Sarah Loves Bacon

Road Trip Archives: Corky’s & Their Ultimate Twice Baked Potato Salad

My trip to Corky’s was special for a few reasons: 1) It happened on the same day I ate breakfast at Ozark Family Smokehouse and lunch at Cothom’s Mercantile, making it the cap to the most epic day of food consumption of my life (to date), 2) It was my first time trying dry ribs, and 3) Because it introduced me to a potato salad that changed the way I now view potato salads. Once the food was placed in front of me I went into a hypnotized feeding frenzy and didn’t resume consciousness until this was all that was left:

The dry ribs were good (though I did learn I’m a wet rib kind of gal), but the Ultimate Twice Baked Potato Salad side wins this round. WHAT did they do to make it taste so good?? I’ve tried recreating it and gotten close but there must be some Memphis magic mixed in with that bacon and sour cream. 

Road Trip Archives: Cothams Mercantile

If Cothams Mercantile looks like its 90 years old, its because it is. Located in Scott, Arkansas, standing half on land and half jutting out into swamps, you aren’t sure if you should walk in or run for cover to avoid its imminent collapse. 

You don’t run though, you’re seduced by the rusty coke machine on the porch and gingham curtains beckoning you from within. You half expect a Model T to roll up and a man in a bow tie to hop out. The inside looks just as ancient as the outside, featuring dusty shelves still in tact from its General Store days circa 1917-1984. Thats not really what matters though. This is:

The Hubcap Burger. The Hubcap Burger. Its not QUITE the size of a hubcap, but its pretty gosh dang big. The size is just a novelty though, the taste is epic. Whatever seasoning they put in there (which you can buy on their website) is mouth watering. I want to bathe in a pool filled with these cheeseburgers. If I had to only eat one type of cheeseburger for the rest of my life, it would be this one. Sorry, In N Out. 

The side of fried green tomatoes was an excellent compliment. This was surprising, since I’d never liked them before. Apparently though, I’d just never had them done right. 

Road Trip Archives: Drive Thru Gizzards

Spotted at a stoplight while driving around in Arkansas, not too far from the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock. What the what? This isn’t on the menu in the Northern States. In fact, I wasn’t even really sure what a gizzard was, so here’s a definition from wikipedia:

“The gizzard, also referred to as the ventriculus, gastric mill, and gigerium, is an organ found in the digestive tract of some animals, including birds, reptiles,earthworms and some fish. This specialized stomach constructed of thick, muscular walls is used for grinding up food; often rocks are instrumental in this process. In certain insects and mollusks, the gizzard features chitinous plates or teeth.”

Nope. No. Not for this girl.

Road Trip Archives: Ozark Mountain Family Smokehouse

In the spring of 2009 some friends had a destination wedding in New Orleans where the bride grew up. What could be better than a trip to Big Easy? Perhaps a road trip through five southern states, ending in NO, eating all the BBQ, biscuits, gravy, and grits we could possibly fit in our bellies. This week of gluttony seemed like it should be dug up from the past and documented on this blog, because, well. Obviously! 

First up: Ozark Mountain Family Smokehouse. 

 

They have multiple locations in Arkansas, this one is in Little Rock and serves their smokehouse goodies in a restaurant setting. The outside looks somewhat unfriendly, but inside you feel like you’re in the kitchen of some long lost southern grandma you didn’t know you had. Everyone in there seemed to know each other, and to know that we were obviously from out of town. But that was OK, we were welcome. Ah southern hospitality! It was the first breakfast on the trip, but in retrospect it was my favorite. Just look:

My Palm Treo photo (I know, I know, don’t worry I have an iPhone now) doesn’t do justice, but that is a plate of the most perfect bacon, crisp yet juicy, a BOWL of country gravy with two perfectly moist biscuits, and a hefty helping of grits. Grits, why are these not more popular in the Northern states? They are breakfasts answer to mashed potatoes. 

But wait! What is that in the background?? Is the a smoked ham steak? Since this meal I’ve been trying to find something similar to this at other breakfast joints, no luck. Every place I go to that has a ham steak, I have to order it. And no matter how good it is, its not this and I’m always slightly disappointed. (Gravy in Portland did get pretty close though). Hands down the best ham steak I’ve ever had, and perhaps one of my biggest regrets in my food life is not ordering this for myself. In fact, I’m pretty sure Adele’s “Someone Like You” is based on this ham steak. 

