Fierce Flavor that will Pierce your Tongue..over at 1621!

~ Trevis Dampier Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Did you know….

Fusion Cuisine is actually not new. It has been around for a couple of decades. Chefs started to merge cuisines around the ’70s. Culinary legends like Wolfgang Puck among others introduced this concept. He actually laid down the foundation for this technique. He is the brains behind the common culinary fusions and pairings. An example of which is the fusion of European cuisine with Asian cuisine, commonly referred to as Eurasian cuisine. This was easy for Chef Puck because of his knowledge of both cuisines. He was originally trained in Europe, but he is thoroughly familiar with the Asian dishes. Eurasian basically combines two cooking techniques and dishes, so you can end up with poached tofu, for example, which generally mixes European and Asian method of poaching.

Over the years, fusion cuisine restaurants emerged all over Europe. Many of these restaurants were established in urban areas. In fact, you would likely find these restaurants still offering the same mixed cuisines. Urban areas are actually prime spots for fusion cuisine restaurants since these are also the areas where cultural integration is more predominant. Thus, people are more acceptable of the combined culinary dishes (multiculturalcookingnetwork)

Today’s Restaurant

1621 Bistro – San Jose, Ca

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes: 

Breakfat buffet, chicken and waffles, loco moco, burgers

Some say Hawaii is like Heaven on Earth..

Most people take frequent vacations there and love to talk about the great views, beaches and cultural food.

You heard of Hawaiian fusion? Well if you haven’t, I know the spot..

Let’s talk about it..

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Oh my Word..I’m eating at Rutherford!

~ Trevis Dampier Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Did you know….

The roots of Rutherford—the historic grape growing center of the Napa Valley—actually stretch south of its central location in Napa Valley to Yountville, where George Yount settled in1838. Yount, an explorer and pioneer, was granted 11,814 acres by Mexican General Mariano G. Vallejo as repayment for a variety of services.

This land was called “Caymus Rancho,” and extended north from the western foothills of Mt. St. John to what is now the intersection of Zinfandel Lane and Silverado Trail.

Yount had three granddaughters. Elizabeth married young Thomas Rutherford in 1864. As a wedding present, the newlyweds received 1,040 acres at the northern end of Yount’s land grant.

While Yount is considered to be the first to plant wine grapes in Napa Valley, it was Thomas Rutherford who made a serious investment in grape production and winemaking. From 1850 to 1880, Rutherford established himself as a grower and producer of high-quality wines.(rutherforddust.org)

Today’s Restaurant

Rutherford Grill – Rutherford, Ca

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes: 

Iron Skillet Cornbread, Prime Rib, Burger, Trip-tip & Enchilada

Napa Valley.. Home of the grapes!!

Not just the world’s fantasy villa of grapes, but home to some of the finest dining around to pair up with those exquisite wines.

Last time I was out in Napa enjoying the view of a grape vineyard, while sipping on some aged Pinot Noir; we stopped in Rutherford,Ca and found the golden goose of restaurants.

Food so tasty it will make your head spin!

Let’s talk about it…

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On a soul food mission..over at South City Kitchen!!

~ Trevis Dampier Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Did you know….

Soul Food is a term used for an ethnic cuisine, food traditionally prepared and eaten by African Americans of the Southern United States. Many of the various dishes and ingredients included in “soul food” are also regional meals and comprise a part of other Southern US cooking, as well. The style of cooking originated during American slavery. African slaves were given only the “leftover” and “undesirable” cuts of meat from their masters (while the white slave owners got the meatiest cuts of ham, roasts, etc.).

We also had only vegetables grown for ourselves. After slavery, many, being poor, could afford only off-cuts of meat, along with offal. Farming, hunting and fishing provided fresh vegetables, fish and wild game, such as possum, rabbit, squirrel and sometimes waterfowl. Africans living in America at the time (and since) more than made do with the food choices we had to work with.(aaregistry.org)

Today’s Restaurant

South City Kitchen – Atlanta, GA

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

9

Recommended Dishes: 

Fried Green Tomatoes, Chicken & Waffles, Corn bread & Biscuits

Atlanta,GA is a beautiful area with southern hospitality, civil rights history and of course; great tasting food!

