Brussels, Bacon and Buffalo
I gave up meat almost thirteen years ago (the actual anniversary will be on Thanksgiving). Since that time I have only eaten it once, though it wasn’t on purpose. I was working at a health food store, famished after having eaten nothing all day. We were closing for the evening and getting ready to throw out some mashed potatoes. I decided to eat some, not wanting these veggie delights to go to waste. After a few, it was apparent that what I had thought was potato skins was actually pancetta. The cook had left that part out. It didn’t take long for the meat to come back up as my body was no longer accustomed to handling it (either that or my head convinced my stomach that it could no longer handle it).
Why do I tell that story with this dish? Seems Italian meats have a lot of vegetarians confused. This dish is based on a pizza combo from Woodfired Pizza and Wine Bar. One of my friends ordered the pizza and loved the s**t out of it not realizing that there was meat on it. The friend who was with her didn’t have the heart to spill the bacon.
Brussels, Bacon and Buffalo
(printable version)
-1 bag of Brussels sprouts, sliced in half
-4 pieces veggie bacon, diced
-fresh tomato sauce
-fresh buffalo mozzarella
-olive oil
1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat the brussels sprouts in olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Bake, along with the bacon, for 40 minutes.
2. Line a square glass dish with a thin layer of tomato sauce. Pour in the bacon and brussels. Top with buffalo mozzarella and bake until cheese is melted and slightly browned. Scream “I need veggie bacon” and do it.
The power of this dish lies in the details. The same could be said about the disenfranchised sounds of Hamilton trio Greg Preston and the Great Machine. Playing a fists to the face 70′s version of power rock ‘n’ roll, these guys do it and do it quick. The band has a new EP, Hate to Love the City, which features the scummy “In the Details.”
Greg Preston and the Great Machine-In the Details
If Greg Preston went to the local pawn shop and traded his guitar for a pack of cigarettes and a synthesizer his new sound would fall somewhere around Birthday Girls. Incorporating the aggressive vocals of screamo punk (think Death From Above 1979) and the feet movement of indie dance (LCD Soundsytem) “Blood Brothers” is the kind of song that doesn’t need a gang to watch its back. Good thing too because it ostracizes those it used to love (tell me a closed minded punk or an LCD fan would ever give this thing a chance). Too bad because they are the ones missing out. “Blood Brothers” is from the band’s newest EP of the same name.
Blood Brothers by Birthday Girls
I loved “Street Trap” by CIVIL CIVIC the first time I heard it. The only problem was that it contained no vocals. Despite this flaw, I kept it on my computers playlist. I began relishing those moments that it came on and had me envisioning a throng of cocaine addled zombies dancing the two tone on the greased lanes of an abandoned bowling alley. When Burning Ear reposted two of their other songs, killer instrumentals as well, I knew I couldn’t pretend to not notice anymore. There is simply too much at stake. It helps that their music goes well with Brussels Sprouts.
Civil Civic-Street Trap via Burning Ear
BOB says:
My food comes back up when I realize there’s no meat in it.
Tender Branson says:
Ha, ha. You might need to get that checked out.
Chauncey Corfman says:
Awesome post! I will keep an on eye on your blog.