The One

You know when you meet “the one”- the world stops and you know you have finally found what you’ve been looking for your entire life? Well I didn’t believe in that, and then Katsu Burger happened. 

Their burgers are prepared “Katsu” style- meaning they are “dipped in tempura batter, coated in panko break crumbs, and deep fried to juicy perfection.” Thats right. What is funny is that the first time I ate there I didn’t even notice the patty was deep fried. I was too distracted by the sunny side up egg, bacon, cheddar, mayo, cabbage, etc, on my Ohayou Gozaimasu burger. Its so much happening at once, and yet, its not TOO much. You’d think it would be, but somehow, it works. 

Despite all you’ve seen so far, I must say the fries are the best part. HOW COULD FRIES POSSIBLY TOP A DEEP FRIED CHEESEBURGER WITH BACON?! By adding Nori seasoning and pairing them with awesome side sauces, as evidenced by the below sauce carousel. Yeah, sauce carousel.

And just to prove that even the staff are awesome, they draw smiley faces on the burgers as well. I’m madly in love. Its too bad this relationship is physically abusive. At least, on my arteries.  

 

Mojo’s Krispy Kreme Burger- A Story of Unrequited Love

I went to Christmas In The Park in downtown San Jose this past week. My fatal flaw was going AFTER Christmas when the ice skate rink was melting and most the food carts were closed but the creepy animatronic elves were still running and the dying Christmas trees were still trimmed. The worst part was, the foot cart selling THIS was closed. For five mere dollars this could have been mine. Fate kept us apart. But next time, Mojo’s. Next time. 

Meanwhile In a Parking Lot in Sunnyvale…

What could you want more after a week of eating nothing but meat, chocolate, and more meat? How about, even more meat! I’m surprised my fingers aren’t too fat to type this. 

Despite my Holiday binging I needed a torta, needed,  and Tres Potrillos Taqueria in Sunnyvale, “between the Chavez Supermarket and Valero gas station” was my hero. I have to say, this was my top 3 torta of all time (#1 being Las Flamas, #2 being Pancho Villa Taqueria). The meat was excellent, and thanks to the hefty serving of avocado my body got a much needed vegetable serving. 

But then there was this: 

My torta partner in crime brought along some fitting beer that we drank out of disposable party cups in the parking lot in the middle of the day. Because, why not? I’m not really sure what to say about this, except I had about a shot glass worth and I think thats all any one human being can and should be legally allowed to have. Delicious? Maybe not. Worth trying? Yes. Taste? Exactly as advertised. You’ve been warned. 

Merry Anchovies & Bacon

Okay, so maybe the anchovies and bacon aren’t meant to be eaten TOGETHER here, but you could alternate one after another and I think you’d be pretty happy. This is a mega easy appetizer that pleases many-a-picky taste. 

Everything has a base of baguette topped with mashed avocado/sea salt/olive oil. 

In order of my favorites: 

Option 1: Thin slices of onion, anchovies, paprika (smoked is best, regular will do)

Option 2: Tomato, Bacon. Boom. Done. 

Option 3: Tomato, salsa. Well, it makes vegetarians happy. 

Holy Ham Steak

If you ever find yourself at Gravy in Portland you’ll be tempted by a lot of things on their menu- but let me tell you this: just order the glazed ham. Everything else is good (like, real good) but their ham! This is one of the best breakfast hams I’ve had, second only to one I had at a smoke house in Arkansas. 

If you must try something else, their sausage (made in house) comes in a hamburger patty sized ball of meat and fennel goodness. And, if you’re into that kind of thing, they have the best oatmeal I’ve ever had.

Oatmeal with a layer of fresh berries at the the bottom, covered in oatmeal that is topped with crisped sugar, brown sugar, and more berries. You literally have to crack the top open with your spoon. But really, just stick with the ham. 

Bacon Dipped In Chocolate

I only tagged this as breakfast because thats what it was for me when I ate it. Brought as gift from my friend Ray after a clearly successful trip to Portland, I couldn’t wait much longer than mid-cup of coffee to dig in. Its not much to look at, but it sure made my morning happy.