LRF Rocks the Rockies: Part 1–Green Chile

July 6, 2018July 15, 2018 - Scott Leave a comment

So I mentioned a couple of months ago that my wife and I vacationed in the Colorado Rockies last summer. This was our first road trip in my wife’s new Camry Hybrid.

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid — The wife’s new ride. What should we name it?

We decided to take the Camry instead of the van, first since it was just the two of us, and second, if you can get all the way across Nebraska without having to stop for gas, this is always a good thing. (We would also find out later how beneficial they can be for mountain driving.)

Our first Colorado meal was just across the border in Sterling at a Colorado chain Mexican restaurant called Santiago’s.

Unfortunately, I had drained the battery on my phone using Trip Advisor for the last 6000 miles of Nebraska trying to find somewhere to eat. As a result, I do not have a picture to share of one of Santiago’s signature items, the Stuffed Sopapilla.

If you’ve been to a Mexican restaurant, you’ve seen sopapillas, usually in a dessert setting. They’re dough folded over and fried, coated in cinnamon and drizzled with honey. They are frequently served with ice cream.

This is a different animal though. It’s shaped roughly the same, but about twice the size. Then they stuff it with any two items from the burrito menu (except steak). I had chicken and rice with carnitas in mine. Then they smother it in their signature green chile, and THEN they deluxe it (yes, they use “deluxe” as a verb) with cheese, lettuce and tomato. I had been working up a hungry from driving literally all day, and it was still all I could eat. For only $6.75.

Let me go back a minute to that signature green chile. The official name at Santiago’s is “Authentic Green Chile Sauce with Pork,” but if you just say Colorado Green Chile, everybody knows what you’re talking about. Whenever I’m away from home, I always like to try regional specialties. On this trip, it was the green chile.

Green Chile is to Colorado as the horseshoe is to Springfield. Just about every restaurant has it in one form or another, sometimes as a soup you can order a bowl of, sometimes as a condiment. Of course, each establishment has its own recipe, but here are the basics:

Simmer two bone-in pork chops in a stockpot for 2-3 hours. Then remove what’s left of the chops.
Add the following:
- 26 ounces roasted chopped green chiles (This region favors chiles from the Hatch Valley in New Mexico)
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 5 ounces tomato puree
- 2 tablespoons bacon grease
- 2 teaspoons salt
Simmer for 2 hours.
If you want it thicker, blend in some cornstarch.

(For cooking your bacon!)

A word of caution. If you’re not from Colorado, your digestive system isn’t used to this. It seems harmless at first, but later . . . well let’s just say if you’re not traveling alone, you might want to take one for the team and sleep on the couch that night. Your spouse will thank you.

Louisiana Grillin’ Down in the Holler

May 5, 2018September 30, 2018 - Scott Leave a comment

Southern Illinois, where the Coffman clan has its roots, has many a culinary gem hidden away in the hills of the Shawnee National Forest. One of these is The Blue Boar, down in Kratzinger Hollow between Cobden and Anna. (Local tip–the word “Hollow” is pronounced “holler,” even among the educated. That’s just the way it is. If you go down there and say, “Kratzinger Hollow,” people will look at you like this):

via GIPHY

The Blue Boar sits next to the Great Boars of Fire Lodge, a banquet hall and catering facility known for its award-winning BBQ. The Great Boars and I go way back. Not only did they cater my wedding, but my uncle John was one of the original Great Boars back when they were “just” a competitive BBQ team.

John Belcher, my late uncle. Wish I had a picture of him grilling. Maybe some of the Anna folks can help me out?

Along with fellow Great Boars Dave Fombelle, Jerry McFadden, Bob Lyrla, Jim West, Sonny Beanland and Richard Sheeley, the Boars won 1st place in shoulders at the World Champion Barbeque Cook Off in Memphis. They also held the record for the highest points ever scored at the Jack Daniels’ World Champion Invitational. For four consecutive years the team was ranked in the top 10 in the World by Memphis in May. They also have won The Illinois and Missouri State Championship.

So yeah, they’re pretty good.

The Blue Boar builds on this legacy by adding a New Orleans vibe.

Blue Boar Cobden Illinois Louisiana theme — Looks like Mardi Gras exploded on the wall!

