Ted’s Hot Dogs

JWise Food, Photo of the Day

Ted's Hotdogs in Tempe, Arizona

Ted’s Hot Dogs is a Buffalo, New York, institution since 1927. Lucky for us here in Arizona, Spiro, whose father opened the original Ted’s in Buffalo, started the Tempe branch many years ago so he could get away from the freezing Buffalo winters. With my aunt and uncle’s 60th anniversary fast approaching, I picked up a 3-pound bag of original Ted’s hot dogs and their famous hot sauce to take with me to California. Our folks haven’t had a Ted’s hot dog in years and as they can miss their old hometown from time to time, this connection to Buffalo will help make celebrating their anniversary all the better.

Stone Cookies

JWise Food, Photo of the Day

Stone Cookies from the Big Island of Hawaii

Leaving the Big Island of Hawaii we skipped breakfast for the sake of a little more sightseeing and picked up a bag of Stone Cookies for a quick snack on the plane. The bag did not get opened until we were in the air – Mmmmm, yummy, these would be great with coffee. Figuring we could buy more on one of the next islands, we were disappointed in not finding even one bag more. We cherished them, finishing the last cookie after we returned to Arizona. These are after all Stone cookies and as hard as they are, one could easily believe they might last forever or at least never appear stale.

It took weeks of calling the number on the bag in Mt. View, Hawaii, before I caught someone in the bakery and was able to inquire about mail order. They don’t do it. But, Aloha Baskets & Balloons in Hilo does. A very nice lady by the name of Sharla gladly took my order for half a dozen bags of these wonderful Stone Cookies and soon seven pounds of the rocks were on their way. These cookies are not very sweet, they may be the most difficult things to chew next to bones, but there is something about them Caroline and I love. So, if you were lucky enough to try Stone Cookies on your recent trip to the Big Island of Hawaii and have been wondering where to find them, try Sharla at 808-935-1939. The free bag of Passion Fruit Butter Cookies was a great treat, too.

Hawaiian Shave Ice

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Tropical Sno featuring Hawaiian Shave Ice in Phoenix, Arizona

Tropical Sno is the name of the business, Hawaiian Shave Ice is the product. Eric Slivinski is the owner and part-time operator of this small stand on the south-east corner of 40th Street and Bell Road in Phoenix, Arizona. Today, Paul Zellner took my order and with glee, I asked for a large 16oz portion with a scoop of vanilla ice cream at the bottom. And now the best part of ordering here, they don’t just feature grape, strawberry, bubblegum, and rootbeer, they have the traditional Hawaiian flavors such as guava, passion fruit, pineapple, coconut, mango, and papaya. In all, Eric stocks 80 different flavors, and with prices starting at only $1.75 for a small and the scoop of vanilla ice cream costing an additional fifty cents, you can bet I’ll be a regular customer so I can re-experience another fond Hawaiian memory again and again.

Making Bhatura

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Mandakini (Sonal's mom) making bhatura (fried bread) for dinner

Sonal invited us over for dinner this evening, and, lucky for us, she knows we appreciate a real old-fashioned homecooked meal. Before we could sit down to eat we stepped into the backyard where Sonal lit a propane-fueled burner to heat corn oil in a wok and proceeded to roll out the dough into rounds. Sonal’s mom is seen frying the bhatura (fried bread) that we would eat with chole (spiced garbanzo beans). Also on the menu, this evening was spinach rice that was served with homemade yogurt and papad jeera which was quite simply a papadam sprinkled with a bit of finely chopped red onion, tomato, cilantro, and a light dusting of chaat masala.

The bread is made by mixing 2 cups of all-purpose flour with 1 small boiled and mashed potato, 2 tbsp plain yogurt, 1/2 tsp baking powder, salt, 3 tbsp corn oil, and enough water to form a dough. This has to sit for 5 – 7 hours before you can pinch off a piece about the size of a ping pong ball. Dip in rice flour and roll to the thickness of a quarter and the size of your hand. Place in hot oil and fry on one side until edges begin to firm. Be sure to press the bubbling dough into the oil, then turn over and fry until just golden brown. Great with chole.

Green Tea

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Green Tea leaves steeping in hot water

It is magic watching rolled-up green tea leaves unfurl and expand as the hot water works to make tea. Looking at them start as a thin layer of little spheres covering the bottom of the glass to floating effortlessly, you are bound to stare half hypnotized until they fill the bottom third of the glass. Maybe this zen moment is half the benefit of drinking green tea.