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To Scare or not to Scare: Part I

JHM contributor Rick Gutierrez begins making the rounds at Southern California’s Halloween celebrations. This week, he checks the event that started them all: Knotts Scary Farm

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Every year, for the past thirty-two years, Knott’s Berry Farm undergoes a transformation into what has become an enduring tradition for people who want a good fright. Knott’s Scary Farm has been called the “Granddaddy of the haunted attractions.” With its highly imaginative mazes, and extremely funny shows, Knott’s has virtually set the standard for other haunted attractions like Universal’s “Halloween Horror Nights,” The Queen Mary’s “Shipwreck,” and the San Fernando Valley’s extremely popular “Spooky House.”

Knott’s Scary Farm features twelve mazes, six shows, and more than one hundred “scare actors.” I have found that in the years that I have been attending the Haunt that it is next to impossible to experience everything in one night. I have found that there are two intricate parts to a maze that can either make it or break it, and they are the theme and the scare factor for the maze. I will be reviewing each maze and the shows that I had the opportunity to experience.

“The Asylum”: An abandoned sanitarium is the setting for this maze. The denizens of the Asylum are the escaped mental patients that have taken over. The look, especially the outside is particularly striking and creepy looking. The scares are more focused on disturbing images than actual people jumping out and scaring you. However, for the most part, a solid effort.
Theme: 9
Scares: 8

“Blood Bayou”: There’s nothing worse than a maze that has outstayed its welcome. Blood Bayou is no exception. The maze features what the map describes as “Voodoo Zombies” (of which there was only one) and “Cannibalistic Inbreeds” (of which there were many ad nauseum). The maze is overlong and has been the exact same maze for several years now. It is in serious need of an update. The only good thing I have to say good about this maze is that it certainly does deliver on the scares.
Theme: 4
Scares: 8

“Hatchet High”: The storyline for this maze, is that a meteor has crashed into a high school, and has left the students and faculty horribly mutated. However, while the theme for the maze is very fun, the scares are quite simply not there. The maze is a very macabre tour through the halls of Hatchet High. Yes, there are evil cheerleaders and the requisite football players, (one who actually got intimidated by my height. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around.) but the maze comes off more as cute rather than scary. Don’t get me wrong, the maze is fun, but it needs to be scarier.
Theme: 8
Scares: 4

“Malice in Wunderland”: In the years that this maze has been a part of Knott’s Scary Farm, there has been one constant. Malice in Wunderland is without a doubt one of the most intense experiences in the Halloween Haunt. Alice in Wonderland gone twisted is a concept that has been done and redone several times and this version is no exception. Aside from American McGee’s brilliant vision with “Alice”, this is the best of the bunch. Throw in a set of $1 3-D Glasses, and you have an incredible maze that is both surreal and frightening at the same time.
Theme: 10
Scares:10

“Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns from Outer Space”: As my group and myself were walking down the line to “Malice,” we saw a wayward clown holding a sign that said, “Malice sucks, come to Clowns.” I want to say that the clown was right but unfortunately, this is another maze that was exactly the same as it was the past couple of years. No new scares were added, so it does suffer a bit in this department. However, this is a solid effort and the themeing and scares for the first timers are definitely very well done.
Theme: 8
Scares 8

“Army of the Underworld”: The Classic “Calico Mine Train” has been transformed into something out of “Army of Darkness.” The creatures look as if they were ripped straight out of Sam Raimi’s 1994 horror flick. The design and attention to detail is nothing short of incredible. Not one bit of the “normal” version of the Mine Ride is recognizable. The scares, however leave much to be desired, although there is one room in particular where the train stops and while there are monsters standing there, they do…absolutely nothing. It’s a great mind trick, but again, it could have been pushed farther.
Theme: 10
Scares: 5

“Red Moon Massacre”: The “Log Ride” as well has been transformed into a sawmill where werewolves have taken over. There is a storyline involving Little Red Riding Hood but that story is lost in the incredible visuals and the fact that the boats move so fast that many of the scenes fly by quickly. The ride is fun though and is the one of the best horror themed areas in the park.
Theme: 8
Scares: 9

