Falafel Feud-Gas Station Falafel

What: Falafel Sandwich

Where: Rockingham Gas

35 North Main Street

Newmarket  NH 03857

How much: $3.99

 

Bargain gas!  At $2.49!  What a deal! And Marlboros at $5.99.  And falafel?  You think that you would have to stop in to get at least one of these great deals.

(readers, cue That Petrol Emotion - Creeping to the Cross)  (clicking on link should open YouTube in a new browser tab so you can hear my selected audio track playing, but you will have to click back on this tab to return)
 
You may know of the establishment of my ongoing Falafel Feud and my visit to Falafel King (see Falafelicious! below).  A couple of months ago (pre-blog), my travels took me through seacoast New Hamsphire.  I drove by this gas station and before my tiny brain could react to what I thought I saw on the sign, I drove right past.  I continued driving for another mile, asking myself if I saw it correctly and if my vision was correct, wondering just how good a falafel sandwich be from a gas station could be.  I did turn around, figuring it would be at best fair, but having the potential for being great or at least a great story.  It was fair back then and I thought, being in the area, that I should give it another try.

The answer is still, at best, fair.  The sandwich was not freshly made, but came out of a beverage cooler.  The sign three feet above and to the left the cooler said $3.49, but I was charged $3.99.  As I looked up and stared hard at the sign for fifteen seconds or so, the cashier finally offered that he had planned on making his own falafel at the counter below the sign a while ago and never got around to either making falafel or changing the sign.  He sells them pre-made as you can see from the picture.

There was no lettuce.  The tomatoes were diced and not too generous, but ripe.  The pickled somethings were good, if not a little soggy.  The pita was fair and exactly what you'd expect from sitting in the fridge.  The falafel (fried ground chick peas with spices) was superball sized with a granule size of coarse beach sand and not generous in quantity.  overall sandwich size was small compared to what I am used to at Falafel King.  Since the sandwich was cold, I did throw it into the crease where the windshield meets the dashboard and drove for ten minutes to let it warm up.  Fair value at best for the money.

Points for the something out of the ordinary for gas station food.

I'd give it 2B/6. 

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Just what you should expect for a sandwich from a gas station!  I didn't even have the heart to give it a link to my favorite disappointment song Disappointed by P.I.L.

The Buzzcocks

Buzzcocks photos by FreeEye2

(readers, cue The Buzzcocks - Live) (clicking on link should open YouTube in a new browser tab so you can hear my selected audio track playing, but you will have to click back on this tab to return)

Above link is the Buzzcocks playing in Farmingdale NY on May 15, 2010

The link is a pretty good approximation of the show that FreeEye2, JMar and I went to see at The Paradise in Boston.  The set list in the picture is from the 5/17/10 Paradise show that we saw.  FreeEye2 got a picture of it just before The Buzzcocks hit the stage.  Right after Orgasm Addict, the last song of the encore, I had to battle some underage girl for it.  It ended up ripping in two and I got the larger piece.  After the show, one of the roadies took the set list off the drum riser and came over and gave it to her. She then gave me the little crumpled-up piece she had beaten me to.

The show was great. What else can I tell you?  You had to be there.  The show was 18+ and sold out.  You can see the set list in the photo above. There was LOT'S of moshing.  Being right up front, at least I could push back off of the stage.  There was even some crowd surfing and the kids were not kicked out, just escorted back into the crowd on the side of the stage.  Thanks to the Paradise stage for keeping things fun, punk rock and not too crazy.  I can link you here though for a real review.

Dollyrots photo by JMar

The opening band was The Dollyrots.  They were great!  (Full disclosure, JMar went to high school with Chris, the drummer.)  The songs got the whole crowd moving and Kelly had great stage presence. (More disclosure, Chris got us into the dressing room and Pete Shelley asked me if I was thirsty and got me a Guinness)  Thanks Chris, Kelly and Luis!!!!  And you too JMar!

Hot Wiener Battle-Fairhaven

What: 3 Dawg Pack (3 Dogs, Small Fries, Small Soda)

Where: Naughty Dawgs

224 Huttleston Avenue

Fairhaven MA

How Much: $8.50
  

(readers, cue The Stoogies - I Wanna Be Your Dog) (clicking on link should open YouTube in a new browser tab so you can hear my selected audio track playing, but you will have to click back on this tab to return)

This day's travels took me to Fairhaven (just east of New Bedford) in southeast MA.  I had some extra time and there are no Banh Mi spots that I know of in SE MA and I love a good Hot Wiener.

