Coffee Cup Stain

I have had more than a few experiences of the BBQ to be found in Austin.  The first time I visited the city it was on a whim, I knew no one and really had no idea as to what my week would entail.  It is a city that is well known the world over, for the live music that happens in various venues, and many times just happens right there on the street corners.  That first trip was incredible.  I was lucky enough to have found one of the best Austin hotels, and with the information the front desk guy gave me, I found some of the best live music I had ever experienced, but I did not find the best BBQ.

I am in love with real BBQ, and I found a great place in Amarillo during my many road trips back and forth between Phoenix and Chicago, I was not really sure of where to go in Austin.  My second trip to Austin, was all about that.  About the BBQ.  I had met a touring musician who lived in Austin and visited him last summer.  Visiting a musician in Austin, well I knew that my live music needs for the week would be met, so I asked him to find me the best of the best, in the world of BBQ.  He’s a Texan and he was ready to take on the quest.

Our first stop was a place called Artz’s, where not only do they serve up slow roasted ribs, coleslaw and black beans, but a good dose of live Bluegrass music every night of the week.  The next night, we headed over to Cooper’s Old Time Pit, where you order your meals off the menu, by the pound.  The next day was a Wednesday and we headed to a place called Driftwood, just about 30 minutes outside of Austin.  We headed to Salt Lick, one of the most famous BBQ joints in Texas.  We BYOB-ed it, bringing with us a six pack of Shinerbock, and had some of the most delicious slow roasted brisket –topping it off with a homemade piece of cobbler.

A Texas wedding happened the next night, atop a hill in what seemed to be the outskirts of town.  My friend played music, while the grandfather of the bride tended the ribs he’s been slow cooking since last Tuesday.  I had been to the most famous BBQ joints in Texas that week, but nothing could beat the food cooked on the hill that night, nor the music that was playing, nor the vibe created by a simple night of Texas true love

The best restaurants New York City offers, are some of the finest dining establishments in the world.  And certainly a night out on the town calls for one of these culinary experiences.  However, make no mistake, to find some of the most authentic, and inexpensive meals in the city, the street vendors are nothing to scoff at.  From pizza to barbecue, Mediterranean to German, it all can be found via the many corner joints and street vendors.  One place that is quite popular sits in the neighborhood of El Alto.  Here is where the El Peluche Truck is to be found.  From chicharrónes to pasteles this Dominican cuisine will delight your taste-buds without lightening your wallet.  Move along to the food stand of Hallo German Food.  Located, usually, on 5th Avenue, this is one of the many places to get a true, stacked and loaded hot dog.  The famous man behind the “wursts” is Babiel.  He has been given the Vendy Award for his service and his fare, and has locals lining up for his quick and delicious dogs.

Just along the Manhattan Bridge, vendors of kebabs line the streets.  From lamb kebabs to sweet potatoes, all of the food is cooked fresh over hot grills, on the side of the street!  For cheap!  And of course there is the pizza.  Many restaurants offer take away slices, with a spice bar loaded with oregano, garlic and cheese.  One can not walk through Times Square at any hour without seeing someone enjoying a folding slice as they make their way to their destination.  One of my favorites, and something I was not expecting to find on a street corner, is the Red Hook Lobster Cart.  The lobster is toasted on a grill, and along with it you can grab a bundle of crab claws, all on the corner of the street.  Fresh herbs, spices and vegetables are available and this is one cart that will send you over the top, and onto the sidewalks of New York City.

Singapore is a gloriously international city state, with a very remarkable population that is enormously diverse.  It is an endless source of fascination, for locals, expats, as well as people who’ve visited here, and after one trip, most people get a taste of the magic that is very peculiar to this place.  There are always plenty of exciting new attractions, with live entertainments from all over the world.  The local talent is fairly extraordinary as well, and there is an active arts community, creating fantastic new work in visual arts and performance.  There are some practitioners who have dedicated their lives to learning very traditional forms, and there are also many interesting talents who excel in radical innovations.

Some of the best of these innovators combine art with technology, making some of the most exciting work in the world.  The film industry has always been a place where art and technology come together, and there are certainly strong communities for film here.  You can see how exciting the community is by visiting any Indian restaurant and asking if any movie stars have ever come through. Chances are good that there have been some famous guests, since it is a relatively small place, and with good restaurants, word gets around pretty quickly.  You may not see anyone famous yourself, but you’re guaranteed a magnificent meal.

One of the most exciting times in film history for the local Indian film lovers here was in 2004, when the International Indian Film Academy held their awards ceremony here.  It seems as though it wouldn’t take much to create a local buzz, however, because this year, when the Bollywood actors and actresses had a stop over in Singapore on their way to Macau, there was a tremendous buzz at the airport.  Movie magic is highly regarded here, and celebrity fever is a very exciting local condition.

