Man vs. Food

Some of you may know that I am quite a big fan of the show “Man vs. Food”. The host Adam Richman can be kind of goofy and some of the small videos in between segments are a bit silly but when it comes down to, the food looks delicious and for the most part, the challenges look fun.

So here is my list of 15 of my favorite foods, restaurants and challenges that MvF has done over the past few years. I hope to one day try all of them but thats a lot of traveling and a lot of food. Alas, here is my list starting with my favorite type: Pizza

PIZZA

ATLANTA

Pie in the Sky

The biggest pizza I have every seen. This thing weighs 11 pounds and is 30 inches. It is covered with roni, beef, sausage and more and you need a partner to finish it. Over 400 people have tried to finish it and only six have done it. Who’s with me?

HARTFORD

Randy's Wooster Street Pizza Shop

This pizza is 4 pizza doughs that is filled with meats, cheeses and veggies and weighs over 10 pounds. Its like a giant calzone.

BOULDER

Beau Jo's

This pizza is a like a giant bread bowl of goodness. It's pretty much just a pizza crust bowl filled with sauce, cheese, veggies, meats. Everything.

BURGERS

ATLANTA

The Vortex Bar & Grill

This place had a huge variety of odd burgers to try including a favorite of mine: A cheeseburger held together by 2 grilled cheese sandwiches.

MINNEAPOLIS

5-8 Club and Matt's Club

This is a classic in Minneapolis so much that two places are known for it. The 5-8 Club and Matt's Club both serve different versions of this burger. Essentially its a burger but instead of the cheese on top, the cheese is inside the burger. Its a nice little twist and it looks delicious.

TUSCON

Lindy's on 4th

Theres nothing that really seperates this burger from others except the fact that it is 12 patties stacked on top of each other and held together by a skewer. It's called the OMG burger and I would love to ETSOOI (Eat The Shit Out Of It).

SANDWICHES

CLEVELAND

Melt Bar & Grilled

This place specializes in various gourmet grilled cheeses. They have all kinds including Tuna Melt, Peanut Butter and Banana and this monster of a challenge. It has 14 different types of cheeses including such cheeses as feta, blue cheese, gouda and others. It weighs in at 5 pounds and also comes with fries and cole slaw. Tell me that doesn't look awesome.

PHILADELPHIA

Tony Luke's

Tony Luke's has become the preeminent steak and cheese place in Philly after taking over for Pats and Gino's (neither of which I care for). They are popular enough to have a place inside Citizens Bank Park where the Phillies play. Here you can take the Tony Luke's challenge that is 2 and half pounds of beef, a pound of cheese, fried onions on a 20 inch roll. Yikes.

NEW YORK CITY

Kat'z Deli

This place is a classic in NYC having been around since 1888. They serve everything from corned beef, knishes, hot dogs, roast beef and my favorite, pastrami. Having gone there last year, I would love to go once a year. I ordered the pastrami, below, and it was the best I've ever had. It melts in your mouth and is stacked quite a few inches high. Completely worth the wait in line.

RANDOMS

PHOENIX

Alice Cooperstown

Alice Cooper opened this place in Phoenix and is actually parters with the Big Unit, Randy Johnson. Together, the created a hot dog affectionately called, The Big Unit. This is a one pound, 22 inch hot dog on a french baguette, yes a baguette. You can have it topped with chili, cheese, beer sauerkraut and more.

LAS VEGAS

NASCAR Cafe

This was on one of the first episodes I ever saw of MvF. I fell in love right away. This is called the Big Badass Burrito. It is loaded with everything from beef, beans and rice to guac, cheese and salsa. It weighs in at 6 pounds and if you finish it in an hour, you get to ride the NASCAR roller coaster for free, for life. I would suggest not going on it as soon as you finish eating.

ST. LOUIS

Pappy's Smokehouse

St. Louis is known for its BBQ and this place looks like it doesn't disappoint. The thing I liked the most is that their challenge resembles one that I wish to do in Portsmouth at Muddy River. Pappy's challenge includes 6 pounds of meat including pulled pork, beef, chicken, ribs and four sides. Check back later this summer to see details on my challenge in Portsmouth.