“Terror Vision in 3D”: Without a doubt one of the best mazes in the park. This maze deftly mixes scares and a great theme, with just a dash of nervous laughter. The storyline is that our beloved shows have gone twisted. For example, the “Brady Bunch” has become the “Fraidy Bunch.” Gilligans Island has become known as “Killigan’s Island.” Truly a fun theme, and thrown in the $1 3D glasses you get a truly frightening and funny experience all at once.
Theme: 10
Scares: 10

“Curse of the Spider”: Not a maze for those who have a fear of spiders, “Curse” is another of those “Can’t miss” mazes. Entering a dark cave, you are assaulted from all sides by giant mutant spiders. The scares are slowly ratcheted up until you find yourself walking under a giant spider. Creepy, and scary as hell.
Theme: 10
Scares: 11 (An 11 simply because I am deathly afraid of spiders and this was my way of getting over my fears.)

“Jaguar: The Temple of Sacrifice”: What a lame concept. Just because “Jaguar’s” façade looks like an Aztec temple, a good maze this does not make. In fact, the maze is uninspired and the scares are so few and far between that by the end of the maze you really don’t care what happened. The novelty with the Mine Train and the Log Ride is that the rides themselves are part of the scares. This one, sadly, is not.
Theme: 1
Scares: 0

“Lore of the Vampire”: Truly one of the more original ideas for a maze. It utilizes both indoor and outdoor locations to seamlessly bring you a frightening history of Vampires. The sets are beautiful and the scares are definitely there, but they are pale (pun intended) in comparison to some of the other mazes in the park.
Theme: 9
Scares: 7

“Red Beard’s Revenge”: Now, this is the perfect example of how to do a maze. There is a logical progression throughout. You go from a bar filled with pirates, through a haunted pier, into a sunken ship, and finally end up where the pirates have hidden their treasure. The scares are very much a dominating force in the maze and for the Disney fans there are very subtle knocks at “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Definitely a can’t miss.
Theme: 10
Scares:10

As far as the shows go, unfortunately the one show that I was able to see was “The Hanging.” This is the show where celebrities and movie characters that have caused the most pain and suffering to the general public are humiliated, shot, stabbed, and pretty much destroyed in extremely violent and amusing ways. Up until last year, Knott’s had the distinction of being able to use horror movie “hero” Freddy Krueger as their main executioner. Sadly, New Line Cinema has forbidden Knott’s from using the Freddy and Jason characters in the Hanging show. However, that is definitely not to say that the show has lost any of its bite. The show is absolutely hysterical and not one that should be missed.

The best way to get to see as much as possible is to book a reservation for a pre-scare dinner. It’ll set you back about eleven dollars and you get to go into some of the mazes a whole half hour before the park opens to the general public. This is great because the Mine Train and Log Ride fill up fast and waits can easily exceed two hours. Or you can even book a V.I.P. reservation for fifteen dollars and not only get into the park, before the general public but you also get to have dinner in Ghost Town where many of the really creepy monsters are and this opens it up for some great photo opportunities. My other bit of advice, arrive early. The park gets extremely crowded if not there early, the wait just to get into the park can exceed forty-five minutes.

That’s it for me. Join me here next week when I have a review of another one of Southern California’s haunted attractions.

Rick Gutierrez is a Theater Arts Directing Major with a minor in Journalism. He lives in North Hollywood California with his wife, Molly and his hamster, Pippin.

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Jens Dahlmann of LongHorn Steakhouse has lots of great tips when it comes to grilling

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Sure, for some folks, the Fourth of July is all about fireworks. But for the 75% of all Americans who own a grill or a smoker, the Fourth is our Nation’s No. 1 holiday when it comes to grilling. Which is why 3 out of 4 of those folks will spend some time outside today working over a fire.

But here’s the thing: Though 14 million Americans can cook a steak with confidence because they actually grill something every week, the rest of us – because we use our grill or smoker so infrequently … Well, let’s just say that we have no chops when it comes to dealing with chops (pork, veal or otherwise).

