Homemade Candied Bacon Coffee Iced Cream

Just when you thought that the candied bacon debauchery was over, this comes out. Homemade Candied Bacon Coffee Iced Cream. Coffee, bacon, iced cream. Imagine if you will perfect creamy coffee iced cream, with little savory explosions of sweet Bacon goodness. Now imagine you are riding a unicorn jumping over Niagara Falls. Its funny that the iced cream was better inst it?

Candied Bacon Creme Brulee - Christmas Ed.

You've heard of it, you've dreamed of it, and above you see it. Candied Bacon Creme Brulee. This hardly believable dessert of the Gods is better than you are imagining, better than you hope, and in fact better then you remember it being. The perfect combination of sweet creamy and savory flavors placed into each bite of Candied Bacon Creme Brulee make it the best dessert in the world. Surly once, many ages ago, there was a Garden where this food grew on a tree.

White Pavlova

The "White" Pavlova is a New Zealand dessert much like a meringue, traditionally topped with cream and fruit; Chris' 'White' Pavlova takes a twist on the Kiwi version with a special chocolate whipped cream and toasted coconut shavings, we then finished it with a white chocolate peppermint sauce. The result is a sticky sweet Christmas dessert, light and delicious. 

Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

For so many years I was told that Brussels Sprouts are not delicious, so many of my childhood friends would cringe at the thought of eating these delightful little greens. Here we have some Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta and Garlic, the pork flavors and green textures are a treat to behold in sight and savor.

ISO 1250

35mm

f/6.3

1/160 sec [speedlite 430ex]

Blackberry Brandy Pork Ribs

Famous for these Blackberry Brandy BBQ Pork Ribs, no event is truly a Curtis event without them. Delicately flavored with his own blend of spicy jerk seasoning, then carefully, lovingly covered in Chris' secret Blackberry Brandy BBQ Sauce, these tender pork ribs are a life changer. Perfect tangy sticky sauce, perfect tender pork. Perfect.

ISO 1250

28mm

f/2.8

1/200 sec [speedlite 430x]

Prime Rib of Beef

Above you see the glorious pinnacle of a Standing Rib Roast, four Dry Aged Prime Ribs of Beef, roasted bone in with a delicious black Hawaiian sea salt and fresh ground pepper crust; To top off the already incredible savor, these thin slices of Heaven are served with a drizzle of Fig and Red Wine reduction which forms a perfect complement to the flavors of the meat. This is easily the best tasting beef I have ever encountered. Those are strong words.

ISO 1250

21mm

f/6.3

1/250 sec [430ex speedlite]

Bacon and Cheese

Bacon Cheddar Ale Soup with fresh baked Bacon Cheddar Biscuits served with Bacon Jam. Thats right, bacon jam. Yes, it is everything that your dreams are made of. Yes this is what unicorns eat with their toast at breakfast. Yes, if you eat this you gain the ability to fly for no more than ten minutes, but no less than seven. One day I will eat something so sweet and savory again, but until that day, here are the pix.

ISO 1250

16mm

f/5.0
1/60 sec [speedlite 430ex]

Rack of Lamb in Rosemary and Thyme

These bad boys were later given a wonderful whole mustard crust and finished in the oven, however I was too engrossed the act of consumption to snap a good capture, that is how incredible these are. High quality lamb, vacuum marinated in fresh rosemary thyme and olive oil, cooked to high quality perfection. There are few flavors in the world that might rival this.

ISO 1250

35mm

f/6.3

1/160 sec [Speedlite 430ex]

Candied Bacon

Christopher Curtis is a man of many talents: a loving father, handsome husband, and purveyor of candied bacon to name a few. Above you see a taste of his handiwork, candied bacon. It has been said that bacon is like meat candy, and indeed, it is exactly that. These particualar bits of candied bacon either went into my mouth or into Chris' homemade coffee bacon iced cream, or atop his famous candied bacon creme brule. Either which way it went, it was sweet and savory delicious.

ISO 1250

35mm

f/5.0

1/80 sec.

Meteor Shower

So in North America on Monday night December 13th and early morning the 14th the Geminids were out and they lit up the skies. I was not lucky enough to actually catch one through my lens, however I did get some nice shots of the residaul lights from the city as well as my good friend Kendrick "Diesel" Bishop. We drank some good free trade coffee (thanks Tina). The beauty of the sky and the fellowship of a friend makes for a good night.

ISO 400
16mm
f/3.0
30 sec. [Speedlite 430 ex with soft box]

Poached Eggs On Mushrooms and Sourdough Toast

While the potential loss of a Saturday remains one of the most devastating results of employment, the reclamation of a lost Saturday could possibly be one of the most celebratory events in all of human history. This morning, in celebration I made the, poached eggs on a bed of button and shitake mushrooms sauteed with green onions and shallots served on warm buttery sourdough toast. As you imagine, it was delicious. 

ISO 250

32mm

f/2.8

1/40 sec

Coconut Porter Beef Short Ribs

Great food and great company, these notions combined offer certain satisfaction and enjoyment. A few nights ago I was lucky to count myself a guest at the home of my good friends Chris and Nicole Curtis, we spent the evening making and enjoying these, Coconut Porter Beef Short Ribs. As I'm sure your watering mouths have guessed they were incredibly savory and delicious.

ISO 1600
22mm
f/2.8
1/30 sec.