BREAKFAST

NEW JERSEY

Broken Yolk Cafe

Not a lot of good things come from Jersey but I would be wiling to travel there to try and eat this breakfast challenge. This is a 12 egg omelet filled with chili. That is my selling point. I loooove chili so if some eggs are holding the chili goodness, so be it. Oh yeah and on top of that you need to eat a mound of home fries and two biscuits. Those biscuits will really kill ya.

DESSERT

SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco Creamery

What's all this food without some delicious dessert? And whats a better dessert than ice cream. Here we have the Kitchen Sink. Imagine eating a 2 gallon sundae that included 8 softball sized scoops of ice cream, all your choice, 8 servings of whipped cream and 8 different toppings like sprinkles and cherries. If you eat this entire thing, you get free ice cream for a year.

Some good headlines...

I figured I’d take this time to try and get this blog going. A lot going on and as usual, I have my own opinions on a few things.

Lets start with my buddy Mel Gibson. Wow. Amazing right? You just don’t expect this shit to come out of peoples mouths. There are so many things to say I just don’t know where to start. Well why not start at the racial remarks. Here’s the thing. If this guy hadn’t used two racial slurs during his ranting and raving, would people be as upset? Would she have even released the tapes at all? That brings up the question of why she recorded the conversations. I suppose some will say its to have proof of his rage and anger but that really wont do much but embarrass him like it has. I am in no way defending this douche, but lets remember that this is Hollywood and gold diggers are out there. And again, I am not defending the guy in anyway, I am simply saying this is f’ed on so many levels.

Another quick point I think should be pointed out was just yesterday Switzerland said it would not extradite Roman Polanski to the US and that he would be released as a free man. Now lets review. Mel Gibson is a racist. Plain and simple. Roman Polanski is a rapist. Plain and simple. Mel Gibson will most likely never make a film again because he decided to open up his trap and show his true colors. Hollywood fawns over and fights to work with Roman Polanski, a man who raped a 13 year old girl. Oh wait, he drugged her first too. Lets weigh this out. Racist or rapist. Hmm. Again, not defending Mel Gibson but I wish Hollywood would treat them at least the same and shun both.

While we are on the race issue and while discussing douche bags, one of my favorite douche bags of all, the “Reverend” Jesse Jackson decided to jump into the news this week. Why do you ask? Well because theirs a chance to stir up racial tensions that weren’t there. After the Lebron James debacle, the Cavs owner Dan Gilbert spoke out strongly against the “King” in which he pretty much called him out for quitting, for screwing over Cleveland (a team that picked him and Lebron had no choice to go to 7 years ago) and pretty much calling him a dick head. I thought the letter was a little much since really, the Cavs would be shit still if it weren’t for James. No one was itching to get season tickets before he showed up but thats another rant. My issue is when Jackson comes out and starts saying Gilbert put Lebron in harms way and spoke like a “slave owner”.

Really?

I mean, fucking really?

Pardon my language but I don’t understand how this man still has people listening to him and is still able to get in the news. I don’t think anyone would even think about it being a racial issue until this jackass opens his mouth. He creates drama where there is none. He is never held accountable when he is wrong and lets remember how much of a hypocrite the good “Reverend” is. He preaches family values and then as a child out of wedlock. Thumbs up my friend. I think one of the smartest things Obama did when running for president was separating himself from Jackson and super DB Al Sharpton. Sorry if this blog swayed a bit towards the race issues but hey, it got me writing again.

I promise the next one will be a bit more lighthearted.

Wiffle Ball Spring Training Day 2

So with the day off today, we held our second and final spring training game. I was at home which put the Honey Brewers up first. If you remember from the first game, it was a high scoring affair with me working on new pitches. This time I was settling in.

Top of the 1st I got him to pop up before giving up a single and then retiring him with another pop fly out.

Bottom of the 1st I had my ups. I started with a hit but then struck out. With one out I was patient and held out for two walks to load the bases. With a full count I was hit by a pitch which drove in a run. He had some control issues and proceeded to walk two more in and then hit me again to bring the run total to 4 before striking me out. After 1 inning, 4-0 Blue Moons.

