I eat it. You digest it. var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-15917159-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}Tumblr (3.0; @fooddigest)http://fooddigestonline.com/<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4t57z90lI1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>The Thai fried rice with chicken from <a href="http://www.pennysnoodleshop.com/" target="_blank">Penny’s Noodle Shop</a> in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. The Missus picked it up on her way home from work today. Always one of my favorite dishes at Penny’s — fresh tasting vegetables and the perfect amount of a spicy kick.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/24026127251http://fooddigestonline.com/post/24026127251Tue, 29 May 2012 18:28:46 -0500thaifooddinnerPenny's Noodles<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4srwcvTlE1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Turkey sandwich on white and some Ruffles. Trying to get back into the swing of work after a relaxing four-day weekend.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/24007603285http://fooddigestonline.com/post/24007603285Tue, 29 May 2012 13:41:00 -0500turkey sandwichfoodlunch<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4rhzrAMdL1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>After taking in a movie (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Shadows_(film)" target="_blank">Dark Shadows</a>), the Missus and I returned home and made some burgers in the cast-iron skillet on the stove. She’d heard me rave about a burger-making technique I learned from a drummer in one of my past punk bands, which is to crack an egg into the mixing bowl, along with a little maple syrup, before mashing up the ground beef and forming patties.</p> <p>Worked like a charm. Added a little ketchup, mustard, pickles and onions to the toasted bun. Also: some ridiculously-named “Ultimate Kickin’ Jalepeno Ranch” Ruffles chips.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23971902890http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23971902890Mon, 28 May 2012 21:09:00 -0500Burgercookingfooddinner<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4rhqzHwqu1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I couldn’t get a single tennis-playing friend to pick up their racquet and hit the courts with me on a beautiful Memorial Day Monday like this. So I found a backboard at a north side park and headed off to practice my inconsistent, yet beloved, one-handed backhand. On the way home, I decided to stop at a Taco Bell to see what all the hubbub is around those <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahsweeney/2012/03/09/can-doritos-locos-tacos-save-taco-bell/" target="_blank">Doritos Locos tacos</a> they’ve been selling recently.</p> <p>Even convinced the Missus to try one upon my return. Her verdict: Gross and too salty. Me? I think they’re fine, but nothing too special. It’s just a slightly gussied up Taco Bell taco. Regardless, I’m a Taco John’s man, myself. (At least when it comes to corporate chain Tex-Mex food, that is…)</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23971533164http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23971533164Mon, 28 May 2012 15:55:00 -0500Taco Bellsnackdoritosmexicanfood<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4qwuwTwtT1qbdiero2_500.jpg"/><br/> Swedish breakfast sampler<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4qwuwTwtT1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/> Cinnamon roll<br/><br/> <p>Went out for breakfast at <a href="http://www.annsather.com/" target="_blank">Ann Sather</a> with the Missus and another couple and there was a disagreement over the tip. Of course, I looked like the bad guy.</p> <p>The other gentleman and I split the bill. On my portion, I gave the waitress a substandard tip. (Mind you, I was a waiter back during college and am usually a generous tipper.)</p> <p>Here’s why. Earlier in the meal, the waitress came to refill someone’s tea mug and dribbled hot water across my bare arm and the lap of my pants. Not even an apology. I would have overlooked it. But later in the meal, I still had some hash browns and toast in front of me. I admit it — I’m a slow eater. Everyone else had finished, but the waitress walks up, picks up my plates (putting her greasy thumb into the food) before asking, “Are you done with that?”  Seeing as she’d already picked it up and soiled it, I said, “Sure.” Didn’t make a big deal of it. But it’s probably my biggest pet peeve when it comes to eating in a restaurant.</p> <p>And I was discreet when I filled out my bill, turning it face down on the table. Of course, the Missus could sense that I’d tipped my conscience and asked how much I’d given the waitress. When I told her, she and the other gentleman started digging in their pockets to leave extra cash on the table. Ugh, how embarrassing. Not that I’d left a 10 percent tip, but that everyone turned on me so quick and acted to negate me.</p> <p>Whatever. I guess it’s OK to drizzle boiling water on customers and whisk their food away before they’re done, as long as it’s a holiday.</p> <p>Funny thing was, I was the one who recommended we all go to Ann Sather, because I so love their Swedish breakfast sampler and cinnamon rolls. I apparently just don’t like the service, but no one will ever know.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23941805239http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23941805239Mon, 28 May 2012 11:30:00 -0500ann satherbreakfastfoodswedishandersonville<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4psy0aBOR1qbdiero3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4psy0aBOR1qbdiero4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4psy0aBOR1qbdiero5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4psy0aBOR1qbdiero6_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4psy0aBOR1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4psy0aBOR1qbdiero2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>The Missus, my eldest brother and I went up to north suburban Lake Forest to have a Memorial Day get-together at my aunt and uncle’s house. Two of my cousins, their husbands and their toddlers were there too.