Yum Yum Better Ice Cream

Yum Yum Better Ice Cream is the formal name for a small hot dog and ice cream stand that is located behind Beef Burger in Greensboro, NC. Both are stellar examples of antiquated fast food (Southern) cuisine. During my trip to visit my parents my Dad made me promise that I would so get ice cream with him at Yum Yums (as the locals call it).

Yum Yum Dog.
Yum Yum Dog.

Even if I’d used my good camera this picture would look the same. White bun, pink dog in the center, a  boiled down yet meaty chili sauce with the faintest hint of heat, raw onions flecked on top, crisp slaw barely pickled with white vinegar. That’s it. That’s all you need in a Yum Yum dog. This is what it looks like later. .

All Gone
All Gone

But here’s the secret. When you order the dog, add a bottle of Cheerwine to the total. Sip the bottle slowly and sparingly. After you’ve digested your entree go back to the counter and order a single scoop of the lemon ice cream (made on the premises in a small room in the back) bring the cup of delectable lemony airy goodness back to your table and eat the ice cream in some sort of pattern.

Me? I'm a volcano gal.
Me? I'm a volcano gal.

Some people like to eat the center out. . .as if you were clearing flour for eggs to make pasta. I like to create an trench on the circumference. Pour the Cheerwine over the lemon ice cream.

Big Rock Candy Mountain.
Big Rock Candy Mountain.
Another view from the top.
Another view from the top.

The Cheerwine fizzes with the lemon ice cream in a way that bubbles and thrusts like a root beer float, but this is. . .tropical. . .cherry and lemon instead of burdock and vanilla. It dances instead of seducing. To give credit where credit was due, I didn’t make this up. My twin sister Anna (the muse of this blog) ran with a crew of rough and tumble Southern red-necks who would skip school to partake of these delicacies. Anna passed the legend on to me and now, dear readers, I am sharing it with you. We’re so lucky.

New City, New Blog Intentions, and TIGER WINGS.

I have missed you, my dear food blog.

I am now living and eating in Portland, OR. I can’t wait to bring you good tales and poor pictures of new places.

But first I have to tell you about the TIGER WINGS at the East Village Grille in Asheville, North Carolina.

Age Grille!
Age Grille!

My dear friend Amanda is a vegetarian and has been ever since I’ve known her, for nearly a decade. When she suggested we go for wings I assumed she would eat one or two fried vegetables while I worked through several chickens. Not the case. After a bad break up last winter Amanda started going on solo dates to the East Village Tavern and in a matter of weeks she was chowing down on chicken. It’s important to note that this is the sole exception to her vegetarianism and that, my friends, is saying something because Amanda is a woman of conviction!

The tables are vast and comfy. They even have old gossip magazines on the tables!

We really wanted to find a quiz to take but this REDBOOK didn't have any!
We really wanted to find a quiz to take but this REDBOOK didn't have any!

The menu includes an wide selection of items, but as I understand it, everyone knows that you go to the East Village Grille for one reason. . .TIGER WINGS!

I mentioned ordering a salad and Amanda looked at me like I had taken leave of my good senses.
I mentioned ordering a salad and Amanda looked at me like I had taken leave of my good senses.

We ordered a basket of fried mushrooms and a basket of onion rings. I noticed the garlic Tiger Wings on the menu so we ordered 8 original Tiger Wings and 8 garlic. We each ordered a beer and I rarely drink beer but if Amanda was willing to make a dietary exception so was I!

Highland Oatmeal Stout and a PBR.
Highland Oatmeal Stout and a PBR.

The fried veggies were great, especially the mushrooms. The onion rings were not really rings, they were  basically shredded and very messy to eat – that’s not a complaint, I eat lots of messy things. . .including wings. On a second visit we opted out of the onions and replacd them with potato skins. Go easy on me people, I was moving and clinging to food like a blanket. I promise I’m working it off in Portland!

Eat Your Veggies!
Eat Your Veggies!

Okay, the wings are outstanding. Aaron has dubed them the best in North Carolina, maybe even the world! They have a zesty citrus flavor and a spicy element similar to Mae Ploy sauce, but different. They are tender and saucy, messy and sticky, they are glorious handfuls of everything that is right about bird consumption.

Tiger Wings!
Tiger Wings!
More Tiger Wings!
More Tiger Wings!

Special thanks to Amanda for suggesting this place. I love that she turned meat consumption in to broken heart therapy. . .and dogs, she also turns dogs in to therapy.

 

Amanda and Olive forever. Awwww.
Amanda and Olive forever. Awwww.

The Dream Life of David Chang

Steamed pork buns, pork shoulder with all the trimmings, sustainable ingredients, unstoppable motivation, unparalleled genius – all of these words are used to describe the godfather of the Momofuku empire in New York. I’ve never been to his restaurants, probably never will.

Anna traveled to New York this past week with the mission of seeing Amebix at the Bowery Ballroom.  She made time to visit David Chang’s newest venture MILK.  After sampling crack pie and polenta/blue cheese cake she purchased the gold standard to bring back to me. . .KIMCHI BUTTER!

MOMOFUKU PEACH
MOMOFUKU PEACH

The trifecta of butter, red pepper, fermented cabbage, and PORK. This is the work of Christina Tosi, Chang’s pastry queen and creator of cereal milk. Te butter is truly awesome and the chunky bits of “the other white meat” possessing this churned delicacy give the spread depth and complexity.  Instead of refrigerating this jar of joy Anna stored it on the brow of this nautical beauty for two nights. . .

steel hull - southport
steel hull - southport
Her friend Josh is the captain of this ship. He lives in the base and guides tourists through the museum section 2 days a week. The Peking  has been docked at the southport museum since 1975 and MY jar of kimchi butter weatherd 48 hours on her deck. So incredibly delicious – even better on banana bread.
don't knock it 'til you've tried it
don't knock it 'til you've tried it