LOOK AT THIS CAKE

May 5, 2008

 

Have a look at this beautiful motherfucking cake. It was last seen in Taiwan, like 3 years ago, on a classroom desk. I don’t know where it is now, probably returned to the earth like most food.

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Quick Bite: The Cheesecake Factory and Asia

May 5, 2008

I had a conversation about The Cheesecake Factory over the weekend, pondering exactly why the place is so popular, especially amongst Asians. I mean the place boils down to a high class Sizzler, featuring an above-average dessert menu for those whose 5 pounds of entree didn’t satisfy. It’s an expensive restaurant, but eating there doesn’t really represents baller status. To boot, their cuisine is lacking in any sort of identity, serving up such culturally-vague recipes that boil down to meat + starch + sauce. 

Maybe the key to understanding why people eat at the Cheesecake factory is this neutral, non-commital dining philosophy. Getting a large group to agree on a place to eat is difficult, so why not take them to a place that doesn’t define it’s cuisine whatsoever? And everyone loves cake (especially asians (see previous post)). If you’re looking for a place to get full and that resembles an adult version of Chuck-E-Cheese, why not head to the Cheesecake Factory (or PF Changs for that matter).

The thing is, this distinctly American style of restauranteuring is wildly popular in Asia, China espeically.  I remember there being a dozen places pretty similar to cheesecake factory, serving pseudo-American food based around dessert options with a classy yet family friendly atmosphere. If the portions were reduced a bit, I think an Asian chain of the store would do pretty well!

Maybe the NBA should broker a deal with the owners of TCF and push hard for expansion. According to this post, basketball players LOVE the cheesecake factory. It’s like the new Benihana’s! And since David Stern gets wet every time you mention China, getting TCF established in Asia would be a huge step in at least getting the players interested in going across the Pacific.

There’s no place like home. Or at least a chain representation of “home.”

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Torchy’s Tacos in Austin, TX

May 4, 2008

On to Austin for my first non-Seattle food expedition!

The first thing I did in Austin was buy a burrito. I haven’t had a really really great burrito since going down to San Diego like 6 years ago. I mean the taco trucks in Seattle are alright and everything, but this is Texas! This isn’t child’s play.

So the first stand I found in downtown Austin was this grungy, blue brick building in the middle of the strip. Torchy’s Tacos barely has any seating room inside, and a large window to cater to a large line of hungry hipsters. There’s a good amount of garbage all over the ground, no doubt because of the constant business they’ve had since everyone’s hangovers started wearing off. I ordered at the window, the food wait was about 20 minutes. Not bad, considering the line.

I got a spicy chicken burrito with the fixin’s. It had good heft to it, and I enjoy the natural looking tortillas with the toast bubbles. The chicken’s spicy marinade wasn’t spicy enough. Shame on you, Texas. Sorry I don’t have a picture of the burrito innards, I ate it too fast.

My cohort was not happy with her “messy” burrito, I don’t think she was prepared for the amount of mess. It looked delicious to me.

She also got a soft taco. Looks good! But not extraordinary. Beans, meat, cheese, ho hum. I paying to be impressed!

So my introduction to Austin street food was “pretty great,” but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect to be blown away. Also disappointing was how expensive it was. I hope these were SXSW prices because if I pay six dollars for a burrito it better have a fancy-sauced meat in it or weigh as much as a small dog.

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Posted by hojodimsum