Charcoal Grill and Used Books

Last year, we grilled out zero times here, and it was because the grill was plumb wore out. The legs were rusted, and the burners, which had already been replaced once, were burning and rusting away again. This year, instead of an expensive propane joint, I wanted to get a little charcoal grill. I purchased this red Aussie grill, made in the good old US of A. After her inaugural run, I must say I am as pleased with the performance of the grill as I was with the price.

I had a few cubes of beef remaining that needed to be cooked from beef-stew day, so I figured I would skewer them and throw em on the grill. I had a bit of onion, cantaloupe, and cherry tomatoes that I skewered with the meat, and I will admit that these items were not exactly perfect complements. The beef grilled okay, though, with a little Salt and Pepper and something called “Mural of Flavor” from P's.

But I also had a few chicken leg quarters that I wanted to grill, and they turned out super duper. I seasoned them with P's Poultry Seasoning under and over the skin and a little bit of Salt. They probably cooked for an hour before they finally arrived at the place where I wanted to eat them. The skin was crispy, and the meat was fully cooked. I do not mind chicken just at temperature, but my preferred style is well done. Taken off at the right time, the chicken will be cooked while maintaining some juiciness. I was very happy with my grilled chicken. I have enough charcoal to last at least into the summer, so I will be utilizing my little red grill regularly.

Earlier that day, though, Janet and I went for breakfast at the Smith Street Diner downtown. We love this place. Everything is fresh and prepared to order, and they advertise “Country-Style Cooking, 8 Days a Week,” which translates to buttery deliciousness. Their menu is excellent, but so far I have only ordered the Mexican Eggs, a huge bowl of grits, cheddar cheese, two eggs cooked to your preference, sour cream, and a little salsa. Stir it up with a little Texas Pete, and I am home. But the kicker is this huge biscuit that accompanies the meal. I am not exaggerating when I tell you it is four inches by four inches, and when you pull it apart, you can see the spots of yellow butter interlaced in the fluffiness. I am afraid that I will never be able to order anything else. Janet ordered pancakes. She allowed me a bite, and I will be on the horns of dilemma next time we go there.

After breakfast, we stopped at Empire Books, a cool little used-book shop near Guilford College. They always have something of interest there, but lately I have been buying food books and cookbooks. As you can see in the pic, I found a trove of tastiness, my favorite so far being the Pennsylvania Dutch Cookery. Pennsylvania Dutch, by the way, were Germans, not Dutch. I also found a novel by Anthony Bourdain, of whom I am a fan. Good day, all in all.