Vacation Blast Off!

It hit me like a ton of bricks last night as Siege and I retired to our humble abode after an evening with friends, a ridiculous amount of pizza, and a little moonshine- alas, I was on vacation! It's been a long 8 months since my last break and boy do I need it. It also happens to be my B-Day, and some buds were kind enough to send me off in style with dinner at Chicago Fire pizza!

Chicago Fire has two locations, the original in Old Town Folsom and the most recent addition in Mid-Town Sacramento that opened earlier this year. Siege and I had been to the Folsom pizzeria once years ago. The pizza was great, but hardly warranted the 45 minute drive, especially since Giovanni's is not more than 5 minutes away. Now, you don't have to tell me that there's a difference between Chicago and New York Style pizza... I'm well aware. Overall, I tend to prefer New York's thinner crust to the heartier Windy City brand of pizza. That said, it was my Birthday, which meant time to go big or go home. And it had been awhile since I had a slice of Chicago's finest export... so it seemed the perfect fit.

There's nothing dainty or delicate about the pizza at Chicago Fire. It should be mentioned, though, that they do offer thin crust pizza for those that want to go against the grain. I mean, cmon', you're at a place that specializes in deep dish pizza... get with it! It's like going to Monterey and eating nothing but steak instead of the fresh, locally caught fish. (I especially direct this last comment to my friend SJL!)

Back to the pizza. My selection of the evening had to be the most decadent. An all-meat-heart-attack-waiting-to-happen pizza adorned with sausage, pepperoni, salami, and ham. What impressed me most was the sheer amount of meat stacked onto each slice. I swear each piece of pie had half a sausage on it. It was intensly delicious. The pie was topped with it's customary red sauce-- and it did not disappoint. It was slightly chunky, with just the right amount of sweet yet tart tomato flavor. Underneath the sauce lay the glorious aforementioned array of meats with an ample portion of cheese.

The crust was also a sight to behold... and taste. It was a fantastic vision of golden brown, buttery goodness, with just the right amount of density. Strong enough to hold up to the heft of the cheese, toppings and sauce, yet easy enough to chew with minimal effort. In short... it was off the chain!

Trust me when I tell you that two pieces of pie were plenty. Especially when you consider the amount of Buffalo Wings I threw down. Damn those wings had some heat! I'm pretty sure the dynamic duo, Adam and Gibby, ordered them extra hot. You see, Adam and Gibby are Buffalo Wing fiends. Rumor has it they each took down eight or nine of those spicy suckers...but who knows.

Overall, Chicago Fire is a great place to get some tasty "Za." I will say that the service was a bit slow and unattentive at times. But good food atones for many a sin, and Chicago Fire makes an excellent brand of deep dish pizza. Thanks to all my peeps for coming out and sharing the great food, good beer/wine, and most excellent conversation.

Cheers!

Beat the heat with a bubbly glass of Prosecco!

Boo-yah! Sunday night is here and it's hotter than a prostitute in church! What can save me from this volcanic turmoil? What kind of food can I make which will taste great and leave my well-rounded gut and palate satisfied?

Shall I brave the ungodly weather and grill something? That very thought leaves me uneasy knowing uncomfortable perspiration would surely befall me standing over a hot grill in the 100+ degree heat. Sweaty grilled food is not going to cut it tonight. Nay, I'm looking for something lighter, cooler, and perhaps more refined. But It's got to be simple- no fuss.

My wife makes a killer mushroom salad with Parmigiano-Reggiano, lemon, and some really good olive oil. It sounded particularly awesome on such a sweltering day. In order to fully enjoy this summer meal, I needed a suitable beverage to pair with it. Eureka, I've got it! Why not Prosecco? After all, it embodies all I'm looking for this warm late Spring night. It's light, refreshing and super easy to drink! It also happens to be May's Wine of the Month here at Sunday Gravy. That's right friends, every month I'll feature a new wine with suggested pairings, zany tasting reports, and other random thoughts about the varietal.

OK, so now that you're up to date with the latest and greatest here at SG...back to the food stuff.

