Did you figure out that I’m on a little break-a-roo here? You did? Of course you did. I’m basically just posting here because I was invited to a Chicago food-blogger meet up this week and feel like I need to justify myself if I want to go. For the record: that’s me making fried gator nuggets.
I’m finishing up my Master’s Degree in word-assemblage right now, slapping a thesis together, looking for a real job. So, I’m mostly eating things I can shove into pitas, anything I can slather Nutella on (spoons work), a lot of Mandarin oranges, and this. The Dill Pickle Coop is my main source of sustenance right now. Go there. Yeah, it’s expensive, but shut up. Don’t go there to fill your whole pantry. Go there to get a lychee/wasabi elixir, some mandarins, and a dark chocolate quinoa candy bar.
In other news, I’ll be performing like a monkey in some readings this month, so if you’re sad that you can’t see my words about food on the internet, you can see me talk them at:
Ray’s Tap on April 30th with awesome peeps like Jill Summers, Chris Bower, Tim Racine, Brian Nemtusak (who has a really scary facebook picture), and Mark Chrisler, who is a serious mega playwright in town that I have never met but expect to be BEST FRIENDS with by the end of the evening.
I’ll be reading at Quimby’s (1854 W. North Ave) on May 4th with local insane genius Zach Dodson (featherproof books) and music journalist/former Guided By Voices bassist James Greer, who is out promoting his book and OH MY GOD also currently working on a rock musical about Cleopatra starring Catherine Zeta-Jones. I’m almost guaranteed to throw up on the microphone.
AND finally,I’ll be reading at Quickie’s (Innertown Pub, 1935 W Thomas ) on May 11th at 8 pm with bad asses like Sara Levine, Matt Trupia, and Jonathan Messinger, all of which overshadow me with their greatness. This is the funnest monthly reading event of all time.
Hope to see you there!
Also, here is how you make gator nuggets:
Stop by the side of the road on State Road 54 in Pasco County Florida, and pick up a couple pounds of tail.
Cut it into nugget-ish pieces.
Let it soak in buttermilk for a bunch of hours. I did it for 5. But 2 minimum.
Boil some oil
Cover your gator nuggets in salt, pepper, cayenne, and then dredge those puppies through some flour, throw them in the oil, and let them crisp and firm.
Serve with Frank’s Red Hot, or comparable hot sauce. Ranch would be good too, but I was too lazy to make that from scratch.
Now you can gross out your friends and impress a bunch of rednecks!
