Happy Valley Meat

With a mission to improve the lives of the people and animals that feed us, Happy Valley Meat works to source ethically-raised meat from family farmers. A small company based out of Brooklyn, NY, they work with PA family farmers like Smucker's Meats in Mt. Joy, PA to provide quality products to restaurants like Cadence, Wm. Mulherin's Sons, and Momofuku. 

In an effort to spread the word, Happy Valley Meat recently sent out a curated meat box filled with goodies like ground beef, LA-galbi cut short-ribs, meatballs, mushroom & beef sliders, and a 2lb cut of brisket. Heading into the weekend, I had to open up the Big Green Egg and attempt to smoke this smaller cut of brisket. With just 50/50 S+P seasoning, I took that beautiful brisket to 160F internal @ 250F dome with charcoal and pecan, wrapped in butcher paper, then bumped it up to 275F dome until it probed easily @ ~ 200F internal.

Pretty darn happy with how this turned out for such a small brisket cut and I know it has more to do with the quality of beef that Happy Valley sourced from a local family farm. If you're looking for a great gift idea or just want to check out a variety of cuts & grinds, head over to Happy Valley Meat. Better yet, if you want to get two free packs of ground beef, use promo code SHOPBELLYOFTHEPIG when making a purchase! 

FTC Disclaimer: Happy Valley Meat Co. provided a curated product box. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased.  

A Taste of Home - Kentastic Cakes

Kentastic Cakes is a home-based, custom cake business located in Millis, MA. Fully Board of Health certified and from the home of Ken Kramer, we're talking about custom cakes for celebrities such as Aerosmith, Dane Cook, NKOTB, and Jimmy Buffet! And with A Taste of Home, you're able to give your loved ones a monthly reminder that you care.

The monthly subscription Cake Crate is filled with a variety of items form the Kentastic Cakes kitchen. This includes 1 large slice of cake, 4 cake pops, 3-6 delicious cookies, and a mystery treat! I recently had the pleasure of enjoying the April box. The bacon and bourbon caramel hangover cake was obviously right up my alley. There was raspberry sugar cookies, classic cake pops, and my favorite - white chocolate covered Oreos! 

You can choose from 1, 3, 6, and 12 month plans or choose a full college year plan for your favorite student. Stop by the Kentastic Cakes site to order yours today.

Elmhurst Milked [Product Review]

Surely you've seen the alternative milk market explode, with the category taking over your local grocery aisle. It's gone beyond mere soy or almond milk though. Elmhurst Milked is a clean label plant-based beverage company that's offering up a variety of milked nut products, including cashews, hazelnuts, and walnuts, and yes, of course, almonds. Using a patented cold milling process, these non-dary milks combined the full nutrition of whole nuts with a creamy texture that's full of flavor. 

Better yet, their unique process allows for safe consumption over longer periods of time, with their products boasting a longer shelf life with no need to refrigerate before opening! The milked hazelnuts were perfect for morning coffee, with a nice undertone of depth and sweetness. For those that are carb conscious - the milked walnuts are only 5 carbs a serving! I found it to be the perfect replacement for soaking up some breadcrumbs before mixing with my B+V+P blend for a weekend meatloaf.

If you're interested in stopping by to try their offerings, they're heading through Eastern PA for tasting events throughout the week. 

11/1: Weis Market | 4625 Valley Road, Enola, PA 17025

11/2: Weis Market | 1195 Loather Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011

11/3: Weis Market | 740 South Broad Street, Lititz, PA 17543

11/4 + 11/5: Peddler Village Apple Festival, New Hope, PA

11/8: Weis Market | 1112 W Wyomissing Blvd, Reading, PA 19609

11/9: Weis Market | 7801 Glenlivet Dr W, Fogelsville, PA 18051

11/10: Weis Market | 110 Rolling Ridge Drive, State College, PA 16801

FTC Disclaimer: I received Elmhurst Milked's products to sample. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased.

Emile Henry USA Annual Warehouse Sale Event (New Castle, DE)

Emile Henry USA, Inc. 
Annual Warehouse Sale Event
Oct 27 - 28th

Regular readers know that I obviously love to eat out at restaurants. But unless you follow me on Instagram, you might not know that I also love to cook at home. And let me tell you, cooking is made easier and is certainly a lot more fun with the proper tools at your disposal. Case in point, you'd be amazed at how much better your omelettes will be with a proper non-stick pan. And for those struggling to find the motivation to cook during the week due to the eventual cleanup that awaits? Be sure to stick with one-pot meals!

