Howfresh Will Get It Popping Again.

I slacked but I'm back. And I got theme music today. Making the internet rounds over the last couple of days, Papoose is back with "Get it Poppin' Again." An upbeat, finger snapping, head nodder that has been on repeat since the H-Pod got it's hands on it. 50 times in a row might have been too much, but it's a refreshing new track and Pap is very listenable on it. For all you that have been turned off with his pseudo-academic lyrics and off-on flow, this should make you a believer once again. Sounds like a Swizz joint, who has been stepping his game up lately. I assume Remi would be on the joint if she wasn't upstate eating balogna sandwiches. Good looks for 2dopeboyz for the treat.

Papoose- Get it Poppin' Again

HowfreshEats Stacks (Potato) Chips Like Hebrews, Vol. 2.

Disclaimer: I am not a potato chip expert. I used to love eating them. I still do, but as I try to lose some weight and become a walking statue, chip eating will have to take a backseat. I no longer eat chips with ice cream. That's way too much fat fuckery right there.

I'm back on my potato. And I feel like shit. Who wants to eat all these chips at midnight on a Tuesday?? I do. Not really, but I've been delinquent with my posting and needed colors and a lot of pics to regain your attention. So I punished myself. Slightly masochistic, but the show must go on. In case you never saw the first installment of Stack Chips, click HERE.

So I've really been on my grind looking for chips. Luckily my favorite supermarket has been stepping up their game so I don't need to search far. Since the last chip off, I think I fell in love with something new. She sneaked (was going to use snuck but that's not proper English) into my life and continues to put a smile on my face. Her name is Boulder Canyon and you will get to meet her very shortly.

6 chips will be reviewed this evening. Almost did 7, but I don't need to be a hero.

Kettle Brand Krinkle Cut Buffalo Bleu

I should have learned my lesson last time with the Krinkle Cuts. I must have saw the K and just thought it was Kettle. I really don't care for the thickness of the Krinkle cut. Too crunchy and too much potato. Putting that to the side, the flavor is interesting, and there's a lot of it. There's a smoky spiciness, with a slight sweetness at the end of the bite. You can sense the blue cheese but it's very minor. This product contains milk for the lactose intolerant. I will have to pass on these and any other Krinkles in the future.

Kettle Brand Sea Salt & Vinegar

Now this is the proper Kettle chip. Light and thin with a nice bite to it. These have a great taste. Not too abrasive with the vinegar, just the correct amount of tang. The salt cuts the vinegar and you're left with a nice balance of flavor, almost a sweetness. While I still prefer the Lay's Kettle a bit more, these will definitely be purchased again.

Miss Vickie's Simply Sea Salt

A pleasant chip. Smaller bite sized slices of potato with a nice crunch. The potato taste is strong, with a peanuty essence at times- though it's cooked in sunflower oil. There isn't much salt on these, mellow on the pallet. For an everyday chip, these will suffice. It doesn't wow you, but it won't disappoint either.

Boulder Canyon Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper

I'd like to introduce everybody to my new squeeze, Boulder Canyon- don't be shy baby, they won't bite. Haha. She's just as new to this as me. But the feelings are so strong. Sometimes too strong, that you want to hit the brakes, but all you'd be doing is hurting yourself. What am I talking about?????? I don't know, but Boulder Canyon is levels above the competition. The quality of the chip is unparalleled to any I've had. Never too big to bite, the crunch is tremendous. And the taste of the potato has such a pleasant sweetness, absent in most other brands. They just appear to use better ingredients and it shows. This particular chip has nice sized, visible pepper flakes on each chip. I love pepper, so it works for me. The salt, pepper and sweetness provide a potato chip experience like no other. Over the weekend I (my fam and me) knocked off a Malt Vinegar and Sea Salt bag- just as delicious, and gives the afore mentioned Lay's Kettle a true run for its money. Only complaint is that I've only seen 5 oz. bags. And for $3, I'd like a little more potato.

Pringles Ranch

I've been reading that Howfresh was a chip snob. Only fucking with artisanal chips cooked in cast iron pots from the Medieval Ages. I had to dispel the rumors. I came up on dollar Lays and can still enjoy that greasy chip. These however are a bit different. And gross. Honestly, I took these home from a BBQ and they've been sitting in my kitchen. Now I can finally throw them out. Pringles aren't even a chip, they're a crisp. After 2 you feel sick. Pass.

Cape Cod Robust Russet

I used to see a variety of Cape Cod chips at my local spots, but lately the selection has been sparse. I saw these and gave it a shot. I never liked the look of the bag but didn't want to judge immediately. The russet potato is darker, as the bag says, and due to the sugar content, produces a darker chip from caramelization. These have a rich potato flavor and are lightly salted. Too rich for my liking. And the taste lingers on your tongue for a while after. Will have to find a different Cape Cod flavor next time. Pass.

If anybody has any suggestions, please throw them my way. Especially regional chips us Northeasterners might be unaware of.

Longin' for some Beach and Lobster.

I must have been living in darkness for the past 20 years or so. Summer came and went and the beach never played a part. Pool neither. The only attachment to water was whatever fish or crustacean I chowed on.

