Sunset Cantina part dos

Another year, another X show at the Paradise. What can I say. We enjoyed our first X show so much last year, when we found out they were coming around again. we just had to go.

So, another X show, another visit to the Sunset Cantina, on Comm. Ave., in the BU area (the strip of Boston that lies between the Fenway, Brookline and Allston). It's close to the Paradise, and is known for its beer and tequila selections.

I'm more inclined to beer than tequila, so the choice of drinks didn't take long. Our waitress informed us from the outset that, since it was a holiday week, they were out of a lot of beers. Now, I worked two different wholesale delivery jobs, so I can tell you from experience - holiday weeks are hell. You have one less day to hit the same number of stops, usually delivering more product, since holiday weeks are usually busy weeks. So I am not unsympathetic. However, Sunset Cantina, your reputation is built on your beer selection. It is extremely disheartening when a beer lover like myself is told that two or three of the IPAs he would like to try are right out. I was pretty bummed.

I tried to console myself with a Wachusett Green Monsta Pale Ale. (Our helpful waitress mispronounced it as "Monster".) The menu listed it under the IPAs - the closest category available. But no one would ever confuse this beer for an IPA. It's got a nice, clean flavor - somewhere between a lager and a pale ale, with a bit more body than a true lager.

Next, to quench my by now unbearable need for bitterness, I ordered the Sixpoint Bengali Tiger. This IPA, with a 6.5% B.V.A. had a nice, cloudy appearance, with medium red-brown color, and a medium head. The aroma was a bit keg-ish, for lack of a better word. (Perhaps a bar that makes it's living off of college students needs to make sure it's taps aren't *too* clean?) The taste was lightly fruity, and mild. The finish was strong with a bit more bitterness that you would have expected. Overall a pleasant, fairly mild IPA.

We had two appetizers - the Garlic Fried Calamari and the South of the Border Fiesta Nachos. Both appetizers were super-size, especially the nachos. The two of us were barely able to make a dent. We got the full order - the smaller order in hindsight would have been better for the two of us (with plenty to spare!). The low price for the nachos kind of sucked us in - they are a very good value if you're hungry! The only criticism is that there were so many chips with so much guacamole, lettuce and sour cream at the top, it was hard to get to the seasoned beef and cheese within.

The calamari was nice and hot, and well executed. The style was not my complete cup of tea. The rings were large and neat (I prefer thin and messy), but they were well seasoned, and the vinegar peppers were yummy.

It may not sound like the best drinking and dining experience, but I don't want to give the wrong idea. I would go there again - on a five-day work week (and maybe try some the the tequilas).

The show: X are an amazing live band. As one reviewer put it, it's four outstanding talents combining to make an even greater whole. Add 30-plus years of experience, and the confidence they must get from knowing that they are one of the truly original bands to come down the pike, and you get a five-star live experience.

The venue: The 'dise is a great place to see a show. We arrived early and got front-of-the stage spots in front of John Doe's mic. He is a joy to watch. I think he had even more fun at this year's show than he did last time. At least that's the impression he gave off. A fellow attendee posted video clips of this performance. (You can see our silhouettes down in front!)

The opening act: Steve Soto and the Twisted Hearts opened the show. X have gone two-for-two in my book in this category. Last year the Detroit Cobras provided attitude and grit in the opening slot. Steve Soto (ex of the Adolescents) and his band put on a great chest-pounding, high-energy garage sounding set. I will check them out in the future.

Heartland Brewery, NYC

Back in February I took a one-day business trip to mid-town Manhattan. I took the Amtrak Acela - a great way to travel. Amtrak's high-speed, business class service is quite, comfortable, and very scenic. It's actually a great advertisement for visiting the Connecticut coastline. It takes you right to Penn Station, in the heart of mid-town.

After work I had some spare time before my evening train back to Boston. So I walked from my meeting at 55th St. to 33rd via Fifth Avenue. This part of Fifth Ave. is an area that most folks who have visited the Big Apple as tourists are pretty familiar with. I walked by St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockafeller Center, the New York Public library - all familiar landmarks, making for a very pleasant twenty-block stroll.

As I reached 33rd St. I saw the "Heartland Brewery & Rotisserie" in the ground floor of the Empire State Building. Though I knew the place was undoubtedly a tourist trap, it was right on my way, and as I said, I had a few minutes.

I was unprepared for just how touristy the crowd actually was. I don't think one patron was from within 150 miles of the city. (The twenty-something couple next to me at the bar was reading the Lonely Planet guide!)

That being said, the beer list was impressive. I went with the Indy 500 Pale Ale. The were serving it via "Nitro Tap". According to Spokane7.com:

"Nitro - or nitrogen - taps get rid of a lot of the carbonation, leaving behind tiny bubbles and making for a silky-smooth beer with a rich mouthfeel and a milkshake-frothy head."

My helpful bartender explained it pretty much the same way. The ale had a light amber color, and was a little cloudy. It had a very subtle toasted aroma. Hoppiness was medium to light, compared with other IPAs - noticable, but not overstated. Similarly, the aftertaste was gentle, with less of the bitterness you would expect. I liked the nuances that the nitro-tap brought to the brew.

I would love to go back and try some more of their beers, tourists be damned.

P.S. Their printed beer list was much more helpful than their website, which is less than unhelpful.

