No. 178: The Mad Greek (Baker)

I don't usually hate on restaurants (and give them the benefit of a doubt of a bad day, especially for one visit) but DANG! The Mad Greek @ Baker serves the most horrid falafels ever. Dry and overfried, there wasn't even any accompanying tzatziki to drown these sad, sawdusty spheres into.

At least I found solace in the fluffy, buttery rice and the lightly-fried pita bread, which was pillowy, crispy and slightly greasy. But really, whose red flags wouldn't get raised when the compliments go the side dishes? ("Oh, the rice and the bread were good!")

It took almost two decades of near-annual Vegas pilgrimages for me to succumb to the siren calls of Mad Greek's flashy billboards, I guess next time I'm on the 15 I might as well check out Peggy Sues 50's Diner too. Or maybe its more obscure sister, Jenny Rose.

Thanks to Tiny Nancer (who recently posted on a similar experience here with their souvlaki & tyropitas) for provoking me to vent and rant a little.

The Mad Greek
72112 Baker Boulevard
Baker, CA 92309
(760) 733-4354

Blundered At-Home Foodventure: Homemade "Truffles" . . .

At least I found out with the test version batch before I make the final stuff to give to friends & co-workers.

Yesterday I made 2 ganache fillings for chocoalte truffles: honey-lavender (with real lavender buds provided by a friend) & banana-curry (originally mango-curry, but market had no mangos), both ganaches turns out to taste great, but were way too soft to be made into a truffle for dipping, even after I stuck it in the freezer! At least my guinea pig friend enjoyed them -

I guess I need to alter my flavored cream to chocolate ratio. As soon as I figure out a better recipe - I'll share with y'all!