PorkChopSammiches

Peruvian perfection

2010-04-26T11:34:00.000-04:00

Let's play a game. It's called word association. Ready?

Peru.

Do you think of the Andes mountains, soccer players eating each other or maybe chickens being roasted in a brick oven? All good answers but not what I'm thinking of.

When I think of Peru the first thing that pops into my head is steak. Specifically, lomos saltado. Lomos saltado is Peruvian style steak that's been marinated in vinegar and soy sauce and then stir-fryed with onions, peppers, tomatoes and spices and fresh herbs.

What you end up with is a whole bunch of tender meat in a vinegary tomato sauce that you traditionally serve over white rice and french fries.

It's delicious, exotic and the french fries make it delightfully white trash.

Try it. You'll never think of Peru the same way again.

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package frozen French fries (I like the restaurant style myself)
vegetable oil as needed
1 pound beef sirloin, sliced 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick strips
salt and pepper to taste
1 large onion, sliced into strips
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
3 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and sliced into strips
1 yellow bell pepper
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1 dash soy sauce to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper, sliced
2 cups of white rice, prepared according to package directions

Directions

Combine the 1/2 of the soy sauce, garlic, parsley and vinegar together in a large ziplock bag. Add beef strips and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Prepare the bag of French fries according to package directions.
While the French fries are cooking, heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Season the sliced meat with salt and pepper to taste. Sear the outside of the beef until the juices begin to release.
Remove the meat from the frying pan, then cook the onions and bell peppers, with additional oil if needed, until the onions are transparent. Stir in the tomato and 1 tablespoon of cilantro; cook until the tomato softens. Pour in the remainder of the vinegar and soy sauce, cover, and cook until the beef is done, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with rest of the chopped parsley and cilantro. Garnish with jalapenos and sliced radish and serve on top of the cooked french fries and plain white rice.

Top Chef DC? Looks like it's already started filming...

2010-04-06T15:56:00.000-04:00

From a random tipster to the DCist:

See all the white lab coats and the camera boom? Apparently there were a bunch of rental trucks full of camera gear parked outside as well. Now we just need to find out where they're staying...

Bug fights

2010-04-06T14:59:00.000-04:00

You've seen girl fights, bum fights and if you're a Philadelphia Eagles fan, you've probably seen a dog fight. But now our good friends over in Japan bring us something new: Bug Fights.

http://www.japanesebugfights.com/

I don't even have words to explain how awesome this is. Enjoy.

Prince of Persia

2010-03-31T11:07:00.000-04:00

I hated my last job. While I actually enjoyed the people I worked with, the work itself was soul crushing and awful. Maybe not so much the fault of the employer as it was the fault of the employee for not doing something he was really passionate about. This has since changed and I'm doing work I truly enjoy. One fond memory I will always have from my last job was a secret treasure hidden across the street known as Shamshiry.

Shamshiry is a Persian restaurant probably best known for their humongous portions of rice that accompany their dishes. When I say humongous, I mean FRICKIN' HUMONGOUS!

Not only are the portions large, they're incredibly tasty too. The kabobs are cooked and seasoned to perfection. The rice is butter and savory and yet, at the same time, light and fluffy. If you're a repeat customer you may even get a little but of the crusted rice from the bottom of the pan (absolutely amazing).

While the kabobs are my favorite, the menu is full of delectable items for you to explore. And they do a terrific job of explaining each item and making it sound irresistible. Example:

Chelo Kabob Kubideh
Kabob is the Persian word for meat or fowl cooked over a charcoal fire. There delicious strips of charcoal broiled ground meat are served with a snowy mound of rice topped with saffron. All the beef dishes achieve greatness when you add a raw egg yolk on the side, which you rapidly pour into the hot rice, continuing to toss it so that the egg coats all the grains as the heat cooks it. Stir in as much butter as you dare, and sprinkle in the brown powdered sumac that’s in a shaker on the table. Its tart spiciness is irresistible.

I mean, doesn't that just make you want to eat your screen!? Whatever you decide upon, pony up for some of their fragrant hot Persian tea. It really completes the experience and may help stave off the rice induced coma later...

