Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
J.P. Licks, Boston MA
One of my favorite sweet foods are OREO cookies and anything to do with them..blizzards, shakes, mud pie, or even ice cream sandwiches...I know, ice cream sandwiches have nothing to do with Oreo's, but it's pretty close. Whenever I order ice cream, I kind of obsess about the cookies to cream ratio. There's nothing worse than powdery Oreo dust in your ice cream. Yes, I'm that annoying guy in line at McDees coaching the person working the blizzard station, begging them not to pulverize the cookies. I want bold, huge chunks of Oreos protruding out my ice cream. I want the distinct contrast between silky, rich ice cream and firm, moist cookie pieces. An equal balance. Y'all...I found my mecca of cookies and cream ice cream.
J.P. Licks in Boston, MA
Anyways, here it is...my new favorite "cookies and cream" ice cream: J.P. Lick's Oreo Ice Cream.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Pambiche, Portland, OR
During the week run of RENT in Portland, Oregon, I found Pambiche, a Cuban restaurant that reminded me so much of home that I went multiple times to ease my homesickness.
With it's brightly colorful facade on a Victorian building, Pambiche had mostly non hispanic clientele coming in and out, one after the other. Apparently a hip spot in Portland, I was about to get an authentic taste of home !
Even though the arroz con pollo was a bit intimidating in its presentation, it resembled a Cuban "comparza" or street festival with all the color and unnecessary garnishes it came with, it was still quite good. However, I am very critical of other people's arroz con pollo...see, no one has ever been able to out do my mom's, and that is the recipe I live by!
On the other hand, the ropa vieja was excellent...shredded to perfection with the best of company, white rice and black beans. I almost forget that I'm on the other side of the US in the middle of the mountains! If I close my eyes I'm home....but to make it really authentic I'd have to hear the blaring sound of over exaggerated drama from my mom's telenovela coming from the living room.
Recently, I've been spending time in the kitchen with my mom writing down all her recipes, being careful to not miss a step. At some point when I'm no longer on tour, perhaps I’ll share those as a series of LAVBM episodes and take you on a new journey.
But for now I'll keep hunting for that taste of home while I'm on tour and hope I find more restaurants as authentic as Pambiche. Pambiche will be featured on the next LAVBM episode "Peculiar Portland," stay tuned!
So....what food do you miss from home? What was or is your favorite? I look forward to reading the responses and getting to know you all a little more.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
"Sweet Thang"
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Pike Market Place, Seattle, WA
At the market, you can find all sorts of produce, spices, flowers and food from around the world. One of the biggest tourist attractions is the fish market, where the staff throw huge fish around and tourists gather around and applaud. You can find a delicacy in every corner of the market....my favorite was the little Chinese pastry shop selling freshly made Bao, and Beecher's handmade cheeses where you can sample their famous macaroni and cheese that left me craving for more!!!
The Pike Market place closes in the early evening leaving the stalls and cobblestone streets abandoned until the next morning. But, some restaurants take the spotlight on the outskirts of the market featuring many of the fresh ingredients sold earlier in the market.
Anthony Rapp and Michael McElroy enjoyed dinner at Cafe Campagne, Michael's highschool friend's French restaurant near the market.
Anthony Rapp and Michael McElroy enjoyed dinner at Cafe Campagne, Michael's highschool friend's French restaurant near the market.
Brasa, from a roof top terrace overlooking the Pike Street Market.
Visit my Flickr page here for more pictures of our day around Pike Street Market.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
During the lay off week, my good friend Jared and I spent the week at my mom's vacation home in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. My mom chose Punta Cana because it reminded her a lot of the beach where she lived in Cuba. Coincidentally, Jared (who is the musical director on the tour of the Broadway show Spring Awakening) had the same week off I did, so we spent the week eating, tanning and napping. Punta Cana is one of my favorite vacation destinations. The food is so fresh and delicious, and there are so many different tropical fruits and vegetables you typically wouldnt find in a US supermarket. One of my favorite cafe's in the world, Huracan Cafe is there as well.
I try to go at least twice a year to just relax and get away. I cant wait to go back.You can see the full set of photos here.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The things that make me go "mmmmm"....
Sight...Traveling and taking in the world. Color. A dog and a cat cuddling. Any ocean. The way someone looks at you when they trust you. Rich dark skin. Milky white skin. Vacation photographs.
Hearing...Music. A live latin band. Jazz softly playing as you cook dinner. A contagious laugh. The crackle on an old record. An overture to a Broadway musical.
Touch...A hug from a stranger. Clean sheets on a delicious bed. A warm bath in a claw foot tub. Sushi...yes sushi.
Taste...My favorite. Cuban food. Picadillo....with my mom's black beans. Mc Donald's coke. A really juicy cheeseburger. Soul Food. Fried Rice. Olive oil. And of course, chocolate chip cookies. Ive been told one of my first words was "choco" for chocolate.
Smell...The warm scent of Nag Champa slowly burning away. A fireplace in a cabin in the woods. The smell of mom's cooking perfuming the house. My dads after bath splash on an afternoon. My lover's sweet, musky smell behind the ear. The smell of espresso filling the kitchen in the early morning. Bacon.
How about you???
Hearing...Music. A live latin band. Jazz softly playing as you cook dinner. A contagious laugh. The crackle on an old record. An overture to a Broadway musical.
Touch...A hug from a stranger. Clean sheets on a delicious bed. A warm bath in a claw foot tub. Sushi...yes sushi.
Taste...My favorite. Cuban food. Picadillo....with my mom's black beans. Mc Donald's coke. A really juicy cheeseburger. Soul Food. Fried Rice. Olive oil. And of course, chocolate chip cookies. Ive been told one of my first words was "choco" for chocolate.
Smell...The warm scent of Nag Champa slowly burning away. A fireplace in a cabin in the woods. The smell of mom's cooking perfuming the house. My dads after bath splash on an afternoon. My lover's sweet, musky smell behind the ear. The smell of espresso filling the kitchen in the early morning. Bacon.
How about you???
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