So what’s a backyard chef supposed to in a situation like this when there’s so much at steak … er … stake? Turn to someone who really knows their way around a grill for advice. People like Jens Dahlmann, the Vice President and Corporate Executive Chef for Darden Restaurant’s LongHorn Steakhouse brand.

Given that Jens’ father & grandfather were chefs, this is a guy who literally grew up in a kitchen. In his teens & twenties, Dahlmann worked in hotels & restaurants all over Switzerland & Germany. Once he was classically trained in the culinary arts, Jens then  jumped ship. Well, started working on cruise ships, I mean.

Anyway … While working on Cunard’s Sea Goddess, Dahlmann met Sirio Maccioni, the founder of Le Cirque 2000. Sirio was so impressed with Jens’ skills in the kitchen that he offered him the opportunity to become sous-chef at this New York landmark. After four years of working in Manhattan, Dahlmann then headed south to become executive chef at Palm Beach’s prestigious Café L’Europe.

Jens Dahlmann back during his Disney World days

And once Jens began wowing foodies in Florida, it wasn’t all that long ’til the Mouse came a-calling. Mickey wanted Dahlmann to shake things up in the kitchen over at WDW’s Flying Fish Café. And he did such a good job with that Disney’s Boardwalk eatery the next thing Jens knew, he was then being asked to work his magic with the menu at the Contemporary Resort’s California Grill.

From there, Dahlmann had a relatively meteoric rise at the Mouse House. Once he became Epcot’s Food & Beverage general manager, it was only a matter of time before he wound up as the executive chef in charge of this theme park’s annual International Food & Wine Festival. Which – under Jens’ guidance – experienced some truly explosive growth.

“When I took on Food & Wine, that festival was only 35 days long and had gross revenues of just $5.5 million. When I left Disney in 2016, Food & Wine was now over 50 days long and that festival had gross revenues of $22 million,” Dahlmann admitted during a recent sit-down. “I honestly loved those 13 years I spent at Disney. When I was working there, I learned so much because I was really cooking for America.”

And it was exactly that sort of experience & expertise that Darden wanted to tap into when they lured Jens away from Mickey last year to become LongHorn Steakhouse’s new Vice President and Corporate Executive Chef. But today … Well, Dahlmann is offering tips to those of us who are thinking about cooking steak tips for the Fourth.

Photo by Jim Hill

“When you’re planning on grilling this holiday, if you’re looking for a successful result, the obvious place to start is with the quality of the meat you plan on cooking for your friends & family. If you want the best results here, don’t be cheap when you go shopping. Spend the money necessary for a fresh filet or a New York strip. Better yet a Ribeye, a nice thick one with good marbling. Because when you look at the marbling on a steak, that’s where all the flavor happens,” Jens explained. “That said, you always have to remember that — the higher you go with the quality of your meat — the less time you’re going to want that piece of meat to spend on the grill.”

And speaking of cooking … Before you even get started here, Jens suggests that you first take the time to check over all of your grilling equipment. Making sure that the grill itself is first scraped clean & then properly oiled before you then turn up the heat.

“If you’re working with a dirty grill, when you go to turn your meat, it may wind up sticking to the grill. Or maybe those spices that you’ve just so carefully coated your steak with will wind up sticking to the grill, rather than your meat,” Dahlmann continued. “Which is why it’s always worth it to spend a few minutes prior to firing up your grill properly cleaning & oiling it.”

Photo by Jim Hill

And speaking of heat … Again, before you officially get started grilling here, Jens says that it’s crucial to check your temperature gauges. Make sure that your char grill is set at 550 (so that it can then properly handle the thicker cuts of meat) and your flattop is set at 425 (so it can properly sear thinner pieces of meat).

Okay. Once you’ve bought the right cuts of quality meat, properly cleaned & oiled your grill, and then made sure that everything’s set at the right temperature (“If you can only stand to hold your hand directly over the grill for two or three seconds, that’s the right amount of heat,” Dahlmann said), it’s now time to season your steaks.

