Feasting on Asphalt: The River Run Hardcover only $12

Looking for a quick and not too expensive Christmas gift for a fellow Alton Brown fan? Or maybe you just want an extra copy of the cool map. Put together by Alton Brown and Jean-Claude Dhien, Feasting on Asphalt: The River Run, chronicles the second FoA adventure as the culinary bikers traveled along the Mississippi river from New Orleans to its source in Minnesota.

Available on Amazon now for only $12!
Click the image below and stock up!

Alton Brown's Curious Case of Curry Spices

I immediately recognized the spice container in Curious Case of Curry from a Feasting on Asphalt bonus DVD segment.  Hopefully he sent her a free set of salt cellars :-)

Chris Cognac 'The Hungry Detective" on Fine Living Network

Hey Chris Cognac fans, Hungry Detective episodes are currently airing on the Fine Living Network.  If you don't know Chris Cognac, most Alton Brown fans will remember the jovial LA cop from the first Feasting on Asphalt.  His short lived series, Hungry Detective, only lasted one season on Food Network, but still pops up once in a while.  I enjoyed Chris' every day Joe style to that of Guy 'winner winner chicken dinner' Fieri's showboating.  Chris is also a restaurant reviewer in addition to being a law enforcement officer, which gives a bit of weight to his choices and critiques.

Not sure what Chris is up to nowadays.  His old blogs haven't been updated for quiet some time.  Chris, if you're out there, how about an update?  I think Alton needs to find a way to work him into an episode of Good Eats or whatever future road trip he takes!


Wait!  Is that burger on Alton's diet plan?  :-)  Looks like it may contain things from a few of his lists though...

Monday Poll: Favorite Feasting Series

Alton Brown fans know what they want, and looking at last week's poll and the comments from readers it is another decade of Good Eats!  Food Network would be wise to listen to its long time viewers when it comes time to decide on their lineup.  Of course, it shouldn't take a genius to realize that people started watching Food Network because the shows were about cooking and not reality gameshows.

Due to the popularity of last week's poll, Monday is now Alton Brown Poll Day!  Every Monday I'll come up with something new for you, my wonderful readers, to vote on.

It's the height of summer.  People are packing up their cars, trucks, RVs, boats, and motorcycles and hitting the road.  What better time to pul out the Feasting on Asphalt DVDs, grab a cool drink, and plot my next vacation?  So, this week's poll is: What is your favorite Feasting series?  As for myself, I'd rank them in the same order they appeared.  The first FOA is definitely my favorite.  The amount of ground they covered, the seamless soundtrack, and the fun they had along the way really made the show.  My favorite part was Alton's narration on the bonus feature with the DVD set.  It really opened up a window into not only what he was thinking in terms of producing the show, but also how he actually felt during the trip; his hopes, fears, doubt and relief.

I'm going to dig out my DVDs now, so hop on over to the lft there and vote on your favorite FOA series.  And, as always, feel free to post a comment or two.

Alton Brown Videos

There are some good videos over at Serious Eats featuring Alton brown.  On this Chewing the Fat series we get some insight from Alton on donuts, fried chicken, and his thoughts on the connection of race and class to food among other topics.  These sessions are intermixed with clips from Feasting on Asphalt II and, obviously, the inspiration behind the discussions.  Damn!  It makes me want to sit in from of the tube and watch the entire FOA series again

p.s.  If you were as dissappointed as me about the lack of Alton commentary on the FOA II DVDs, this may help make up for it in some small way.
 

Alton Brown and Chris Cognac versus the Monster Burger

A friend asked me about the picture I posted of the police officer attacking Alton Brown with a giant hamburger.  I had a good laugh; I guess it does look a bit like a case of food police brutality.  I'm sure most of you recognized the scene from the final day of Feasting on Asphalt, though some may not be familiar with the details.  The burger is the Monster Royal from B&R Old Fashion Burgers(FOA clip on their site)and the officer is Chris Cognac.

Chris is a full time police officer in the LA area and also a popular food critic writing reviews for the local newspaper and other sources.  He also hosted the Hungry Detective series on Food Network and has been on Iron Chef America; reruns of HD air intermittently during the morning hours.  I had a chance to talk to him on a Good Eats forum and he was as friendly and genuine as he appears on TV.

