Tasting Thomasville: Yoburst, George & Louie’s

Nibbles

Yoburst Frozen Yogurt

We love the toppings bar... perhaps a smidgen too much some visits.

We love the toppings bar… perhaps a smidgen too much some visits.

While we were still “camping out” at the Dollhouse before officially moving in, we gave into temptation and stopped by the frozen yogurt shop on E Pinetree Blvd (we passed it coming and going to Lowes, it was just a matter of time). It was not the last time.

While not a restaurant of the sort I’ve included in other Tasting Thomasville posts, the fact that we frequent this shop a couple times a month makes it definitely worth mentioning. From what I can tell they serve the Yocream brand of frozen yogurt (produced by Dannon) and they rotate flavors on a regular basis. Sometimes this is good (yay, variety!) and sometimes it’s bittersweet (like the amazing Rootbeer Float frozen yogurt they had on one trip).

I often opt for the Triple Chocolate paired with something else depending on the options. This last visit, after dinner Friday night, they had recently put out Pumpkin Pie, so I skipped the chocolate and paired it with Butter Pecan for a pie-flavored fro-yo-off. Both were delicious, especially topped with praline pecans and some cinnamon sauce! Todd’s favorites are the Country Vanilla and Cake Batter.

And, yes, we’re quite aware that frozen yogurt is only a half-step healthier (if that!) than going out for regular ice cream, but we also don’t care. Everything in moderation, including moderation!

George and Louie’s

Their options can be a bit overwhelming at first.

Their options can be a bit overwhelming at first.

Back into the realm of “real food” (as opposed to the imaginary sort, but you know what I mean) we ended up at George and Louie’s one evening after Todd saw they had gyros on the menu. It’s tucked back on Remington Ave (a street I’m just now getting my bearings on) and features self-seating and a walk-up counter for ordering. This threw me, at first, as we walked in about 30 minutes before closing that first time and I was a little overwhelmed by the series of chalkboards spanning the wall showcasing their southern-seafood-Greek offerings.

Crab Louie Special: obviously I made an exception to my Low-FODMAP lifestyle, but it's a saving grace that I can!

Crab Louie Special: obviously I made an exception to my Low-FODMAP lifestyle, but it’s a saving grace that I can!

That first night I went with the Crab Louie Special (when in doubt, I default to ordering the house special in a new place) which was a deviled crab cake, hushpuppies, Greek salad, and cheese grits, along with a glass of Merlot. The cheese grits were more like grits topped with cheese, so not what I think of when I order cheese grits, but other than that the meal was just perfect. The tartar sauce tasted homemade and, well, it’s hard to screw up a Greek salad but it can be done (they didn’t though). Todd got the gyro he went in craving along with an order of onion rings that he was quite over the moon about. Once we’d ordered I had a chance to look at the parts of the menu I skipped over. Items like the Greek salad topped with Fried Green Tomatoes, Fried Oysters, or Tilapia sounded especially intriguing.

French fries and onion rings---it'd been that kind of week, folks!

French fries and onion rings—it’d been that kind of week, folks!

While it can get pretty loud in there when it’s busy (as we found out when we visited with a group of friends after the Taste of Greece event was rained out, a month or so after our first visit), there’s nice music playing in the background, plenty of seating of all configurations, and umbrella’d tables outside. There’s even a drive-through if you’re in a hurry. The music was of particular interest to us, though, as we were midway through our meal when a familiar song came on: “our” song, the one we danced to at our wedding, a song from 1955 that we don’t hear unless we play it intentionally, was playing on the sound system. One of the many reasons Thomasville continues to feel more like home every day are these little touches of awesome we run into in random places around here.

We also got to talking with the owner before we left and complimented him on his atmospheric choices. And we know we’ll be back because there are just so many great-sounding things left on the menu to try!

Signal Boost: What to Feed Your Raiding Party is Having a Sale!

Everyday Adventures, News, Nibbles, Sips

True, this is not what I usually post about, but I wanted to get the word out to as many folks as possible (apologies if you follow me on various social media channels as I’ll be boosting this all weekend).

For the first time since it’s release in June, 2012, What to Feed Your Raiding Party (my comic book cookbook that challenges gamers to cook their way out of the fast food dungeon) is available at pre-release prices!

Of course, if you only read Scraps Of Life, you may not know much about my book. Here’s a video that a fan shot of me at last year’s Ancient City Con–it’ll give you the full scoop!

I generally don’t discount my products or services (I try to price fairly from the beginning) BUT I had to cancel a convention appearance for this weekend (with quite a bit of regret–I hate letting con staff and fans down!), leaving me with inventory that otherwise would be sold this weekend. I’m sure you see my dilemma.

