DOS HERMANOS: GO EVERYWHERE, EAT EVERYTHING

"It's not much but it's ours"

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

HERMANO SEGUNDO BACK IN LA: STUFF BETWEEN BREAD

























So, my theory that America’s greatest contribution to the world of cuisine is the sandwich is developing rapidly as proved by my first couple of meals on my return to Los Angeles.

Before that, however, Sybil helped me recover from my eleven hour flight with a restorative bowl of excellent ramen at a local food court. Another reminder of the things they do so well, here on the West coast.

But, on to those sandwiches.

First up, a short walk from my friend’s flat down Venice Boulevard to Howard’s, apparently, according to the sign on their frontage, famous for their bacon and avocado burger and a Palms stalwart since 1971. It’s places like this that make me really happy to be back in the U.S. The menu is short, the food is prepared fast but fresh to order with no muss, no fuss and, while I am sure there are better burgers to be had in L.A, I would kill to have a place like this anywhere near me in London.

Even better on day two of my visit, I was joined by my new chum, Aaron Tell for a taste off between two suppliers of a uniquely L.A institution the French Dipped Sandwich. Cole’s and Philippe’s both lay claim to have originated this slightly odd roast beef sandwich, which is dipped in “jus” before being served to make the bread soft.

There are many different stories as to how the custom began. Some tell you it originated with a customer who had bad teeth and could not eat the crusty sourdough bread. Others tell you it was just a way of using up stale bread. Whatever the truth of the matter, it is another proof of the spectacular ability of the yanks to slam great stuff between bread. Or, at least, Philippe’s was.

Our first port of call was Coles, recently refurbished and filled with a lunchtime crowd. It looked the part and the open kitchen was busy with men slicing shreds of beef from large joints and serving them between sourdough with bowls of extra jus for dipping. Unfortunately the beef was tough and the jus so salty, I had to drink two large glasses of water to take the taste out of my mouth.

Much better was Philippe’s, across town and on the edge of the city’s small Chinatown. If Cole’s had been busy, Philippe’s was mobbed with a holiday crowd and we had to join a line stretching out of the door. The sight of the servers dipping the sandwiches in vats of the jus and the smell filling the air made me think it was going to be worth the wait and when we finally found a seat to eat our selection of traditional beef and lamb with blue cheese, it proved to be the case. The “double dipped” bread was soft and deliciously messy and the substantial filling fell apart in savoury shards in the mouth. It’s easy to see why this place has been a local favourite for over a hundred years.

I am here for another two weeks and I have no doubt that there are going to be more reports of America’s great contribution to the art of the sandwich.

Happy New Year, everyone
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Tuesday, December 30, 2008

HERMANO SEGUNDO'S BEST TASTES OF 2008

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by fine dining guru, Steve Plotnicki asking if I would contribute to his "BEST TASTES OF 2008" alongside assorted chefs, professional foodwriters and bloggers



I was only too happy to comply for, although we are polar opposites when it comes to many aspects of dining, I can recognise in Steve a similar obsession with food and a similar distaste for bad meals, however differently we may define them.

You can read my contribution and those of others over on his blog OPINIONATED ABOUT DINING

Checking back through my photographs for the year trying to come up with my best meals was a happy experience and allowed me to relive, not only the second half of the EAT MY GLOBE journey, but also some of the meals since I returned to London and from other trips, most notably to Los Angeles and Pas De Calais.

It also made me realise how much I missed cooking when I was on the road, for although I am an enthusiastic rather than talented cook, there are few things in life more enjoyable than spending time in the kitchen.