Shamshiry Chelo Kabob
8607 Westwood Center Drive
Tyson's Corner, Virginia 22182
(703) 448-8883

Cool bookends

2010-03-29T14:44:00.001-04:00

Looking for a way to keep your books from toppling over on the shelf and pancaking your cat in the process? Tired of the same old book ends everyone seems to have from Ikea or Pottery Barn? Check out my favorite bookend solutions:

1. Starwars (aka I never get laid) style. The answer to your questions is yes, they do light up. And yes, you're never going to move out of your grandmother's basement:

http://shop.starwars.com/catalog/product.xml?topcatID=1300264;product_id=1313610;category_id=1300760

2. The "I'm so American I pissed red, white and blue!" style. These will look great next to your signed portrait of Rush Limbaugh:

http://bobsgiftstore.biz/oscommerce2/catalog/index.php?Cpath=261&Sub_Cat=273-

3. The "Loving Unicorns doesn't necessarily make you gay" style. On second thought, yes.. yes they do make you gay. Sorry.

My dog hates squeaky toys

2010-03-22T11:02:00.000-04:00

Seriously:

I'm keeping anything of value far away from her... :)

Going Grocery

2010-03-18T12:17:00.001-04:00

I love food. I think anyone who spends more than 5 minutes on this blog and gets through the grammatical errors and off-color humor sees that. I love food so much that it fosters a love affair with things related to food. I love cooking, trying new restaurants, sampling local cuisines of places I visit, reading cookbooks and watching food shows.

I especially love shopping for food. Few things make me happier than perusing the isles of a Whole Foods or visiting a local farmers market. There are few other places where you can find the quality and variety of produce available in this area. But as I found out Saturday, there is a place that does indeed stand head and shoulders above even Whole Foods in its selection and quality of not only produce, but meat, fish, spices and other assorted food stocks.   And for far cheaper than even discount grocery stores sell for. This place?
Super H Mart.

If someone blindfolded you and marched you into an H Mart you would swear you were in some new Whole Foods store with its clean and modern design, well stocked shelves and wide open spaces to walk.   Then you'd notice things like instead of having a section devoted to cheese, there's one devoted completely to kimchi and you'd know you're some place special.

When you first walk in you notice many of the signage is in Korean. Which makes sense because it is, in fact a Korean grocery store.   But you immediately forget about any signs or writing or any care in the world when you see the produce. Dear god, the produce. It's beautiful. The most ripe and beautiful looking fruits you've ever seen. Plump and gigantic tomatoes, fragrant herbs, crisp lettuces.... amazing.   And the variety is unlike anything I've ever seen.   Things like bitter melon, star apples and even durian (which smells a little like rotting flesh but is very popular in Southeast Asia. I may have to try it!).

And the rest of the store doesn't disappoint either. The freshest fish I've ever seen not swimming. Tons of beautiful beef and pork. Row after row of spices, noodles, rices, soups and even Asian cereals. All waiting to be discovered by me and you.

I took a few snapshots while I was shopping there.   I would have taken more, but I was took busy being mesmerized by this place.   Take my word for it and just go, if you like food even a little bit, it's an experience that shouldn't be missed (and it's hella cheap!).

: The outside of Super H Mart

: Produce!

: More produce!

: This smell... no so good!

: Cereals and health foods - The have cereals for students, expecting mothers and people who are "excellent". I love it!

: I have no idea why i found this funny... but I did

: Power snack - Ingredients? Power and snack.

: Award for the creepiest looking packaging surprising goes to a can of "milk coffee"

For cod's sake...

2010-03-15T09:22:00.000-04:00

Generally speaking, I'm not a "fish" person. Growing up, the closest thing we had to an ocean nearby was a dirty lake and a river that was most famous for catching fire. So, as you can imagine, fish never appealed to me very much. Since moving to DC, I'm come out of my shell a little, so to speak, and have started to enjoy the delicate and wonderful flavor that fresh seafood can offer. But before all this, there was one fish that spoke to me. One fish I would be willing to look past even a nice hunk of beef for; battered and fried cod.

Oh yes, mild and flaky cod fillets, battered and fried to a golden brown and smothered in tangy tartar sauce and malted vinegar. And chips on the side? Why not!?

Now, I've had this deep fried delight everywhere from San Diego to Dublin, Ireland. I've had some very very good fish and some not so great fish as well. And in my experience, no one does it better than our very own Eamon's (a Dublin Chipper) in Old Town Alexandria. The propreiter of this establishment, Cathal Armstrong (who also owns Restaurant Eve and the Majestic) is no stranger to fish and chips. After all, he is a native Dubliner and therefore probably has a pretty good understanding of what makes this particular dish so special.