Budweiser American Ale

I really want to like new beers that are released by big-name breweries. Imagine being able to enjoy a full-bodied, fragrant IPA at the same prices your neighbor pays when buying American carbonated water lager by the 30-pack. Or, would such accessibility somehow diminish the experience? But I digress...

I bought a six-pack of Budweiser American Ale about a week or so ago, and, of course, I really wanted to like it. Pretty smart move on the part of A/B. I'm sure the thinking was, "We're loosing market share left and right to craft brews, why not throw something out there for the quality-conscious public, and see if it sticks. Forget the fact that Miller, Coors and Bud's sister brand Michelob have tried the same tactic and failed. We can make this work. We're the King of Beers!"

First off, I think they are trying to make a statement with the pricing. Much closer to the Sam Adams or Harpoon range than say, Icehouse. They are probably thinking that us beer snobs would never look twice at something that goes $4.49 for a six-pack.

The beer does have excellent color - deep reddish-brown, and very consistent, with a substantial, fluffy head. The aroma was also very good, with the kind of roasted malt and citrus smells you would look for.

Taste-wise, it started out pretty good - a little sweet, a little bitter, a little fruitiness. But, then came the finish.

And that's just it. There isn't one - no slightly bitter aftertaste, no lingering feeling of fruit on the tongue. Nothing. It's like the beer just gets to the back of your pallet and disappears. It's really strange. Everything up to that point indicates it will be a real craft beer experience. But in the end, I was left wanting more.

I enjoyed the beer a bit more the second time I tried it, but that was after a strenuous night of in-line hockey, and all mainstream American beers taste better in that context.

Conclusion: I don't think I will be buying it again. I do appreciate that A/B is thinking about "us". (I know - they only want our money, but that's business.)

LJ's Barbecue in Pawtucket, RI

Since my better half takes lots of notes for this blog but never posts I will take the initiative.

This is a story of culinary blessings in disguise. Last Saturday we had planned a well-deserved dinner at our old favorite, Memphis Roadhouse in South Attleboro. I say "our favorite" but I will freely admit it's been a long time since the last time we were there (we used to go there very frequently -- I'm embarrassed to admit that it was frequently enough for us to be on a first-name basis with the bartender). Anyway, we've been dining out less frequently of late, so this trip to Memphis was highly anticipated by all of us. Sadly, as we approached the restaurant we experienced the slow dawning of comprehension that it had closed (For Sale sign... darkened windows... chained-off parking lot). We pulled over for a quick revamping of dinner plans and decided to check out a place we recently saw on The Phantom Gourmet -- LJ's BBQ. It's a little over 6 miles away from Memphis Roadhouse but the way we drove there it felt more like 600 (we got very lost). After giving in and calling, we finally made it there, and thank goodness we did. LJ's. Is. AMAZING. Everything we had was flawless -- from the St. Louis ribs to the kids' grilled cheese to the Sweet Potato Pie. The husband had the Flying Dog IPA and then switched to what I was having (the always delectable Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA) for his second. The next day we were plotting what we would order on our next visit -- the fried calamari awaits!

John Harvard's in Framingham

I was the fortunate beneficiary of a nice lunch with colleagues in late August at John Harvard's Brewhouse in Framingham, MA. It may be part of a chain, but so be it - it's still a brew pub.

When the group was asked for appetizer choices, I voted for... wait for it... the Calamari (Sliced cherry peppers, scallions, shallot balsamic dressing and pomodoro sauce - as stated on the menu). Outstanding. Cherry peppers are one of the best accompaniments to squid, as has been established.

I have to say, I'm tardy in posting this. Suffice it to say that the food was excellent if I recall, I had the buffalo chicken sandwich for lunch, and I enjoyed it.) The beer was well up to snuff (I think I had a seasonal IPA that is not on their regular brew list). And the atmosphere and overall presentation were all I could ask for. (But trust me on the Calimari.)

Now is that a helpful review, or what? ;-)

Memorial Day 2008 - Chapter 2 - Buck's Naked Barbecue, Freeport

On day two of our Memorial Day/40th birthday trip, we had diner at Buck's Naked Barbecue in Freeport. Buck's mantra is that their BBQ is served "naked" - sauce is only served on the side, not slathered on the meat. The only treatment is the dry rub. Some places server their ribs straight from the smoker, which is fine. At Buck's they fire the ribs on the grill for a few minutes. In addition to heating them up, it adds some additional caramelization to the outside edges - yummy.

Buck's has a good beer list (it would be a great beer list, if it weren't down the street from Gritty's) featuring several micro-brews, including Gritty's Bitter. I had a Bitter. I also tried a beer whose name I can't fully remember. It may have been Blind Pig IPA. I know it had Pig in the name, anyway. It was very good. (There I go with the descriptive language, again.) There haven't been too many micro IPAs that I haven't liked.

I have had very good luck ordering steak at barbecue places. So while I tried the ribs (C.A. got the BBQ Sampler), I ordered the 12oz. Sirloin, and it was outstanding. I think BBQ chefs like to show their stuff when people order something that needs to be cooked on the spot, as opposed to ribs and brisket, which are slow-cooked, and can't be cooked to order.

Meet John Doe

Not at all beer-related, but MY better half neglected to mention that I shook John Doe's hand (OK, finger) at the X show the other night.

Not this hand. The other one. Actually his index finger.