Gainesville City Booster Club's 32 Annual Chicken Q April 17,2010

Official 32nd Annual Chicken Q T-shirt, on sale today!

What a beautiful sight

After savoring the victory of the Gainesville Red Elephants soccer team over their formidable opponents the Johnson Nights, I noted a ton of smoke coming from behind the city stadium. After discovering the source, I stopped by to see what the commotion was all about. WIll Carter and others were preparing an 18 wheeler full of chicken over one of the largest fire pits I've ever seen constructed for the Gainesville Booster Club's 32nd Annual Chicken Q. The pit, constructed of concrete block complete with venting, was as long as the trailer the chicken came in on. All the guys responsible were having a good time hamming it up with one another while they enjoyed the art of grilling. No other task in life required for survival is as fun as cooking. They were all in such good spirits and having a blast, so was I. Stop by from 11:00a.m. to 4:00p.m and pick you up a $5box of some slow cooked chicken for a good cause: youth sports. They will be located on Riverside Dr. in the Green Street Pool Parking lot across from Green's Grocery and behind the home side on the Gainesville Stadium. Tell 'em EasyB sent ya! SEE THE VIDEO FROM LAST NIGHTS COOK OUT HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC50Ljh4ylQ

Ralph, one of the Chicken Q chefs

More Chefs having fun.  

Rico's World Kitchen, Buford, GA

RICO'S WORLD KITCHEN 

The amazing soup

The Mojo Pork Sandwich

Last Thursday, I joined my sister and her family in Buford, GA near the tracks at Rico's World Kitchen.  I am always excited to try a new restaurant, especially when it claims to have a global or world theme.  Some of the best restaurants I have visited focus on the sphere that makes up the food realm, not just some part of it.  Rico's was no exception.  The food, service and ambiance met my expectations.  The place is comfortably casual, the service attentive, and the food memorable.

Our party of five chose to sit outside on the patio under an umbrella.  This area was under construction, but the weather was great and it was the perfect choice.  Our server stated the specials and tempted me immediately.  I started with the soup of the day: a truffled crab and asparagus espresso, that's correct, an espresso.  The chef must have searched every creative bone in his body for this lovely concoction, or discovered it by accident.  After I ordered it,  I speculated whether the soup actually contained espresso. I was later told it did.  As I browsed the menu, I couldn't help but notice the variety.  From Filipino inspired Eggrolls with your choice of spiced beef and pork or chicken to Cajun BBQ Shrimp and Mussels, I knew my sister had discovered a little gem of a place.

When the soup/espresso arrived, I was flattered by its appearance and the fact that it resembled a Spanish cortado (1 Part Espresso and 1 Part Milk) which was sprinkled with paprika in place of cocoa.  My first impression was, wow, such a pleasant taste from such an odd combination. A winner.  If this was evidence of what was to come, I knew then and there,  I was in the right place. 

My sister, not feeling adventurous, was going with her standard, the Mojo Pork Sandwich.  This sandwich prompted her to visit the place again and drove her decision to share this experience with me.  So, notwithstanding the variety offered by the menu, I had to order the Mojo Pork Sandwich.  Jake, my brother-in-law, was feeling more adventurous and ordered the Royal Rooster, a tender fried habanero chicken breast with swiss cheese, tomato, onion and lettuce, all served on a potato bun.  Though he liked his sandwich, he commented the Mojo was the way to go.  Moreover, he stated the chicken fingers he ordered for the kids were exceptional and even better than the chicken in his Royal Rooster.  I concurred after tasting both.  Aside from Ron Gress's chicken fingers, I believe these were the best I have ever had.   So, about the Mojo, yum! Tasty, tender, smoky, sweet all in one bite!  The only compliant I could mention was that the bottom piece of bread making up the sandwich was a bit soggy from all of those flavorful juices flowing from the pork.  Not a big deal.  The meat was so good, the bread was merely there to assist those wanting to eat with their hands - me included.  The BBQ sauce accompanying the Mojo Pork was out of this world.  Its base contains guava fruit, one of my favorite sweets, and contrasted nicely with the other spicy components in the sauce.  You must try it.

On the way in, the dessert case had prompted us to consider sweets before we had even ordered.  For dessert, we all shared a tremendous slice of decadent, strawberry cake.  Now, I have to be honest, my sister whips up the best strawberry cake I have ever had.  In this case, it seems she has shared her recipe with them and they obliged to take it a step further.  Rico's World Kitchen took the liberty to make this cake in layers and incorporated fresh strawberries throughout.  When sliced, the cake shows off those strawberries beautifully and adds additional texture to an already unimaginably good cake.  The icing was velvety with a strongly pronounced strawberry flavor.  The cake was moist and firm.   Just writing about this cake makes the prospect of calling my sister and asking her to bake one or driving straight to Rico's tomorrow for a slice highly likely.  What is certain, however, is I will be returning to Rico's with great expectations, and a desire to try something new.  As good as the Mojo Pork Sandwich is, I love to try new things and experiment.  As a matter of fact, I believe I will try the BBQ Shrimp and Mussels.  Our waitress delivered an order to the table beside us and the smell was unbelievable.  Until then, happy eating!

