Cane Garden Bay, Tortola BVI

Taloula Mango's, St. Maarten

Conch fritters

A Guy With a Grill, St. Maarten

Jerk wings. Grilled grouper. Back ribs

Galleon Beach, Antigua

Beachside Cantina, Sapphire Beach

Grilled mahi mahi with horseradish pickles

St. Thomas USVI

El Caldero San Juan

Gallagher's Steak House NYC

Beef aging room.

Try This Beer

Westmalle Tripel

I can't think of a better way to start off the weekend than with a strong Trappist ale. This week started off with snow and cold here in New England. But drinking this wonderful tripel makes all that bad weather just disappear.

This ale pours out with an aggressive carbonation at first, due to it's secondary fermentation in the bottle. The tiny bubbles race to the top of this golden ale to form a thick, dense, creamy head. The aroma is of light fruit and subtle hop. On the first sip all I can think about is the wonderful champagne-like sensation. It is crisp and tingly, but then gives way to a great full bodied mouthfeel. A burst of alcohol, and then a complex dance of fruit, yeast, and hops linger on the palate. This beer would pair well with a fine aged gouda, some slices of pear, and a warm crackling fire.

Death Row Meal

It might just look like an average bowl of chicken noodle soup, but it's so much more. It's pho, and it's all that I have been eating, craving, or thinking about for the past two weeks. This soup starts off deceivingly simple: noodles, broth, chicken, and a few aromatics. It's served with bean sprouts, Thai basil (the best herb on the planet), and sliced limes on the side. On the table is a homemade chili sauce that is super hot but very addicting. There is no wrong way to eat pho. Kris adds nothing to hers, and I add everything to mine. It creates a unique and completely different experience for the both of us. For her, she gets a soul warming bowl of chicken noodle soup. Filled with familiar tastes of her youth. Plump chicken, perfect noodle, and a flavorful broth. For me, I get a complex, ever changing bowl of pho. The meal starts off simple. Then the hot broth starts taking on the flavors of the Thai basil and chili sauce. It changes, it transforms. By the end of the bowl, it's nothing like it was when I started it. And then...it's gone. Leaving me satisfied, happy, and full. On the drive home my thoughts are filled with the meal; my mouth still tingling with the flavor of the chili sauce. I always think that I might turn the car around and go back, but I never do. I just go home and start planing my next visit, my next bowl. Will it be beef noodle soup, next time? I take out the wrinkled menu from my back pocket. Hours: 7 days a week from 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Pho for breakfast? I can't think of a better way to start my day.

Dog's For Sale

I'm sorry if this is beginning to look more like a dog blog than a BBQ/food blog. But, I really have no 'guidelines' here. It's just a blog. There is not much going on in my BBQ world right now, and Kris and I are trying to eat a little better, so I don't have much food porn for you. So, here's some puppies.

Actually, these French Bulldogs are all in Maggie's lineage. The breeder we got Maggie from keeps in touch with most of her clients. She emails pics of her latest litters, and always wants to hear how Maggie's doing. She would love for us to add one of these little guys to our pack. We always think about it, but it never happens. But this litter is so damn hard to look past. I would love for someone I know to get one of these dogs.

Walter Cronkite

Kris and I (and Maggie, I guess) got an email a little while ago from this guy. His name is Walter Cronkite and he lives in New York City. He is Maggie's brother. His owners got in touch with us through our breeder. They thought it would be a great idea to stay in touch and keep each other informed about any health issues that might arise. We agree. Maggie and Walter are both happy and healthy now, but it's good to know they are within a 4 hour drive from each other. I'm hoping they can meet someday too. Central Park or Boston Common has yet to be decided.