Blog entries from Barry

Unsavory Adventures (The Hospitality Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 21:44:50 +0100

While New York may be the capital of cosmopolitan living in the US, Georgia is the capital of hospitality. So in this episode the crew of Unsavory Adventures heads out to Atlanta to get a taste of that good old southern hospitality, and a taste of some of the best hot dogs in the south.

Join us as we visit the famous Varsity Restaurant and Drive-in as we enjoy the flavor of the south and bump into a cast member of the Midlife Road Trip show along the way. - Ba...

Unsavory Adventures (The Brain Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 02:12:03 +0100

I read once that intelligence is acquired. So the crew of Unsavory Adventures headed out to Evansville Indiana for a Fried Brain Sandwich. Now, many of you have written me asking if I was afraid of getting Mad Cow Disease. I would never eat a cow's brain, don't be ridiculous. These sandwiches are made of pork brains, breaded and fried. The cook at the Hilltop Inn has been making these sandwiches for 18 years, and has never tried one.....

What did th...

Unsavory Adventures (The Fake Rib Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 01:37:04 +0100

Can you tell the difference between real southern ribs and fake processed meat pressed into the shape of a rib?

In this episode I travel with the Unsavory Adventures camera crew to Birmingham Alabama on a rib taste testing trip. Along the way we encountered a "rib sandwich" at a fast food chain. Oddly enough, the "meat" under the bun was shaped like a small rack of ribs, but it contained no bones. When we cut into the "meat", the inside resembled a grey ...

Unsavory Adventures (The Buffalo Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 19:14:13 +0100

Ever go out for a plate full of Buffalo Wings?

In this episode I head out in search of the truth behind these popular treats. Mesmerized by pretty waitresses in tight shirts, diners across the country are ordering these wings without ever asking questions about what happens to the animals left behind. Be warned: after watching this video, you may never eat another Buffalo Wing.

Morgan, the waitress at Boofalos restaurant was gracious enoug...

Unsavory Adventures (The Cowboy Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 23:12:44 +0100

Who doesn't like a great steak?

In this episode I head out to Colorado in search of a great steak made from Colorado beef. Along the way, I was roped into riding a mechanical bull, and met a friendly cow named Sweet Lips who, after scaring the "bull" out of me during the outtakes, turned out to be a mooving actress.

Sandi McKenna of the Midlife Road Trip Show plays the cowgirl and the ever patient co-star through countless retakes due to st...

Unsavory Adventures (The Duck Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 12:57:45 +0100

Ah, the days of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the Palace of Versailles, and the royal foods of the time!

In this episode the filming crew and I visit La Caille (I think that's French for "The Caille"), a spectacular French restaurant outside of Salt Lake City. They have recreated a French chateau, from the lofty meals of old to the bustier outfits of the 1800's, down to the ceilings which they imported from a bakery in France. Swans and ducks roam th...

Unsavory Adventures (The Mexican Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 01:20:35 +0100

Have you ever had trouble finding good, authentic Mexican food? I received a tip about a place in Phoenix, Arizona where the chef was nominated for the 2010 James Beard award for best chef in the southwest, quite an honor for a tiny restaurant in a strip mall on 16th in Phoenix. Turns out, her food is spectacular and worthy of the nomination, and possibly the award.

Upon my return to Florida, I sought to recreate one of her dishes at a fast food outlet named after a ...

Unsavory Adventures (The Filetto Fish Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:32:35 +0100

Have you ever gone out for seafood and been disappointed in the lack of freshness? Taste the difference as we find a way to get the freshest fish, straight from the water to our plate.

I prefer to eat seafood at Dalla Marisa in Venice, along Rio Cannaregio. But in this episode, I catch my own. Join me in search of the rare Filetto Fish. This headless, scaleless delicacy can be eaten straight out of the water (after you remove the hook). Grab your fishing tackle an...

The Best Restaurant in Venice?

Barry Frangipane — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:38:22 +0100

Tratoria da'a Marisa

Quite often, when stuffy restaurant reviewer types come to Venice, they will pick someplace like the restaurant at Hotel Danieli, Cipriani's, or Da Fiore as the “best” restaurant in Venice. While the last two are certainly wonderful restaurants, and deserve their worldwide acclaim, I w...

