Austin Trip - Day 1

Well, its official, the year is over... or is it just beginning? Either way its going to be amazing!

My apologies for my lack of postage recently but there has been some shit going down. And not the good kind that Eminem talks about which is really bad but ends up turning you into a better person in the long run, it's... wait, actually thats exactly what it is. BUT! More on that later because there is too much happy today to worry about stupid things that make you sad, am i right?

First off, let me say that i missed Austin a whole lot. I went to school out here and there is hardly a better place when your looking for genuine people, an ecclectic atmosphere and some of the greatest food you have ever had... not to mention the birthplace of my pancake addiction (which i assure you will have a post dedicated to itself). How did i get out into Austin you may be asking... can you say Christmas Present to myself? This trip (plus the Wii i bought on Black Friday and put under the tree) are the reasons why its a good idea to take matters into your own hands sometimes.

Wednesday i flew in, so forgive my lack of video/photo coverage but the nice gentlemen with the rectal-exam gloves said no. Oh, and good news... im finally walking without a limp after a stint with airport security. KIDDING! But seriously, the flight was nothing to report. If you NEED to paint a picture for yourself then find a crying baby and sit in front of it for three hours. I am never having children...

The first FULL day was full of wonderment, and the perfect way to say goodbye to 2009. Woke up late on one of the most comfortable couches in the world and proceeded to go to Round Rock donuts. If you saw the epsiode of Man V. Food where be went to Austin then you know what im talking about and i assure you... his euphoric reaction to the taste of these beauties is on the ball. They were indeed delicious and possibly the biggest i have ever seen. I choose to ring in the year with the consumption of one of the biggest donuts in the world.

(for those of you saying 'man, this is the unhealthiest person in the world' I have already come to terms with the fact that there WILL be a gaining of weight on this trip. Luckily, the gym is going to be in florida when i get back... MAN, did i luck out on that one or what?!)

Anyway, after the eating of pastry-zilla i was escorted by two of the most b-e-a-utiful women in the city to Docs, a restaurant where the sweet potato fries are friggin awesome. I had a lot of orange food today. UT! We then proceeded to ring in the new year drama free, bright eyed, bushy-tailed and ready to make 2010 the best year yet. I believe in the Chinese calendar this is known as the 'Year of the Clay', im guessing thats significant.

Well, Ladies and Gentlemen.. that is all the Austin Adventures i have at the moment... but i assure you there is more to come including a trip to HEB (best grocery store ever? no, but nostalgic) and the biggest steak ever! Until then this is Panclayke reminding you that, other than hamburgers, bigger is SOMETIMES better.

(until then i leave you with some pictorals of the donut outing)

Panclayke likey... Panclayke want Dough dough!!

<-- Ringing in the new year, with the biggest pastry ever!

Poor Ol' Grandad...

Final thoughts on Grandpa's were that the food is definitely good... and we ordered wayyy to many things. The danish were good (cheese and lemon flavor) but make sure you dont fill up on them as they are light and addictive. The bacon is nothing really special, not thick but not thin (Bob Evans it Aint!). The Reuben was good, if the other lunch fare is similar then i need to come back for lunch, the corned beef didnt taste over salted and was defnitely slow cooked as it was coming apart very easily with each bite (ergo, fat was rendered out during the cooking). The Reuben's crust.... joyyyyy. I could have put that in a bag and eaten an entire one in front of the tv during a football game.

Onto the stars... the pancakes. Flavor-wise they were good and the blueberries were definitely fresh as they were giving the bloose (blueberry juice) to the rest of the plate. However, they were a little bit overcooked and, in turn, hard to cut into and a bit more chewy and less light than i would have liked. The French Toast was thick.... a little too thick. They followed the first rule of thumb by making sure the bread was stale... but since it was so thick there was a lot of needed 'soak time' which i could tell was not given. However, I let that go since we ordered so much of it! The crust was also a little tough to cut through... in the end it was good but not as soft as this foodie believes French Toast is supposed to taste. At least not the way THIS GUYS Grandpa makes it. And, last but not least, the waffle. To quote SNL: Jizz - in - my - pants! This was one of the best waffles i have had in such a long time. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and topped with the fresh, homemade whipped cream and strawberries. Heaven. I would not mind getting buried alive if my coffin was made from that waffle (may have to change the name of the blog to 'Cla-ffle'). Eh.... i'll think about it.

