Posts from — October 2008

A Russian arrives in  New York City  as a new immigrant to the  United
States . He stops the first person he sees walking down the street and says,
‘Thank you Mr. American for letting me in this country, giving me housing,
food stamps, free medical care, and free education!’  [Read more →]

  Growing up I loved to eat.  My mom usually did all the cooking.  I never watched her but she did make a mean marinara sauce.  I then joined the food industry as a chef and general manager.  There is so much information on food and cooking that I did not know before entering the food industry.  I put together some points that would help you in your kitchen just to shed some light on various cooking terms and standards that can help you out.  Here is part 1:

 Different types of cooking techniques:

• To bake:  This one is easy.  Throw that roast, pie or casserole in that oven.  This is the method of cooking with dry convected heat without any fat or liquid added.
• To Simmer:  This is cooking  of a liquid.  The temperature is from 185 – 200 degrees.  The advantage of cooking  instead of boiling is less shrinking, less loss of liquid evaporation and less breakup of fragile, textured food such as fish.
• To Boil:  The cooking at liquid at 212 degrees.  Rapid convection takes place and loss of lots of liquid occurs.  You do not have to boil many food products.  Most common is eggs and pasta.
• To Poach:  This is the cooking of liquid at a temperature range of 150 – 185 degrees.  The food should barely be covered and is this method is used for tender foods such as fish.  Many recipes use the liquid after the cooking process to create a sauce.
• To Blanch:  In the food industry this is used often.  This is a [Read more →]

  AIG just received a loan bailout after the Federal Reserve extended an $85 billion emergency loan to AIG to keep it from going bankrupt due to insurance liabilities.  A week later they have a corporate lavish corporate retreat at the St. Regis Monarch Beach resort in Los Angeles, Calif.

  The eight-day company retreat was a lavish one – $139,000 was spent on hotel rooms, while even more money — $147,301 — was spent on banquets. Another $23,380 was spent on undisclosed spa treatments and another $6,939 was spent on golf. A full $9,980 was spent on room service and food and cocktails at the hotel lounge.

  All I can say is that I haven’t been this friggin mad in a long time.  These people need to be friggin Fired!  They need to be tried and convicted for using MY GODDAMN money for their pleasure.  If anyone uses AIG you need to fire them!  They just stuck their middle fingers at you and your goddman family!  Where is your money going??????

  I was at work one day and available for a taste test was Mighty Leaf Chamomile Citrus Tea.  I am not a tea man.  I am a beer drinking, football watching, Bizarre Foods watching man!  Ok, I do love to cook  and the smell of Yankee Candle seasonal scents but I am NOT A TEA GUY!   I may drink Chamomile Citrus Tea but that is not like I am sitting in a rocking chair sipping Earl Grey or Lipton right?  Your damn right.

  How did I get on this kick of tea you say?  Well since [Read more →]