Working My Way Through the Works: Kamikaze

A popular gimmick for food blogs is to eat and review every item on a restaurant's menu. This blog is no exception. These are the observations I've had while eating my way through the burger menu of The Works, a Canadian burger restaurant with locations across Ottawa and Ontario.

The WORKS (900 Watters Road)
Burger Description:"Jalapeno, chipotle & banana peppers, cheddar cheese & hotter than hell sauce"
April 14, 2022

How hot is too hot? Depends on the person doing the tasting. Some people need to have their eyes watering and sweat coming out of every pore in order to enjoy their meal. Others will consider their food ruined if anything hotter than a cinnamon heart touches their tongue. The burning feeling people get in their mouths when eating peppers comes from a chemical in the peppers that activate a protein that senses heat. This chemical is capsaicin, and when activated, it sends a message to the brain which then sends a jolt of pain back to the affected part of the body. When it comes to spicy food, it's best to err on the side of caution, especially if you're a restaurant that wants repeat business. For this reason, I asked for the hot sauce to be served on the side and was pleased to discover that's how the sauce normally comes with the Kamikaze. A quick taste revealed it was a Thai-style chili sauce with a bit of sweetness to offset its heat - definitely not hotter than hell. I poured a bit of the sauce on the middle of the top bun and dribbled some more on the spot where I was going to take my first bite. The peppers were a nice addition to the burger, with the sauce acting as spicier ketchup. While a bit of sweat did appear on my brow and bald head while eating, it wasn't a crazy amount of heat, just enough for you to notice that it was present. Overall, this cheeseburger was what you want when you looking to try something a bit more peppery than usual - it will open up your sinuses but it will leave your colon intact. 

4 out of 5 stars - those wanting more heat can add their go-to hot sauce to it.   

I Tried This So You Won't Have To: The Snickle

On a recent episode of his soon-to-be-ending talk show, celebrity Nick Cannon profused his love of pickles. While that is not unusual, what makes it interesting is that he likes his pickles sandwiched in between chocolate, peanuts, and caramel. Called the Snickle, it is exactly what it sounds like - a Snickers bar sandwiched in between a pickle. This food mashup has been popularized by food bloggers for a few years now, and it has as many fans as it has detractors. Where does this food blogger stand on this? Check out the video below. 

Breakfast Popcorn

Popcorn is great as a light snack. But did you know it can be used as a part of a delicious breakfast? I'm not talking about adding milk to a bowl of popcorn as a cereal substitute if you don't have a box of Corn Pops in the house, though that can and has been done. I'm talking about using your popcorn in the same way tortilla chips are used in chilaquiles. With popcorn already being used in salads, it shouldn't be that surprising to see the snack food make its way from the movie concession stand to your breakfast table. So give the recipe a try if you're looking for a unique way to add a tasty texture to an otherwise standard breakfast item. 

NOTE: The recipe below is legit - this is not an April Fool's Day gag.

Ingredients

2 cups popped popcorn
2 eggs
7 g cold butter, grated or microplaned
5 g butter for the pan
salt and pepper to taste

1. Whisk the eggs with the grated butter.  Heat the remaining butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.  
2. When the butter starts to foam, mix the popcorn gently into the eggs to coat, but don’t let the popcorn get soggy.  
3. Scramble to your desired doneness, and garnish as you please.