</p> <p>The Missus made deviled eggs, and took <a href="http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23821458534/currently-chopping-apples-for-a-pie-or-two-the" target="_blank">the fruits of my labor</a> and assembled a pretty top-notch apple pie for dessert. The main course consisted of grilled chicken, veggie skewers, wild rice and fruit, prepared by the host. It was a nice evening of catching up with family I don’t see too often.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23910444976http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23910444976Sun, 27 May 2012 20:00:00 -0500dinnergrillingfood<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4p73rjqsV1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4p73rjqsV1qbdiero2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>It turns out, a 35-cent frozen burrito isn’t always a “good deal.”</p> <p>Got this little gem at Aldi — a grocery store that offers low prices for mostly generic food. I’m not too proud. This place has lots of awesome food.</p> <p>This beef-and-bean burrito isn’t one of them. It’s just a bland vessel for empty calories; a meatlike paste with lumpy beans interspersed. The best I can say for it is that it was warm, and that’s more of a kudos to my microwave.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23882071013http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23882071013Sun, 27 May 2012 15:19:02 -0500aldiburritomexicanfoodgross<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4oymsxTdx1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4oymsxTdx1qbdiero2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Woke up this morning and made an egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on white toast. I heated up some olive oil in a pan, then added some garlic powder to get it sizzling before adding the egg, some salt and some Frank’s Red Hot sauce. </p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23870823091http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23870823091Sun, 27 May 2012 12:16:03 -0500breakfastsandwichfood<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4oyiaHXCF1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/> Chicken carpaccio<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4oyiaHXCF1qbdiero2_500.jpg"/><br/> Steak tartare with poached egg<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4oyiaHXCF1qbdiero3_500.jpg"/><br/> Dessert<br/><br/> <p>The Missus and I were invited to a friend’s dinner party. It’s something he does regularly — choosing a theme and preparing a multiple-course menu and only including a small number of friends. We were honored to be two of the six people at his grand piano-shaped dinner table. While the attire wasn’t fancy at all — we were all dressed in a more-than-casual kind of way — the food felt straight from an upscale gourmet restaurant.</p> <p>He did four courses, each with a circle, triangle and square component. The first course, which I spaced on photographing, was cheese wedges (triangle); fruit and crudite (circle); and homemade toasted brown rice, oat and basil seed crackers (square).</p> <p>Course two was steamed mussels and other stuff I can’t eat due to my seafood allergy. It was presented on a square plate. Luckily, there was a chicken carpaccio dish on field greens with a green salsa, served on a circular plate (pictured). And, for the square, there was a killer homemade oat crostini.</p> <p>The main course for everyone else was tuna tartare. Mine was a beef tenderloin tartare, over blanched long beans, avocado quinoa cakes, a poached egg and with a red pepper, tomato and porcini sauce.</p> <p>Dessert was something really special, with each morsel paired with an accompanying alcohol. The circular scoop of peach and rosewater sorbet was paired with a flute of champagne with a slice of strawberry in it. The cube of almond latte blanc mange was paired with a Kentucky bourbon; and a homemade sriracha truffle was paired with a malbec wine. Incredible.</p> <p>As awesome as the food looked and tasted, it was an even better backdrop to a rollicking conversation that started at about 7 p.m. and didn’t end until we all went home, around 1:15 a.m. </p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23870666956http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23870666956Sat, 26 May 2012 19:30:00 -0500gourmetfancyfooddinnerparty<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4nhagJEi61qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Currently chopping apples for a pie or two the Missus is planning on making for our Memorial Day weekend festivities. A houseguest is always more appreciated when they come bearing pie.</p> <p>Also, this was the maiden voyage of my new, green santoku knife that I got from Amazon for $9.50. For some reason, I decided that I’d be more helpful to the Missus in the kitchen if I had a dedicated (and flashy) knife to use while chopping up fruits and vegetables. I have to say, it’s a cheap knife, but it worked quite well. And I still have all my fingers and both thumbs, so that’s what I call a win-win.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23821458534http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23821458534Sat, 26 May 2012 17:03:51 -0500applepiedessertcookingfood<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4nh4230oQ1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>A quickie turkey sandwich to tide me over until dinner. I believe this is cajun-rubbed chicken from the local grocer’s butcher counter. A simple sandwich can go a long way.