The Strip Club

Brunch. Perhaps the least elegant meal of the week. Pure sustenance. Perhaps you're weekends differ from mine, but I generally find that when I'm eating brunch, I'm moderately hung over from a hard night of studying.

Then, a friend of mine recently informed me that it doesn't have to be like that. Life doesn't have to be like that. Sure, I like 2 eggs sunny side up with hash browns, toast, and a bloody as much as the next guy... but is that where it has to end? After umpteen millions of years of evolution, can we as a people not do better than that?

The Strip Club IS different. I had been there once before for dinner, and was thoroughly impressed(no simple feat since I pride myself on my steak-making ability and steak is what I had). Within 3 minutes of walking in the front door, I was inadvertently talking to the main chef and having my future order honed. This isn't the 4th string, minor league, B-team chef that might normally be slinging hash at a normal restaurant during brunch because the bad-asses worked the night before. This man knew what he was doing, and it shows.



To be honest, the food I photographed above was not my food. Kate has been here for brunch numerous time, and I believe she ordered it for me, knowing it would show up arriving like this. Completely and totally beautiful(as well as exceptionally good... I tried it).

I ordered what the chef, JD Fratzke suggested that I order. Benghazi Chickpea Bowl.



OK, perhaps its not quite as photogenic as Kate's food... I will submit to this. But I will be goddamned if I have EVER had a brunch meal that was as good as this. Ever. Its been a few hours since I had it, and I can't think of one, not ONE. Absolutely the most terrific meal that I've ever had at that time of day and in that state of mind... period.

Before and After... a work in progress.

New ingredients. New techniques. So much work to do...

before.


after.

Nothing doing.

I've had a very slow month of work. Therefore, I stopped going out for lunch on every non-work day. Of course, this takes a bite out of the food project.

Also, I had a VERY bad day at the tax lady's house. I'm not good with numbers, and really not good at the whole mess that is our tax system. Had I been smarter, I would have taken a few precautions to avoid what happened to me on April 14th. It was really, really bad.



This is a perfect depiction of what has happened to the food project, as well as a metaphor for how I feel after taxes.

Black and White Party

A long time friend of mine named Trey threw his second annual Black and White Party at the Hotel Minneapolis downtown on Friday. The only thing he asks is that you wear black, white, or a combination thereof. Trey only charges $5 a head(150 people) and has DJ's to pay, so I know he isn't making much money. What Trey seems to enjoy is getting a mixture of good people together... and he doesn't need an excuse to do it.

Trey doesn't expect much and appreciates everything, so when he approached me about doing some photos, he did it a bit uncomfortably(at least for him). He told me what he wanted. He knew what that would normally cost if you were to hire a professional. He knew that I knew that there was no way he could pay that. I suppose he hoped for the best.

So of course I did it... thats what friends do I guess. Anyway, with the location as beautiful as this(floor, chair), I thought I could get some decent shots. I did.


This is Trey.

Gorditas El Gordo

I was recommended this place by a Mexican friend of mine for its authenticity. They press the masa when you order and fry that shit on the spot. Of course, there is definitely lard somewhere in the mix.



Notice the distinct lack of shitty, melty cheese. Its not that I don't like cheddar-like cheese, I just don't think it has any place on food like this. Queso Fresco... accept no substitute.

While I was eating, I looked up and saw this...



During the course of this project, I've realized how far I've come when it comes to food in the last 15 years. Growing up, I wasn't exposed to much variety and quality in culinary experiences. We ate pretty healthy(thankfully)... it just didn't taste too good. Fortunately, when you have a metabolism running at light speed, you really don't care. I could eat, and would eat, most anything... including as much fast food as I could get my hands on. I remember really thinking that McDonald's was a good restaurant.

Oh well, live and learn I guess. And other than a few occasions with unsavory consequences... here is to 11 years without fast food.

Nala Pak

This used to be the Udupi Cafe. That name pulls on the heart-strings for vegetarians and Indian food lovers across the metro area. Since it switched management, I've had mixed results, but its still 90% vegan, and I still have major communication problems with the people working there. So thats good, at least.

What sucked today was that they no longer have a menu during lunch hours. Buffet only. Buffets make me feel like a fat fuck. Like I'm lining up at the trough with all the other fat fucking heifers. Not only that, but I'm not a chef, and I'm especially not an Indian chef. I'm not sure how things are supposed to go together, or even what is supposed to go together. So, I lined up at the trough, looked at the pretty colors, and threw this shit together.



Nala Pak was COMPLETELY empty when I went there today. But get this, while I was walking in, I saw a woman that I work with occasionally coming in at the same time. I kind of felt like I should have sat with her, because we're cool. When I'm doing the photo thing, though, I generally need the whole table so I asked for my own. I felt like such an ASSHOLE!