I've been visiting Eamon's for years since it first opened and I've been sure to tell all my friends/co-workers/ perfect strangers know that if you want the best fish and chips you'll ever have, head into Old Town and look for the giant E on King Street. Though a little pricier than most of your typical fried fish establishments (you can get a nice friend fish plate across the street at Murphy's), I always felt that the quality of the food justified the slightly higher price tag (the paper bag you eat out of doesn't help either).

Well, this weekend girlfriend and I just happened to be in Old Town running a few errands and trying to avoid getting soaked by the seemingly endless rain. Now matter how we positioned the umbrella or zipped up our jackets, we couldn't escape that damp chill that an early spring storm seems to bring. We both knew there was one food that pretty much made for this kind of weather; fish and chips.

So we headed over to Eamon's, ordered a large fish (me), a small (her) and a large order of chips with curry sauce. We sat down at one of the big tables and watched out the window as the drenched masses walked up and down the sidewalks outside.

When our food arrived, we were a little taken back by what we saw. Though it had been a while since we had both been there, it looked as though they had decided to cut back on the portions significantly! It looked as though we had gotten about HALF THE FISH we used to get. And the curry sauce? We barely got a few little drops in the bottom of the plastic dipping cup. When did this happen!?

Listen, I'm all about paying a little extra for higher quality food. But it seriously looked like we ended up with about 8oz of fish for $13. Did someone replace the cod with Chilean sea bass?

Eamon's, I love you. Really, I do. If I didn't, I wouldn't even have bothered with writing this post. Maybe we just got the shaft on the portions this one time. Maybe our order got messed up. Perhaps the guy at the register didn't like the look on my face. Who knows?

But fish and chips is supposed to be a filling, satisfiying meal. Not a light snack that makes you running for the fridge as soon as you get home. So please, don't skimp on the portions anymore. I don't want to have to start going to Murphy's and eating a lesser piece of fish just to get full.

Thank you.

Manliest toilet ever

2010-03-12T13:28:00.003-05:00

Another thing to add to the list of stuff to buy when you run out of other stuff to spend your money on:

Yes. Toilet tattoos. I mean... why the hell not, right? Get yours here at Amazon.com

Thanks for the link Marco. I think...

DC area bikers rejoice

2010-03-11T15:02:00.003-05:00

The Washington Post reported that DC is considering adding 2 new bikes lanes down the center of Penn Ave in downtown DC, along with a new biking land down the M street corridor. This is a welcome addition for many people in the DC area. It may not surprise you to find out that DC has the 6th largest percentage of bike commuters in the country, a number that has doubled since 2000 (these are all 2008 statistics, so they're likely higher now).

As a former (and hopefully someday future) bike commuter in the District, this news is long overdue. I used to ride 5 miles each way from Ballston to M street every day when the weather allowed for it and I found it to be one of the best experiences of my life. I got to avoid (and help reduce) traffic jams and burden on the metro, help the environment by not burning any fuels, I also saved money and got a lot healthier to boot. Not to mention, there's something very centering about spending the first 30 minutes of your day enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

While my ride into DC was great (Arlington has a good network of bike lanes and trails), once I got into the District, all bets were off. No dedicated lanes heavier traffic along with angry and sometimes crazy cab drivers who took traffic signs and signals only as a recommendation.

So if you're a biker or if you just want to see less cars on the road, maybe give city hall a call or email to voice your support.

Corey Haim: RIP

2010-03-10T09:16:00.002-05:00

I personally think vampires are involved somehow...

Corey Haim, 38, Dead

Eighties teen idol Corey Haim died Wednesday morning of an apparent drug overdose, according to Los Angeles police.

The Canadian-born actor, who starred in "The Lost Boys" but was probably best known for his roles with fellow actor Corey Feldman, was 38.

He was found unresponsive at his Oakwood apartment around 3:30 a.m.,according to KTLA-TV. His mother was at the apartment at the time of his death.

The actor, who has struggled with drug addiction, was pronounced dead at Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank.

Police were called to the hospital just before 4 a.m. to investigate his death.

Read more here

New Toyota driving simulator

2010-03-08T22:40:00.003-05:00

Did you wake up this morning and say to yourself "I wish there was a way I could test drive me one of them new Toyotas and not like.. ya know, die or something"?