Feasting on Waves Locations

There is an extensive list of the locations visited in the Feasting on Waves series on Alton Brown's website for all who are interested.

http://www.altonbrown.com/adventure/knowledge/fowLocations.html

Feasting on Waves: Catching up

I was pleasantly surprised with the third installment of Feasting on Waves.  Not only did they get rid of a lot of the unnecessary travel clutter, but the parts of it they did show were more fluid and cohesive.  The content was also presented in a way that you could actually follow and Alton Brown himself was in much better form.  Ironically, this was the episode in Anguilla for which I found out they had made arrangements with the local tourist board.  Maybe that was what was needed to get this show rolling; more of a plan.

My favorite part was the hydroponic garden at the Cuisinart resort which reminded me of something you'd see on Good Eats; learning something new about food other than just how to cook it.  The lobster roast was also enjoyable from a Feasting series perspective in that it brought out the group mentality of the adventure.  No longer was it just Alton Brown with a hand-held camera; now it is about a group traveling in search of good, local food.  The essence of the Feasting theme.

Feasting on Waves: The Plan

Well, as many of us have noticed, Feasting on Waves definitely has a more 'planned' feel than the wandering based on tips and suggestions seen in Feasting on Asphalt.  Today I ran across this article in an Anguilla news site that mentions how their tourism board and a NY public relations company set up the FOW team visit.  This just reinforces my opinion that Feasting on Waves should have been more removed from the Feasting line and marketed as a different type of series.

Click here to read the article

Feasting on Waves: Episode Two

Well, still not feeling the 'open road' sense from the Feasting on Asphalt series with this take.  It seems more like an unedited version of a 'Best of Caribbean Local Cuisine' show with all of the disjointed travel.  Maybe it would be better without the traveling aspect since there is no flow.  In FOA there was a sense of a group of guys on a road trip; seeking out adventure and classic road food.  With this series there is not really a group feel; just Alton being obnoxious and interrupting the people he's interviewing; seems a bit impatient and left out trying to hold his own.  Doesn't seem himself; as in comfortable self or anywhere near Good Eats self.  [Weather's bad, he's got a printed off piece of paper of things he'd like to see while dressed up as a stereotypical American tourist with a video camera]  A visit from Deb Duchon would do this series well and slow the pace down.  I don't feel I remember much of what I just watched.  Not that it isn't interesting, but it's just too random.  How many islands were in this episode?  I lost track.

Feasting on Waves: Sugar on Isle One

In the bonus disc feature of Feasting on Asphalt Alton expresses his concern that he will not be able to find the old Mom & Pop or roadside eateries they went out in search of for the first foray of the FOA series.  Luckily there are still many of those old joints still around.  However, after watching the first episode of Feasting on Waves I began to wonder if he was running into the exact problem he was worried about the first time around.  There seems to be an awful lot of time spent on the logistics of the trip and not as much variety in the way of local food.  Despite the seeming lack; there were some interesting meals.  The most interesting to me was the roadside tent under the mango tree.  It doesn't get much more local than that!  It reminded me of all the local farms in my area who have little tables and stands set up during harvest right now.  For now I reserve my judgment of the series since only the first episode is out.  For Alton's sake; I hope the rest of the trip goes better in terms of finding true local cuisine.

As for mobility, it definitely has a different flavor from the FOA series.  Instead of being independent and able to travel wherever they please and having the ability to dart off in another direction on a tip; they are bound to the boats and vehicles of others.  In my mind there was the impression that Alton and the crew would have chartered a single boat and cruised around an area of the Caribbean.  Now I don't know if the boats they went aboard in the first episode will be their mode of transport for the rest of the series, but the venture didn't have a very cohesive feel at the start.  Intro on a boat, then they are walking around, then they are in a van, etc.  We'll see what happens next.  I really enjoy the FOA series and hope FOW improves.

p.s.  I miss having Jean-Claude on the show.  He's a bit of a character and definitely added to the entertainment value, as well as the wonderful photos!