All in all, i will definitely be going back for some wonderful breakfast and some good service. Even though they were a little slow in keeping the coffee filled... i let it go since we were in the back of the place kind of hidden and that our waitess was a sweetie.

Also, if you stop by the bakery on the way out (provided your not too full) try the cinnamon stick and cheese danish. Honestly, do it now and thank me later... then we can both go to the gym and hit the treadmill with a belly full of sugar-love.

Grandpa's Bakery and Restaurant : 4/5

Well ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. Tune in next time for updates on Feeding South Florida and the results of the Ice Cream Challenge! Until then this is PanClayke reminding you that old people, though slow and dangerous behind the wheel, can still serve a purpose.

(ill be right back... DONT YOU GO DYING ON ME!)

Well, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. As for now i am of to take a nap... a long long long long long long long nap, lol. Until next time this is PanClayke, reminding you that bigger is not neccesarily better.

The once and Future King...

Final thoughts of The Kingdom are that I will totally be going back... but Im gonna stick with the queenburger next time. Honestly, the meat was perfectly cooked to my liking and had a real nice flavor, not to mention the rustic and homemade feel of said burger. All these reasons attributed to yours truly setting a new RECORD for the Doomsday's consumption (11min 32sec... BEAT THAT MAN V FOOD!) *note - Man v. Food will be coming to the Kingdom on 2/3/2010!* Basically, the burgers make one remember how homemade burgers taste... giving someone the taste of home. Now, the fries.... im not gonna lie i expected more. They were nice and well seasoned with something that tasted like a garlic/herb blend, but they were a bit too dry for my liking... i like my fries like my women; thick, hot and covered in cheese. The onion rings, however, were totes on point. cornmeal encrusted and seasoned with the same blend. The only warning i wil give you is that the crunch that comes with these bad boys has the 'Cap'n Crunch' effect and the roof of my mouth is not doing so hot at the moment.

The service was almost better than the food. I dont know if we just had an awesome waitress or she was just astounded by the eating of the doomsday... but our waitress (Stephanie) was a friggin angel. She even shared her wings with Matt and I! She was also extremely attentive considering she was the only one there.

In the end, Matt and I already have plans to go back as The Kingdom is totes a winner! from the service to the food everything was on point. If there was a downside its that it might have been a little too loud inside for the general conversation... but how will you realize that when your bust taking down a friggin awesome burger.

The Kingdom 3.5/4 Pancakes

Well, ladies and Gentlemen, there you have it. Tune in next time for more happenings in South Florida food and, hopefully, the report about how children have been made happier through Quickies Toy Drive... not to mention 'Feeding South Florida'. Until then this is Panclayke reminding you that 1lb = 12oz.

'Sonny'... with a chance of Hoagie.

Well ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. Tune in next time for more food-ventures/updates in a life currently stinking of awesomeness. Until next time this is PanClayke reminding you to do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips.

MAZEL TOV

In honor of the first night of Hannukah I decided to go somewhere 'super-specsh' for lunch on the way home from work. Good thing i was hungry since it was a long work day, it wasn't supposed to be... but there were waitresses from a certain ,restaurant that shall remain nameless which were great at diverting our attention for awhile. Thennn, there was a press screening i had to make, i wont ruin the surprise but rest assured the movie was friggin awesome! Will tell more later. Until then...

Lo-HEIM!

