maxwell_h’s Profile
Recent Comments
'Top Chef': A New Kind of War
(Forgot to note: Spike is a hack. No other comments needed.)
'Top Chef': A New Kind of War
Richard is several lengths better than the anyone else, and anything less than a straight-up win for him would be a major disappointment.
Dale is very much a technician and a grinder. If he can calm down and just work, then he should make top-three. (He is fussy, but I think he's a pretty authentic representation of the average 20-something male cook in an upscale restaurant.)
Stephanie is so up and down each week that I have a hard time putting her in the top three--still, she's got decent technical skills and the smarts to keep her head down and cook.
Similarly, when Antonia is at her best she's great: a solid palate and enough raw skill to push through; but I leave some weeks being completely unconvinced.
Lisa is sort of the female equivalent of Dale, by and large she's "just a cook," but she's obviously worked in some very good kitchens and has learned enough party tricks to impress the judges on a regular basis (that bacon thing that impressed everyone, e.g.). Imagine how well she'd do if she could learn to season properly!
If I had to choose today, as much as she irritates me, I'd put Lisa at #3. And just imagine the drama of Dale and Lisa hurling fireballs while Richard rises to the top in the finale!
What's the Best Mexican Food Town in the U.S.?
I know I'm going to start a riot here (after reading the above comments), but San Antonio should not even be on this list. There are several decent taco joints, but that really is the extent of it. Most of the "Mexican" food here is really lacking, and other than a handful of recent arrivals (the aforementioned Picante Grill, as well as Cascabel's, and Guajillo's), there is almost no real Mexican food. We specialize in Texican, characterized by flour tortillas and chili gravy. Taco trucks have started to arrive in San Antonio in the last couple of years, so perhaps things are on an upward trend.
On the other hand, Chicago has phenomenal Mexican food all over the place, and a long weekend in Santa Fe last year was among my greatest runs of consistently amazing food (90% of it Mexican or New Mexican) ever.
(Full disclosure: My recent life: San Antonio 6 years -- Chicago 6 years -- San Antonio 2 years.)
See more comments by maxwell_h ยป
Recent Posts
maxwell_h hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
maxwell_h hasn't favorited a post yet.
Recent Polls
maxwell_h hasn't answered any polls yet.
Recent Quizzes
maxwell_h hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Ideas for Bison Chuck?
Just talked to someone about braising bison "hump." He was told the same thing (don't go about 140F), and thought it was ridiculous, but he tried that (taking it to 140)--said it was like trying to cut through a brick.
He ended up braising for 20 hours, covered @ about 300F (if I am recalling correctly) to break down all the connective tissue. He said the end product was amazing. I'll point him to the site here and see if he has anything to add.
'Top Chef': A New Kind of War
(Forgot to note: Spike is a hack. No other comments needed.)
'Top Chef': A New Kind of War
Richard is several lengths better than the anyone else, and anything less than a straight-up win for him would be a major disappointment.
Dale is very much a technician and a grinder. If he can calm down and just work, then he should make top-three. (He is fussy, but I think he's a pretty authentic representation of the average 20-something male cook in an upscale restaurant.)
Stephanie is so up and down each week that I have a hard time putting her in the top three--still, she's got decent technical skills and the smarts to keep her head down and cook.
Similarly, when Antonia is at her best she's great: a solid palate and enough raw skill to push through; but I leave some weeks being completely unconvinced.
Lisa is sort of the female equivalent of Dale, by and large she's "just a cook," but she's obviously worked in some very good kitchens and has learned enough party tricks to impress the judges on a regular basis (that bacon thing that impressed everyone, e.g.). Imagine how well she'd do if she could learn to season properly!
If I had to choose today, as much as she irritates me, I'd put Lisa at #3. And just imagine the drama of Dale and Lisa hurling fireballs while Richard rises to the top in the finale!
What's the Best Mexican Food Town in the U.S.?
