Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I am a 23 year old female, and my fiance is 25. We both appreciate fine food. We'd much rather spend a night out at a new restaurant or making a fabulous meal at home rather than drinking at the same old bars. If I do go out for drinks, the bar better have delicious snacks.

ekrenek at 10:32PM on 11/09/08

Breakfast between Houston and Dallas

Also in downtown Corsicana, there's the historic Collin Street Bakery. They're famous for their fruit cake, but the bakery has a good selection of pastries as well!

ekrenek at 10:04PM on 11/09/08

Fast Food jones?

Whataburger, Taco Cabana, Taco Bueno in Texas, Blake's Lotaburger in New Mexico, Milo's in Alabama...too many delicious places to count!

ekrenek at 10:26AM on 11/08/08

vegan dessert ideas

Make a vegan chocolate ganache frosting. Instead of heavy cream, use coconut milk.

ekrenek at 4:28PM on 11/07/08

Dear AHT: How to Make Glazed Doughnut Bacon Egg Cheeseburgers

I'd like to swap out the beef for a hot pork sausage patty, then add sriracha...delicious.

ekrenek at 2:04AM on 11/06/08

Sweet Potato Fries -- Who Likes These Things?

I always hated the sugary, sweet potato muck served at Thanksgiving. It wasn't until the sweet potato fry that I welcomed this wonderful root vegetable into my life. I find the best way to prepare them is to give hand-cut fries a drizzle of olive oil; then toss with sea salt, fresh ground pepper, and cayenne. I roast them in a hot oven, then crisp them up in the broiler just before they're done. I'm old fashioned, I dip in ketchup.

ekrenek at 1:53AM on 11/06/08

Cook the Book: 'Olives and Oranges'

Onion Rings! Recently, I tried some from Shuggies in Austin, a new mobile vending trailer in the Trailer Park Eatery. They were ice cream battered and oh so heavenly with a hamburger.

ekrenek at 11:14AM on 09/16/08

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/reprints/mercury.html

Should Mercury-Filled Canned Tuna Be Legal?

Here's a direct quote from the FDA website about mercury levels in fish, and mentions canned tuna levels specifically:

"Nearly all fish contain trace amounts of methyl mercury, some more than others. In areas where there is industrial mercury pollution, the levels in the fish can be quite elevated. In general, however, methyl mercury levels for most fish range from less than 0.01 ppm to 0.5 ppm. It's only in a few species of fish that methyl mercury levels reach FDA limit for human consumption of 1 ppm. This most frequently occurs in some large predator fish, such as shark and swordfish. Certain species of very large tuna, typically sold as fresh steaks or sushi, can have levels over 1 ppm. (Canned tuna, composed of smaller species of tuna such as skipjack and albacore, has much lower levels of methyl mercury, averaging only about 0.17 ppm.)

ekrenek at 2:30AM on 09/10/08

Should Mercury-Filled Canned Tuna Be Legal?

I don't agree with labeling tuna as a dangerous product. Anything that comes out of our polluted oceans can have traces of Mercury, and is not limited to canned tuna. Swordfish is another fish that comes to mind that can have a higher than average mercury content. However, we shouldn't outlaw these foods from our diet since they can be beneficial. Eating anything for an extended period of time can be hazardous to your health, and we shouldn't let this one story be used as a scare tactic. The key is eating these types of seafood in moderation. Besides, nutritionists recommend having an extreme variety of foods in your diet to get all of your required vitamins and nutrients.

ekrenek at 10:54AM on 09/09/08

Cook the Book: Nigella Express

My boyfriend and I need something sweet to end our day, but I am usually too tired to make dessert every night. So I make a huge batch of cookies and use an a small ice scoop to form them. I freeze them on a tray first, and when they are partially frozen I transfer them to a freezer bag. I take a few cookies out each night and defrost them while I cook dinner.

ekrenek at 9:39PM on 03/24/08

Serious Sandwiches: SXSW Sandwich Checklist

I recently moved to Santa Fe from Austin. I lived there for 4 years while I studied at UT; although I was always more concerned about the great food in town. I made it my business to stake out all the great sandwiches shops. Here are some you need to check out next time your in town that aren't just barbq joints.