A Hot Wiener is a hot dog with mustard, onion, celery salt and "Coney sauce".  I first had these in Woonsocket RI at a New York Systems (link is for location in Olneyville).  I have only seen these around the RI and southern MA area.  They are also know as Coney Dogs.


As far as I am concerned, Coney sauce should not have much, if any, tomato product in it,  Too healthy I guess.  The bun should be steamed.  The hot dog should be a skinless and non all-beef.  I prefer a product from Kayem.


Naughty Dawgs call them Coney Dogs.  Bun was very soft/steamy.  Sauce was very good, but onions, against tradition, were under the Coney sauce.  Fries were also very good, if not a bit under cooked for my taste and in need of salt since my meal was so sodium deficient.  Diet Pepsi was fountain Diet Pepsi.  Hey, I got to skip calories were I can.


3 Dawg pack is usually $6.50, but Coney sauce is an extra $.49 per.  Fair value for the money, but when no Banh Mi shops are around, it beats a national chain.


I'd give it 4.5B/6

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I cringe to say anything about wiener below my B scales, so I won't.

Banh Mi Battel-Lowell MA#2

What: Beef Banh Mi

Where: Hong Cuc Sandwich Shop

507 Dutton Street

Lowell MA 01854

How Much: $3.00

Yeay, yeah, yeah...mixed Asian reference. Not a spelling mistake...

Banh Mi. The words give me pause and cause me to wonder just what and where is the perfect Banh Mi sandwich shop.  I realize I have just scratched the surface...

(readers, cue PJ Harvey - This Is Love) (clicking on link should open YouTube in a new browser tab so you can hear my selected audio track playing, but you will have to click back on this tab to return)

 This days travels took me into New Hampshire.  Lowell was on the way home and I missed Hong Cuc last time in a gamble on my ill fated trip to Lawrence.  YM and Taters were out, so I thought I'd bring something home for K and I.

Banh Mi University graduate?  Oh yes!  Summa Cum Laude. Note the white deli wrap and elastic as one would expect.  Bread was perfect.  The meat was there in quantity and VERY tasty. The size of the beef pieces was slightly larger than average.  The beef was thin and long and apparently marinated in a hot sauce.  Plant material was outstanding.  Cilantro was crisp and not one hint of darkness on the leaves, though it could stand a bit more.  Carrots and daikon also very crisp and tasty and there was no onion.  The cucumber was fresh, but hidden under all the meat.  There were even some scallions.  The smear of mayo was a little light.  I asked for the sandwich to be spicy hot. There were plenty of jalapenos, but they did not seem too hot.  Sandwich was hotter than most even without the Sriracha and the mild jalapenos.  The heat seemed to come from the beef.  Sandwich size was comparable to most.  The thing that really hooked me was a sweet taste that contrasted with the hot and salty.  It seemed to be something in the liquid poured on top of the sandwich.  Great value for the money.  Too hot for K though.  I got to eat two for dinner!

Hong Cuc is also a Asian grocery and features bubble teas.  There is a parking lot.  they are open 7 days a week 9AM - 9PM.  There is a seafood market next door.

I'd give it 5.5B/6

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A near perfect score!  Each time I have had  Banh Mi lately,  the bar gets raised.  I may have to lower some previous scores.  While not absolutely perfect, Hong Cuc was just slightly better than Pho Viet, even thought they had the same score.

What: Tasco Brand Roasted Coconut Juice with Pulp 

Where: Hong Cuc Sandwich Shop

507 Dutton Street

Lowell MA 01854

How Much: $1.00

I got this Roasted Coconut Juice at Hong Cuc with my sandwichs.  I thought it may make a nice sweet foil to my dinner.  It was made in Thailand and I passed on the other coconut juice that was canned in Puerto Rico trying to make the Asian experience as full as possible.  K actually kind of liked it.  There were little bits of coconut floating around in it.  I liked the bits, but did not like the juice.  It was sweet, but the roasted flavor did not appeal to me. Spend the $1 on a different beverage.

I'd give it .5B/6

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Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Banh Mi Battel-Allston MA

What: Beef Banh Mi

Where: Pho Viet's (inside what was Super 88)

1095 Commonwealth Ave

Allston MA 02215

How Much: $3.50

Yeay, yeah, yeah...mixed Asian reference. Not a spelling mistake...

