Porter’s Fried Chicken (Maplewood)

I threw out a question to a couple of co-workers a few days ago.  I wanted to know if there were any good places to get fried chicken livers around the Brentwood area.  Instantly, their eyes lit up (they knew I was a bit of a foodie), and simultaneously exclaimed that Porter’s carried them and they have the best fried chicken around.  I definitely had to check this out, although, I was a bit skeptical.  I’ve had bad experiences before with what STL calls ‘the best.’  This is a city that thinks the stink pit of El Maguey is some of the best Mexican you can get in the city, and that claim couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Following the restaurant reviewer’s code, I decided to make multiple trips at different times, trying dishes across the board.  Here’s what was cooking:

On my first visit, I decided to go for what I was craving and found myself staring at a pound of chicken livers and a small side of potato salad.  A thin layer of breading coated each chunk of liver.  They were really nice with the crispy, peppery breading complementing the creamy livers quite well.  I grabbed a couple of tubs of hot sauce and proceeded to dunk away, finishing off the whole box.  Then, I dived into the potato salad, which was a sweet mustard blend with perfectly cooked potatoes and crisp touches of onion.  It wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t too keen on the sweetness of it.  I prefer a little more savory in my tuber salad.

The second visit was a trip down the river with catfish.  I spotted the catfish nuggets on the menu last time I was in.  I’m a huge fan of fried fish and the taste of catfish reminds me of Friday night’s during lent back in Central Illinois.  Just like the livers, it was a huge portion.  This was served with a roll(pre-packaged and not worth discussing), cole slaw (which a yelper had raved about) and mashed potatoes with gravy.  The catfish chunks were some of the best I had ever had.  Unfortunately, about midway through my meal, I bit into a scale from improper cleaning and later a bone.  It turned me off a little, and I cautiously finished off the rest of the fish.  The slaw was up next for tasting as I was curious to see why this was considered someone’s favorite.  It was a finely chopped blend of carrots, onions, and cabbage that suffers from the same sweetness the potato salad did.  The mashed potatoes were, also, quite unremarkable, and appeared to be an instant mix covered in a pre-packaged gravy.  These sides were a little disappointing.

Finally, I was on my third trip and this famous fried chicken was the obvious choice.  I got the 2 piece, taking it easy as this was my third trip that week with deep fried fare and my body was starting to feel it.  It came with the same sides as above, and since these were pretty unimpressive, I asked about getting another side.  I questioned my cashier on a few of the other sides and was told that they were all frozen goods and not made in house.  I wasn’t about to review something that I could do just as well at home, and stuck with the chicken getting a side of fries to fill me up.  I was served a wing and a thigh for my 2 pieces and each were blissfully greasy, moist, and crispy.  This was probably what I should have been eating the whole time and I can understand why people rave about it.  I’ll definitely be back to take a stab at some more, and possibly go for the spicy breading on my next visit.

That fried chicken was Porter’s saving grace.  It’s probably the only thing that I would go back for, getting just the chicken and letting them keep those shitty sides.  On the positive side, I never spent more than $7 on a meal there and was served a filling portion.  But, that’s probably because they save a whole bunch on frozen foods, pre-packaged sides, and sauces that come in packets.  There’s a bunch of flaws that Porter’s needs to deal with, however, the staff was nice, the prices  right, and the fried chicken delicious.  Porter’s will get my nod when it comes to chicken.  Just don’t expect too much out of the rest of the menu.

Links:

• http://www.yelp.com/biz/porters-fried-chicken-saint-louis
• http://www.porterschicken.com/
• http://www.riverfronttimes.com/bestof/2008/award/best-fried-chicken-582446/

Kirkwood Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets (ALDI)

Got kids with a gluten allergy and an incredibly picky disposition towards food that’s only brown?   I’ve met those kids and shopping for them cannot be easy, as just about everything brown is that color because of the wheat breading that coats it.  Just a few years ago, this would have brought you to the edge of insanity.  You’d struggle to find anything your kid would eat that didn’t contain wheat and usually fail miserably.  Things are different and doctors are diagnosing celiac disease with more frequency, forcing the food industry to start adjusting to this new large market of wheat intolerant consumers.  So, on my last visit to ALDI, I spotted some gluten free chicken nuggets.  I was curious to see how they differed from the gluten packed version, and threw them into my basket to try them out for my gluten free readers.

Handling the bag, I could tell that these were a little smaller than most chicken nuggets.  I scanned the bag and discovered that I had just paid $4.99 for 16 oz. of chicken nuggets.  Not exactly a steal.  I’ve seen 29 oz of regular nuggets for the same price.  I guess that gluten free/all natural label adds a little extra to the price tag.  The ingredient list is quite small and upon further review, lactose free as well.

