Posted: January 28th, 2013 | Filed under: Community, Culture, Personalities, Ruminations, Sandwich Eater Chronicle | 1 Comment »
Hello there. I know it’s been awhile. I’ve been off my feed, to use a horse racing metaphor.
But, bolstered this morning by a breakfast of Smucker’s Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter on Honeycrisp apples, I want to weigh in on several of the burning cultural issues du jour.
A is for Apple. The corporation, not the fruit. The company sold 48 million iPhones over the holiday period. 48 million. The company posted the biggest quarterly profit of any non-oil company. Ever. Ever, as in the history of companies seeking profit.
In 2012, Apple earned $41.7 billion in profits. That’s billion with a B. As in $41,700,000,000.
So, how did Wall Street react to this pretty stunning move?
Apples stock immediately dropped 12%.
Riddle me that.
B is for Beyoncé. The hot singer is getting hammered because she had the audacity to lip sync the national anthem during the inauguration. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: November 27th, 2012 | Filed under: Sandwich Eater Chronicle | No Comments »
Okay, the Truth In Blogging Act requires I admit from the get go that my title was just a ploy to get your attention.
This episode shall not consider that song & dance rage that has been all that and a bag of chips. At least, until day before yesterday, when Gangnam Style went the way of The Twist, The Fox Trot and You Can’t Touch This.
But I am going to talk about that sublime consommé.
Yesterday I was exercising that shuffle I call jogging by Nancy’s Bagels on Frankfort Avenue in Clifton. The chalkboard out front heralded the specialty of the day: Garlic Soup.
Be still my beating heart. I frankly had forgotten about this delicacy, my favorite soup in town. Actually my favorite soup anywhere. Except for the fish soup at a quaint little restaurant by a charming river in Lisle, France. Years ago, I knew Nancy’s soup rotation and would order in advance enough to freeze until the cycle got back to it.
But I moved from the ‘hood and simply forgot. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: November 20th, 2012 | Filed under: Sandwich Eater Chronicle | No Comments »
Renewed sources of inspiration are always a good thing.
When the words of encouragement are scrawled in chalk on pavement in the park, they are especially invigorating and delightful.
This is not the first time this same anonymous guru has chosen the Cherokee Park Loop to pass along motivational nuggets. A year or two ago, the muse struck in the same place. Using the same colored chalk in the same hand.
The uplifting words I remember from this morning’s encounter while jogging.
“A hug can heal.”
“Your heart is Lovely.”
“If you believe it, you can achieve it.” Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: October 23rd, 2012 | Filed under: Sandwich Eater Chronicle | No Comments »
Last night at dinner, the Film Babe asked if I’d ever been called out as an old fart for using some archaic term while speaking?
I don’t think so, but I certainly am a product of my era.
I did say that just that evening I heard the word “sots” used, referring to a group of alcoholics. Hadn’t heard that one in awhile.
She gave me a few tips, so I’d seem more up to date than I might actually be, advising me not to use the word “blouse.” That “top” was in vogue these days. And that “pants” was now preferred over “trousers.”
I was inclined to inquire if the term “trouser snake” is still considered proper terminology? But passed. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: October 2nd, 2012 | Filed under: Sandwich Eater Chronicle | No Comments »
I know, it’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve checked in. Real life trumps blogging, you know?
Besides Doonesbury’s been giving the profession the what for recnetly. So many of us have been lying low. (And a tip of the hat to the grammarian I recently read somewhere who explained the difference in proper usage between lay and lie. The former requires an object, the latter doesn’t.)
Know that I haven’t eschewed my obsession with sandwichiness while I’ve been away. Saturday night I bought cold cuts to munch on while some fellows and I watched the U of L game. And just last night, I stopped by L’il Cheezers for some of boffo tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon and a fried egg.
Sandwiches ‘r’ Still Us.
* * * * *
I don’t usually comment on TV shows. Mainly because I mostly watch sports and “Treme” and the occasional show on PBS. Okay, “Storage Wars” did interest me for awhile, but that’s over. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: September 17th, 2012 | Filed under: Ruminations, Sandwich Eater Chronicle | No Comments »
If at all possible, when dining out, I try to eat at a local place.
Of course, I find myself at chains more often than I’d like. But, unlike buying a pair of pants or new microwave over the internet where the only entity locally that might be getting in on the action is the delivery company, there is the wait staff and local managers and local food suppliers that keep some of the money in the local economy.
OK, you get my point.
As I’ve mentioned before, I lunch with a couple of old pals every Wednesday, and we move around after eating for several years only at Rainbow Blossom. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: September 11th, 2012 | Filed under: Sandwich Eater Chronicle | No Comments »
Some food choices simply don’t make sense.
