Critics Be Damned!!!!

The other night I was watching Restaurant Impossible with Robert Irvine.  OK, I was watching it by myself, but he is the host of the show.  In any event, Robert was tasting some fried chicken at a restaurant he was saving.  When he tasted it, he said, “The skin has the right amount of salt, for me anyway.”  I was really glad to hear the second part of that sentence “for me anyway.”  It really summed up an important point, different people have different tastes. 

I bring this up because I see many blogs regarding food, especially those that critique food.  I read them, but then I really do not pay much attention to them.  Now if a review says that the place was teeming with cockroaches or rats, or if it said the cook doesn’t wash his hands after using the restroom, I will definitely pay attention to those observations.  Those are things I want to know.  However, the whole “savory didn’t compliment the sweet, or the texture of the food was…” observations mean little to me.  Very little.  I am not disparaging what the critic is doing.  Many people want to know the critic’s observations.  I don’t though.  Let me explain why.

I come from a more simple world.  I come from the world of “I like this or I don’t.”  Simple.  I first became aware of this when I went on my first wine tasting trip.  There were guys with polo shirts and sweaters draped around their necks.  They were talking about the tannins, body, legs etc.  Hell, I had no idea what they were talking about.  My observations were more simple, I liked these, did not like these.  (I won’t even talk about whether I liked the wine mixture from the jar you pour your left over wine in, that is a drunk story, not a food story.) I wasn’t going to avoid buying a wine because its legs may have been a little weak.  To be honest, I wouldn’t even know what that was.  I thought legs were for walking and running. 

I try to hit each new locally owned restaurant that comes to the Fresno area.  Just look at me, it is obvious.  When I go there, my critique is simple.  I like it or I didn’t.  However, when people ask me about it, I do not tell them not to go there.  I explain to them what the restaurant had and what it didn’t and what I liked and what I didn’t like.  BUT, I always finish with the statement, “You need to check it out yourself.”  It is not my job to tell people what they may like and what they may not like.  It’s like the whole hot dog controversy at my house right now.  I like sweet pickle relish.  My wife despises it.  It makes her physically ill. She prefers dill pickles.  Which one of us is right????  Neither one of us is right.  We each like different things.  (I just need to get her off of her “I’m superior to you because I like dill” pedestal.) 

The whole point of this, first and always foremost, support locally owned restaurants.  Second, there are hidden gems in Fresno that you are certain to like.  There are some you may not like.  But if you make this determination based solely on the observations of a critic or even a friend, you will never know.  The sweet and savory issue that displeased the critic may actually taste good to you and become your favorite food.  Decide for yourself and give these restaurants a chance.

Footnote:  I saw a review of a local restaurant this morning as I was writing this.  I am not going to hide anything here, it was a review of the Le Grilled Cheese at Dusty Buns Bistro, a local favorite.  It was written by a new blogger who was going to tell me what is good and bad about Fresno.  The thing is THE CRITIC HAD NEVER TRIED THE SANDWICH.  WTF????  They made their observation based on the description of the sandwich apparently from the web site.  This was ridiculous.  Dusty Buns is very popular.  This is evident from the long lines wherever they decide to park, or at their new brick and mortar location.  I personally love this sandwich.  But I also know people who are “eh” about it.  To each their own.  But the audacity of someone who critiques something before they even try it?  Really????  I promptly un-followed this person.  I do not need you to tell me what is good or bad about Fresno, I can decide on myself.  I am sure the 31 (oops now 30) followers you have will really appreciate your input.

Most people that know me know that I have very strong opinions.  Not in a bad way, but in a “I do not see things from only one point of view, makes more sense kind of way.”  At least it does to me.  I see people get fired up over political issues, economic issues, moral issues etc.  Again, I am usually middle of the road.  I try to see things from all perspectives.  However, some things get me real fired up.  I got fired up the other night when I went to the premiere of Long Live the Wild Hare. I did not get fired up over the content of the movie.  It was a well-made documentary.  Props to Rick and Gio (I thinks it’s Gio).  I got fired up because of what the documentary pointed out.  Corporations fuck up good things. 

Classic story, a radio station is locally owned and does well for 20 some-odd years.  A corporation takes over and within a few years it is gone.   I remember the Wild Hare.  I actually did a bit on it.  It was by-far the best rock radio station in Fresno (or anywhere for that matter) at the time.  It was real.  It was real mostly because it was under the direction of a local person, E. Curtis Johnson, and he was directing local talent for the most part.  They felt the true pulse of Fresno and tended to that pulse.  It was great.  It was funny.  It was controversial.  Most importantly, it felt REAL.  I’m sorry but I do not much care for a radio show produced somewhere else with a guy my age telling cheesy jokes which are laughed at by a side-kick being paid to laugh at them.  Fuck that.  I want to know how to say the word penis a thousand different ways or learn about freaks (these are just a couple of the very memorable bits done on the station.)  But maybe that’s just me.  But wait, the Tower was Full Saturday.  It obviously isn’t just me.

