I don’t often play the role of “tourist,” but when Girlfriend and I spent a long weekend in Boston, I tried to put aside the hunt for local gems and regional food history that normally dominates my meals on the road. That’s how I ended up learning about the Penguin salt shake at the New [...]
Live Wire was a two dollar price-cut away from being the perfect bar. There was plenty of room on the most crowded of evenings, a good pool table, sports on TV and a jukebox full of punk and soul. Puppies hopped excitedly from customer to customer as old dogs slept soundly under tables covered in [...]
For the next week, I’ll be writing short posts on the meals I enjoyed during a two-week vacation in my native California. There’s a bar in Long Beach that recognizes what every pickled egg in this country is missing: chilies. Rather than submerging its hard boiled eggs in beet-tinted brine, Joe Jost’s imbues them with [...]
In mid-August, my great friend and epic eating comrade Boykji visited New York for a whirlwind tour of the city’s eats. The five days I spent sharing meals with Boyk reminded me of how lucky I am to live in New York, where one can literally spend hours on end walking, eating and repeating without [...]
I’m not wont to talk about clichés or stereotypes, but I’m afraid the topic of beer is inescapable when writing about Germany. The world’s most renowned producer of this beloved libation simply cannot be discussed without at least some mention of it. Before you roll your eyes, though, let me assure you that I’m not [...]
On a warm April evening, two city girls poke their heads through the entryway of the Burp Castle. With eyebrows raised in curiosity, they tacitly ask why the library-like pub is so uncharacteristically packed. “This is the New York City Homebrewers Guild meeting,” I offer. After taking another glance at the crowd, which is listening [...]
Another South by Southwest has come and gone, taking me out of commission for one week and daring me to recover my strength in time to make my Tuesday deadline for this blog. Fuckin’ A. As long as I’m doubled over in defeat, I might as well go for a roundup of the foods that [...]
When I tell people I’m going home for the holidays, I mean to say two things: 1. I’ve booked a flight to Los Angeles. 2. Once I’m in Los Angeles, I’ll get the Hell out and make tracks for the East Bay. 3. My appetite is expanding to Homeric proportions. I’ll be the first to [...]
What makes for a proper Chinese feast? Some might say diversity of flavor, but I prefer the known quantities that are dumplings and camaraderie. Really, there’s no better time to test out the adage, “Liquor before beer; you’re in the clear,” than when you’re among friends – friends who care about such things as being [...]
I’ve just returned from a week in Budapest, Hungary! I’ll be deviating from my usual column to post several stories on my meals there throughout this week. As I continue post-vacation recovery, however, you’ll have to settle for this primer album of beverages and mustache:
