Chicago Foie Gras Ban Repealed
Posted on 14 May 2008 under Food In The News, Food Philosophy | 4 Comments
Some of you may recall about a year ago veterinarian Dr. Lisa Whiting, DVM, and myself debating the various bans on foie gras. This afternoon, the Chicgo Tribune is reporting the City Council has voted to reverse its two-year-old ban on foie gras. From the article:
The council voted 37-6 to repeal the two-year-old ban, which critics argued had made Chicago–and the City Council–a national laughingstock.
Legislating food because of emotion, without consideration or even the knowledge of the true facts, while stomping on the rights of others, is complete and utter nonsense.
It’s obvious to me bans such as this should not be allowed. Ban the bans!
Walking Tacos, Ludington-Style
Posted on 13 May 2008 under Food Destinations, Michigan Cuisine, Picnics, Recipes | 10 Comments
Click on this image for a larger version.
Back a couple months ago, Dawn Shock retired as librarian at the Rasey Memorial Library here in Luna Pier. She’d been here for quite some time, and was an incredibly hard worker. She set up the hours at the Rasey Library in such a way that it mirrored the hours at the library over in Erie. That way, she could operate both libraries at separate times! She was also Luna Pier’s official historian, and had things stashed and catalogued all the way back to the Prohibition era and before. Her retirement has left a huge space in how things work in those areas.
So it was a pleasant surprise last week to run into her again! Of course she and I talk food on occasion, and she had a good one this time.
It seems up in Ludington, Michigan, and places near there, they offer a thing called a “Walking Taco“. (In looking into this thing, I even found it on the lunch menu for the Catholic school in Ludington.) The way she described it, Fritos are crushed into a lunch sack, taco meat is dumped on top, then lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese … you then just grab a fork and eat it out of the bag. Dawn said she’s had others and there’s nothing as good as the ones in Ludington.
I looked into this thing, and it’s real easy. I did find a few variations on the theme depending on the target eaters, but really, there’s nothing to it.
Basically, you make a Walking Taco it the way Dawn described. That’s all, plain and simple.
Another method is to crush the Fritos withing their own individual serving bag, leave ‘m in there, and pile everything on top.
Just use a commercial taco seasoning such as Old El Paso or whatever. I make it a bit drier, only adding 1/4 cup water vs. the 1 cup of water the package calls for. But for this batch I used the bulk mild taco seasoning from GFS Marketplace, mixing 1/3 cup water and 1/3 cup taco seasoning for each pound of browned ground beef. I also added mild banana pepper rings and sliced black olives to mine, along with a bit of chopped onion.
This is a good mix-and-match meal that would make a great little taco bar for a picnic buffet, particularly for kids. And one of these days, we’ll get up to Ludington for what retired librarian Dawn Shock calls “the good stuff”.
Eat This Blog: Eggs & Corned Beef Hash, Freeway Restaurant, Toledo
Posted on 8 May 2008 under Breakfast, Eat This Blog, Restaurant Chit-Chat | 6 Comments
I love a good breakfast. Have I told you I love breakfast before? Yeah well, I still do. If it were at all possible I’d have breakfast for breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea, luncheon, dinner, supper, before-bed snack, in-bed snack, a midnight snack, and even a two a.m. feeding.
This morning’s was a good breakfast. This is a Three Egg and Corned Beef Hash breakfast with the toast being replaced by a couple biscuits and whipped butter. Luna Pier Cook reader Dorothy might recognize this Corned Beef Hash as being from the Freeway Restaurant, across Navarre from St. Charles Hospital in Toledo. The restaurant’s been around since 1957, and many people I know recall eating there when they were kids. Yeah, this is real Corned Beef Hash. As the restaurant advertises it, it’s obviously “straight from the brisket”, being moist, tender and flavorful, with just the right amount of saltiness, cooked as perfectly as those three over-easy eggs.
Eggs like that make me jealous, as I need so much more practice at making them like this. I have the right pans …
Oh, and we can’t forget the restaurant’s signature “copper-topped” register counter.
Click on either image for a larger version.
Monroe Rotary ‘Service Above Self’ Award Dinner
Posted on 7 May 2008 under Special Events | 2 Comments
I had a bit of fun yesterday evening at the Monroe Rotary “Service Before Self” award dinner at the Ambassador Hall in Monroe. Before things got rolling for the dinner, Dan Shaw walked in. Dan’s the Managing Editor of the Monroe News, the founder of BlogsMonroe.com … basically, he and I created the whole “Luna Pier Cook” thing, which he still manages and tracks along with the 50 or so other blogs on the site. However, as part of my medical issues from a couple months ago, I had Mary shave off my beard. So when I called Dan over, the whole time he was walking over he had that look on his face of, “Geez, do I even know this guy???” I shook his hand and sat there smiling, letting him think on it for another long moment … and then I said my name. To say that he was surprised is an understatement! Dan and I haven’t seen each other since the Monroe County Fair last August, and it was good to see him again.