Can you say Deli Heaven? I dont know what it is, but i think a Deli is one of my favorite restaurants, not only is the food a 'mish-mosh' of dishes ranging from sandwiches to bagels to fish to tounge... but there is also ALWAYS a breakfast menu happening and always something new. In a way, going to "Roasters and Toasters" was a little like getting married...

(^Can you say legit home-y-ness?^)

Back to the matrimony...

Something Old: Buttermilk Pancakes! Anyplace that has pancakes available at 4 in the afternoon is someplace where I want to be. Especially when they are made from REAL ingredients and not that "just add water" stuff that I refuse to HOP to. Honestly, they were light and fluffy while simultaneously being filling. However, the saltiness was a bit stronger than i would like, but i thing thats a characteristic of a restaurant that specializes in corned meats. Something New: POTATO PANCAKES! Thats what the little nuggets of love are keeping the pancake company. Seriously, i have not had latkes in forever and im pretty sure I will wait until im back in NY to have them again. The flavor was not bad but i prefer my latke to be more like a pancake as opposed to a chicken nugget. However, dunked in a little applesauce and anyone will be doing the "Yiddish Muppet"

Something borrowed: Turkey Sandwich. Why is this borrowed? No idea, perhaps because there was so much Turkey on this bad boy that only half could be comfortably enjoyed in one sitting. For realsies, if anyone ever wondered how the Hebrew people walked through the desert for so long i think the answer is the size of their portions... this thing fueled me until like ten at night (at what time i may or may not have had the other two pancakes that came with the order I got at the Deli). The Sandwich was served straight up on wheat so you could have the freedom to dress it as you wish (totes appreciated), the turkey was a bit dry... but nothing a little mustard and light mayo didnt fix.
Couple the good food with a great atmosphere and a great waitstaff = a great dining experience. However, the opinion of the waitstaff is speculative since i got my order to go... but the lady that took the order and got me my food was funny and laughed at my jokes... ergo, i love her. The only thing keeping me from going back right now... a bit to pricey for my current cash flow, aka - non existent. This made me the something Blue :(
Roasters and Toasters 3.5/5

Your Terminated F#@*ER!

First things first, i must apologize for my absence. Things have been busy, and this time... that is totes a good thing. the radio-time, the movies iv'e seen and the new people ive met have just gotten better and better. I definitley feel like the luckiest little girl at the ball (metaphorically speaking... i am very much a boy at the ball.) Sadly, though, there has been so much awesomeness happening recently that it cannot all fit in one post so im gonna put some highlights up for the moment and hit then make like Pat Benetar and hit you with my best shot.

First off, remember the Terminator?

FRIGGIN OWNED!!!

Yes, i am now the first person EVER to take down th biggest pancake breakfast in S. Florida. Granted, im pretty sure the agony of my tumbly was revenge enough for the Terminator, but such is the price of glory. Now granted, this is TOTES not vegan, in fact i think its the exact opposite... but that topic is going to delve into a whole other realm of things so i think im going to save that for the next post. Just, be forewarned, it will most likely be long-winded and highly introspective..... read at your own risk.

Also, another first on Panclayke... VIDEO REVIEWS. You see, there are a whole bunch of culinary wonders about S. Florida which i have yet to discover and feel deprived as a result. I mean, im talking places that even Guy Fieri forgot to visit when he was down here. Now THAT is messed up. Plus, i feel a bit boxed in cooking for myself all the time (especially since i can REALLY only make pancakes). Ergo, I decided to do my own little culinary findings and bring them to the masses. Let me know what you think and enjoy the first.... 'Rideo'!





Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, there you have it. Tune in next time for yet another pan-creation and perhaps another Rideo. I cant give too much away but i think there may be something about egg nog and a fun thing to do with oats. Until then, this is PanClayke reminding you that no dogs were harmed in the making of this 'Rideo'.

Shot through the Heart.....