Food Heads
www.foodheads.com
616 W 34th St
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 420-8400
An artsy house with delicious gourmet sandwiches. The Herb Rubbed Chicken is my favorite.

The Kitchen Door
www.thekitchendoor.us
2504 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, 3742 Far West Blvd, Austin , 3703 Kerbey Ln, Austin
Possibly the best whole wheat bread I've tasted, and great chicken salad. They also offer baked goods, and take out meals.

Avenue B Grocery
http://www.avenuebgrocery.com/
4403 Avenue B, Austin, Texas, 78751
An old grocery store in Hyde Park store that makes deli sandwiches to order. They have a wide selection of desserts, sodas, chips, and candy. They also have basic groceries.

Evangeline Cafe
www.evangelinecafe.com
8106 Brodie Ln # 110
Austin, TX 78745
This cajun place popped up some time after Katrina. They produce a pretty serious crawfish po-boy.

Thundercloud Subs
http://www.thundercloud.com/
A local sandwich chain that's great if you're on a budget. Why bother going to Subway anymore?

ekrenek at 12:24AM on 03/21/08

When someone you adore is the worst cook ever.

I think perhaps if you just met this guy suggesting cooking classes together is a bit extreme as you've already concluded. He may have been nervous cooking for you the first time, and like most guys probably thought about his plans shortly before. But I have my doubts about this guy's cooking skills if you found him the frozen section any where near frozen dinners. Perhaps, you could give him a copy of your favorite cookbook to share recipes and your common love of food. Bring him a dinner, or dessert unexpectedly to show off your skills. He'll probably enjoy the food and the fact he didn't have to make it. Eventually his cooking skills will evolve if he starts loving and understanding good food.

ekrenek at 4:44AM on 03/16/08

Cook the Book: 'My Last Supper'

For my last supper, I would dine with my boyfriend Rob on the porch of his ranch house just west of Fort Worth. We would enjoy the sunset over his dad's vineyard, and sip a tasty homemade white wine over our feast. The menu would include:

-A fresh loaf of French bread with creamy butter
-A steamed artichoke with lemon garlic butter
-A salad of mixed greens, my Baps' home grown tomatoes, avocado, red onions, cucumber, cheddar cheese, homemade croutons, & ranch dressing
-A Grilled Rib-eye (Medium Rare), served with grilled shrimp
-A Slice of Chocolate cake with Mascarpone Icing and Fresh Berries

ekrenek at 8:59PM on 03/10/08

Would You Send Back an Overcooked Burger?

I'd be afraid of what would come back, so I wouldn't send it back, but I would not go back to that restaurant again.

dmcavanagh at 9:09AM on 09/06/09

Would You Send Back an Overcooked Burger?

Hell YEA I would send it back - I ASKED FOR RAW!

Giasbash6260 at 7:17PM on 09/03/09

Dear AHT: How to Make Glazed Doughnut Bacon Egg Cheeseburgers

Some so stole this from the Boondocks episode that came out in 2004.

lucky85 at 8:22AM on 03/03/09

The McNuggetini

barf

greyrussian at 12:25PM on 02/19/09

The McNuggetini

I think the shake and vodka would be pretty good, but good lord, the bbq sauce and the McNugget take it into frightening territory.

missmanders at 11:02PM on 02/17/09

The McNuggetini

At a loss for words and appetite. Good Lord!

marieinla at 8:00PM on 02/17/09

The McNuggetini

that is every shade of WRONG

newchefleslie at 5:26PM on 02/17/09

The McNuggetini

Was I the only one thinking -- hmmmm chocolate milkshake with vodka? Sounds like a possibility?

