Lunch @ El Cazador, Pasco, Washington

El Cazador
6411 Burden Blvd.
Pasco, WA 99301

Google Map

I grew up with my share of lunch wagons: Tsukenjo in Honolulu, along with two wagons that were a major part of my consuming in the 3rd grade, a hamburger & french fries wagon, and a chili & rice wagon at Booth Park in Pauoa in Honolulu. Plus, drive anywhere in Hawai'i and lunch wagons are never far. When I visited New York City for the first time in 1990, I wanted to look for a hot dog or pretzel cart.

Fast forward to 2009. Lunch wagons and food carts are celebrated, anyone who lives in Portland, Oregon knows about Food Carts Portland, and fans of vlogs will know of (or should become familiar with) a great online show called Vendr.TV. Here in Pasco, there are many taco wagons to choose from, each of them with their own style of cooking. Taco wagons have become a new phenomenon of sorts in Portland and Seattle, and I'm able to say that we've had them for years.

Viera's Bakery has been a tradition of downtown for Pasco for years. A new section of Pasco has been in effect for about six to seven years, and with more people moving in means there's more of a demand for decent food. The section of Pasco on Road 68 has become an immediate fast food pit stop: McDonald's, Sonic, Jack In The Box, and Panda Express, but within the same area you can also find Hacienda Del Sol, Magill's, and Bruchi's. Viera's opened up a new bakery off of Burden Blvd., which makes it possible to get some quality churros, doughnuts, maple bars, and other delicious pasteries. This past summer, there was a lunch wagon in the Viera's parking lot so I had taken a look but did not buy anything. I'd have to wait until today to try it out. My sister had a craving to try it and asked me if I wanted to try it too. Of course.

It was cloudy and cold this morning, with a bit of rain on the ground, but as we approached this wagon, we saw a number of people waiting for their food. The wagon is called El Cazador. The wagon has a makeshift sitting area, along with a foosball table for people to play while they wait. On the left side of the truck was their menu with photos of each dish.


What I wanted to try was their Hawaianas, but they didn't have it on the menu today (not sure if it's a seasonable thing). They did have their Torta Cubana, and while it looked very good, I opted for their burrito. The burrito "plate" (we chose beef) featured a nice-sized burrito along with rice, refried beans, and... who knows what else lurked inside.

The container was nicely wrapped with foil, with a green and red salsa to compliment the dish.


The magic would begin when it was opened.


I tried the rice and beans first and it was nicely cooked, not overly cooked, not undercooked, it was just right. Upon trying the green salsa first, I knew the rest of my meal would be a winner. It was. The tortilla itself tasted and smelled great, very light like pastry. Then it was about going into the guts. This is easily one of the best burritos I've ever eaten, and I'm a burrito nut. I can be iffy at times on onions, but they were sliced small enough to where I didn't notice until it was singled out on my pallet. There were also some nice surprises inside of hte burrito: avocado and tomato slices. Each ingredient inside of the burrito complimented each other, and I couldn't help but love the tortilla. The red salsa was nice too. If I had sour cream, I would have piled it on too. My sister expressed herself with bouts of silence, as if to say "shutup, I'm too busy eating".

As Dora The Explorer would say: "¡yum yum yum yum yum, delicioso!" The cost of the burrito meal was $6.50, which isn't bad at all and far better than the instant crap they served down the street at Taco Bell. As my sister said, Taco Bell isn't even in the same league as this, for that is mere filler. At least with this burrito at El Cazador, you know what you're eating and at least when you're full, you're satisfied.

The wagon sells sodas in the cooler, be it Pepsi or various fruit soda options. The highest price dish was something that looked like a meat platter with beef and hot dogs, that went for $12 or $12.50. Lowest priced item was $2 for those who may want to sample what they offer before going for a full meal deal. I will definitely return again, and most likely again and again and again and again and again and again like Lyn Collins. I'll try their Torta Cubana.

If you're in Pasco, Washington for anything, El Cazador is highly recommended.

NOTE: I didn't get the phone number, but you are able to call in your order and then pick it up.

VIDEO: making Mini Turkey Meatloaf and Mac & Cheese with Shay Butta

On an online board I frequent (Okayplayer!), someone named Shay Butta decided to make a video of her creating mini turkey meat loaf and her own macaroni & cheese recipe that looks really good. Take a look, and feel free to comment on her YouTube page.

