The Crawfishal Crawfish Crawl 2009.

I haven't given much love to the crawfish in the '09. Not because they haven't been on my mind, believe me they have, but the opportunity to get biz with several pounds hadn't presented itself . That all changed a couple of weeks ago. I posted about the crawfish boil at Flatbush Farm in Brooklyn and that got me out of my funk. The idea of seasoned crawfish with a cold pint outdoors on a beautiful spring day is close to perfection. So to Brooklyn I went.



Real cool, cause Brooklyn's cool...True indeed. Does every restaurant/bar have a garden in the back? That is the buttahs. I fucking love Brooklyn. If only it was in the Bronx. So we headed out to BK to satiate the crawfish jones. Place was dope- dark wood bar in the front with a huge patio/garden in the back. And the boil was boiling. I saw the huge pile of the rich red critters and I was open. The menu offered 3 items- jambalaya for $6, gumbo for $8 and crawfish for $10. I noticed that the crawfish platters were served with jambalaya and that was a red flag. All I wanted was the crawfish, nothing else. I asked the chef and he obliged.



The boil wasn't as spicy as usual, letting the true sweet, butteriness of the meat shine. These were some real plump suckers and as good as I expected. But a dilemma unfolded. What would a HowFresh event be without a dilemma? At 10 beans per plate, probably 3/4 of a pound per serving, a lot of loot would have to be dropped in order to fully quench the crave. So a decision was made- my time was up, peace out to Brooklyn- and we were off to Mara's. It wasn't a question. Yeah, it was great being outdoors and being part of the boil, but this was not a game and business had to be finished.

So the spaceship took us from the Planet of BK and dropped us in the galaxy better known as the East Village at a nebula named Mara's. In these parts the crawfish are in abundance and amiably coexist amongst the weirdos and hipsters.



Shit was simple. Crawfish, oysters and Abita. A dozen Louisiana oysters for $6. Probably the best oyster deal in NYC. Large, fresh, sweet, and slightly briny. Horseradish and hot sauce. H squared. Delicious. Another dozen could have easily been handled, but the crawfish were on deck.



If you look in the bucket, you will notice there is no corn, potato or mushroom. As stated earlier, this was strictly business and we wanted no distractions. We dove right in. 3 lbs for $20. The best (and only) deal in NYC. The boil was spicy. Way more intense than at Flatbush Farm. But like the seasoned vets we are, we adapted to the circumstances. Just needed to sip from the pint glass a little more often. That's what pitchers are for. I think we were drinking Abita Andy Gator. Shit was like champagne.



This was near prime season so the crawfish were of ample size. Tails measuring close to 2 inches. Hardly any straight or uncoiled. This was a live and healthy bunch. The 3 lbs went down quick. I forgot how much I loved this. A shame it took me so long to partake.



I don't know many people that eat crawfish, so the numbers are skewed when we talk about preferences. Everybody eats the tail. Of course. But what about the head? I suck the head, pause, to get whatever boil is chilling in there. But more than that, I dig my finger up in there to dig out the yellowish innards. The freshwater foie gras? I might be onto something. Most people think it's disgusting, but they're scared. Man up suckas.



Unlike a lobster, there isn't much meat in the dwarf cousin. I have a hard time seeing all that good shit go to waste. Since my boy doesn't fuck with the head, I take the carcasses and work at my own pace. It's a very therapeutic endeavor.

Turns out there was a crawfish boil yesterday on the East River hosted by Crawfish NY. UPDATE. A crawfish boil for NOLA 2009, was planned for yesterday and today, May 16 & 17, at SolarOne. Due to inclement weather the event will now take place next weekend, May 23 (3 pm - 7 pm) & 24 (4 pm - 8 pm). This is great news. One, I wanted to mention this in advance, so now I am, and 2, I wanted to attend but was unable to. Now I'm in that bitch. Saturday was sneaker drop day- post coming real soon. For $60 beans you get 4 crawfish pours (4-5lbs of crawfish per person) along with corn on the cob, potatoes, mushrooms, onions, garlic, sausage and spices served with unlimited beer and New Orleans Hurricanes. Outdoors on the river. Watch the mermaids while you eat tail. Holla. For more info click and to to buy tix HERE.



