Entertaining Friday: Kelly Family Burger Throwdown

Every year for Memorial Day weekend, Mike and Alicia head up to Alicia's family's Keuka Lake house to hang out with the Kelly clan. This year, in addition to the usual sunset cruises, camper of the year trash-talking and general frivolity, the whole family did it up Bobby Flay-style, with a Friday night burger throwdown.

Everyone was invited to join and the whole group voted on which burgers tasted best. (SPOILER ALERT) Alicia won. But the contest isn't over quite yet. The Kellys asked everyone's favorite food blogger (that's me, in case you were wondering) to crown winners in two additional categories: ingredients and appearance.

The contestants:

Aunt Martha's Sa'Lotta Burger

Ground beef mixed with crumbled bleu cheese and worcheshire sauce

Topped with grilled sliced mushrooms, yellow, orange, and roasted red peppers done on the grill and topped with Meunster cheese

Aunt Kelly's Mexican Burger

Taco seasoning, corn and black beans mixed into the ground beef, topped with salsa and Mexican fancy shredded cheese

Mr. Kelly's Italian Stallion

Ground Beef mixed with grilled onion marinated in balsamic vinegar, Thyme, Oregano, Marjoram, Basil, Rosemary, and Sage

Topped with twice roasted red peppers grilled proscuito and Asiago cheese, Garlic toasted rolls

Mrs. Kelly's Hot Hawaiian (aka the Boogie Burger)

Ground beef seasoned with salt and pepper

Topped with grilled pineapple slices and sliced jalapeno peppers and topped with jalepeno jack cheese

Barger's Benedict Burger

Seasoned ground beef topped with a grilled slice of Canadian bacon, a fried egg, and Havarti cheese and hollandaise sauce on the bun

Alicia, her winning burger, The Insider, and her matching t-shirt

Unsurprisingly, a simple ingredient list wasn't enough for everyone's favorite Camper of the Year ("boys AND girls!"). She provided a full-on, menu-style description:

"The Insider: A departure from the original bacon cheeseburger.One bite into the molton, "baconny" lava and you will never be the same. The innovation of the classic toppings is what makes this burger a winner. Two very thin burger patties with sliced American cheese and crumbled bacon placed on one patty and then covered with the other and sealed tightly creates a pocket of melted cheese. The ground beef was seasoned with a variety of spices including garlic, cracked ground pepper, salt, etc. The burgers were topped with cajin seasoned and fried Vidalia onion slices."

And my verdicts? After much careful deliberation (really, I got all of these descriptions and photos days ago), the winners are...drumroll please...

Appearance: Mrs. Kelly's Hot Hawaiian

Ingredients: Barger's Benedict Burger

It was a tough call on both counts. Everyone obviously did a great job and the entries were both creative and well-executed (then again, I know the Kellys and I expected nothing less).

On appearance, it really came down to the accessories and the humor. Mrs. Kelly went the extra mile with her plating and that kind of effort deserves a win. Plus, everyone loves a hula girl.

Judging ingredients was tougher. Here, I thought in terms of creativity and how good the burger sounded. I asked myself, would I order this? For that alone, I almost chose the Sa'Lotta burger. I'd order that in a heartbeat. And I like the incorporation of different ethnic and regional flavors into the burger, as well - that's the kind of thing that often works out well for Top Chef contestants, and there's a reason why.

In the end, though, Barger and his Benedict edged out the competition because his concept takes something mainstream - the fried egg-burger combo - and builds on that in a creative way. While I'm very sure I could never actually finish a Benedict burger, I think it's really not a bad idea.

Plus, hollandaise. Man, do I love hollandaise.

You know, this is not the first throwdown I've judged. I'm beginning to feel like something of an expert. Anybody else out there in a cook-off kind of mood? I'm available for parties and awfully cheap. You can totally pay me in drinks.