ARTICLE: The Portland Mercury Food Issue

In this week's Portland Mercury they look at the world of restaurants and its employees, to find out what pleases the foodies and why. You can read the article by heading here.

Snack Food: Mariani's Kangaroo Jerky (Australia)

My sister recently came back from Australia and she knows that I like to try unknown brands and/or varieties of snacks I may know of. She also knows I'll try something new. So here she is with the snack she bought for me and it was... Kangaroo jerky.



It's made by a company called Mariani, who distribute throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. They plan on hitting the U.S. market soon. So here I am with a package featuring an illustration of kangaroos in a mid jump. Here I am with their flesh in a bag, nicely seasoned. The back lists the scientific name as "Macropus Rufus".

It also says this: "The meat contained herein is for personal use only and not for sale. It is derived from animals that received postmodern veterinary inspection and were found sound and healthy in every way. The slaughter and preparation of the meat described herein has been carried out in a sanitary manner in accordance with Expert Control Act. 1982, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry"

So how does it taste? Well, it has the flavorings of a typical jerky, but beef this isn't. What got to me was the texture. Beef jerky is generally rugged, you tear that thing with your teeth and you'll need to floss. Kangaroo however is very smooth, and that caught me off guard. I am sure the soy sauce powder, garlic, mineral salt, and everything else helped disguise the actual kangaroo flavor but someone somewhere eats the meat, so obviously it's edible. A blog called Random Foodnotes said The texture and taste are reminiscent of pork jerky, although with the dominant soy sauce flavor, this could have been dehydrated dirt and it would probably taste the same. I don't think I'll be eating kangaroo jerky again anytime soon.


The same company also makes emu jerky and crocodile jerky, I don't know if Steve Irwin would have approved of this, but maybe daughter Bindy will give this company a couple of smacks.

Burgers On The Edge's Burger Genius Contest (Honolulu)

I haven't been back home in Honolulu in almost a decade, it's very sad but it's also very true. Normally when I do go home, I limit my burger intake to W&M in Kaimuki, Zippy's, or a hamburger steak plate lunch @ Tsukenjo. But I was made aware of a restaurant called Burgers On The Edge and the menu looks very good.

They recently held a "Burger Genius" contest where people could enter and create their own burger dishes. According to the website, the idea was to see "who in Hawaii can create the most original and delicious burger using the 8 cheeses, 12 sauces, and 18 toppings from the current menu or think outside the burger wrapper by submitting a recipe for their masterpiece."

What was of interest to me was something called the "Bento Burger" made by Doris Gilbert. What consists of a Bento Burger? Here are the ingredaments (HA!):

Burger Name: Bento Burger
Beef: Ground Chuck
Cheese: Swiss
Sauce: Teriyaki
Toppings: Fried egg, Spam, Manoa lettuce

Mmm, mmm, mmm. The seven other finalists made burgers that, at least in text form, sound amazing.

The Burger Genius presentation will be shown on KHON in Honolulu on Wednesday, June 24 at 9:00pm, and the winners will be announced on July 4th, marking the 1st anniversary of Burgers On The Edge. If they post a video of the show or if it is posted elsewhere, I will have it here on Book's Foodie

Website of interest: VendrTV

VendrTV is a website that looks into "Curbside Cuisine", so if you're someone who loves those food carts and to support those who make the food, this is a great site to go through. They go across the country to look at what's going on, interviewing the people behind the carts and you get a chance to see people trying out the goods. With summer just around the corner in the Northern Hemisphere, if you have plans on a vacation or two, avoid the Mc and check out these street vendors.

ARTICLE: Travels In Tacoville

The Portland Mercury has just started a series of articles called Travels In Tacoville, which looks at the growing number of taco wagons in Portland, Oregon and picks out some of the best. You can read the first two installments here:

Part 1
Part 2

Lunch @ Miner's Drive-In, Union Gap, Washington

Miner's Drive-In
2415 S. First St.
Union Gap, Washington 98903
509 (457-8194)
Google Map

Miner's Drive-In is a fast food burger place in Union Gap, Washington, about 2 1/2 hours East from Seattle and Portland, and the town just outside of Yakima. This is a burger place that is celebrated by many people in Eastern Washington and apparently some call it a great burger getaway. Some people I know of swear by this place, and for many people in the last 61 years, it still reigns supreme, even as McDonald's and Subway lurk nearby. I've passed and have visited Union Gap many times, but never made a stop here (Union Gap does have a great Japanese restaurant called New York Teriyaki & Hamburger, hopefully when I come back to Union Gap I'll go there). My mom felt like heading out of town and asked me if I could take her there so I did.