Well kids, your wish has been granted. Now you can enjoy all the excitement and exhilaration that comes from driving a vehicle that accelerates all on its own, without any of the danger!

Enjoy:

http://www.toyotasimulator.com/

LULz

How to improve a thrift store paint in 3 easy steps

2010-03-08T13:57:00.005-05:00

Step 1 - Buy $5 painting from thrift store

Step 2 - Add a dash of awesome sauce

Step 3 - Mount on the wall and let your friends marvel at your masterpiece.

Yo Fro Yo

2010-03-08T08:48:00.003-05:00

Like most men, sometimes, I can be such a little kid. I still love going to amusement parks, I become giddy at the thought of buying new toys and still like going out for ice cream. Actually, any frozen treat will usually fit the bill and recently, my icy drug of choice has been frozen yogurt.

I love it's tangy, tart flavor, the mild sweetness and, of course, the bountiful choice of toppings usually available. Plus, although it's probably just as bad for you as a pint of Ben and Jerry's, it FEELS like it's healthier (ah, the bliss of implied healthiness and ignorance).

So yesterday Girlfriend and I are in Chinatown running errands and nursing a pair of hangovers. We sat down for some lunch at our favorite spot down there, Chinatown Garden. Something about wonton soup always makes my hangovers feel better.

Afterward, since we were already nearby, we decided to pop into American Apparel to grab a few new fresh tees. When we arrived we saw that American Apparel had themselves a new neighbor:

"oooohhh... herrrow!"

Frozen yogurt? Self serve? Count me in!

Now, I wasn't thinking about frozen yogurt until I saw the sign. I was actually a little full from lunch and my hangover wasn't quite gone all the way. We went into American Apparel, got our stuff and by the time we checked out we had talked ourselves into walking next door to... ya know, just check it. I mean, we weren't going to actually get any. We just wanted to see what the place was all about.

So 15 minutes later I'm in the car finishing my giant cup of tasty yogurt and thinking about how persuasive the power of frozen yogurt can be. :)

Although I've had better frozen yogurt (ahem, Pinkberry!), FroZen Yo's is pretty good. And their selection of flavors is pretty impressive. Their selection of toppings is also impressive with everything from gigantic blackberries to Captain Crunch, everyone is sure to find something (or things) they like. And since you aren't limited in the number toppings you can add (unlike most other places that charge you for additional toppings) you'll be able to make your yogurt treat as unique as you want it to be.

With frozen yogurt being all the rage right now, these kinds of shops are popping up everywhere. I think FroZen Yo does a pretty good job of setting themselves apart with their selection of rotating flavors (16 I believe), self-service (you pay by the lb) and friendly staff. The design store is clean and modern, if not a little generic. But I have to wonder how well they'll be able to handle the mobs of tourists that will surely descend on them in the summertime. Hopefully I'm wrong, but I predict long waits when the mercury starts rising.

One omission I would like to point out is the lack of Fruity Pebbles. Come on FroZen Yo, get your head in the game. You can't sell frozen yogurt and not give a man his Fruity Pebbles! What is the world coming to!?

FroZen Yo

1006 F St NW; 202.347.1313

Things I love

2010-03-05T10:31:00.004-05:00

There are precious few things I truly love in this world. Here are three of them:

1. Commericals that show dogs doing people things. I have no idea why I find this so funny, but anytime I see a poodle driving a car, I'm going to start laughing:

2. Raspberry Lambic. Seriously. It's like the best tasting drink on the planet, plus it's got loads of alcohol. I would drink this shit every day if I could. But then I would A) be a complete alcoholic and B) My teeth would rot out of my mouth.

3. Steak. Perfect, delicious, juicy steak. How about a nice NY strip? Here's what you do:

Go to a real butcher. Have him cut you some nice thick 1lb strips. Bring them home and them come to room temperature. Heat up the grill as high as it will go. Sprinkle some kosher salt on the outside of the steak right before it goes on the grill. Sear on both sides for about 4-5 minutes and then put them on the top rack of the grill to finish for about 6-7 minutes.

Bring inside, let them rest for about 5 minutes and enjoy.

Saturday pancakes

2010-03-04T08:58:00.003-05:00

You ever have a weekday that you wished was a saturday? When you look at the alarm clock as it's beeping at you and just pray that it could magically stop and turn your morning into weekend snoozefest?

