Small Plates, Big Flavor

Wasn't in the mood for a big prepared dinner tonight so I suggested we go for a small plates/appetizer concept. During the afternoon I hit Wegmans and put together a platter of cheese-stuffed olives, stuffed grape leaves, pepper shooters, mozzarella balls and roasted red peppers.

Must say that the mozzarella was a little disappointing... I usually like the marinated mozzarella but it was MIA. Picked up some Sopressata Salami and block cheddar cheese, too. But the highlight was steamed shrimp with some garlic butter.

I steamed the shrimp in a mix of water, Lagunitas IPA, Old Bay and Frank's hot sauce, then doused the shrimp in Old Bay, chopped onion and more hot sauce. Here are the shrimp as they're just getting their start...

And here's the finished product before I scooped them out and put them in a bowl (below).

The garlic butter was simple... one stick butter, three cloves garlic. Melt. Stir. Enjoy.

REVIEW: Burger King Serves Up a Different Kind of Shot

I first heard of the existence of the "new" Burger King Burger Shot via a Twitter post from @EricBGH, the nom de twitter of Bloody Good Horror's main admin. Since he's not located in the same part of the country as me I figured it might be a regional thing (like McDonalds' Crabcake sandwich I saw advertised in Ocean City, MD a few years back or the ill-advised Golden Arches Lobster Roll I tried in Maine many moons ago) and waited patiently for news of their arrival in my area.

I'm not sure why I get so worked up about these new and/or limited time menu items. They're almost always a disappointment and sometimes downright dreadful. Didn't I learn anything from the Loaded Steakhouse Burger disaster?

Naturally, some of you savvy readers will have already noted that the Burger Shot isn't really "new" at all. Burger King offered a similar menu item last year in the UK but it was far more advanced than the dumbed-down version us Yanks are getting. The UK sixer featured three different toppings on an Angus burger. One pair with ketchup, one pair with cheese, and the final duo with bacon and cheese.

Here in the States your options are limited to with cheese or without and my local BK couldn't even get that right. I ordered a Burger Shot with Cheese Value Meal (Coke and Onion Rings, please) but at least they didn't forget my Zesty O-Ring Dipping Sauce. Which, in my opinion, may be BK's greatest achievement outside The Whopper.

The Burger Shot can also trace it roots back to a 1980s Burger King menu item called Burger Buddies. Same concept: two mini burgers attached at the hip, sorta like conjoined twins, meant to be separated and shared. I don't remember ever trying Burger Buddies but I was probably too busy trying to drink my weight in Yuengling Porter.

But back to the Burger Shot. With every restaurant under the sun appearing to offer some bastardized mini-burger they call a "slider" it was inevitable that a major chain would step up to the plate and try to steal some of the White Castle/Krystal thunder.

After sampling the Burger Shot I can tell you that those beloved regional chains have nothing to worry about. The Burger Shot comes in a specially designed box which holds the six-pack of assembly-line-looking burgers. The buns and even some of the burgers remain attached, giving the whole offering the feel of something that was stamped out of a mold, not assembled with any kind of care.

Under the hood the burgers sport grill marks (not authentic I presume), pickles and a swirl of ketchup and yellow mustard. Luckily, the box includes instructions on how to disassemble and digest the mini burgers, though with something that's designed for more than one mouth (yeah, right) you'd think the final step might be "share".

The burger thickness is about that of a regular burger and unfortunately, the rolls seem to follow suit. Thick, doughy buns make this more of a Roll Shot with a little burger inside (and maybe a pickle, if you're lucky), well off the mark from the near perfection that is a White Castle Slyder, with its thin patty and wispy, slight soggy and cripsed rolls that can barely contain the slices of heaven they hold.

Sorry. Alas, the Burger Shot and a recent hook-up with some frozen White Castle Cheeseburgers have done nothing but leave me chomping at the bit for my upcoming trip to Cleveland and the chance to revel in Slyder excess.

The Burger Shot is a good idea though not executed with enough aplomb to make me forget a real Slyder or head back for more. As their recent limited-time excursions go, though, I have to admit I prefer these to the disappointing Angry (sic) Whopper or the average-at-best concoction known as the Loaded Steakhouse Burger.

For the full "you are there" essence of the moment check out our video of The Big Reveal.

VIDEO: Burger King Burger Shots... The Big Reveal

I believe, in reality design show parlance, this is what they call "the reveal"...

TOP CHEF 5 Finale Live Blog

Okay, here we go...

10:00 – Quickie season recap from Padma. Let's get it on. What's this? No chef montage?