With the packaging thoroughly read, I was ready to taste.  I set the oven for 375 and placed 2.5 servings of the machine processed chicken nuggets onto a baking sheet.  They sat in the oven for about 15 minutes until crispy on the outside.  As I was picking them off of the sheet, I realized that they were quite spongy, and not very dense.  15 nuggets made their way onto a plate with a side of my favorite condiment, mustard.  I grabbed the first bite sized nugget and bypassed the mustard, seeing how they were on their own.  They were light and fluffy, with a bit of a crispy texture from the rice flour breading.  There was hardly any flavor and made me feel as if I was eating a chicken flavored sponge.  They weren’t that good, and epitomized what has tortured the gluten free industry for so long.  However, I could see kids enjoying these, as they drown them in bbq sauce and ketchup.

Sometimes I’m surprised by gluten free items.  Not this time.  This was exactly what I should have expected.  Overall, these aren’t good, and the value isn’t really there either.  With so many options out there these days for those who have to go gluten free, it makes these nuggets feel like a big FORK U to consumers.  It looks like I’ll have half a bag of these spongy, deep fried nuggets in the freezer for a while.  Anyone want some free food?

Sesame Lo Mein (ALDI)

Cheap, quick, and healthy.  That’s how many of us like our lunch.  I’m rushing around all of the time and it’s nice to know that I have a little help.  So, I’ll reach into the frozen aisle every now and then to stock up something that I know will satisfy my midday hunger.  I’m a little bit of a health nut, and natural ingredients, low calorie, and nutrient rich dishes are a little sparse in this section of the store.  If I’m lucky enough to find a healthy dish, it usually carries a pretty hefty price tag.  Luckily, this search began at ALDI, and while skimming the frozen section, I spotted a new line of healthy whole wheat vegetarian dishes around 300 calories for under $2.  I was sold.  Here’s what I thought:

They go by the label Simply Nature, with an all natural claim to their products.  This isn’t unbelievable considering ALDI’s heritage and commitment to no artificial colors or flavorings that goes back to the European way of thinking.  It was a little perplexing how inexpensive this Sesame Lo Mein dish was.  Let’s face it, once you put ‘whole wheat’ and ‘all natural’ on a box, that’ll hike the price up a little.  However, this quick frozen fix was reasonably priced and even rivaled that of the high calorie, artificial everything, sodium packed meals stocked in the freezer of your mainstream market places.  It was a little too good to be true.  I was intrigued, and I couldn’t wait to see if this product would reflect the price tag and taste as cheap as it cost.

I studied the packaging.  It was pretty straight up, and there weren’t any ingredients lining the label that I couldn’t pronounce.  It was indeed vegetarian, however, it does contain honey, ruling out its vegan status.  The sodium content was a little high, but nothing to be alarmed about.  I’ve seen frozen dishes that are much worse and the 690 mg aren’t anything a few glasses of water won’t remedy.  It’s a pretty small portion size, with 8 grams of protein and fiber to help hold you over.  Perfect for a light lunch.

After a thorough investigation, it was time for this frozen dish to reanimate in the microwave.  Removed from the box, bowl and all were placed in the nuke for 3 minutes, given a shake, and cooked for another 30 seconds.  Steam poured out every small vent in the plastic, and I gave it the suggested minute to cool as opening this early would have resulted in some minor burns.  I carefully removed the plastic and the sweet smell of pineapple was the first to greet my senses.  Ginger, soy, sesame, and garlic followed, and I was really starting to gain an appetite.  So far, it passed the smell test and there are very few things that smell delicious and taste disgusting.  This was no anomaly, and the first bite of whole wheat noodles with steamed veggies and chunks of pineapple covered in a sweet sesame sauce was quite good.  Very impressive for a meal under $2.

Not bad, ALDI.  They managed to create something cheap that doesn’t taste cheap and isn’t filled with crap.  I felt satisfied, and with the small price tag, content in the fact that I saved a few bucks for lunch. Also, I’m really FORKing happy I bought the Southwestern Fresca dish as well.  I’ll be sticking my fork into that one very soon.

Dark Chocolate Covered Gingerbread Hearts (ALDI)

Some people love the jolly Christmas that blares overhead at your local grocery store, and there are those that loathe it.  I fall into the category of the latter.  I can’t get out of a place fast enough, gathering all of my groceries as fast as I can in an attempt to escape the noise pollution that this seasonal barrage of jingles will surely bring.  However, as much as I hate to admit it, this strategy works, and when presented with these monotonous songs, I find myself craving the one concoction that’s synonymous with the season.  Gingerbread.  Deliciously spiced gingerbread anything, and there is one place every year I find something new and exciting from this line that brings me into ALDI to grab off of their shelves.  This year, it was their Dark Chocolate Covered Gingerbread Hearts that I whisked away and dragged home to add a little holiday spirit to my diet.  Here’s what I thought of them:

