Monthly Archives: April 2010
’ve been an ice cream fan for some time now. Heavy cream, sugar, and chocolate…what’s not to like? Not all ice creams are created equal. Some have little flavor, and bad texture. Some use chemical fillers, and have gooey chunks of candy in them. In my opinion, here are a few things that make quality ice cream. First of all, the percentage of butterfat superiority- the higher the butterfat content, the better the flavor. Secondly, the density of the ice cream also determines quality. The less air in the product, the better ice cream you’re going to have. This being said, I’ve been in search for the perfect scoop of ice cream for a while now.
When I was a kid, my parents would drive my sisters and I out to the Kerber Dairy farm in Irwin. Once every few years, the Kerbers (my cousins) would have a family reunion, and invite the entire extended family. Kerbers would come from all over the state, probably close to a hundred in all. We would play lawn darts, eat roasted pig, and most importantly, devour large amounts of ice cream.
Nestled off the beaten path in Moon Township, there’s an exceptional place to eat- The Hyeholde Restaurant. What makes this such an extraordinary place to dine (besides the food) is the atmosphere. Hyeholde has been around since 1938, and has a rich and colorful history (read all about it at hyeholde.com). On this particular spring evening we arrived at 6pm; there were 20 of us. I was immediately taken with the grandness of the structure. The building in which the restaurant is situated is truly majestic. The house/castle is old, and adorned with most of its original materials, inside and out. As I waited outside for the remaining guests to arrive, I was surprised that this restaurant was situated in such a rural area.
Springtime is here. It’s time to get out your gardening equipment, till the soil, and prepare for your garden. It’s been a long hard winter, but all of that extra snow has actually had a positive effect on something- extra moisture in the soil. This extra water will help your plants thrive and have an advantage right from the start! If you’re planning on having a vegetable garden, try getting your plants in the ground by Mother’s Day.
In celebration of Easter (candy), I’d like to share an excerpt from Anthony Bourdain’s show, “No Reservations”. While visiting Spain, Bourdain spent some time with an artisan chocolatier named Enric Rovira. Rovira doesn’t just make chocolate. He brings it to life! Chocolate is an art form; each unique creation is the result of much experimentation with temperature and time and only the best chocolate recipes. In this episode, Rovira shows Tony (and us) how he makes his world-famous Easter eggs.
When I stepped into Shogun Japanese Steakhouse, it was if I was stepping back in time; not. Shogun in Monroeville is a nice restaurant, but it’s far from truly authentic Japanese cuisine, and that’s just fine. I imagine that the folks who choose to have dinner at Shogun aren’t concerned primarily with the food, but are more interested in the theatrics that accompany the food. As much as it is a restaurant, Shogun is a theatre of sorts, with experienced chefs who put on a skilled show at your table.
The Japanese people consume over 80% of the world’s bluefin tuna. Over the past several years, private Japanese environmental groups have been trying to have legislation passed restricting the amount of fish that can be pulled from the waters.
