Impoverished Gourmet

Super Bowl Weekend

February 1st, 2008

Hey, you over there, put down the Lays and jar of onion dip. Yeah you. I know it’s Super Bowl weekend, and the football fan in me knows that such an event allows, nay demands, a certain type of food. We call it Football Food. But you can make your own. And it will be better — much better — and more bacony.

Simply Recipes has an authoritative round-up on Super Bowl recipes featuring everything from classics (potato skins, hot wings, various and sundry dips) to the truly frightening. Okay, so I was honestly curious about the Beer Cheese Cupcakes with Bacon Cheddar Frosting — if that’s not a manly dessert, what is? — but then I saw the “beer” in question: Budweiser Select. What’s a sell-respecting beer drinking to do? Guiness cupcakes, of course.

Michelada

November 22nd, 2007

MicheladaMichelada

Michelada

  1. Juice from half a lime
  2. Coarse salt
  3. A dash Tabasco
  4. A dash Worcestershire Sauce
  5. Ice
  6. Negro Modelo

Rim a highball glass or tumbler with lime and salt. Squeeze lime into the bottom of the glass, then add Tabasco and Worcestershire; mix. Fill glass with ice. Carefully pour in beer — it’ll want to foam over. Enjoy, topping off the beer as necessary.

Fermented Cacao

November 18th, 2007

In Tyler’s post about the origins of chocolate, he wonders about the nature of fermenting cacao. The comments resulted in some salivation over Dagoba Xocolatl. Now, the New Yorker’s food impressario Bill Buford tell us about both. Ostensibly a profile of Dagoba’s founder Frederick Schilling, the his article leads the reader through expositions, alchemistry, assassinations, plantations, sex, mythology, history, and finally into a steaming vat of steaming cacao:

“Badaró then removed his clothes. He landed with an awkward splash. Three of us were in a trough that might comfortable accommodate an adult pig, and the fermenting cacao was up to our necks. Badaró had taken to invoking some god, humming in his deep voice. “We must immerse ourselves and connect to the Aztec gods,” he said. He disappeared, sinking below the surface.

Unfortunately for the eager reader, Extreme Chocolate: the quest for the perfect bean, from the October 29th magazine is not available online; and those unable to find this work of gonzo gastronomy in print must content themselves with NPR’s interview with Buford and a few pictures.

Bacon Salt?

November 8th, 2007

I’m as big a fan of salty pork as anyone. But a seasoning salt that tastes like bacon?

Now, I’m not saying I’m against the idea; I’m not immune to the siren call of bacon-flavored popcorn or French fries. But Bacon Salt, which comes in Original, Hickory Smoked, and Peppered flavors, contains such appetizing ingredients as MSG, Disodium Guanylate, and Yellow 6. I’m also not sure what to make of the Hickory flavor, which is apparently vegan. Vegans, is there an unmet demand for delicious bacon-y products amongst your ranks?

Bacon Salt sells for $4.49 a pop. I remain skeptical, but does anyone have any real experience with this?