Top of the 2nd I worked quick again. Two batters up, two down. A pop fly with two strikes and then a strike out.

Bottom of the 2nd was a quick one for him as well. He struck me out before I hit a scorching single followed by another strike out to end the inning.  After 2 innings, 4-0 Blue Moons.

Top of the 3rd I felt a little stiffness in my arm that had been there since Monday. After not playing for months I knew I had to work up some more strength. It started out nice with a strikeout to begin the inning. I then gave up two singles, one of which I should have caught and then walked one to load the bases on a full count. He was beginning to be more patient and take more pitches which led to another full count walk and his first run. I fought back knowing a homer would erase me lead and a double would close the gap. I worked two of the new pitches setting up a third straight full count and then tossed some heat high and down the middle for strike 3. I held the lead. 

Bottom of the 3rd went quick again for him as he was starting to settle down in his pitching. He got me on  three straight strikes before I cracked a single on a full count. After working it to another full count, he sat me down swinging. After 3 innings 4-1 Blue Moons.

Thats how it ended. 4-1 Blue Moons. We didn't want to play a full 6 innings with our regular season opener coming on Saturday morning. My pitches felt good and although I got a few hits, I need to start sending some extra base hits out there to compliment my pitching or its gonna be a waste. 

Wiffle Ball Spring Training Day 1

So I had yesterday morning off as I do most Monday mornings. After spending my weekend doing yard work and cleaning up my wiffle ball field, it was time to start playing. As I mentioned in a previous post, my brother-in-law Jon and I take our wiffle ball pretty serious so we had to break into the season with some rough spring training. It wasnt an official game, as the field was not completely ready yet. Now to keep you all on the same page (cause I'm sure you all care to know and remember) his team is the Hudson Honey Brewers and I am the Londonderry Blue Moons.

He won the coin toss to hold the first spring training game at his field but since its not ready yet, we had to play on mine with him as the home team which meant I had first ups. Now I went into this game realizing I had not thrown a ball in game situation since last fall. I knew that I was going to get roughed up big time but that was okay because I was trying to work out my pitches. So I believe I walked twice and then struck out twice to start the game. We have only two outs per half inning as opposed to three.

So I come up to pitch. Now my nastiest pitch is the slider. It comes right at you and then suddenly swings in for a strike. He knows this pitch well but once its fine tuned, its tough to hit. I was also trying out two new pitches including a cutter and sinker. At first I was just tossing some over trying to get loose. I had some early control issues which resulted in a few walks. I also missed a couple of ground ball scorchers that caught me a bit off guard. I also left a few over the plate which led to the first home run of spring training, a line drive 3-run shot. When the season starts though, the fence will be up and that hit would only be considered a double.

The first inning ended and he was up 13-0. These scores are pretty normal. Double digits are very common. I got up to bat and his pitching was way off. I waited around and took a few walks, getting me 3 runs. In the bottom of the second after getting a feel for my pitches, he left 2 stranded and I got out of the inning giving up one hit, a walk and no runs. Top of the 3rd and I was patient again. Got some wood going and scored 4 to bring it to 13-7. In the bottom of the 3rd I was still working on the cutter and that got me in trouble, giving up another 3 runs. 

We wrapped it up then. 3 innings was a good start and was enough for a spring training game. 16-7 Honey Brewers. We play our second and last spring training game on Wednesday on my home field with the Blue Moons as the home team. Now that I got my pitches going it should be a better outing. I hope to work all the kinks out in time for opening day which may come this Saturday morning. As for throwing about a 80-90 wiffle ball pitches my arm is a bit tight but not too sore. Im not too much of a wuss.

friggin patriots day...

Sadly I still live and work in New Hampshire. After living and going to school in Mass, I really loved having Patriots Day off. At my first apartment next to Fenway Park (literally, and yes I am bragging), I remember it being a madhouse around our place. I believe it was my second year there when I remember having my car parked on Boylston Street about two minutes from my apartment. At that time I lived with my buddy Derek (who some of you may know). His sister and brother had stayed the weekend and were hanging out with us. It was the Saturday before the marathon and I had to go put quarters in the meter. I was walking down Boylston to go get some quarters at the Star Market at the corner of Brookline and Boylston (street name dropping). 

