Zesty Condiment Creations for your Summertime BBQs

We here at POTHOS are sure that many of you spent your 4^th of July outside in the sun, grilling up something delicious.

However, in addition to your Independence Day delicacies, we’ve decided that this blog will be dedicated to continuing your culinary adventures with a couple recipes from our residential foodie, CEO of POTHOS, Michael Patton.

Always keep cooking and always try something new. Remember, we’ve got a whole summer of sunshine and great food ahead of us!

Try these homemade variations on common condiments to spice up any barbeque or dinner party.

Homemade Ketchup

Ingredients

4 pints ripe grape tomatoes, cut in half

2 cups red wine vinegar

2/3 cup brown sugar

4 teaspoon sea salt

2 teaspoons black pepper

¾ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

(remember, quality of ingredients make a big difference in final product so use the best quality)

Preparation

In skillet, simmer tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, salt & pepper until thick (20 – 25 minutes)

Puree until smooth, strain, stir in Worcestershire sauce, chill completely overnight

Yields about 2 cups of your own brand of ketchup!

Homemade grainy mustard

Ingredients

¼ cup brown mustard seeds

¼ cup yellow mustard seeds

½ cup white wine

1 teaspoon sea salt

Preparation

Please seeds in medium bowl, stir in wine and ½ cold water. Cover and let stand overnight

Puree mixture until you reach desired consistency and refrigerate again for 24 hours.

Yields 1 ½ cups

So the next time your wise guy uncle asks if anyone remembered to bring the condiments for his 4^th of July frankfurter, break out these lip smacking flavor enhancers and impress the family!

Best Fried Chicken in America!

From Yahoo and Food & Wine:

Two Sisters Kitchen; Jackson, MS
Pies-N-Thighs; Brooklyn, NY
Momofuku Noodle Bar; New York, NY
Harold's Chicken Shack; Chicago, IL
Central Michel Richard; Washington, DC
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles; Los Angeles, CA
Prince's Hot Chicken Shack; Nashville, TN
Mama Dip's Kitchen; Chapel Hill, NC
Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill; Las Vegas, NV
Pine State Biscuits; Portland, OR

I am going to have to add a personal favorite to the list- The Hitching Post in Washington, DC (and, no, not the same Hitching Post from Sideways).

Original post with pictures and descriptions: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-40863020;_ylt=AtuISMuh3YyRt5jeHKL0_VKhpYMA

MMM... Foreign Fast-Food!

For those of you out traveling the world for either leisure or business, and on a budget, consider checking out these popular overseas fast-food chains (so no, Tim Horton's at the airport in Canada doesn't count). It is a cost-efficient and (usually) deliciously effective way to explore local cuisine while on the go.

From CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/26/travel/foreign-fast-food-bt/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

Going to be In or Around Reno, NV between October 8-9? Head to the Great Italian Festival!

As you may or may not know, I have a great personal affection for spaghetti and meatballs, which prompts me to share this:

Reno, NV is hosting its 30th Great Italian Festival next month. Some of the event's activities include: grape stomping, sauce cook offs, bocce ball, and a kid's gelato-eating contest (ah, to be a kid), along with musical entertainment. Free activities and entertainment highlight the festival's main focus - delicious and authentic homemade Italian food (mmmmmm!). This is Reno's final street festival for the season, so if you're going to be near, or just want an excuse to visit the Biggest Little City in the World, head to Reno!

The festival will be held on Virginia Street, in front of the Eldorado Hotel Casino, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Find the link to the event with all of the pertinent information here: http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/reno-tahoe/what-to-do/events/10-08-2011/great-italian-festival/?source=newsletter

Attention: Foodies!

From a Yahoo article (provided by Travel & Leisure) about the 10 best cities for foodies (a little sad San Diego didn't make it...).

10. San Antonio, TX
9. Charleston, SC
8. Savannah, GA
7. Seattle, WA
6. Portland, OR
5. Chicago, IL
4. New York, NY (no, not the buffet in Las Vegas)
3. Providence, RI
2. San Francisco, CA
1. New Orleans, LA

For the full text article with information about each city, see this: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-40686622;_ylt=AuWy4Du_Pn3KzVblVMZQ6CqhpYMA

On Today's Menu: The Ice Cream of America!

Americans collectively gorge on 1.5 BILLION gallons of ice cream a year, perhaps contributing to the tipping scale of America, but it certainly does so in a shamelessly delicious way. I am hoping to shed some light on a few particularly delectable- and some unusual, if not boldly inventive- ice creameries around the United States.

Anyone in the Bay area in search of a tasty treat, make your way to one of these locations:

Bi-Rite Creamery in San Francisco, CA- where almost everything in the shop is made from scratch- even the marsh mellows for the Rocky Road and subtle but exotic flavors such as Balsamic Strawberry are ready for ample sampling.

Humphry Slocombe in San Francsico, CA- with old standbys like Peanut Butter Curry and Salt and Pepper... wait.

Ici Ice Cream in Berkeley, CA- features the flavor creations of a former pastry chef in inspired batches of Rose and Candied Cherry creamy goodness. Plus, the waffle-cones are made in-house.

On the opposite shore:

The Bent Spoon in Princeton, NJ- features interesting cream-taste combinations like Lavender Marscapone and Tomato (nicely paired with Basil flavored ice cream!). Don't forget to give the Hot Chocolate ice cream a try, if you're not ultra adventurous.

Woodside Farm Creamery in Hockessin, DE- the farm that this creamery is located at has been in existence for over 200 years (est. 1796). The local cows pump out (not by themselves) exorbitantly cream-a-licious milk for the production of this exemplary frozen treat.

And in-between the oceans:

PumpHouse Creamery in Minneapolis, MN- this shop is ran by Barb Zapzalka and utilizes organic milk and cream from a small Wisconsin dairy farm. The ice cream is made on-site and the menu is frequently updated.

Morelli's in Atlanta, GA- come here for fanciful Italian-themed savory selections like Ricky Ricotta Cheese and Rosemary Olive Oil.

A small sampling of additional shops for your consideration:

Ben Franklin's Tomato in Rehoboth Beach, DE
Scoops in Los Angeles, CA
Ample Hills Creamery in Brooklyn, NY
Scoop DeVille (awesome name) in Philadelphia, PA
The Creole Creamery in New Orleans, LA
Sweet Action Ice Cream in Denver, CO
Bubbie's Ice Cream in Honolulu, HI

AND- for the most adventurous dessert-seeking foodies among us- me not included in this group- who are in search of an ice cream experience unlike (for a reason) any of the others above, make your way to the famous Heladeria Lares in Puerto Rico. Featuring over 1000 flavors ranging from the predictable (and dependable!) chocolate and vanilla, to the creamy concoctions of otherwise tempting tastes like garlic, rice and beans, chicken[!], and shrimp[!!!].

If you have any extraordinary ice-cream shops to add to the list, please do!