For me, today was one of those days. It would be a perfect day to sleep in till about 10:30, turn on some cartoons and really enjoy and savor my favorite meal of the day, breakfast. Every one who knows me will tell you there are few things that make me happier than a great breakfast with a nice big cup of strong coffee and some fresh juice. One of my most favorite breakfast foods are pancakes. Easy to make and sure to please almost anyone, pancakes are generally my go-to breakfast food when I want to show my friends how much I care (even though they are like, retarded easy to make).

Now, to make truly great pancakes, you GOTTA make them from scatch. And no, I’m not one of those people who look down my nose at boxed pancake mix. Pancakes from a box have their place. But when it’s so easy to make y0ur own pancakes from scratch and you’re given so much flexibility in doing so, boxed pancake mix loses a lot of its appeal.

Here’s my favorite recipe for pancakes that’s both easy to make an enjoyed by many. Don’t worry about the fact that you’re putting cheese into your pancakes. You won’t taste it at all. I don’t know what it is about the ricotta cheese, but it makes the pancakes super moist and perfect. They’ll make you wish every day was a Saturday.

Ricotta Pancakes

Ingredients

* 1 1/2 cups flour
* 3 tablespoons sugar
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
* 1/2 cup ricotta
* 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk
* 2 large eggs
* 2 tablespoons of fresh squeezed orange juice (you can substitute regular oj in here too)
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* Unsalted butter
* 12 ripe strawberries, sliced
* Pure maple syrup

Directions

Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the ricotta, milk, eggs, vanilla, and orange juice. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones, mixing only until combined.

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat until it bubbles. Ladle the pancake batter into the pan to make 3 or 4 pancakes. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until bubbles appear on top and the underside is nicely browned. Flip the pancakes and then cook for another minute until browned. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel, add more butter to the pan, and continue cooking pancakes until all the batter is used. Serve with sliced strawberries, butter and maple syrup.

Where it all started

2010-03-03T12:04:00.002-05:00

Some people ask me where the name PorkChop Sandwiches came from. Well, you have to wonder no longer:

How I celebrate St. Patty's Day, DC style!

2010-02-26T14:54:00.004-05:00

Last fall, along with 6 of my best duders, I went to Dublin, Ireland for my buddy Doug's bachelor party. We set out for four days of drinking, laughing and general tomfoolery. It just so happened that we arrived there the same day as Arthur's Day (250th anniversary of Guinness, which was about the biggest party Dublin has ever seen). As I was guzzling pint after pint Temple Bar and singing drinking songs with the locals I thought to myself how cool it is to experience a party like this. Dublin has Arthur's Day, Munich has Oktoberfest, Tennessee has Bonaroo, New Orleans has Mardi Gras, Brazil has Carnival…and DC? Well we have ShamrockFest.

The first time I came to DC to visit was for Shamrockfest. This was back in 2006 when it was still being held near the Ballston Commons Mall. My friends Doug and Ben had an apartment overlooking the festival so they naturally got a keg and threw a little pre/post game party at their apartment and invited me down from Cleveland.

I was not disappointed. The weather was fantastic (low 70's) and though we didn't make it down to Shamrockfest for a long time, it was still a pretty amazing time. It's seriously the biggest party I had ever been to.

Now, the best thing I discovered at Shamrockfest that is the VIP passes. Not only do you get all-you-can-drink beer, which is a complete steal, but you also get access to private stages and way better bathrooms. Trust me, the bathrooms alone are worth the few extra dollars you pay. These days it might be hard to justify the extra expense, but you'll thank me later. Just make sure you buy them in advance ($79 vs. the $129 at the gate).

National ShamrockFest 2010 features over 40 amazing Bands and DJs on a 10 stages (this year’s line-up will blow you away), plus roving entertainers, endless beer stations, food and craft vendors, an Irish Village, Shamrock Pub Games, carnival rides & games, massive tented and open areas, and much, much more. And since this is the TENTH anniversary of ShamrockFest they're making some major additions, including the Men's and the Women's Irish Football National Championship Tournament (being played right at ShamrockFest), and the Chest Bump Against Cancer (we will be setting a world record with this event and raising money for Susan G Komen Global Race For The Cure at the same time), and much more. http://ShamrockFest.com

See you kids there!

