Top Chef DC: Restaurant Wars – What Was That Ingredient? [Buddhacation]

Posted by foodiebuddha on August 12, 2010

maitake mushroom

“Restaurant Wars” is almost always the most popular episode during any given season of Top Chef.  Though the bar has been set remarkably low throughout Top Chef DC, I’m pretty sure that last night’s episode scored the highest ratings to date.  Honestly, it’s been a crapfest of a season … but I watch anyway.  I guess no Top Chef is worse than crappy Top Chef.

So yeah, Restaurant Wars was last night.  Former NYT food critic Frank Bruni added some teeth to the judges panel, but he didn’t bark as much as I had hoped.  The creativity was in the pits and as such, my list for “What Was That Ingredient?” is particularly short and unimpressive.  However, my mom taught me to persevere, so here I am!

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Hankook Taqueria And Korean Tacos Get Mainstream Love

Posted by foodiebuddha on July 28, 2010

hankook taqueria - tacos

Just a few days ago, I stepped back into Hankook Taqueria and had a fairly flat experience.  I’m actually working on that post as we speak.  However, owner Tomas Lee just got a whole heck of a lot of attention for his Hankook Taqueria and their Yumbii Taco Truck that is sure to bring them a lot of attention.  The chef was the lead chef mentioned in today’s article in the New York Times about Korean Tacos.

While the article doesn’t actually review the quality of the food at the various establishments it mentions, it’s a good summary text for those not familiar with the Kogi BBQ story.  My favorite part of the article is the supplement slideshow, though Hankook is nowhere to be found there.  The picture above is from my meal way back in the day.  You can see all the pictures from my meal at Hankook here.  I’ll have some more pictures up soon as well.  Oh, by the way, the author was none other than John T. Edge of Southern Foodways Alliance fame.  You ought to follow him!

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Empire State South By Hugh Acheson Sets Sail In April [Openings] 3

Posted by foodiebuddha on February 13, 2010

chef hugh atcheson Georgia has long been unofficially known as the Empire State of the South.  Now, it looks like we’re finally ready to make that official (at least in the restaurant world).  Empire State South is set to be the first foray into the Atlanta dining scene for the accomplished Hugh Acheson.  Sporting a progressive take on Southern cuisine, Empire State is destined to add a whole new class level to the meat and three concept.  Meanwhile, it will serve as the anchor restaurant for the 999 Peachtree Street office and retail building in Midtown, Atlanta.

For the better part of a year, we’ve known of Acheson’s intentions to open Empire State South.  Initially, the opening date was identified as Spring 2010.  Now, according to the restaurant’s website, that season has been narrowed down to April of this year.  More details after the jump!

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B.O.’s Fish Wagon Restaurant Review – Key West, FL [Out Of Town] 2

Posted by foodiebuddha on January 18, 2010

b.o.'s fish wagon - the famous fish wagon by foodiebuddhaYou don’t go to China to enjoy great pizza (though I’m sure it can be found somewhere in the Middle Kingdom).  Similarly, you don’t go to Florida for good Tex-Mex.  No, if you find yourself around 25th parallel, you best ought to stick to the fruits de mer.  So while I dug around Key West early last week, the Unabomber’s girlfriend and I decided to hit up (but not blow up) B.O.’s Fish Wagon, a seafood shack well known around those parts for its kitschy decor, come as you are attitude, and approachably delicious food.  Popular enough to get a shout out in the NY Times and a visit from Bobby Flay (via Food Nation), it was high times that Buddy Owen’s Key West institution tried to take down the Foodie Buddha.  All in all, this was an enjoyable experience, even with some shortcomings in the grub.

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Atlanta’s Westside Blowing Up – And The NY Times Knows It 4

Posted by foodiebuddha on November 22, 2009

the dining room at abattoir
                                                                                                                    (the dining room at Abattoir)

In today’s edition of the NYT, Shaila Dewan decided to talk up the burgeoning art scene on the west side of Atlanta.  Despite a few journalistic faux pas, it’s a nice summary piece on the neighborhood.  What’s especially neat for us foodies is that Dewan took the time to point out some of the ‘hoods culinary adventures that have garnered so much attention locally.

In the spirit of the article, I must say that if forced to identify the in-town neighborhood with the most action, it would undoubtedly be the Westside.  Centered around the intersection of 14th street and Howell Mill, you’ll find casual eateries, upscale dining options, and several of Atlanta’s hottest new restaurants.  The article draws special attention to Octane, Flip Burger Boutique, Abattoir, Hop City Beer, and Sublime Doughnuts (with a nice quote from owner Kamal Grant).

The article is really just the tip of the iceberg.  If you intend to spend anytime over in that neck of the woods, then you’ll also find the highly regarded Antico Pizza, sandwich shop Tiny Bistro, and popular breakfast spots like The West Egg and The Silver Skillet.   And that list is far from exhaustive.