As per the usual, ALDI presented me with a low cost option and these sweet, heart-shaped treats were a steal at $1.99.  This was my first go at these guys, and I really didn’t know what to expect.  Would they be hard or soft.  One thing I was sure of, was that they were bound to be delicious either way, and the part that excited me the most about these cookies, was that apricot filling that would be mixing with the rich dark chocolate and the spiced gingerbread.  I tore into the bag, and grabbed the first one.  I sank my teeth in, revealing an incredibly fluffy cookie filled with small amount of apricot filling.  The ratios were just about perfect, and the tangy preserves gave an nice balance to the bitter chocolate and the spicy gingerbread as they danced around on my palate.  I reached in the bag, pulling out a few more and laid them on a plate setting the rest aside so I wouldn’t devour the whole bag in one sitting.  They were FORKing addictive, and quickly became one of my new holiday favorites.

These little hearts will surely make their way into yours.  Not only will your friends love the texture and flavor, but you’ll leave them impressed by their cute shape.  They’re great to bring over to a holiday party, or just to have around to entertain guests during the holiday season.  No Christmas party would be complete without these Dark Chocolate Gingerbread Hearts.  So, get into ALDI and throw these delicious cookies in your cart.  At that tiny price tag, why the FORK not?

The Kitchen Sink (CWE)

When I first arrived in Saint Louis 6 years ago, the lack of diners was a little disappointing.  Sure, when I asked around everyone raved about Courtesy, and I even made trips to Tiffany’s, Eat-Rite, and The Buttery (shutters).  Most of these places are full of barely edible food at some of the cheapest prices out there.  The coffee was complete swill, the food frozen, and the only thing you could count on to be fresh were the eggs.  As time passed, a inspired diners have begun to sprout up in the Saint Louis area, using fresh ingredients and offering unique and inspired items on their menus.  I was rolling down Forest Park Pkwy. when I was surprised to see in the place of Wing Express and, more famously, Talayna’s, was a new concept.  The Kitchen sink sat, now, where a couple of failed adventures had once called home, attempting their version of cajun inspired diner fare.

I sat down with owner and chef Anthony Ellerson Jr., going over the menu asking him to give me the kitchen sink.  He obliged, literally, sending out a dish of the ultimate shrimp and grits, named the Kitchen Sink.  A large amount of grits covered perfectly prepared shrimp and was smothered in a golden gravy topped with spicy andouille sausage,fresh lump crab meat, and fried corn fritters.  Seeing something like this in a diner gave me hope for the rest of the menu and a few other dishes were brought to my table.  A magnificent Monte Cristo ($7) and a breakfast dish called The Fat Cat ($6).  The Monte Cristo was easily my favorite dish of the day as it’s the perfect mix of sweet and savory.  It came with strawberry habanero jam which I couldn’t resist dipping the sandwich in.  Leaving myself just enough room to sample The Fat Cat, I was ready to dig into the thick waffle, two eggs, sausage patties, and tater tots that lay before me.

I have very high hopes for this tiny diner and their dedication to fresh ingredients and locally made items.  It’s attention to details such as these that will, hopefully, drag people the fork out of those cookie cutter diners full of prepackaged items and into the cozy setting of The Kitchen Sink.

The Fat Cat – $6
Monte Cristo – $7 egg battered, served with a strawberry habanero jam
The Kitchen Sink – $9 Shrimp and Grits covered in mildly spiced gravy, topped w/lump crab, chives, and corn fritters.

Frugal Foodies (9/27/2012)

Look, I’m not even going to pretend that I can afford any luxury when it comes to food.  As much as I would love to buy my fish fresh and sushi grade or even my veggies organic, I have a pretty tight budget to live by.  So, when I find a deal on something that looks tasty, I’m on it.  One of the best places to go on foodie friendly treasure hunts is Aldi.  Here’s what I found at my last visit:

These aren’t the kind of things you’re going to discover at your local megamart.  Aldi has agressive buyers that shop nationally and internationally to bring you some pretty high quality items at a fraction less than their competitors.  The Stone Baked Spinach and Goat Cheese Pizza is spectacular frozen pie and sells for $3.49.  It’s a European import that freatures real cheese and delicious cherry tomatoes for bite. For a mere $6.99 you can get Bremer’s Gyro Kit stocked with five gyros and tzaziki, adding some fresh tomato and onions are all that is left on this mediterranean meal .  Finally, there is the Cinnamon and Sugar Pretzel Dough at $2.39.  You could easily ditch the sweet stuff and let your imagination run amok with other pretzel possibilities using this dough as a base for pizza or epanadas.

Aldi may be a little intimidating for those with a palate for name brand items, but their prices alone are nothing you should ignore.  So, if you’ve ever been the type to turn up your nose at Aldi, FORK U and the horse you rode in on.  There are plenty of great finds in this deal packed grocery store, making it the one true stop for the frugal foodie.