Kraftwurst: See the Sausage Sing

Singing sausage in a Kraftwerk homage. They should really be playing polkas on accordions.

[via BuzzFeed]

Get a Free Quiznos Sub Sandwich

No really -- the chain restaurant is giving away 1 million subs, and all you have to do is give 'em your e-mail address. (The counter says there are still about half a million in the freebie chute.)

Accordionize Your Home - Part III

Did you buy the accordion couch and the accordion dresser, but now you're looking for a way to accordionize the dining room? Try serving Accordion Red Potatoes. The simple dish partially slices the tuber to mimic an accordion's bellows.

Do you have an accordion or music related recipe? Share it with us in the comments. Perhaps button box mutton chops? Stuffed stomach Steinway appetizers? Some diatonic gastronomic delights?

Deep-Fried Splendors on Display

Witness the unspeakable beauty of corndog pizza, the Turbaconucken (pictured) and a french fry-encased hot dog on a stick on a delectable website called This Is Why You're Fat.

(According to NYC Food Guy, the Turbaconducken is "a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey, all wrapped in bacon.")

I am to embrace the awesome marvel that is road food once again.

Beer Week Comes to San Francisco

The event: SF Beer Week.

The dates: Feb. 6 to 15, 2009.

The deal: "America's original craft beer-drinking city" pops the top on seven days of high-end suds. SF Beer Week is already twittering away.

There's only one thing missing here: bratwurst.

In My World, It's Always Cheese O'Clock

Here's how I tell what time it is (and what type of adult beverage I should be enjoying).

[via Buzzfeed]

In Italy, They Bail Out Cheesemakers

After the Italian government buys 100,000 beautiful wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano and donates them to charity, buffalo mozzarella producers want their own bailout, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Where will the bailouts stop? Nobody knows. But the Journal article sheds interesting light on the cheesemakers' products -- and their dilemma.

I hope the cheese biz in Wisconsin is doing OK.

Video: How Hot Dogs Get Made

"Meat batter"? Yum.

The video's fascinating. But deep down inside, I'm glad I've got half a year to forget about this clip before next summer's hot dog season rolls around.

[via BuzzFeed]

Suiting Up for a Midnight Snack

If this wacky ad is to be believed, women in the 1960s donned special outfits for midnight snacking. (I prefer to go commando.)

The image, uploaded to Flickr by user Fun House, is part of an advertising set with plenty of priceless images.

[via Boing Boing]

Revving Up for Reno Italian Festival

The Eldorado Great Italian Festival is a truly fantastico party each year in Reno, Nev., with lots of music and vendors serving loads of great food. We've played the fun festival for years, and we'll be doing it again next weekend.

The big outdoor celebration of all things Italian (including accordions) takes over a main street in downtown Reno, with a couple of stages and roaming musicians everywhere. Those Darn Accordions plays both days on The Rome Stage. Our sets start at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12.

The Sacramento Bee has a nice story with an unruly headline -- "A Proud Family Tradition Lives on at the 27th Eldorado Italian Festival" -- if you'd like to get an idea of what goes on at the festival.

Hope to see you there.

P.S. I'm thrilled to see that original TDA member Tom Torriglia's band Bella Ciao will be returning as well.

Everything's Deep Fried In Texas

The State Fair of Texas (Sept 26-Oct 19) announced this year's deep fried delicacies. The oddball treats have gained popularity in recent years, most notably in 2006 with the invention of Deep Fried Coke (pictured).

The high calorie treats are all entries in the fair's Big Tex Choice Awards. Last year's competition winner was Deep Fried Cookie Dough. In the running for this year's award are Jelly Belly Beans battered and fried in Funnel Cake, Chicken Fried Bacon, and Deep Fried S'mores. Check out the full menu here.

Photo: Stephen Witherden/Flickr

Cool Accordion Cake

Cake-Decorating-Corner.com has a sweet, squeezebox-y baked delight on display: a Chocolate Accordion Cake.

Debbie Budd, the cake's helpful maker, gives instructions on how she made it.

Nice job, Debbie!

Varmint Vittles

TDA is preparing to hit the road soon and thoughts of festivals and food fill the mind. Road food is always an enjoyable adventure, but throughout the US there's a growth of festivals focusing on off-kilter cuisine.

From Spam to roadkill, ForbesTraveler.com has found the most interesting events and highlights them with a slideshow.


Photo: mureena/Flickr

A Short History of Hangovers

Pour a tall one and enjoy a classic article on the international phenomenon known as the hangover. "A Few Too Many" is a great piece of writing from The New Yorker, complete with colorful anecdotes, science and a some suspect hangover remedies.

Submit your own morning-after miracles over at Wired magazine's culture blog, the Underwire: "What's Your Magic Hangover Cure?"

(And might I be so bold as to recommend that you listen to "Hungover in Clover" as you contemplate this subject?)

Photo: aerodesign.pl/Flickr

Time to Celebrate National Corndog Day

Today is National Corndog Day. Who knew?

The holiday is tied to the start of March Madness, according to the official National Corndog Day website. More importantly, it's the only holiday celebrated with corndogs, tater tots and Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Thanks to Flickr user Iason, who took this awesome picture of a surprisingly delicious-looking corndog pizza.

Behold the Gummy Haggis

Just look at it, sitting there in all its faux meaty goodness. It's Angry Scotsman's Gummy Haggis, and it wants to be in your stomach. Which is kinda weird when you think about it.

Reminds me that I always wanted to open a restaurant called The Haggis Shack. The motto: "The Haggis Shack -- Where the Offal Ain't."

Is there nothing they won't make out of "gummy" (whatever that is)? One thing's for sure: If it's weird, Archie McPhee sells it -- check out their meat-themed goodies.

(Via Laughing Squid)

Squeezin' in San Antonio, Part 2

Two sets down! Afternoon set -- hot as a fresh-fried puffy taco shell (I know because I had one). Evening set down by the River Walk -- much cooler. Bee-yoo-tee-full location, just right for an accordion band. Nice moat in front of the stage and all. You know things are looking up when you see a purple drink ticket.


Paul's black socks look cool and all, but here's what Suzanne and Carri looked like for tonight's show.

BTW, when you're in San Antonio and you're looking for a steak, give Little Rhein Steak House a try. Delicious filet-and-shrimp combo, and pecan pie that's outta this world.

Road Food: Good Grub in Washington

* The Primo Grill in Tacoma serves up delicious meals (we've been there twice so far this trip). Hard to explain how fantastic the sticky toffee pudding is -- sounds weird, tastes unbelievable.

* At the Puyallup Fair, the rib tips from Longhorn Barbecue Outpost rule. They're meaty, chewy and satisfying -- and almost too good a deal!

* Engine House No. 9 in Tacoma makes a lucious, fruity hefeweizen that's banana-y and extremely refreshing. If you like the Euro-style wheat beer, this is the stuff (goes good with their chili, too).

Saturday Food and Drink Updates

* September is National Bourbon Heritage Month. Time to celebrate.

* San Francisco Bay area "coffee pioneer" Alfred Peet -- the founder of Peet's Coffee & Tea, the java jet fuel that keeps TDA humming on the road -- died Wednesday.

* Through shadowy means best left undocumented, I am now in possession of the secret recipe to the amazing Swiss cream pie served at Turner Hall of Monroe, Wis. I'll be shopping for expandable-waist pants in the near future.

BBQ Hog Looks Smokin' Hot

I like to eat. I like to ride motorcycles. I need one of these.