Alton Brown: Kitchens of the Future

In preparation for the first episode, or just as holiday week filler, Kitchens of the Future airs Saturday night at 9:00pm EST.  It's an hour long show from 2004 hosted by none other than Alton Brown.  How the heck did I miss this?!  I've been watching Good Eats and anything else Alton for years and somehow this one got past me.  The Food Network description mentions the Jetsons; sounds right up Alton's alley!  So, for those who have to get up early on Monday and don't want to stay up late Sunday night for Feasting on Waves, or you are stuck at home working on a Saturday night like myself, this will give you something to tie you over until FOW re-airs later in the week.

Feasting on Waves

The next installment of Alton Brown's Feasting series is coming!  Feasting on Waves begins airing in September on Food Network.  The first episode will run Sunday night, September 7th, at 10:00pm EST.  Not a very good time slot for a new series, but it will air again on a more reasonable Wednesday night (10th) at 8:00pm.  After just watching Feasting on Asphalt 1 and 2 a few times; I'm pretty geared up for this one.


Food Network link to FOW show information

Alton Brown site link for FOW linkage

Feasting on Asphalt 2 Map

I've been working on a Feasting on Asphalt 2: The River Run map in Google Maps.  So far I have made it from the Gulf Coast to Popeye's statue plotting all of Alton's stops along the way.  I'll try to trace their road course when I find a little extra time, though judging by the Memphis to Chester leg I'll have to do some guessing in parts.  Please feel free to check it out and add any comments/suggestions for improvements or things I left out.  FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE MAP

P.S.  I'll start working on an FOA 1 map when i finish this one.  I started with the second season since all of the places were listed int eh book along with their GPS coordinates.  I'm currently watching FOA1 again and jotting down notes and coordinates.

Feasting on Asphalt: The Lost Road

When Alton Brown says that you will never see anything worth stopping for on the Interstate he may be close to the mark, but then again there may be things you don't want to get caught up in on the back roads.  I ran across this article on Yahoo news this morning about a town having to institute a 24 hour curfew; apparently they are plagued by drug deals and random violence from assault rife toting criminals.  The town is Helena-West Helena in Arkansas.  I sat for a minute trying to figure out why that sounded so familiar.

Finally it hit me; wasn't that where the drive-through donut shop was in Feasting on Asphalt?  Or was it Ray's Dairy Maid?  I'm pretty sure that was one of those.  Whether I remember the correct place or not, it is an interesting additional perspective on Alton Brown's Mississippi journey.  It serves as a reminder that while it can be a great experience to hop off the freeway and explore some new territory, you might not find exactly what you are looking for.  Living near Detroit I know this all too well.  You had better know what exit you need to take to your destination in that city or you might end up on some street where the locals are hostile to you.

Here's a link to the Yahoo article

Feasting on Asphalt 2 Makes a Comeback

After my initial disappointment with the lack of director's comments or much additional material in the FOA2 box set I have returned to view the series in its entirety.  Why the change of heart?  Well, I have been reading the companion book and gazing longingly at the pictures of roadside food joints. Feasting on Asphalt has also become a new influence on my lifestyle this week.

When my daughter was born fifteen weeks ago we quickly discovered that my Saturn VUE was not quite up to the task of hauling her and her gear along for anything other than a trip to Target; and even that was pretty cramped if my wife wanted to sit next to the car seat in the back.  Reluctantly I have began shopping for a larger vehicle.  In what was a boring task of looking at bland hulking SUVs, minivans, and crossovers I, for the first time, could not get excited about car shopping.  Then it all changed....

After a good dose of FOA and planning for future cross country trips to out of the way places I drove by the Ford dealer and something caught my eye.  There was a new Ford Flex parked out front.  The first thought that entered my mind was 'road trip!'  It's sleek lines and old wagon looks spoke to me.  I could picture myself rolling up to a donut shop in Mississippi in that thing.  The next day I was back with my wife and daughter in tow.  We looked it over, took and drive, and are ready to order one.  The nostalgia of the FOA series just opened up a new adventure for me.