Old School Thursday: Classics Edition

Woohoo – it’s National Hamburger Day! That is both seasonally appropriate and all-American. A day I can get behind without any mockery whatsoever.

In more of a tribute to Americana, today is the 112th anniversary of the introduction of Jell-O. What’s more American than Jell-O salad? Or Jell-O pudding pops, for that matter? Everybody loves a little Cosby.

Finally, today is the 10th anniversary of the return to public display of DaVinci’s Last Supper fresco. It underwent 22 years of restoration – necessary, as frescoes are pretty much always a deteriorating mess, but also controversial, as restoration (the recreation of history) often is.

That last thing really hits me in all the right spots. Food, history, art. What a great movie that would be for me, and probably no one else, to watch.

Artsy Wednesday: Family Photos

I was at my parents' house over the weekend, digging through old photos (mostly in search of prom photos for Deep Glamour, but that's another story). I only looked through two albums, but I found plenty of evidence that I'm not the first one in my family to enjoy a nice party. I knew that, of course, but it's always entertaining to see the evidence.

These photos are all from 1967, the year my mom graduated from high school:

That's my grandmother at the head of the table and my uncle to her left. I'm sure my grandfather took the picture. My mom immediately knew everybody in the photo - Army friends of my grandparents. I, of course, just can't get over the cigarette at the table. Not exactly something you'd see today.

This is my grandfather, making a cocktail. I actually have his old cocktail set - it's what we use to make drinks. He and my grandmother both always drank simple drinks - scotch and water for him, bourbon and water for her. Now she drinks either white wine or MGD, but it's been a long time since I've seen her drink an actual cocktail. I'm continually surprised by their generation's ability to drink liquor - even with meals - for years and years.

This photo, which my mom insists is a joke, is two of my mother's cousins (the one on the right made my wedding cake, actually). They're at a baby shower for another cousin. I grabbed it mostly because I love the dresses and the matching headband. But also, the one smoking is maybe 15. Probably younger. Again, my mom insists that this was taken as a joke. But even then, it was my mom's cigarette. She was 17. And they're inside. At a baby shower. Times certainly have changed quickly.

Ideabook Tuesday: Summer

I had a nice weekend. It started with a crowded and hot, but really fun, Belvedere happy hour on Friday night. Saturday, with Dixon at my parents' house, Cooper and Jen and Bill and I headed up into the northern part of Baltimore County to the Prigel Farm Fest, a fundraiser for the Prigel family's legal defense fund (it's a long story), where we sat outside on the farm, drinking rose and watching the sun set. Once night hit, we did a little bar-hopping and live band-watching and had an unexpectedly fun night.

Sunday, with Dixon back home, we spent most of the day sitting in the backyard swinging chairs, enjoying the weather.

Of course, we're not enjoying the weather nearly as much today, and all the rain is making the mosquito bites I got on Sunday even more annoying. But that doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to more weekend afternoons on the swinging chairs, and on our friends' decks. And that is the inspiration behind this:

Deck Days

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Entertaining Friday: The Morning After

When we're having overnight guests, I usually head to Trader Joe's to stock up on breakfast breads. 'Round these parts, we like a nice crumpet.

I'm feeling kind of slack now, though. Clearly, all along I should've been providing my guests with their own floss. Bacon floss. Because...just because. Bacon.

Vino by the Litre

Everybody knows I love, love, love a cool map. So you can imagine how excited I was to come across a website called Strange Maps, devoted to nothing but, well, strange maps (via Manolo). Not even halfway down the first page, I came across this gorgeous piece of statistical representation:

My favorite maps, or graphs, or charts, or whatever you want to call them, are like this - they take dry statistics and convey them in a completely visually compelling manner. On Strange Maps, each map comes with a couple of paragraphs of analysis and discussion, making it a really valuable resource.

And as for this map, I would put it in my kitchen in a heartbeat (or the wine cellar). My favorite finding is that the US drinks wine at roughly the same rate as Finland. So random, so interesting. Surprising? I'm not sure.