The corporations had to step in and make everything “better.”  After that it’s mediocre tamed down radio drivel and a format change.  AND the worst, the firing of a bunch of local talent, many my friends.  Now I turn to 103.7 and I hear what, the music they were playing at dances in MY high school years.  WTF????  Where’s the good radio.  That’s right, it’s being canned somewhere back East by someone from an Ivy League school with a weird accent who “knows what I like.”

This gets me to why I am fired up.  I am fired up because a corporate suit is telling me what I like.  He is telling me what kind of music to listen to, what to eat, what to wear and on and on.  They took away MY radio station.  Go to Riverpark any given night.  You will see people waiting two to three hours to eat at the Elephant Bar.  I fucking hate the Elephant Bar.  It is a corporate owned restaurant that is popular because they say they are.  People flock like mindless sheep to wait for hours to eat mediocre food with no SOUL.  On the other hand, I went to the Schoolhouse Saturday night.  It has a local chef, is locally owned and everything there, down to the ketchup, is made by hand.  The food tastes great, it has atmosphere, and you actually meet the person behind the creations.  It has SOUL.  But was there a herd there waiting to get in?  No.  I didn’t have to wait.  Why?  Because there is not a corporation telling people that it is the place to eat.  Try it sometime, it is incredible. 

People need to stop being led by corporations and being told what is the “right” thing, then following along like fucking sheep.  I know what I like, and so does everyone else.  These corporations are killing our restaurants, our radio stations and everything good that makes our area, Fresno, really Fresno.  We have local restaurants that absolutely put the corporate chains to shame.  Ever had Dusty Buns???? Tako BBQ????  A taco from La Elegante….wait that’s in Chinatown not Riverpark!!!  Who cares, the food is GOOD.  Branch out, and break free from the “Riverpark is it” mind set and eat chicken and waffles in Chinatown at 2:00 a.m. at Come and Get It Chicken and Waffles.  Eat Pho at Pho 99 a First and McKinley.  Quit going to Elephant Bar because that’s what the corporations tell us to do.

As Fresnans we have a responsibility to make sure our locally owned businesses thrive, even when people are flocking to the corporate feed troughs.  I eat almost exclusively local now, and I have had the best meals I’ve ever had by doing this.  (I am keeping my local trainer in business by doing this.)

I have been told by a number of people I should make a list of good local restaurants.  I am going to share this info as much as I can. I am not a food critic who will say “this place is good because the savory set off the sweet perfectly.”  Hell, all I know is if something is good or not.  If it’s good I say so AND GO BACK.  This is what we all really need to do, go back, before these local gems we have face the demise of the Wild Hare.

Fitness Challenge DETAILS

OK...here are the details of the fitness challenge.  Nothing major.  But very major.  Could I be less clear???

The fitness challenge will not be an organized workout.  (However, if you need to know options for bootcamps, gyms, classes, home workouts etc., I can point you in a direction as well as maybe others in the group.)  It will not be a certain diet (again, if you want to be pointed in a direction for a certain eating plan, I or others can help as well.) It will not be a public shaming forum, unless you wish to shame yourself.  Instead it will be a forum where people can be held accountable and encouraged by other who also choose to participate.

I have chosen to be very public about what I am doing as that works for me and hold me accountable to myself and others.  I have also decided to donate money to SOW to motivate me to work harder because this group really needs help.  That is MY plan.  However, YOUR plan may be different.

What I desire to do is to create an environment where people can be motivated and encouraged at a level that is appropriate for them.  If it helps to publicly post you ate chicken and waffles to shame you into not doing it next time then do that.  If it helps to post "I have eaten good this week," then do that.  If it helps just to read what others are doing and never say a word, then just do that.  If you want me or others to Tweet FB text or email you daily to eat good and exercise that can be done as well. If you are craving something bad and want others to tell you "Don't do it" that will be available as well.  If you wish just to mock me (you know Hangover fat guy jokes) then do that.  It doesn't matter.

I will share exercise routines, recipes, restaurants that serve good meals, and articles I find that help.  Pitch in if you want.  Or don't.  The idea is to find something that works for you.  Move more than you did yesterday. Eat better than you did yesterday.  Share as much or as little as you like.  Get advice when you need it.  If I or others do not have answers, I know plenty of people that have them.  Let's just encourage each other, make gains everyday tell others about this that need it.  Like I said, I will be very vocal about this.  However if I or any others can do anything to help you reach your goals, then this will accomplish what I wanted it to.  I have several who have said they are interested.  Let's get going. Jump in any time you want.  Have fun and do better than you did yesterday.

