Photo from Dorie Greenspan’s food blog

By Brooke A. Brown

Jeffrey Steingarten is a big reason why I write this blog. I’ve always loved food – both the preparation and consumption of it – and I’ve always enjoyed writing (I have a BA in English from West Virginia State University to prove it). But I never considered food writing until I first witnessed Steingarten in his role as a judge on one of my favorite television shows, Iron Chef America.

I suppose I should clarify. It was actually his sharp commentary on the food that first intrigued me. I had no idea who the guy was, but his obvious passion for and knowledge of food inspired me to learn more. So I ‘Googled’ his name and discovered that he’s a Harvard-educated lawyer turned award-winning culinary critic/food writer. This knowledge led me to the Kanawha County Public Library’s Web site to see if, perchance, the downtown branch had any of Steingarten’s writing. They sure enough did!

I quickly picked up the library’s lone copy of The Man Who Ate Everything and dove right in, as if the book were a box of fresh, hot Krispy Kreme donuts. The words were a revelation to me (albeit ones severely lacking in glaze). Within this collection of essays, most of which first turned up in the pages of Vogue, exists an inordinate amount of engaging and expertly crafted detail on nearly every imaginable food-related topic. Steingarten welcomes you into his madcap world with stories that make you think, make you laugh (sometimes hysterically) and make you very, very hungry.

If you enjoy this little food blog in the least, you will most certainly get a kick out of The Man Who Ate Everything. And don’t forget, you can also find a new Steingarten essay each month within the pages of Vogue magazine. Dig in!

“It probably bestows immortality.”

It’s too bad that George never found any blue food…

George Carlin
1937-2008

“You’d better cut the pizza into four slices because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.” -Yogi Berra

by Brooke A. Brown

Undoubtedly by now, you or someone you know has tried a pie from Lola’s Pizza (the little pizza shop that could) off Bridge Road in South Hills. I’m certain of this because there is always a wait. Always. But it’s typically worth it. Not only are the offered toppings unique and of the highest quality, but there’s that deliciously thin and crispy crust. My favorite pizza pie (at the moment) is the pancetta and pineapple: a perfect mix of salty and sweet.

Lola’s also produces some of the finest salads that one can procure in this town. There are three standouts: (1) The roasted beet salad with baby spinach, candied walnuts and gorgonzola cheese served with a citrus vinaigrette, (2) The sweet potato salad with mixed greens, orange slices, avocado, red onions, feta cheese and – most importantly in this case – sweet potatoes, and (3) The seared goat cheese. That’s right, seared goat cheese! (Think deep-fried mozzarella cheese sticks, only better.) It comes on a salad of mixed greens and cherry tomatoes dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette, and is plenty delicious in such a setting, but I sometimes order a serving or two of the seared cheese sans salad. Your tablemates will thank you for such creative ordering in between their ‘oohs and ahs’ and possibly buy you a beer or another glass of sangria. (more…)

I was watching TV the other day and caught the new Hot Pockets commercial. It painted the following picture: Two young guys are out shopping for food while mom’s out of town. The cart is overflowing with Hot Pockets, even though the list clearly states ‘no junk food!’ The friend brings this to the attention of the inexperienced grocery shopper who sadly pauses, picks up a single frozen box of Hot Pockets and then happily points to the ‘Zero grams of trans fats’ wording on the label. Eureka! Mom would be so proud.

The commercial was obviously absurd, but it reminded me of this great bit from comedian Jim Gaffigan on the very subject at hand. The first time I saw this clip was while watching Gaffigan’s special on Comedy Central. I laughed so hard that I missed at least half of the bit. Luckily, YouTube came to my rescue:

Photos by Stacey Angel

“When you die, if you get a choice between going to regular heaven or pie heaven, choose pie heaven. It might be a trick, but if it’s not… mmmmmm, boy!” -Jack Handey

By Brooke A. Brown

Some folks prefer cake. Others may go with cookies or brownies, seven-layer bars, scones, cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, honey buns or bear claws. (And why on earth wouldn’t they?) But as for this veteran consumer of everything pastry-related, when a bakery visit is penciled onto my to-do list (and yes, this actually happens), there is only one thing to seriously consider: fresh baked pie. And there is no finer place in the Capital City to purchase a pie than Gram’s Specialties in Kanawha City.

I first tried a Gram’s pie last summer. The Lovely Miss S and I typically spend Friday evenings with her grandmother, Marguerite, and occasionally pick up something for dinner when none of us are in the mood to cook. Well, it was one of those days that we decided to stop in Gram’s place for something sweet to complete our take-out round-up. It was a revelation! You can purchase pie by the slice (as available), whole pies (both fruit and cream), or special “by order only” pies. I don’t remember what all we left with that day, but it was a variety of individual slices that proved equally delicious.

Fast-forwarding to this year’s Memorial Day Weekend, my dear wife informs me that she has a surprise. She has ordered a whole blackberry pie from Gram’s Specialties and will pick it up in time for the long weekend. For a moment, I felt like a kid again… only one with options. I was not only allowed, but fully prepared to take too big a portion and put way too much vanilla ice cream on that first and often imperfect slice. And so I did, and it was incredible.

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