I’ve never understood, for example, Mexican Pizza.
Pizza is Italian. (Okay, there are those who say it really originated in Greece, but I for one am not buying it.)
And Mexican, is, well, Mexican. (Unlike chop suey which most folks think is Chinese, but was really invented in San Francisco. Okay there are those who say it really does come from the Motherland, but I for one am not buying it. Which is to say, I’ve got some shtick going here, so work with me, please.)
Thus I take the firm position that beans and guacamole on a pizza simply isn’t part of the grand design of things. Calling it incongruous would be understatement.
That you might posit ingredients you’d want in a burrito on top of pizza crust is fine. Just give it a name worthy of its geographical and national diversity. Like, say, burrizza, or some such. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: September 8th, 2012 | Filed under: Sandwich Eater Chronicle | No Comments »
The reality is this.
If NuLu gets an hipper, I’m going to have to hire a surrogate Culture Maven to cover future Trolley Hops. So much bon homie, a guy could bust from working the street.
Maybe I’ll get a body snatcher seedling to grow another of me so there’ll be two of us to cover all the schmooze. Perhaps journey to the Replication Institute of America and get another CM who can be activated for special occasions only.
* * * * *
There’s now a barber shop down there, with a motorcycle in the window. And more new shops, equally as de rigeur. Fragrant, environmentally friendly bath soap, anyone?
When I got home I felt I had to shower just to wash a little of chic off. Otherwise, I couldn’t have slept. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: August 30th, 2012 | Filed under: Sandwich Eater Chronicle | No Comments »
Those of you who also peruse my sports blog know I am a recently converted fan to Oregon’s Ducks.
It’s all about the unis, baby. The program is surely dirty, currently under NC2A investigation and owned by Nike’s Phil Knight. I accept all that because the Ducks are always stylin’ when they take the field. Plus they play that exciting hurry up game.
I’m also like to consume duck. Fatty. All dark meat. Tasty. Hong Kong Duck. Peking — or is it Beijing? — Duck. Roast Duck. Duck on pizza like I had the other night at Papalino’s. You get the idea.
Anyway, I’ve a new favorite. Duck Fat Fries. You can get ’em at the preternaturally hip Hammerhead’s on Swan Street. I am on record as saying they are the tastiest fried potatoes I’ve ever consumed. And that includes a plethora of downed spuds through the decades. There are times when I think I alone keep the economy of Idaho afloat. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: August 29th, 2012 | Filed under: Sandwich Eater Chronicle | 1 Comment »
Today I experienced one of my favorite things. And one of my least favorite.
Let’s get the latter out of the way.
I had to install a shower rod. Which procedure not only required the help of a friend. But also the use of the most loathsome tool ever invented.
The Allen Wrench.
It is known in some circles as a hex key or hex wrench. I prefer the man’s name. That way I can express my loathing and disdain more personally. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: August 27th, 2012 | Filed under: Sandwich Eater Chronicle | 1 Comment »
I found myself at my favorite home furnishings store Sunday afternoon. Contemporary Galleries. Locally owned. Nice folks. Great moderne furniture and accoutrements.
It’s located in a shopping center on north Hurstbourne, the plaza doing its best Detroit impression. Vacant. Very very vacant.
But next to CG and its fellow store, Home Today, is Bombay Grill, an Indian restaurant about which I am now going to observe.
There’s an old saw, usually heard about Chinese eateries. “There were a lot of Asians dining there. The food must be good.” Sometimes the word “good” can be heard instead of “authentic.” Anyway, you catch the drift, right?
Okay, actually the way it used to be said, in the days before political correctitude, was “There were a lot of Orientals there. The food must be good.” Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: August 26th, 2012 | Filed under: Sandwich Eater Chronicle | No Comments »
I know, I know, it’s been a couple of weeks. Rather than bore you with reasons for my absence, let’s simply forge ahead.
Understand I have been eating sandwiches. And I have been observing the passing scene while doing so.
* * * * *
Let’s go heady from the start. With a phenomenological contemplation that certainly is worth considering at a blog titled “Sandwich Eater’s Chronicles.”
Unfortunately The Earl of S is not around anymore to give us a definitive answer. So here’s the toss up to you, my loyal readers.
If you are on the run and stop for a quick sandwich at a place like Jimmy John’s. (Which is a franchise, granted, but knocks out those sandwiches in a hurry if you are in one. Plus it has great chips. Great crunch. And the store in St. Matthews has a savvy young gal as manager, who refunded my money when they forgot the mustard and cheese on my #15. Which knowing move added to the already pleasant experience because some singer was doing a great version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” over the always crankin’ sound system.) Read the rest of this entry »