Mary and I hadn’t been to Ambassador Hall until last night’s award dinner and really didn’t know where it was. I’ll tell you what, Joe Perna has a great place! The space itself is gorgeous, with plenty of mirrors, murals, and a ceiling painted sky-blue with clouds. The tables are beautiful, and the wait-staff is very attentive, especially for a buffet. Most everything is quite professional.
The menu for last night’s award dinner was almost perfectly done:
- - Tossed Salad with House and Ranch dressings
- - Chicken Guiseppe - Joe’s own recipe, chicken breast sauteed with onions and mushrooms in a light white wine sauce
- - Homemade Meatballs in Marinara Sauce
- - Mostaccioli with Red Sauce
- - Redskin Potatoes
- - Green Beans Almondine
- - Dinner Roll & Butter
- … and some massive cakes you had to see to believe. (6″ thick two-layer sheet cakes … but the pics didn’t turn out!)
We had some great company at our table, including Charlie and Irma McIntyre, and Rev. Michael Thomas, head of the Monroe County Salvation Army, with his wife Mary. As to the other two people at our “farthest from the stage” table …
In the photo below you can see the reason we attended last night’s award dinner. Ken Kruzel, Luna Pier Fire Chief and Mary’s Mayor Pro-Tem, was honored yesterday evening for quite a few accomplishments above-and-beyond what his duties are. Chef Chief Kruzel, shown with his wife Lt. Angie Kruzel (also one of our firefighters), had been nominated for the “Service Before Self” award by Mary. While the Chief did not receive the award, he was recognized at the dinner by emcee Dr. David Nixon, President of Monroe County Community College, who read the Mayor’s complete nomination for Ken to receive the award to about 300 attendees. (Dr. Nixon mistakenly read Ken’s title as “Chef Kruzel”, a mistake we’re sure will stay with Ken for a while!) We’re quite proud to have Ken working with Mary here in Luna Pier, and are lucky to have him as our Fire Chief.
A New Look
Posted on 4 May 2008 under Notes | 15 Comments
I have a confession to make.
I’ve been a bit upset in a minorly-torqued-off manner with a couple friends of mine.
But really, they’re such a fine couple of folks I’ve been helping them out a bit even though I’ve been ticked, peeved, and otherwise annoyed.
I just never told them.
Within a couple weeks of changing this blog’s look the last time, the folks over at Michigan Beer Buzz went online. With … er … a modified version of the Cleaker theme I’d picked out and then modified myself for use over here.
Dagnabbit!
Still, as soon as they went online I trumpeted their arrival here on BlogsMonroe, even going so far as writing the following:
And yes, Rob, I’ll certainly point out the use of the same blog theme I’ve used here on Luna Pier Cook, implemented with some beautiful modifications to create a warm and friendly look for Michigan Beer Buzz. I particularly like the beer mug next to the Search box … nice touch! These themes are generally freely available (SteamyKitchen uses an elegant “pro” theme she had paid for) and are highly customizable. It’s always interesting to see how someone has implemented a given theme differently for another topic.
Still, even though I’ve helped them with a couple thing and passed beer-related info to them when possible, I could never figure out how to get rid of the feeling of being annoyed.
I no longer feel annoyed …
Welcome to the new-and-improved Luna Pier Cook!
The theme you’re looking at now is the main character from Yakitate!! Japan, an anime cartoon not yet regularly seen in this country. The image you see was actually provided for this theme by the original animator, so it looks pretty darn good. The plot for Yakitate!! Japan is described quite well on Wikipedia, so I won’t reproduce the whole thing here. However, the following is of interest as to how it reflects on the genre in general:
Although the story has baking as its main theme, the parts that generate the most interest are the outrageous puns in the story. Especially notable are the “reaction” based puns made by the judges, who go to great lengths to prove a single point about the bread that they had tasted. The series in general also pokes fun at the shōnen genre’s tendency to be melodramatic over mundane tasks.
Yup, a punny baker. Sounds like fun!
If you’re interested in watching episode 2 of Yakitate!! Japan here it is, all 25 minutes of it. And please let me know what you think of what I’ve done with the place and if you have any comments or suggestions.
As for all y’all over at Michigan Beer Buzz … y’all owe me a brewsky … 
Enjoy!
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