You can’t go wrong with anything coming off the grill or out of the smoker. They also have a variety of po-boy sandwiches, burgers, and of course, cajun-inspired dishes, like shrimp or crawfish etoufee. They add chicken to the smoked sausage in their red beans and rice. Come hungry so you can start off with a plate of the pulled pork nachos, which include my still-favorite-ever baked beans.

Juicy Lucy burger at The Blue Boar Cobden IL — The Juicy Lucy ($8.99) is a half pound of ground chuck stuffed with cheese. It’s a bit messy, but you won’t mind.

The highlight of their weekend brunch menu is the Bubba Benedict, which is a Southern Illinois version of what we would call a breakfast horseshoe up here in the 217.

The food is only half the experience at the Blue Boar, however.

Take some time to enjoy the peaceful down-in-the-holler setting. If the weather’s right, get a table on the large covered patio out back. After you eat, take a short stroll across the bridge behind the restaurant to the grotto.

Behind the Blue Boar, Cobden, IL — My kids at the Blue Boar, Easter 2017.

You never know what you might see up in the trees!

Insect sculptures at the Blue Boar, Cobden, IL — Watch for various sculptures on the grounds. These giant metal insects reminded me of James and the Giant Peach. I may or may not have screamed like a girl when I turned around and unexpectedly saw this one.

So if you find yourself down in Southern Illinois orchard and vineyard country and have a hankerin’ for some really good BBQ, hop onto Kratzinger Hollow Rd. off old US 51 just on the outskirts of Anna and go GETCHA SOME!

Yums from Around the World! Part 3–Poland

May 4, 2018March 20, 2019 - Scott Leave a comment

And now, for the final chapter in our Universal Yums trilogy, we head to Poland. This box was a little heavy on the candy, but we’ll start with the savories.

First, in the box in the picture, we have Tapsy Cheese and Onion potato chips. These have the flavors of a pierogi baked into a crisp that has a texture somewhere between a Pringle and a rice cake–light, but somewhat substantial at the same time. I killed this bag fairly expediently.

Moving to the right, we have Beskidzkie Paprika Peanuts from Aksam, a family-owned snack food company founded in 1993. Paprika is as common in Polish food as salt and pepper is here. These peanuts are coated with a light cracker crust, then dusted with paprika, which gives them a subtle spice and smokiness that is not overwhelming. Beskidzkie peanuts also come in plain and cheese & onion flavors (I think I’m seeing a trend here).

On to the candy. . .

Below the paprika peanuts, we have Krowki Milky Cream Fudge. “Krowki” means “little cows.” Apparently, the Polish are really into sweetened condensed milk. Mix that with butter and sugar, and you get these sweets that are somehow not sticky.

To the left, in the red wrappers are Razcki Lobster Tails from Wawel. These take some getting used to, but it didn’t take me long. They are basically rum-flavored peanut brittle surrounded by a hard, minty shell, imitating the hard exterior of an actual lobster tail. This was my favorite treat in the box.

Above those is a Chocolate Plum from Dobosz in Trzebiez on the Szczezenski Reservoir in the northwest corner of Poland. This is pretty much what it sounds like–a filling made of prunes (from California, oddly enough) coated in cocoa, then dipped in dark chocolate. If you already like those flavors, rest assured they go well together.

Above that is a Milkizz, also from Wawel. Remember when I mentioned that the Polish are REALLY into sweetened condensed milk? It appears that the thing now is to buy it in a tube and squeeze it onto everything. Sounds a little strange, but not really, if you’ve ever done this:

(Disclaimer: I have never actually done that.)

(Disclaimer # 2: Neither should you.)

In any case, the Milkizz bar gives you the sweetened condensed milk experience wrapped up inside a chocolate bar, so what’s not to like?

And finally, we come to the Soleo Caramel Pretzels. Imagine Pocky sticks, except with a pretzel instead of a cookie and coated with the same milky cream fudge as the Krowki. I have been saving these, because they’re the last item of my Universal Yums subscription, and I’m kind of sad to see it end.

It doesn’t have to though.

Subscriptions start at $14/box for the basic size (like this one). There is also a Yum Yum box at double the size, and now, even a Super Yum box at TRIPLE the size. Subscriptions are available in one, three or six-month intervals.

So if you’re looking to add some adventure into your snack life, go GETCHA SOME!