How do you go from a sleepy little fishing village to a military base and then an exciting popular tourist site? Well, check out Sentosa, Singapore and you will see. Tourists come from far and wide to this island and they find it all here. It doesn’t matter if you are young or just young at heart. It doesn’t matter if you live on the wild side or have a more sedate and intellectual personality. Are you single? Are you married with a family? It doesn’t matter. Whatever brings you to Sentosa, you will enjoy your time here. Whatever the reason, hotels Sentosa offers will handle your physical needs. The amenities offered are also first rate with your satisfaction top priority. The staff is very friendly, polite and helpful.

Now that you are settled in and ready to explore, let me tell you about some of the things you might enjoy. And there are plenty. What about the beautiful clean sandy beaches with their spectacular scenic views? And of course there are the water sports that go along with beaches. Not that active? Just relax under a big umbrella with a good book and a good drink What about golfing or hiking, enjoy the lush, green gardens. Be sure and see Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon. You will be amazed at the sea life you can observe here. There is history to be found at Fort Siloso and the local museums, there are the theme parks and nature parks. And I mentioned the wild side. Well, you have the nightclubs and bars that offer the most popular music and dancing and a beverage or two. And the fabulous food, you can dine in elegance at a fancy restaurant, or walk along the beach and sample fresh seafood from one of the quaint little shanties. Are you convinced? Sentosa translated means peace and tranquility but there is a whole lot more.

Lighting up the grill is like extending a dinner invitation to the neighborhood.  As the scents drift up, and around, but you are the lucky one.  This is your grill, your time to shine, all that is necessary is a bit of know how, and little experience.  Before beginning make certain that everything is close at hand.  Having an outdoor kitchen helps in this aspect of organization, with a refrigerator, outdoor cabinets and counter for proper workspace will help, but if you are going from indoor kitchen to outdoor grill, organization is a must.  With everything in place, you won’t need to worry when it comes time to flip the burgers and the steaks.  Get the coals heated up and set the grill over the hot coals, and once that is warm you can brush off any bits that may have been left behind from the last time you used it.  Once the grill is hot and clean brush it with a little vegetable oil, and you are ready to go.

If the grill gets too hot, you can put the cover on the grill and close the vents, the oxygen will be cut a bit and the grill will cool down.  You can spritz the coals with water, but stand back so as to not get hit will ashes.  Fat from certain meat may drip onto the coals call a flare up.  You may control this to an extent by turning and moving the meat from time to time.  There are two ways to get the flavors of a smoker on your grill.  One way is in how you prepare your coals.    You can place a few extra on top and them move all of your food to the other side of the grill, allowing it to cook slower and absorb the flavor.  Another way to create a smoker, is to place a tin of water on the bottom and arrange the coals around that.  The meat is then placed on the area above the cooler water, which too will slow the cooking time.  These techniques work great with everything from BBQ ribs to grilled vegetables, and is a great way to the most of your BBQ grilling days.

Making the choice to move from indoors to an outdoor kitchen is a fantastic experience in learning and discovery.  At the end of all the work, there are always glorious new flavors, and thankful eaters, so it’s never a fruitless endeavor.  There is always more to learn, too.  As you start to work with your new kitchen, you’ll soon come to know the joys of sharing recipes and the sheer pleasure of your new experiments.  Cooking with our drop-in grills adds another touch that will make a huge difference in how you prepare food.

One of the greatest advantages to a drop-in grill is the level of precision that suddenly becomes part of your experience.  The heat is extremely well-controlled, and when this factor is no longer a variable, you’ll be free to experiment with flavor.  Fish can be especially tricky in any circumstances, and cooking fish on a grill requires an even greater precision.  With our drop-in grills, this precision comes easy, because you can always be sure that the temperature is exact, and the grill is always ready.

With fish, the level of heat is extremely important.  Some types of fish do better cooked slowly, and others need the fast blast that other meats require to make a mouth-watering meal.  Once you’ve determined the right degree of heat for your fish of choice, then the whole question about cooking fish with precision becomes focused on the sauce.  Here, a whole new world can open up.  It’s not simply lime with garlic, although those are always staples.  Feel free to experiment with different flavors for the sauce.  With salmon, different kinds of squash, or oranges and mangos, can add a whole new dimension to the taste.  Experimentation really is the key, but with the drop-in grill, you will be sure it’s cooked perfectly, and you’ll be able to dazzle your guests with the various new flavors you can bring to the table.