After reading a review, I was made aware that Miner's was very roomy, but it's a Saturday, it's almost summer, which means it probably would be packed. It was. I got in there and saw the menu, and lots of choices. Many different burger varieties, with the most basic one being about $4. I guess their Big Miner's is their specialty, so I went for that. It had a hamburger pattie, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and lettuce. They also had a teriyaki hamburger with ham. HAM! Chicken sandwiches, fish sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, taco infused something or other, and many other things that looked good. It was not as hectic as when I visited the great Varsity in Atlanta, Georgia, but it had that vibe in the back where everyone was hard at work, knowing the pattern of the kitchen. Miner's also sold combos, which was a burger, fries, and a soft drink, and there was one that was a whopping $10.99.

My sweet tooth started going when I saw the list of milk shakes and malts. They had all of the regular flavors, plus peach, pina colada, chocolate mint, and many others, at least 30. I wanted a milk shake but wanted to hold back so my mom ordered a chocolate one.

We were given our number and was told that the food would be delivered to us. We wanted to sit outside because a seat could not be found inside, but it was windy and slightly chilly. Nonetheless, I looked at the burger and it was big. Well, it was big in circumference but it was a thin patty, surrounded by lots of toppings. The bun is bigger than the hamburger, but after taking out what I didn't like, I went in. It was actually good as is, but I then decided to put some BBQ sauce on there. Not a good plan. It then seemed as if I didn't have a burger left, either that or the buns were soaking up the toppings. The fries were okay but maybe a bit overcooked. In the end, the burger was filling but it left me thinking "what did I just eat?" Maybe I needed to try a double burger, because it seemed like I was getting a lot of nothing. Or I could low-carb it (ha!) and just eat one bun.

As for my mom's milkshake, she couldn't take the sweet but I felt it was really good, it tasted like some nice chocolate syrup. Next time I'll try their pina colada milkshake.

To be honest, Miner's is not that bad for an independent burger shack, it's very old school and the people who work there are very nice, they make you feel at home. I will go back one day and try something else.

HISTORY: When Miner's started in 1948, their original name was Miner's In-N-Out, to describe the drive-thru they had and still have. But when a California burger chain started up in the 1960's, they didn't want to be confused with them so they changed the name to Miner's Drive-In. With the help of the internet and food shows, more people know about the Cali In-N-Out than the Union Gap Miner's, but if you're visiting the Pacific Northwest and want something quick and tasty with a pinch of history, plan on visiting Miner's.

Article of interest:
Local hamburger joint celebrates 60 year history (from YakimaHerald.com.

VIDEO: Deep Fry... Everything

This video comes courtesy of The Stranger in Seattle, the video counterpart to an article about what happens when you deep fry as many goodies as possible? You discover that some of those goodies are not so good.

BLOG OF INTEREST: We Eating

I just watched a great movie called Lumpia for the first time, and I was doing a search for one of the actresses in it. She does some publicity now, and through discovering that I discovered this, a food blog site called We Eating, started by Big Jon and Gus. They're two friends who go around looking for some quality food, and find out a little about the food and the restaurants they go to. Jon and Gus are the self-proclaimed "big guys" who love to eat, and they seem very down to Earth too.

There are only four episodes so far, but I like what they're about so check them out.

Snack Food: Beer Chips

I heard about Beer Chips a year or two ago, not sure if it was profiled on television or if I read it in an article in a magazine or blog. I was in Vancouver, Washington this weekend and I found it in, of all places, Whole Foods. It's odd because it's not exactly a healthy snack, and one doesn't think of Whole Foods when it comes to beer or chips. The company originates in Portland, Oregon, the city across the river, so I had to try it.

In typical potato chip fashion, there was much more air than chips. I tried it a day after I bought it and three things came to mind as I tried it:

1) it's very greasy
2) it's malty
3) it reminds me of Maui style potato chips, flavor wise

It did catch me by surprise, but it was a nice chip. Not hearty, but nice. It's definitely a chip I would eat on a side with a bigger meal, not that I'd ever eat chips as a main dish but it's also not a chip I would buy again for myself if there were other choices. However, it is a chip I would buy for a party so that others could try it.

