been some time since I visited CD...
Umami, yo' mama!
I got genuine umami in a bottle. But first...
I haven't visited CD for a few weeks, I'm doing very well, I got myself on a diet (after the diet that lost me 40#) and resumed my gym workouts. I swear I am bouncing off the (vaulted) ceilings of my home these days, I never knew very heavy workout sessions could be so energy providing, so mood elevating! But back to yo' mamma, excuse me umami I mean.
Two products, both thick, sweet soy sauce:
Wan Ja Shan soy sauce paste, product of Taiwan, and my preferred
Healthy Boy Brand thick soy sauce, product of
Thailand!!! Those of you who know me well know of my month that I spent cooking solely Thai recipes from Thai ingredients, and I'll make it clear again, you wanna cook Thai, use genuine Thai ingredients from Thailand. Never the less, the two products are equally usable although I prefer Thai products. I just don't trust Chinese (even Taiwan) products. Give me Thai genuine products! (Perhaps you may find one or the other on Amazon.)
The dinner: (subtitle: just a hamburger, with benefits!)
Oh so simple. I miss when Chili's Grill and Bar removed their Mushroom & Swiss Cheese burger from their menu. That was the day that hamburgers died, at least at Chili's (IMO), but not at Casa de Gregoire. I forget now if they used soy sauce but I do, yo' mamma!
Too simple. I sauteed some Portabella sliced mushrooms in butter. I had bought a huge cheddar bagel from a local supermarket. Note: all supermarket hamburger buns are unacceptable to me. Soft. Spongy. Wimpy. Suitable for Boy Scout or Girl Scout jamorees. Not suitable at Casa de Gregoire.
The rest is inevitable. Not in order but I split the bagel and toasted the inside surface under my convection broiler. I sauteed the mushrooms in a pan with butter. I sauteed the hamburger patty (I think 1/2 lb. 80/20 beef) in the same pan. I piled the mushrooms on the patty as I flipped it, drizzled with thick/sweet soy sauce, laid Swiss cheese slices over, then off to the broiler, you big, bad puppy!
I finished my Swiss mushroom umami burger with mayonnaise under, then a layer of thinly sliced tomato (for moistness) then the patty (which I had seasoned with garlic powder and salt before cooking), and topped by a healthy foliage of lettuce. Then like they used to say at Bob's drive-in on Van Nuys Boulevard (in the days preceding the Valley Girls) cut in D.P. (divided portions, a signal for the chef to cut it in half, how I always used to order my Big Boy hamburgers) and it was a very fine dinner!
Not that this has anything to do with Bob's Drive-In on Van Nuys Blvd. back in the '60s, but I would like to dedicate this post to Darnelle, my favorite Bob's car hop back in the '60s. She was a tall blonde with her hair cut chin length, slim and trim, so deliciously appealing, and with a sweet personality and ever present "happy to see you again" personality. Darnelle you were always my favorite and I love you still! I will always miss you Darnelle, but I will always remember you too! We were there then, and ah the days—and hot Van Nuys nights we shared so far back then! I remember you Darnelle! You were such a sweetie!