“Don’t be afraid to be bold here. You can’t be shy when it comes to seasoning your meat. You want to give it a nice coating. Largely because — if you’re using a char grill — a lot of that seasoning is just going to fall off anyway,” Jens stated. “It’s up to you to decide what sort of seasoning you want to use here. Even just some salt & pepper will enhance a steak’s flavor.”

Then – according to Dahlmann – comes the really tough part. Which is placing your meat on the grill and then fighting the urge to flip it too early or too often.

“The biggest mistake that a lot of amateur cooks make is that they flip the steak too many times. The real key to a well-cooked piece of meat is just let it be, “Jens insisted. “Of course, if you’re serving different cuts of meat at your Fourth of July feast, you always want to put your biggest thickest steak on the grill first. If you’re also cooking a New York Strip, you want to put that one on a few minutes later. But after that, just let the grill do its job and flip your meat a total of three or four times, once every three minutes or so.”

Of course, the last thing you want to do is overcook a quality piece of meat. Which is why Dahlmann suggests that – when it comes to grilling steaks – if you’re going to err, err on the side of undercooking.

“You can always put a piece of meat back on the grill if it’s slightly undercooked. When you over-cook something, all you can do then is start over with a brand-new piece of meat,” Jens said. “Just be sure that you’re using the correct cut of meat for the cooking result you’re aiming for. If someone wants a rare or medium rare steak, you should go with a thicker cut of steak. If one of your guests wants their steak cooked medium or well, it’s best to start with a thinner cut of meat.”

Photo by Jim Hill

As you can see, the folks at Longhorn take grilling steaks seriously. How seriously? Just last week at Darden Corporate Headquarters in Orlando, seven of these brand’s top grill masters (who – after weeks of regional competitions – had been culled from the 491 restaurants that make up this chain) competed for a $10,000 prize in the Company’s second annual Steak Master Series. And Dahlmann was one of the people who stood in Darden’s test kitchens, watching like a hawk as each of the contestants struggled to prepare six different dishes in just 20 minutes according to Longhorn Steakhouse’s exacting standards.

“I love that Darden does this. Recognizing the best of the best who work this restaurant,” Jens concluded. “We have a lot of people here who are incredibly knowledgeable & passionate when it comes to grilling.”

Speaking of which … If today’s story doesn’t include the exact piece of info that you need to properly grill that T-bone, just whip out your iPhone & text GRILL to 55702. Or – better yet – visit  ExpertGriller.com prior to firing up your grill or smoker later today. 

This article was originally published by the Huffington Post on Tuesday, July 4, 2017

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Brattleboro’s Strolling of the Heifers is a sincere if somewhat surreal way to spend a summer’s day in Vermont

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Some people travel halfway ‘around the planet so that they can then experience the excitement of the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. If you’re more of a Slow Living enthusiast (as I am), then perhaps you should amble to Brattleboro, VT. Where – over the first weekend in June – you can then join a herd of cow enthusiasts at the annual Strolling of the Heifers.

Now in its 16th year, this three-day long event typically gets underway on Friday night in June with a combination block party / gallery walk. But then – come Saturday morning – Main Street in Brattleboro is lined with thousands of bovine fans.

Photo by Jim Hill

They’ve staked out primo viewing spots and set up camp chairs hours ahead of time. Just so these folks can then have a front row seat as this year’s crop of calves (which all come from local farms & 4-H clubs) are paraded through the streets.

Photo by Jim Hill

Viewed from curbside, Strolling of the Heifers is kind of this weird melding of a sincere small town celebration and Pasadena’s Doo Dah Parade. Meaning that – for every entry that actually acknowledged this year’s theme (i.e. “Dance to the Moosic”) — …

Photo by Jim Hill

… there was something completely random, like this parade’s synchronized shopping cart unit.

Photo by Jim Hill

And for every piece of authentic Americana (EX: That collection of antique John Deere tractors that came chugging through the city) …

Photo by Jim Hill

… there was something silly. Like – say – a woman dressed as a Holstein pushing a baby stroller through the streets. And riding in that stroller was a pig dressed in a tutu.

