All Black Everything

Subliminal Message Found in Jay-Z “Run this Town”

Cockflavored Andouille Sausage Chili – VIDEO

By far (for some reason), the most popular page on this blog is my recipe for andouille sausage chili. So, help you guys out even more, I’ve recently made the chili again. This time, the cameras were rolling. Enjoy!

Chucks – Toledo, OH

Chucks Bar, located on Monroe just east of Secor is a place that I have many memories with. The place used to be dive; really dive. We used to frequent the place, addicted to the signature shot of a particular bartender there: More than a Mouthful. The shot was all booze, and so many different types that at least 4 needed to be ordered (no problem). I’ve offered my share of vomit to that establishments sewer.

The menu was simply sandwiches and lots of fried foods. While the fare was standard and greasy, it was expected, and enjoyed. Some two (three, four maybe) years ago Chucks underwent a huge renovation. The bathroom went from a two seater with no doors to a place that I expected a servant shower me in expensive fragrances. The slab of wood that they called a bar was replaced by a fancy schmancy “real” bar. The managers: gone. The Chucks that was essentially our “first” dive bar was gone as we knew it.

We stopped going. The crowd got bigger…and weirder. But I digress. I happened to stumble there for lunch today, and was…pleasantly surprised. While I’m told that the menu does feature some rather mundane food, my burger was done nicely.

Chucks Burger/Fries

The burger was a 1/2 lb patty that had the characteristic smell and texture of a flame grilled piece of meat. It was seasoned nicely, and the sandwich came with onion, tomato and Bibb lettuce (Bibb, really? ooo la la). The fries weren’t as good. They were handcut and cooked perfectly, fluffy in the middle and crispy on the outside. However, the heavy-handing of their seasoning salt really kinda ruined them.

Either way, the total including tip for this lunch was just over $7, but expect to pay a dollar or two more for any other sandwich. The portion was just right for lunch. Lunch was pretty speedy and the place had a decent lunch crowd.

All in all, it’s a good place for lunch. The lights behind the bar are pretty annoying, but those are annoying even when there drinking. Definitely stop in and see what you think.

Inky’s Italian Foods – Toledo, OH

Inkys Italian, located on North Detroit Avenue have been in business for more than 50 years. This is a place that I had heard about on numerous occasions, but have never made the trip over to it.

So, when some coworkers wanted to go for lunch, I jumped on it. I was told the pizza was unbelievable. The secret: an optional meat sauce.

The place was small, had a very local vibe and feel. Most booths and tables were full, a sure sign that you’re in the right place. The wait staff was sluggish, but eventually I ordered a large pepp and mushroom.

I had very mixed feelings about the pizza. First off, let’s talk about the meat sauce. It was delicious. I’m a little concerned that more people aren’t taking the opportunity to place more meat in their pizzas.

The bad: the crust. The crust has a Chicago deep-dish style texture to it. By that I mean it almost has a flaky pastry feel to it. While that type holds up well to 3 inches of sauce and deep toppings, for a normal style pizza such as this, I was kind of disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, the pizza was good. The toppings were good, the cheese was great. The meat sauce was outstanding, but the foundation of the pie, the crust, left me wanting a more traditional type.

Either way, this place is definitely worth the drive, even if it to is a somewhat rough part of town. From what I hear, the lunches are fantastic, as is the standard Italian fare. Come early or plan late though. Our lunch took almost an entire hour and we didn’t have to wait for a table, which you might.

Alice in Chains – Black Gives Way to Blue

Alice in Chains
Black Gives Way to Blue

Overall: C+

Alice in Chains. What can I say? Their Unplugged album perpetually stays on my DVR, just in case I want to watch, and I consider it one of the best albums of all time. Let’s just say that I’m a bit of an AiC homer.

Having said that, I regretfully say that their first studio release in almost 15 years is disappointing. The first thing that gets mentioned is, “Is that guy just not as good as Layne?”

Let me just say that William DuVall is a GREAT vocalist, and nothing is lost between him and Layne. Remember that Jerry Cantrell is still there, and he contributed a LOT to vocals before anyways.

OK, so the album. The album starts off very strong. The opening track, All Things Known, has this delicious dissonant sound that really just almost gives you the creeps, but in a very good Alice in Chains kind of way. That slips right into their first single, Check my Brain, which has a hook that might let it be big on the radio.

The middle of the album has a few slow songs, but nothing that can really compare to previous work. Unfortunately that’s the last decent moment. The end of the album really just drags on. Each song on its own right is decent, but each song lacks any kind of individuality. No chorus really pops out and grabs you.

So, while it’s great that Alice in Chains is back making music and touring, I just really wish their first album in a decade and a half had a little more creativity to it.