With a magic bullet! Today was the slowest of the slow... and I say that with all assurance. Normally you hear people gripe about 'sitting on their butts all day' and being unproductive. Well, i kid you not when I say i acttually went as far as to take some away from society. Dont believe me? The day started with a quick drive down to the beah before the sun came up so i could have front row seats to God hitting the reset button. It-was-awesome.... like, worthy of awe. Then i walked along the beach and stood in the sand while making fists with my toes-sies. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Die Hard for the best idea EVER! Honestly... i dont know why people do yoga or anything like that when they can just make fists with the toes! My only wish is that i could replace the carpet in my room with sand so i could start everyday like this. Then i got in the car, bought a loaf of bread and went home. All the while... i didnt pay for parking! Thats right society, i stole fifty cents from you guys and I am totally psyched about it. Now watch, the mayor is reading this right as we speak and will soon be coming for me. Therefore, since this will be my lost post I will leave you with the magical discovery of the day.....

Banana Butter!!!

How could this be? Well, the recent purchase of the magic bullet gave us the tool, and the nine hours of boredom provided the fuel to the flame. The recipe, however, cannot have the credit taken by moi... no no no. The true genius behind this creation is the lovely Katie and i must say im kinda upset with myself that i didnt come up with it myself. Think about it!!! Whats the best sandwich in the world? AFTER pineapple and ham..... right, PB and Naner! Howev-sies, i added my thirty pieces of flare by using Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Peanut Butter. Granted, im sure im not the only one that does this... but i wanted to at least appear creative today.



Seriously... cut me some CUH-razy slack with this. Why are the uses? spread it on toast, muffins, put it on oatmeal and cereal in the morning, dip some fruit in it, make ants on a cinnamon raisin swirl log, style your hair with it, make a dessert pasta. PUT IT ON PANCAKES! Why did i not think about that before i cooked this morning?!?! Now im upset at myself, great. Who said blogging it thereputic again?

In the end... this recipe is easy, tasty, healthy and cheap. so go out and make some.... riiiiiiiight NOW! Tune in next time for a pan-creation that will not only kick cancer in the face.... but ensures a spring to be put into your step. Until then, this is PanClayke reminding you that you give love... a bad name!

A Thousand Miles...

... starts with a single step.
I have been telling people about this blog for some time now, it seems not a day goes by where the phrase "Have I told you about my blog" came out of my mouth. After a while people started getting annoyed, they didnt say anything but i can tell. That just made me want to buckle down more since i obviously have some awesome people supporting me to the point of putting up with my constant reiteration. But, onto more important matters... The Pancake!

So, its obvious these are for breakfast, but i think we should think out of the box. Look at the omelette, having recently lived on a weekly food budget of like $20 i can tell you how great a dinner an omelette can be, not to mention its cousin the fritatta (ole!). There were even some times where pancakes for dinner came into play and people would look at me like i was a sicko for a bit then in awe that i wasnt in a sugar coma from the night before. It was either that or some comments about my Peter Pan syndrome (which does exist but is beside the point). So i figured why not BE the change, go from pancakes to MAN-cakes, share stories with the world about inspirations for certain recipes and show the other aspiring cooks out there what certain ingredients can do rahter than be at the mercy of the ever-imposing spice isle. Maybe even take a shot at the thin line between sweet and savory. Crazy? Crazy like a fox!

Thats only part of what begins out tale together, the second half comes from the panic that ensued after graduating with a degree in theater arts and living in the real world with no set path to follow anymore. With this panic came the question "What do i want to do now?" The answer came over a pancake dinner where one of the most amazing phrases i have in my arsenal came about. "I dont know what I want to do, but I want to express myself." Well, I dont know exactly what I want to do either, but I know I want to: Sing, make people laugh, be superman and make pancakes. Vague? Vague like a fox!

So where does that leave us? In Miami, living out of boxes and being the newest member of LA Fitness. My apologies for the lack of pancake+photo, but stay tuned. Pancakes are sexy and were bringing sexyback.