Yums from Around the World! Part 2–France

May 3, 2018June 13, 2018 - Scott Leave a comment

So I finished off the box of Universal Yums from Greece and began the wait for the next one. There was a hint in the booklet that came in the Greece box that made me think the next one might be coming from France. I guessed correctly. Here’s what was inside:

Universal Yums from France — Clockwise from top right: Basil Pesto Crepes, Raspberry Madeleines, Almond Financiers, Black Truffle Chips, Caramels with Chestnut Cream, Fruit Filled Hearts, Violet Dark Chocolate Bar

OK, let’s start with those Basil Pesto Crepes. That sounds odd to American ears, because we are used to eating crepes with some kind of sweet or fruit filling, like the ones you get at IHOP. The story goes that back in 1882, in Quimper, France, the owner of a crepe shop covered for a batch of burnt crepes by rolling them up and calling them “lace crepes.” She sold her recipe to Gavottes, who still makes them today.

These look a lot like the Combos snacks that I ate about a billion of as a teenager while working the concession stand at our local pool. The texture of the shell, however, is far lighter and flakier.

As for the basil pesto filling? It’s not subtle at all. I tried one and thought I was chewing a mouthful of fresh basil leaves. It was a bit overwhelming. Then I tried another and tasted the more understated flavors of cheese, olive oil and a hint of garlic. I thought, “Interesting, but I probably won’t ever crave this.” Then I ate 7 or 8 more. By the time I got to the bottom of the bag a couple of days later, I wanted about a pound of these things.

You can’t have French food without pastries, so here we have Raspberry Madeleines and Almond Financiers from Roullier Bakery. My wife and daughter were big fans of these. The Madeleine is a shell-shaped cake with fresh raspberries folded into the batter. Financiers are little pound cakes shaped like gold bricks, originally baked for bankers in France’s financial district in the 19th century.

Several different candies in this box. We have caramels filled with chestnut cream from Klaus. Remember those Brach’s Milk Maid Royals we used to get when we were kids? The ones that had funky-flavored cream fillings like maple and orange? These are kind of like that, only fancier. We also have Fruit Filled Hearts from Kubli, a fourth-generation confectionery in Paris. These are heart-shaped bon bons with an apple flavor.

The sweet that got my attention was the Violet Dark Chocolate Bar, also from Klaus. I love me some dark chocolate, and this bar was big–a full 100 grams. (That’s just over 3 1/2 ounces for those of you who don’t metric. Like me.) I didn’t think too hard about the word “violet,” figuring that the chocolate might have had some kind of purple tint or something. I really wasn’t paying attention. Then I unwrapped it and smelled. . .

Oh. You mean “violet” as in “flower.” Mmmkay. I looked at the ingredients, and indeed, this chocolate bar is generously sprinkled with “violet chips,” which also contain apple and pineapple to tamper down the floral taste a bit. But it’s still very much there. I did finish this (because chocolate), with some help, but unlike the Basil Pesto Crepes, I am fairly certain I won’t be craving violet chocolate again anytime soon.

OK, you may have noticed that I skipped over the Black Truffle Chips from Sibell. This is because the mere thought of them would have distracted me from writing the rest of this post.

First of all, if you don’t know about truffles, they are a species of mushroom. What is different about a black truffle is that they only grow on living trees and plants, typically by the roots.

Anyone who knows me knows that the one food product I despise above all others is the mushroom. Can’t stand the smell, the taste, or in many cases, the texture. I am still traumatized by the dinner where my parents served fried mushroom caps and didn’t tell me what they were. They were about the same size, shape and color as a sausage patty, so I grabbed a couple. No one stopped me. I took a big bite and. . .well. . .much unpleasantness ensued.

My dad thought it was hilarious. In retrospect, it was a good lesson in attention to detail and speaking concretely. Apparently I had asked, “Are these sausages or something?” Dad just said, “Yes,” because they were “something.” So he wasn’t lying, really; I just asked the wrong question.

Now I mention all that to say this. As much as I hate mushrooms, truffles are another matter entirely. White truffle oil on french fries is excellent, for example. But these black truffle chips. . . oh…my…dog.

I opened the bag while my wife and I were watching TV. She braced herself for the violent gross-out reaction she expected from me. Then I tried just one chip, and I was like. . .

via GIPHY

These chips tasted like the best smoked meat I had ever had. Nothing mushroomy about them. I ate the whole bag. Then I licked my fingers. Then I wanted to eat my own fingers. Then I didn’t want to wash my hands for days just so I could SMELL the memory of these chips on my fingers.