Beer Chips also make a Margarita Shots variety (which was at Whole Foods), and their website also shows a Spicy Bloody Mary flavor.

Website of interest: LoveThatKimChi.com

I've known it as "kim chee", some may call it "kim chi", "kimchi", or even "gimchee" (mahalo, Wikipedia), but if you love it as much as my sister does, call it what you want, and there's a websiter for you. Called LoveThatKimChi.com, it features articles, reviews, news, and a store about your favorite Korean topping. Kim chee is a way of life, and if sick it can clear up your sinuses.

BTW - I picked up the recent Giant Robot with a great article about a new brand of kim chee I have not heard of, with a difference. If the graphic to the left is making you drool, head on over to GrannyChoe.com. You can order three different varieties directly from them.

Website of Interest: The Hungover Gourmet

The Hungover Gourmet, which calls itself The Journal of Food, Drink, Travel and Fun, has been around for a few years releasing fanzines for a mere buck each, and has had a web presence for awhile. Need to have a bit of adventure in your food while you chant "okole maluna" to your friends? Of course you do. Head there, along with The Hungover Gourmet blog

Food of interest: Kalbi tacos in L.A.

OH!

I somehow came across this blog called Mosely Tribes, and within the site was a blog. It lead to the discovery of a taco being made by a wagon in Los Angeles combining Mexican cuisine with a Korean touch. The end result? Kalbi tacos! Aiya!!! This item is made by KogiBBQ, and this may be Korean food-to-go but their menu shows that they are much more than just a Korean take-out. They also serve something called an Avocado Spread Egg & Cheese Torta, which looks as sexy as it sounds:


A friend tells me a good friend of hers has tried it, and they also have some decent veggie items as well so you don't have to go back to your carnivorous ways. Looks good, and if I'm ever down in L.A., I would definitely go to this place. Egon, FedEx me one.

While in Hawai'i Nei, President Obama Likes To Eat Here

The folks at MSNBC decided to write an article on some of the eatieries Barack Obama enjoyed while living in Honolulu and still likes to go to as an adult. In fact before he became president, he talked about going to Rainbow Drive-In and Zippy's, which for any local are mandatory stops for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and breakfast, along with something to get after a good day at the beach.

The main article is here, while A Guide To Obama's Favorite Eateries is behind the link. For us transplanted Hawaiians who are homesick not only for the good food, but for the people who like to "talk story" as we eat, these places will be very familiar.

To Mr. Obama: hui, we go eat.

Review: Bacon Salt

Upon reading a few food blogs and magazines, it's obvious people love to find out about new trends and new items. Emeril Lagasse always talked about his love of pork in his meals, and perhaps it is through that that one can learn about our own culinary preferences. Why did we become a fan of this or that, was it passed along from our parents? Or we know that our parents may have alternates recipes through time, only to realize that the original way you remember a dish was the best way. Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that people have shown a re-appreciation for bacon, enough for a company to create something as trippy of a concept as Baconaisse. Now, I'm not big on mayo unless it's with canned tuna to make sandwiches, but the idea of bacon mayonaisse is interesting. Some thing it's disgusting, and yet most of the time people are eating mayonaisse with some other flavor. The people behind Baconaisse, J&D's (for Justin & Dave) have created something that is equally as interesting, and one that I was able to find locally: Bacon Salt.

Maybe you're asking "do I need Bacon Salt in my life?" It may not be a deep need, but it is something that you will want to try on everything once you taste it. I found this amongst the other salts and seasonings and had to try it. There are a number of varieties: Original, Peppered, Hickory, and Natural, but I decided to try the Original, I figured it was safe. Bacon Salt's slogan is Everything should taste like bacon, so if you are a bacon freak, you are going to love this.

The label states that this salt is "Bacon Flavored Seasoning Salt" and that it's "Artificially Flavored". It is being promoted as being something even vegetarians can have, and it's "zero calorie, zero fat, and kosher". Believe it or not, this Bacon Salt is "low sodium". Okay, so this Bacon Salt is vegetarian friendly and low sodium? How in the world did this happen? The first ingredient in the list is sea salt, but then you're getting into garlic, paprika, and a number of other things so while salt is obviously primary, it's the mixture of the other elements that gives Bacon Salt its flavor.