There's a little more than a month left in crawfish season, so don't feel bad, you can still enjoy. Just like the happy camper above. The idea of a HowfreshEats crawfish boil is in the works- possibly late June, so stay tuned. Throw in some Heiny kegs, hot dogs, and hip hop and we got a H-oliday. Shit will be serious.

Crawfish NY presents Crawfish Boil for Nola 2009
May 23-24, 2009

Mara's Homemade
342 East 6th St Between 1st & 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003
212-598-1110
www.marashomemade.com
6 Train to Astor Place, R,W Trains to 8th St., F,V Trains to Houston and 2nd Ave., L Train to 14th St. and 1st Ave.

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HouFresh Eats- Houston Edition

Just got back from the great state of Texas, and for a weekend trip I tried to cram in as much grub and country as I could in 52 hours. I think I succeeded. Thanks to the former NYer Paul for laying out the "Welcome Northerners" mat. Between crawfish, boudin balls, oysters, shotguns and pistols on a 38,000 acre ranch in La Belle, TX, shrimp, 200 pound crawfish boils in the town of Winnie, TX pop. 2,900, quail and eggs, Dos Equis galore with Twang lime salt, gator watching in the bayou, stepping in freshly made cattle shit, venison sausage, seeing the heart ripped out of a just shot red winged black bird, Shiner Bocks, shrimp etouffee, riding in the back of a pick-up truck, and more crawfish, I'd be hard pressed to say I missed anything. Would have wanted to check an Astros game at Minute Maid, but I was a week and a half too early. Also missed out on the rodeo- having too much fun in the country, and I mean country. And I didn't even purchase any old school Astros caps with the H and star.

Hopped off the plane, dropped our bags off and went straight to the Ragin Cajun on Richmond Ave. Anyplace that has a 10 ft. crawfish hanging off the roof is good in my book.

Each bucket contains 3.5 lbs. of crawfish. Accompanied by oysters, boudin balls, gulf shrimp, and shrimp etouffee.


Next day we headed to Goode & Co. Taqueria on Kirby Drive for some traditional Texas breakfast before taking part in some traditional Texas activities, i.e. shooting guns, drinking beers, and watching yankees have no clue what they're doing on a ranch. The biscuits were the truth and the hash browns with sliced bacon and pork were serious.



Quail and eggs. Unbelievable.

Buck Fever. Eggs with Hill Country venison sausage.

Catfish and eggs.


Filled up and headed east to La Belle, about a mile past Boondocks Road and Leon's fish camp and turkey shoot. This was my first time shooting guns so I was kind of hyped. Had some NWA "Fuck the Police" banging out the pick-up. Honestly, bluegrass was in the background since that was the only attainable station. We had an assortment of firearms, Glock 9mm, Heckler and Koch 9mm with the attached laser light, 2 Benelli shotguns, and a .22 rifle with the banana clip. Big shout to Texas Phil and Kevin for making dreams come true.

We had to ask the cattle to leave so we could waste some ammo. I was told it's not proper to shoot them, and that calves demand a lot of money.



The hi-tech shooting gallery.


Banana clip H. Possibly an album cover in years to come. The mudboots really came in handy. Between all the bovine dung and mud, I'm glad I didn't have to wear my Nikes. Truth be told, these are the hardest things to put on and take off.


Texans don't play- 10 year old kids on pick-ups holding rifles. That shit kind of freaked me out.


Riding through the sprawling property we were lucky to sneak up on an unsuspecting black bird. Being that this was educational, thus serving a greater purpose, I choose to not view this as an egregious act of callous murder. Kevin, cousin of Phil, jumped out the ride, and introduced the bird to his maker. Then he proceeded to rip it apart and throw the still beating heart on the back of the truck.



Gators don't like to be photographed. Every time I saw a gator head on the surface of the water they quickly ducked under. Not to be denied, we came up on this one right before exiting the ranch. Unfortunately there was no gator to be had for dinner.


As if we hadn't had enough Texas for the day, we headed out to Winnie to experience an authentic crawfish boil. A crawfish boil entails many live crawfish, a huge pot with potatoes, corn and Zatarain's crawfish boil seasoning, a propane tank, plenty of paper towels, an abundance of cardboard boxes to serve as the tray, white bread, tabasco sauce, butter, beer- unfortunately no Heiny Lights, a huge cooler to keep the crawfish hot, and plenty of people. We held it down. Eating crawfish for close to 5 hours. I learned that if the crawfish tail is coiled up it was alive when cooked. If it is straight out, it was dead before being thrown in the pot and the meat might not be firm.