10:04 – Okay, here comes the knife block... we've got a head-to-head, three course meal, any proteins, don't have to make a dessert.

10:05 – Marcel, Richard and Casey return from previous seasons... oh god, will Stefan team up with Marcel?!

10:06 – "Marcel kinda reminds me of Stefan."

10:07 – "He's a bit of a twat. But who isn't?"

10:08 – What a surprise. Hosea's doing fish. And stealing all the foie gras and caviar.

10:09 – Why would you do something in the finale that you've never done before? Carla needs to stick with the simple stuff that got her here the last few weeks.

10:10 – I like Richard's advice... "Get some sleep. Don't drink tonight."

10:11 – I have to admit that I don't think I turn Bravo on unless Top Chef is airing.

10:14 – So you get to the final three and your "treat" is a voodoo palm reading? Thanks Glad.

10:17 – No matter how many times I see this Hidden Valley Ranch commercial I always think Carole King or whoever wrote "Pleasant Valley Sunday" needs to sue their ass off.

10:18 – John at Baltimore Snacker is live blogging the finale, too. Check it out.

10:20 – The twist is an appetizer using traditional New Orleans ingredients. Hosea sticks Stefan with alligator. Go Stefan, I'm openly rooting for him to smoke Hosea at this point.

10:22 – Hosea's doing venison. Better cook that just right sport.

10:23 – Why is Carla listening to Casey? Stick to your guns.

10:24 – Looks like guests include Rocco and Dana Cowin. Uh-oh, Tom doesn't look impressed by Stefan's dessert.

10:27 – Is it mean for me to say it looks like Stefanie has been hitting a lot of tastings during her reign as Top Chef?

10:30 – Wait, maybe that's not Dana Cowin.

10:31 – I'm thinking the app course went to Hosea or Stefan.

10:33 – Do not like Carla's presentation on that first course but they all seemed to like it. Hosea's dish looked great but they didn't like it or Stefan's very much. That round definitely went to Carla.

10:35 – "This doesn't remind me of her."

10:36 – Gail bopping her head while Rocco blathers may have been my fave part of the episode so far.

10:38 – Looks like Carla just screwed herself with her half a dish. And there's the withering look from Tom.

10:40 – Are they going to ding Hosea for taking the safe way out and ending with venison? Will Stefan take it on the chin for his dated dessert presentation?

10:42 – I don't know if we saw the best from any of these chefs tonight. I feel like Stefan's been coasting for the last couple weeks... and it might just cost him tonight.

10:46 – Judges Table. I'm going to say Hosea wins.

10:47 – Carla's explanation about how much influence Casey had on her menu gets the raised eyebrows and disappointed glance from Tom.

10:51 – I feel bad for Carla. I really think if she'd stuck to her guns she could have won this.

10:53 – "It was pedestrian at best." Padma at her dismissive most!

10:54 – Toby seems to be the lone Stefan voice in the wilderness... Tom says he doesn't see any "soul" in Stefan's cooking, a thought I mentioned a week ago.

10:55 – I'd be shocked, SHOCKED if Hosea isn't the winner. Looks like John and I are in agreement here, he's thinking Hosea-Stefan-Carla, too. Gail and Tom looked too satisfied going into commercial.

10:58 – I love the way Padma has to get in that "Glad family of products" plug.

11:00 – I should not be snickering at Carla crying. Hosea said "things are going to change, that's for sure". Judging by Stefanie's Dr. Pepper commercial he should start buying clothes a size or two larger starting now.

STARCH MADNESS: Last Minute Thoughts on Top Chef's Final Four

As I catch a quick breather between a giant client project, the loads of laundry in the washer and dryer, and a sleeping 20-month-old poised to get up at any moment, I figured I'd dash off some last minute thoughts about the four competitors left in Bravo's fifth season of TOP CHEF.

I'm not sure where I'd rate this season. Frankly, I kinda miss Gail, and it seems like sub-judge Toby Young is trying too hard to be a mean, snarky Brit – sorta like the lead judge on some other reality show, if you catch my drift.

Even Colicchio seems taken aback at some of Young's stinging put-downs, and this is a man who once sat there as guest judge Anthony Bourdain (sadly MIA) remarked, "It's got a home cooking thing, but a home I wouldn't want to live in."

And so, with my afternoon coffee in hand, let's take a quick look at the four finalists, ranked – as I see 'em – in order from least likely to most likely to walk away with the Glad bags filled with cash. Or whatever the prize is. [Ed. Note: Ryan woke up at this point so I'm trying to cobble my thoughts together as we watch some DVDs. Forgive me if I pick Abby or Elmo to win the competition.]

