Florida, Other foods

Havana Cafe of the Everglades, Chokoloskee, Florida

Chokoloskee Island is a few miles south of Everglades City, and just outside the Everglades National Park.  The island is an early land fill.  The local Indians dumped shells in shallow water and after a couple of thousand years, give or take, they had formed the island, and had some more solid land on which to live.  More important, they created a location for the excellent Havana … Continue reading Havana Cafe of the Everglades, Chokoloskee, Florida

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Texas, Top Places

Rick Schmidt of Kreuz Market, Rest in Peace

Another barbecue legend has died.  Rick Schmidt, owner of Kreuz Market in Lockhart, Texas, has died.  The Austin Chronicle report of his passing here.  Rick was the fourth generation of Schmidts to run Kreuz Market.  The meat there is cooked with indirect heat from burning  post oak.  The cooking is done in a separate room from the rest of the Kreuz Market.  Once you have … Continue reading Rick Schmidt of Kreuz Market, Rest in Peace

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Uncategorized

A Very Special Valentine’s Day Dinner

Valentine’s Day is a time of flowers, cards, chocolates, and romantic candlelit dinners.  Of course, all restaurants that are even remotely romantic are booked up well ahead of Valentine’s Day, and if, like me, you have honed the art of procrastination to a razor’s edge, your options are likely to be limited.  I usually cook dinner at home — last year I got a big … Continue reading A Very Special Valentine’s Day Dinner

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Best Lists, Other foods

The 11 Best Cheesesteak Places in Philly

I don’t trust “Best” lists.  Often, and virtually always in the case of best barbecue lists, they compare apples and oranges — say, pork and brisket.  The two foods are completely different.  And, again with barbecue lists, they often include places that don’t actually sell barbecue.  The not infrequent inclusion of places that have closed further saps credibility. Think about how a “best list” develops. … Continue reading The 11 Best Cheesesteak Places in Philly

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Georgia

D & D Barbecue, Atlanta, Georgia

My brother Jim sent me the video link from The Oxford American, which is more or less Garden and Gun for smart people.   It is a supplement to an earlier John T. Edge piece, Folk Witness, about the question of community and “exchanges unadulterated by artifice” that “confirm that humans are at the helm… complicated souls capable of responding to circumstance and necessity with brilliance.” … Continue reading D & D Barbecue, Atlanta, Georgia

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DC and Maryland

A Barbecue Oasis in Washington, DC

The Nation’s Capital often has been described as a barbecue desert, not least by me.  Washington has great food from all parts of the world, except the South.  Revolutions around the world help.  Whenever a government is overthrown, leaders of the old, corrupt government come to Washington where they can feel right at home, and they open restaurants.  I keep hoping for revolution in India, … Continue reading A Barbecue Oasis in Washington, DC

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DC and Maryland, Other foods

The Best Pork in Washington, DC: Los Hermanos

Despite her initial attribution of paper mill odors to me, Yvette Rivera remains one of my favorite people.  Besides being an excellent attorney, thoughtful, and an all-around good person, Yvette is an expert in Caribbean pork — Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican — you name it.  Yvette recently sent me a text about Los Hermanos, a Dominican restaurant, and my immediate, brain stem response was, “Let’s … Continue reading The Best Pork in Washington, DC: Los Hermanos

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Uncategorized

Biltong Soup Recipe

I recently came into some biltong from friends who were very dubious about it.  (Give it to John.  He’ll eat anything.)  Actually, there was no call for alarm.  Biltong is just a South African dried meat.   Its name comes from the Dutch words Bil (buttocks) and tong (tongue) which, I grant you, is potentially off-putting.  Biltong has more moisture than beef jerky, and thus is much more … Continue reading Biltong Soup Recipe

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