Alton Brown once said of truffles on Iron Chef, “Those are better than 97% of the sex you will have during your lifetime.” I can neither confirm nor deny the accuracy of that statement.

Next up–Poland!

Yums from Around the World! Part 1–Greece

May 2, 2018June 13, 2018 - Scott Leave a comment

My wife, who is known for having good ideas, had a great one this past Christmas. She got me a three-month gift subscription to Universal Yums.

How it works is that each month, you get a box filled with snacks from a certain country. Some are familiar, some less so, and some are downright strange. Most of the ones I have tried are snacks that I would want to snack on again.

In the box, they also include a booklet with some background on the country and its culture, some trivia questions, and most importantly, a detailed guide to what you will be snacking upon.

My culinary journey began in Greece.

Most of these snacks come from Tottis Foods International in Florina, near the Macedonian border.

Universal Yums from Greece — Clockwise from top left: Oregano potato chips, Sesame pastelli with almonds, Green olives with fennel and coriander, Dark chocolate wafer, Onion bread chips, various candies.

Who would have thought to put oregano on a potato chip? The Greeks, apparently. After trying these, I am wondering why it took so long to catch on here. Lay’s, however, is bringing the flavor stateside.

Pastelli is an ancient Greek snack made from sesame seeds and honey, rumored to be a favorite of Herodotus. This version, from the Papayiannis Brothers in Larissa, contains almonds as well. It’s a very simple recipe and tastes just like you’d expect it to.

I confess, I just couldn’t do the Olives in a Pack. I like to be adventurous and try new things, but I just really don’t like green olives. My mother does, however, and said they were fantastic.

Another Tottis product is the Serenata Dark Chocolate Wafer. This is basically what a Kit Kat wants to be when it grows up. It is covered with dark chocolate and filled with cocoa cream that actually lingers on the roof of your mouth when you’re done eating it. Probably best not to eat too many of these–health food they ain’t. They do come in 14 different varieties though, so I may have to seek them out. In small doses of course.

A more familiar taste is the Bread Chips, also from Tottis. These taste a lot like the rye chips you get in Gardetto’s, but lighter and, in this case, with an oniony flavor. A great snack for anytime except when you’re trying to hear the TV, as they do generate some decibels with the crunch. These also come in plain, garlic and BBQ flavors.

Universal Yums boxes also come with a baggie of smaller candies. The Greece box had Bergamot jelly candies. The Bergamot orange is a citrus fruit popular in Greece and Turkey. You might know it as a flavoring in Earl Grey tea. So if you can imagine a bon bon that tastes like Earl Grey, you’ll be on the right track.

Rounding out the Greek candies are Bliss Cocoa Toffee and a Derby Chocolate bar, which is a cross between a Nestle Crunch, a Mounds and something you would get in a vending machine in heaven. Far more decadent than a typical American candy bar (which I like anyway).

Next up, France!

Kathmandu

April 19, 2018June 30, 2018 - Scott 1 Comment

Last summer, my wife and I vacationed in Colorado. As I have mentioned before, one of the fastest ways to connect with a new place and its people is through their food. As it turns out, the Colorado Rockies are home to many immigrants from Nepal. The Rockies are nothing like the Himalayas, but they’re the best we can do for mountains in the lower 48, so the Nepalese make do. As a result, there are quite a few Nepali and northern Indian restaurants in the Rockies. Our favorite that we found on this trip was Kathmandu.

The Kathmandu Restaurant has two locations. The newer one is in downtown Boulder, but the one we visited is in the smaller town of Nederland, about a half hour’s drive up into the mountains from Boulder. Astute Stephen King fans might recognize Nederland as the hometown of the Colorado Kid.

We didn’t come from Boulder, though. We arrived in Nederland from the north, along the Peak to Peak National Scenic Byway. This is a 55-mile road that begins in Estes Park, where we were staying, and meanders southward to the casino town of Black Hawk. Nederland is a little more than halfway down.

Mt. Meeker Colorado — Mt. Meeker, 13,911 feet. From the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway.

Kathmandu is on a dusty side street a couple of hundred yards off the main drag. We arrived in time for the lunch buffet, which they offer daily from 11 to 3 for $10.99. (Tip: Leave your jacket in the car. It is ROASTING hot in this place!)