 The Emile Henry One Pot offers up a modern version of the French casserole dish and is perfect for creating a variety of delicious one-pot meals. The 8.9 inch tall, 2-quart pot features a potbelly curve and is ideal for reducing broth for rice, risotto, and pastas or for braising! It has an upturned rim so you can avoid spills during cooking or drips while serving.

It's great at retaining heat and helps to cook your dishes evenly. From the freezer to the microwave or oven, on the grill or on the stove top, it's also dishwasher safe and easy to clean. The GF and I recently made a light and easy lemon-garlic chicken and asparagus dish with black-lentil penne for Sunday Supper. You know how Sundays can be ... all you want to do is relax. Because this was all in one pot, the post-meal clean up was incredibly easy!

Obviously you can purchase the Emile Henry One Pot from a variety of stores including Sur La Table, Williams Sonoma, and even Amazon! But why not check out the Annual Emile Henry USA Warehouse Sale Event on October 27th (3-9PM) and 28th (9AM-3PM) in New Castle, Delaware. Their products are on sale for up to 80% off retail prices and it's the only time of the year the warehouse is open to the public! They also partner with Meals on Wheels of Delaware and donate a portion of all sales. In addition to the One Pot, you can pick up French ceramic pie dishes, copper skillets, and hundreds of other kitchen products! Be sure to stop by and tag me in your next home-cooked meal!

Emile Henry USA, Inc. 
Annual Warehouse Sale Event
Oct 27-28th, 2017
802 Centerpoint Blvd.
New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 326-4800

FTC Disclaimer: This was a sponsored post.

Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce Product Review

I was recently shipped Gringo Bandito's line of hot sauces to check out. Another hot sauce you say? Well this one's got the sales and the face to back it up! It all started over 10 years ago by Dexter Holland (yes, Dexter of the multi-platinum punk rock band, The Offspring). Initially given away by Holland as a Christmas gift, it has since taken off from Southern Cali to sell over a million bottles nationwide and around the world. 

The original red is the milder version, but with a nice bold flavor that was perfect to amp the flavor of peppers and onions for fajitas. 

The green uses unripened habaneros instead of tomatillos. So be prepared for a spicier version than your typical verde. Delicious to spice up some lighter dishes like my fish and cauliflower rice burrito bowl.

If you're looking to go super spicy, check out their Super Hot version, which utilizes ghost and scorpion peppers to create a natural (no additives!), but scorching blend. It worked to create an addictive hit of heat with some leftover Percy Street BBQ brisket and pulled pork. 

You can buy it online on their website or at your local store so be sure to check it out!

FTC Disclaimer: I was provided this product to review. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased. 

The Tubby Olive Review

One of my favorite spots to shop for infused olive oil is The Tubby Olive, located in Reading Terminal Market. This shop had a varied lineup from mild to robust olive oils and vinegars. 

From the main entrance of RTM, head to the back of the Market. It's the easternmost point for those of you that aren't directionally challenged!

As with most gourmet olive oil shops that offer their oils on tap, you're able to taste and try the different products to see what speaks to you. I appreciated that each of the oils and vinegars had descriptions describing both taste and intensity. 

The Tubby Olive also has a variety of truffle oils for those that want to impart a bit of heady mushroom flavor. 

On this particular trip, the GF and I picked up a couple of sweet balsamic vinegars as well as herbaceous rosemary-infused olive oils. At less than $17 per 375 ml bottle, this was a pretty good deal! 

The Tubby Olive also offers a frequent buyer card - buy 10 and get the 11th free! So really, there's no reason you shouldn't check them out for yourself or as a gift for a friend! 

Plated Review

You've likely seen all the commercials for meal delivery services. These are the Plated and Blue Apron's of the world and they offer a tailor-made experience for those that are either too busy to source their own ingredients for a home-cooked meal or lack the confidence to cook on their own. Being across the street from a Whole Foods and having a passion for cooking, I never gave these services much thought. But with a coupon for 2 free meals in hand, I decided to give Plated a try. 

Each week, they have a variety of meals available. On one particular week, they had Korean beef tacos, sirloin with potatoes, orchiette with spinach pesto, and vegetable tostadas amongst their offerings. Once you put in your order, they'll provide you with the delivery date and there's nothing else to do but sit and wait!

You get everything all at once - separated out by veggies and proteins, all labeled per the meal you're looking to cook for the night. Each meal comes with a recipe card, which helps to provide some instruction for what could be a great date night cooking experience.