I know I'm going to start a riot here (after reading the above comments), but San Antonio should not even be on this list. There are several decent taco joints, but that really is the extent of it. Most of the "Mexican" food here is really lacking, and other than a handful of recent arrivals (the aforementioned Picante Grill, as well as Cascabel's, and Guajillo's), there is almost no real Mexican food. We specialize in Texican, characterized by flour tortillas and chili gravy. Taco trucks have started to arrive in San Antonio in the last couple of years, so perhaps things are on an upward trend.
On the other hand, Chicago has phenomenal Mexican food all over the place, and a long weekend in Santa Fe last year was among my greatest runs of consistently amazing food (90% of it Mexican or New Mexican) ever.
(Full disclosure: My recent life: San Antonio 6 years -- Chicago 6 years -- San Antonio 2 years.)
Cheap(er) Drinks: Tips For Enjoyable Drinking Without Going Broke
If you're into simple mixed drinks (a liquor + a cola, say), then you need to go get your self some Old Overholt rye. It is just good, honest bourbon, and it mixes great with ginger ale (Blenheim is awesome).
Where is the best place to get BBQ in Dallas/Forth Worth?
Sonny Bryan's on Inwood is very cool, and it's definitely the closest you're going to come to a real BBQ experience (a la Smitty's in Lockhart). It should be your first stop--it's not too far from either airport!
What's the Best Mexican Food Town in the U.S.?
This one is an absolute no brainer. I am a software programmer and fortunate enough to work for a company that allows me to work from home, I try my best to make a point of living in a different city every year, I pack light and go. I've gone from southern cali, mid-west to the east coast and NOTHING compares to the mexican food in San Diego! Travel just 60 miles up the coast to Los Angeles and the difference is night and day, doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same category. San Diego is on the border of Mexico, and the mexican food gets exponentially worse the farther you get from it. Ask anyone who has actually tried mexican food in mulitple cities, I will guarantee the same response, San Diego hands down. Anyone who calls them nachos instead of carne asada chips, or taquitos instead of rolled tacos can automatically be discredited in this discussion. Those of you who have lived in San Diego will know what I mean.
What's the Best Mexican Food Town in the U.S.?
Good grief, anyone who says that San Antonio has bad Mexican food and is "touristy" clearly didn't stagger far enough from the Riverwalk to learn anything about this city and its cuisine. People who actually *live* here don't go near the tourist areas, unless they have no choice.
And to say that LA *isn't* touristy but still has good Mexican food is just laughable. I didn't find one decent restaurant in all of California when I lived there. The food was horrible, and the service abominable.
When you get away from the downtown area of San Antonio, that's when you find out just how awesome the Mexican food is here. There are dozens of wonderful mom-and pop joints tucked into unexpected places all over San Antonio. You just have to know how to look.
And if you want the best Mexican food, anywhere, Texas's Lower Rio Grande Valley is the place to go. Until you've had seso or eyeball soup or panchos, until you can lay out the perfect botana platter, you don't know jack about authentic MX food.
What's the Best Mexican Food Town in the U.S.?
There is a place a bit north of Santa Fe called Chimayo. This is where the world famous Chimayo chiles come from. The place to eat there is Rancho de Chimayo--THE BEST for Mexican! Amazing atmosphere, service and food. Don't miss it.
What's the Best Mexican Food Town in the U.S.?
Tucson, Arizona. Glad to see so many giving love to The Old Pueblo.
1) Sonoran Hot Dogs (El Guero Canelo/BK's) - bacon wrapped hot dogs with beans, onions, mustard, mayo, tomatoes, your choice of salsas, cheese and grilled peppers/green onions on a soft bolillo roll. $2.29, $1.75 on Wednesdays.
2) 24 hour drive through taquerias. Under $4 for a burrito? At 3am?
3) Really good sit down Mexican restaurants. Mi Nidito. Love the nopales simmered in red chile sauce with freshly made flour tortillas.
4) Even the U of A's Mexican place, Cafe Sonora, has decent mole and chimichangas. If a damn college cafeteria can provide good Mexican food, there should be no argument.
I rest my case.
What's the Best Mexican Food Town in the U.S.?
