FOODxCORE.....Sweet Chili Pulled Pork

Sweet Chili Pulled Pork is a working title.So when getting ready to prepare this unless your neighborhood market has a real meat counter find a real meat market who actually know something about meat. I personally visit Glick;s in Visalia,,CA or The Meat Market in Fresno,CA. There is something about going to a meat market that has a staff that knows about what cuts of meat are what but more importantly selling meat that has been cut there in house....Enjoy!!

After cooking for almost 12 hours...There were no leftovers!

 
Ingredients:
1 T oil
2 chopped onions
6 minced garlic cloves
1 T chili powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
12 oz chili sauce (1 small bottle)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 T Worcestershire
3 lb. pork shoulder






Supplies:
Crockpot
Small Sauce Pan

Saute the onions in the oil until soft. Add garlic, chili powder, and pepper and cook another minute or so. Add chili sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Heat till boiling stirring constantly.

Put the pork shoulder in the crockpot and pour the sauce over it. Cover and cook on low 12 hours or on high 6 hours, until pork is basically falling apart.(Leave it in a little longer, it will not hurt anything). Shred the meat with a pair of forks and return to the pot and keep warm in the sauce. Serve over buns on a pile of steamed rice.

This makes a LOT of pork but I have found that if I am making it for a show there is not going to be anything left. In the off chance you have leftover you can freeze it for later!

6 lbs. of pork shoulder at 7 am!!

Now hipsters have there own little corner of the planet!

To all you guys still wearing your sisters pants, eyeglasses that I wore when I was in the 4th (I had to wear em and it was not to be cool), ya flat iron your hair more then not and you just kind of look like you asking for a butt kicking. Girls wearing leggings and cardigan sweats that belonged to your grandpa and for some reason the exact same glasses. Do not forget the fixed gear bikes that crowd around the the local starbucks.

So Travel + Leisure recently released a list of Hipster friendly cities. First here is Tavel + Leisure's definition of a hipster "A smirking attitude toward mainstream institutions means they tend to frequent cool, often idiosyncratic restaurants, shops, and bars—the same kinds of venues that appeal to travelers looking for what they can't find at home." My definition are just people that annoy the crap out me at shows.

So here is the top 10 Hipster friendly towns cities:
1. Seattle, WA
2. Portland, OR
3. San Francisco, CA
4. New Orleans, LA
5. Portland, ME
6. Providence, RI
7. Austin, TX
8. San Juan, PR
9. Philadelphia, PA
10. Denver, CO

Frankie The Barber presents....FOODxCORE

I am really happy to be doing this show because anytime I can do a show to get kids in our community to think about something other then themselves it is a good thing!!

Leaders (Facedown Records)
Darasuum (Riverside, CA)
Farooq (Fresno)
Hands On Deck (Visalia)
special guest

Cost is 7 bucks (5 bucks with donation of 2 or more non perishable food items). Below is a list of food items we are looking for.

Dinuba Youth Center
214 South L St.
Dinuba,Ca 93618

Meals in a can (stew, chili, soup)
Tuna and canned meat
Peanut butter
Canned foods with pop-top lids
Low-sugar cereals
100% fruit juices in single serving boxes
Canned fruit packed in juice

I like beer, but this one had me scratching my head!! Voodoo Doughnut Ale

As a kid I grew up watching to movie "Strange Brew" and there were always jokes about beer and doughnuts. When I heard about the Voodoo Doughnuts Ale I had to try it. I started sending out e-mails on Facebook to anyone I knew up in the Portland area figuring there had to be one person who could get me a bottle of this strange concoction.

On St.Patrick's Day I walked into a the local Whole Foods and as I am purchasing my pack of Murphy's Irish Ale I turn around to see this pepto-pink bottle labeled  ROGUE Voodoo Doughnuts Ale.

So today I went back to pick up some stuff for dinner and it was calling my name and this time I could not pass it up. The problem was that I put it in the fridge to get a chill on it and more importantly to get the guts up to crack it open.

Pulled it out of the fridge cracked it open and  and poured some in a glass for my wife and all I got was this sweet scent of maple. I finally take a drink and swish it around in my mouth like some snooty beer connoisseur.

I am a fan of many of the beers that ROGUE puts out, but this is one that has left me scratching my head. I went into this beer with an open mind but unfortunately left with a weird taste in my mouth. You can tastte the maple, the smoke from the hops and the hint of bacon.

As I was reading up on Voodoo Doughnuts Ale they obviously encourage pairing with pork and doughnuts. I got to thinking about how this works with pancakes or waffles.

