Table Ten Po'Boy

Bread to the sandwich is what the first scene is to a movie. If the first minutes of a movie find you trimming your toenails, you probably won't appreciate the rest. Likewise, if a sandwich comes stuffed between two slices of government subsidized carbohydrate foam, you'll probably hope that a friendly bear steals your picnic.

The bread that encased my Po'Boy at Emeril's Table Ten in Las Vegas was so good that I may not have noticed if they forgot the filling. 

The bread's texture was perfect: a light crunchy crust with a featherly light interior. Good gracious. I'm going back. 

P.S.: The fries only look gigantic because I used a crazy wide angle fisheye lens to take this photo. 

Nam Kao Tod

If you ever visit Las Vegas, my instructions are as follows:

1. Visit Lotus of Siam
2. Order the Nam Kao Tod (crispy fried rice)
3. Savor the Nam Kao Tod

I couldn't get enough of the texture and the flavor. Just look at it! Doesn't it look exciting and new? I can't even look at it without feeling hungry. I'll be back.

A Taste of Ethiopia

Some foodie friends and I recently shared a meal at Taste of Ethiopia in Pflugerville. We shared huge platters of Ethiopian food, ate with our hands, and participated in a traditional coffee ceremony with freshly roasted coffee and frankincense.

This was my first experience at an Ethiopian restaurant. I'm eager to have many more. 

Photos from the Great American Beer Festival Day 0

The first day of GABF started at Great Divide's famous industry party. For many brewers, this is the last stop for relaxation before the busy work of GABF begins. When the doors open at the conference center, it's time for pouring beers, talking to fans, trying new beers, and in my case, enjoying cooking demonstrations and beer pairings at the Beer and Food Pavilion. 

Many thanks to Independence Brewing for making it possible to attend GABF this year!

Blind Tasting at Aviary

Do your taste buds ever get tired? Has your favorite drink stopped registering with your brain? A/B tests are one way to get your brain cranking and your taste buds excited again. Comparing two similar wines really exposes the subtle flavors in each in a way that drinking either wine alone can't.

Aviary Lounge and Home Decor was nice enough to have me over for a blind A/B test pitting American against French wines. In this case, the extra challenge was that the wine was paired with fresh oysters. Delicious!

See the rest of my Aviary photos.