Food For Thought

Chips Are More Than Common-Taters

Food columnist Bob Leo takes a look back at the colorful history of America's favoriter snack food.

I happened to read that 96 million tons of potato chips were consumed on Super Bowl Sunday. I thought just how many chips do we go through a year ? and how many potatoes does that take?  Well I found the answer differs pending on what side of the junk food war you side with. What I did learn though, is potato chips make up 35 percent of the “snack food” category in all the English speaking countries. That’s not to say only English speaking people eat chips. The Japanese take chips to a whole new culinary level. Many seafood flavors, including seaweed and sea urchin are added to their potato chips. In England and the British Isle countries chips are what we call fries, and crisps are what we call chips. You’d get chippies with your sandwich…

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Food For Thought

Bob Leo Wants To Know, 'What's Going On With Chicken Wings?'

After a lengthy hiatus, the Tewksbury Patch food columnist returns.

Hello again my old friends. It's been awhile. I certainly appreciate the niceties and such that I have been receiving during my hiatus. Some family matters, as well as another project and of course the ever expanding Tewksbury Country Club have kept me sooooo busy.   I ran into editor extrordinaire Bill Gilman the other day and well here I am. It actually came at a good time because I have something important to say, " WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON WITH CHICKEN WINGS!".   Back in the 80's, chicken wings were a byproduct of the huge demand for chicken breasts. As science became more dissecting, the health benefits of this lean protein became immensely popular. Well in order to get a breast you gotta grow the rest of the parts too! Wings where …

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New Eateries Popping Up Throughout The Merrimack Valley

Chelmsford, Wilmington, Tewksbury all welcoming new restaurants.

CHELMSFORD Selectmen approved a common victualer license for Sweet Kiwi Frozen Yogurt, which will be located at 7 Summer Street next to the Animal Haus. The specialty frozen yogurt shop will be Chelmsford's first after many similar stores have started up in the area. WESTFORD Ever wonder if the produce available at the local farmers’ market is cheaper than the grocery store? Westford and Chelmsford Patch tackled that question this month. NORTH ANDOVER Smolak Farms got an unexpected demolition. On July 20, after the business was closed, someone was backing out of a space, but she had the car in "drive" instead of "reverse." The result was her car crashing through the wall of the bakery/shop. There were no injuries in the accident, although …

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Food For Thought

A Delicious Super Bowl Party Menu

Our food columnist outdoes himself with a succulent selection of delights and shares a recipe for out-of-this-world wings.

Ok,I don't know about you but I've had it up to the proverbial HERE with all this Super Bowl hype! Brady vs. Manning , Bellicheck vs. Coughlin, yada yada yada.   Let the games begin!!!   I've got a nice venison roast (Thanks Stan Folta), I've got some jumbo homemade Italian sausages (Thanks Frank Cardilli) and I'm picking up my premium Perdue chicken wings on Saturday.   Meat, beer and football, what more could a guy ask for (watch yourself).   As a rule I generally keep my favorite recipes to myself and certainly I am bound by honor not to reveal any TCC secrets, but in light of the upcoming Patriots victory, I am about to break my own rule and let you in on a little trick I've been using for about 25 years or so. Rendering, rendering is …

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Food For Thought

Strange But True Tales From The Restaurant Vault

Food columnist Bob Leo shares some amusing anecdotes from the world of restaurant management.

They say that truth is stranger than fiction. Whoever they are couldn't be more right. A few nights ago some of my restaurant buddies threw a card game. Now these guys are all restaurant rats and between the six of us, we've amassed close to 150 years in the business. At one point or another most of us have worked with each other here or there. We seldom get together but when we do the stories flow faster than the beer. This one's a classic. My friend Smiley manages a busy seafood and roast beef restaurant on Rt. 1 in Saugus.  A few weeks ago a very attractive young woman came in and ordered a crab salad roll with fries and a large roast beef, plain with no bun. That's exactly what she got. As she was sitting at her table eating her …

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Food For Thought

New Year's Resolutions, Part 2

Columnist Bob Leo vows to stick to his resolution ... in a delicious way, of course.

In case any of you are curious, yes, I am sticking to my New Year's resolution. I think the healthy eating is the easiest part. like I said if your hungry eat, but eat the good stuff not the junk. I am slowly working myself into a light exercise program. When your my age you gotta take it slow. A lot of folks have asked, what about alcohol? What's the best thing to drink? Honestly, the best thing is not to drink.   Now I understand that in most cultures life revolves around alcohol. Sunday football game, let's tailgate.  Niece’s wedding, have a champagne. Meet you after work for a cocktail? Hot day, cold beer, cold day, hot toddy, you get the point. So let's break it down.   The biggest reason not to drink if your trying to drop some …

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Food For Thought

Santa Stops Off For A Quick Bite Before His Trip

And boy, can the jolly old elf put away the chow!

T’was the day before Christmas And all through the club People were eating steak schrod and chicken parm sub   Most patrons were merry And filled with such glee They drank at the bar And watched golf on TV   Last minute shoppers Were buying gift cards, The line was so long At least twenty yards   Then all of a sudden Out back on the green We heard a loud whir From a flying machine   We ran to the window To see such a sight Marc Ginsburg returned From a cold Arctic flight   He had old Saint Nick Squished in his seat It was the big night He needed a treat   He ordered the nachos The lobster and pie He ate quite a lot That isn’t a lie   Thanks Judy and Brenda Thanks Kathy and Steve Then he wiped off his beard With the back of his sleeve   …

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Food For Thought

"It Tastes Like Christmas Eve To Me"

Food Columnist Bob Leo shares his love for the Italian dish Baccala.

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Food For Thought

The History of Thanksgiving Part II -- Turkey Trivia

Columnist Bob Leo examines some fun facts about the noble (and tasty) bird.

Last week I attempted to expound a little Thanksgiving history for your reading pleasure. I'm sure most of you know by now I am a bit of a history buff. This week I would like to share some little known " turkey trivia ", so pay attention all you toms and hens.   Did you know Ben Franklin actually nominated the turkey as America's symbol. Ben had a disdain for the eagles aggressive nature,  scavenger tendencies, and violent disposition toward weaker, smaller species. Ben lost out and in 1863 after Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a National Holiday, Alexander Hamilton stated, "no person shall refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day."   So seeing how the Native Americans be gifted the Pilgrims five deer on the first Thanksgiving and the …

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Food For Thought

An Unfiltered Column From The Top Shelf

Columnist Bob Leo examines a common belief regarding cheap liquor.

Isn't it funny how we remember certain things and not others. I have a pretty good memory and can recall things from my childhood like they just happened yesterday yet I forget to take my office keys off my desk at least twice a week. I guess some things are more memorable to us than others. For example, when I was a young man in my early twenties highballs were all the rage. A highball is whiskey and ginger ale. Fleischmans, Canadian Club, VO, Seagrams 7, Old Thompson, Mr. Boston, Old Panther, Crown Royal, there were more whiskies than you could shake a stick at. Now back then I was, how you say, developing my palate. As far as my friends and I were concerned, there were three classes of patrons, the young guys, the old guys, and the old …

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