Chow

I've been eating a fair amount of soup lately as the temps haven't been deadly. Here's pho from Hot 'n Spicy. I've had it a couple times recently and appreciate the numerous basil leaves they give you. I've noticed that their jalapeno slices tend to be of a large diameter.

I took a friend's daughter there for dinner recently and she remarked that her dish had the perfect amount of spicy heat. Contrariwise, my ladyfriend ordered Pad Woon Sen there at medium heat and it burned her mouth up real good. "Well, I can't complain about it as I knew the place is called Hot 'n Spicy when I walked in," she admitted.

That place has quickly become a favorite.

When I couldn't indulge in pho, I went with wonton soup. This is a generous helping of the stuff from a Chinese joint at Global Market's food hall the name of which I cannot recall. Tasty but I wouldn't have minded more - much more - baby bok choy.

While it hasn't been 90 degrees out, I have nonetheless been trying to avoid cooking inside which means grilling outside. Here's chicken with Thai cucumber salad that I made.

Pork chops seasoned with that Cherry Bomb seasoning that I've mentioned previously.

My ladyfriend assembled chicken kabobs one evening and I cooked them up fine.

Walleye with green beans. I would like to get one of those tray hoolies so I don't have to wrap fishes up in foil for grilling.

I finally busted out the BBQ rub I bought in Albuquerque.

The chops turned out well. A little heat but nothing deadly. Instead just good red chili flavor.

Tangent: I was in a store recently and saw Hatch chili something or other and I immediately had a flashback to Albuquerque.

Spring rolls from Hot & Spicy. Mmm...

Lastly, the pollo soup from La Pollera Colombiana on East Wash. Simple yet delicious. Plenty of chicken along with potatoes and carrots. Good basic food. The staff there that night were quite friendly and our server was happy to let my ladyfriend ply her limited Spanish on her. Also of note was the football game on the TVs. When Brazil scored, the announcer yelled "GOOOOOAL!!" for about 15 seconds. Twice. Great food, great people, great atmosphere.

Fud

One of things I've done a lot the past few weeks is eat out. Well, maybe not a lot but a lot for me.

Last month I made my first stop at the standalone Athens Grill in Waunakee and I got their deluxe gyros or whatever they call it. The Grecian-American delight had the added bonus of diced cucumber and feta cheese. Well worth the extra couple bucks.

As a new resident of Eken Park it was only a matter of time before I'd make my first foray to Ogden's North Street Diner. As I write I can now boast that I've been there twice. 

It's been the go-to spot for my friend who lives nearby and me for a quick lunch during the week when we're working from home. I've done the sesame chicken salad both times.

And on my most recent venture, the vegetable chili. 

The salad is fine but it wouldn't hurt to have more vegetables beyond lettuce. A little cucumber, a smidge of cabbage would do me just right. The chili was a veritable cornucopia of vegetables but was rather bland. It seemed all but bereft of any kind chili seasoning, oddly enough.

Last week I made my first appearance at Bierock. The restaurant's namesake is an Eastern European pasty.

The evening sun cast an orange-tinted yellow glow about the room.

I ordered an Oktoberfest from Hop Haus in Middleton. This turned out to be a big mistake as it tasted not good. Maybe this stuff had been sitting around since July and had started going bad; or perhaps they just don't know how to make a beer where malt is the star instead of covering up the grainy goodness with hops.

I ordered a classic bierock which was filled with ground beef, sauerkraut, and onion. Very tasty! The dough was less flaky than the pasties I've had and, while the filling was basic, it satisfied. The mustard vinaigrette that came with it was also very good. 

A couple weeks or so ago I accompanied a friend and her friend out on a thrift store shopping excursion. We hit the shops in Sun Prairie and a couple on Madison's east side. This, of course, made us hungry and so we stopped in at the food hall at Global Market.

Despite having shopped at the market several times, I'd never eaten at the food hall mainly because I tend to shop early and so the restaurants have always been closed when I've been there.

Glazed had mochi doghnuts on offer. I believe they're made from rice and tapioca flours. 

My friend's friend is Hmong so she stopped in at Hmong Kitchen.

It was nice to see her again as it had been years. Upon hearing that I needed to move out of the marital residence ASAP, she immediately offered a room to Piper and me in her home. Even though I didn't take her up on it, I am so grateful and humbled by her kindness and generosity.

She ordered this: 

Not seen is a green papaya salad.

My friend and I put in an order here:

We split this:

Tastilicious!

Tonight as I heated my meatballs, I ate the salad I brought to work but didn't eat as I had forgotten to bring my new bottle of dressing.

Why yes that is a Dovetail Grodziskie. I found some left over from the spring while I was down in Illinois last week. It still tasted wonderful. Light and smoky and smoky.