Great tasting food consisting of succulent fried chicken, greens, grits, rabbit, deer and much more…

As I’m here in Atlanta to attend a funeral for my dear Auntie..

We decided to make a move to one of the hot spots in Atlanta called South City Kitchen.

Let’s talk about it..

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Please don’t Intrude while I’m eating a Reuben at Refuge..

~ Trevis Dampier Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Did you know….

There are two main theories as to who invented the Reuben sandwich, both of which involve the name Reuben. One theory is that the sandwich was first made at a New York City restaurant called Reuben’s Delicatessen sometime around 1914. Another theory holds that the sandwich was made and named for a man named Reuben Kulakofsky, who frequently dined at the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska. (reference.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Refuge – Menlo Park, Ca

Average Cost

$10-$20

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes: 

Any of the Pastrami sandwiches, haven’t tried anything else yet.

Next to bacon, I think beef is one of my favorite meats to eat. Succulent, tasty, a self created oil that just makes you foam at the mouth when you smell it.

There are so many ways to cook it..

You can fry it..

You can barbecue it..

You can boil it..

And surely you can smoke it.

One of my favorite types of beef is Pastrami.

It is a cut of beef that’s cured, which means it has been brined in a salt water solution; then it is rubbed with spices and smoked.

Every real deal restaurant has a specific way they go about creating this tasty delight. I know a place where you definitely will not be disappointed..

And that is over at Refuge.

Let’s talk about it…

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This Grub will Make your Day, at the Ice Cold Brewery of Skagway!

~ Trevis Dampier Sr. ~ Leave a comment

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Did you know….

Skagway Alaska is a very accessible town by Southeast Alaska standards. A trip to Skagway can be accomplished by Road, Sea, or Air, but most visitors to Skagway come via the sea on one of the many cruise ships that make port in this popular tourist destination.

Fishing in Skagway is often overlooked by cruise ship passengers, but the locals know better. Locals, and some of the more adventurous tourists, seek out Wild Alaskan Salmon and giant Halibut in the waters around and just outside Skagway. One of the advantages that Skagway has over other fishing areas, is its lack of large scale commercial fishing. Without the big nets and long liners, there are more Salmon and Halibut to catch for the sports fisherman.(alaskafishingak.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Skagway Brewing Company – Skagway, Alaska

Average Cost

$10-$20

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes: 

Buffalo Chicken Wings, Halibut Fish & Chips, Alaskan Beer of course!!

So it’s my 40th Birthday celebration and my wife and I are on a voyage on the sea with Princess Cruises to the exotic, beautiful icy environment of Alaska.

Today we stopped in Skagway for an exciting encounter with the locals and an opportunity to enjoy some hiking in the cool Mountain Tops and ice cold water rapids of Chilkoot Trail.

After the long hike, we headed downtown and looked to find a relaxing, warm Alaskan Pub called Skagway Brewery.

Let’s talk about it…

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Wagyu Beef that will Melt in your Mouth at Alexander’s Steakhouse!

~ Trevis Dampier Sr. ~ Leave a comment

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Did you know….

Modern Wagyu cattle are the result of crossing of the native cattle in Japan with imported breeds.  Crossing began in 1868 after the Meiji restoration in that year.  The government wanted to introduce Western food habits and culture. Brown Swiss, Devon, Shorthorn, Simmental, Ayrshire, and Korean cattle were imported during this period. The infusions of these British, European and Asian breeds were closed to outside genetic infusions in 1910.

The variation of conformation within the Wagyu breed is greater than the variation across British and European breeds. The three major black strains – Tajiri or Tajima, Fujiyoshi (Shimane) and Kedaka  (Tottori) evolved due to regional geographic isolation in Japan. These breeding differences have produced a Japanese national herd that comprises 90% black cattle with the remainder being of the red strains Kochi and Kumamoto.

In Japan there are four breeds that are considered Wagyu and those are the Japanese Black (the predominant Wagyu exported to the U.S), Japanese Brown (In the U.S. referred to as Red Wagyu), Japanese Polled and Japanese Shorthorn.  There are no Japanese Polled or Shorthorns being bred outside Japan. Wagyu strains were isolated according to prefecture (state) and breeds imported for crossing were not the same in each prefecture.