How about the flavor? I had read somewhere that the flavor tastes similar to what you'll taste when you buy a can or bag of roasted almonds. Not quite but close, and I can only imagine what the Hickory Bacon Salt would taste like, but if you like that same smokiness, you'll really like this.

I tried it on a number of things, including corn on the cob, French fries, and lightly on scrambled eggs, and a bit on macaroni & cheese, and it's really good. I also heard it tastes great on mashed potatoes but I haven't tried that out yet. I would assume it would taste really good within a grilled cheese sandwich, along with ribs and steak, because it is indeed a seasoning. I would definitely recommend this but don't overdo it, because the flavors are strong and too much may not be a good thing. Just a dash or two will work well.

I bought this about a month ago and was ready to review it but felt I should try it on other foods. At one of the local markets they sell Bacon Salt (Original) in bulk, so ideally if you like it you can get a scoop and refill the bottle for much cheaper than you would if you bought another bottle. Although if you like one variety, you'll want to try out the other three.


If you end up liking Bacon Salt or are able to find Baconaisse, or aren't sure what to apply it on, you'll want to look through the Bacon Salt Blog.


EDIT: These guys even made Bacon Lip Balm.

EDIT #2: Going through the Bacon Salt website, they now have varieties for Cheddar Bacon, Applewood, Maple, Jalapeno, and Mesquite. This may become the crack of salts, and if one adds this to a McGriddle, it will truly be the crack of food.

Dinner @ Cousin's Restaurant & Lounge, Pasco, WA

4605 Road 68
Pasco, WA 99301
(509) 543-9925

If you have ever driven on Oregon Highway I-84 and made a stop in The Dalles, then you will have definitely seen a nice restaurant called Cousin's, which is a laid back place that is dedicated to offering food that makes you feel at home. Unfortunately I've never tried it there, so I was surprised a few years ago when Cousin's opened in Pasco. It had taken over a year for them to build and finish it, but when it did, it was packed. It's just off the highway, so whether you're coming into or heading out of the Tri-Cities, it's the perfect place to unload or stock up. I realize I'm sounding like an ad, but bare with me.

I've visited Cousin's in Pasco a few times before this, all breakfast visits but this was the first time I would be going in for dinner, this time with my mom and nephew. At the same time there was a Fathers/Daughter's event happening at a nearby venue so most of the people in there were dressed up, so it was nice to see.

I decided to try what they call the Knife & Fork Burger, which is described as an open-faced patty topped with sauteed mushrooms, bacon and onions, smothered with swiss cheese. I love hamburgers and cheeseburgers, and this seemed interesting as I could imagine the flavors right there. I should say something though: in the past I've not been fond of onions. I'll be honest, I hated them. I like the flavor but sometimes the texture used to irk me, I don't know if something happened in my childhood where I felt it was too "wormy", or I just hated the crunch. Anyway, I've been wanting to change and evolve with what I eat, and the idea of this burger being open faced with a lot of good things and a semi-good thing (onion) was going to be a semi-challenge.

In truth, it was no challenge. It came to my table and it looked good. I cut a piece and it was so ono! The hamburger tasted good, this definitely wasn't a fast food burger at all. Add to that the smokiness of the bacon and the flavor of the onions, mixed in with the cheese... man, I could have eaten another if my stomach was ready for it. One didn't need to add anything to it. I used to be a ketchup junkie, I didn't flood my foods with it but it would always be on there. In the last few years I've changed my habits as I've wanted to taste the actual food, and I've enjoyed the experience. You want to use a fork and knife on something that isn't steak, this is the best way to go. The thick French fries are also nice.

Atmosphere is cozy, it has a country/western feel but not overly so, and the customer service is excellent, very courteous and welcoming, no stink eyes whatsoever. Breakfast, lunch, and dinners are priced accordingly, so you may want to check their menus (at the website) for prices beforehand. Mine was $10.99 and definitely worth it. Of course you could also go around the block and eat at McDonald's, Taco Bell, Eatsa Pizza, Jack In The Box, and Sonic, but for a good meal to sit down to, Cousin's is definitely worth it for good, home style American food.

