Listen folks, been doing this a long LONG time … tried ’em all … specialty shops included, all devoted to this never-ending passion many of us consume ourselves with … looking for, wanting to find/try the world’s best olive oil … the elusive Holy Grail as it were. And admittedly, it is exciting … searching/sourcing/sampling many MANY brands/styles/country’s versions … and many reputed claims as being said best. I’m here to tell you to stop searching – look no further, Acropolis Organics wins hands down. I’ve blogged previously my affection for it, just reiterating my thoughts/findings. Especially love lavishly drizzling it over sliced heirloom tomatoes, and fresh basil from my garden (randomly scattered overtop, all arranged beautifully on the biggest platter I own), seasoned with Maldon flakes and a bit of very finely freshly ground pepper … sopping up all the tomato/olive oil goodness with crusty Italian (or French) bread while laughing/drinking/sharing stories/enjoying life/eating communally … family style. Check out today’s haul y’all – 3 bottles full, yes sir yes sir … and a highly anticipated salivating tasting of their Mousto Balsamic Vinegar …
Cooler temps precipitated this … plus I had all the ingredients (pretty much), AND love using fresh herbs from my garden while I’m still able to – so the deal was sealed.
Italian spaghetti (loops around – VERY long):
Homemade sauce gently simmering away:
Pan sautéed shrimp in white wine, butter sauce – fresh oregano too:
Handfuls of whole basil leaves thrown in at the very end (along with the shrimp):
Combined with the pasta (this is KEY), NOT simply spooned on top:
Vino – red, any good Italian wine … Bread – crusty, peasant loaf … and YES Cheese (give a rat’s ass ’bout any seafood pasta rules we’ve all heard to the contrary. I’m eating a tomato based pasta, I’m grating cheese, and generously too, lol) – Grana Padano, Parm-Regg, or Romano Lupa. Good Italian eating … it don’t get no better folks!! 😉
I never wanted
to write these words down for you
with the pages of phrases
of things we’ll never do
so I blow out the candle
and I put you to bed
since you can’t say to me now
how the dogs broke your bone
there’s just one thing left to be said
say hello to heaven
… talkin’ ’bout the rules to the game (and I NEVER asked/wanted to play by the way, was motherfucking coerced) … and as long as we’re clear it’s only a game everything’s hunky-fucking-dory … otherwise we’re not …
OMG … been meaning to buy/try/give this a go for SOOOOO long!! I have friends in the chicken wholesale business, they’re Chinese and they SWEAR by this bird … say it’s the best bar none (I’m certain it’s more grain fed, more hormone free, more free range than anything available – and judging by the supply/demand AND price, I’m REALLY certain). Limited shipment arrives once a week (Wednesday or Thursday … if at all, some weeks … ZIP BABY!!), and customers are constantly calling (they also do a limited retail business with those in the know … and I know) in anticipation. And come early, in a matter of hours, it’s sold out city!! Unbelievably, today was my lucky day … you should hear it in there, shoppers asking specifically for gender of their choosing (apparently males have a stronger taste, females smoother and sweeter – ain’t that always the way, lol?) … never heard/knew of that in my life … AND, I was told to keep the chicken intact while cooking, to chop off/discard the head and feet AFTERWARDS only … AND this wasn’t negotiable … something about juices/flavour spilling out … if you say so – hell, who am I to argue, lol?! After purchasing … immediately in my mind figured I’d south-western spice rub it, mop it with a killer BBQ sauce to finish … but with time to make a wiser decision … and with my garden overflowing with fresh Italian parsley, 2 types of sage, oregano, thyme, rosemary and oregano, opted instead to go Mediterranean. Didnt stop to pick up groceries (normally, I’m set in case of emergencies – had potatoes and lemon), but when I got home realized I didn’t have tzatziki, keep in mind this meal SCREAMS it – I love tzatziki more than I love my kids … OK OK … it’s a coin flip, lol … and away I went … what’s good for the spuds, is good for the chicken … so important to reinforce flavours … and later admittedly, was happy fridge was sans tzatziki … best not to bastardize my first attempt at this … and KISS!! Oh, also … didn’t go nuts on crispin’ the skin … my preferred method, not theirs … once again too much flapping lips (do chickens have lips, lol?) … my yellow chicken, potatoes, sweet onions, garlic, lemon and fresh garden herbs oozing in mouthwatering chicken drippin’ creation … enjoy!! 😉
The whole chicken (Tiff K may actually kill me using this platter, lol) …
You can see why it’s called yellow …
Using my disposable BBQ-buddy pan, smart move danistrulytheman …
WOW … looking good (just added the sweet onions) …
An hour (or so) later, we’re done folks …
Soup’s on y’all (with rustic potato bread too … NICE!!) …
Ribeye steaks … although at a smidgen over 3 inches thick, perhaps roasts would be appropriate. Haven’t been grilling as much as I’d like too, as much as I should … nothing like a 3 day holiday week-end and a last kick at the summer-can to remedy that. Picked up these 2 Sterling Silver® (premium meat – top 12% of grain fed cattle) beauties at my not so local Sobeys. A few pics (and the omission of beer is purely accidental, rest assured its presence was prominent, lol) … enjoy!!
Pepper rubbed – patiently waiting …
The first kiss of the grill (look how thick they are) …
So far, so good …
Getting their char on – LOVE that …
… I think we’re done folks …
1 steak (perfect medium rare, don’t ya think?) sliced ‘n braided plated …
Grill toasted and garlic buttered French Loaf …
And my plate (served with my grilled baby portabello, sweet onion, poblano medley) …
Honestly don’t know why I do this to myself? Subjecting myself to my over-the-top-analysis – maybe we all do it, I dunno?! Always feel I look like shit in pics (but please … feel free to disagree, lol) … the fuck’s up with the hair, lol?! And am only posting now because I didn’t earlier in my previous post … ooops, my lazy-ass bad. Btw … hello September, goodbye summer … happy Labour Day week-end y’all!! 🙂
danistrulytheman 