I like mine bloody...

One could probably hope I was returning to form with an article about steak, but alas, I am sorry to disappoint.  This post is just to let those of you who still appear to be coming here on a fairly regular basis--though a good number of you, I am certain, are spambots, from all the new comments I have about sex cams--that Catfish's Dishes is on a temporary hiatus while I attempt to work on a short horror film called "Checkmate."

Want to keep reading about food?  Then I will continue to plug Macheesmo.  That guy has the goods.

Want to see what I am up to?  Go to my film blog or check out my Kickstarter campaign.

Thanks for all of your support.

-John

Tango's (Review)

The last time I was in the building that now houses Tango's (701 N. Orchard St., Boise, ID 83706 (208) 322-3090) it was a rundown donut shop catering primarily to the bums who'd made their way to the neighborhood by bike and bus to get to the two day labor centers within a block of the place.  I'd seen the area change in passing; as I moved from being one of those bums on the bus to an employed father of two with a car, I didn't often have need to be in that part of Boise, but I did notice the day labor centers move, one just down the street, the other gone completely.  I noticed the donut shop shutter it's windows, and after a long period of dormancy, Tango's take it's place.  Still, I was surprised when I asked the man working the counter how long they'd been open and found out it had been six years.

Italian Fish Tank (Recipe)

As I've said before, fish is something that I enjoy eating but haven't gotten much of a handle on cooking.  Last time, I put tilapia in a packet and trusted the oven to do it's thing, with good results.  Still, one recipe isn't enough to get fish into regular rotation at the house; to be a featured player at dinner time, an ingredient has to be versatile.  Versatile or pizza.

Apple Hazelnut Dessert Buns with Rum Sauce (Recipe)

Just a couple of weeks ago, I posted a recipe created by my wife and the response was overwhelmingly positive.  Her wholesome mushroom soup was just the thing for the bleak weather we've been having, and not one person minded her guest spot.  Seeing the potential to stay out of the kitchen and prepare for the new Magic: The Gathering set release, I decided to let her do the cooking and steal from her once again, although this time it's a dessert I wanted to highlight. 

Atomic Chicken (Recipe)

It's not often I tease a blog post ahead of time as I've been doing on Facebook and Twitter; I also don't usually plan out my blog topics more than a week in advance.  The Atomic Chicken, however, has been on my mind for some time.  Years, in fact.  In "real life," I earn a living as the custodial supervisor for the local college.  Each year in January, before students return from their Christmas break, the various bosses in the facilities department get together for a chili cook-off.  However, unlike the start of the school year barbecue (which is matched by a pizza party for the graveyard shift), there is no equivalent event for those custodians who work at night; it is a day shift tradition only, and until August of this year I worked at night.  Except, that is, briefly at the beginning of 2007.  That year, I joined the day staff as a regular custodian just a week or two before the chili event.  I came, and I ate, but I didn't contribute.  While I enjoyed (most) of what I had, one thing was missing.  Heat.  Those of you who have been with me over a year may recall that I'm somewhat of a pepper belly.  A chili cook-off devoid of spice just seemed wrong.  As fate would have it, I didn't make it to 2008's chili feed; I was back on the night crew.  So when I rejoined the day staff as supervisor this past August, one of the first questions I asked my crew was "are they still doing that chili thing?"