So if you’re a bit of a homebody and looking for something new … take some of your free time and donate it to the Westside.

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CNN Discusses The Difficulty Of Anonymity For Restaurant Critics 1

Posted by foodiebuddha on October 19, 2009

It should be no surprise that this article caught my eye.  Yesterday, CNN posted an article that discusses restaurant critics and their desire to remain anonymous.  Though I’m a blogger, not a critic, I found this an interesting read.  The article talks about the use of fictitious names, costumes, and a slew of other techniques employed to fly under the radar.  The general premise is that these tactics are used so that the critic can have an experience that mimics what others are likely to enjoy (or not enjoy as the case may be).

I think you’ll find the little bit on Frank Bruni and Sam Sifton, the now former and current New York Times restaurant critic respectively, an interesting watch.  When you’re done with that, go have a look at the article.

Maybe one day I’ll elaborate on my thoughts regarding this matter, but in the meantime … feel free to discuss on here.  BTW, Bruni just released a book.  Entitled Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-time Eater, I’m not sure if it is any good – but i definitely plan on picking it up.

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Sam Sifton Starts His New York Times Tenure With DBGB 2

Posted by foodiebuddha on October 14, 2009

rypple dinner at DBGB by @MSG.

Chef Daniel Boulud’s DBGB Kitchen and Bar just received a noteworthy 2-star review [very good] in the NY Times.  The review marks Sam Sifton’s debut as the food critic for the NY mega-paper, a post previously occupied by the well-known and somewhat controversial Frank Bruni.  Sifton has a distinctly different style than Bruni, who kicked off his last stint with a discussion of Mario Batali’s Babbo.  I know there’s a good chance ya’ll won’t care about what’s what in NYC … but I thought it was still worth a mention here.

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Breaking News: New York Times Critic Frank Bruni Leaves Food Beat And Newspaper Folk Can’t Spell

Posted by foodiebuddha on May 14, 2009

My RSS feed just blew the hell up!  Well actually … it blew up around 1:30, but I’m just now getting around to this.  I got this email from my friend at the NYT, but this has been posted all over the net by now.  The best thing about this email – the typos from a big wig at a major newspaper!  Note the [sic] I inserted.

Anyway, here it is:

Dear Colleagues:

When we recruited Frank Bruni from the Rome Bureau to be the restaurant critic of The New York Times, there was a quizzical buzz in the food-o-sphere. Sure, Frank had shown himself to be a gifted reporter on subjects domestic and foreign. Yes, he was indisputably an exquisite writer. And there were unmistakeable [sic] clues to his affinity in his travel pieces, with their vivid evocation of Italian food, and in other features — the profile of the makers of Italian grappa, the visit to the University of Gastronomic Science in Polenzo. But he lacked what the foodie establishment would regard as suitable credentials. He was not the obvious choice.

Five years later, the choice seems not only obvious, but inspired, proving that sometimes editors get one really right. Not content to review his way around New York with authority and brio, not content to blog discoveries that do not yet merit a fullblown [sic] review, he has also performed more ambitious feats of criticism: his unforgettable cross-country tour of the iconic fast food joints of America, for instance, and his quest for the best brand-new restaurants in all of America.

In his spare time, between aerobic eating and the requisite gym time to burn it all off, he has managed to produce a memoir of his lifelong, complicated relationship with food. Recognizing that the book is certain to seriously compromise his ability to be a spy in the land of food, Frank picked this as a natural time to move on. He will be turning in his restaurant-critic credentials when his memoir, "Born Round: the Secret
History of a Full-Time Eater," is published in late August.

After a break for book promotion and some overdue vacation, Frank will become a writer-at-large on the staff of our Sunday magazine, where he will have license to follow his appetites — his journalistic appetites — whereever [sic] they lead him. Jill and I have insisted on the right to draft him occasionally for projects large or small, but the magazine will be his base and main outlet. Readers are in for some great reading.

As for the restaurant beat, the search for a successor begins now.

Bill

Interesting to say the least.

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Code Of Ethics – I’m In

Posted by foodiebuddha on May 01, 2009

Some good reading for all of you, regardless of your particular role in the blogging community (blogger, journalist, editor, reader, foodie, whatever…)

[Via NYT]

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Mark Bittman Takes On The Colbert Nation

Posted by foodiebuddha on March 06, 2009

Tuesday night was a double dip of pleasure for me.  Not only did I get my fix of The Colbert Report, but, Stephen was kind enough to have a foodie themed interview.  Mark Bittman, a blogger on NYTimes.com, author, and socially conscious cook, talked with Colbert about “eating without thinking.” It’s always funny to see Stephen interview people who are obviously uncomfortable when put on the spot.

Enjoy the video and if it pleases you … pick up a copy of Bittman’s newest book: Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating.  Even if you don’t want that one – I STRONGLY SUGGEST you grab How to Cook Everything.  I think it belongs in most everyone’s kitchen (it is indeed in mine).

The Colbert ReportMon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

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