The Chicken Fingers with house-made chips and dips

Nathan, Lauren and Jake enjoying the experience

A view inside

The Decadent Strawberry Cake

TWO DOG RESTAURANT

Crabcake Sandwich

Spinach Salad

Penut Butter Pie ordered without Two Dog's pretty chocolate decoration,

as if I needed the extra calories

TWO DOG RESTAURANT 

As unique as its name, Two Dog Restaurant has been serving dinners in historic downtown Gainesville, Georgia for over 12 years.  Tim and Tina Roberts, Two Dog's owners and proprietors, are intimately involved in the day-to-day operations and activities at the restaurant.  While Chef Tim prepares and dreams up his exclusive dishes "back-house" in the kitchen, his wife Tina oversees "front-house operations" and coordinates the catering side of the business.  They are both active in the community and the restaurant was recently featured in "All Around Atlanta"

You will not see another menu like Two Dog's anywhere in Gainesville, or anywhere else for that matter.  For lunch, the menu is characterized by playful takes on great standards like the Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, Pimento Cheese Sandwich, and Roast Beef Sandwich.  In addition, patrons have the option to play an active role in creating their dishes.  Whether selecting from a long list of fresh ingredients to fill and top one of Two Dog's famous Quesadillas or creating a plate of choices from a long, daily list of both hot and cold sides, the diner has an opportunity to be creative.  

Tuesday, I popped in to grab a bite for lunch.  I was seated at my favorite location and was given a menu and a chance to order a beverage.   Their wine list is full of unique wines from around the world and is specifically designed to compliment their menu, so you can't go wrong.  My server was knowledgeable and courteous.  After perusing the daily soups, specials and sides,  I started with a spinach and walnut bacon salad served with a raspberry vinaigrette.  The spinach was fresh, the bleu cheese delightful, and the raspberry dressing was sweet and tangy.  A common faux pas committed at many restaurants is serving salad with bacon that was cooked the day before.  Not here, the bacon on the salad was meaty, crisp and tasted like it was cooked to order.   

For my main course, I opted for their ocean-fresh crabcake sandwich served on house baked bread with homemade remoulade accompanied by fresh lettuce and tomatoes.  Having worked with Tim before, I knew I was in for a treat with this dish, crabcakes are one of his specialties.  Unlike some places that use too much breading as filler, it was packed with crabmeat and veggies and cooked to perfection. The remoulade added a nice spicy accent and additional character to the sandwich.  I chose the grit cakes as a side.  If you have ever tried to cook one of these things, you will know the difficulty in attaining the desired amount of crispiness on the outside while at the same time preserving the creaminess inside that make us southerners love grits in the first place.  Kudos, they did it.  Please know that if you are a dessert person, you MUST try their peanut butter pie topped with chocolate ganache; it is simply to die for. Keep your eye out for a dinner review coming soon.

This place is just as I had remembered it, fun, quirky, stylish, and oh, so delicious.  Hats off to Tim and Tina for doing what they have always done, providing Gainesville with a unique dining experience where one can enjoy uncommon food and the company of good people.   Cheers!

Stay tuned for a Special Episode featuring Chef Tim Roberts from Two Dog! 

Melissa Ragan, a long-time employee, is always happy to see you!

Lauren is all smiles after cooking up some serious lunch

Couldn't resist taking one of my favorite quesadillas to a friend

EASTER TREATS AND COLORFUL FAMILY FUN

These nests taste as good as they look!

Yes, that flowerpot contains the dessert - Mud Cake! 

The holidays are a great time to get together with family and friends.  There is no better way to bond with those you love than with food.  In our family, cooking and eating is common place while sharing stories and emotions.  As a matter of fact, the food usually ends up steering the stories and emotions - keeping things light and refreshing.  Most people's experience with food is usually positive, and if it is negative, it's usually in a funny kind of way. 

These easy recipes will having you laughing and bonding with your children, family or friends in a hurry.  

The Oreo "Mud Cake" tastes incredible, and the presentation is precious and fun.  The Easter Egg Nests, also fun to create and beautiful to behold, have taken over my penchant for Rice Krispies Treats.  The sweetness, and just plain ooey gooeyness of these two items will have everybody in a good mood: not to mention, leave your fingers, beaters, and whatever else you get messy, finger licking good!  Kids go crazy over how fun and cool both of these Easter Treats are to make and eat.  So go ahead, this Easter Weekend, gather your family in the kitchen and have fun.  These Treats will leave all of your guests speechless and may even a little envious! : )

EASY-B

Everyone gets involved!

What a happy day!