Hello Readers and Fellow Foodheads! It is 2008 and it is bound to be a really exciting year for the Raptor and hopefully for You as well... I hope you all had a great holiday! I know that I sure did...
I flew to my old hometown, Philly and celebrated the holidays with my family there, and then I found myself on a plane that Sunday going to Phoenix and then back to San Francisco on Christmas evening. It was quite a trip going back and forth, coast to coast, but well worth it when family and friends are involved...
During my travels, I ate quite A LOT, as is expected during the holidays, and along the way, I had a few interesting observations that I thought I would share with you...
Whilst in Philly, I of course, had my daily Raptor doses of Cheesesteaks. In a 48 hour period, I had my current all-time favorite, Steve's Steaks, care of my cousin Joy. (Thanks Joy!) As I've mentioned in my Philly Cheesesteak post awhile back, I love Steve's for their awesome Bread and also because they are the only place I know that keeps their thinly sliced Ribeye whole. Most places chop it up fine, which I don't have a problem with either, but I kinda like it this way.
My second steak came from D'Alessandro's in Manayunk/Roxborough, care of my other cousin, Vince. (Thanks Vin!) I thought it was pretty damn good, although I didn't get to eat it fresh, it was still good heated up. Will need to revisit that one once I get back to the East Coast...
Another thing that I wanted to write about is the Wawa Food Stores. Most people from the west coast would not recognize this convenience store because it is mostly regional to the east coast, specifically in PA, MD, NJ, DE & VA. Out here in the west coast, they mostly have Circle K's, we have 7/11's and Wawa's. I really loved this convenience store, because it has an in-house deli and produce section and more variety than most others. My favorite thing to get there was their Roast Beef Shorti, which is a 6" Roast Beef Sub (or Hoagie, which is what I'm used to calling it).
Yeah, that's right, a Roast Beef Shorti and a bag of chips was the best snack. I missed it. Which is why I went to get myself one while I was in Philly to relive old times...
It was interesting to see that they had electronic screens for ordering at the Deli with these easy to use touchscreens. I found it a little strange though, because it wasn't that crowded and the Deli is so small that it seemed superfluous to have it there when the the person making your sandwich is standing right there. I suppose it is whimsical and definitely adds to the image of 'convenience'.
So I order myself a R.B. Shorti on the the touchscreen and order it as I used to back inthe day and I anxiously await my sam'ich. Once i have it in my hands, I bite into it and realize that it was not the same as I remember it. I am disappointed... I found myself asking myself, 'Where's the Beef?!?' I mean, I remember it being so much Meatier. Since when did Wawa's get chintzy with the Meat? This just burst my childhood bubble... I suppose I will have to use the Extra Meat option in the future. Let's hope it was just that particular Wawa...
So where were we? I'm in Philly for a Family Holiday Dinner at my uncle's house and he has this huge spread of Filipino Foods. They had the best Dinuguan (if you don't know what this is, perhaps you can try it first one day with out knowing what your eating and then I will tell you...)
I was shocked to discover that my little 'Raptor Niece', Alexis (see pic of little 2 year old with the devoured spare rib bone in hand, in the right hand column) actually eats Dinuguan, as well as Lumpia dipped in Vinegar, Longanisa and Whole Deep Fried Sardines. She's only 2 and she eats just about anything, even if it is exotic or unfamiliar. I am a very proud Auntie Ninang!
One dish that I had at the family dinner was Arroz Caldo with Chicken that I thought to be exceptionally good and made for a pretty photograph which I wanted to share below.
So on the Sunday before Christmas Eve, my family & I fly back to Phoenix for Christmas. And as we are driving around Phoenix, I spot this bizarre and unusual fast food joint that I had to photograph and share with you as well.
This place was called the Heart Attack Grill and it is an actual fast food establishment! I can't believe it! They even have a website, which proudly states, 'We're Dumb & Proud!'. What the hell?!? It's just weird, I tell you...
Their Menu, which they refer to on their site as 'Medication', includes items such as the Double, Triple or Quadruple Bypass Burgers®, Flatliner Fried Deep Fried in Pure Lard ® (Are you kidding me?!) The Quadruple Bypass Burger® features 2 lbs of Beef, 12 Slices of Bacon and 4 Layers of Cheese adding up to a walloping 8,000 calories. What!?! And all of this is served up with PBR's, Coca Cola's and if you're hankering for a smoke afterwards, they also sell Lucky Strikes. How nuts is that?! As Serious as a Heart Attack I guess...
And it gets stranger even.
The Food is served up by servers dressed up as doctors and sexy nurses! This is almost comical if it weren't so wrong! The website has a number of articles justifying their food and Cigarattes, and toting a Heart Attack Grill Diet, PBR's, and and article on whether or not the AZ Attorney General should shut this joint down. Unbelievable. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I just wouldn't believe that such a place could exist.
So moving on to a better topic, we had a great Christmas Meal. I prepared a Ribeye Roast and Lobster with Mashed Potatoes and Salad. A nice spread and a nice meal to celebrate how fortunate we are as a family...
I hope you had as wonderful and memorable a holiday as well and I look forward to writing more for you in 2008...