Get them done.


I almost got sick of crawfish after this weekend, but now that I'm back, I could definitely eat a couple of pounds.


I came to find out that the gracious crawfish boil host Sara, and her father, are direct descendants of Texas royalty. James Taylor White is considered Texas' First Cattle King, and the tradition has been carried down through generations. The family's brand- the Crossed W (looks like 2 overlapping V's) is one of the longest used brands in all of Texas- see the 2nd row far right. There were 3 steer heads on the wall in the living room with horns that measured close to 7 feet from tip to tip.



As if the day couldn't get any better, I was able to play with their pet calf, Tuffy. Yes, they have a mini barn in the back of the house where Tuffy lives. She is 2 months old, and when I asked when does a calf make the step to cow-dom, I was told it's when she gets pregnant. Foolish city folk.

Crustacean Nation Stand Up!! The 2010 Crawfish NY Boil.

I get the boil boiling...

I love crawfish, beer, outdoor events, and spring in NYC. You love reading this blog. Therefore it would only make sense that you love what I love. Transitive property thinking in FULL EFFECT. But this time, rather than talk about what happened, with vivid photos and witty commentary (tell me I'm lying), why don't you come along and experience it for yourself. You don't need to wear an H cap or have any Cam on your ipod (though preferable) to rock with the kid. Just make sure Saturday, May 15th is free from 4 pm - 8 pm for the 2010 Crawfish NY Boil, arguably the best outdoor food event held in NYC. Big Apple BBQ block party gets it in, but this is on the water, less crowded, there are no lines, and money is raised for a worthwhile cause. And there are crawfish, crawfish and more crawfish. Just look at that photo above. Taken at the '09 extravaganza. Buttahfingas.



SolarOne is the location, just south of 23rd and the FDR. People will be looking at you while you mutilate these little mudbugs, jealous they can't partake in the festivities. Beat it suckas!!! Please don't throw the empty carcasses at them. We're better than that. You can curse at them though. All we have to pray for is a beautiful day. Sun, lots of it, and a slight breeze blowing 5-7 mph NW. That's not too much to ask for. $75 gets you at least 4 table loads of crawfish (this was more than enough, basically all you can eat), as well as all the Six Points brew and Hurricanes one can imbibe. If Saturday doesn't work for you, it's about to go down... on Sunday too. If we're lucky we might even see some cats spitting Kanye lyrics at the East River mini-waves. I couldn't make that shit up if I tried. THESE TICKETS SELL OUT FAST SO ACT QUICK. To purchase tickets or for more info click HERE or check below:

CRAWFISH BOIL FOR A SONG 2010

Crawfish NY presents our 5th annual crawfish boil fundraising event!

This year we will be raising money for the organization, Kids Need A Melody, dedicated to providing free music classes, instruments and concerts to young children living in the shelter system.

This epic two day crawfish extravaganza will take place at, SolarOne, a gorgeous outdoor venue on the East River at 22nd Street.

Each day we will be shipping up over 1,000 lbs of live crawfish and cooking them up at the party with potatoes, corn, mushrooms, garlic, onions, and sausage. All washed down with ice cold SIX POINT BREWERY BEER and NEW ORLEANS HURRICANES.

Come join us and eat crawfish for a cause!

Tickets are $75 and must be purchased in advance. There are only a limited number of tickets available so buy now:

SATURDAY, MAY 15* FROM 4-8PM @ SOLAR1, 2420 FDR Drive South
*RAINDATE SATURDAY MAY 22 – NO REFUNDS, NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

SUNDAY, MAY 16* FROM 3-7PM @ SOLAR1, 2420 FDR DRIVE SOUTH
*RAINDATE SUNDAY MAY 23 – NO REFUNDS, NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

TO PURCHASE TICKETS CLICK HERE.

Giddy to the tiddy!! LET'S DO THIS!!

Mara's Homemade Does N'awlins Right.

