Craig’s Corner

I write as I channel the great, intelligent, and articulate Anthony Bourdain…

Do you smell what I smell? Do you see what I see?

That chicken breast is juicy and plump, dressed in the fabulous gown known as Italian spices and garlic herbs that have been soaked in lemon juices ready to be taken off by your palette that has been watering for almost half a year.

Those steak tips have been marinating in the fridge for a while now, and you cant wait to throw them into the crock-pot where they will absorb even the tiniest amounts of carrot, potato, pepper, and broth.

This season, the Revolution will be starting with the same recipe for success. Head coach Steve Nichol will be stewing his players trying to get the best variety, as well as surprising results, from his best and newest players. Assistant coach Paul Mariner declined the position of head chef to focus on the preparation of each ingredient on the roster and to ensure the success of each recipe concocted for the season. The same can be said for each chef in the parking lot of not only the Midnight Riders, but all of Gillette Stadium.

New recipes will be designed. New games will be unveiled. New friends will be made. New bonds will be erected. OK so maybe that last one could use a little work, but you get the drift.

The upcoming season means two things: A new champion will be crowned, and a new player will be idolized.

In our case, that new champion could be the lemon chicken that i described earlier, of our new player could be the simplest ingredient.

I plan to unveil the meanest, healthiest (for what its worth), tastiest burger you have ever dreamt of. Well, maybe all of you bacon burger lovers who have a craving for heart attacks will be disappointed, but at least in this case your heart will thank you. This way, your tongue will be satisfied, along with your belly, and you have the most awesome option available for it - beer.

When I perfect this beautifully manifested phenomenon, I will post it right here. But to keep you entertained and possibly interested with the element of suspense, I will tell you right here that it involves shredded cheese, onions, peppers, and yes - turkey. Please don’t be alarmed, as turkey is the most common substitute for meat this side of the Prime Meridian. I might have given it away, but it is only for your good, and also my ratings.

Until the first home game on April 4th, enjoy these last few weeks of winter (haha, yeah right… good riddance snow!). Be sure to light up those grills and uncork those beverages, and seat yourself for the away viewing of the Revs season opener at San Jose this Saturday at 10:30pm (est) at your residence or bar of choice, if not only to practice for this upcoming season, but to ready yourself for the journey that shall be known as 2009.

: : : Beer of the Month : : :

Samuel Smith Taddy Porter (England)

I recently tried this beer while out with a friend at the Union Brew House in Weymouth, MA. Now I have visited the UBH before, and have not once been disappointed with their selection of beers. I currently own their 99 Club Card, which includes 99 different beers that you check off one at a time as you drink them. If you manage to keep and clear your card of all brews, you get a plaque with your name and phrase of choice. Now my favorite part isn’t the small, ornate atmosphere or the exquisite knowledge of their bartending staff. My favorite part is simply the power they give you. The power of choice.

Now for the Taddy, is it simply England in a bottle. Now I have never been to England, but I know people who have, and they tell me that there is this aura, this ambience that can only be duplicated in two things - football (soccer) and lager (beer). Open and clean your nasal passages, close your eyes, imagine the Beatles, the Thames, and Big Ben. It goes down smooth, but has this certain bite to it. As my friend Ryan put it - the difference between the Taddy and other porters is that the Sam Smith has drinkibility. Now we all know that Bud Light uses that as their tagline, so we would like to set the record straight - Bud Light’s drinkibility is because it has a higher concentration of water, while the Taddy’s drinkability is due to its complex mixture and balance between its malts and hops, which can only be rivaled by the most perfectly brewed Samuel Adams beers of Boston.

Now this should make sense to you, considering that the British founded this country and that Boston was one of the original cities/colonies of this country. Therefore confirming the similatiries between the two beverages.

Be sure to open your mind, and your pallette, to the options and adventures that await you in whatever part of the globe you travel, whether it be in the hills of Peru or the bar in your hometown. There is always another person somewhere who will never be able to take in what you have, in that specific location, so be sure to embrace what you can, while you can. This is 2009.

Craig’s Corner can be reached at fierogt20@yahoo.com