Crowd surfing optional:

The best sandwich you'll have for $3.50

2010-02-25T08:53:00.002-05:00

I've always said that one of the best parts about living in this area is the diversity of the food culture. Almost without exception you can find your favorite kind of food, no matter where it may have originated from. And anyone who knows me will tell you that my absolute favorite ethnic food is Vietnamese.

I was first exposed to Vietnamese with Pho. Pho, for the unacquainted, is a traditional Vietnamese thinly sliced meat and rice-noodle soup dish. Immediately recognizable by its rich and hearty broth and interesting plate of accouterments, this soup has become very popular in the US over the last decade and is one of my favorite things in the world to eat (especially if I'm hung over).

Well one day, I happened to be in Eden Place (a local Vietnamese Strip Mall in Falls Church). It was after lunch time and my belly was rumbling. I was looking for a place to pull up and knock back a big bowl of the magical Vietnamese super soup, but it looked like of the Pho shops had lines wrapped out the door.

As I walked around thinking about whether or not I wanted to wait I noticed a little deli that still had a decent line, but nothing I couldn't manage. I thought maybe I could get a small sandwich and much on that while I waited for Pho. Feeling a little adventurous I walked in and asked the woman at the counter what their best sandwich was.

She told me I should try the #8 (roasted pork) and if I liked it, to come back for a #10 (lemongrass beef).

I thanked her, ordered the sandwich and in a couple of minutes this pretty normal looking sandwich came out (also called Bánh mì ). It was a hard French baguette stuffed with thinly sliced grilled pork, cilantro, jalapeno peppers, pickled carrots, cucumber and onions. It also seemed to be slathered in some kind of spiced mayonnaise. It smelled delicious so I dug in.

Wow. The flavors hit you immediately. It's really very different from any other flavor I had ever had, but somehow, because it was in a sandwich, it seemed very familiar. The meat was deliciously tender and the vegetables and cilantro added a lot of fresh tastes to balance out the thick and crusty baguette that was slathered in this mayonnaise. I woofed the entire thing down in a few minutes, immediately forgot the Pho and ordered a #10.

Want to try one? Stop by Song Que in Falls Church and see what $3.50 will get you there.

Jamaican me crazy!

2010-02-24T10:56:00.008-05:00

Ok, bad title. It's all I could come up with. Forgive me.

But I'll make it up to you with letting you in on a little known secret in DC; Negril. Negril is one of the very few authentic Jamaican restaurants in the greater DC area. A fixture in the DC area since the 80's, Negril offers fast, affordable and absolutely delicious Caribbean treats.

If you've never had Jamaican food, you're really missing out. A strange cross between Latin, Caribbean and Soul food, the flavors meld into some of the most flavorful dishes I've ever had.

I always start with one of their beef patties. Flaky pastry on the outside, spicy meaty goodness on the inside. Next up? Fricassee Chicken. Chicken that is fried then stewed in a tomato based sauce served with rice and peas. Oh. My. God. I could eat this every day. Seriously. Still hungry? Looking for something you can eat on the go? Try the Jamaican Jerk chicken sandwich. The only thing it's missing is a warm beach and a six pack of Red Stripe beer.

Misses? There are a few. The Ox Tail Stew is rich but unbalanced. The veggie pattie isn't bad, but compared to the beef pattie it's certainly lacking.

Finally, not being much of a fish guy, I can't vouch for this personally. But apparently their seafood dishes are their best. So it looks as though some return trips may be in order.

Overall, highly recommended. Cheap (entrees between $6-$12, seafood may be slightly higher), generous portions, and great flavors. I just wish I had some of that Jamaican weather right about now...

Negril - Silver Spring
965 Thayer Ave.
Silver Spring, MD
(301) 585-3000
Monday-Saturday 11am-9:30pm
Friday til 10pm
Closed Sunday

Located in the heart of Silver Spring off Georgia Avenue, 2 blocks from the Metro.

A beautiful day has come to Washington DC

2010-02-23T09:16:00.000-05:00

So last night me and Girlfriend were out and about in DC near Friendship Heights and as we turned to head home we decided to stop at the Rodman's (a small boutique grocery store out there) to see if they had any really cool beers we could take home with us. And Rodman's, you didn't disappoint:

I've heard the rumors and read the blog posts, but I had yet to see it in the wild. Great Lakes Brewing, the pride of Cleveland, Ohio, has finally come to grocery stores in DC. Well the magical day is finally here (for me anyways).