If you enjoy eating, and by eating I mean crawfish and alligator, Mara's Homemade is just for you. One of the lone NYC spots that do Nawlins' cooking justice, Mara's will leave you full, exhausted in a semi-catatonic state, and smiling from ear to ear. The Abita makes the smiles come a little easier.



To start, we ordered a dozen oysters on the half shell. The menu says Louisiana oysters so I'm guessing that's where they're from. I'm not yet the oyster expert I strive to be. All I know is that they were fresh and tasty, not too briny, and they sparked the meal off correctly.





Up next were the crawfish, mudbugs, crawdads, whatever. This is the main attraction at Mara's to me, not to take anything away from everything else they have to offer. I don't know where it derived from, or what it is about these little critters, but I have a constant jones for them (full disclosure- the photo on my phone is of Mara's crawfish). My name is Howfresh and I have a crustacean fetish. Not available up north, they are flown in 2-3 times a week from the Louisiana Gulf. Cooked in a cajun boil with corn, potatoes, and mushrooms, the only complaint is that there isn't enough meat. Depending on the size of the crawfish, most of them were on the smaller side, you need to eat a lot to satiate the appetite. We started with 3 pounds and took it from there. There are weekly specials of 3 lbs. for $20.

Eating crawfish is a sport. Crack it in half, separate the tail from the body, suck the juice out of the head, and then remove the meat from the tail. Here are some visuals on how to eat crawfish. A 3 pound bucket takes a lot of time and energy. But knowing that tail meat is waiting for you keeps you going.



Up next were gator bites dusted in cornmeal, served with a Remoulade sauce on the side. When prepared correctly, and correct it was, it's delicious. Small, tender pieces. I'm not really sure how to describe the taste of gator, not gamy, not fishy, just good.





Still hungry, we ordered another pound of crawfish, a side of shrimp etouffee, large mac & cheese, fried okra, and cole slaw. Etouffee is a rice dish in a thick sauce with fresh gulf shrimp. This rendition was different from others I've tried as it was light (colored) and only had onions and celery. Enjoyable nonetheless. Mac & cheese was cheesy and flavorful, made with sharp cheddar and parmesan. Fried okra was on point, prepared in the same cornmeal batter as the alligator. If you're a cole slaw fan you'll be happy.

We had 2 pitchers of Abita Bock to accompany this lavish spread. Bock is a seasonal Mardi Gras beer and that shit is delicious. Smooth, light, with a slight sweetness, I can see myself drinking this again. $50 for 2 pitchers is a bit steep.Also had the requisite sweet tea- they add some fruit flavors to make it sweeter.

As a little bonus, Mara, the owner, brought over a shot of tequila so that we could "suck the head." This is how it went down:

Crack the crawfish in half.
Pour tequila into the head.
Add tabasco.
Drink.



Reading it sounds disgusting, but it was pretty good. I was probably drunk.

Still having room in the belly, we got some bananas foster to end the meal in style. Bananas simmered in brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, banana liqueur, and rum, served over vanilla ice cream. Yeah- it did it's thing. I rarely get dessert, but might need to switch that up.



GAME OVER.

Eating is enjoyable and the entire experience should reflect that. Being there the night of the NBA all-star game in New Orleans might have added to the festivities, but the funk is always playing, the drinks are always flowing and the mood is always right. It pulls off the NO spirit without feeling contrived. Even if you're not into some of the mentioned food, you're guaranteed to dig the other creole dishes, or their highly touted Arkansas BBQ.

Mara's Homemade
342 East 6th St
Between 1st & 2nd Ave
212-598-1110
www.marashomemade.com
Hours(call to double check): Mon, Wed-Thu 5pm-10:30pm, Fri 5pm-11:30pm, Sat 4pm-11:30pm, Sun 4pm-10:30pm

The Crawfish are Back, and You Know They Could Never be Wack.

It's that time of season so let's rejoice. My crustacean friends have appeared a bit little early this year, as January-February usually sparks the new crop of critters. You could tell it wasn't prime time as most were rather small, but delicious nonetheless. Unlike the end of the season, there was hardly any mealy meat. If the crawfish is dead prior to cooking the meat just falls apart and is difficult to remove from the tail.

