KFC Experimenting With An ALL-SKIN Sandwich...Wait, I Think I'm Gonna Hurl!

It's called the 'Skinwich'...yes that's actually what they are calling it and it's already making me sick.

Wonderfully created by the minds at KFC who were obviously inspired by Hannibal Lecter to create something so disgusting only a psychotic cannibal would want to eat it. Ok, maybe there weren't inspired by Hannibal, but what made them think that this would work or would even be edible? Sure, who doesn't like to eat the skin on Fried Chicken? It's crunchy, salty and delicious but it's usually accompanied by the meat.

You know when you get to the end of eating your burger, when all that's left is the bun, the condiments, the lettuce, tomato and the onions, and you've just swallowed the last bit of succulent, wonderful meat??? It's over and the dream has ended. No meat, no more burger. I think this is exactly how I would fell if I ever managed to feel dumb enough to try the 'Skinwich.' I would feel like I was missing something with every bite...where is the damn meat! Of course the gag reflex inside of me wouldn't let me do it. I'd sit there looking at the box, not able to open it for the fear of spewing right there on the table. What a mess.

Gross. Disgusting. Horrendous.

Honestly, why doesn't KFC just engineer a Chicken with double the skin? I mean they already engineer their Chick-a-dees to be plumper, meaner, stronger, faster and able to leap small buildings in a single bound. I think it would make a lot of sense...don't you?

"Hey Jimmy! Get the mop, another customer barfed on the floor after eating a 'Skinwich'! It sure is a messy one too!" Said Al the manager...

"Man, 6th one today, I don't get paid enough for this shit." Jimmy whispered....

Smorgasburg Is Taking Over! Well Not Really, It's Expanding To Sundays In Dumbo

Exciting news my friends, Smorgasburg is expanding to Sundays! Starting on 9/9 they will be at Dumbo's Tobacco Warehouse in a collaboration with Brooklyn Bridge Park and should continue there through November.

This must also be great news for all the vendors who will be able to expand their business with a second day at an already very successful event. What's really fantastic is that it allows people like myself, a foodie, it gives us a greater opportunity to visit Smorgasburg more often, and not only that it gives us two days to choose from.

Hopefully this will also give an opportunity to some new vendors who haven't been able to make the Saturday only event, that way we will all have tons of new choices, not the ones who are there already aren't amazing. It's just really exciting for the whole operation and I'm really happy to those who run it because it's a testament to all their hard work. Let's also not forget the wonderful vendors who put themselves on display every weekend to sell their wonderful foods to all of us lucky folks.

Smorgasburg Dumbo at the Tobacco Warehouse, which is at 30 Water Street (at New Dock Street)

Eataly Performs Above Expectations, So The Plan Is To Open More Stores

I wasn't the biggest fan of Eataly the first time I visited because when I walked in I felt like I was stepping into an unfinished painting, and I guess that's not always such a bad thing. It needed time to jell, to figure out exactly what it should look like, how it should flow, and by the time of my second visit it had already begun the transformation.

Fast forward to the present where the 2 year old establishment has really carved out a niche for itself in the food service and grocery industry, bustling with regulars and tourists from open to close. In just it's first year of operation Eataly had a gross revenue of $70 million dollars, a staggering amount considering the economy and the average price of goods sold there. Projected second year earnings are even greater at $85 million, so you can see where this is going.

Already Eataly is looking to open new shops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Sao Paulo, Brazil...just to name a few. The Chicago space is extra intriguing because they plan to have even more restaurants than the Manhattan store and that already has seven.

Whether you are a fan of Eataly or not this is really great news for the industry and even the economy. It shows that people are willing to pay a higher price for a premium product, but we are talking about New York City after all. New York is an enigma and just because it's been a rousing success here doesn't mean it will be everywhere else. That's why I think it's smart not to move too fast and by picking well established markets like LA and Chi-town to be their next openings, they will almost certainly assure themselves of two more successes....

The Best Sandwich Shop In NYC Is John's Deli In Brooklyn According To The Daily News

Oh brother, look at that Roast Beef, it's rare and just the way it's supposed to be...