Hosea
This Boulder-based chef who supposedly excels at seafood has sort of been like the ugly American version of super-chef Stefan over the course of the season. Stefan excels at challenge after challenge, while poor Hosea keeps finding himself at Judge's Table trying to explain himself. Silly Stefan endlessly flirts with Team Rainbow's Jamie, so Hosea goes out and swaps spit with fellow contestant Leah... despite the fact that both left significant others at home in order to compete on the show. (Ooops!)

Most telling, though, has been Hosea's apparent obsession with beating the Frying Fin. I rarely hear him talk about winning the competition but he sure wants to beat Stefan. Stefan, on the other hand, knows he's the best chef in the bunch (which might be his downfall) and even suggested last week that Hosea doesn't have the "balls" for the gig.

While I have to give Hosea credit for lasting this long he's been on the chopping block the last two weeks after preparing seafood – his alleged strong suit. With the finale set in New Orleans he's going to have to do a bit more to impress the judges and special finals guest judge Emeril Lagasse. Frankly, I just don't see it happening. Projected Finish: Valued Participant.

Fabio
First impressions led me to believe that this charming, smooth-talking Italian and California chef-owner would be little more than Stefan's sidekick (a Eurotrash Beavis to Stefan's blistering Butt-head, perhaps). Nothing could be further from the truth as I've come to both like and root for the Fab One.

I was thrilled that Fabio not only overcame a serious handicap last week (a broken finger) but also cooked with his heart and prepared a dish I'd love to have tried (Roasted Chicken with Carmelized Onions and Roasted Potatoes). If Fabio can cook with his heart and soul I wouldn't be surprised to see him win this competition. Alas, the mohawk he was sporting in the clips for this week's episode make me think he got some sort of weird pep talk from his client William Shatner. Hopefully that's the only advice he took from the Priceline Negotiator. Projected Finish: Miss Congeniality.

Carla
As recently as a few weeks ago I'd have never picked this bug-eyed oddball to make it to the Foodie Final Four, let alone emerge as my dark horse pick to win the whole thing. But something strange has happened over the last couple episodes. Carla seems to have gotten in touch with her simple (and I mean that in a good way), classic influences. Never was that more evident than last week when she wowed Wylie Dufresne with her take on Green Eggs and Ham (and shut up bottom-feeder Hosea in the process), then followed through by preparing a squab and peas dish that legendary chef Jacques Pepin seemed to simply adore.

I've gone from exasperatedly wondering how she was still around to quietly applauding her dishes and approach. If Carla keeps it simple and doesn't get too weirdo-New-Agey she just might be able to top you know who. Projected Finish: Runner-Up.

Stefan
This has been The Frying Fin's competition to lose from the very start and I firmly believe that Stefan's the only one of the remaining contestants that can actually beat Stefan. (Make sense?) His two miscues of late – during the Super Bowl-themed chef-off and last week's last meal challenge – have largely been due to his Achilles heel... over-confidence. He figured he'd whoop the chick from Season 1 (and maybe get in some flirting while he was at it) in the cook-off and might have been sent home if Jeff The Winker hadn't screwed up.

Last week he off-handedly remarked that there was no way he could screw up the salmon because it's something he's been making for 23 years. So what does he do? He overcooks the fish but gets saved because Leah's lame Eggs Benedict failed to impress.

Stefan's over-confidence and Euro-ego – helped along with some judicious editing, I'm sure – have certainly established him as the show's villain du juor. But I'd much rather hang with him for a few beers than previous TOP CHEF super-villains like Marcel and Hung.

What does worry me, though, is that you rarely (ever?) hear Stefan talk about his passion for cooking. He's a great chef but I don't see the secret ingredient – aka love – showing up in a lot of his dishes. One phoned-in service can send you packing (as we've all seen in the past) and it's up to Stefan to channel his inner Klaus Kinski and make sure that doesn't happen. Like last year's New England Patriots I think we all expect Stefan to win. The question is, will one of the other Fab Four be able to catch a ball against their helmet? Projected Finish: Big Winner.

So, there you have it. Insightful analysis drawn from spending one heavily-edited hour per week with these people. Considering how bad I am at picking winners in something I follow closely (ie, sports), please take these predictions with a very large grain of salt.

Be Back Soon...

Just a quick post to apologize for my recent absence.

It's a busy time of year for me from a work standpoint and I've been spending pretty much every available office hour knee-deep in client projects.

Things should improve a bit in the next week or so and I'll be back posting away.

In the meantime, I can recommend checking out the new issue of FOOD & WINE which includes some great-looking recipes, including a baked penne with ground lamb that has my mouth watering just writing about it.