Kathmandu Restaurant, Nederland, Colorado.

So what is Nepali food like? Well, for the most part, it tastes a lot like Indian, which I adore. One notable addition is momos, which are handmade, Tibetan-style dumplings, fried or steamed, and filled with chicken or vegetables and mild seasonings.

And papadums. Love me some papadums. These are basically chips made out of fried lentil flour. I could eat those all day. Actually, I could eat all of it all day. Or at least until 3:00, whereupon the buffet closes.

So if you’re in the Boulder area, or going for a leisurely drive in the mountains (not TOO leisurely–the drivers in Nederland do get a bit cranky with tourists), go GETCHA SOME!

The Devil Dog of Costco

April 18, 2018December 3, 2022 - Scott Leave a comment

This is the story of how I became acquainted with the best hot dog I have ever eaten. I am speaking of the Kirkland Signature Beef Dinner Frank, affectionately known in our family as “The Devil Dog of Costco.”

A Costco membership is not the most practical thing to have in Central Illinois, as the nearest warehouse is 71 miles away, across the river in St. Peters, Missouri. We’re pretty much in Sam’s territory here.

Nevertheless, my wife, Diana, is from the Toledo, Ohio area, and most of her family is still there. Two of her nephews, and the wife of one of them, all work for Costco. When you first hire on there, you are given a few free memberships that you can give to friends and family. Since we were a fan of their products and travel service, we decided to go ahead and sign up, despite the fact that we knew we would not be able to visit all that regularly.

A couple of months ago when we were back visiting family, we had some time to kill, so we thought we’d stop in at Costco to stock up on. . .whatever. Upon arriving, my wife said she was thirsty, and went over to the food court to get a Mountain Dew. Having had one of my mother-in-law’s lavish country breakfasts earlier in the day, I didn’t want anything.

After a few minutes, Diana came back with her soda (excuse me, her POP. We’re in Ohio now.) along with one of the biggest hot dogs I had ever seen, slathered in ketchup. (I’ll pause a moment for the Chicago folks to regain their composure.)

“What did you DO?” I asked. “I told you I wasn’t hungry.”

She replied, “It’s a special–a dog and a drink for only $1.50. Plus I can get one refill on the drink. I couldn’t pass that up!” I had to admit, that was quite a deal. Eventually, she convinced me to take a bite. Oh my. Juicy and full of flavor, but not as overwhelmingly spiced as a Hebrew National, which is now my SECOND favorite hot dog.

“You’re the devil,” I said. I’m not sure if I was talking to my wife, or the dog itself. Despite my not being hungry at all, I put down half of that dog in about 30 seconds. Later on, as we were browsing the store, we saw that these dogs were on special for $11.99. We grinned at each other, almost wickedly, and grabbed a package.

Kirkland Signature Beef Dinner Franks from Costco — Kirkland Signature Beef Dinner Franks. Using my shiny picture because I didn’t feel like dealing with Costco’s copyright department for their prettier one. Low-rent, you know.

These devil dogs come advertised as “1/4-pound plus.” To be specific, 4.36 ounces apiece, which is to say, at least twice the size of a normal hot dog. They come 14 to a pack. Since there are only the two of us at home, we realized quickly that there was no way these were all going to be consumed in one hit. Diana had the idea to freeze them in fours–one each for dinner, and one for my lunch on a day when I would have a time conflict at the dinner hour.

One of the tricks to the proper consumption of devil dogs is finding a bun that can successfully corral them. I think I have found the perfect one–the pretzel buns from Shop ‘n Save, a chain of supermarkets in Illinois and Missouri. (UPDATE–Shop and Save was bought out, and has since closed all their stores in this area. On my birthday, no less. Figures.)

Costco hot dogs and Shop 'n Save pretzel buns. — Four dogs and four buns. Solving the age-old conundrum of making the number of dogs and buns come out even.

I have discovered that an excellent flavor combination is the Costco dog on the pretzel bun with dijon mustard. This way, in a single bite you get the flavor combinations of hot dog/mustard as well as pretzel/mustard, both of which are great individually. My choice of complementary beverage is a Yuengling Traditional Lager (another thing I have to travel to get).

Costco Hot dog, Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese and a Yuengling — Adding some Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese to round out the meal.

Find a Costco near you and getcha some!