But you totally get to reap the benefits of life getting the way of my plans:

  • $5 off the cover price of the book
  • Free shipping (another $5 value)
  • 1 in 8 books will be upgraded to an Artist Edition as an additional thank you!
  • Gift wrap (with it’s cute D20 tag) is still available!

And, if you know for sure that you’d like an Artist Edition (which comes with a sketch on the dedication page), go ahead and order it (for only $5 additional instead of the usual $10–that’s like getting the Artist Edition for free under normal circumstances) and if your book is the one that wins the upgrade, I’ll refund the $5 AE fee, so you’re not out anything!

This sale will run from noon on Friday, October 3 (i.e., right now!) until 6pm on Sunday, October 5 (all times EDT), but don’t wait–go ahead and place your order with the handy little button below! They make great gifts for the gamers in your life, cookbook collectors, friends and family away at college or in their first apartment and, yes, as much as we may be loathe to admit it, the holidays are right around the corner!

(Oh, hey, if you’re reading this via RSS feed, you might not see that there’s a shopping cart link in the post–make sure you click through to see it!)

And if this still isn’t the right time for you to order, would you at least mind sharing this link via twitter, facebook, or whatever your preferred social network is?

Thanks!

and now back to our regularly scheduled creativity…

Nacho Night + Refried Bean Substitute

Nibbles

Friday night I decided to go for a a low-key supper of loaded nachos and Lambic, eaten on the couch so we could relax and catch up on the end of season 2 of Under the Dome.

jvanderbeek_nachonight-3

Sometimes the simplest options are really the best.

For dinner-filling nachos, mere cheese and chips just won’t do, so my default is to pile on the refried beans and well-seasoned beef. Unfortunately, even my super-simple, slimmed down refried beans aren’t a good option anymore as they are High-FODMAP. But I’ve got a back for that!

About a year ago I learned from a fellow Low-FODMAPper that I learned that you can substitute a combo of white and sweet potatoes for mashed beans, and once they’re seasoned properly it’s tough to tell the difference.

jvanderbeek_nachonight-1

To one of each potato I added salt, pepper, cumin, garlic-infused olive oil and enough milk to make it the right consistency. Pretty much the same thing s in my book, What to Feed Your Raiding Party, with one slight adjustment! And I know that potatoes have a bad reputation, but potatoes have a lot of good things going for them. Besides, this is nacho night, it’s okay to live a little!

jvanderbeek_nachonight-2

My other issue with nachos, especially when you order them in a restaurant, is the habit of piling everything on in layers. Layers are good, but everything all piled up means you get some chips that are absolutely loaded down while the others are light or absolutely naked! So in my cookbook I suggest taking a little extra time to lay the chips out in a single layer on a baking sheet and then put the refried beans (or potatoes, in this case) into a plastic bag with the corner clipped and pipe them out onto each chip. No chip left (naked) behind!

I seasoned a pound of beef with salt, pepper, cumin, cayenne pepper, and oregano (skip the packaged mixes, there’s no need for them or their added preservatives) and added a can of diced tomatoes and about a half cup of water and let them simmer for a while. Then I spooned a little of the meat on top of each chip, then sprinkled the whole pan with cheese.

While it’s true that individually portioning out the toppings onto each chip takes a little longer to prepare (though, really not all that long) I think it makes for a better eating experience. Once they came out from under the broiler I topped them with diced fresh tomatoes and brought out sour cream, guacamole, and pickled jalapenos so Todd and I could each top our own nachos the way we wanted.

Another benefit to making the individual nachos? Makes it super easy to put away leftovers as well as reheat some the next day for snacking (though, I have to admit, they were pretty tasty when cold, too!).

We’ve been semi-social butterflies the last few Friday nights so it was nice to have a relaxing evening at home to rewind.

National Bourbon Heritage Month | Rosemary-Peach Julep

Sips

single barrel_2013

September is National Bourbon Heritage Month and Four Roses Bourbon contacted me to see if I’d create a cocktail with their Single-Barrel Kentucky Bourbon. Of course I would!

Now, back when I was doing the AlcoHOLidays series, we talked a lot about how many of these so-called “National” days of what have you were trumped up by special interest groups or a marketing ploy by companies. Not so with National Bourbon Heritage Month, I’m happy to report, as the US Senate designated September for the celebration of “America’s Native Spirit” back in 2007, the title Congress bestowed upon Bourbon back in 1964.

