SOUND OFF: Is Breakfast The Most Important Meal of the Day?
23 Saturday Aug 2014
Posted Uncategorized
in23 Saturday Aug 2014
Posted Uncategorized
in23 Saturday Aug 2014
Posted Dining Deals
inTags
breakfast, broken yolk, broken yolk cafe, brunch, carlsbad, eggs, encinitas, most important meal of the day, san marcos, yolk
Once again, Chow NCOIC has uncovered a dining deal that is so good that we cannot keep it to ourselves!!
Actually, the real impetus is that breakfast is not my favorite meal of the day (shocking I know) so I’m not worried about being turned away due to a run on booth space. The reason it’s not my fave has mostly to do with the commonly offered food choices. Call me crazy, but eggs, sausage, and the like are just not what I’m looking for first thing upon waking.
Because of this I commonly skip breakfast and since I am still able to function properly I have come to disagree that breakfast is the “most important” meal of the day. I do so with caution though, since such radical lamentations will get you a mean case of the stink eye from those who’ve bought into what is basically an unsubstantiated claim. In fact this half-truth has been accepted to the point where it has become so much a part of our cultural lexicon that it is almost blasphemous to deny.
The truth is that one could make a sound and convincing argument (based in scientific fact) for either observing or abstaining from breakfast. In his article Breakfast: Not Really the Most Important Meal of the Day Dr. John Berardi, founder of Precision Nutrition, compares the benefits of eating or skipping breakfast and comes to the conclusion that “Breakfast is optional. Which means it’s not “the most important meal of the day.”
But I digress, this post was not meant to read as a tirade from some emaciated troll who has a grudge against eggs. Hopefully all my breakfast-loving brethren out there will forgive me if I have offended your firmly held convictions regarding your morning repast.
Man, this has got to be my most counterproductive post yet….
By way of an apology allow me to turn you on to a deal I found through Valpak.com.
Until 9/05/2014 one of San Diego County’s top breakfast spots Broken Yolk Café is offering to take half off your second entrée when you buy the first and two beverages at regular price. Perhaps you can use the coupon below to take a the lil’ breakfast troll in your life out for a rare treat that might change their minds completely.
Of course this doesn’t mean that my own feelings about breakfast have changed or that I’m any more willing to rouse myself on a Saturday morning for a meal of dubious necessity.
I am however excited about the prospect of stopping by for brunch!!! : P
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!
To take advantage of this deal, click here and print the coupon.
Please note that this coupon is only good at the Carlsbad and San Marcos locations mentioned on the coupon itself.
To suggest dining deals for broad dissemination through our blog please contact us at: chowncoic@gmail.com
16 Saturday Aug 2014
Posted Restaurant Reviews
inTags
adult milk shake, ahi, bacon, bison, burger, choices, diner, dining, food, gluten free, In-N-Out, McDonalds, milkshake, SoCal
Just in time for the weekend comes another hot review from Chow NCOIC. This time I chose to go with a foodstuff that few could find fault with. Of course that is a very loaded statement, but since the foodstuff in question here is delicious burgers, hot off the grill, the way you want ‘em, it’s very doubtful I’ll find much pushback from anyone in this hemisphere at least.
As you may know, Southern California is the birthplace of many a burger empire. Mickey D’s, Carl’s Jr., Fatburger, In – N – Out, and Jack In the Box all hail from this Mecca of Burgerdom.
Just to be clear I won’t be writing about any of those places, at least not in this review, and some not ever. Ronald and friends this means you.
That said, I am still a sucker for a well-marketed and smartly franchised brand. In the case of most food franchises though bigger means blander. Most of the truly big names have been pumping out the same slop (albeit with ever more clever marketing campaigns) for years.
The good news is, we as consumers have begun to wise up and demand better. Gone are the days of the greasy mystery meat patty and greasier basket of fries. Today’s consumer is much more discerning about the quality of ingredients than his forbears in the Golden Age of the Burger Shack and eateries for the most part have risen to the challenge.
