Oakland Aaron’s Profile
Recent Comments
Hot Dog Of The Week: Seattle Style
Have to give a shout for the Red Hot in Tacoma- 15-20 West Coast craft beer tap handles and a well-selected bottle list to go with a diverse offering of a dozen or so dogs & sausages, the closest to the Seattle style being the 6th Ave. dog w/ cream cheese, onion & tomato. No BBQ sauce or grilled cabbage, but slaw and kraut both show up a few times, most tastily in the Destiny City dog w/ slaw & chili.
2 solid pinball machines (complete w/ pint glass holders) as well.
Cook the Book: 'Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book'
At the risk of being boastful I've not had better 'cue than I can kick out of my backyard smoker; I've been honing my techniques for 10+ years now…away from that best I've had is the Bull's Eye steak cooked in the pit over red oak & served w/ shrimp cocktail, salad, pinquito beans, salsa & garlic bread at the Far Western in Guadalupe, CA (they edge out Jocko's in Nipomo because I went to FW first)- not textbook low and slow to be sure but it is a California tradition to refer to the style as "Santa Maria barbecue" and who am I to upset tradition?
Hot Dog of the Week: Puka Dog
Puka Dogs are TERRIBLE. The tropical schtick being plied in the bland, nearly tasteless sauces falls flat and the sausages are weak as well. The bread cylinder is equivalent to Subway bread. Throw in the fact that the Poipu location is smack in the middle of a total tourist trap and it's a place that screams "Avoid."
When in the islands I grill up Redondo's (seeing the bright red hot dogs at the grocery store is one of those classic "You know you're in Hawaii when..." moments) accompanied by Aunty Lilikoi's mustard, beni shoga, takuan and kimchee- winnahs!
See more comments by Oakland Aaron »
Recent Posts
Oakland Aaron hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
Oakland Aaron hasn't favorited a post yet.
Recent Polls
Oakland Aaron hasn't answered any polls yet.
Recent Quizzes
Oakland Aaron hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
Breakfast burrito carts- how could you possibly fail to mention the ubiquitous Denver breakfast burrito cart!?!?
Hot Dog Of The Week: Seattle Style
Have to give a shout for the Red Hot in Tacoma- 15-20 West Coast craft beer tap handles and a well-selected bottle list to go with a diverse offering of a dozen or so dogs & sausages, the closest to the Seattle style being the 6th Ave. dog w/ cream cheese, onion & tomato. No BBQ sauce or grilled cabbage, but slaw and kraut both show up a few times, most tastily in the Destiny City dog w/ slaw & chili.
2 solid pinball machines (complete w/ pint glass holders) as well.
Cook the Book: 'Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book'
At the risk of being boastful I've not had better 'cue than I can kick out of my backyard smoker; I've been honing my techniques for 10+ years now…away from that best I've had is the Bull's Eye steak cooked in the pit over red oak & served w/ shrimp cocktail, salad, pinquito beans, salsa & garlic bread at the Far Western in Guadalupe, CA (they edge out Jocko's in Nipomo because I went to FW first)- not textbook low and slow to be sure but it is a California tradition to refer to the style as "Santa Maria barbecue" and who am I to upset tradition?
Hot Dog of the Week: Puka Dog
Puka Dogs are TERRIBLE. The tropical schtick being plied in the bland, nearly tasteless sauces falls flat and the sausages are weak as well. The bread cylinder is equivalent to Subway bread. Throw in the fact that the Poipu location is smack in the middle of a total tourist trap and it's a place that screams "Avoid."
When in the islands I grill up Redondo's (seeing the bright red hot dogs at the grocery store is one of those classic "You know you're in Hawaii when..." moments) accompanied by Aunty Lilikoi's mustard, beni shoga, takuan and kimchee- winnahs!
Win Tickets To The Great American Food & Music Fest
"Left wing, right wing...it's going to be tough to be moderate at the festival."
The Great American Food & Music Menu: It's Awesome!
So the upshot here is that I can have the privilege of paying $35 for 9 hrs. of Little Feat, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Food Network personnel, one "plate of food free," and the ability to sample offering from 17 purveyors, fully five of which I can easily get anytime I want (It's It; Hog Island; Charles; Bouchon; Burgermeister) and a fair number of selections that don't seem to fit what I perceive at least to have been an attempt to bring the best of unreachable American iconic foods within arms' reach in one place (artisanal BLT, PB&J, most of those already mentioned)...?