Banh Mi. The words glaze over the eyes of everyone in earshot of me...

(readers, cue PJ Harvey - Good Fortune) (clicking on link should open YouTube in a new browser tab so you can hear my selected audio track playing, but you will have to click back on this tab to return)

This days travels took me into Boston for work and for tickets to the Paradise for the John Doe/Exene show for lunch.  I should face the facts and my true motivation.  I've been waiting for just the right excuse to go back to the place that set the bar for me for Banh Mi.  I needed to bring a camera to take a picture.  I needed to have a beef Banh Mi to put it into perspective with all the others that i have tried recently.

Banh Mi University graduate? Oh yes! Summa Cum Laude. No usual deli wrap, but I got the GOLDEN BAG (great for catching all the bread crust crumbs until you are ready to eat). (Yes, that is my usual luncheon dining table in the picture) Bread was perfect. It was crusty on the outside as expected and had that slightly chewy inside that I prefer. The meat was there in quantity and VERY tasty. Meat did NOT have grilled/char marks. The size of the beef pieces was average as was quantity. Plant material was outstanding. Cilantro was crisp and not one hint of darkness on the leaves. Carrots and daikon/onion also very crisp and tasty. The cucumber was long and large and very fresh. One piece took up the whole length of the sandwich. No scallions. The smear of mayo was just right. I asked for some Sriracha.  The added it with gusto. Killer touch. The chili burn was full on by the time I finished. Sandwich size was comparable to most. Good value for the money. A bit more expensive than most places, but still a cheap meal.

Free parking in the (what was Super 88) parking lot.

I'd give it 5.5B/6.

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A near perfect score!  If I had not been to Ba Le (see Banh Mi Battel-Quincy), this would be the standard.  Although I was told last week by Kim at Kim's Gifts up in Portland ME (see review last month) that I need to go into Dorchester MA to get even better ones.

 

Yes, Pepe (of the North) was with me at Kim's.  No, we did not partake our fixes underneath a bridge.  Yes, he did leave the Mrs. and Cheddar at home.  It clouds his mind just as much as it does mine.  Next thing you know, he may embrace the Catholic Church.

Democracy at work!

Imelda Marcos stood next to her son Ferdinand “Bongbong’’ Marcos Jr., who is running for senator, and her daughter Irene, as they cast their votes. (Mauricio Victa/ AFP/ Getty Images)

 I saw this in the Boston Globe today.

I love the picture.  How long did the photographer wait to get this one framed?  Look just right of Imelda's head.

Democracy is a great thing.  You can oppress your countrymen, steal the country blind and years later, after exile, come back and get elected to the House of Representatives.  And you son "Bongbong" is elected Senator and your daughter is elected governor.

Maybe because everyone liked her shoes?

Maybe because people are idiots everywhere and will vote for a name that they recognize?

And didn't the Philippines just elect a big name welterweight boxer as a Congressman?

At least the newly elected President (son of former Philippines President Cori Aquino) has run on an anti-corruption platform.

If you are looking for a great article on the Philippines and politics, read this.

Is this what Iraq will be like in 150 years?

Double Down

What: Double Down

Where: your local KFC

How Much: ?

The Colonel bets big and it pays off!

(readers, cue Nine Inch Nails - The Hand That Feeds)  (clicking on link should open YouTube in a new browser tab so you can hear my selected audio track playing, but you will have to click back on this tab to return)

What is there not to love? Two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (sic) (Original Recipe® of course, why try the grilled?), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel's Sauce.  Bread? I don't need no stinkin' fast food bread loaded with preservatives and lacking a nice textured crust.  Besides, all you people on a low carbohydrate diet are just going to thrown the "bread" out anyway.

Nutritional Info (courtesy of the KFC website):

540 calories

32 grams fat

1380 milligrams Sodium

Will many of KFC's current customer base still be around to enjoy their future sandwich creations?  Is KFC biting the hands that feed them while feeding them?

We will leave that discussion to the public health professionals.

I loved it.  The paper it came wrapped in came in quite handy to hold the sandwich and not get all the secret herb and spice laced oil oozing from the Original Recipe® fillets all over my hands.  Cheese was cheesy.  Bacon was more crispy than expected for a fast food joint.  Oh yeah, I did have some potato wedges to get my carbo quota for the day.

I'd give it 4.5B/6.

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I'd give more, but it might affect my credibility.