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23821228587http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23821228587Sat, 26 May 2012 16:16:00 -0500turkey sandwichfood<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4navyS4qw1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Onion, pepper and tomato frittata, courtesy of the Missus. Baked in the toaster oven. Egg-cellent. </p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23813637311http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23813637311Sat, 26 May 2012 10:45:00 -0500frittatabreakfastfoodcooking<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4m48otFb71qbdiero1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Yogurt and granola: The healthy man’s dessert. (And mine too, tonight…)</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23778515850http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23778515850Fri, 25 May 2012 23:24:23 -0500dessertfoodgranolayogurt<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4luylJA531qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Had the day off from work, so I spent the day making music. When the Missus got home I fired up the Weber grill and cooked some steaks and vegetables. Perfection.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23766285895http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23766285895Fri, 25 May 2012 19:10:00 -0500steakgrillingfooddinner<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4l6uc0nu01qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4l6uc0nu01qbdiero2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Because I worked a Sunday shift last weekend, I was given today off — kicking off an ultra-rare four-day weekend. Making it even better, the Missus didn’t have to be at work until 11 a.m., so we celebrated by sleeping in a little and getting breakfast at Sunrise Cafe. </p> <p>After we split a fruit cup, I had the country skillet — hash browns, chopped onions and peppers, cheese, two eggs over easy and sausage slices. </p> <p>Let the R&R begin.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23737998655http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23737998655Fri, 25 May 2012 11:22:59 -0500breakfastchicagosunrise cafefoodskilleteggs<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4kc4jjodw1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4kc4jjodw1qbdiero2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4kc4jjodw1qbdiero3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4kc4jjodw1qbdiero4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4kc4jjodw1qbdiero5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>The Missus is going to be a bridesmaid at her friend’s wedding next month, and the bride and the other maids got together for dinner tonight. I tagged along to give the soon-to-be groom someone to talk to. Apparently he’s not into discussing different types of mascara.</p> <p>But he is into cooking. For this feast, he roasted a chicken, grilled some hamburgers and asparagus, prepared a heckuva salad and even made brownies for dessert. Everything was awesome. Nice work, dude. You’re making the rest of us married guys look bad.</p> <p>Of course, I looked bad from the outset at this one. I was asked to bring beer, and accidentally brought <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/143/67274" target="_blank">Shiner Ruby Redbird</a>, which is beer with grapefruit juice and ginger in it. Seriously, I didn’t realize it was anything other than beer! It was not well-received.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23720054477http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23720054477Thu, 24 May 2012 21:00:00 -0500dinnerfoodchickenburgers<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4juek9YBc1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4juek9YBc1qbdiero2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>I had a strong urge for some bad Chinese food. The lunch hour had come and gone and I couldn’t get away to eat. Finally able to head to Panda Express at around 2:45 p.m. where I ordered chow mein noodles, orange chicken and kung pao chicken.</p> <p>Urge satisfied.</p> <p>And judging by the fortune, it’s a good thing I followed my stomach’s desires. It appears it’ll pay off handsomely sometime. It doesn’t say soon, just sometime.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23696907529http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23696907529Thu, 24 May 2012 14:45:00 -0500chinesefoodPanda Expresswilmettelunch<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4i5sgJOyn1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I fired up the ol’ charcoal grill in the backyard after work and made dinner. Four hot dogs (two for me!), one foil packet of asparagus and another foil packet with red pepper, onion and zucchini. I have to say, I did a pretty good job. Might have taken the food off a little prematurely out of pure anticipation, but it still came out tasty and edible.</p> <p>Now I’ve got a mean case of onion-breath. Nothing a little dessert can’t take care of.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23643586768http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23643586768Wed, 23 May 2012 20:07:28 -0500hot dogsgrillingdinnerfoodcooking<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4hs7lAJC41qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Leftovers have never looked so good.</p> <p>Made a brisket sandwich for lunch today with the glorious remnants of <a href="http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23594276053/when-the-missus-comes-home-from-work-and-says-she" target="_blank">last night’s Smoque excursion</a>. I didn’t eat the ribs on this plate, though. I made a deal with the Missus via text — I ate the rest of her salad, and she gets the meat. Win-win.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23623694346http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23623694346Wed, 23 May 2012 13:47:00 -0500leftoverslunchbarbecuebrisketfood<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4heqiVDZj1qbdiero1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>A bowl of yogurt and granola to start the day.</p>http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23610745676http://fooddigestonline.com/post/23610745676Wed, 23 May 2012 10:23:06 -0500yogurtgranolabreakfastfood