One of the Best Sandwiches Ever Created

I was glancing over a few of my previous posts today to realize i had yet to write about what is one of the best sandwiches I have ever had the joy of devouring so here it goes.

Back in January 2011 I had to travel to Puerto Rico for a friends funeral. For those if you who haven't yet had the pleasure of visiting the gateway to the Caribbean I highly recommend doing so.

I already had learned years ago that those from Puerto Rico are fiercely proud of ttheir culture ad history and all they have to offer, and rightfully so. I challenge anyone to find a people more friendly, welcoming and engaging than those I met on the island of Puerto Rico. I did have an advantage however in that I was traveling and staying with natives of this island jewel and not just playing tourist.

My friends father was intent in ensuring I saw anything and everything I wished while there, so I asked if we could grab a bite at El Churry, a chow wagon that sets up at Isla Verde & Calle Jupiter in the Carolina area of San Juan a few minutes walk from the beach. The truck itself usually arrives around 6p and opens for business close to 7p with a dozen or so customers sitting at the handful of picnic tables set up on the asphalt lot ready and waiting to place orders. From what I could tell, there is a steady stream of customers throughout the night until they close shop around 3 or 4 in the morning.

The signature sandwich at El Churry is the MIXTO. This is a combination of grilled skirt steak and chicken which is marinaded for two days with a secret house salad along with potato sticks in a sweet pita style bread do yourself a favor and spend the extra dollar for the bacon.

The first bite takes you to a virtual food shambala as an explosion of unbelievable flavored entertain your taste buds. He rest is just sheer joy. As matter of fact this sandwich is so delectably delicious that when you finding you are all at once sad that it is gone and happy that all you need do is go order another. Gluttonous, yes but worth it.

I was so take. With the MIXTO that I would willingly spend the $600 round trip airfare to get to San Juan jut to dine on the MIXTO at El Churry again. The simple fact that Piñones Beach is a short walk away is a bonus. As you've probably already figured, the MIXTO and El Churry both get my "Jeff Approved" rating.



As always my friends, Eat Like A Local!

The Foodgasmic Breakfast

Last night I was blessed with a surprise visit from my Goddaughter, Alex.  It seemed like 2 or 3 years since I had last seen her even though is was as recent as last Thanksgiving.

We sat at the end of the dock at the marina for hours chatting and catching up on each others' lives as we watched the meteor shower.  As we chatted Alex managed to remind me that I still had not taken her to the Blue Moon Cafe in the Fells Point area of Baltimore ,MD for her first tasting of Capt'n Crunch French Toast...which of course I was happy to oblige. 

After heading back to the house at almost 3a to catch a few hours of sleep we were up at 8a and quickly prepared for our visit to the Blue Moon.  It seemed that the stars had aligned in our favor.  As we arrived there was nobody waiting outside to be seated and two seats at the counter were empty and awaiting us.  I speak from the experience of many visits that this is indeed a rarity.  The Blue Moon is a small building with just the right amount of charm.  Though little more than a minor inconvenience, it speaks volumes of the establishment and its fare when you consider that it is most common to be waiting outside for upwards of an hour for a table in all kinds of weather as you chat with those like yourself who savor the thought of dishes such as the Sweet Baby Jesus, Capt'n Crunch French toast or Chesapeake Eggs Benedict.  

Though my favorite dish at the Moon is in fact the Sweet Baby Jesus I erred to the side of caution being that is was Alex's first time here and we split an order of the Breakfast Country Burritos (burritos with hash browns, eggs and cheese covered in a country sausage gravy) as well as the signature Capt'n Crunch French toast.  She agreed as so many of my friends do that I have brought here for this dish, "it is freakin' phenomenal!"  Personally I classify it as "Foodgasmic", I think it is a bit more descriptive of the sweet addictive flavors.  Either way, there is not a bad dish on the menu.

When you go be prepared to wait up to an hour to get a table.  Don't be discouraged it will be well worth your time.  The people outside are often repeat customers and friendly folks happy to offer a suggestion or say hello.  If you are lucky, Tara will be working and if she is ask for her as your server.  She is a joy to talk to and always ready with a quick witted response...tell her that I sent you.  Lastly, if you haven't been to the Blue Moon Cafe before, order either the Sweet Baby Jesus; which is a plate of hash browns, diced tomatoes, two eggs (I recommend over easy), pepper jack cheese topped with hollandaise sauce and old bay seasoning) this is my personal favorite.  The other option is the signature Capt'n Crunch French toast.  If you are there with a friend, order both and split them.

The Blue Moon is open 7a-3p Monday -Thursday and 24 hours from 7a Friday to late Sunday and is BYOB, so bring enough to share and start a party...trust me it wont be the first time.

Have a great day everyone and as always...Eat Like A Local!

All Hot Dogs are Not Created Equal

Well yesterday I found myself free of obligations, so I decided to spend the day doing what I like to do best...explore the water front and search out new places to eat.  I was wandering around the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland and came upon Stuggy's Hot Dogs.  Stuggy's has been here about 2 years now and even with the recommendation of a colleague of mine, I somehow still hadn't made my way down here just yet...my mistake.

Now in all honesty, as a rule I am hesitant to spend more than a couple of dollars on a hot dog, let alone $6.99.  So I stood back and read over the menu as well as the poster explaining how the founders purposely created their supply chain from local farms and essentially created their own hot dogs to meet their standards.  "Hmmm?", I said.  "Locally owned and supplied?  This is a philosophy I can support".  Well, that along with realizing that I wasn't going to be able to make a call on this place without giving them an honest try.  So I decided to try the Mac Crab Dog, but alas, they were out of crab meat.  So we went to plan "B" and ordered the "Wild Thing"; bison sausage cured with maple syrup, blue cheese and diced raw onions.  This was surprisingly good!  Generally when we think of hot dogs it is a mentality of , 'a hot dog, is a hot dog, is a hot dog'.  Throw that thinking out the window when you enter Stuggy's.  The food is fresh, tasty and filling.  A word of caution here...with the exception of just a plain hot dog, if it isn't on the list of ingredients, don't add or subtract anything!  Yeah, you may like mustard on your dogs, but trust me, there is a reason deli mustard isn't on the Cuban Dog just like relish isn't on the Late Night.  It doesn't work!  There has been enough trial and error to find the right balance of flavors on these specialty dogs so enjoy them as they are intended. 

Probably by no surprise, the vast majority of their business is carry out but they do have a small counter by the window that will fit 3 or 4 people if you want to hang out and dine.  Just be prepared to "get to know your neighbor".  The entire interior of Stuggy's is maybe 5'x10' and they stay open late Thursday-Saturday until 3a, most assuredly to capitalize on the crowds as they leave one of the many local bars.

The manager, Ashley is fun to chat with while she catches her breath between answering the phone, ringing up an order and working the grill and she does it all with a smile and a laugh.   If your in the area or wandering around Fells Point for one of the many festivals during the summertime.  Do yourself a favor and stop in and try one of the many specialty dogs on Stuggy's menu.   Trust me, you'll like the food here.   As a matter of fact, I liked it so much I went back today and ordered the Crab Mac.