I'm so glad he has this space as a creative outlet, lest he return home from a night out, full of chili and hubris, informing his wife that they are now stakeholders in a bar restoration project
lots of people asking about the plain hot dogs visible in the photo, no one taking the obvious context clue of the child-sized hands next to them
my six-year-old son and I get our hair cut at a place near a Skyline, and he's discovered they have hot dogs, so he requests dinner at Skyline after each haircut. I'm happy to oblige, of course.
I figured that out right away. When DC#1 was that age, we assumed he was capable of photosynthesis because he sure as hell wasn't eating much actual food.
That'll pass. You're exposing him to too much interesting stuff in the culinary realm for it not to. That same DC#1 had his own Zagat's guide by the time he was in middle school and hit me up for lunches at most of the top twenty restaurants in DC over the years. He is still a big foodie and becoming a very good cook. We've had a lot of fun over the past few years with him finding great neighborhood places for us to eat.
Swear to god I opened the newsletter, read the first paragraph and thought "Oh man, I hope Scott doesn't have some fancy, convoluted burger or stew recipe today, in a place like this the only thing to order that can never go wrong is chicken fingers."
You brought to mind this great spot here in Sonoma County called Ernie's Tin Bar. It's literally a shack made of aluminum siding. They used to have no electricity and served all their beer out of coolers, but they've since upgraded and have stuff on tap as well. They have a no cellphone use policy where if you use one while you're there you have to buy a round for everyone. Apparently, they do allow pictures and texting, but no phone calls. I kinda wish they were harsher here, but I digress. https://www.sonomamag.com/enjoy-real-conversations-at-petaluma-bar-that-doesnt-like-cellphones/
You have perfectly described the Annex Bar, my local dive, to a capital T- with one exception: The burgers there might be the best I've ever had. The interior is smaller than some living rooms I've been in.
You'd think by now I wouldn't be surprised when this newsletter makes me choke up but here we are. Rust Belt Mike sounds like a Ray Bradbury character all grown up (Pip from The Halloween Tree?). Raise a glass tonight.
I joke, but I do actually like every song on my list. This playlist is kind of like something I've done where I try to expose my kids to all of the good music. (they usually end up wanting one chvrches song)
Hack/substitution question, do you have to use chicken tenderloin or can it be sliced up chicken breast? Yes I am very aware of the distinct difference between the two cuts, but I am also quite aware of the $2/lb price difference too at my local supermarket. Unlike AC's Bar and Grill, my grocery finances are watched like a hawk by a loving Mrs. DC Buckeye.
This place is technically called the "Beck Tavern," but everybody knows it as the "Low Beck."
Because it is on Beck St., but a bit more back in the neighborhood from the other dive bar on Beck, which is at the intersection of Beck and High St., and is the "Hi-Beck Tavern."
Anyway, the Hi-Beck has free food on Mondays and Tuesdays, and a pretty good kitchen, but the Low Beck has domestic bottles for $1.50 per every day of the week.
When I was living on Beck and still a teacher, it meant the summer "walk to the Hi-Beck for lunch and a beer, grab a beer at the Low Beck on the walk home" was an easy trip.
The character work, setting decription, and tone remind me of bits of "The Prairie Home Companion" that I used to hear on NPR. I hope you take that as a compliment despite Keillor turning out to be so awful. I hope you choose to expand the AC Literary Universe. Everything is so "lived in" and I think you nailrd it.
One of my favorite things at work is when an animal has a food name. Adopters will call to ask a question about a cold their new pet has developed and I get to call back with an excited "Hi, this is Dr. P from the Anti-Cruelty Society calling about Cheesecake!" and somehow not crack up.
So you're going to have to make some modifications with the brining, but the best cheat I know on fried chicken is to sous vide the chicken first, then bread and fry it. This lets you fry the chicken long enough to turn the breading your desired color, without worrying about undercooking the chicken.
I'm so glad he has this space as a creative outlet, lest he return home from a night out, full of chili and hubris, informing his wife that they are now stakeholders in a bar restoration project
dying at "full of chili and hubris"
"HONEY, I'VE DISCOVERED THE SIXTH WAY"
I saw that Southpaw retweet yesterday. RIP your mentions.
lots of people asking about the plain hot dogs visible in the photo, no one taking the obvious context clue of the child-sized hands next to them
my six-year-old son and I get our hair cut at a place near a Skyline, and he's discovered they have hot dogs, so he requests dinner at Skyline after each haircut. I'm happy to oblige, of course.
This sounds like an excellent tradition
I figured that out right away. When DC#1 was that age, we assumed he was capable of photosynthesis because he sure as hell wasn't eating much actual food.
if given the opportunity, AC1 would exist entirely on hot dogs, pizza, PB&J and candy
That'll pass. You're exposing him to too much interesting stuff in the culinary realm for it not to. That same DC#1 had his own Zagat's guide by the time he was in middle school and hit me up for lunches at most of the top twenty restaurants in DC over the years. He is still a big foodie and becoming a very good cook. We've had a lot of fun over the past few years with him finding great neighborhood places for us to eat.
