December 2009
13 posts
Top Ten Noms of 2009
2009 is almost over. And I’m going to do that one cliched thing almost every blogger, critic, pundit, talk show host and asshole does at the end of the year: makes a top ten list that no one gives a shit about. So here it is, my Top 10 Noms of 2009:
10. Gladys Knight’s Atlanta, GA
Because fried chicken and waffles should be a staple in everyone’s diet.
9. King’s Court...
Wagamama's
If Nando’s is the overhyped chain of the UK, then Wagamama’s is the underhyped, far more deserving of its praise. It’s basically a mixture of Asian cuisines; they serve curries, ramen, udon, stir-fry…the lot. The few times I’ve eaten here it’s completely satisfied me.
I went this trip with Joe Huh and our buddy Ben Jackson to the Wagamama’s near the O2...
Road Noms Guide To Healthy Eating
This is how you eat healthy:
Step 1: Start off with some fish ‘n’ chips from Linda’s in Portsmouth and make sure to get a side of gravy.
Step 2: Eat a deep-fried Mars bar.
Step 3: Feel your insides rejoicing at the nutritious food you just bestowed upon them.
Step 4: Lie down and pray for a quicker death than the one you’re giving to yourself.
The Nando's Hype
Nando’s is an extremely popular chain in England that serves Portuguese-style chicken. It seems like the entire English population flocks to this place like it’s some sort of godsend restaurant. I’ve met so many Brits who swear by this place, usually exclaiming that it serves up the best chicken they’ve ever had. I find it to be very overrated. I ate at Nando’s for...
The Kebab Shop
If you’ve been to England then you know what a kebab shop is and you probably have some weird love/hate thing going on with them that probably leans completely to the hate side. A kebab shop is what it sounds like…they serve kebabs. Usually fries too. And they are everywhere. And they are usually the only thing open into the late hours of the night. And they usually suck. Big time. So...
Cookie Shake!
If you love milkshakes (and honestly who doesn’t? Hopefully no one I know) and you’re in the UK make sure you check out Cookie Shake, a small milkshake chain that will take almost any candy you can think of and put it into a milkshake. You can also get bits of actual cookies in the shake, and you can even get hot milkshakes! I made two trips to Cookie Shake on this tour, thus getting...
The Arbat
I’m not too experienced with Russian food. I’ve tried borscht and pierogies and that’s about it. On the day of our Oxford show I wandered up the street in search of some good noms and I found The Arbat, a pretty nice Russian restaurant that was by far the most interesting thing I found that day. I figured in the spirit of Road Noms and culinary curiosity I would try something...
A Good BBQ Joint in England?!
I love barbecue food. A lot. Anytime I’m in the “BBQ Belt” of the USA I make it point to get some because that’s where it’s done best. But would you believe me if I said there’s a great bbq spot in London, England? I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t, and until last year on the tour SYG did with Gallows in the UK I wouldn’t have believed it...
German Christmas Markets
At our stops in Hamburg and Berlin a bunch of us visited the nearby Christmas Markets. German Christmas Markets are yearly outdoor markets where people sell hot food, beverages, sweets and wares, like knitted goods and nutcrackers. There’s also music and singing, which makes it an all around festive event.
At the Hamburg market I bought this little vanilla ball, which was basically a...
Bratwurst
I swear bratwurst is the official food of Germany. I saw it so many places in our 4 days there you could have told me it grows on trees and I would have believed you. After our show in Hamburg I dined on one of these swine sticks and it was good times.
What I thought was interesting was how they don’t really serve the meat on a bun in Germany, but with a little roll on the side...
Medusa
At our Hamburg show our catering was served to us at a restaurant a few doors down from the venue called Medusa where I got a pretty good steak.
What really made this steak for me was that little thing of herb butter on the side. I threw that on top of the meat, let it melt and it made the steak totally delicious. Definitely something I’ll have to try again in the future. And those fries...
The Panini
The panini, a flat bread sandwich grilled between two irons, is a European staple. In Paris especially you can find them just about everywhere. After stopping at Laduree I went across the street to a Brioche Doree and picked up this guy.
This is a Frontier Panini and it had chicken, turkey, cheese, mushrooms and egg. It was pretty good. I’m pretty sure Brioche Doree is a fairly big chain...
Laduree - Dessert Haven of the Gods
Well, SYG’s European headline tour is well underway, and the noms have been pretty decent so far I must say. Especially in the sweets department. I don’t know why, but Europeans sure do have a giant sweet tooth that rivals if not destroys America’s. I don’t think any place exemplifies this better than Laduree in Paris, a world famous bakery that serves some of the most...