Strong flavors and Carl the groundskeeper

I saw the movie 'Secretariat' today. Alas, it received the standard formulaic 'Disney' treatment. Not that the movie was bad. I wasn't aware of the whole drama that surrounded the human cast of characters until the movie. Honestly, I never cared. But how else are you going to make a feature length film. I just have to wonder how hard up for cash Malkovich was.

I remember watching Secretariat run. I never watched horse racing before, and haven't since. Yet I, along with the rest of the nation watched. It was breathtaking to watch. The original footage used in the movie for all of its graininess was still the most exciting thing to watch.

The whole time I am watching, I can't help but think how miscast Diane Lane was also. With her hausfrau frump in full mojo, I still found myself muttering certain Bill Murray-isms under my breath. Next time get an ugly 40 something to make the movie.

After the movie we went to MacCool's. The lamb shank will always be one of my favorite items on the menu. I like this restaurant because they don't shy away from strong flavors. OK......they do have calamari on the menu which is perhaps my least favorite appetizer. I like the taste of them, but people order it thinking it makes them cool, or edgy (look at me I'm eating squid). As such it has become a bland and ubiquitous presence on most menus. ENOUGH! But I digress.

There was a couple sitting a tablet near us. SHe was bitching about the seafood pancakes being to.......seafoody I suppose. What was the main ingredient? It was hardly a seafood, but a strong flavor nonetheless. Smoked trout. It is definitely not for all tastes, but I've loved it ever since I was a kid. I remember my old man somehow fell into the good graces of a guy in our neighborhood named Nick Dokos. Nick liked to fish. Nick caught a lot of fish. Nick smoked a lot of fish. To make a long story short, I polished off about a pound and a half of my old man's trout one morsel at a time. My mom was pissed, but the old man just laughed it off. Strange indded since my mother hates smoked fish and my dad would have gladly subsisted on a diet of it forever.I digress again.

Next time I go to MacCools, I'm gonna get me some of smoked trout pancakes. I guarantee I will either love them or hate them for the taste, but I'll always enjoy them for what they are. An unapologetically strong flavor. As for the woman, I hope that little minx is being punished as we speak........by Carl.