If there's anything here to sweeten the deal (5 beer or wine tasting coupons, for example? a roster of wine and beers available perhaps?) I haven't found it in the marketing. I was certain I'd attend, but I've changed my mind.
Seriously Delicious Super Bowl Party Giveaway: Snow's Barbecue Brisket
Mesquite and red oak
mingle slowly; low red fire
glows as hunger grows.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Two Peter Luger Steaks
Ribeye on the bone, 2" thick.
For St. Patrick's Day, A Proper Pint
Perhaps you can clear up a mystery for me- below the crown on a British pint the number 2043 appears. What is the significance of this number?
Pizza Cones Make U.S. Debut in K.C. Mall
Along not entirely dissimilar lines, the downtown Oakland branch of local gooey dough/over-topped chain Mr. Pizza Man has had a threatening sign up for a few weeks: "coming soon: pizza burrito."
Serious Sandwiches: Bakesale Betty's Fried Chicken Sandwich
One of the best sandwiches in town. Also not to be missed is the chicken pot pie.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Two Peter Luger Steaks
Ribeye, 2 inches thick, on the bone.
Time for a Drink: The Paloma
Veering away from grapefruit, I'm a huge fan of Jarritos Tamarindo & tequila.
The Best Grilling Hot Dogs?
My local brand is Miller's; the "old-fashioned" have natural casings with good snap. Their audacious slogan is "The Best Tasting Hot Dogs in the World."
Cook the Book Giveaway: 'Peace, Love, and Barbecue'
At home with my WSM smoker my best accomplishments have been pork shoulder,12-16 hours at 200-225 over a mesquite lump/hickory mix with a turbinado sugar & red pepper-based rub, pulled and served on squishy generic supermarket hamburger buns with slaw & Piedmont-style sauce. I am quite promiscuous regarding region/style and pretty much run the gamut except for chicken. Taylor’s Sausages here in Oakland make very good links and I can usually find room for a few in the smoker.
In the ‘cue joints I favor brisket, particularly Memphis Minnie’s in the Lower Haight.
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
That brewery would be BreckEnridge, not BreckInridge.
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
Hate to say this, but Chipotle's is WAY overrated! Everytime I get a burrito it always packed with too much rice and not enough meat and veggies! And the ingredients aren't really flavorful and don't come together when eating.
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
Beau Jo's is vile. For a city that's supposedly the healthiest in the country, Beau Jo's pizza is a gutbuster abomination.
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
Alexholyk - Agreed. I came upon this article while looking up all of the chains that started in Colorado, and it really is pretty crazy. Chipotle, Qdoba, Einstein Bros, Noodles, Quiznos, Smashburger, Tokyo Joe's (you'll see about this one), etc. I love the denver food scene. Recently there was an article in a local mag about the top 100 dishes in the city, and I'm writing a blog about eating every one of them and my review of each:
www.musteatdenver.com
jko
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
THANKS YOU SE!!! While I was living in Denver, I kept wanting it to get some national recognition for... something or other, I didn't really know. But now, living in NY, you totally hit the nail on the head with some of these (although you might mention the ubiquity of Panera and all the independent restaurants with brand name-quality style in Denver AND Boulder...). I miss it all - and Greystone Meadery is the greatest! I second the notion that Colorado deserves some dedicated food blogging!
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
As a Denverite living away from home, I am so glad to see Denver food getting some recognition. I enjoy, appreciate and most of all miss all the tasty offerings listed here but you are missing out if you have never eaten at Snooze....
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
Could this be the start of Serious Eats featuring Colorado and its gems in addition to all the other great features? There certainly was a lot missed and would be happy to help.
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
I recently moved from Denver to St Louis and didn't think Denver really had a unique food trend. Reading this article reminded me that I've eaten Chipotle, Noodles & Company and drank Fat Tire just within the last four days. Also ate at Beau Jo's on my last trip home. I miss Colorado...