A salad and Prosecco can hardly be called dinner. I required more than that unfortunately (any normal human would, right?). A lighter dinner did seem in order given the triple digit weather. With that in mind, a Jamie Oliver recipe came to me. The dish is fast and really good, which I'm all about. It involves 3 main ingredients: asparagus, egg and cheese. Basically, I threw some of the freshest asparagus I could find on the grill and gave them a bit of a char. When the asparagus is nearly ready, I fried up an egg or two (I suggest 1 egg per 4 asparagus spears). Transfered the hot asparagus to a warm plate and immediately shaved some fresh Parmigiano or Pecorino Romano. Lastly, I added the egg atop the spears and seasoned with salt and pepper. Trust me, it's a nice little treat-almost a deconstructed omelet, but let's not get too crazy with the foodie speak. Siege and I found it to be a nice addition to the fantastic mushroom salad .

So the food was pretty money, but what of the wine?

I must confess that Prosecco is uncharted territory for me as I've only had it on one other occasion several years ago. Now seemed as good a time as any to get to know this sparkling wonder, especially since I keep seeing this wine pop up in various columns and other wine publications. My introduction to this bubbly world begins this evening with Zardetto Prosecco di Conegliano. To be honest, I didn't expect a whole lot from this budget wine, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was a little too easy to drink!

This wine was just what the doctor ordered (editor's note: I was not prescribed Prosecco by my physician, it's just a figure of speech) on this blistering May evening. The very pale greenish bubbly had aromas of apple and pear and was, at the same time steely and slightly floral. The vino was bright, crisp and refreshingly dry-tasting with a bitterness most akin to grapefruit and citrus fruit. It complimented the acid in our salad and certainly didn't clash with the asparagus, egg and cheese concoction. I'm totally on board with the prickly mouthfeel sensation this wine provides. It's a brilliant and tasty way to cleanse and refresh your palate. Prosecco is hailed for it's versatility, so I've read, goes very nicely with seafood. Well we'll just see about that.

Stay tuned.

"Hi, May I Help You?"

I've been on the short end of the dining experience more than once. Sometimes despite the fact that the destination has received favorable critical reviews. The evening, or lunch, begins with tons of promise and invariably ends on a less than stellar note. This was not the case last week when I was commissioned by work to attend a conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Whenever I travel, business or otherwise, food takes center stage. My mission is always the same, find the local eateries that offer fresh seasonal cuisine. Fortunately for yours truly, sweet, spicy slow cooked meat is always in season in KC...heh, heh, heh. The City of Fountains, as KC is also known, makes a great case for being the undisputed King of BBQ cities. The 'sweet heat' as I affectionately call it, is the brand of Midwest BBQ that has cue enthusiasts all over the nations licking their chops. 

I was only in town for 3 days, so I had to choose my places to throw down wisely. I went to a couple of places but none stood out more than my final lunch there. Gates BBQ  is a true Kansas city institution that has iconic status among locals and fans of BBQ the world over. And deservedly so.

I eagerly passed through the door and was overwhelmed by the sweet, smokey aromas of slow cooking mastery that greeted me, nay taunted me. After composing myself, my dining companion and I jockeyed for position in the line of some 20 or so people. Now I remember from my previous visit a couple of years ago that it's important to know what you want to order ahead of time. When the friendly Gates employee proudly (and loudly) asks, "Hi, may I help you?" You better have your game face on. You do not want to slow up this lunch train if you know what I'm sayin'. And then, after what seemed like an eternity, the question was sprung on me...

"Beef on Bun with Fries!" I exclaimed in semi-retarded, but enthusiastic fashion.

How can one go wrong with amazingly tender, smokey slices of beef smothered in a house made sauce on a sweet bun? You can't. It can not be done!

My work colleague was plenty happy with his pork on bun selection. The conversation was limited as we fiendishly devoured our lunch. 

It should be noted that Gates expertise goes far beyond the sandwich. They also feature all of the classic BBQ favs: ribs, chicken and beef are all on the menu at reasonable prices. I heard the gentleman in front of me order a "1 and a half," which is just your normal meat of choice, plus half that amount all on one soft fresh roll. Pure genius. The choice of BBQ sauces they offer is also a major bonus. Just pick your favorite and dip or slather until your heart's content. Varieties include: Original, Sweet, Mild, and my personal favorite, Extra Hot. 

Our plates were empty, bellies full, and we had a plane to catch at KC International. And although we smelled like a BBQ pit, were uncomfortably full, and had a 2 1/2 hour plane ride, we didn't care. It was well worth it and a great way to end the trip.