Breakfast @ Griff-N-Willy's, Richland, Washington

2243 Stevens Place
Richland, Washington 99354
(509) 375-4909
map (courtesy of Mapquest.com)



Griff-N-Willy's is a local diner I had heard about when reading the Giant Nickel, one of those freebie newspapers you can find at markets and corner/convenient stores. It was new, they were celebrating their grand opening, and the secret word was found in the ad: breakfast. That and the fact that if you clipped the ad and dined there before February 28th, you would get 25 percent off of your tab. Not bad, so I decided that I would take my mom there, since she's a big breakfast junkie as well.

Griff-N-Willy's (not to be confused with the pizza joint known as Nick-N-Willy's) is on Stevens Drive, and if you live in the Tri-Cities here in Washington, it means it's all the way in North Richland, that section where one road goes into Hanford, the other leads to Vantage and Yakima. In other words, it's not on the main road so if you want it, you have to make an effort. I drive to the area as located on the map, and at first I didn't see it. No building, no sign, nothing that says "eat here", until I looked left and with a bit of obscurity, a small diner, a Pepsi logo, and a place to park was seen. I would have missed it had I not paid attention.

We were the only customers there at the time, and at first I thought maybe it was closed. The door listed some of the specials, which I casually looked at but really didn't take a close look. We got there, greeted warmly by the cashier who sat us down. A few minutes later, a couple come in for breakfast as well. I then overhear the waitress call someone and say something which sounded as if she was asking for more help because "four people are here, and they just ordered breakfast". No big deal.

As far as atmosphere, it's very simple, no flash, just a few heaters and air conditioners. It was old looking, but not beat up, and very clean too, so those who mayt be offended by dirt or dust will find this to be a welcome place. The first thing I did notice was the new smell, or the fact that it didn't smell like a lot of food had been cooked there. It then reminded me of the smell I remember when I would go to my Omama's house. Ten minutes later, a lady comes rushing in, and immediately to the back. Twenty minutes later, still nothing. Twenty-five minutes, and finally we get to the meal. I then realized the person who came in fifteen minutes before was the cook, and perhaps the owner of the place.

The menu had a lot of good things on there, where you could have one egg and becon, two eggs and sausage, or you could get complex and have two pancakes, two bacon, two sausage, two eggs, and your choice of potato and this is what I found interesting. Their house special was called a "Potato Cake", which I had not heard of, so with my order of scrambled eggs & corned beef hash, I chose the potato cake. The menu stated that it was a personal favorite of the parents of those who now run Griff-N-Willy's. When it arrived, the dish looked very good. Not too big, not small, but in the words of Rap Replinger's Auntie Marialani character, just right. The potato cake looked like mashed potatoes that was slightly butterfried, with some herbs thrown in for flavor, and as for flavor, it was very good. The serving was equal to that of a Quarter Pounder patty, and perfect enough for the amount of eggs and corned beef hash I was given. The corned beef hash was really good, nice and crispy, neither under- or overcooked. I had a side of sour dough bread, and it was good too. I'm not sure if the corned beef hash was homemade or canned, I will have to ask when I visit the next time (and there will be a next time).

My mom had an egg over easy with bacon and rye bread, which she liked, the only complaint was that the coffee really didn't taste like coffee, but rather water with "coffee flavoring". My mom is a java junkie, and to my taste it was a bit light (i.e. more water than coffee). I had a glass of milk, and was happy with that.

Griff-N-Willy's has the feel of a humble and quiet country diner, so if you don't want to deal with the hectic pace of a Denny's, I would recommend trying their breakfast items. It looks like they could hold about 20 diners at any given time, but they have tables outside to eat out on during warmer temperatures. They also serve lunch and dinner, but you may want to call for business hours just in case. No online presence yet, but if you like the meals, maybe they can create a MySpace or Facebook page of sorts and put their menu up. Next time, I'll try out their pancakes.

COLUMN: Seattle restaurants offer their wares to customers

While not a Seattle resident, I do read the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, specifically the Wednesday and Friday editions and I always enjoy reading what food columnist Rebekah Denn comes up with. This week she came up with an article called good things come in small packages (note lower-case spelling) touching on local chefs who create product that customers can either take home or order online. This is good for Seattle expatriates who may want a taste of home.

Find out more by clicking here.