As I am walking down the street, a lot of people are headed my way to go to the Sox game that afternoon. It had to be around noon so the place was packed. An  older couple caught my eye. the woman was tall and blonde and a bit striking. I noticed her first and then her significant other. The man was wearing aviators (the best sunglasses), a track suit and had a very bushy mustache. I thought he looked a bit out of place and as they passed me, I snuck a peak behind the glasses. I took a double take and thought "There's no way". I walked a few more feet and stopped. I turned around again and shook my head and thought "It couldn't have been". I continued to the store, got my quarters, filled the meter and went back to the apartment.

I enter the apartment and everyone was just chillin. I went in to Derek's room and said "Guess who I just saw on the way to the Sox game?" He asked who and I replied "Will Ferrell". He dint believe me and neither did anyone else. I told them that I knew it sounded nuts but that I swear to god it was him. Then the question of why he would be in Boston came up and what not and the more I thought about it, the more I figured it wasn't him.

The weekend passes and Patriots Day comes. It's Monday morning and we have the opening coverage of the marathon on. I'm sitting in my room when I hear Derek call for me. I walk into the front of the apartment where the TV is and there on WBZ, being interviewed was none other than Will Ferrell. He was running the marathon. He had been there the whole weekend in Boston. I was right. I had seen him with his mustache that he had grown for this new movie "Anchorman". I was pissed. I had passed by one of my comedic heros and didn't even get to yell "We're going streaking" like a douchey frat boy. 

To this day, thats why I curse Patriots Day weekend. That and the fact that I don't get this Monday off so I can't get drunk and yell at runners on Comm Ave. Screw you VanReenen.

It smells like spring...or just laundry sheets...mmm...

I love spring. I really do. Spring and fall are the best season cause they are the most mild of the seasons. They stay away from the extremes of hot and cold. With spring comes great weather and a long list of things to do with the lovely weather.

First off, baseball starts up. Now the real excitement doesn't come until September when the playoffs are on the line and all, but its great to follow along. Some weeks you lose track or get busy but when you come back, you haven't missed much. Nothing beats going to a major league baseball game in spring. Us in New England are lucky because we have one of the oldest, most famous ball park in the country. This also make us unlucky cause it is old and beat up while being ridiculously expensive. My alternative? Take a trip to Philadelphia. The Phillies have a great park thats just a few years old. Its clean and spacious without being too big. Tickets were usually really cheap although after last year I am sure prices have gone up. Its a good weekend away to see a game. Worth the money and if you really have some cash to spend, try to get tickets to see the Sox play their in July.

Now with baseball comes me wanting to play. Sadly, I have never bothered to join an old mans league or anything but I've found a way to fulfill my need to play. Wiffle Ball. Yes Wiffle Ball. A 26 year old in love with Wiffe Ball.  My brother-in-law and I started playing a few years back and then just kind of stopped one summer. Then last spring we decided to start it up again and not just here and there for fun. Not just tossing the ball around but really playing.

We have a field in my back yard marked out. There is a home plate and double and homerun markers. We have a pitchers mound and pitching rubber. We have backstops and a perfectly measured strike zone. We have a bat holder that can hold up to four bats. We just had two dozen fresh new balls delivered. We have official team names. I am the Londonderry Blue Moons and he is the Hudson Honey Brewers (both named for favorite beers of ours). 

We now have a second field at my brother-in-laws new house. This way we each have a home field. It is a rule that you have to drink at least one of your beers (Blue Moon for me or Honey Brown for him) per game. We don't look to get drunk but we feel we owe it to our names. Uniforms are in the process of being made.  Many of you may think Im crazy but hey, everyone needs a hobby. This is one of mine.

Anyway, I'm glad spring is here so that we can begin to play. Look for updates on here and hopefully even some video posts from yours truly about it. For now, I will leave you with my teams logo.

Chocolate bunnies filled with jelly beans...

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate. Enjoy a large feast with friends and family. Fill yourself up with candy and goodies. Remember that soon, warm weather will come and it wont seem as though Easter and Christmas are celebrated during the same season.