Los Angeles obviously. It's not just about good mexican, but the diversity of mexican cuisine that LA has very few weaknesses in. Then, I'd give Texas second place and Chicago third with SF a close 4th.
What's the Best Mexican Food Town in the U.S.?
In Nashville the taco trucks are more authentic, and better then most sit down Mexican restaurants. This town is a total fail for Mexican food.
What's the Best Mexican Food Town in the U.S.?
I agree with fivrforfun. I live in Bend and the Mexican food at Pepe's rocks. My friend Marcos has a restaurant called La Rosa that is also a locals favorite.
Some really awesome burritos de carne asada can be found at El Grullense in Salem OR. In fact when I'm there I get a cooler and ice and load up before driving home... yes, that good!
Ideas for Bison Chuck?
When playing in the future...
There is a restaurant in Austinburg, OH that features Bison pot roast...
Ideas for Bison Chuck?
No prob! Try it with a pork roast if you prefer, it's awesome that way. I have one of those cast iron stove top smokers. Whenever I roast a bone-in pork roast, I use that rub, then smoke it with hickory. It's delicious and makes an excellent crust.
Glad your method worked out, makes me want to try it.
Ideas for Bison Chuck?
Thanks maxwell, sounds amazing. I'll definetly try the long cook next time. Simon, love the leek greens in a rub idea, never would have occurred to me.
Turned out that the brine worked great, super tender after only 3 hours of cooking. I even overcooked it a little - center by the bone was probably at medium. Went with a coffee/ancho thing for a rub. Looks like I've got a new favorite roast to play with.
Ideas for Bison Chuck?
@maxwell_h; "Braising the hump". I kind of like that phrase.
Ideas for Bison Chuck?
If the bison is truly bison (and not milder, fattier beefalo), it'll appreciate a berry-based sauce. Chokecherry sauces are popular in the Dakotas (because chokecherries and bison happen to be local ingredients), but you could probably do the same trick with blueberries, sour cherries or huckleberries.
Where is the best place to get BBQ in Dallas/Forth Worth?
The best place to eat BBQ in Ft. Worth is Angelo's located on White Settlement.
What's the Best Mexican Food Town in the U.S.?
Houston? What you have there is Tex-Mex. Chicago? I think not. I have lived in both cities. San Diego, CA which is 15 miles north of the Mexican border by far, has the best Mexican in the US. Old Town is dedicated to offering you one Mexican restaurant after another in addition to all the other Mexican restaurants and taco stands located around the city. Real Mexican food is found there.
'Top Chef': A New Kind of War
@ zekks: The reason Dale was doing everything was because there was no leadership, which Nikki should have assumed since she has the most experience with Italian cooking. She should have set a tone with a menu and split up the responsibilities accordingly. Fish rots at the head. And I loved how she had the audacity to say she wasn't leading the sinking ship. Nikki should have been kicked off weeks ago for the Italian sausage blunder during the tailgate.
'Top Chef': A New Kind of War
@ shell0724: I have to disgree about Dale. I think that he didn't "only try to rescue a meal that was doomed." He just tried to put his hand in a little bit of everything and I think that instead it appeared that this was his reasoning behind getting into so many different things was that to use that excuse that he did so much so the judges would keep him around. Nothing he did was great. He did a lot of things mediocore. Like its been said before, I think its worse to do a bunch of things at a so-so level than a few at a great level. I think that's why Spike was saved (by the chilean sea bass). I can't disagree with the choice to eliminate Nikki at all but I think that Dale is real close to the chopping block and has become exactly what Spike called him....to put it politely.