FITNESS CHALLENGE

In order to motivate myself to get rid of the last 20 pounds I want to get rid of, I have decided to start a fitness challenge.  For myself this means I have PUBLICLY announced that I will give $10.00 for every pound I lose to Spirit of Women at their September fundraiser.  I win by losing the weight.  I am motivated knowing that I am helping someone else by doing this and I really do not want to let them down.  I am accountable and motivated in many ways.

I know that people struggle with weight loss or attaining fitness goals.  I have found that by making myself accountable top others, and making public statements, it encourages me and makes me accountable.  Thus nearly 50 pounds lost in the last year.  This is the reason I have decided to do this challenge.  It is not a contest.  It is not a public display of weight.  It will be a group of people who are there to encourage each other.  A group of people who will hold each other accountable.  A group of people to share ideas about what is working and what is not working.  A group of people to share recipes and tips they have learned from either their trainers, others they workout with, or information from books and magazines.  This will be done, more than likely, via social media site like Facebook and Twitter.  The more people that join in, the more ideas can be shared.  I plan on stating what my progress is, what I have eaten so I can be accountable, and tips and recipes I learn from my most excellent trainers.

Anyone is welcome to join.  I will work out the logistics when I see what kind of response I get.  For myself, I will be posting my progress publicly because I am motivated to reach this goal and more importantly, help Spirit of Women.

If you are interested in participating somehow, get back at me at one of the links this blog is posted, or email me at rwjd12@gmail.com.

Let's help each others reach goals and help others.

Gimme A Cup o' Joe

I drink a LOT of coffee.  I mean a LOT of coffee.  I start in the morning and end at night.  Often there will be an empty coffee cup on my night stand in the morning.  (I can drink espresso and fall asleep 10 minutes later...true fact.)  I think this comes from my days of being a cop and working the night shift.  I always told the local "stop and rob" proprietors to leave that last two inches at the bottom of the coffee pot for me to drink at 3:00 a.m.  These were the days before Starbucks was even thought of.  Coffee was relegated to "stop and robs" and coffee shops.

The coffee landscape has changed a great deal since that time.  However, my love of coffee has not.  I am much like Dennis Leary, I want "coffee flavored coffee."  I don't regularly do lattes, frappes, crappes, whatever they are called.  I do not do cream sugar or anything that will dilute the taste of the coffee.  I drink black coffee.  OK, I do throw in the occasional latte but never flavored, but my preference is for black coffee.

I also want to state that I DO NOT LIKE STARBUCKS.  I try not to get political or biased in anything I post or write.  However, I do have to state here that there are certain business practices that Starbucks engages in that I do not believe in at all.  If I am traveling at night, I will drive by the Starbucks and get coffee from a stop and rob.  I will not get into detail here what those practices are as I am here to talk coffee, however, if you want to know what my gripes are I will be happy to sit down with you over a cup of coffee and discuss this with you.

My feeling is the god of coffee in the Fresno area is Leo at Cafe Corazon.  I regularly Tweet and Facebook about Leo.  The reason: his stuff is great.  Cafe Corazon is a local roaster.  All the coffee sold there is roasted on site.  In fact you can see the bags of green coffee beans sitting in the store.  Leo is a coffee connoisseur and has great roasting skills.   You can tell Leo what kind of taste you are looking for in a coffee and he will direct you to one of his fresh roasted varieties.  He always hits the nail on the head, and I have gotten to the point where I just tell him to fix me up with a pound of whatever he thinks is good.  Cafe Corazon sells coffee beans as well as cups of coffee prepared in an assortment of methods.  He can explain each of these to you and the advantages of each.  This place is truly a gift to Fresno and has been to me, a true coffee lover.  However, do not expect the latte and frappuccino machines there.  Cafe Corazon does coffee. 

Like I stated above, I love good coffee, but also like the occasional Latte.'  If I am going to sit down and enjoy a latte', I go to the Revue in the Tower district. If you have never been to this place, you need to go.  This place is wonderful.  When you walk in it appears to be a small coffee cafe, however, if you venture to the back of the cafe, there are large seating areas as well as a large event room.  I have had many latte's and even desserts at the Revue.  It is lively, but you can find an out of the way corner where you can work if you wish.  Their latte's as well as other coffee drinks are delicious and they have great food as well.

If I am on the road Dutch Brothers is my place of choice.  There are only two locations in Fresno, West and Bullard, and Ashlan and Willow. They do not have inside seating, in fact they are little drive through kiosks.  However, their coffee is roasted by the company.  The barristas are fun, lively, friendly, and usually have music blaring from the kiosks.  It is the perfect place to get a cup of Joe for the road.

Again, you will not see me at the Starbucks, (sorry Starbucks fans).  I know that there are other good places for coffee in the Fresno area,  however, these are my favorites, and I rarely stray from these. They are all on Twitter and Facebook and can be followed there.  If you have favorites, let me know and I will check them out.  However, remember though, I am really looking for "coffee flavored coffee."