Old School Thursday: Waiter Rant Edition

Today is National Waitstaff Day, which is somehow fitting, since today is also the 86th anniversary of the closing of famed NYC restaurant Delmonico’s. Once the epitome of fine dining in the city, the restaurant suffered insurmountable setbacks after the passing of Prohibition. The night before the restaurant closed, they threw one last enormous dinner for their longstanding regular customers. Going out with a bang.

Prohibition, of course, lasted for another nine years, and the closing of Delmonico’s (and other fine dining restaurants) was just one of its unintended consequences. A boost to the candy industry was another and, most famously, the rise in organized crime. Not to mention a very healthy expatriate scene in more booze-friendly countries.

Oh, and today is also National Strawberries and Cream Day. Dessert for your waiter?

Artsy Wednesday: Twenty Years of Provence

Last night, in search of something to read (I go through books way too quickly for my budget), I pulled Peter Mayle's book, A Year in Provence, out of our stacks.

It's a classic, all sun and pastis and windy winters and long lunches, and even just reading the first couple of chapters, I remembered immediately how much I loved it on my first read, which was sometime during the late '90s.

At that point, I flipped to the front of the book, curious about when it was originally published. What I found surprised me - 1989! Twenty years ago!

Even though it's about a part of the world that's charming specifically because it's not thoroughly modern (though I've heard it's modernized in some unfortunate ways since the book's publication), something about it feels very contemporary - even still. Maybe that's because the world described is so unmodern. My enjoyment of the book isn't hampered by having to imagine everyone in crazy '80s clothes or talking about '80s TV or anything like that.

No matter why, it's a book that's held up very well. So congratulations, Provence!

Ideabook Tuesday: Interview with Desire to Inspire's Kim Johnson

In the past, I've only posted ideabooks that I actually created myself. Not for any particular reason - I like a lot of the ideabooks on houzz. Today, I'm breaking that tradition thanks to a particularly great ideabook. It's an interview with Kim Johnson, one of the bloggers behind design blog desire to inspire.

Her recently renovated and redecorated Vancouver house is absolutely amazing. Bright colors and an eclectic style combine to make a fun, really livable space. I love every room:

Houzz interview: Kim Johnson’s eclectic home

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Wow

Esquire recently published a list of the best bars in America. It's a long list and unsurprisingly heavy in the NYC and California areas. I have only been to one bar on the entire list, but guess what? It's the most highly rated bar in the entire country. And guess what else? It's Brewer's Art.

Good call, Esquire, good call. It is a great bar. And congratulations, Brewer's Art.

Trendy Monday: Freebies

This will come as a surprise to no one, but apparently the word "free" drives up internet traffic.

I don't employ it much myself - ever, really, until just now - but I have heard more than a little anecdotal evidence from other bloggers (especially Examiner writers) about the magical power of "free." These are often complaints, and I understand them. While it's easy to get caught up in writing stuff that will drive traffic, I know that I certainly don't get excited to read blog posts that are nothing more than ads for free ice cream cones or whatever.

But here's something I do find interesting: the restaurant trend towards offering free food to bring customers in the door. It's a lower end promotion - Denny's is most notable - but somewhat similar to higher end promotions like half-price wine nights and two-for-one entrees.

By early accounts, it's working, too. So it'll be interesting to see how that plays out as the economy improves and if customers' expectations will shift over time.

Entertaining Friday: Belvedere Square

It's Preakness week and for me, that's less about horse racing and infield porta-potties and more about the opening of Belvedere Square. I am not kidding when I say I've been excited about the return of Belvedere happy hour since last September, and the end of the 2008 season.

Tonight, provided it doesn't rain, is going to be especially fun, with lots of our local friends heading to the Square, plus our friends Brian and Amy and their son Jack heading down from Philadelphia just for the night.