The meals do seem designed with time in mind, with no recipes really taking longer than an hour and the majority taking 30 minutes or less. Everything's provided, less a few essentials you likely have on hand such as salt and olive oil.

Dukkah Skate 
Zucchini hash, pickled radish
  

On one night we enjoyed the dukkah-spiced skate, which was moist and flaky, offering nice cumin flavors. The pickled radish provided some bite and nice acidity, with the zucchini "hash" providing some additional color to the plate. Certainly a healthy offering, clocking in at only 470 calories.

Chinese Chicken Salad
 

The Chinese chicken salad was bright and flavorful, offering nice Asian flavors, with the pop of the edamame providing some fresh heft to each bite along with the chicken. 

Fontina Basil Chicken
 

The fontina basil chicken was quite good, with the bright basil, artichoke and tomato salad providing some freshness to each bite. This was surprisingly only 450 calories, so I added a hunk of cornbread from Whole Foods to add to my plate. 

So if you're looking for a healthy alternative to a busy lifestyle, Plated might be a good option for you. And certainly if you're lacking in cooking prowess, I'd highly recommend it as they provide step-by-step instruction for each of the meals.

Indochino: Philadelphia Review

You may have seen the ads plastered all over your social media feeds. Affordable, tailored suits customized to your needs. Measurements can either be done at home and entered online to be sorted out through their "proprietary algorithm" or you can stop in at their brick-and-mortar locations to get measured up. And since I was in the market for some new suiting, I decided to stop by Indochino's Philadelphia showroom to see if the company could truly deliver on their promise. (For those of you who don't want the details, scroll straight to the bottom!)

The Philadelphia showroom had some unfortunate luck with a fire at their original showroom, so the majority of my measurements and fittings were done at their temporary location on 17th and Sansom. But as of my most recent 4th fitting (we'll get to that later!), they're back at 1606 Chestnut Street, which is sleek and stylish.

So how does this work? Desiree at the Philly Showroom was wonderfully pleasant, quick, and efficient obtaining my measurements. Afterwards, we went through the process of picking out the suiting, which generally ranges from $400 to $900 depending on the quality of the fabric. You can customize everything from your jacket lapel, stitching, inner patterns, and the like. Heck, you can even monogram the inside of your jacket. It's all included, along with free shipping and any applicable taxes. The entire process in the showroom took less than the allotted hour.

I was so impressed by the customized experience and Desiree's demeanor that I went ahead and ordered two suits, putting my faith in the company. I was told it was best to have it delivered to the store, so went ahead and did that. The typical turnaround is 4 weeks to make your suit and true to their promise, it came within that time frame. Once the suits were made, I received an email from Indochino letting me know my order was complete. However, a few days later, I got a message from Fedex stating they could not deliver the package because no one was at the showroom to accept it.

I called the showroom to check in to see what was up. No answer. So I walked over the showroom because it was only a few blocks from my work. They said that the Fedex email was wrong and put me at ease by letting me know that they're always available to accept packages (coincidentally, the receptionist was on the phone with someone else with my same issue). In any case, I received another email from Fedex later that afternoon saying the package was delivered, so it was likely a Fedex issue. Still, the Philly Showroom promised to call me when it arrived to I could stop in to try on the suits, but 3 hours later, I still hadn't received a call so I went ahead and called myself. I made the appointment and came in after work. I waited thirty minutes and was eventually called up to try on my suits. After a bit of confusion, I was told that even though my suits had arrived, they weren't ready to be tried on because of "their process." I wasn't offered much more than that despite my polite questioning, and was told to reschedule.

Later that week, I stopped by again and it was a complete 180 in terms of customer service. Perhaps it was because the showroom manager, Shontae Parham, was on hand, but the second fitting (third trip?) was great. Both suits came a bit large in the waist, but I was told that was to be expected because it's easier to tuck in than let out. So with some adjustments to be sent to the tailor, I left the suits in Indochino's hands again. FYI - they typically send out their tailoring on Fridays and receive them back the following Friday, so schedule your appointments accordingly as it may be more than a 2 week turnaround.