'Top Chef': A New Kind of War
I think Dale was far from the most annoying contestant. He was placed in an untenable group of slackers and back-stabbers, in my opinion, and only tried to rescue a meal that was doomed. His frustration level was high, but, understandable, especially after extreme sleep deprivation, extreme work, and extremely annoying people. Lisa made a cool cake, but, her hateful disposition and greasy hair annoys me. Antonnia is cool but she tends to be very patronizing and while she shined in last week's challenge, she's not really shown herself to be extraordinary. Dale is a very outspoken and honest person who doesn't suffer fools gladly. I felt he deserved some credit for having to suffer through unbelievably selfish people who were only interested in themselves and their individual dishes, not caring about team work, and not caring about producing a quality menu for someone's wedding! Dale had the work ethic, and he's proven himself through the past episodes. I love Richard, and thought his gesture of bestowing the win on Stephanie was awesome, but, I think Dale would have performed brilliantly if given the chance to work with the bride team, not the bottom of the barrel of this season's remaining chefs. I'm sure they're all top chefs in their own way, but, there is no comparison between Nikki, Lisa, and Spike's attitudes and ostensible mediocrity to Dale. They are so threatened by his excellence that they literally shunned him and refused to treat him like a team member. I was thrilled that Nikki left. She should hang her head in shame. It was she who came out looking like a mug, after shouting out how cooking Italian and leading this mess had nothing to do with her. If their team had won by some miracle, she would have leaped into the center stage. There was a big contrast between the type of people they were compared to Andrew, Antonia, Stephanie and the lovable Richard.
All in all though, I thought it was an interesting show and one that we'll talk about in future seasons.
What's the Best Mexican Food Town in the U.S.?
rozilla - there are some good Mexican restaurants in Nashville. Pueblo Viejo and Pueblo Real in Franklin, Las Cazuelas (can't beat the entertainment on Saturday night) or Los Arcos on Nolensville Rd. are all real good.
'Top Chef': A New Kind of War
Is Gail Simmons pregnant? Looked to me like she's... how to say this... filling out a bit but my wife figures she got a bun in the oven.
'Top Chef': A New Kind of War
I'm hoping that we don't see another catering challenge until next season. I think Nikki probably was due to go, but I'm a bit tired of seeing people eliminated because they couldn't put on a buffet for 125 people in less than 36 hours while standing on one foot with no food processor or whatever. That tells me absolutely nothing about what it might be like to eat their food at their restaurant. There have been so many of these challenges this season that I still don't have a good idea of what kind of food some of these people actually cook when they're serving their customers back home. Perhaps next season they can just spin off 'Top Caterer' into its own show and let the chefs on Top Chef be chefs.
'Top Chef': A New Kind of War
@hungrychristel -- Lisa is scary, that's a fact, and she and Dale may end up the Tracy and Hepburn of the season yet. But, I wince thinking about her elimination. They are gonna need a whip and a chair, and maybe a SWAT team that night.
@meganaw -- I can't believe you think Lisa is the next to go. As maxwell so astutely said upthread -- "Spike is a hack. No other comments needed." My hope is that Spike goes next. I'm hoping at least one of the finalists is a female. I think Stehanie could have the chops. And, as the weeks go by, I like Antonia more and more.
'Top Chef': A New Kind of War
@Brownie - Lisa will be the entertainer for sure. I'm not sure I would like to see her make it far, but for sure keep her on until the competition gets intense!
'Top Chef': A New Kind of War
My top three will be Dale, Andrew and Richard.
I think Stephanie will make it to the top 4, but will be let go. Sadly, I'm not seeing anything impressive from the ladies this season. Lisa goes next. Both she and Antonia have yet to do anything really amazing or noteworthy.
What's the Best Mexican Food Town in the U.S.?
Watsonville, CA!
What's the Best Mexican Food Town in the U.S.?
C) Los Angeles. Taco trucks - 'nuff said.
I'm going to jump on the San Antonio is not real Mexican bandwagon, too. Some of the worst "Mexican" food I've ever had was there. Guess that's why they call it Tex-Mex.
Recent Posts
maxwell_h hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
maxwell_h hasn't favorited a post yet.
Polls
maxwell_h hasn't answered any polls yet.
Quizzes
maxwell_h hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Just talked to someone about braising bison "hump." He was told the same thing (don't go about 140F), and thought it was ridiculous, but he tried that (taking it to 140)--said it was like trying to cut through a brick.
He ended up braising for 20 hours, covered @ about 300F (if I am recalling correctly) to break down all the connective tissue. He said the end product was amazing. I'll point him to the site here and see if he has anything to add.