Fact is, Bourbon really is our own little claim to spirits fame as far as the base spirits go. While it’s similar to whisk(e)y in production, Bourbon’s majority-corn mash and oak cask-aging set it apart from the wheat, rye, or barley-heavy mashes of other countries. It began in the 1700s in Kentucky and is still going strong throughout the region.

Now, I admit, Bourbon has never been my go-to beverage; I’m more a clear-spirit girl. But I’ve come quite a long way in appreciating it since my first, burning experience with it back in the early aughts at a wine tasting. The more I learn about it and the more I taste different brands, I’m happy to discover those slow sipping bourbons that I read about in dusty old books and can appreciate the flow of warmth that a smooth bourbon can bring.

When sampled neat, Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon left my lips and the tip of my tongue tingling but offered no burn around the edges of my palate the way harsher spirits would. You can feel the warmth travelling down your throat, it’s flavor not overly woody, but the aftertaste is pleasantly earthy–like the umami of mushrooms or Brie. Since I happened to really like those foods, I consider that a good thing! Having been laid low by a recent head/chest cold, a friend reminded me of the soothing power of the toddy, so one night I added a splash of Four Roses to my evening cuppa and let me assure you that this bourbon mingles nicely with chamomile-based herbal teas, making its presence known without overpowering.

Nose: Fruity, spicy, floral, cocoa, maple syrup, moderately woody.
Palate: Hints of ripe plum & cherries, robust, full body, mellow.
Finish: Smooth & delicately long.

But a cocktail is what was requested and a cocktail is what I shall deliver!

You can pair a hundred flavors with a good spirit but I like traditions and I like to keep things simple while playing off familiar stories. What could be a more classic treatment for bourbon than the deceptively simple julep?

When a drink has so few ingredients, it’s vital we choose them with care. The classic mint julep uses spring of fresh mint and sugar or simple syrup along with the bourbon and ice. In deference to Four Roses and my current relocation to Georgia’s Rose City, I opted for a peach liqueur in place of the simple syrup, and my favorite, fragrant savory herb–rosemary–for muddling and garnish. The combination is both contradictory and complementary and I find it delightful!

Rosemary-Peach Julep

Rosemary-Peach Julep

Rosemary-Peach Julep

2 3-inch sprigs of fresh Rosemary
1 oz Peach Schnapps
2 oz Four Roses Single Barrel Kentucky Bourbon
crushed ice
short straw

Into a lowball or julep cup, strip the leaves off one rosemary sprig and muddle with a splash of the schnapps. You don’t need to pulverize it, just release some of the fragrant oils. Add the rest of the schnapps and the bourbon, fill the glass with crushed ice and stir with the straw until the outside of the glass or cup is nice and frosty. Garnish with the remaining sprig of rosemary.

Details are almost as important as ingredients for a julep. The ice must absolutely be crushed–cubed ice just won’t do. The increased surface area of the crushed ice both chills the beverage and mixes down into the beverage more quickly than larger pieces of ice. Creating crushed ice is no more work than gathering ice cubes in a (clean, obviously) bar towel and beating it with your muddler until sufficiently broken up. The short straw is also crucial for two reasons: this is a drink to be savored over a period of time, not chased down in a hurry; the short straw also brings your nose in the range of the fresh herb garnish, adding to the overall flavor of the beverage (flavor being comprised of both taste and aroma, after all).

And remember, experiences are only as good as the memories they leave behind. Enjoy responsibly so you’re around to remember!

Cheers!

***I received a sample of Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon for the purpose of review and cocktail creation. This was a sponsored post, but all opinions expressed are my own.***

Can You Eat Paleo on a Low-FODMAP Diet?

Nibbles

Concerned over lack of energy from reduced carbs, the fruit & veggie restrictions making options more limited, and the effects of a fruit & veg heavy meal on the too-much-of-a-good-thing basis.

When I was first looking for dinner ideas after going Low-FODMAP, to “treat” (really, to prevent incidence of) my IBS, I found a lot of good ideas on Paleo websites, though we often added rice, quinoa, or corn options to round them out to our preferred mean type. Even when I reviewed the Paleo Slow Cooker cookbook we did the same. Basically, I’m not fond of any diet/lifestyle that overly restricts or cuts out an entire nutrient class completely.

While Paleo (and it’s cousin Primal) diets do cut out grains, refined sugars, and a whole host of other things, the don’t cut out a particular macronutrient (say, carbohydrates or fats) en masse, they just limit the sources to what they think are more beneficial to our bodies. So, okay, I’m not 100% against the idea.

