Granny Geek

TacOCliff is one of our favorite blogs. How nice to see young people having fun and writing so well about food. It was they who turned us on to Tres Arbolitas, which is within walking distance of Geezer Manor.

We’re infamous for roaming all over Oak Cliff, trying tacos. Today, we were looking for breakfast tacos. Since it was a cold, grey, rainy morning, we drove instead of walked to the small restaurant in a strip mall just off Westmoreland Avenue.

The place is clean, friendly and fun.

The breakfast tacos were great: just what we were looking for. Eggs, potatoes and ham. Two cups of coffee and four tacos: $8.

We couldn’t possibly improve on D&A Thompson’s fine description of the place. We’re just adding a second opinon. Be sure to bookmark their blog, and be sure to visit Tres Arbolitas soon. They’re open from 9 AM to 9 PM, Monday through Saturday, and 9 AM to 3 PM on Sunday.

When we lived in Indonesia, a “Weekend Away” meant a short plane ride to Bali, probably the most beautiful of Indonesia’s 17,000 or so islands.

Bali has it all: rainforests, beaches, active volcanos, temples, scenic rice paddies, gracious and friendly people, and food. Especially food. Especially pork.

Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim country. As you may know, Muslims will not eat pork because it is considered unclean. Truth is, pigs will eat ANYTHING. Think about it. They’ll eat the excreta of other animals, as well as their own. You can see why several religions instruct their believers to avoid pork.

Islam never reached Bali, though. Balinese, for the most part, practice their own form of Hinduism.

Balinese Hinduism is an amalgam in which gods and demigods are worshipped together with Buddhist heroes, the spirits of ancestors, indigenous agricultural deities and sacred places. Religion as it is practiced in Bali is a composite belief system that embraces not only theology, philosophy, and mythology, but ancestor worship, animism and magic. It pervades nearly every aspect of traditional life.

This mixture of beliefs means that pigs are OK to eat, so long as they’re cooked well. At least that’s MY interpretation. And the Balinese know how to cook a pig! A paste of mixed spices is spread under the skin of the animal and all over the inside of the carcass. The mixture includes plenty of chopped, fresh garlic and chilis. Then, the pig is mounted on a spit and turned for hours over hot coals until the meat is done and the skin is crispy, crispy, crispy. Mmmmmmmm. Pork. Pork rules!

Warmer weather is just around the corner. I’m thinking BARBEQUE and I’m thinking PORK. If you’re having similar thoughts, head on over to El Rancho Supermercado in the new shopping center at the corner of Cockrell Hill Road and Jefferson Avenue.

The pigs are in the back of the store. So is the charcoal. How convenient!

You can buy the head separately. It’s grinning at you from the lower, right corner of the case. We’ll pass on that. Not enough skin!

It’s about time we introduced Balinese-style pork to Dallas.

Let’s give a big shout-out today to Michael and his lovely S.O. They’re on a quest to do without TV for a year. Michael writes about their successes and failures on his blog, What On Earth Will We Do Now?

We wish them luck. Here at Geezer Manor, we watch as little TV as possible. Most of it is mindless pap, punctuated with occasional frat-boy humor and a dose of T&A. For the most part, we’re fans of Turner Classic Movies and PBS.

We hate, hate, hate the way TV sets are turned on everywhere we go. Many times, we’ve walked into a waiting room or reception area where the only sound is a TV, blaring at the threshold of pain, to a vacant room.

About six years ago, Granny discovered a secret weapon against TV, and she’s carried it ever since in her purse. It’s called TV-B-Gone.

It’s described as a “high power universal remote control” and IT WORKS.

Point the thing at the TV, click the switch, and the TV turns OFF within a minute or so. Honest.

We’ve turned off TV sets all over the country. In hotel lobbies from Tennessee to Idaho. In doctors’ and dentists’ reception areas. In restaurants. In the waiting area at the mammogram clinic. In waiting rooms at auto dealerships, while the car is being serviced. In a bank. You get the idea. Anytime we walk into a room where the TV is blaring and nobody is watching, we zap it. We’re especially fanatic about killing CNN. The network is truly the armpit of American television.

Cliffies, in all these years, NOT ONE PERSON has walked into the room after we’ve done the deed and asked why the TV wasn’t on. Don’t get me wrong. I would never turn off a TV if anyone else is in the room. And I certainly wouldn’t attempt this at a bar, for example, where sports fans are watching a game. But lone haranguer TVs are fair game.

Why don’t you give it a try? Let’s see if we can bring peace and quiet to reception rooms and lobbies all over Dallas.

We just heard it on the wireless.

The Arlington Cowgirls have lost to the Minnesota bunch, 34-3.

We’ve never understood the term “America’s Team.” as it’s used by the Cowgirls to describe themselves. General Patton had it right.

Americans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a loser… the very idea of losing is hateful to an American.

For “remodel”

OK. I understand that. It’s an older building: years ago it was a Dairy Queen, so some upgrades are probably in order.

But why on earth is Kavala getting a “New Concept?” There was nothing wrong with the OLD concept. Everyone loved the lamb gyro. We’re long-time fans of the lamb burger. I have a sinking feeling that neither will survive a “New Concept.”

Rats!

Cliffies, we all know that Eno’s here in the Bishop Arts District has REALLY good salads. And homemade soups. And pizza. We’re especially fond of their Southside pizza pie. Mmmmmmmm. Anchovies.

Well, you need to step outside your comfort zone an order a burger at Eno’s. We don’t eat burgers very often. They’re usually pretty bland and dry. But the burger at Eno’s is tasty and juicy. And just look at how cute it is! It shows up at your table all gussied up in a paper shirt.

It’s called a Tavern Burger. It’s described as “local grass fed beef” served with tomato, Jewish pickle, American cheese, greens and onion, and Tavern Sauce. All for $6.

You’re welcome!