Dining with Barney

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Trinity Alumni Happy Hour

This is the first Trinity Alumni event that I have attended in the past several years. Attendance was six people, half the number that RSVPed. We met at The Strand Smokehouse, 25-27 Broadway, Queens, NY.

They smoke their own meats out back. I realize that I do not have photos of their incredible staff. The basketball playing Greek at the grill was friendly and willing to talk and share all about the process. The bar tender i did not spend as much time with, but she was polite and helpful. The cashier also was friendly, smiling, and very helpful when i did my to-go order.

First think you see as you enter the building is the bar on the left.

They have a large selection of draft beers, moonshine drinks, and other house specialties.

Borrowed from their website

Further up stage left beyond the bar is the grill and meat station. Most of the meat is sold by the pound. Ribs are half or whole racks. Sides are priced accordingly.

We had: Beef Ribs, Spare Ribs, Baby Back Ribs, Brisket, Pork Loin, Kielbasa, Fried Mac and Cheese Balls, Cornbread, and Guac and chips.

There are several sauces to choose from:

At one point a band started to play live music. Thank God that did not last long, as we were there to talk and visit with each other.

The meats were good is not exactly fall apart done. The mac and cheese ball was great, the house pickles are sweet if you like that, and the cornbread was a bit smooth for my taste. i like it a little more rustic.

I REALLY need to remember to take the photos with the real camera and not the camera in the phone, as these are really crappy.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

What is a Kolach anyway?

One of my assignments this trip to Texas was to bring home kolache (kolache is the plural of kolach).

Now we come to what actual are kolache? Thanks to Wikipedia, we know:

A Kolach is a type of pastry that holds a dollop of fruit, rimmed by a puffy pillow of supple dough. Originating as a semisweet wedding dessert from Central Europe, they have become popular in parts of the United States.

By Lou Congelio; Photographer: Ralph Smith - Kolache Mama, Attribution,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8165624

Well that is not totally the way it is used at least in this area of Texas. Here it is also a savory pocket of the puffy pillow of supple dough. WOW!!

And there are is a chain of stores in this area of Texas called the Kolache Factory. The one in/near The Woodlands is in the back building of a shopping plaza.

They have at least 2 dozen SAVORY kolache as well as ten to twelve sweet varieties.

I also made out like a bandit when i had signed up with my email and got a buy 3 get/3 free coupon. THEN there was the sign about google reviews... so there were three more free

So NOW, i have bought three and have SIX free!! Then I bought a some more. In all I took home a dozen sweet and a half dozen savory.

The problem is i did not take any photos except this one of sausage, cheese and jalapeno, hot polish sausage, and sausage and gravy.

So here's one from their website:

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Casual Seafood on Lake Conroe TX

On this 24 hours in TX trip, after visiting the townhouse we are thinking about buying,

We headed to an early dinner at Sam's Boat, a area chain of casual seafood dining.

We sat outside, able to see the new place across the water.

There are public docks available, so if we had a boat, or jet ski, or SUP board, we could come to eat by water.

Being on the water provides many opportunities to view the wildlife.

I had the Cajun Lemon Red Fish. I remember the Richardson branch of the family taking me fishing for red fish many years ago.

Diane had the Cape Shark Tacos. What is a 'Cape Shark?' - It is better known as a Dogfish.

John had the Fried Shrimp Po-boy

I Should Have Know Better! in Houston TX

I arrived in Houston this morning and stopped for breakfast at a big red taco truck at 21022 Aldine Westfield Rd, Humble, TX 77338

Not knowing anything about the food, i looked at what the locals were ordering - tacos!

First, how many: Locals looked like three was the correct answer.

Next, Corn or Flour: Locals, corn.

Finally: Beef, Chicken, or pork. I said pork; as I am experimenting, I should have said one of each.

Then I see that there is a 'special' beans available today:

So, i am going to have to have these "Cowboy Beans".

Then a drink, sodas, ice tea, and a couple of beverages I was not familiar with. The guy at the counter, pointed, let me sample, and I opted for the

First I got the beans:

I already took a bite at this point, It was delish. Thanks to wikipedia I can tell you:

The dish is characterized by pinto beans stewed with onion, garlic, and bacon.

Then came out the taco:

There was a fresh tomato and onion salsa (not pictured). Note the grilled onions and pepper on the back of the plate. The tacos were wonderful, they were exactly what I was hoping for.

I joined the locals at the picnic table and we all enjoyed our tacos. We did not speak the same language, but we were able to communicate enough to point out the wind was picking up and joke about the rain coming and our need to hurry.

When the rain did come, We all laughed, grabbed our food, and headed for shelter. I scooped up my mostly empty plate to throw away and my drink. I tossed the only thing left into my mouth: the grilled serrano pepper.

That was a mistake... My mouth was on fire the next 40 minutes while i drove through the rain to my next destination.