There's nothing like a really good sandwich to make me salivate on a rainy Monday morning. John's Deli on Stillwell Avenue in Bensonhurst has been rated as NYC's best sandwich shop by the Daily News, in fact Brooklyn held the top three spots. John's has been making delicious sandwiches since 1968 and the "Best Hero in Brooklyn, the Hot Roast Beef with Mutz and Gravy," has been at the forefront.

For a mere $7.75 you get amazingly thin sliced Roast Beef, pink in the middle, with two large pieces of Mozzarella, Caramelized Onions and their famous Gravy which is what keeps people coming back for more. Every morning the shop slow-roasts it's beef to perfection, leaving the middle sublimely rare, making it super tender and juicy. If it isn't pink the flavor is gone, so when you buy sliced Roast Beef at a store make sure it's got some color. Seriously though the secret to this wondrous sandwich is the Gravy and if you want to know the recipe you're out of luck so don't even ask.

These old deli sandwich shops are a treasure to behold in a City where things are changing at a breakneck pace. Thankfully Brooklyn is loaded with them and it's up to all of us to continue their glorious tradition. So get out there and find these gems of a time gone by to enjoy delicious sandwiches that you can't get at Panera Bread!

Read more about it:

www.nydailynews.com/life-style/eats/best-new-york-john-deli-bensonhurst-takes-sandwich-honors-article-1.1142090

johnsdeli.com/main/index.html

"Thank You, Subway!" (PS, you'll have to visit their website to find out what that means)

NYC Food News For The Weekend of 8/25 and 8/26

Ahh...the weekend in the city:

On Saturday, 8/25 at 2PM there's the 13th Annual Blues BBQ Festival at the Hudson River Park. Bands will play. Food will be served. Admission is free.

BBQ from Dinosaur and Brother Jimmy's will be sampled.

Hudson River Park, Pier 84 at W44th Street

www.hudsonriverpark.org

I'm skeptical...these types of events can be deceiving in terms of what food is offered. Expect long lines and small servings.

Also on Saturday is, as always, Smorgasburg and if you haven't been well then you haven't been reading my blog. 11-6PM at the Brooklyn waterfront in Williamsburg between N6th and N7th Streets...

Just go already...

FYI...Whole Foods has opened up another location in Manhattan, this time on 57th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. It's a 33,000 square foot behemoth that had hundreds of people lining up at 6AM to be the first to...um...shop for groceries, yeah!

Basically everyone needs to get out and enjoy delicious food in the city this weekend before the warm weather goes away...if you don't you'll be sorry... 

Fordham University Has The Worst Campus Food In The Country

There's not much to get excited about in the Bronx. The Yankees, the Bronx Zoo, the Botanical Gardens and Arthur Avenue...that's about it. Well, there also happens to be a very accredited University by the name of Fordham that resides there, but after a recent report people might not think so highly of it anymore.

The Princeton Review ranked Fordham University as having the worst campus food in the country...in the entire country! Holy moly...and it's a religious institution too!

Some students were polled as to just what is wrong with the food and here are some of the comments:

"There was a grasshopper in my salad."

"Some people found bugs and thumbtacks in their food."

"The food is just bad man, I'd rather eat at White Castle."

Back in 2011 the student newspaper, The Ram, reported that the NYC Health department had cited mice, roaches and poor food storage at four of the university's facilities. Boy paying $41,000 a year doesn't get what it used to.

I say screw the campus food. Just across the street is one of the best food areas in the entire city. Arthur Avenue is one of the oldest Italian neighborhoods in the city and has mostly stayed that way. It houses numerous Italian Markets, including the famous Arthur Avenue Market, several delicious bakeries, fresh seafood stores, homemade cheese stores and a bunch of fine restaurants. Honestly why on Earth would you want to eat on campus when all of this is across the street anyway???

Funny Spoof Of iPhone 5 Only Being Used To Take Photo's Of Food Makes Me Think How Silly I Am

This video is hilarious and also sad...sad that I am one of the schlubs who pulls out his iPhone at meals to shoot pictures that I think other people will enjoy.