My go to spot in the city for mudbugs is Mara's Homemade on 6th St. between 1st and 2nd, bringing some cajun to Curry Row. To my knowledge this is the only spot in the city that regularly serves them and has them shipped weekly. I used to go to the Bayou in Mount Vernon but haven't been there in years. And when I really get the craving, I call my pilot to take a quick jaunt to H-ouston. But maybe later because my waiter made tasty crawfish souffle...

Mara's was plan B this night. My boy Mark of USA Today fame, no longer the sort of hippy, and I tried to get a table at Babbo, but no luck. One day I will do some fine dining on here. Even if it kills me. So we sparked it with 2 pounds of crawdads. I get the weekly emails advertising specials usually on Sunday and Monday, one of them being 3 pounds for $25. Not realizing what day it was I went with the idea I was going in on the special. But it was a Saturday night and they were charging $12 per pound. This is NYC, what do you expect. And I need this shit.

Like previous trips to Mara's I keep it simple and usually go for the same things. That goes against my credo of trying new things, but there are exceptions to the rules. I can just eat pounds of the things and call it a day. But if I'm going to drop an additional $36 I might as well get some other dishes to fill me up.



We ordered the Gator Bites, which were tougher than usual, and the southern fried chicken served with smoked garlic mashed potatoes. If gator is overcooked it becomes like rubber. These weren't that bad, but after having this dish 5+ times there, this is the first time they weren't tender. The cajun cornmeal batter and remoulade sauce definitely enhanced it.



The fried chicken was good, but not great. It was moist, a big plus, but lacking in taste. I expect big flavors from this place and this left me underwhelmed. I still stand by Georgia's Eastside BBQ as having some of the best fried chicken in the city and especially the east village. There was a decent crisp shell to this though, and the potatoes were on point.

They serve Abita Andygator Ale, a dopplebock on tap and according to Abita it is a creature of the swamp, Andygator is a unique high gravity brew made with 2-row pale malt, German lager yeast, and Liberty hops. Unlike other high gravity brews, Andygator is fermented to a dry finish. According to Howfresh, it's great. A lighter bock that goes down smooth, too smooth. And with those spicy crawfish, the slight sweetness keeps that shit tame. The 8% alcohol content just adds to its appeal.

Between the grub and Andygator I was more than satisfied with the experience. I didn't need anything else. But then it got even better. Better? How can it get any better? Turns out there was a blind date in action to the right. It wasn't glaring until you really watched it. Somehow we started talking to the chick while dude, kind of corn, went to the bathroom- bad move homeboy- you can't leave your girl alone with 2 drunk dudes that devoured crawfish. You know what they say about crawfish? Nothing. Anyway, out of the blue she tells me I look like Daddy Yankee. Daddy Fucking Yankee. The McCain loving Republicano? What? And I wasn't even wearing a Yankee fitted. And she was surprised that nobody else ever saw the resemblance. It must have been the oversized fitted. And it must have been the only time she ever had the opportunity to talk to a gentleman in an oversized fitted. Boo, if you're reading this, holla at me. Cut that zero...

Bottom line is crawfish are back and have landed in NYC. Everybody else is doing it so why aren't you?

Mara's Homemade
342 East 6th St
Between 1st & 2nd Ave
212-598-1110
www.marashomemade.com
Hours(call to double check): Mon, Wed-Thu 5pm-10:30pm, Fri 5pm-11:30pm, Sat 4pm-11:30pm, Sun 4pm-10:30pm

Guess Who's Bizack?????????

Scarface ft. Jay-z & Beanie Sigel- Guess Who's Back


Talk to me man...

Guess who's bizack...Still smell the shells on my clothes.

Awwwwwwwww yeaaaaaaaaaaaah.

They're back baby. And I'm heading to BK to get my eat on. What??? Brooooklyn?!?!?!? Yeah- it is what it is. Howfresh, hipsters and crawdizzles live at Flatbush Farm. Farms in BK? Ho-Lee Shit. Like I'm going to a kibbutz that doesn't keep Kosher. Lovely.

Crawdad season is in effect and I've yet to take advantage of the little critters. Not one mention of Mara's. Craziness. The idea of an outdoor crawfish boil during the first official week of summer- anything over 80° is summer- is a divine gift. Angels, cherubs and prophets snapping tails and sucking crawfish brains. The idea of going to BK hasn't even dawned on me. I'm so focused man. Check me out- practicing my Brooklynese.