I am so excited about this evening, in fact, that I guest-posted about it over on Suzanne Loudermilk's Baltimore Magazine "In Good Taste" blog. Suzanne's been recovering from surgery, and while she's out she allowed a bunch of guest-posters to take over her blog. It's been a good mix, from blogging regulars like Jessica and Dara to some new (to me) voices that were fun to read.

Things That Make Me Happy

This:


Thanks to Randall at Deep Glamour for finding this for me!

Post-College Drinking

A new study finds that kids just out of college, a demo/psychographic called "Cyber Millenials," are drinking more than current college kids. They're also working out more, so they're healthier in that regard.

At first glance, this finding didn't surprise me at all. My memories of the years just after college - from 20 to 25, really - are pretty hazy. Especially that last year, when I was 25 and I'd just moved to Canton, taking up a pretty much permanent spot at the Claddagh's upstairs bar.

But then I started thinking a little more about the kind of drinking I did in college vs. in those years after - and there was a difference. The study, which relies on self-reported numbers, vaguely suggests that this post-college crew is drinking better, but is just as heavy on the hard stuff, as the college kids. I wonder if that's the case, though.

Better, I believe. It would be hard to drink cheaper than most kids in college (1995 cost of a case of Milwaukee's Best Light in Virginia = $6.99). But based on my outdated sample of one, the type of drinking changes. It has to. There's a difference between getting up to throw on sweats (or, in my case, a white t-shirt, denim button down and short plaid skirt) for a 10 am class and making it to work, presentably, by 8:30 or 9.

So while in college my five drinks might have been two beers and three shots of bourbon, five post-college drinks probably meant five Miller Lites. Maybe a gin and tonic and four MLs.

So, yes, it's true that post-college kids keep on drinking. But the study's quantitative focus neglects a very qualitative, but important, question: drinking what?

Old School Thursday: Chicken Dance to Foie Gras Edition

Today is National Buttermilk Biscuit Day and National Dance Like a Chicken Day. Somehow, they seem related to me. Probably because sometime around 1990, I was friends with this girl Melissa who loved a song called, “Buttermilk Biscuits.” I haven’t heard it since then and it might have been the single worst rap song ever recorded. But somehow it fits with the chicken dance.

But let me back up. The chicken dance has a day? Every week, I am surprised by who has a lobby. I’m just glad I’m not jaded.

In other news, today’s a sort of mix of anniversaries, mostly somehow celebrating processed or genetically modified food. Today in 1853, Gail Borden applied for a patent for condensed milk. For that I am thankful, because without it, there would be no tres leches cake.

Decades later, in 1919, Henry John Heinz, the founder of the HJ Heinz Company, died. His brand, obviously, lived on. And speaking of strong brands, today in 1985, the very first McDonald’s, located in Des Plains, Illinois, became a fast food museum, aka Morgan Spurlock’s own personal hell.

In more recent fast food news, today in 1991, the world’s largest burrito was created. Weighing in at 1,126 pounds, I’m sure it was nothing short of delicious. Not quite as delicious? Three years later, the FDA deemed the “Flavr Savr” tomato – a food developed through biotechnology – safe. Yes, I know this is a great advance in terms of solving hunger problems. But I also blame genetic modification on my years of disliking tomatoes. I had no idea.Finally, in a break from all that is processed, and an enormous gain for foodies everywhere (but a giant blow to PETA), one year ago today, the Chicago City Council repealed its ban on foie gras.

So today, as you do your chicken dance, you have your choice. McDonald’s (with ketchup and tomatoes) or foie. Hmm. Tough one.

Supporting Local Businesses: The 3/50 Project

Not to get mushy or political, but supporting small business is something that's near and dear to my heart. So I was very pleased to come across this initiative (via Mrs. Blandings, who found it on Miss Gracious Living).

If you're spending the money anyway, wouldn't you rather see it go to somebody local?