Photo by Jim Hill

And given that this event was being staged in the Green Mountain State & all … Well, does it really surprise you to learn that — among the groups that marched in this year’s Strolling of the Heifers – was a group of eco-friendly folks who, with their  chants of “We’re Number One !,” tried to persuade people along the parade route not to flush the toilet after they pee. Because – as it turns out – urine can be turned into fertilizer.

Photo by Jim Hill

And speaking of fertilizer … At the tail end of the parade, there was a group of dedicated volunteers who were dealing with what came out of the tail end of all those cows.

Photo by Jim Hill

This year’s Strolling of the Heifers concluded at the Brattleboro town common. Where event attendees could then get a closer look at some of the featured units in this year’s parade…

Photo by Jim Hill

… or perhaps even pet a few of the participants.

Photo by Jim Hill

But as for the 90+ calves who took part in the 2017 edition of Strolling of the Heifers, once they reached the town common, it was now time for a nosh or a nap.

Photo by Jim Hill

Elsewhere on the common, keeping with this year’s “Dance to the Moosic” theme, various musical groups performed in & around the gazebo throughout the afternoon.

Photo by Jim Hill

While just across the way – keeping with Brattleboro’s tradition of showcasing the various artisans who live & work in the local community – some pretty funky pieces were on display at the Slow Living Exposition.

Photo by Jim Hill

All in all, attending Strolling of the Heifers is a somewhat surreal but still very pleasant way to spend a summer’s day in Vermont. And that’s no bull.

Photo by Jim Hill

Well, that could be a bull. To be honest, what with the wig & all, it’s kind of hard to tell. 

This article was originally published by the Huffington Post on Sunday, June 4, 2017

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Looking to make an authentic Irish meal for Saint Patrick’s Day? If so, then chef Kevin Dundon says not to cook corned beef & cabbage

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Let’s at least start on a positive note: Celebrated chef, author & TV personality Kevin Dundon – the man that Tourism Ireland has repeatedly chosen as the Face of Irish Food – loves a lot of what happens in the United States on March 17th.

“I mean, look at what they do in Chicago on Saint Patrick’s Day. They toss all of this vegetable-based dye into the Chicago River and then paint it green for a day. That’s terrific,” Kevin said.

But then when it comes to what many Americans eat & drink on St. Paddy’s Day (i.e., a big plate of corned beef and cabbage. Which is then washed down with a mug of green beer) … Well, that’s where Dundon has to draw the line.

Irish celebrity chef Kevin Dundon displays a traditional Irish loin of bacon with Colcannon potatoes and a Dunbrody Kiss chocolate dessert. Photo by Tom Burton. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

“Green beer? No real Irishman would be caught dead drinking that stuff,” Kevin insists. “And as for eating corned beef & cabbage … That’s not actually authentic Irish fare either. Bacon and cabbage? Sure. But corned beef & cabbage was something that the Irish only began eating after they’d come to the States to escape the Famine. And even then these Irish-Americans only began serving corned beef & cabbage to their friends & family because they had to make do with the ingredients that were available to them at that time.”

And thus begins the strange tale of how corned beef & cabbage came to be associated with the North American celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. Because – according to Dundon – beef just wasn’t all that big a part of the Irish diet back in the 19th century.

To explain: Back in the Old Country, cattle – while they were obviously highly prized for the milk & cheese that they produced – were also beasts of burden. Meaning that they were often used for ploughing the fields or for hauling heavy loads. Which is why – back then — these animals were rarely slaughtered when they were still young & healthy. If anything, land owners liked to put a herd of cattle on display out in one of their pastures because that was then a sign to their neighbors that this farm was prosperous.

“Whereas pork … Well, everybody raised pigs back then. Which is why pork was a staple of the Irish diet rather than beef,” Dundon continued.

So if that’s what people actually ate back in the Old Country, how then did corned beef & cabbage come to be so strongly associated with Saint Patrick’s Day in the States.? That largely had to do with where the Irish wound up living after they arrived in the New World.

