By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

The other day I got some ripe mangoes and they were really good. I was talking with a friend  and we both said how much we enjoyed a good mango.

Then I told her about how I discovered I enjoyed eating them.

If you read my story about how picky I was with seafood in this paper, it should be no surprise I could be picky about fruit.

By Mike Armstrong    

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

Growing up in Florida, Texas and then the Washington D.C./Baltimore metro area, I was always had seafood around to eat.

The problem was, during my years in Texas and Florida, I only ate fish. Even then, I was very particular on what fish I would eat. Flounder or red snapper was my go to.

Zombies, Scorpions and Coladas, Oh My

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

When I first learned to bartend, the place I worked for specialized in Coladas and they were not frozen.

We made a mix and then poured the mix into a shader with ice, then added the spirit, shook for a minute and then poured into a goblet of about 10 to 12 ounces.

By Dick Perue

GAAT Correspondent

“Best free meal in the country,” boasts a satisfied patron with a full tummy at the last Gather at the Table supper.

He further promised, “I’ll be back next month.”

By Mike Armstrong    

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

It is no secret that I really enjoy most Asian food. Especially Southeast Asian Cuisine. 

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

I had always heard of a Flip, a type of cocktail that goes back to Shakesperian times and the early Colonial times. I have some very old bartending books, but the recipe I worked with came from newer times.

By Dana Davis    

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

As Mother’s Day approaches, I find myself reaching back into the corners of my childhood, remembering the comfort of our family kitchen and the special desserts that marked the most cherished occasions. One treat in particular has stayed with me over the years, not just for its taste, but for what it meant–the Banana Split Torte.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

I am not wild about licorice. In truth, I won’t even eat black licorice. The anise flavor just is a little weird to my taste buds.

Anise flavored liqueurs such as Ouzo, which is Greek, and Sambuca, which is Italian, I will drink if I am in the right mood.

In fact, there was a time when I drank Sambuca fairly often.

By Dick Perue

GAAT Correspondent

God willing and the creeping crud doesn’t crash the party again, you all are invited to “Gather at the Table” for barbecue ribs and all the fixin’s Monday evening, May 5th, from 5:00 to 6:30 in the Saratoga Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall at the corner of Third & Bridge.

By Mike Armstrong    

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

Many people may not realize that Hawaii for many years, before condos and resorts, was a place known for its beef. The Parker Ranch back in the day, was the largest in the world.

Grilling steaks is as common as grilling fish or baking a pig underground.

There are sauces that ranchers and locals alike used on their meats back before Hawaii became a state.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

The warm weather is coming and it is time to break out the blender. Most people think of using rum or tequila as they get their mixing machines out. Vodka is used too, but one of my favorite spirits to use is brandy.

I am not about cognacs or any of those pricey brandies from certain regions.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

My vegetable gardening is not as strong as my flower gardening. I don’t do well with most vegetables, with the exception of tomatoes. I even grow them from seed.

Often as not, I grow them out of pots, but there have been a couple summers I grow them in a ground garden.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

I have enjoyed walnuts since I was a little kid. I ate them mostly raw, but sometimes they would be in some baked goods or sweet potato dishes.

Neither of my families ever  cooked any Asian dishes, so I never ate walnuts in any dish with meat or seafood.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

An interesting spirit came out in 1984, and it became a monster seller. I can remember when Captain Morgan Spiced Rum came to a bar, it was not long after a Captain and Coke was the most popular drink.

Captain Morgan Spiced is owned by British Diageo, one of the largest spirits companies in the world.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

My love for mangoes started in Hawaii. I don’t believe I had ever had one before I moved to Honolulu. The same thing with guava fruit which grows everywhere.

I like guava, but mango is one of my favorite fruits, especially if it is a good one.

I was very spoiled with my first encounter with mango.