When I received the tailored suits back, my premium grey suit felt great - better than anything you could get off the rack and have tailored. On the other hand, the blue sharkskin essential suit had issues, primarily with the left shoulder which had a bit of a bubble, as you can see in the picture above. I came back in and was told that it would get fixed by the tailor. On my follow-up fourth visit, the shoulder pad was completely removed (I wasn't told that would happen). And unfortunately, the "bubble" was even worse (imagine the bubble twice as bad). So as of this post, it's still with the tailor and Indochino is one for two on providing the customized suiting experience. I'm holding my breath to see if the jacket can be fixed or if the suit will need to be re-made (to Indochino's credit, if they're unable to fix the suits, they will re-make it, though it will take another 4 weeks). I'll provide an update once the jacket comes back in! (Update: So I was told it would be back within the week, even though I expected it to take 2+ weeks again. Sadly, it was the latter. And to make matters worse, the original bubble is back. The Indochino representative didn't seem to understand what the original issue was and was frankly surprised that the note from the tailor said "put back shoulder pad." So the issue may have been a lack of communication between the showroom and the tailor. In any case, with all the back and forth, I didn't want to risk sending it back to the tailor or even having it remade though I'm sure they would have done so considering the rep clearly agreed there was still an issue. I opted to simply take the jacket and be done with it. I may take it to my own tailor to have it addressed).

All in all, Indochino has potential, but clearly has inconsistencies that detract from the overall experience. I was hoping to get two great suits along with a personalized experience to fit my needs. I would think that the majority of people indulging in such an experience are the type that pay attention to the details and appreciate consistent courtesy. I love my premium grey suit and think it fits quite well. And while there are issues with the other suit, I realize you can't expect everything to be perfect when ordering through an online service. Admittedly though, having to return a fourth time is a bit much, especially when I was measured in the showroom. In the end though, what's turned me a bit off are the inconsistencies I've experienced in the customer service and post-production areas. It's left me wondering if I can stay a loyal customer. In fact, each time I stopped by, a different person was assisting me. I was hoping to purchase two more suits for the fall, but I think it might be time to check out some of the other custom suiting options available.

If my grey suit didn't turn out well, I wouldn't provide any sort of a recommendation. That being said, Indochino does have some great deals that you should look out for. In addition to $50 off your first order using this referral link, for my particular purchase, they offered a free second pair of pants for each suit. I also appreciate that Indochino does appear to stand behind their product. If the suit doesn't fit your needs, they'll try (try again) to fix it and even re-make the suit if needed. For me though, it was not worth my time or effort to wait another 6-9 weeks to have the jacket remade and fitted.

12 Year Whiskey Review

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It's been a great year and I have much to be thankful for. And in the spirit of celebrating, I thought we would imbibe just a bit. I've been doing a tour of a few 12 year whiskeys, with the majority being Scotch. I don't know whether it's the "Mad Men" impact or the correlation between increasing age and increased whiskey consumption, but I like it.

This review focuses on some 12 year Scotch, Irish, and Japanese whiskey, but I'll move on to a separate American whiskey review - in the form of bourbon. I'm especially excited about this because I was able to get my hands on some 12 year Old Rip Van Winkle through black market dealings (I *somehow* missed the 8 minute window for PA Fine Wine & Good Spirits - note the sarcasm).

I still consider myself a bit of a novice, but to put it simply, whiskey is the larger set, the universe, if you will. Of these, you can have different subsets. Scotch whiskey is made in, you guessed it, Scotland - typically made with malt and grains (wheat or rye). Irish whiskey is, yes, made in Ireland, with the principle flavoring being unmalted barley. Canadian whiskey is made by our neighbors up North, with the principle element being rye. Bourbon whiskey is made, by law, in America, and is typically associated with Kentucky. Bourbon is made with at least 51% corn and usually rye, though there are a few wheated bourbons out there, including Pappy.

But enough of the whiskey lesson for now, on to the good stuff. 

Jameson Special Reserve

Jameson 12 year special reserve, formerly known as Jameson 1780, is a blended Scotch whiskey. It's matured for 12 years in a combination of bourbon barrels and Olorosso sherry casks. A decent introduction to what aging can do to bottom shelf Jameson.

Nose: Sweet, emanating caramel and spice. 

Palate: Vanilla, spice, and cinnamon, with notes of sherry and some peat.  

Finish: Smooth, warm, long-lasting, without much smoke. 

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year

Johnnie Walker Black Label is a 12 year blended Scotch of approximately 40 different whiskeys. This is the what is often described as the quintessential Johnnie Walker tipple. Due to the blending, it's a bit muddled for my taste. 

Nose: Sweet, emanating maple and caramel. 

Palate: Spice, with vanilla notes and some smoke that can overpower a bit.

Finish: Smooth, with a smoke that lingers.

Glenfiddich 12 Year

Glenfiddich 12 year is a single malt Scotch whiskey. Easy drinking, though was a bit bland compared to the others.