(P.S. I want to try the Bacon Jam made by Skillet Street Food, if you want to cut directly to the chase, jam right here.)

ARTICLE: Dick's Drive-In celebrates 55 years in business

Hip-hop heads know it's the place where the cool hang out, and Seattle-ites know it's still one of the best bargains in town. Of course I'm talking about Dick's Drive-In, and Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Leslie Kelly recently put together an article honoring this Seattle institution.

Here's a link to the article.

WEBSITES OF INTEREST: Rouxbe & FoodTube.net

If you're looking for a website that has comprehensive recipes AND videos to find out how to make it properly, look no further than Rouxbe.com. If you have the ingredients, or are about to head to a market with no ideas on what to make, check this place put.

Looking for more cooking videos? Take a look at FoodTube.net, where you are able to cook exotic dishes without paying exotic prices, or prefect your favorite comfort food dish.

In honor of President Barack Obama: how to make Spam Musubi (YouTube)

This is not of me, but of someone making something that has become a Hawaiian snack food staple in the last 20 years, which has also become a favorite of Barack Obama's: Spam Musubi.

It's fairly simple:
one nori (seaweed) sheet
Spam
rice

The concept is basically this: a musubi is a Japanese rice ball and is usually contained in a bento that you eat alongside your main dish (i.e. fish, chicken, or whatever). Sometimes there's ume inside. Hawaiian-style bentos can have Spam, so someone years ago decided to combine it by playing a slice of Spam inside and boom: instant nirvana.

There are enough recipes and variations on how to make a Spam musubi, some make sushi rice to give it a certain flavor, but you can just make plain sticky rice and put it in there, maybe sprinkle some furikake, or have one of those small shoyu things that come out of the plastic fish, whatever.

If the concept of eating Spam and rice seems gross, let me ask this: do you cook/grill the Spam? That's the way we Hawaiians eat Spam, and it's good. Do you need a Spam musubi maker? When the craze for them began, most people simply used the Spam can because the size is perfect. So if you want to start out lo-fi, check the above video. If you like what you make, then you can go to your closest Asian store (usually a quality one) or search online for a musubi maker.

If you are serious about making them and need to find a few quality variations, click to this page at LunchInABox.net. This lady lived in Japan for ten years and the ways of Japanese cuisine grew on her. Check it.

Cook Book: making New Farm macaroni and cheese

A friend of mine posts a recipe online for a vegan macaroni & cheese, and I decide to make it. What happens when a meat-eater confronts a meatless meal? Find out.

PART 1


PART 2

Dinner @ Hacienda del Sol, Pasco, Washington

Sunday, January 4, 2009
Hacienda del Sol
5024 North Road 68
Pasco, WA 99301
(509) 547-6392

Here in town, they recently replaced a Chinese buffet place that, to be honest, was a bit lousy. It tasted like Chinese fast food, kind of like Panda Express but worse. It was replaced by a Mexican restaurant called Hacienda del Sol. Pasco has a healthy Mexican population, so there's no shortage of restaurants and great taco wagons. I've wanted to expand on my Mexican cuisine, and it was new so I had to try it.

This visit was my third visit, so obviously I've become a fan. They have dishes that I have not seen anywhere else, and the flavor of the dishes I've had so far have been real ono. They have a combo section, which is good to try out the various dishes on there, so I decided to try the #22, which is a Chalupa and Chile Relleno:



It looks small, but you get a lot of food on the plate, including rice and beans. I tried the chile relleno and the chili pepper inside was nice and sweet, not hot at all. I had mine with ground beef, and when I got to the end I discovered there was some egg with it (it caught me by surprise). Then I tried the chalupa. I could have eaten about two more. I was half way through the chalupa when I realized I couldn't eat anymore, but I did finish it off. The chalupa is crispy and flavorful, far from the variation Taco Bell tries to make. If you have a big stomach, you can probably take this down easy, but if not, you can definitely get a container to bring it home. You're literally getting two meals on one plate, and whether it's the next day or later that night, you'll still have something good to consume.

Next time out I'll try some of their chicken and seafood dishes. Last time I had a burrito with a sweet type of lettuce and tomato salad on the side, which reminded me of what they serve at Tsukenjo in Honolulu. This is perfect when mixed up with the rice and beans.

The atmosphere is very nice, the service very courteous and they make you feel as if you were at home. Highly recommended.