You Look Hungry

Scenes from New Orleans best Speakeasy, Dash and Pony

Friday night. Bywater, New Orleans. This is Dash and Pony, a pop-up speakeasy that takes over the beautiful homes and honey suckle scented backyards of New Orleans, dreamt up by an ingenious local bartender, Ali Mills.

Homemade bar, homemade cocktails. Just add people.

Ali mills, tearing it up on the bar.

Even Chris Hannah approves.

The winning beverage of the night: carpano with homemade root beer and fresh orange peel.

The best part is, the hangovers are free.

AWESOME TAPES FROM AFRICA on U Look Hungry Radio

Get ready Heritage Radio friends; tomorrow, Thursday, May 17th, I’m joined by musicology genius, Brian Shimkovitz, the gentleman behind the music blog, Awesome Tapes from Africa.

The blog began after an epic trip to Ghana, (where Brian was on a Fullbright Scholarship for ethnomusicology), as a way to share rad cassette tapes (and vinyl) that he discovered in his travels amongst friends.

He’s dug through endless piles of tapes, tapes, and more tapes, curating and collecting a wide angled canon of African music. We’ll never be able to thank him enough for some of the amazing discoveries/relics he’s uncovered, or his dedication to dusting off broken cassette players/scouring Craigslist for used ones (in hopes of playing them at his DJ gigs.) 

You can see what I mean by checking it out right here: Awesome Tapes from Africa.

(Photo via Awesome Tapes From Africa) 

There’s also this Fader video that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Brian’s African music collection. A short way to summarize it: I’m jealous.

Tune in to U Look Hungry live on Heritage Radio Network tomorrow, Thursday May 16th at 6 pm (EST) to hear me chat w/ Brian about his travels through Africa, his thoughts on contemporary Ghana, a proper run down on some of his favorite African tunes, his re-issue record label, what he’s been eating across the world, and so much more. Hot damn this is gonna be good! 

If you miss the live broadcast, you can always download the free U Look Hungry Itunes podcast (don’t forget to subscribe.)

And in the meantime, pin down one of these upcoming tour dates on your schedule so you can check out Brian Shimkovitz in reel time:

Chef Alex Raij on U Look Hungry Radio

(Photo via gluttonforlife.com)

She’s the Chef and co-owner behind the basque inspired restaurant, Txikito, and the intimate tapas bar, El Quinto Pino. She’s schooled everbody on Spanish cuisine, and then some. 

Meet Alex Raij, one of the hardest working cooks in the biz who’s always got something cooking on the back burner, like her brand new spot, La Vara, the moorish inspired restaurant in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.

Tune in to U Look Hungry on Heritage Radio Network at 6 pm (EST) to hear me chat w/ Chef Alex Raij to get the full rundown on the popularity of Spanish cuisine in the NYC food world, growing up in snowy Minnesota, where her inspiration comes from, and so much more. 

You can stream the broadcast right here via Heritage Radio Network, or tune in at your leisure by subscribing to the free U Look Hungry podcast on Itunes.

On Plate, Still Hungry. Bangkok Style.

Meet Tae, my haute friend who’s figured out early on that living well is the best revenge. A native New Yorker, Tae picked up shop from life in NYC a few years ago to move to Bangkok, Thailand.

Since then, I’ve stalked him (late night creeper style) by visiting his blog, Thwany, as I snack on shrimp chips and read about his adventures; a stinky, uncomfortable attempt (crumbs in your bed sucks to wake up to) at living vicariously.

See what I mean and check out his blog to glimpse into the heart of Bangkok culture, a bustling city that easily boasts some of the best food street food in the universe, steaming temperatures that would make Scarlett O’Hara freak out, and a buzzing night life I’m not so sure I can keep up with!

Tae is also contributing to the brand spanking new London based food website, On Plate, Still Hungry.

Check out his piece on Bangkok street food, as he breaks down the art of mát-bpáak (a knot), a key to mastering the ins and outs of street food dining in Thailand.

(Photos below via Thwany.blogspot.com)

When your finished reading, let’s buy plane tickets to go visit him. 

Tae, your my hero.

Sam Richman of Gran Eléctrica on U Look Hungry

                         I know what you’re thinking. “Damn, I don’t have any Cinco de Mayo plans.” Or, “damn, I have Cinco de Mayo plans… at Coyote Ugly.”

Lucky for you, I’m taking control of your Saturday plans. Here’s what you do: go to Gran Eléctrica, the brand new Mexican restaurant in Dumbo, owned and repped by the crew behind the Brooklyn Heights darling, Colonie.  

Serving up high quality Mexican dishes like the most tender lengua tacos on this side of the border, homemade horchata that tastes like Mexican Christmas eve, and ceviche that tastes so good, it makes me wanna quit my job, become a beach bum and order that dish for the rest of my life to ensure true happiness; in short, this place knows how to bring it.

It’s all washed down with spicy micheladas, refreshing margaritas, and my favorite beer (if a lime and salt are involved) Tecate. 

(Photo via New York Daily News)

The chef behind the masa is Sam Richman, who’s spent some time in kitchens like the Fat Duck and Jean Georges. He’s even stepping up their tortilla game. To see what I mean, check out their amazing tortilla set up below, where each golden gem is made to order. They’ve even got their own masa machine, that freshly grinds heirloom corn masa.

Tune in to U Look Hungry live on Heritage Radio Network today, Thursday May 3rd, at 6 pm (EST) to hear me chat w/ Sam Richman about Mexican cuisine, Cinco De Mayo, the full run down on Gran Eléctrica and so much more.

If you miss the live broadcast, don’t fret! Tune it at your leisure by subscribing to the U Look Hungry podcast via Itunes (it’s free).

¡Viva México!

Nashville Chef Robbie Wilson on U Look Hungry Radio

Nashville, Tennessee is typically known as “music city,” home to the Grand Old Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the spot that invented hot chicken. It’s also home some of my favorite bands, like the Silver Jews.

Check out that railroad picture above; it’s known as the Gulch, a Nashville railroad hub that once ran straight through the city in the early 1900’s, generating industry, wealth, and opportunity. Fast forward 90 years later, and it became a barren spot, a starving shell of it’s past.

Revamped in the early 00’s, The Gulch has transformed into the first LEED certified neighborhood in the south (Leadership in Energy and Design), implementing practical green design, from design to construction and maintenance of each building. 

Four restaurants in this spot have dominated the Nashville dining scene: Whiskey Kitchen, Tavern, Virago and Kayne Prime, run by Chef and Culinary Director Robbie Wilson. To get the full run down on what’s happening in Nashville these days, I’m joined by Robbie on today’s episode of U Look Hungry on Heritage Radio Network.

Here’s what you need to do: tune in live, today, Thursday April 19th at 6 pm (EST) on Heritage Radio Network to hear me chat with Robbie Wilson about Whiskey Kitchen, Tavern, Virago and Kayne Prime, the history and current state of the Gulch, classic Nashville eats, and so much more.

If you miss the live broadcast because you’re too busy cooking up your own version of hot chicken (may God and Mylanta/Tums be with you), don’t fret. You can download the free Itunes podcast version of the episode by subscribing to the U Look Hungry podcast.