My Favorites - Goldenbergs Peanut Chews

I am often accused of making this particular item up. The always tasty GOLDENBERG'S PEANUT CHEW. It is something I can understand because it was a local favorite when I lived in Pennsville. Not a huge market share until it was bought by JUST BORN(the makers of Peeps).

They are delicious little nuggets of dark chocolate, caramel and peanuts. Sounds simple and they are. BUT DAMN are they delicious.

Next time you are in line at the check out line or already considering the candy you are giving out this halloween, go for the Goldenbergs! Me, I am going to try to find some way to either make them or cook with them.

Daniel loses a star, aka Four No More!

So I read the review of the standard DANIEL. Bouluds flagship restaurant here in NYC. Until today an elite member of the 4-star club along with Per Se, EMP, Del Posto, Le Bernardin and Jean Georges.

I don't feel like it is so shocking to make it a mere 3 star resto but what critic Pete Wells did to come to his conclusion was a bit cracked. He pulled a move where his reservation started 15 minutes after a colleagues' reservation and wrote it from a point of view of what they DID NOT get from the kitchen.

Every place worth it's salt knows what every reviewer looks like or at least has an idea. In knowing this every server/waiter/foh person knows that they are to be on high alert and when they show up to go bring their a game. Not that every customer should not be treated as well, but a yelp review is not as damaging as the New York Times. This is not uncommon. If you are my friend and come to see me where I work, you would get the same treatment. It is my objective to get as much food as I can down your throat as I can before you roll yourself out of the place. The chef here merely sent some extra small bites to "show off" and got dinged for it because of it.

He back peddles a bit with : "restaurant can't be blamed for trying to impress a critic. It can be faulted, though, for turning its best face away from the unknowns, the first-timers, the birthday splurgers, the tourists." but that doesn't really heal the loss of a star. Especially to a place like that.

I am not a huge fan of the man's style most of the time but this seems a little like he was looking to "get one over" on the old guard. After the Guy Fieri low blow I am a little disappointed.

How I spend my days lately....

I spend my days at M. Wells lately prepping for what has been called the greatest summer party in NYC.

Check this out!

http://www.timeout.com/newyork/music-nightlife/summer-party-guide-2013?intcid=leader

At any given WARMUP, up to 6,000 people will be in and out of the place all day and we feed them. Jerked chicken wings, mexican street corn, ceviche, an awesome corn dog and a bunch more. We even built an OYSTER CART to sell amazing oysters from around the world.

It is almost surreal when it gets SO INSANELY BUSY but when you have a great team just OUTPUTTING food. The only draw back is I have no voice the next day after screaming out name after name.

Just another reason why I love where I work and the work I do.

Is this the day The Great Googa Mooga died?

What a great idea!

Bands. Food. Fun.

Who in the world would not like that? An idiot. But here is the problem. A really shaky first year, and by shaky I mean DISASTROUS and a decent 2nd year capped off with a cancellation.

This year I was working with the M. Wells crew kicking out OYSTERS BOLOGNESE all day and it was a fun if not a bit too laid back day in prospect park. The bands I could hear were ok and the people attending the fair were pleasant and having a blast!

So Friday and Saturday were good and then Sunday was the end. It was forcasted to rain most of the day and kinda hard at some points. We all expected a slow day but we did not expect them to let 500 people get in line only to turn them away 30 minutes after the gates were to open. YIKES. So the almost riotous crowd was turned away and every vendor was left with at least a 1/3 of the food they had brought. With no way to donate anything, no way to really get it out of the park without spoiling everything the dumpsters began to quickly fill up. I can not even imagine the loss these other vendors are taking. At least we can use everything we had. Canned smoked oysters anyone? All of the pre-made food  that just had to be discarded is disgraceful. It is probably some insurance issue or fear of someone getting hurt in the mud or something but DAMN let the people eat. Trekking all the way out there, fists full of cash and empty stomachs it really is a wonder that no one flipped out. Well, I guess I am flipping out but I am one of the people that is going to have to shuck another 1,000 oysters this week.

All in all it is an outdoor festival. Weather is an issue as it always will be. Lollapalooza, Cochella, Bonaroo, et al. are susceptible to the elements and when it works it is awesome. I think they need a do over. Maybe give it a little while, let the vendors "forget" about all of the hard work, money and time they lost and see what happens.

Pet Peeves in the Kitchen?

Yeah I have a few.

Not saying BEHIND or something and just appearing like a Ninja out of the blue.
Everyone hates that, that was an easy one.

When someone says "Do you know how much we are charging for this?":
Yes I know how much we are charging but if you want more of product X on the plate...SAY THAT

Waiters that cant remember the basics of a dish.
I know I work with the food all day. Prep, Cook, Plate. I have to know what is in it. Waiters should have SOME grasp on the contents of dishes enough to not KILL someone in the dining room.

Shitty leaves from a previous cook.
It amazes me that the ones that most frequently complain about YOU not leaving the station very nice are the ones that leave you FLAT to start your day. To open the fridge only to RESTOCK everything, prep I am ok with, but if you can take your ass to the walk in and bring up what we have left so you can start the day....you are a dirt bag. The exception being that YOU are the person working that station the next day. You can always be a jerk to yourself.

There is SOOOO many. I really just wanted to write a little something and the state my head is in right now...this is all I got.