One such rising star, fittingly of Southern California origin, is The Counter. It is a relatively new brand that was established just as consumer perspectives were shifting toward healthier alternatives.
The Counter first opened in Santa Monica in 2003 about 75 miles from the site where Dick and Mac McDonald flipped the first McDonald’s hamburgers 63 years prior. That’s only about 35 miles from Baldwin Park where the first In-N-Out opened, a brand that still embraces the model of simplicity imagined by the McDonald brothers before a young upstart named Ray Kroc joined their team and catapulted their company to burger stardom. The Counter, however, is worlds away from either of these “competitors” in terms of freshness, quality of ingredients, and overall concept.
You see, unlike In-N-Out which focuses on minimizing choices to enhance speed of service, The Counter seeks to maximize choices in the interest of optimizing flavor. Normally this means a huge menu which isn’t necessarily a good thing. Since the focus here is burgers though what it amounts to is more choices under the bun. At the moment they offer 7 meat choices, 16 cheeses, 24 different sauces, and 7 choices of bun including a gluten-free variety.
Many of these ingredients are on the menu incorporated into what are referred to as Expert Build Burgers such as the Southeast Asian Ahi which as its name implies is a tuna burger with Oriental zest. There is also the Un-Brie-lievable which features ground turkey and dried cranberries amongst other more or less traditional burger toppings.
According to The Counter’s website there are over 300 thousand possible burger combinations which is a helluva lot more than In-N-Out. Oh and did I mention….The Counter has booze.
Now to some that is a lamentable descriptor, but what I mean to say is that The Counter stocks a full bar with all the premium spirits you would expect in a trendy nightclub. Not only do they offer the “good stuff”, but they offer it in delightful concoctions such as their Adult Milk Shakes which come in several delicious flavors such as Thin Mint, Spiced Apple Pie, and Bananas Foster. On this visit, I opted for the latter and I’m sad to say that my grandma’s Bananas Foster now pales in comparison with this easy-to-chug milkshake.
Also on offer are some fine signature cocktails that pair as well with the style and ambience of the establishment as they do with the food that is served here. One such cocktail called the Counterball is a delicious and well blended mix of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Stoli Vanil, and icy cold Coca-Cola. This drink picks up where the postmodern, art deco decor leaves off and the ultra swaggy menu items pick up. Imagine your granddaddy’s diner pimped by Xzibit.
For those not as enthused by the promise of libation I offer as an inducement the fact that The Counter promises only antibiotic and hormone free beef. For those with an ascetic streak they offer this divine cut in a burger called “the Purist” which features only meat and bun.
As for myself however, that just isn’t enough. I demand a vibrant montage of components that will excite and enrapture my palette. For this reason, I chose on a burger called Bison with a Bite. As the name insists it is the standard ⅓ or ½ lb. patty only this time hewn from a good ol’ God fearin’ American bison and not some common Hereford or Angus cow.
My burger arrived at the table in a simply plated fashion that only helped to augment the character of its toppings which included sharp Tillamook cheddar, red onion, spicy pickles, house mustard, and sriracha sauce.
My dining companion on this occasion went with the market selection which is a craft burger fashioned from a unique meat that is only available for a limited time. Since they may possibly not be offering the same Market Selection when you visit I will not tease you with what or good it was. Suffice it to say that my dining companion found the sandwich “a real flavor fiesta”. Totally gringo I know, but hey, this is Irvine.
The only dour note on our visit to The Counter was the appetizers. While they came across as mouth-wateringly appetizing from the menu description, they lacked appeal upon arrival. We ordered the deviled eggs which while utterly delicious due to a hearty applewood smoked bacon flavor were sadly lacking as an appetizer since you only get two egg halves.
Our other appetizer, the Fried Dill Pickle Chips were soggy in the middle while the breading was excessively doughy and undercooked.