Unsavory Adventures (The French Toast Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:33:52 +0100

In this episode I attempt to make a gourmet breakfast out of fast food French Toast Bricks. Inspired by celebrated Italian chef Fabrizio Schenardi of Piemonte's French Toast, this meal is created out of simple ingredients everyone carries with them to a fast food restaurant. Well, I do, anyway!

So enjoy by clicking on the video above. Then leave me a comment here on my blog - What fast food chain should I visit next? Thanks! - Barry

For a re...

Unsavory Adventures (The Sundae Pie Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:31:04 +0100

In this episode I attempt to make a gourmet dessert out of a fast food piece of pie. While it is nothing like Dolce Debbie's Ricotta Pear Torta, it is certainly better than the "out of the box" pie. (I had to eat three pieces to get this video right!) This was the episode where we introduced music to the video.

So enjoy the video, then leave me a comment - What fast food chain should I visit next? Thanks! - Barry

Unsavory Adventures (The Burger Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:42:19 +0100

While my favorite way of eating is undoubtedly on a terrace somewhere above Positano, Italy with chef Dolce Debbie providing the meals, on occasion I have to eat at a fast food "restaurant" here in the USA. This is the first in a set of videos where I have fun trying to make gourmet meals out of fast food. I hope you enjoy it.

To help you make real gourmet meals, I will be picking one name from those who have left me comments on this blog entry to win a year's ...

Cutting the Mustard in Italy

Barry Frangipane — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:01:27 +0100

The Italians are quite fond of the local cheeses from the Robiola of Piemonte to the Pepato of Sicily. Only a small portion of these cheeses make it to the cheese stores (and even less to the grocery stores) in the United States.

In many parts of Italy the locals enjoy their cheese with Mostarda. Mostarda is a product rese...

Christmas in Venice

Barry Frangipane — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:44:48 +0100

Snowfall in Venice

Over-commercialization of Christmas has become the phrase we use to describe this holiday celebration in the United States. Long before Halloween, we start to hear Christmas carols in the malls throughout the 50 states. So our first Christmas in Italy was a bit of a cultur...

Five Great Local Restaurants in Venice

Barry Frangipane — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:26:29 +0100

As a past resident of Venice, people frequently write me and ask for the name of a good local Venetian restaurant. Here is a good selection of five truly local restaurants, frequented more often by Venetians than by tourists. Other than at Tre Archi, reservations are pretty much required for dinner, less so for lunch, but a simple ...

Tartufi Morra - THE White Truffle Store

Barry Frangipane — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:16:39 +0100

As the white truffle season draws to a close, I think back and reflect upon an interview I had with Alessandro Bonino at the famous Tartufi Morra truffle store in Alba (Piemonte, Italy). He recalls the time when the founder of the store, Giacomo Morra sent the largest white truffle ever (at that time) to President Truman as a gift. Legend has it that Mr. Morra received a letter from the President stating, “Thank you for the potato. Unfortunately it must have gone bad during the j...

5 Reasons Venice is Sinking (It's not the water) and 6 Reasons to go anyway

Barry Frangipane — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:33:29 +0100

Five Reasons Venice is Sinking (It’s not the high water)

Venice’s Population is Elderly and Dying

The population of Venice is just over 60,000 and shrinks by 3 to 5% every year. The population is elderly, and is not being replaced.

Jobs are Disappearing

As real commerce is replaced by souvenir shops and bad restaurants, hi...

The Alba White Truffle Fair is Here!

Barry Frangipane — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:22:30 +0100

Every year foodies worldwide wait in anticipation of the opening of the most prestigious white truffle fair in the world – here in Alba, Italy. That time has arrived!

Watch the video below, then look at the pictures of this incredible festival!

Winter truffles are everywhere, as ...

Secrets of the Blue Grotto

Barry Frangipane — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:15:19 +0100

Are you one of the many who dream of visiting the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzura) on the Isle of Capri just off of the Amalfi Coast in Italy? I was too.

The Blue Grotto is a seemingly magical cave on Capri. When inside, the light coming from outside the cave reflects o...

Buying White Truffles in Alba

Barry Frangipane — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:06:47 +0100

It’s the best time of year for foodies in Italy. The Barbera grapes are being harvested, the Nebbiolo will be picked soon, but right now, we can find winter (white) truffles being sold on the streets and in markets all around Piemonte! Of course the center of activity is in Alba, where people are getting ready for t...