March 20, 2010

East Side Story

I'm really just using that title for this entry because it conveys that I'm writing about another sausage from the "East" (Bulgaria!). Also, it emphasizes that I have been witness to 4 pieces of artistic stuff (poetry, an art installation, a video, and [of course] articles about jazz) with that title in the last two months. So, I wanted to help wear it out, because it's not so genius in the first place.

Genius? That the waitress at my local Bulgarian haunt suggested sausage to me after my original request (something with cheese) was unavailable. Here's what I got.

This mode of delivery, all wound up like a lollipop, allows the outside to be crispy, but the inside to remain moist without all of the fat that plumper sausages have. (Who says I'm not learning in my eating?) Obviously, those potatoes were heavenly. And I have to say, I think this mass-produced folksy pottery is a genius way to give sausage, cabbage, and other pale starches some relief in presentation. Check out my very tasty lentil salad below. Looks...blech. But that's not how it tasted!