Whatever the appetizers lacked the drinks and burgers definitely made up for. Most importantly, the staff provided top shelf service and was on hand to answer all of our questions. They seemed quite knowledgeable and proud of the company’s concept. One that I find to be a real WIN for the burger world.
The best part is that you needn’t go all the way to Irvine to get your grub on. The Counter also has a location in San Diego which may be especially convenient for those of you in the Miramar area.
All things considered, my dining companion and I enjoyed four drinks, two appetizers, and our sandwiches for the slim price of $67.50 before tip. Being huge people watchers we enjoyed the sizable early dinner crowd which consisted of hipsters, families, friends, and lovebirds. Such a wide ranging pool of patrons only serves to confirm that this place is doing something special that appeals to a wide audience. That is why my burger buck is on The Counter!
For more information, please visit: http://www.thecounterburger.com/
To suggest restaurants for review please drop an email to us at chowncoic@gmail.com
08 Friday Aug 2014
Posted Barracks Gourmet
inTags
barracks, chili, dinner, easy recipes, football, football food, Fritos, lunch, Nacho, Nfl, recipes, snack, tailgating, usmc
Dust off your dip trays and clean out your coolers…..NFL football has returned!!!
Yes, I realize it’s only preseason, but personally I look forward to these games as an indicator of what is to come once the season truly kicks off. It makes no sense to me that so many people who would claim to be die-hard football fans can so callously disregard these games.
I suppose it’s because from the comfort of one’s own recliner or favorite bar stool the results of these games seem arbitrary. Tell that to the kid trying out for a spot on the team, whose career will either be established or ended by his performance in that game. He may have a different take on the value of the outcome.
For what it’s worth, that’s why I watch preseason football.
However, since this blog’s focus is food not football I will refrain from further proselytizing you with my deeply held convictions regarding NFL Preseason games and get down to the good stuff.
If you hold these games in as high a regard as I do than you are already glued to your couch, posted up with a beer in hand, awaiting the commencement of the festivities. Secondary considerations such as food will just have to wait. However if you are not so zealous, or your team’s game has yet to start there is still time to figure out some sort of munchies to sustain you through the next several hours…but not much.
At times such as these drastic action must be taken. You must forego considerations such as calorie counts and presentation and go for raw sustenance alone. Well, that and deliciousness, but it should go without saying that I make no exception there.
It is with this spirit of sportsmanlike determination for speed and excellence that I introduce you to our latest Barracks Gourmet creation the C-Bag Shuffle.
C-Bag Shuffle Recipe
Ingredients
4 ½ oz bag Fritos Corn Chips (or your favorite chip variety but Fritos blend the best)
15 oz can Hormel Chili with Beans (for added spice try the HOT variety)
½ cup Fritos jalapeno Cheddar Cheese Dip
½ medium white onion, diced
1 can pickled jalapenos
1 tbsp. sour cream (if desired)
Preparation
Money saving tip: This same meal can be pulled off at your local 7 Eleven for the price of a bag of chips alone since most locations offer free nacho cheese sauce, chili, and condiments with purchase of a food item. Disclaimer: Some 7 Eleven locations frown on the practice, insisting that the chili and cheese are only for hot dogs or to make nachos out of the miniscule and ridiculously stale bags of tortilla chips they sell for that purpose. In order to avoid any misunderstandings that may sour ones appetite I’d say ask what your store’s policy is regarding these “free” condiments. Personally I don’t see the difference between a $3.49 bag of Fritos and the $3.69 they charge for the tortilla chips but that could be why I’m not the guy with the keys to the Slurpee machine.
06 Wednesday Aug 2014
Crock pot cooking seems to largely be a practice reserved for autumn and winter months when so many other important considerations such as preparing for the holidays and helping the kids through the rigors of their school schedules demand our attention. During this last quarter time crunch it seems we are looking for recipes that are more fire and forget.
Aztec Pulled Pork Sandwiches Recipe
Preparation