My Volga German Heritage And The Food That Goes Along With It

I am half Volga German.  My grandparents as well as my father are full Volga Germans which means I have been exposed a great deal to this part of my family history.  In the late 1800's approximately 25,000 Volga Germans fled Russia and settled in the Central Valley.  My great-grandparents were a part of this immigration and settled in "Rooshian Town" in South-West Fresno.  First, I am grateful to my great-grandparents (whom I was never fortunate enough to meet) for coming here, which allowed for the opportunities I, my family and my children have been able to take advantage of.  Second, I am grateful for them passing down the rich Volga German heritage that I have been able to experience in my life.

I have fond memories of German food when I was growing up.  The staples of our German food were Varingas (this is how we pronounce it.  They are also known as Verriniki and many other variations,) "Dag-Grabble," beerocks and of course smoked German sausage.  You could not find these items at local restaurants so we experienced these foods at family gatherings.

Varingas were always a favorite, and as a child I looked at these as a delicacy.  They are a simple egg, flour and water dough, filled with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut, boiled then fried in butter and served with melted butter.  As I stated above, I looked at these as delicacies.  However, I later learned that these version of the Pierogi, we made because the ingredients were inexpensive.  Like many immigrants, my great grandparents, and my grandparents were field and dairy workers and did not make much money.  Varingas can be filled with almost anything, however, we try to stick with the original recipe as this is what we are accustomed to.  I do not know of any restaurants that sell these, however, varieties of these are available Fresno Pacific University Relief Sale held every year at the college campus in April.

Beerocks are probable the most well known German food.  Again, in my youth these were usually homemade.  However, the Beerock Shop at West and Bullard now sells these.  In addition, the Edison Social Club and Hope Lutheran Church have sales yearly of homemade beerocks made by member of the Volga German community.

The main staple of Volga German food is German sausage.  It was said when I was growing up that if there was not German sausage at an event such as a wedding or family reunion, the event was not a German event. The making of German sausage dates back to the Volga region of Russia.  However, in the Central Valley the "king" of true German sausage was Ohlberg's German sausage.  Ohlberg started making German sausage in Fresno in 1928.  This tradition stayed with Fresno, and the original recipe, made by the original meat grinder, is still available today through Renna's Meat market at Ashlan and First.  There are two varieties of this sausage, fresh and smoked.  I prefer the smoked as this was what I grew up on, however both varieties are excellent and prepared from the original recipe.  Helmuth's in Kerman also sells German sausage, and though I have not tried them, I have heard from many relatives that it is very good.

Again, I do not know of any Fresno restaurants that sell these items, except in part.  I have to experience these delicacies at family functions, like the one I will happily attend at my cousin's home tomorrow.  However, if anyone wants to know more about these items, let me know.  I may decide to have a Volga German night at my house and include the community, as I was fortunate enough to work along side my grandmother and learn these recipes first hand.

I LOVE CUPCAKES!!!!

Anyone who has been my friend on Facebook or Twitter knows that I love cupcakes.  Especially those that incorporate Spam or Bacon as an ingredient.  (Don't go hating these are actually very good cupcakes.  Trust Me.)  Living in Fresno there are a plethora of places to get cupcakes.  Maybe this is one of the reasons I have so much trouble losing weight maybe huh?????  In any event this is a list of places in the Fresno area that I have been to that bake and sell cupcakes.  They each have their own spin on the cupcake however they are all VERY good in their own way.

Cup Cakes is located at Cedar and Herndon.  This was the first local cupcake specialty shop that I knew of.

Charlotte's is located on Olive in the Tower District.  They not only have great cupcakes but also incredible sangwiches.  (The G is not a mis-spelling that is how I say the word.)  I can get lunch AND a cupcake.  (Best BLT I ever had by the way but that is for another blog.)

Sugar Shack is located at Sunnyvale and Perrin.  Now what I like about this place is not only do they make a cupcake that incorporates bacon and another that incorporate Guinness Beer they also sell soft serve frozen yogurt.  I can get a bowl of yogurt the add the cupcake making one bowl of pure goodness.

Chiffono's is located at Cedar and Shepard.  They make great cupcakes as well as other desserts.  I am often torn between a red velvet cupcake and a lemon bar so the easiest thing is to just get both.

The Frosted Cakery is located within walking distance of my house.  This is dangerous.  They also incorporate bacon as well as the famous Spam cupcake.  They share the spot with the SupportR which sells food.  Again this place is very dangerous to me.

If I missed any let me know.  These again are the places I have been to and go to often.  try them all and I am sure you will find your favorite.  (Then I can refer you to my trainer who is incredible in his own right.)

Now if only I could get someone to make a Fried Chicken and Waffle cupcake for my birthday!!!!!