The production of Wagyu beef in Japan is highly regulated and progeny testing is mandatory. Only the very best proven genetics are kept for breeding. Realizing the value of their unique product, the Japanese Government banned the export of Wagyu and declared them a national living treasure. Zenwa is the Gov’t held entity in Japan that oversees the WAGYU registry for Japanese Black, Brown, Polled and Shorthorn.(wagyu.org)

Today’s Restaurant

Alexander’s Steak House – Cupertino, Ca

Average Cost

Above $61 unless you go for lunch

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes: 

Wagyu Burger, Steak Frites

What a wonderful day for steak!!

Steak is wonderful on a sunny day..

Steak is wonderful on a rainy day..

Heck, I’ll eat steak if aliens invaded the planet for my last meal and testament!

When you are looking for mouth watering beef within an elegant setting, I know the spot!

Let’s talk about it!!

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A Blessing in My Mouth over at Alaska Fish House!

~ Trevis Dampier Sr. ~ Leave a comment

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Did you know….

Ketchikan is located on the western coast of Revillagigedo Island, near the southernmost boundary of Alaska. It is 679 miles north of Seattle and 235 miles south of Juneau. The 2.2 million acre Misty Fiords National Monument lies 22 air miles east of Ketchikan. It is the first Alaska port of call for northbound cruise ships and State ferries. It lies at approximately 55° 20′ N Latitude, 131° 38′ W Longitude (Sec. 30, T075S, R091E, Copper River Meridian). The community is located in the Ketchikan Recording District. The area encompasses 3 sq. miles of land and 1 sq. miles of water.

Tongass and Cape Fox Tlingits have used Ketchikan Creek as a fish camp which they called “kitschk-hin,” meaning creek of the “thundering wings of an eagle.” The abundant fish and timber resources attracted non-Natives to Ketchikan. In 1885, Mike Martin bought 160 acres from Chief Kyan, which later became the township. The first cannery opened in 1886 near the mouth of Ketchikan Creek and four more were built by 1912. The Ketchikan Post Office was established in 1892. In the late 1890s, nearby gold and copper discoveries briefly brought activity to Ketchikan as a mining supply center.

By 1936, seven canneries were in operation, producing 1.5 million cases of salmon. The need for lumber for new construction and packing boxes spawned the Ketchikan Spruce Mills in 1903, which operated for over 70 years. Spruce was in high demand during World War II, and Ketchikan became a supply center for area logging. A $55 million pulp mill was constructed at Ward Cove near Ketchikan in 1954. Its operation fueled the growth of the community. The mill’s 50-year contract with the U.S. Forest service for timber was canceled, and the pulp mill closed in March 1997.(explorenorth.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Alaska Fish House – Ketchikan, Alaska

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes: 

Salmon Chowder, Halibut Burger, Halibut Tacos

Alaska is one of God’s most peaceful and natural beauty’s still alive and well in America.

Huge white icy glaciers, healthy green forests, and wildlife that inhabits both land and sea, like bald eagles, whales, orcas and more.

Not only do they have great scenery but great food as well!

I found a spot that left me in awe for how good the food was…

And that’s at Alaska Fish House in Ketchikan,Alaska.

Let’s talk about it…

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Definitely getting my fill..at Princess Cruises’ Crown Grill!

~ Trevis Dampier Sr. ~ Leave a comment

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Did you know….

Princess Cruises began in 1965, when founder Stanley McDonald chartered Canadian Pacific Limited‘s Alaska cruise ship Princess Patricia for Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles during a time when she would have usually been laid up for the winter.[3] However, Princess Pat, as she was fondly called, had never been designed for tropical cruising, lacking air-conditioning, and Princess ended her charter in favor of a more purpose-built cruise ship Italia.

