Category: Eats

Chili Choice Salsas, Queso, Tomales, Flan

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Chili Choice Salsas, Queso, Tomales, Flan, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

All ready to go. Made with only the freshest ingredients.

Chili Choice ROCKS!

The Queen Bees of Chili Choice- Debra and Maura

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The Queen Bees of Chili Choice- Debra and Maura, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

Yesterday on my way home from work, the Mrs informed me that if I would like something to eat I better pick something up.

It had been far too long since my last visit to the Gals at Chili Choice so I decided to swing on by and grab some grub.

Debra and Maura are always really sweet and accomodating to me, preparing my special bare Captain Joe bowl of rice, chicken, frijole negros, salsa and xmas sauce (green and red).

Here are the girls posing with some tomales, salsa, and a Southwest Salad consisting of- red chili, roasted corn, grilled chicken with tomato and jalepeno.

More pics to follow of Chili Choice.

Ned’s Desserts and Free Cheese Sample Plate

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Ned’s Deserts and Free Cheese Sample Plate, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

This is the cheese that the cheese swiper was clipping when the owners weren’t looking.

I say if someone puts out cheese samples you should take one and if you really wanted another one you should politely ask.

The cheese swiper was scarfing em down every time they turned their backs.

What a rat.

For Cousin Larry

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

For Cousin Larry, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

Yesterday was our 7 year anniversary and we were supposed to go out for dinner but my MIL wasn’t feeling up to babysitting.

On my way home from work I got a message from my cousin Larry. He called to let me know that he got a chuckle out of the tail on the shrimp blog entry titled “Chefs, Don’t Do This…” Larry said in his message that leaving the tail on the shrimp in a messy dish is a pet peeve of his too.

The next call I get is from the Mrs asking if I could pick up Thai food for dinner since she figured we were eating out for our anniversary.

Lo and behold I get to the Pad Thai back to the house and wouldn’t you know it, they left the tail on the damn shrimp!

Bastards!

I had to take a picture for cousin Larry.

Ned’s Groceria

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Ned’s Groceria, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

Something very cool about Ned’s-

They had samples of different cheese in a couple different locations of the store.

Something not so cool about Ned’s-

There was a woman (not the one in this picture) that I saw gobbling down this cheese every time the owner and guy behind the deli counter turned his back. It was pretty scummy. I think she thought that no one noticed. I did.

Leo D Allen Painting

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Leo D Allen Painting, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

Here is another of Leo D Allen’s paintings on display at Passports. He has a gallery in Rockport that I’m meaning to get over to to photograph more of his paintings.

I dig it.

Ned’s Roasted Peppers, Roasted Tomato, Olives

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Ned’s Roasted Peppers, Roasted Tomato, Olives, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

Ned’s Groceria, Washington St

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Ned’s Groceria, Washington St, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

For some reason I thought the name was Ned’s Groceteria and had named all my picture files and flickr titles as such. Upon further review of this picture it is Ned’s Groceria. I wonder if selling stuff out of a van makes you a Groceteria and selling out of a storefront makes you a Groceria. Any of you Ned’s regulars want to stop by there and find out for me?
I got a Cuban panini that was very tasty. It was pressed through and the center ingredients were warm (a pet peeve of Mark Ring is a cold centered panini). I’m happy to report Mark that the panini was properly prepared.
As is the case with any of the pictures posted on the blog if you click on the picture it will bring you to the flickr page where it resides. Along the top border of the picture there is an option for “all sizes” when selected gives you a nice full sized version of any of the pictures posted here with much greater detail. I prefer if you like a pic to check them out on the flickr page using the all sizes feature. Viewing them on this page you are reading does many of the photo’s disservice.
Here is a link to my Ned’s Groceria slideshow including other Ned’s pics in larger format.

Dont Be The Chef Who………….

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Don’t be the chef who leaves the tail on the shrimp in an alfredo sauce or marinara sauce dish.

How the hell are we supposed to get the shrimp out of the shell without getting our hands all messed up?

Don’t be the chef that produces this-

Shrimp Alfredo

Or this-

Shrimp Marinara

Thank you

mystarbucksidea.com

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Reading the Naples Daily News this morning I came across an article from the Associated Press about Starbucks Corps’ new website which solicits customer ideas on how to improve the customer experience.

They showed one customer’s idea- “An express line for people who JUST WANT COFFEE! That way the coffee drinkers don’t have to wait so long in line behind all those people getting specialty drinks.”

An excellent idea for sure which got me thinking about a few of the changes I’d like to see.

First off I’d like to say that the prices for a cup of regular coffee at Starbucks is actually in line or a few cents cheaper than Dunkin Donuts here in Naples and back home, so kudos to Starbucks for that.

A couple of days ago I was at a Starbucks within a Target store. There were only two people in front of me in line. The young hipster chick behind the counter was incredibly friendly and bubbly, asking the people in front of me how they would like their latte machiatto prepared with a huge smile on her face.

This happy face attitude would soon change when yours truly came front and center and asked for his coffee of the day with cream and splenda. She quickly informed me that the creamer and sweeteners were located over there and I could prepare it myself. The problem was that I had the bean hanging off of me and she was being scootchie so I asked the girl if she could just put the cream and splenda in behind the counter. That friendly young coffee hipsters’ smile turned into a frown in an instant. You would have thought that I asked for something crazy.

Unfortunately this experience isn’t confined to this one particular Starbucks. It happens in nine out of ten of them. Whenever you ask for them to add your creamer and sweetener they act like it’s such a totally unreasonable request.

They will all honor your request, but almost every Starbucks barrista will turn from friendly coffee snob barrista to indignant huffy unhappy employee lickity split if you dare ask for them to prepare your regular cup o joe for you.

Watch for yourself how quickly you too can send these folks into a tailspin with what seems like a smple request.

It’s a regular cup of coffee FFS! Get over it!

Starbucks

http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/home/home.jsp

Bad Ass Coffee, Naples Fl

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Bad Ass Coffee, Naples Fl, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

Down in Old Naples the Bad Ass Coffee Co serves up some decent Kona coffee. Of course in a town ruled by blue hairs there is the inevitable call to shut the place down due to it’s name.

Lighten up folks and get a sense of humor, would ya?

I love the fact that when you ask for an iced coffee they break out the ice cubes made out of coffee as to not dilute the product. That’s some cool ass shiznit!

Gigilana Cookies!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro
Gigilana Cookies!, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

My mom made gigilana cookies. What’s better than gigilana cookies with your morning coffee?