6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog: OT: 'Cue Crazy

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Monday, September 06, 2004

OT: 'Cue Crazy

I was out -- peculiarly enough -- at a friend's barbecue alla way out in Moorpark yesterday, so I missed the simply astonishing play Frankie and Benjie made at the plate yesterday. Bummer, but seeing as how Richard is struggling with the rotten fruits of a company in chapter 11, I thought I'd take up LA Blogs on their Eight Questions about Labor Day barbecue:

When you do fire up the grill, what do you put on it?
Oh, heavens. Bone-in chicken breasts would be the number one choice, but after that, bacon-wrapped filet mignon, New York steaks, salmon steaks, and the odd shishkebab, sometimes seafood, sometimes more chicken.
Where do you buy your goods (any secret meat markets)?
There are very good asian and hispanic specialty grocers in my area, but we don't actually take advantage of any carnicerias at all. So for the meat, just Albertsons or Ralphs, though salmon steaks (and sometimes other things) we get at Trader Joe's.
Besides your house, where do you/would you BBQ around your area?
I have a semi-regular Sunday-after-Labor-Day beach barbecue that I host. So we go to Huntington Beach and do that.
Gas or charcoal?
Gas, no question, though I keep my old Weber kettle 'cue around for occaisional use. Purists disdain gas because it's too easy, doesn't impart flavor, and gives out a wet heat (more water is created in the combustion of gas than charcoal). But I'm a lazy man, and besides, my wife does most of the cooking anymore. So ease of use trumps all the other considerations.
What is your favorite drink to accompany the grill?
I'll have a glass of whatever wine I happen to have lying around the house. If I've thought that far in advance and make it to the store, a Pacifico, the best Mexican beer available (and better than any of the domestic mass-produced ones).
When you bring a side dish, what is it?
Depends on the host, but usually watermelon, sliced or whole.
If the host burns the main dish, where do you go out to eat instead?
I haven't had that happen yet! Mimi's, if one's available, I guess.
Post BBQ games: dominoes, croquet, bocci or badminton?
We're an odd group: the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" game (a very good game that, surprisingly, was not a show ripoff, and unsurprisingly, is out of print), and mah-jongg.