I am glad I got my hands on a bottle of this and gave it a try but unfortunately the more I had to drink the more I have found it as a beer that I will not have again.

I do have to thank ROGUE for thinking out of the box!!

Pizza Night At The House

Today was one of those days that all of a sudden we looked at the clock and it was 4:30 so we are trying to figure out what to do for dinner (this is a common occurrence on Sundays). I suggest I run over to Pappa Murphys or I can run to the market and get stuff for us to make out own pizza.What do we do? Head to the store!!

Our store of choice is Fresh and Easy in Reedley because we have found that compared to buying groceries in Dinuba,CA (where we live) we get better quality products. Before leaving the house first thing I did was throw a pizza stone into the over and turn it on to 450 degrees (yeah I own a pizza stone).

Some meat, chees and veggies

So here is what we picked up from the store...basil, heirloom tomatoes, uncured pepperoni and Daisy picked out a Sopressata salami. The cheese we used was a whole fresh mozzarella

We were trying to decide if we were going to make our own pizza dough and when I looked at the clock I knew there was not going to be enough time so the store has a pre-made pizza dough that turned out to be really good. Please know that I would always at least try to make your own dough. It is worth it!!

So I get the dough rolled out and the first pie get olive oil, fresh basil, mozzarella and both the pepperoni and salami.I also put slices of green heirloom tomato slices. Got it on the pizza stone and let it cook for about 20-25 minutes. Pulled it out and the crust was down and the cheese was nice and melted all over and you can smell the basil. Totally happy with the way it came out!! 

The second pie we did had a tomato and garlic topping instead of pizza sauce (imagine something you would put on a crustini). The wife put the peperoni, salami cheese and tomatoes on it. this was a little heavier of a pizza but I think I ate 3 slices of it.

This is the kind of dinner that can get the whole family involved where it is in prepping and rolling out the dough or just putting the ingredients together. Yay pizza!!!

St. Patrick's Day....I love this week!!!

I need a couple more arms!!

   First I am working on a post about Culinary School v. Working Your way up the ladder. I am hoping to get some feedback from some chefs and see what they have to say about this topic. I am also getting ready to not only have pins done but the first FBHC t-shirt....Can not wait!!

   So here is the question...What do you like to do for St. Patrick's Day?  Everyone likes to go out, party and get drunk and I get it but for me I use St. Patrick's Day to fix a huge meal for my family and if the day permits my fiends.

   To be honest I try to spread it out over a few days. St. Patrick's Day is always Corned Beef, Cabbage and potatoes. The 16th of March is usually a Shepard's Pie with Irish Soda Bread (recipe for both of these will be posted by weeks end). Last but not least the 18th of March is nothing but leftovers (I love a good Reuben sandwich!)

St. Patrick's Day 2011

    Well I hope everyone out there has a great and safe St. Patrick's Day!!

On The Road....FEED ME!!!

   First I want to congratulate Paul Qui for winning season 9 of Top Chef:Texas...Now on to business!

   I have a long history of working as a promoter within the hardcore scene. I am not talking about huge giant tour packages  trying to make fat cash but small venues, touring bands, local bands...etc. even if the shows were not mine I was connected with shows somehow. When working with bands I always had a couple of stipulations: 1)Local bands did not get paid
                                              2)Out of towns got traveling expenses 
                                              3)Will always find a place for you to sleep (hotels or homes)
                                              Last and most important....YOU WILL BE FED!!!

   Please understand, I have never ripped off a band. I have always worked my ass off for bands and oh yeah I HAVE NEVER FED A BAND PIZZA FROM LITTLE CEASERS!!! Not all touring bands have the privilege of a "rider" being told that they want or need. I have seen a habit of bands not getting fed and for me this sucks. When a band is on the road and all they eat is crappy food a good home cooked meal say a hell of a lot!!

Me feeding the masses 

    I have some of the best memories connected with food and bands....barbeques after shows so a band can eat before getting back on the road, bands coming together for a home made pasta and bread before a show, tri tip and potatoes...etc. Also if a band sleeps on your floor take the time to fix them breakfast. A stack of pancakes or waffles with some bacon or sausage goes along way for a band getting ready to drive half a day!! They guys have a budget to survive on!!!

    I have had the opportunity to feed and hang out with some great bands like Ramallah, Death Before Dishonor, The Koffin Kats, 25 Ta Life, Leaders, Swimming with Tsunamis, Fight Like Hell and others.

    All I have trying to say is that if you do shows take the time to feed a band....They like to eat and trust me in the end they will appreciate it!!!