Nose: Floral and honey.

Palate: Spice which can be a bit harsh at first, but then the citrus develops a bit, with notes of green apple. 

Finish: Subtly sweet with some vanilla and honey.

Glenlivet 12 Year

The Glenlivet is also a single-malt 12 year and definitely my favorite. It's not surprising that this is one of the top, if not the best, selling whiskeys in the world. 

Nose: Herbal with some sweetness. 

Palate: Light spice and a bit of smoke, with vanilla and brown sugar continuously progressing. 

Finish: Smooth, long, warm, with malt that lingers.

The Macallan 12 Year 

Those of you that watch Lost know about The Macallan. Yes, there's also a "The" in front of this  drink as well. This is a single malt Scotch that coats the tongue and allows the flavors to develop.

Nose: Sweet notes of honey, light maple, and caramel. 

Palate: Hints of spice, with light smokiness and fruit coming through.

Finish: Smooth.

Now whiskey isn't limited to the Old World. Japan actually makes some fine whiskey as well. There are around 10 distilleries in Japan, with Suntory being the most predominant and well-known for its high rating. And Japan's foray into whiskey production came with Suntory's single malt, Yamazaki.

The Yamazaki 12 Year

When I visited the GF's family over Christmas, her dad gifted me this bottle, which was much appreciated. He's just starting to get into whiskey himself, so started his journey off with Glenlivet 12. But back to the Yamazaki. I can definitely see why it had such a high rating and took the world by surprise. 

Nose: Sweet note of cinnamon, apple, and sugar. 

Palate: Medium bodied, honey, and vanilla with apple coming through.

Finish: Pleasant with some more fruit lingering.

In the opinion of this self-professed whiskey ingenue, this quintet of 12 years was a nice introduction to what is possible with aged whiskey. I would say that The Macallan is definitely impressive for a 12 year. But Glenlivet is my favorite due to its great balance of light spice and smoke, which eventually lends itself to a subtle sweetness that continuously develops. Great anyday drinking.

So consider a whiskey to end your Thanksgiving meal - I know that it will be my drink of choice to end the night.

Kitchen of India: Butter Chicken Curry Product Review

After being turned on to Butter Chicken at Tashan, I knew I had to get a taste of the dish at home. So I hopped on trusty Amazon, and found the highly recommended Kitchens of India paste - easy to use in a homemade butter chicken curry recipe.

And of course, some rice is needed to sop up the goodness that is curry, so I turned to my trusty Lundberg Wild Blend Rice. And if you've got some delicious naan, all the more power to you.

After that, all you really need is some chicken (or whatever protein you like). But for a bit more heartiness and flavor, I added a diced Vidalia onion.

Gently cooked down a tad with just a bit of salt, pepper, and olive oil.

To the onions, I added a cup of water, the paste, and just 3 tbsp of butter.

How easy is that?

Just stir until that butter melts in and turns the broth slightly viscous.

And then add the diced chicken - perfectly ready to poach and retain its juiciness.

Simmer for 20 minutes under a closed lid. Cook for 5 more minutes on high. Then keep aside, covered for 3 minutes. So simple, even my GF could do it! (Just kidding - she's actually a great cook - that is, when she tries)

It doesn't hurt to pop open some homemade wine, courtesy of our friends!

The combo of Kitchens of India Butter Chicken and Lundberg Rice is amazing. The spice of the butter chicken has a nice depth to it along with an underlying heat - something you wouldn't expect from just under an hour on the stove. The next time around, I'll add some potatoes and carrots to make this dish even heartier.

Lundberg Wild Blend Rice Product Review

Rice is versatile ingredient and a staple of many cultures. The problem is, it can become monotonous at times. And if you're looking for healthy options, brown rice can taste like cardboard. Luckily, Lundberg Wild Blend Rice offers a healthy blend of long grain brown rice, sweet brown rice, wild rice bits, wehani, and black japonica.

The mix of grains offers a delicious blend of hearty and healthy rice. The packaging is gorgeous and easily resealable, which is a plus for storage.

Look at those gorgeous grains.

Simply put it in a rice cooker (or pot) and fill 'er up with water, salting as necessary. The resultant aroma alone is mouth-watering.

Lundberg Wild Blend Rice offers delicious mix of brown rice that can be eaten alone. But as the primary ingredient for fried rice or an added component to chili, it can elevate other dishes as well! Be sure to check it out on Amazon, where it's offered as an affordable 6-pack bundle. It's offered with a Subscribe and Save price, which is an additional 5% off!