The topic of eating Paleo came up recently, shortly after (though not related to) my endocrinologist commenting that my triglycerides were higher than he wanted them. His suggestion was to cut down on the sweets, breads, and alcohol. In other words, the things I’ve already cut back on one way or another (you’ve noticed the slow-down on the cocktail posts, yes? there were reasons for that). But, fine, we can try to do a little better, so I signed up for a trial of PaleoPlan.com and set abound finding options for this past week’s dinners.

I mention Paleo Plan not to make this a review of their site, just to reference where my recipes were coming from for those who might be curious. We didn’t adhere to a strict Paleo lifestyle for a few reasons, but for dinners and the subsequent leftover lunches we did our best to follow the recipes as presented, making only necessary substitutions (green onions for red, yellow or white, for instance) and not adding anything else. The goal was just to figure out if this was something we could do in general, or would want to do.

Two things concerned me about eating Paleo for 2/3 of our meals (we stuck with our usual breakfasts, I also kept up with my coffee and milk to-go in the mornings) both centered around the source of carbohydrates in the Paleo eating style:

a) Carbohydrates are where we get the lion’s share of our energy. Without the ready sources in rice, corn, or quinoa, would we have enough to sustain us?

b) The carbohydrates that are available are from fruit and vegetable sources, many of which are prohibited as naturally High-FODMAP or limited in quantity to keep their Low-FODMAP status in check. Would we be piling on the fruits and veggies to the extent that it would make me ill?

Here’s what our dinners looked like this past week:

Paleo Meals 7/28-8/3

Paleo Meals 7/28-8/3

Clockwise from upper left: Chicken Primavera Bowl; Green Lightening Shrimp w/Kale & Tomatoes; Pork Tenderloin w/Blueberry Sauce and Green Beans; Chicken w/Cumin, Kale, and Red Peppers; and Lime & Cilantro Pork Tacos (not pictured: Zucchini and Ground Beef)

As far as the concern about triggering my IBS symptoms with the amount of veggies consumed went, it was mostly a non-issue but only because I was paying careful attention to the portion sizes. This week’s menu didn’t need a lot of futzing with, but I’ve seen other entrees on that particular site that just wouldn’t work for me at all. The protein-heavy meals were definitely filling and while we did remark that rice or pasta would certainly be tasty along with what we were eating, the meals were enough. (Except the “tacos,” those needed a side of some sort.)

The first few days last week we felt pretty good. It wasn’t until Thursday that the lack of grain-based carbs caught up with us. At about 3pm for me (and 1pm for Todd) we both hit the wall and were fighting sleep for the rest of the day. Worse, I was fighting sleep on the drive home, all hour-plus of it! Not a good way to be. Now, it may have been different if we’d also been adhering to the snack schedule Paleo Plan suggests. There are a lot of nut butters & fruit combinations which might do well for an energy pick-me-up. I did have snacks on hand but they were my usual mandarin orange and cheese stick sort (yes, I know cheese isn’t Paleo) which, with our usual eating habits, exists to keep my blood sugar nice and steady until dinner time, but doesn’t give a big energy boost.

And, of all weeks to hit that wall, this was the week we finally were able to relax after tying up the household moving business. No more schlepping boxes every evening. No more late nights because of said box schlepping. We were getting to bed on time and sleeping soundly. So, if anything, we should have had more energy at our disposal!

So, what’s the verdict?

In my unscientific, non-nutritionist or dietitian’s totally anecdotal experience, I would not suggest a 100% Paleo lifestyle for someone needing to eat Low-FODMAP to control IBS symptoms. The way I see it, we’re already restricting our diets enough as it is, imposing further, arbitrary, restrictions does not seem wise to me as the more restrictions we place on our food the tougher it becomes to meet our nutritional needs. (Variety being the #1 way of ensuring a balanced diet.)

And, yes, I do consider the Paleo and Primal lifestyles rather arbitrary. To say that our bodies cannot handle grains just because we didn’t start out as an agricultural species makes no sense to me. Our bodies have had ages to adapt and plenty of people have no problem whatsoever digesting grains. Do we need to scale back on them? Perhaps, in fact I’d say very likely, but to cut them out entirely doesn’t strike me as very sound. It’d be like me telling otherwise healthy friends that they must avoid onions, garlic, wheat and so much more just because certain people have a problem digesting them on a regular basis. I guess I’m still not a fan of bandwagon-jumping, regardless of how well-meaning that wagon is. I’ll stick to moderation, and not give up my sushi.

But it was nice to see that we could have satisfying meals without the grains we’d usually add. While I joked with Todd that he would retaliate this coming week with an all-grain menu (he’s not, for the record), we agreed that eating Paleo on occasion wouldn’t be so bad.

We just won’t do it for more than three days in a row!