Being originally from Ohio, I occasionally like being able to enjoy some of the fruits from the city of my youth (however few they are). And like perogies and stadium hot dogs, nothing says Cleveland native more than Great Lakes Beer. In the past, I would have to haul back a load of 12 packs every time I went back home to visit and inevitably share them with all my friends and neighbors down here.

I immediately scooped up a sixer of Dortmunder Gold (their most popular and arguably best beer) and Burning River Pale Ale (which Girlfriend has taken a liking to). As we headed home I couldn't wait to not only open up a few while sitting on the couch that evening but tell my friends where they can get their own!

A Pretty Epic Message to The Bank

2010-02-19T09:23:00.001-05:00

"Oh you're going to foreclose on my house? How would like that house bulldozed first?"

Frustrated Owner Bulldozes Home Ahead Of Foreclosure

Man Says Actions Intended To Send Message To Banks

http://www.wlwt.com/news/22600154/detail.html

MOSCOW, Ohio --

Like many people, Terry Hoskins has had troubles with his bank. But his solution to foreclosure might be unique.Hoskins said he's been in a struggle with RiverHills Bank over his Clermont County home for nearly a decade, a struggle that was coming to an end as the bank began foreclosure proceedings on his $350,000 home."When I see I owe $160,000 on a home valued at $350,000, and someone decides they want to take it – no, I wasn't going to stand for that, so I took it down," Hoskins said.

Hoskins said the Internal Revenue Service placed liens on his carpet store and commercial property on state Route 125 after his brother, a one-time business partner, sued him.The bank claimed his home as collateral, Hoskins said, and went after both his residential and commercial properties.Hoskins said he'd gotten a $170,000 offer from someone to pay off the house, but the bank refused, saying they could get more from se lling it in foreclosure.

Hoskins told News 5's Courtis Fuller that he issued the bank an ultimatum."I'll tear it down before I let you take it," Hoskins told them.And that's exactly what Hoskins did.Man Says Actions Intended To Send Message To Banks

The Moscow man used a bulldozer two weeks ago to level the home he'd built, and the sprawling country home is now rubble, buried under a coating of snow."As far as what the bank is going to get, I plan on giving them back what was on this hill exactly (as) it was," Hoskins said. "I brought it out of the ground and I plan on putting it back in the ground."

Hoskins' business in Amelia is scheduled to go up for auction on March 2, and he told Fuller he's considering leveling that building, too.

RiverHills Bank declined to comment on the situation, but Hoskins said his actions were intended to send a message."Well, to probably make banks think twice before they try to take someone's home, and if they are going to take it wrongly, the end result will be them tearing their house down like I did mine," Hoskins said.

Holy Taco

2010-02-18T12:14:00.000-05:00

On the corner of George Mason Drive and Columbia Pike in Arlington sits an unassuming lunch cart waiting for its daily stream of customers to arrive. On Sunday afternoon, like you see here, business trickles in slowly but steadily. On the weekday lunch rush however, this little cart looks ready to be overrun by a swarm of customers. A mix of immigrant laborers and a local office workers, they all come here looking for the same thing; The best tacos in DC.

What they serve are these amazing carne asada street tacos similar to the ones you’d find on the streets of Mexico city. I’d been looking for these authentic street style tacos since I moved to the area. These aren’t your typical “Tex-Mex” style tacos you get at Chevys or Don Pablos.

So what makes these $2 street treats so special? Try two corn tortillas stuffed with marinated and shredded skirt steak then topped with fresh pico de gallo and “ranchero-style” salsa. Sound good? Try this:

Sorry for the half eaten taco picture, but I just couldn’t help myself. As you can see, they’re hard for me to resist. Anyways, next time you find yourself on George Mason Dr in Arlington with $2 in your pocket, try one of these little delights. You might just find more reasons to head back.

Comida Latina Express (parking lot of Food Star Supermarket, 950 S. George Mason Dr., Arlington; 703-855-1961) Open daily 11 to 8.

