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Comments Elsewhere: It’s Official: L’explorateur to Close

  • Post author:
  • Post category:Indianapolis

Regarding Indianapolis and 4-Star restaurants, comments posted elsewhere:

For context: visit this link. It’s Official: L’explorateur to Close

Honestly, I think it says more about Indianapolis budgets than our dining habits, and it says more about restauranteurs not really understanding the Indy market. I’ve never had the money to go to L’explorateur, and I certainly don’t now.

I hate chain restaurants and overly salted food as much as you do. But SOME of our unique independent restaurants have to be within a budget for everyone to go regularly and not just as a birthday gift or holiday treat.

If you look at New York and Chicago and LA – locals don’t go to L’explorateur-like restaurants every night. Those high-flyers are attended by tourists from out of town, with locals attending on special occasions, and the large population of those cities means occasional dining from locals is enough to keep high-end restaurants in business.

But those cities also have awesome, independently-owned and operated restaurants that fit in the $ and $$ range – that’s where locals do their daily dining.
The Indianapolis market needs a lot more of these quality $ and $$ restaurants. And right now, our cities population isn’t big enough that we can support high-end restaurants with occasional dining.

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Pig Candy Recipe

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  • Post category:Appetizers

( modified by “unmarrieddaughter” from Sweet Potato Queen, and Alton Brown)

Software:

  • 1 lb. bacon medium cut
  • 2 Cups brown sugar (see note)
  • 1/8 tsp ground chili/Cayenne of some sort (optional)

Hardware:

  • cookie sheet
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Pam
  • Cooling rack that fits cookie sheet

Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil. spray cooling rack with Pam, put rack on top of cookie sheet. Put the bacon strips on the cooling rack, being careful not overlap the strips. turn on the oven to 400 degrees, put bacon in.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix together brown sugar and spice if using. Once oven reaches 400 degrees, remove bacon, and turn oven down to 350 degrees. spread brown sugar evenly over each bacon strip and place back in oven to back until bacon is brown and crisp. Let cool and eat.

Note: Pam and aluminum foil keep the caramel from ruining the pan.

Note 2: yes, you do want to use a cooling rack, as the bacon just sits in the fat if you don’t. If you don’t have a cooling rack, remove the bacon and let it drain on some paper towels.

Note 3: As alternatives to chili, any spice would work well.

Note 4. I also imagine this recipe as a method. If I were to experiment, and had maple syrup. I would just spread the maple syrup over the strips, coating each strip. Then, because I find maple syrup so much sweeter than sugar, I would probably add some sort of heat or spice like cayenne to cut the sweetness just a bit.

Oh, and pig candy is great crumbled up in this:

Pig Candy Caramel Sundae
1 cup of vanilla ice cream
Caramel Sauce
crumbled pig candy bits
Salted chopped peanuts

In a serving bowl place the ice cream. Drizzle sauce over the ice cream. sprinkle with pig candy bits and chopped peanuts. Eat.

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