine for the movie.

I was surprised that more people weren’t dressed as zombies or the characters from the movie, but there were some terrific costumes. I particularly liked the McDonald’s Hamburglar I was in line with for dinner.

The crowd seemed to enjoy the film as much as I always do. Shaun of the Dead is such a smart, funny movie, brilliantly versed in its zombie cliches as it pokes fun of itself and the genre. The weather was perfect last night and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend Halloween.

Day 299: Taste of Santa Barbara

The Habit's Charburger, Santa Barbara Style.

The Habit’s Charburger, Santa Barbara Style (double charburger served on toasted sourdough with avocado).

When I was a student at UC Santa Barbara, In-N-Out had yet to invade the area. Thankfully, The Habit was around to take care of my hamburger cravings. So was Cal Taco, another fast-food joint that served a charburger that tasted like The Habit’s signature burger. I’m not sure which came first, but The Habit was the restaurant that went on to expand locally and then nationally.

The original Habit was located a few miles from UCSB and students and locals love eating there. The charburgers were consistently delicious and made for a filling lunch or dinner. Rumor has it that the original restaurant still serves its delicious chili as an off-menu item. I used to devour their chili cheese fries on a regular basis. Not surprisingly, I weighed more back then.

While I don’t think The Habit has taken the throne of best fast-food burger from In-N-Out, they’re up there. I definitely prefer them over Six Guys and other contenders for In-N-Out’s best burger crown.

It’s nice having more Habits pop up around Southern California, though, since I can now enjoy a taste of Santa Barbara closer to home.