I would leave off the mcnuggets and the bbq sauce, but the drink without them reminds me of vanilla ice cream in the blender with kahlua which I tried in my younger (but of drinking age) days.

Bethae at 2:21PM on 02/17/09

The McNuggetini

FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

juliebugsmama at 10:30AM on 02/17/09

The McNuggetini

I'll stick to the hot mustard sauce with my McNuggets.

ESNY1077 at 9:35AM on 02/17/09

The McNuggetini

Woah, kind of like I just tweeted (via @scottysnacks), " talk about a strange McCombo!" :)

All jokes aside, I had some specially flavored mixed drink made by Starbucks a couple of months back at Loew's Hotel out here in Santa Monica. It had some liqueur and was called something like mochatini or something similar - it was good but, it was potent!

Also, not to bog down the comments section here but, friend of mine (@brooksbayne on twitter) totally rocks bacon vanilla milkshakes. I still need to try!

Anyone else tried a bacon vanilla milkshake or the startbucks mochatini?

ScottySnacks at 7:56AM on 02/17/09

The McNuggetini

I think that just has to be for attention?

VAHam at 7:01AM on 02/17/09

The McNuggetini

Do. Not. Want.

bruisedbuddha at 10:33PM on 02/16/09

The McNuggetini

That is so. Wrong.

buffy at 9:51PM on 02/16/09

The McNuggetini

Hmm. I just asked my 14 year old son about this combination; he loves Chicken McNuggets and also loves McD's chocolate shakes and also dips his nuggets in BBQsauce. His first question was, "What's with the vodka?" Oh, how pleased, as a parent, I was with that question. I did say some like to spike a sweet beverage with alcohol and he shrugged his shoulders and said, "meh." I then asked him just to think about the overall flavor profiles and he said, "You can't combine them altogether and get something that snaps. Leave out the vodka...duh. And then keep the BBQ sauce on the side for dipping, and keep the drink separate too. And, what happened to the fries?" A value meal mind at work here. He also thought the presentation was a bit too "girly." And if I may translate, he actually means too fussy and pretty.

dhorst at 9:42PM on 02/16/09

The McNuggetini

I never thought I would be inspired (repulsed?) enough to use the phrase (no offense, @caramel...seriously) "threw up in my mouth a little"...but, now?....what else does one say?!

Cary at 9:40PM on 02/16/09

The McNuggetini

Gross!

paris221966 at 8:37PM on 02/16/09

Sweet Potato Fries -- Who Likes These Things?

Have you ever had them with honey and melted butter? You might feel differently.

maxcriden at 4:28PM on 02/16/09

Would You Send Back an Overcooked Burger?

I'd send it back if it's overcooked to the point where it tastes dry. If it's medium and still juicy I'll eat it. I generally wouldn't send back an undercooked burger unless it was almost completely raw.

A properly cooked burger with spit on it tastes much better than a dry chunk of charcoal! j/k

Steak and prime rib always go back if I don't see red.

JFlash42 at 11:07AM on 01/30/09

Sweet Potato Fries -- Who Likes These Things?

One comment I did not see is that, for a diabetic like me, regular potato fries are a no-no (what with the high glycemic index of potatos). However, sweet potato fries are actually tolerable from a blood-sugar perspective. Something to keep in mind...

transposition at 7:27PM on 01/23/09

Cook the Book: 'Into the Vietnamese Kitchen'

Thank you for participating, and congratulations to our winners:

nosher
lolam
jervell
MadameTart
Ardy22

Winners have been notified by email and also appear on our Contest Winners page.

Adam Kuban at 7:59PM on 01/13/09

Would You Send Back an Overcooked Burger?

I'm with Blogkitten. There are very few restaurants that I will trust with rare/ med-rare ground beef. I generally only eat a bloody burger if it's at home from a butcher where I know they're grinding their own beef on-premises and not getting it pre-ground from an e. coli factory.

jd7979 at 11:21AM on 01/13/09