Artsy Wednesday: Pastry at Sotto Sopra

In several years of "artsy" posts, I've mostly written about the way food is injected into traditional art forms - music, paintings, books, architecture. Even movies. Sometimes I write about food as art in a literal sense, like in this Matisse poster. Once I wrote about food - fried eggplant, to be specific - as performance art.

It's rare, though, for me to write about food taking on the cultural characteristics we usually ascribe to art. But something I ate last night makes me want to do just that.

Let me back up a bit. Last week, Dining Dish Dara invited me, along with a handful of other foodie writer types, to dinner at Sotto Sopra. Our meal was prepared by native Sardinian chef Daniela Useli, who has the kind of cooking resume that makes me cry with jealousy (she learned to cook after being given a book of family recipes, by her grandmother, for her eighth birthday). Everything was wonderful, but my interest was most piqued by the final course, a dessert called sebadas.

Sebadas is a traditional Sardinian dessert, pecorino-filled dough lightly fried until it's crispy then drizzled with honey. At first scent, it's a little bit boardwalk (think funnel cake) plus a touch baklava (all that honey). But after a bite, it's clear that it's something else entirely. After hearing the description, I expected the dessert to taste something like a gussied-up cheese danish. I underestimated it (although, a gussied-up cheese danish doesn't sound so bad, either). The pecorino was rich and salty and a perfect counterpoint to the sweet stickiness of the honey. And the real key, I think, was that the pastry was so lightly fried, adding a little airiness to the whole dish. The taste was entirely new to me, and really exciting.

So the "artsy," then. Certainly anybody who can create something like this dessert is an artist. It takes creativity and skill and care. But my thinking goes a little beyond that. Despite assurances from Daniela and her husband that this dish is a traditional Sardinian dessert, it feels new and fresh to an American palate. We see that in the art world, too. Certain injections of even a familiar foreign culture - Slumdog Millionaire, anyone? - are irresistable to most US culture-seekers.

This dessert did that for me. Totally foreign, but just familiar enough, it hit that sweet spot between new and comfortable. Plus, cheese + honey + fried dough? That ALWAYS = amazing.

Ideabook Tuesday: Bubbles

Rooms that remind me of champagne. Celebratory, right?

Bubbly: Decorating with Fizz

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Now THIS Is Food Porn

Somebody really likes their cilantro.

(Thanks to Sarah for the link. Also, NSFW language. But with food!)

Trendy Monday: The Oak Backlash-Backlash

Not a long Trendy Monday post today, just a quick observation: I think (and don't ask me why I think this) oak is about to regain a little respect. For years, some winemakers overoaked their grapes, in an effort to "give the people what they want." They went too far, resulting in a lot of anti-chardonnay and anti-oak sentiment.

It's time, though, for the tables to turn. Though I can't actually find any of them, I think I've read a number of pro-oak statements lately, and I've definitely been privy to some pro-oak commentary (though at least some of that is from my parents, who have always been among the wood's biggest cheerleaders).

Hopefully this time around, both winemakers and wine drinkers will find oak's golden mean. Though, if not, I can think of worse pursuits.

Mother's Day Chez Pollard

Snacks:

And hard work:

This, BTW, is the "grownup swingset," where the swinging chairs hang. Cooper found some tin roofing on Craig's List, from a guy in Howard County who's dismantling an old barn and selling the pieces. He's almost finished putting it all on:

That's What She Said

In yesterday's Well's wine newsletter:

Michael-Scott Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2005 Reg. Price $29.99 Sale Price $22.99

There’s a new brand at Wells, Michael-Scott. And I’m not talking about the paper company. Rooted in Napa Valley, grapes for this Cabernet Sauvignon are sourced from vineyards between St. Helena and Calistoga. Showing a ruby/crimson color, the wine offers a bouquet of black cherry, blackberry, cassis, leather, spicy oak, and a touch of mineral. The palate is medium-full-bodied, elegant and complex offering blackberry, black cherry, oak spice, and earthy flavors. The tannins are well-integrated to allow the flavors to really shine through. Not flashy, but with excellent length on the finish, this offering is a very nice, elegant example of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Entertaining Friday: Mother's Day

Mother's Day is a big brunch holiday, but I prefer to keep it as quiet as possible. On most days, I'm as social as possible, but for some reason, on Mother's Day, all I want to do is to make dinner at home with Dixon and Cooper. And work. For whatever reason, I always find myself working on Mother's Day.