The jumpoff will begin to jump at 4pm at Flatbush Farm located on St. Mark's between 6th Ave. and Flatbush. See below for detailed info. It is not an all you can eat. I was told that plates will be served ranging from $6 to $8. I'm just hoping that they're generous with the mudbugs.

Per the Flatbush Farms website:

Crawfish Boil
Sunday April 26th 4PM - 7PM

Chef Browning cooks up a Louisiana-style Crawfish Boil, Sunday April 26th, 4PM - 7PM, outside on the patio: crayfish, corn, potatoes, and assorted creole and southern delights.

It's not even May and the party has already begun.

Flatbush Farm
76 St. Marks Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-622-3276
FARM hours
Dinner
Mon - Thurs, 5:30 - 11pm
Fri - Sat, 5:30pm - Midnight
Brunch
Sat - Sun, 10:30am - 3pm
Lunch
Mon - Fri, 11:30am - 3pm
www.flatbushfarm.com


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H is for Hoo Dat?!?!?

Hoo Dat!! Who Dat!! What's the difference? Really. Tomato, tomahto. Might as well be H is for How late?? Too late. A little black and gold for the N'awlins famo. Had to support a great city. Was there in 2000 for Mardi Gras and I really don't remember much, but I know we had a good time. Drinking apple Boon's (Ghostface would be proud) outside the Boot at 11 am. It doesn't get any better. Plus do you really think I'd root for an Indiana team? You my friend must be bugging. As in "shall we daaaaaaaance" bugging. That's how I was taught the term back in 7th grade by my classmate Jersen. I must say that in hindsight, his example was spot on, though at the time I thought HE was bugging.



Yes, the hat is fly. Thank you. There's really no denying it. Shine blocker status for the H-aters. Ooooooweeee. Black sheen with the gold stitch Olde English H and majestic purple trim. Fuck a Saint, I'm a king in this shit. Crown Royal on the rocks please. 2 cubes.



And the Egyptian silk lining??? Seriously? Hawaiian flag Hermes scarves covering the cranium. It's that crazy. "H is for High sadity" is more like it. A Fitted Hawaii exclusive and probably the most expensive cap I ever copped. "A man's wealth is determined by his headwear," as muttered by Howfresh on February 18, 2010. This cross country and then some shipping is not a good look for my carbon footprint. Need to work on that. Strap a waterproof pack to a humpback whale as he's about to migrate east. I'd prefer a Panama Canal crossing, but if he chooses the Chile and Argentine scenic route, who am I to tell a whale how to swim?



H is also for HSIFWARC. While we're bigging up N'awlins it's an appropriate time to pay homage to one of my favorite things- crawfish. I'll admit that they've been few and far between this season. Had them only once in fact. At Mara's of course. Shipments have been sparse since the weather's been a bit too cold down south. The mudbugs stay bugging in the mud. Might need to plant some up in Inwood Park just so that I won't be lying when I brag about my locavore lifestyle. Yeah, I love this planet more than you.



So let's take a stroll down memory lane. It's May 24, 2009 we're on the east side- 23rd and the FDR- Solar 1 (the City’s first solar-powered “Green Energy, Arts, and Education Center,”) and the boil is boiling. The official 2009 Crawfish NY NOLA boil. $60 beans for Six Point kegs and all the crawdoggies one could dream of. Believe it or not- this glustacean resulted in No Mas status. The white flag had to be raised. Pinching, twisting, sucking, and chomping had to come to an end.



In total 4 heaping table loads of the delectable fresh water treat were delivered by the time the sun set. Some with corn and potatoes, other had potatoes and sausage. Mushrooms, garlic and onions were also part of the mix. The combos were endless. Factorial that shit and let me know the math. When people saw we were potatoed up they tried to swipe a spud, but we weren't having that. Get your own fucking potato.



Just mad fun- social even if you're Hermit the Crab. See how we stick to H's and shellfish. Keep up with me. Don't get dusted. Wound up meeting some good peoples that turned out to be fellow Partners in Grub. P.I.G. status. Don't judge them by their offensive t-shirts. They mean well. And mad Asians- they love crustaceans. For realz. Gnawing on the tiny claws to get out any ounce of meat. I have since incorporated that into my own playbook, so good looks.



Jackpot.



Crawfish Carnage in all its glory.