Well, I finally removed the blinders and came to my senses. The kid is a self-certified beach bum. Hanging ten, clam baking, turtle waxing, sand castle making, helmet crabbing, jelly fishing and all that. And burning the shit out of my epidermals. I don't fully grasp the sun tan SPF thing. I want color so I use the 15. I should use the 30. Then I get home and realize I missed 40% of exposed skin. Fuck it. We getting color...

In case you didn't get the title, Long Beach was the beach of choice. I was going to add a "pause" but I'm not sure it deserves one. For good measure, pause. 40 minutes from the BX and you're walking on the beige sand off the Atlantic. Just catching rays baby, just catching rays. I'm like Willie Mays out there. Nothing gets by me. The eastern most part of Long Beach, bordering Lito Beach is pretty empty. The water is designated for surfers so there are less kiddies around. And the waves were in full force. The hurricanes are having a great effect on the tide. I thought I was on Waikiki Beach kowabunga-ing on some gnarly riptides- but keeping away from those ankle busters. I might terminate all sneaker purchases and go in on a surfboard. Get one with a big H on it. That's some lovely shit.





After 4 hours of basking, lunch was a calling. And if you know Long Beach, then you know Jordan Lobster Farms. Located right before the bridge to Long Beach off Austin Blvd., Jordan's waterfront patio provides for some ideal dining. Nothing beats sitting on the water cracking open the sea's delicacy. A one pounder with corn on the cob and cole slaw runs you $18.50. The current deal of 3 1 pounders for $39 is the business but I'm not capable of doing that sort of damage. They come sliced in half so the tail meat is easy to remove and the claws come semi cracked so not much muscle is needed to get into that soft creamy meat. The melted butter on the side is a baby pool of mouth watering fat. And even if I'm trying to trim down the mid-section, I dive right into it.





I started the meal off with half a dozen cherry stone clams on the half shell. Doesn't cherry stone just sound tasty. Mid-sized chewy morsels with a nice cold sea flavor. Add some lemon and cocktail sauce and the disco ball starts spinning. The cocktail sauce is really heavy on the horseradish so keep that in mind. The corn that accompanied the lobster was pretty dry and tasteless. Should have poured all the unused butter on it. Next time.

Jordan Lobster Farms
1 Pettit Place
Island Park, NY 11588
516-889-3314
Monday - Sunday 9AM - 7PM
www.jordanlobsterfarms.com

El Nuevo Ambiente in Inwood- Worth the Trip Uptown (or Downtown for the 718 and 914)

Just because I've been slacking on food write-ups doesn't mean the kid hasn't been eating. I'm hording an arsenal of material, preparing for a blog onslaught in the near future. Keep your eyes open and your stomachs empty.

A mainstay of mine for the last several years has been Nuevo Ambiente on Broadway just north of Isham Street in the Inwood section of Manhattan. I ate there regularly up till a year ago and have made sporadic visits since. Inwood has tons of Spanish restaurants, mostly Dominican, and you just have to keep trying them until you find that gem. This spot is definitely a gem. Being that Nuevo was across the street from where I stayed, I lucked out.



The one dish that keeps calling me back is the Pechuga De Pollo Salteado- sliced chicken breast with onions and peppers. The flavors are incredible. Tender pieces of white meat sauteed with sliced green pepper and rings of red and white onion in a dark garlicky sauce. Throw a little salt and tanginess into the mix and your tastebuds will be screaming Huepa!!! all night.



The meal is always accompanied by white rice and red beans, as well as a small salad- lettuce, tomato, cucumber with oil and vinegar. Their white rice has been consistently on point. Always loose, never clumpy or burnt, and has the perfect amount of salt and butter. Put some chicken over the rice and let the union of the 2 work its magic. The strong flavors of the chicken are toned down by the rice and it's a beautiful thing. The beans, usually an afterthought for me, have a great cilantro taste and are great by themself.



When my eyes are bulging out the sockets I also order the tostones- fried green plaintains. We're talking a lot of food here, but when in Rome... You might not finish it all, but to experience all these tastes and flavors is completely worth it. Thinly smashed slices of green plantain cooked to a nice golden hue. Crispy on the outside with a chewy, pasty inside. Make sure they throw some salt on them- Throw some salt on that bitch- and potato chips will be so last year. Sometimes they have a garlic dipping sauce which is highly recommended, but if not, just dip the tostones in the juices of the pollo salteado. Es la bomba!!



English is lightly spoken, so if you have any espanol in the vocabulary, go with that. I mean, I scored a 98 on the Regents, so some might call me bilingual. I'm just saying. The highlight of my academic career by the way. The english translation is on the menu, so point if you have to. Really pleasant people and the service and turnover is quick. They have also had the same chef and personnel for the 3 years I've been frequenting- says something in my opinion. The First Class car service dispatch is 2 storefronts away and Seaman cars aka 2 minutes is on 214th St. and 10th Ave. around the corner. The drivers from both companies are always eating there. When the locals eat there, I consider that a testament to the quality of the cooking. The other dishes I've tried, mainly pollo and carne guisado- beef and chicken stew- are great. I've never had a bad meal, I'm just sprung on the salteado. Prices are very reasonable, better yet inexpensive. The mentioned meal including the platanos costs $12. More than enough food for 2.