And without a better segue, go check out my Deep Glamour post on the evolution of the glamorous mom. I managed to incorporate Mad Men and India Hicks. If only I'd been able to wedge in pomegranate and prosecco cocktails, it would be the Kit Loves It trifecta.

Old School Thursday: Home Brewin', Lamb Roastin' Edition

Last week was an embarrassment of riches, food history-wise, with the Earl of Sandwich and ice cream cones and Mr. Potato Head. This week, not so much. Oh, today is National Roast Leg of Lamb Day and it’s also National Home Brewer’s Day, begging the natural question, what beer best pairs with lamb?

Plus, today in 1953, the largest swordfish ever caught was landed in Chile. It was 1,182 pounds. Which really is pretty large (says the girl who can barely reel in a line with nothing but a weight on it).

But…that’s it for today. No iconic food or iconic toys. But at least we have the beer and the lamb.

Artsy Wednesday: the Many Talents of Patrick Kelly

Let's talk, for a minute, about the Kelly family. I know them through Alicia, who's a Kelly by birth (and a Barger by choice). Alicia's mom is stylish and funny and her dad is, well, he's a lot of things, including a champion of air guitar. But this post, really, is about Alicia's brother, Patrick.

In his little studio in Mount Vernon, which is perpetually hidden by scaffolding and a not-so-fine layer of dust, Patrick paints crazy and fabulous comic-inspired women. He also paints awesome animals and other characters, several of which watch over Dixon while he sleeps. We've know for a while that Patrick's a talented artist. We've also known that he's got more patience than most, which is a good thing, since his day job is working with the kids at the Maryland School for the Blind (Alicia works there, too).

What I didn't know, though, until recently, is that not only is Patrick talented with a paintbrush, he's got skills with a microphone, as well.

This past weekend, though, we got a glimpse of the other Patrick, the one who's not afraid to sing a little Elvis, with his band, Sound Storm. The venue, the Parkville VFW, might not exactly be Wembly Stadium, but he and the band certainly did command the attention of the crowd. The set list was mostly oldies and Motown, and mid-set, the band called their moms up to the stage for a Mother's Day tribute (including corsages). It was sweet in the very best way, and so much fun. Especially, of course, since in addition to his other talents, Mr. Kelly is quite a dancer.

Plus, as the tickets clearly stated, the event was BYO Snacks. And everybody loves snacks, right?

Ideabook Tuesday: Gray

Last week it was the beach. But this week it is so not. All I can muster is...eh.

Rainy Day Gray

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Trendy Monday: Tiffin Tins

A few months ago - longer, maybe even - Anthony Bourdain visited India. One little corner of the episode touched on the lunchbox hardware used by people across the country - the tiffin tin. Often metal, these stackable tins are really pretty ideal for carrying a meal around. They're practical and environmentally concscious and cute in the very best way.

And while they're not new, even in America, they are having an awfully big week at my house. First, the June Bon Appetit arrived, with a lovely shot of stacked stainless tins. Not 24 hours later, a Crate and Barrel sale catalog showed up in my mailbox, including the bright yellow plastic tiffin box shown in the picture. While this one doesn't have the authentic vibe of battered steel, it is awfully sunny.

And two sightings in two days? I'm pretty sure that qualifies as trendy.

Entertaining Friday: Start 'Em Young

I woke up late today and I have a lot to do, so I will just leave you with this photo:


Tiny drink umbrellas in sippy cups. At 7 a.m. last Sunday morning. Because that's just how we roll.