Here's a hint

2010-02-17T11:52:00.000-05:00

Just because that white dude on the bus is old, he still has a Marine Force Recon tat on his forearm. And if you hit him he'll probably bust you up pretty good:

Valentine's Day - Aka The Day I Brought The Tyrannosexy Back

2010-02-15T11:10:00.001-05:00

So last night me and the girl (here and forever known as Girlfriend) were chillaxin' on the couch eating dinner and trying to find something on the tube. Since we had already celebrated V-Day the evening before with a little dinner, wine and music we were no longer obligated to try and be overly romantic. Even though we sat there in our sweatpants, me eating a giant mound of chinese dumplings and her chowing down some leftover shepherd's pie we still thought it would be nice to find something kind of romantic on TV (since it was technically Valentine's Day).

We both figured since it was Valentine's day and all it would be easy to find some cheesy romantic comedy or maybe showing of the Notebook somewhere on the 50,000 channels we have. Well, once again the people who in charge of television programming have baffled me once again. The following was the selection of choices available to us:

The NBA All-Star Game (which Sweetass immediately veto'd)

Most people don't care to watch a bunch of millionaire athletes compete in what is essentially a 60 minute long string of trick shots and dunks, but either I'm enamored by all the star power on the court or I'm easily amused by anything shiny.

2. Strange Sex

Not just a show about people with strange sexual disorders, but an entire series (I immediately added it to the DVR schedule). Cases explored included Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder. Apparently since childhood, a woman has suffered in silence from unrelenting episodes of sexual arousal, which can only be temporarily abated by self-stimulation. After finally being diagnosed, she and her doctor seek to alleviate the symptoms of the debilitating and consuming affliction that her physician describes as "Tourette's syndrome of the genitals." I know the question you're all asking yourselves and the answer is: No. She wasn't hot.

And when Strange Sex was on commercial we flipped over to:

3. Tyrannosaurus Sex (No, i'm not kidding)

Ah yes the age old question. "How did the T-Rex get all his bitches?" Well now a whole gang of ubber-nerds - who probably haven't been laid lately themselves - have given us the answers. According to the director Gabriel Gornell "Ultimately we had to make sure that everything we were doing was spot on. It's one thing to have the sizzle of animating dinosaurs having sex, but what takes it to the next level is when the information is there. It really is a learning experience for the viewer." Yes, you actually got to watch to watch as T-Rex turned the lights low, lit some candles, turned up the Barry White and got his freak on with Mrs. T-Rex. The only thing I could think while watching was this: If I was the guy animating this scene, would I being thinking to myself "I went to art school to animate dinosaurs fucking. Fuck my life."

And what did I learn from this documentary? Girlfriend is not aroused by dinosaurs fucking nearly as much as I am....

(EDIT, I randomly found this picture on the internet. I just noticed something... is this girl blind? That just made it 10x funnier. )

The Friday News

2010-02-12T09:43:00.000-05:00

Every Friday I'll find and post one ridiculous/incredible/awesome news story for everyone to enjoy. We'll start with this one. I don't know who this guy is, but he'd probably be a pretty fun neighbor....

Tree carved in shape of penis in Tempe offends some

Feb. 11, 2010 06:12 PM
12 News

A dead tree is creating quite a stir in one neighborhood in Tempe these days. Neighbors say the carved woodwork went up in the backyard of a home in the 2000 block of E. Dunbar a few weeks ago.

"They carved it, all by themselves it looks like," said Susan Wood, who lives nearby.

"I'm a little bit speechless," said Wood. "A little bit funny but probably something that needs to be taken down."

"I'm thinking it looks a little phallic," said Tim Sunday, who was driving by.

"It's 8 feet tall," said Aaron Freidman, who walks his dog by the carved object daily. "It's a big tree that was carved into a male phallus."

The City of Tempe received at least one anonymous complaint about the carved tree last week. The owner was issued a violation notice for having a dead tree, said Jeff Tamulevich, code compliance administrator for Tempe.

"The violation was served," said Tamulevich.

Neighbors say the tree was dead and unattractive before it was carved up. The wood now rises over the side of a cement wall in the owner's backyard where it is visible to people walking by.

The homeowner was not available for comment right away.

Snowboarding in downtown DC?

2010-02-11T15:50:00.000-05:00

Why not?

Hello world

2010-02-11T14:32:00.001-05:00

And welcome to the first post of Porkchop Sammiches. This blog is written by a food and fun loving guy living in Northern Virginia. I write about food, stuff from my life and random stuff I find on the Internet. I hope you enjoy and if you don't, let me know. I love a good Internet food fight..