I have never eaten in, though there are 8 tables and ample space if that's your desire. If the sun is out and you want to enjoy the day and fresh air, get a blanket and head to Isham Park or Inwood Hill Park down the block, towards the water. I think I love Inwood.

El Nuevo Ambiente
4986 Broadway betw. Isham St. and 212th St.
New York, NY 10034
212-544-8080
Across the street from the 207th St. A train stop and 2 blocks from the 215th 1 train stop

Open 7 days a week till 1 am. Call to double check hours.

For a menu click HERE. Some prices might have increased.

Video Music Box 25th Anniversary Concert Friday, July 18.

Cancel your weekend getaway to St. Tropez. Tell your wife the customary "Friday night date" will have to be on Saturday. Tell your boys the Boardy Barn will have to wait.

This Friday, July 18 will be the 25th Anniversary Concert/ Extravaganza for Ralph McDaniel's Video Music Box. A brief list of artists invited/expected to show up has been announced and it's going to be something special. For what Uncle Ralph has done for hip hop locally and throughout the world, the entire hip hop community should be provileged to get on that stage and pay homage. Now we all know that won't happen, but I'm sure a roster of hip hop luminaries, both past and present, will be on hand.

The roster so far is:

DJ Jazzy Joyce, The Crash Crew, TSki-Valley & Spoonie Gee, Luv Bug Starski, Sugar Hill Gang, Joe Ski Love, Entouch, Special Ed, Dana Dane, Naughty By Nature, DJ Clark Kent, Ralph Ray Dejon, OC, Chubb Rock, Jeru Da Damaja, Milk Dee, DJ Chuck Chillout, Jeff Redd, Red Alert, DJ Kid Capri, Nice N Smooth & Special Guests

This is a FREE Central Park Summerstage event. Will run from 7pm to 10pm at Rumsey Playfield- roughly 72nd Street. Since it's a FREE show get there early to guarantee entrance. For more information regarding the concert and Summerstage click HERE.

Here's a quick bio on Ralph McDaniels and his show. An informative 5 minutes.



A little blast from the past- start 40 seconds in.

Good Bye and Good Riddance.

I'd like to announce that the Howfresh summer soul cleansing has officially begun. My purchase of the Alife Sauconys- the sneaker that popped my tire troubled me greatly and as long as they were present in my place of dwelling, the demons would continue to fester within.

Well, they have been sold and are in the process of shipped. I can honestly say I have no regrets for selling these. Not only did I purge myself of guilt and self-hate, but made some money in the process. I wasn't sure if there was a resell market on these, but to my delight, these sold for close to double of retail. In a previous life I would have taken that loot and copped some other footwear. But no more. The new, mature Howfresh will take the money and spend it wisely. On a PS3. I really hope I'm kidding.

Blasphemy.

When it comes to fitteds I won't rock a Red Sox or Mets fitted. I bleed the navy and blue. Add any Boston team to the "Do Not Wear" list. Currently the Tampa Bay Rays are on the same list. If they become lovable losers later this season- they're currently on a 7 game losing streak- a Rays cap might be donnable.

I also will not fuck with a Yankees fitted if it's not navy. Specifically the interlocked NY. For years every color under the sun has been created. The combinations enter the hundreds. No matter how fresh the color or how bad I need a match for some kicks, it just can't be done. I admit, I slipped several years ago and copped an all brown fitted with a black NY and bill to match the Nordic Pack Forces. It didn't feel right when I copped it and that feeling remained. Ultimately I got rid of those kicks- I copped an 11 and 12 but really needed an 11.5- still looking if you got any- and the hat has been sent away to greener pastures- not really, I just haven't worn it.

As shown in the pic above, I spotted a New Era Yankee with velcro on Strictly Fitteds. For whatever reasons, this shit bothered me. I guess New Era's trying to take it back on some Lotto shit. Currently the hat is only available in Japan and hopefully it stays that way. It looks terrible. Imagine how fake this will look in person- the logo must be a good quarter inch off the hat. Ugh. The one great thing about the dark navy and white is that it goes with everything. Universal buttahs. No need to try and get cute.



I didn't realize how many Yankees joints I had- found about 8 in a bag just now. It got a little out of control where the minute the white band got dirty I'd have to cop a new one. Plus they shrunk very easily. The white band fitteds- used by MLB until this year were made of 100% wool. Finally MLB introduced a new fitted made of Polyester with a black band. I can say that these don't shrink. Through torrential downpours and sweat, the fit has remained the same. The bill might have gotten softer and the shape might have rounded out a bit, but the band didn't give. About fucking time MLB created a product that can withstand the elements. The blackband also masks whatever dirt/sweat stains your filthy forehead emits.

And how not to celebrate the Yankee fitted than with a song solely dedicated to it:



I only heard this once a while back when someone forwarded it to me. Apparently this was the shit in the Midwest. Hoooooody hooooooooo.