“When the Irish first arrived in America following the Great Famine, a lot of them wound up living in the inner city right alongside the Germans & the Jews, who were also recent immigrants to the States. And while that farm-fresh pork that the Irish loved wasn’t readily available, there was brisket. Which the Irish could then cure by first covering this piece of meat with corn kernel-sized pieces of rock salt – that’s how it came to be called corned beef. Because of the sizes of the pieces of rock salt that were used in the curing process – and then placing all that in a pot of water with other spices to soak for a few days.”

And as for the cabbage portion of corned beef & cabbage … Well, according to Kevin, in addition to buying their meat from the kosher delis in their neighborhood, the Irish would also frequent the stores that the German community shopped in. Where – thanks to their love of sauerkraut (i.e., pickled cabbage) – there was always a ready supply of cabbage to be had.

“So when you get right down to it, it was the American melting pot that led to corned beef & cabbage being found in the Irish-American cooking pot,” Dundon continued. “Since they couldn’t find or didn’t have easy access to the exact same ingredients that they had back in Ireland, Irish-Americans made do with what they could find in the immediate vicinity. And what they made was admittedly tasty. But it’s not actually authentic Irish fare.”

Mind you, what Kevin serves at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at Disney Springs (which – FYI – Orlando Magazine voted as the area’s best restaurant back in 2014) is nothing if not authentic. Dundon and his team at this acclaimed gastropub pride themselves on making traditional Irish fare and then contemporized it.

Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

“Take – for example – what we serve here instead of corned beef & cabbage. Again, because it was pork – rather than beef – that was the true staple of the Irish diet back then, what we offer instead is a loin of bacon that has been glazed with Irish Mist. That then comes with colcannon potatoes. Which is this traditional Irish dish that’s made up of mashed potato that have had some cabbage & bacon mixed through it,” Kevin enthused. “This heavenly ham – that’s what we actually call this traditional Irish dish at Raglan Road, Kevin’s Heavenly Ham – also includes some savory cabbage with a parsley cream sauce as well as a raisin cider jus. It’s simple food. But because of the basic ingredients – and that’s the real secret of Irish cuisine. That our ingredients are so strong – the flavors just pop off the plate.”

Which brings us to the real challenge that Dundon and the Raglan Road team face every day. Making sure that they actually have all of the ingredients necessary to make this traditional-yet-contemporized Irish fare to those folks who frequent this Walt Disney World favorite.

“Take – for example – the fish we serve here. We only used cold water fish. Salmon, mussels and haddock that have been hauled out of the Atlantic, the ocean that America and Ireland share,” Kevin stated. “Not that there’s anything wrong with warm water fish. It’s just that … Well, it doesn’t have the same structure. It’s a softer fish, which doesn’t really fit the parameters of Irish cuisine. And if you’re going to serve authentic food, you have to be this dedicated when it comes to sourcing your ingredients.

Copyright Mitchell Beazley. All rights reserved

And if you’re thinking of perhaps trying to serve an authentic Irish meal this year, rather than once again serving corned beef & cabbage at your Saint Patrick’s Day Feast … Well, back in September of last year, Mitchell Beazley published “The Raglan Road Cookbook: Inside America’s Favorite Irish Pub.” This 296-page hardcover not only includes the recipe for Kevin’s Heavenly Ham but also it tells the tale of how this now-world-renown restaurant wound up being built in Orlando.

On the other hand, if you happen to have to the luck of the Irish and are actually down at The Walt Disney World Resort right now, it’s worth noting that Raglan Road is right in the middle of its Mighty St. Patrick’s Day Festival. This four day-long event – which includes Irish bands and professional dancers – stretches through Sunday night. And in addition to all that authentic Irish fare that Dundon and his team are cooking up, you also sample the fine selection of beers & cocktails that this establishment’s four distinct antique bars (each of which are more than 130 years old and were imported directly from Ireland) will be serving. Just – As ucht Dé (That’s “For God’s Sake” in Gaelic) – don’t make the mistake of asking the bartender there for a mug of green beer.

“Why would anyone willingly drink something like that?,” Dundon laughed. “I mean, just imagine what their washroom will look like the morning after.”

This article was originally published by the Huffington Post on Friday, March 17, 2017

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