I don't know how much because YM went and picked up dinner.  She got a Taco Bell item (since it shares the franchise location here).  Much to my chagrin, Taco Bell has retired the Volcano Box or I would have got one of those also.

POTN has raised the topic about all the high scores that I have been handing out (see the comment under that Falafelicious post below).

First of all, I have only gone to places I like or in search of food I think I will like.  Of course they are going to get great scores.  I trying to bring my great discoveries to you, dear reader.

Second, he has a serious problem with Banh Mi addiction and has not tried any other takeout food in like three months.  And when you get Mother's Day gift advice from from your source, some weird line has been crossed.  I heard Cheddar got booted from daycare because he came to class with some cilantro in his jacket pocket.

Obviously, his rational thought has been affected.  I guess I'm partially to blame...but it is his (or his Mrs.) problem now.

I did not make the Sunday trip to Providence to see PIL with FreeEye2 or Surge and SurGGGe.  I forgot it was Mother's Day.  SurGGGe has an job interview coming up and FreeEye2 had a MD commitment.

I was just lazy.

Music Ramblings

I got to see Johann Johannsson last Sunday.  The show was at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge, MA.  Turnout was light.  I think Crash Arts did a pretty poor job promoting the show.

The show itself was great.  (Disclosure: I was given free tickets by the tour manager for my work at last years show at the Cambridge YMCA.)  Material was off  his last four releases.

Tuesday, I also saw John Doe and Exene Cervenka at the Paradise with my friend FreeEye2. Seating was cabaret style which is very unusual for a Paradise show.  FreeEye2 and I got front row seats in front of John Doe despite getting there a half an hour after doors opened.  The music was a great mix of X and Knitters stuff with a new song written by Exene.  There was nothing off any of John's solo stuff.

PIL played in Boston at Royale (used to be the Roxy) Tuesday and Wednesday.  I was off on a long travel day on Wednesday.  To make up for it, I had dinner with my friends SurGGGe and Surge.  SurGGGe made a wonderful risotto.  PIL will be in Providence on Sunday and in Northhampton later.  I may try to make one of those shows.

All photos from the repective artists websites.

Falafelicious!

What: Falafel Sandwich

Where: Falafel King

1504 Hancock Street

Quincy  MA 02169

How much: $4.75

All Hail the King!  The true King of Falafel.

(readers, cue The Pretenders - The Wait)  (clicking on link should open YouTube in a new browser tab so you can hear my selected audio track playing, but you will have to click back on this tab to return)


You may know of my recent exploration of Banh Mi Battel-Quincy at Ba Le (see below).  I had to try another Banh Mi shop and I drove right past Falafel King.  I felt a bit bad...well, more of a tawdry/dirty/cheating scumbag looking for a cheap thrill and a quick score on the streets of Quincy.  The Banh Mi was great.  I have no regrets.  I got my thrill.  I found out my blind date was quite well educated, polite, confident and emotionally engaging.  But at the end of the day, my steady was there for me, with all the same qualities.

Every other Wednesday is generally Falafel Wednesday as I find myself on or near the south shore of MA with a definite lunch plan.  The guys at Falafel King ALWAYS took care of me and were unusually pleasant (though they may look a bit grumpy).  Ba Le has challenged the Falafel Wednesday notion.  I guess with the 5.5B/6 at Ba Le, Wednesdays are no longer dedicated solely to the Falafel.  Wednesdays will now be wracked with guilt and indecision.  Oh yeah, and offer two great options that I can obsess about for days.  The wait to hump day is a road paved with hunger and up a hill named desire.


Things to know:
The new young(est) guy will not ask you anything, just give the order to one of the other  guys.
The younger guy will ask if you want hummus on your Falafel sandwich.  Always say yes, otherwise it can be bit (only a bit) dry.  And ask for a bit of hot sauce.  His sandwiches are very good.
The owner, not old but the oldest guy there, will not ask you any questions, but will serve you THE BEST Falafel sandwich I have ever tasted.  He seems to work midday and no later than 2PM.

The lettuce is always crisp.  The tomatoes in summer and as early as this week were unbelievable fresh and tasty.  The pickled somethings are great and offer a nice salty and crunchy taste and texture contrast.  The pita is ALWAYS fresh, amazingly soft, yet chewy.  The falafel (fried ground chick peas with spices) is very light and not at all greasy.


Parking along Hancock can be a bit of a bear during noontime.  Just be patient.


I'd give it 6B/6. 

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A perfect score!