Last time I mentioned the elusive Cheez Puffs, I was totally bummed out that I didn’t have the photo evidence to show you the fantastical product that showcased the uber-cool crocodile on the cover. Well, I went back to the store, and while I didn’t buy any, I got the photo evidence needed to prove the existence of the Cheez Croc. Enjoy!
Such bounty!
Mmmmm
He's So Cool!
And he loves them too!
And it can be yours for only $1.79!!
This afternoon, during our Pathfinder session, I pulled out my contribution to our gaming snacks – a bag of Cheez Balls. It was a bag, as opposed to the well known blue canister with yellow top. Also, the bag had a cartoon crocodile wearing sunglasses on it. Sadly, I did not think to take a photo before the bag was empty and in the trash.
Let me tell you…a page taken from childhood was revisited. It was delicious corn crunch. It was delicious cheese taste. It was delicious atomic orange powder becoming weirdly sticky on your fingers at the slightest hint of humidity.
I think that everyone was pretty excited to eat them, and I think we all tried at least one (before, you know, finishing off an entire bag in maybe 20 minutes). While I am not prepared to make Cheez Balls a recurring item on my grocery list, they were completely and totally a blast from the past bit of deliciousness and I loved every cheezy crunchy airy moment. Go ahead. Buy a bag. It’s worth all two dollars and ninety-eight cents on sale. You’ll be happy you did. 
This weekend, we were looking for something delicious, fast, and cheap….and nothing sounded better than Pete’s Fish and Chips. We grew up in the Arcadia area and so Pete’s came into my worldview in high school. Back then, I remember it being cheap, but it wasn’t anything I remember having to have. Then, in college, I started going to the location on Apache, and that was where I remember discovering a love of fried fish.
The thing that makes Pete’s unique (not that I’ve frequented other fried fish joints) is the Pete’s Sauce. Sort of like a combination of ketchup and salsa or of Tapatio and sugar, it’s delicious – and a small container is served with every combo meal.
More Sauce Please!
Back in the day, Brendan and I used to each get a Pete’s Special which is cheap on it’s own for $5.95. Now days, we just split a Super Special, which is essentially 2 Pete’s Specials with one drink for $8.70. Brendan doesn’t drink soda, so it’s perfect for us. We add in a small side of onion rings, and are out of there, satisfied customers, for $12 and change. It’s important to note at this point that Pete’s is a CASH ONLY place. They’re old school – but let me tell you, it’s no hassle, it’s a happy trip to the ATM to get some delicious eats.
The thing about Pete’s fried fish, lovely little squares that they are, is that they are sort of fried a bit sweet, perfectly crunchy, and dusted with crystaline salt. It’s also just the right size. I also really love the fried shrimp. Filleted longways and then battered and fried, the shrimp batter is finer (texture) in nature than the fish, but it’s also delicious. It’s crunchier than the fish (probably because it’s thinner) but has the same sort of sweetness to the batter and dusting of salt. The onion rings share (what I think is) the same batter as the shrimp and are excellent. The batter fries to an excellent crunchiness and dryness that I prefer to the thick wet/greasy ones found at most restaurants.
As many times as I have been to Pete’s I’ve never tried anything more than the classics. I have heard good things about the Monster Burger, but I can’t say I’ve had one. I have plans for an upcoming visit to try the scallops and the oysters, maybe even the crabettes. Luckily, Pete’s let’s you order any one of the above (or shrimp) for only 90 cents. Not too shabby. So, whether it’s lunch or dinner, drive through, or sitting on the picnic tables at the order up, it’s an excellent choice. Definitely the best use for that $20 you have stashed for emergencies in your wallet. Emergency deliciousness, that is! Check out the menu below and count out your pennies for your inaugural/next visit!
Delicious Shrimps, Rings, and Fries!
A little over a year ago, I found this book called the Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8. Lee. I guess I want to say that I liked the book, but I didn’t really. Ms. Lee is a newspaper writer and so her style is very specific to that (at least in my opinion). In other words, most times, the narrative just didn’t seem quite right. Now, some of the chapters are great, with “The Soy Sauce Trade Dispute” and “Waizhou, U.S.A.” being my favorite. I think I like them the best because I feel like the chapters use her investigative journalist skills to the fullest extent, informing and shaping the reader’s mind, while still giving you some yummy words to chew on. I began reading the book right when I got it, and just couldn’t seem to find time for it, so while trying to finish another book, I sort of slipped it in, a chapter at a time, and while I enjoyed it at the time, I was please when it was over.
The best information from the book involve the business of Chinese restaurants, immigrants, and the history of the food. When Lee begins talking about her involvement in the learning of the information, I guess I began to feel like the material lost me a little bit – I simply was more interested in reading about the food than I was reading about her. It’s interesting because I always thought I was more of a social reader when it came to history, but here I am wishing it was more, well, more dry. Weird.
At any rate, I think that this book is worth a B- or a C+ for now. I am working on a rubric (teacher skillz, yo) so that I can rate all the books I am reading/reviewing equally, but until it’s done, this will have to suffice.
Final word: an interesting read, though you might not like the book either.
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