Some of my least complicated and most happy memories growing up are from similar outings with my dad. Love that.
Swear to god I opened the newsletter, read the first paragraph and thought "Oh man, I hope Scott doesn't have some fancy, convoluted burger or stew recipe today, in a place like this the only thing to order that can never go wrong is chicken fingers."
AND THE ACN DELIVERS!
hahahaha I'm so pleased by this
Complex tax situation? You rang?
let's just say the bar was technically registered as both a boat and a church
So was Jesus out there on Galilee, son, and that worked out just fine.
Great post, Scott!
You brought to mind this great spot here in Sonoma County called Ernie's Tin Bar. It's literally a shack made of aluminum siding. They used to have no electricity and served all their beer out of coolers, but they've since upgraded and have stuff on tap as well. They have a no cellphone use policy where if you use one while you're there you have to buy a round for everyone. Apparently, they do allow pictures and texting, but no phone calls. I kinda wish they were harsher here, but I digress. https://www.sonomamag.com/enjoy-real-conversations-at-petaluma-bar-that-doesnt-like-cellphones/
Thank you! And this place sounds phenomenal.
Do they do live music there? I think my coworker plays in n Outlaw country band there sometimes.
Yes, they do, although I've never been there for a show.
You have perfectly described the Annex Bar, my local dive, to a capital T- with one exception: The burgers there might be the best I've ever had. The interior is smaller than some living rooms I've been in.
Outside: https://fastly.4sqi.net/img/general/600x600/ilstTlWZN9_kEA-roNUGWOGp7V3kL7SEtJ5OyJ3QoLA.jpg
Inside: https://cdn.usarestaurants.info/assets/uploads/b543e6f98ff9b8136b7666ad03f732d1_-united-states-ohio-cuyahoga-county-solon-the-annex-bar-grille-440-248-5725htm.jpg
oh that's a beauty
You'd think by now I wouldn't be surprised when this newsletter makes me choke up but here we are. Rust Belt Mike sounds like a Ray Bradbury character all grown up (Pip from The Halloween Tree?). Raise a glass tonight.
I cannot believe you let me sneak All Star by Smash Mouth into your playlist. You fool, you absolute sucker.
I did do *some* editing from the suggestions, but mostly for songs that I thought were outside of the hypothetical bar band's range and skill
I joke, but I do actually like every song on my list. This playlist is kind of like something I've done where I try to expose my kids to all of the good music. (they usually end up wanting one chvrches song)
Hack/substitution question, do you have to use chicken tenderloin or can it be sliced up chicken breast? Yes I am very aware of the distinct difference between the two cuts, but I am also quite aware of the $2/lb price difference too at my local supermarket. Unlike AC's Bar and Grill, my grocery finances are watched like a hawk by a loving Mrs. DC Buckeye.
channeling the ethos of the bar kitchen here, I think you can definitely use the cheaper cut. I think the brining helps a lot.
adding "mythical jukebox influencer" to my resume
Ahhhh, AC's appears to be within walking distance of my house....[or maybe just a pale imitator is...]
https://i0.wp.com/www.scoundrelsfieldguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Columbus-Beck-Tavern-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1080%2C810&ssl=1
YES. This is exactly the kind of place I'm thinking of.
This place is technically called the "Beck Tavern," but everybody knows it as the "Low Beck."
Because it is on Beck St., but a bit more back in the neighborhood from the other dive bar on Beck, which is at the intersection of Beck and High St., and is the "Hi-Beck Tavern."
Anyway, the Hi-Beck has free food on Mondays and Tuesdays, and a pretty good kitchen, but the Low Beck has domestic bottles for $1.50 per every day of the week.
This is a fantastic detail.
When I was living on Beck and still a teacher, it meant the summer "walk to the Hi-Beck for lunch and a beer, grab a beer at the Low Beck on the walk home" was an easy trip.
god bless both Hi-Beck and Low Beck
This was really well done, Scott. Not that I would expect anything less. Also, I'm pretty sure I'm a Barb.
Thank you!
The character work, setting decription, and tone remind me of bits of "The Prairie Home Companion" that I used to hear on NPR. I hope you take that as a compliment despite Keillor turning out to be so awful. I hope you choose to expand the AC Literary Universe. Everything is so "lived in" and I think you nailrd it.
Ah, I really appreciate this! (Keillor's problematicness aside, of course.)
I'm guessing Barb and Ms. Bearcat get along quite well.
God, this playlist is amazing. It's going to get a LOT of play in our house.
One of my favorite things at work is when an animal has a food name. Adopters will call to ask a question about a cold their new pet has developed and I get to call back with an excited "Hi, this is Dr. P from the Anti-Cruelty Society calling about Cheesecake!" and somehow not crack up.
Going on a road trip today so the playlist could not have come at a more perfect time
So you're going to have to make some modifications with the brining, but the best cheat I know on fried chicken is to sous vide the chicken first, then bread and fry it. This lets you fry the chicken long enough to turn the breading your desired color, without worrying about undercooking the chicken.
...and I'm fully aware that using a sous vide screws up the entire vibe of this week's newsletter. But if you have the tool anyway...