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
Yay, Denver food. I am also puzzled at the failure to mention Tokyo Joe's or Thai Basil. But really excited that Pablo's Coffee got a (small) mention. Check 'em out, they make the BEST coffee ever!
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
Although it's in Fort Collins, not Denver, you can't talk about Colorado craft brewers without mentioning New Belgium Brewing Co - the best beers in the state. And for a huge selection (75+) of tap beers, specializing in microbreweries and imports, you can't beat the Falling Rock Tap House on Blake St in LoDo, near Coors Field.
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
I am popping down to Denver this weekend and no trip there would be complete without breakfast at Snooze. And maybe a second breakfast at Mona's.
Denver is THE PLACE for breakfasts!
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
Yay for a Denver post! I used to think Denver didn't have much going for it in the way of unique food offerings, but then I started to travel more and realized how hard it was to find fast-casual food outlets (Chipotle, Tokyo Joe's, The Spicy Pickle, Noodles, etc.) and decent green chile anywhere else. You can find anything you want here, as Denver's "Crossroads of the West" location pulls in good representatives of all types of food cultures.
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
I love Chipotle's burrito bowl with rice, chicken, black beans, extra pico, cheese and sour cream.
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
As a New Mexican living in Denver, NM definitely gets the claim on the green chile cheeseburger.
Even though the availability of green chile in CO is much better than any other non-NM state, it's still no where near that of New Mexico. That being said, NM Red and Green are becoming a standard of CO food. I can get green chile on my Sonic cheeseburger :)
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
Although your fast-casual list doesn't include Tokyo Joe's, I'm a big fan (even after working at one for almost three years). It's like the Chipotle of Japanese food.
I can only hope their plans include eventual nationwide expansion, because I miss my combo bowl, half rice half noodles, with broccoli and teriyaki sauce.
Unique Food Trends: Denver, Colorado
Noodles & Co. is not bad for chain food. Eat in, though; the takeout packaging is heinous.
That pizza dough is way too pouffy.
Hot Dog Of The Week: Seattle Style
Found a reference to Cream Cheese dogs from 1999, again from the Seattle Stranger-
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/hot-diggity/Content?oid=535
And another angry food writer who doesn't like hot dogs-
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/voracious/2009/10/is_there_a_signature_seattle_h.php
Hot Dog Of The Week: Seattle Style
Thanks for the link. I think I'll go over there and have some fun.
Hot Dog Of The Week: Seattle Style
Also- this article made it onto SLOG, the Seattle Stranger blog, with another active comment thread where the lovers and haters of seattle hot dogs are going at it.
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/10/02/the-seattle-dog
Hot Dog Of The Week: Seattle Style
@KikiaVon
Finally someone else who uses BBQ sauce! My seattle hot dog correspondent swears by it, although it seems more like one of many options than a Cream Cheese Dog standard.
Hot Dog Of The Week: Seattle Style
Around 2002, I used to get those all the time after concerts at a hot dog (ho dogs because the t was missing) stand in front of the Showbox. I never had it with cabbage but cream cheese, bbq sauce and grilled onions. Yummy!
Hot Dog Of The Week: Seattle Style
Using cream cheese sounds delicious.
Hot Dog Of The Week: Seattle Style
The Windmill was a stop on last year's Annual New Jersey Hot Dog Tour. They serve a long 1/4 lb natural casing Sabrett beef/pork dog that is prepared on a hot griddle. A very good dog; similar to Max's about a mile down the road in Long Branch. Do it yourself fixings bar with basic hot dog toppings. Chili is extra. Their chili took 2nd place in the comprehensive Star Ledger Hot Dog Tasting in 2006. 87 hot dog establishments were reviewed.
Hot Dog Of The Week: Seattle Style
The Windmill has about 8 or 9 other restaurants besides Long Branch.
Hot Dog Of The Week: Seattle Style
I don't know if anyone has suggested it, but you guys should really do Windmill hotdogs in Long Branch, NJ. They are by far the best tasting hot dog I know of.
Recent Posts
Oakland Aaron hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
Oakland Aaron hasn't favorited a post yet.
Polls
Oakland Aaron hasn't answered any polls yet.
Quizzes
Oakland Aaron hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Breakfast burrito carts- how could you possibly fail to mention the ubiquitous Denver breakfast burrito cart!?!?