Princess, who marketed the ship as Princess Italia, but never officially renamed her, used the ship to inaugurate their Mexican Riviera cruises out of Los Angeles and did not receive the Princess logo on her funnel until 1967.[3]

In 1969, the Princess Italia was used on Alaskan cruises from San Francisco, but by 1973, the charter was canceled, and the Italia returned to Europe on charter to Costa Cruise Line.[3]

Princess’s third charter ship was none other than Costa’s Carla C. Originally, Compagnie Générale Transatlantique‘s SS Flandre, the ship had been purchased by Costa in the late 1960s and given a major rebuilding. Almost immediately after completion, the ship was chartered to Princess, and it was on board the ship, which was marketed as, but again not officially renamed, Princess Carla, that Jeraldine Saunders wrote the first chapters of her nonfiction book The Love Boats.(en.wikipedia.org)

Today’s Restaurant

Princess Cruise – Crown Grill

Average Cost

$29.99

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes: 

Lobster Tail, Tiger Prawns, Rib Eye..Whatever your heart desires!!

Being on the beautiful seas of the Pacific while listening to awesome musical artists and adventurous movies on a huge screen outside in the moonlight on top of a huge Princess Cruise ship is a delightful experience in itself.

Unlimited all you can eat pizza, burgers and fries totally can make your day.

Let me tell you what can make your week while aboard Princess, and that is all you can eat fine dining at the Crown Grill…

Let’s talk about it..

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Ethiopian food good and plenty; over at Zeni!

~ Trevis Dampier Sr. ~ Leave a comment

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Did you know….

Ethiopia was under Italian military control for a period (1935–46) when Benito Mussolini (1883–1945) was in power. Except for that time, Ethiopian culture has been influenced very little by other countries. Ethiopia’s mountainous terrain prevented its neighbors from exercising much influence over the country and its customs. Exotic spices were introduced to Ethiopian cooking by traders traveling the trade routes between Europe and the Far East.

Ethiopia
Ethiopia went through a period of recurring drought and civil war during 1974–91. In 1991 a new government took over, and civil tensions were relieved somewhat because the coastal territory seceded from the inland government, creating the new nation of Eritrea.

Ethiopian cooking is very spicy. In addition to flavoring the food, the spices also help to preserve meat in a country where refrigeration is rare.(foodbycountry.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Zeni – San Jose, Ca

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

9

Recommended Dishes: 

Keyet Kitfo, Kikil Kitfo, Yedoro Kitfo, Sambussa

 

I love the word exotic…

Foreign..attractive…striking..

Just thinking about that word brings a tingle to my ear.

Exotic looks…

Exotic scenery..

Exotic foods..

Speaking of exotic foods..

There is an exotic food that may be hard to find in some areas, but I assure you that it is definitely worth the exploration.

Let’s talk Ethiopian food over at Zeni...

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Hawaiian goodness with every dish to admire; at Rumfire!

~ Trevis Dampier Sr. ~ Leave a comment

image

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Did you know….

There is something about the nature of truffles that have captivated people for over a thousand years. Perhaps it is the dazzling, irresistible aroma that continues to draw generation after generation to this delicacy. The history of these black pearls of the Earth is often filled with mystery, superstition and, at one time, damnation.

This subterranean mushroom is found within the living roots of chestnut, oak, hazel, and beech trees. The word truffle comes from the Latin word “tuber”, which means outgrowth. It dates back to as early as the ancient Egyptians, who held truffles in high esteem and ate them coated in goose fat. A myth surrounded this gourmet entrée when people believed they came from the ground after lightning struck the earth. According to a legend, a farmer spotted his pig digging at the root of a tree, eating the mushrooms that it found. Upon seeing that the pig remained healthy, the farmer tried the mushrooms himself. Afterwards, his inability to have a child with his wife resulted in them having thirteen children. Many soon felt that there was a supernatural quality to truffles, and saw them as God’s gift to humanity. The Greeks and Romans used them for therapeutic purposes, feeling that they gave eternal health to the body and soul. Truffles were also seen has having exotic qualities in its aroma and flavor, making it more popular among the noble classes.(gourmetfoodstore.com)

 

Today’s Restaurant

Rumfire – Waikiki, Hawaii

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes: 

Truffle Burger, Korean Fried Chicken Wings

image

 

Have you ever tasted something so good that you wanted to cry?

I assure you that, the ambiance, the view of the beautiful Pacific Ocean, and the exotic delicious flavors of the food at this new found paradise was all the way superb.

Just writing this letter makes my heart beat fast.

Time to dive into one of my favorite places on Earth; Rumfire on the glorious beach of Hawaiian waters!

Let’s talk about it…

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