Feasting on Asphalt: River Run DVD Shocker

So, last night I finally get a chance to sit down and watch the copy of Feasting on Asphalt 2: The River Run that has been protecting part of my DVD player from dust for three months.  Yes, even Alton Brown takes a back seat to my three month old :-)

I pop in the first DVD and the menu doesn't have a listing for the director's 9AB's) commentary.  OK, so I pull out the other tow discs: nothing!  What?!  That was the best part of the first FOA set and the main reason i went out and bought the box set.  OK, i see 'deleted scenes' on the menu; let's check that out.  Even more disappointment, there are only a few minutes of unseen footage that never really needed to be seen.  It's not like the first set where there are hours of new footage with Alton's commentary.

I was looking for some real substance in this box set, something more personal from AB that really made me like the guy more as a person and respect the effort he puts into his productions.  Well, let's just say I had to crack open a beer and start watching the director's commentary from the first season of FOA to ease my mind.

Good Eats Tuna

I can't say that I'd go through the trouble of finding specialized canned tuna, but it was a good attempt by Alton Brown to utilize everyday foods.  The tuna dressing sounds good; I'd probably use it for a cracker dip and add a little hot sauce.  The croquettes remind me all too well of salmon patties which I can't stand, but I'm sure the taste would be more along the lines of the tuna dressing with crackers with panko crumbs added.  I was hoping for one of my old, simple, favorites: cream tuna on toast.  You can easily get by with 'regular' tuna and it might have been a good demonstration of making a basic white sauce.

On the entertainment side this episode was a hit.  The Charlie Tuna knock-off was brilliant and really added to the informational dialog.  The twin Alton MIBs, coupled with the pregnant lady chowing down on potato chips (my wife was in that state not too long ago), was a great way to go in spilling the story on mercury instead of just a short interlude.  I also detected some Popeye themed music in the background which instantly made me think of Jean Claude trying to stomach the canned spinach in The River Run!

On the scale of creativity, science, and pure entertainment we've come to expect in a Good Eats episode: I'd rate this one pretty high.  The culinary aspect could have used a little improvement; I know Alton can do better than tossing together a salad.

p.s.  I'm still fighting my Dutch baby addiction which has lately been strengthened by my new iced coffee addiction :-)

Alton Brown Hits the Road: Feasting on Asphalt 2 Marathon

Food Network is airing a Feasting on Asphalt 2: The River Run marathon this Saturday starting at 7PM EST. Here's where the advantage of having a newborn kicks in: I'll be stuck in front of the TV until the wee hours of the night and have a valid excuse for watching all six hours :-) Actually, I'll use it as an excuse to start in on the DVD version. I'm excited to see what extra material is in there. The first season had a few good stops that didn't make it to the final version.

Alton Brown has His Reasons

My FOA2: The River Run DVD set arrived today! Ironically, I finally was able to start reading the accompanying book yesterday. Within the first page I was reminded why I like Alton Brown so much: he has reasons for his work other than fame or money. Of course, fame and money would motivate most people to work harder to achieve their goals, but Alton seems to be pushed along by something a little deeper (though I do have question the old Miller Lite ads).

Why did Alton Brown set out on his journey to find family diners and local joints that aren't plastered on the interstate billboards: because those establishments have long been a part of our traveling culture and are disappearing only to be replaced by generic fast food and non-regional restaurants. I can identify with this purpose. I too remember sitting in the backseat of my grandparents' Impala cruising across Michigan during the summers of my youth; stopping in tiny little towns along the way for donuts or an egg salad sandwich. Maybe in a few years I'll have a bit of time to retrace my steps and see what is left out there.

Since I will starting to work part-time from home in a few weeks and spending the rest of my time changing diapers and sitting in front of the TV with my little Angel cradled in my arm; I plan to take advantage of the situation for a full-blown FOA review. Starting with the first season and proceeding throught he second and the book I would like to take a second look into Alton's mind and write up some reviews/my thoughts on Alton and the foodie adventures. If I'm lucky it will be finished by the time FOA3 debuts!

If you haven't picked up either DVD set I highly recommend ordering them. The voice-overs Alton provides and all of the extra footage really gives a deeper insight into Alton Brown as a person and how extensive and difficult the task really was.