Whiskey Apple Bacon Cranberry Cornbread Stuffing Balls

Oh Thanksgiving, the most food glorious of holidays. Everyone loves a well brined bird and some smooth sweet potatoes, but we all know the most satisfying part of the Thanksgiving meal is the stuffing. Thank the Ahlquist family for sharing their traditions with me last year, they gave me the idea to alter my own recipe into the shape of balls. Whiskey Apple Bacon Cranberry Cornbread Stuffing Balls: its a mouth full.

ISO 1600, 250, 250

35mm
f/7.1, f/5.0, f/5.0

1/25 sec. [430ex speedlite on the last two]

Breakfast on Saturday

Saturday morning. I love Saturday morning. No work, no church, no nothing. Just waking up late and making breakfast. Sure I have a mountain of around the house things to do today. But it is not yet noon, and I have not yet changed from my pjs: thus I will savor another moment before the day truly begins. This morning I made quiche, broccoli and cheddar mini quiche to be exact. They are delicious.

ISO 100
35mm
f/ 2.8
1/1600 sec

Australian BBQ pt 2

So the Australian Football Grand Final was a draw, for the first time in many years. Luckily for me the rules of Australian Football dictate that after time expires in a Grand Final, if the game is a draw there is a rematch scheduled for exactly one week following. This means that there is another BBQ scheduled for exactly one week flowing. This time we had more lamb chops and better chicken wings! The same sausage wins the day.

ISO 320
25mm
f/3.2
1/160sec

Australian BBQ pt 1.

My adventures recently took me to the land down under. The great country/continent of Australia. Perth, a city on the western side to be specific. I was fortunate enough to go at an important time during their sport season, the AFL [Australian Football League] Grand Final. The gruesome details of Australian Football or "footie" aside, the BBQs had in honor of its greatest day are the stuff of legend. Above you see an asortment of sausage, lamb and beef mushroom, as well as lamb chops and scotch fillets of beef (a cut I've never heard of but prominent down under). Oddly enough (or not) I was put (put myself) in charge of the BBQ and it was a feast. The beef mushroom sausage was my favorite, their smooth texture and rich mushroom flavors won the day. The game was a tie.

ISO 320
21mm
f/4.5
1/30 sec

Poach Egg.

Eggs. They are wonderful for breakfast. For many years I preferred my eggs sunny side up, until one day, I was Australia and I had my eggs poached easy. They are soft, they are beautiful, they retain all the runny yoke, with the added bonus of less runny white and more beautiful presentation. Eggs poached easy on buttery sourdough bread with garlic sauteed spinach. yumm.

ISO 400
29mm
f/4.0
1/125 sec.
430ex speedlite.

Ribs. I eated them. Again.

Ribs ribs ribs. I like ribs. They taste good in my mouth. Above we have some super savory pork ribs, with a south western rub, a apple vinegar basting and sweet BBQsauce, these babies fell right off the bone and into your mouth! Below them you see their bovine brethren, beef ribs, seasoned with kosher salts and fresh ground pepper in a sweet and spicy combination of BBQ sauce. Ribs are good. I eated them.

ISO 1250
29mm
5/5.0
1/160 sec

Perfect Mid-Rare

New York Steak, perfectly seasoned with red Hawaiian sea salt, and fresh ground black pepper, cooked to a perfect medium-rare, thinly sliced and served on toasted garlic bread rounds. This appetizer, this glorious taste of Heaven kept us from leaping off the edge of insanity while the ribs cooked, slowly and carefully to the apex of tender savory flavor.

ISO 640
19mm
f/2.8
1/60 sec

The Quest Continues.

My dear friends Al and Bev Zembrosky invited me out to dinner tonight, and who am I to say no to dinner with dear friends. We went out to Houston's in Irvine and as is my style of late, I had their burger. They serve a classic cheeseburger of ground chuck, with melted cheddar, yellow mustard, mayo, onions, tomatoes, pickles, the works. They opt for shredded lettuce, which is actually my preference, and the bun is also a nice sesame topped egg bun (I think). Overall a good classic cheeseburger. It doesn't beat out Crow Bar, Haven and Father's Office for top three status, but a solid burger none the less.

ISO 400
21mm
f/6.3
1/100 sec
430ex speedlite (palm of hand bounce, there were no other items available)

Meat

This past weekend my dear friend Chris Curtis held an intimate BBQ event at his home for a select number of us savory palette food enthusiasts.  We were small in number, but large in gastronomy. What you see above are the beginnings of a day of much glory. Above we have a fine collection of beef short ribs, and below you see a selection of prime steaks, one Porterhouse, one New York, and two Fillet Mignon. Not pictures are the Cedar Plank Salmon, and the Mahi Mahi four ways. Needless to say, this will be a week of many delicious updates.

ISO 500

16mm

f/4.0

1/40 sec.

Haven Burger

The burger quest continues. Above you have the Haven Burger. A close contender for the gold, but not quite a winner. Pickled red onions add a very pleasant and unexpected twist, followed by bleu cheese, and arugula on a very nice brioche. But the meat just does not meet or exceed the meat of the great and glorious Fathers Office burger, the once and future king. It was a good burger, and it will be my local go to. [even though I had to send it back in order to get it a proper mid rare, which really, in the end it was more of a medium than anything else].

ISO 500
35mm
f/8.0
1/80 sec.
430ex speedlite [menu bounce!]