Month: April 2015 (Page 3 of 4)
Can you eat shad at the 45th annual Grifton Shad Festival, one of North Carolina’s longest-running festivals? The answer to that question is not clear to us, and we’ve never attended the festival (though we’d much like to). You see, the Grifton Shad Festival is named in honor of the Hickory Shad, an ocean fish which swims up the local rivers each spring to spawn. Shad are edible, but the one that’s eaten is generally the American Shad. It’s very bony, but that can be dealt with. The Hickory Shad is bonier still, and many folks do not consider it edible. Continue reading
White Farms Ice Cream, Ipswich MA
REVIEW
A regional taste recently made its first appearance on our LAF radar, at White Farms Ice Cream in Ipswich. One of their flavors is called Frozen Pudding, which we assumed was some sort of chocolate pudding-pop-like flavor. We didn’t try any. Then we saw it on other Eastern Massachusetts ice cream rosters so, curiosity piqued, we finally asked someone about it. Continue reading
HAPPY GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH DAY!
Bradford County Strawberry Festival, Starke FL, April 11th and 12th 2015
Strawberries, BBQ, seafood, shortcake, country cooking… it must be the 17th annual Bradford County Strawberry Festival in Starke, Florida! The strawberry party begins tomorrow morning (Saturday, April 11th) at 9 a.m. Besides offering your fill of fresh strawberries (and really, is anything else necessary?), there will be plenty of live entertainment, arts and crafts, a kids zone, free train rides, and $25 helicopter rides. Admission is free. Continue reading
The Lobster Shack, Cape Elizabeth ME
REVIEW
The food at The Lobster Shack is good, in fact very good, but you can find better along the Maine coast. It’s not an undiscovered gem. In fact, there always seems to be a long line at the order counter. And the prices are a little higher than what you’ll find further up the coast, reflecting its proximity to the city of Portland. So why do we think The Lobster Shack is required eating for the visiting LAF pilgrim? Continue reading
HAPPY NATIONAL CINNAMON CRESCENT DAY!
El Gallo Giro of Kuna ID Now Enrique’s
Ana and Enrique Contreras have operated what is generally considered to be the finest Mexican restaurant in the Treasure Valley (a region of western Idaho, around Boise, that borders eastern Oregon). That restaurant, El Gallo Giro, has been leased by the Contreras for 17 years. Last year, they decided to buy the restaurant and building outright and, in honor of Enrique Contreras’ efforts over the last two decades, they have chosen to rename the eatery Enrique’s. They hope to move to larger quarters, with a big patio, a few blocks away early next year.
11 American Pizza Styles
Almost anyone who eats pizza knows the difference between reheated frozen pies and the freshly baked pizzas that emerge from the oven of their favorite local pizzeria. They might be aware of something called “New York pizza” that’s supposed to be something special, and maybe Chicago deep-dish pizza. Can you name 11 styles of pizza? If you’re reading this you might well be able to rattle off many more than 11! For those who do not yet consider themselves regional pizza masters, here’s a rundown of 11 important American takes on pizza, from The Daily Meal.
Cheesesteak Survey of Philly
From Meniscus Magazine comes this story about cheesesteaks in Philadelphia. From John’s Roast Pork (” they make the sandwiches as if they were going to eat them”) to Mama’s Pizzeria (“the cheesiest cheesesteak of them all”) most of the major players are covered. As a bonus, they teach you how to order like a local, with an explanation of the various cheeses likely to be available and the toppings that might be offered. You want yours wit or witout?
Rattlesnake Rodeo, Opp AL, April 11th and 12th 2015
55 years and counting: that’s how long the Rattlesnake Rodeo has been held in the town of Opp, state of Alabama. Gates open Saturday, April 11th, 2015 for the rodeo, and the bands begin at 10:30 a.m. There’ll be snake shows and snake races, a 5K run/walk, a greased pole climb, a buck dancing contest, the introduction of the 2015 Opp Rattlesnake Rodeo Queens, and plenty of musical performances, headlined by Gary Allan and NewsBoys. The rodeo continues Sunday the 12th. Over 20,000 people are expected to attend. Continue reading
Napoleon House, New Orleans LA
REVIEW
Here’s an idea for your next New Orleans trip: stop in at an historic pub with a French connection and enjoy a British cocktail along with a sandwich invented a few blocks away, have some Creole food on the side, and finish up with an Italian dessert. This can only be the Napoleon House, at the corner of Chartres and St. Louis in the Vieux Carré. Continue reading
HAPPY NATIONAL CHINESE ALMOND COOKIE DAY!
HAPPY NATIONAL EMPANADA DAY!
Seinfeld and Harvey and Manny’s
One of our current favorite shows showed up at one of our favorite Chicago delis Monday, as Jerry Seinfeld shot an episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee at Manny’s with guest Steve Harvey. They dined on corned beef, pastrami, and potato pancakes, and arrived in a ’57 Bel Air (interesting cars are a key feature of the web series). No word yet on when the episode will show up on Crackle and online.
100 Counties, 100 Restaurants in NC
Sometimes the choice is a traditional old-timer, like Price’s Chicken Coop in Charlotte or Parker’s Barbecue in Wilson. Other times, local tradition isn’t part of the equation at all, like when the pick is Youssef 242 in Hickory or Taste of West Africa in Fayetteville. What were talking about is the new feature from the Charleston Food Bloggers, where they have chosen the best restaurant in each of North Carolina’s 100 counties. Have a look!
In the mid 1800s, Columbia Tennessee was known as a major mule trading center, a place farmers knew they could find quality animals to plow their fields. It wasn’t until 1934 that the reputation evolved into a formal Mule Day, which was held off and on since then, although today’s version began in earnest in 1974. Mule Day has been called “Rural America at its Best.” So just what is a mule, you ask? Good question! If daddy is a donkey and mommy is a horse, you’ve got yourself a mule. They are usually, but not always, born sterile, and tend to combine the best traits of both species. Continue reading
Kingston Brewing Company, Kingston, ON Canada
HAPPY NATIONAL COFFEE CAKE DAY!
Teibel’s, Schererville IN
REVIEW
Sometimes LAF meals can be found in obscure shacks unknown to anyone beyond a five-mile radius. But not always. Take, for example, Teibel’s (pronounced Tee’-bls). Teibel’s is a local institution, well-known in the area as the place to celebrate those passages in life that often call for a banquet hall. While not particularly dressy, people arrive looking quite neat and presentable. These are the upstanding citizens of Schererville and beyond. Continue reading
