Thursday, May 5, 2011

Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 P.M. ET, TNT

The Atlanta Hawks stunned everybody but themselves when they stole Game 1 away from the Bulls on Monday night in Chicago.

Bulls point guard and newly-crowned NBA MVP Derrick Rose had an abnormally lackluster performance, leaving the spotlight wide open for Hawks forward Joe Johnson. Johnson scored 34 points and went 5-5 from 3-point range; only the third player to do so in NBA postseason history.

Rose settled too often for jumpers instead driving to the hoop and either finishing strong -- an attribute that helped him earn the MVP honors --  or drawing a foul, which he failed to do in Game 1 for the first time this postseason.


But the real story from Game 1 was Rose's ankle, which he rolled in final seconds of the game, sending a collective shiver up the spines of Bulls fans everywhere. So, even though Rose and the Bulls' coaching staff assure that his ankle is fine, it remains to be seen whether it will have any significant impact on his performance. And let's face it, Rose needs to play like the MVP of the league in order for the Bulls to take care of business at home against the red-hot Hawks.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

What to Eat: The Midnight Train, Gladys Knight and Ron Winans' Chicken and Waffles, Atlanta, GA

Chicken and Waffles is a dish that was created to satisfy those late-night eaters who can't decide between breakfast and dinner. At Gladys Knight and Ron Winans' Chicken and Waffles, their version of the classic Harlem dish is called The Midnight Train; four extra large chicken wings, marinated, breaded and fried (according to Gladys Knight's family recipe), and served with a monsterous Belgian-style waffle. It's the best of both worlds.

What to Eat: Deep Dish Pizza, Gino's East, Chicago IL

This is a no-brainer. Deep dish pizza is a Chicago staple, and Gino's East has been making them since 1966. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this cousin of the classic New York style pie, a deep dish pizza is essentially built upside-down; cheese on the bottom, followed by toppings and then finished with a layer of chunky tomato sauce. Additionally, instead of a yeast-based crust which bakes directly on the oven's surface, deep dish pizza has a butter-based crust which bakes in a pan, resulting in a flaky, rich consistency. Gino's East in is known for their colossal deep dish pies; two pounds of dough, more than a pound of mozzarella cheese, four pounds of toppings and a pound of sauce. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Boston Celtics at Miami Heat 8 P.M. ET, TNT

This has arguably been the most anticipated series in this year's NBA playoffs, and besides Dwyane Wade's Superman dive into the stands (only to be dropped like a hot potato by some "loyal" Heat fans), Game 1 was pretty disappointing. Unfortunately, the physical, tough, competitiveness that we were expecting in the first game of this series was shrouded by chippy play that resulted in the ejection of Celtics forward Paul Pierce. Look for Game 2 to be a much more physical, minus the elbows and double technicals.

Where the hell did James Jones come from? 5.9 PPG in the regular season and then 25 pts in 28 minutes against the tenacious Celts D in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semi's? I don't know if Jones has the capability to pop off like that again for the rest of this series. Instead, look for numbers like that from Lebron in game two, and numbers more like say, Kevin Garnett's Game 1 performance, from Jones.

If Boston wants to steal Game 2 from the Heat, Rajon Rando needs to take better care of the basketball. Rando had an unchariceristic eight turnovers compared to an even more uncharacteristic three assists in game three. Oh, and having Paul Pierce in the game in the fourth quarter would help too.

What to Eat: Cuban Sandwhich, Eriqueta's Sandwich Shop, Miami, FL

When people think about Miami's food scene, they immediately think about the South Beach celebrity atmosphere: small, petite and incredibly pricey plates in darkly lit, modernly designed rooms. And don't get me wrong, these sorts of restaurants that cater to that sort of lifestyle are great and certainly delicious, but it's hard to ignore the presence of Little Havana in Miami, and the Cuban influence in the food. And among the most delectable treats that we can thank the Cubans for is the Cuban Sandwich, and according to Miami residents, Eriqueta's is the place to get it. Pork is seasoned with cumin, paprika, red pepper and salt, and slow roasted until it's melting into pieces. It's paired lovingly with smoked ham, Swiss cheese, thinly sliced pickles and a smear of yellow mustard, and pressed until the bread is crispy and the cheese is seductively oozing out of the sides of the sandwich. Simply irresistible.

What to Eat: New England Clam Chowder, Sam La Grass's, Boston, MA

No canned Campbell's clam chowder at Sam La Grass's, which is renowned as the premier sandwich joint in Beantown, but also boasts some mean chowders. Fresh Quahog clams are steamed in white wine, onions, leaks herbs and butter until tender and delicious. The broth created by the steaming liquid and the clam juices creates the base for the soup and provides unbelievable depth of flavor for the finished product. The clams are chopped roughly so you get a hearty bite of clam in every bite. The soup is finished with a touch of richness in the form of cream, butter and milk, and served in traditional New England fasion with a topping of oyster crackers.