As always a huge thank you to all those who helped make 2008 so special. If 2009 turns out to be half as good, it's going to be very enjoyable indeed

1) A PROPER BARNSLEY CHOP (HOME, LONDON)



2)SCHWEINHAXN (MUNICH, GERMANY)




3) VILLAGE LOBSTER (ICELAND)



4) FRIED CHICKEN (CHATACHUK MARKET, BANGKOK)




5) TRADITIONAL MALAYSIAN BUFFET (RESTAURANT REBUNG, KUALA LUMPUR)



6) PHO (HANOI, VIETNAM)




7) SEAFOOD KARE KARE ( ANGELES, PHILIPPINES)



8) TANDOORI CHICKEN (BHUKARA, DELI)



9) BHEL PURI (VITTAL'S MUMBAI)



10) "EXECUTIVE" THALI ( BANGALORE)




11) TEA & BISCUITS (GOOMTEE ESTATE, DARJEELING)



12) MISHTI DAHI (K.C. DAS KOLKATA)



13) BRAAI (DE TOREN WINERY, STELLENBOSH, SOUTH AFRICA)



14) PRAWNS (MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE)




15) MAFE ( DAKAR, SENEGAL)



16) LAMB & PRUNE TAGINE (CASABLANCA, MOROCCO)



17) JAMON & TIP PEPE ( JEREZ, SPAIN)



18) BALIK EKMEK ( ISTANBUL, TURKEY)


19) PANI CA MEUSA (PALERMO, ITALY)



20) ABBACCHIO (ROME,ITALY)



21) GRILLED MEATS ( TAYYABS, LONDON)




22) ROAST GAMMON (HOME, LONDON)



23) LOCAL CHEESES (PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE)


24) SIU LONG BAO (DIN TAI FUNG, L.A)


25)CREAMY ROLLED PASTA (CHOCOLATE, SANTA CRUZ)


26)FRIED CHICKEN (HONEY'S KETTLE, L.A)



27)CHILLI DOG AND CHEESEBURGER COMBO(MARTY'S, L.A)




28) DEEP FRIED CHICKEN GIBLETS (ROSCOE'S CHICKEN & WAFFLES, LA)




29) PERSIMMON CAKE ( LIZ HASKELL, LA)


30) CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES (PAUL A YOUNG, LONDON)


31)STUFFED SHOULDER OF MUTTON (HOME, LONDON)


32) BEEF RENDANG (HOME LONDON)

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Monday, December 29, 2008

CHRISTMAS 2008: DH OVERINDULGE SHOCK HORROR





















A Dos Hermanos Christmas normally consists of working until the 24th, a quick dash to Neal’s Yard to pick up an unfeasibly large amount of cheese and a Mrs King’s Pork Pie (there’s always one of those), another dash to get the hire car and then a blast up the M1 to see our relatives in the Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire and a return soon after the day itself. This year was a bit different.

HS is now self-employed which seems to entail doing some writing then watching endless reruns of the Hairy Bikers (“It’s Christmas, Si”, “It is, Dave”). All part of his research, of course. Me, I’m still a hired hand but the company I work for said I could take a couple of weeks off - they asked me if I knew what supernumerary meant. I’m not sure but it doesn’t sound nice.

Anyway, the end result was we could spend a longer period up North which meant, inter alia and bien sûr a lot more eating opportunities (let’s face it apart from avoiding thick-lipped, patronising, southern mockneys there isn’t a great deal to do in Rotherham).

Highlights were many: our father’s kebabs cooked on a kebab machine I bought him a few Christmases ago, the Cheese, that Pork Pie - a behemoth that we struggled to finish. There were cocktails too. Baba had requested I bring a rudimentary cocktail kit with me so HS and I took turns to make Martinis, Manhattans, Mint Juleps and Mojitos.

The Christmas meal wasn’t bad either. As the morning was spent quaffing Champagne and eating Smoked Salmon at my Sister’s I went for something that would cook relatively quickly. Stuffed Partridges were accompanied by some Potatoes roasted in Goose fat, Pork, Sage and Chestnut Stuffing balls and the usual array of veg. My Brother-in-law supplied a homemade Pudding which was light in texture and fantastically toothsome. There might have been some more Cheese, glasses of Port and Mince Pies (expertly made by our Hermana and very moreish) there as well.

All too soon our mini-break was over and we had to return to London. Happier ? Certainly. Heavier ? Well let’s say the car had to labour that little bit harder on the return journey.

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