Gear Patrol

The time for outdoor cooking may be slipping away, but with Thanksgiving right around the corner there’s certainly one compelling reason, if you don’t already have thousands, for keeping a deep fryer waiting in the wings.

We’ll never condone apocalyptic paranoia, but as our ultimate bug out bag article suggested, there’s nothing wrong with a little preparation..or a lot. The Shelf Reliance Thrive 1-Year food supply ($5,500) is one product that could keep you and four other family members fed for a year should the unthinkable occur. Since all the food…

It’s easy to get suckered into buying salsa by Newman’s doe-eyes, but everyone needs a change now and then to spice things up. The 5 Boroughs salsa from The Brooklyn Salsa Company ($6), each named for one of the five boroughs, range from mild (Manhattan) to hot (Brooklyn). Fitting. Each borough brings its own twist…

Aside from exotic cars, sports and beautiful women, beer and pork rank high on the list of things that occupy significant brain space for most red-blooded men. Combine these modern day nectar and ambrosia with a massive, communal walnut table set up in a racetrack style, along with warm globe lighting suspended from the ceiling…

Tucked away in a tiny corner of Queens, homemade ice cream is being made using only the highest quality, locally sourced, and occasionally unorthodox ingredients. But while words like “artisanal” and “sustainability” may make you feel warm, fuzzy, and socially responsible, they don’t necessarily make your mouth water. So here are some words that do:…

Mall-bound, Asian fast food is usually associated with one word: heartburn. An unfortunate thing considering there are so many delicious options, like piping-hot Asian buns. Chicago based Wao Bao is raising the stakes with their healthy, hot buns (no, not the wait staff). Everything Wao Bao serves is steamed and free of Trans-fats. The highlight…

Without the fanfare that we would expect, this summer marks the 30th Anniversary of a childhood favorite – Big League Chew. While there are (unfortunately) no special commemorative packs or fanfare, such an iconic product deserves celebration. For many, Big League Chew was almost as integral to Little League Baseball (or Softball) as cleats, baseball…

Instead of the customary salt & pepper, amp up your steaks, burgers, veggies, fish (my preferred protein of choice: salmon) with Susie Q’s Brand Red Label Santa Maria Valley Style Seasoning ($6). Comprised of a blend of salt, cracked black pepper, parsley, and garlic without any fake flavor enhancers like MSG, it amps up flavor…

There’s really not much to say about this product outside of the fact that it’s Chocolate Covered Bacon ($18 per pound) that can be shipped overnight to satisfy your worst cravings. Made by Marinis Chocolate in Santa Cruz, it starts with hickory smoked bacon and cooked until golden & crispy then involves smoothing on a…

Amp up dad’s sports time munchies with a Dale & Thomas Father’s Day Gift Crate ($65). The solid wood crate is packed with 12 savory and sweet popcorn bags good for 2-4 people, or one football game. Flavors include (gluten-free): Hall of Fame Kettle Corn, Southwest Cheddar Chiptole (our fave), Dale’s Caramel, North Country Cheddar,…

Unlike women, men don’t like to advertise that they have an addiction to chocolate. Therefore we felt compelled to share these interesting American made treats for all of our readers a sweet tooth who prefer to remain unnamed. Komforte Chockolates ($2.99) are available in a mish mash of options that are designed to combine the…

Based on the attention you all gave to the King Aurthur Flour Mini Doughnut Maker, we figured we’d share more with you in deep-fried goodness department. Anyone who has been to New Orleans and followed a guide books instructions has probably sampled the delicious offerings of Café Du Monde. If you enjoyed the experience, there’s…

Hailing from the heart of Greenwich Village in New York City, Peanut Butter & Co in many ways epitomizes the ridiculousness of the metropolis’s restaurant scene. After all this restaurant has made a name for itself for the most part serving all kinds of peanut butter sandwiches, from your classic PB & J to the…

It may be February, but we’re already chomping at the bit to fire up that grill and there’s never a better time to start getting prepared for the 2010: The Year Of Meat (unofficial Gear Patrol declaration). Instead of the “fire + ribeye = dinner” why not use this year to take what you already…

Established by John “Big Daddy” Bishop in 1958 in Tuscaloosa Alabama, the same year Bear Bryant starting coaching, Dreamland BBQ is now a southern institution. Known for their mouth watering ribs and sauce, the only thing that has grown larger than their reputation over the years has been the demand to have their famous BBQ….

Anyone who drinks wine should know that much of a bottle’s particular taste comes from the soil the grape vines were grown in. Similarly, when it comes to honey, everything from it’s consistency to taste and coloration is largely dependent on the flora around the bee hive. Subsequently, the honey experts over at Bee Raw…

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Bacon Salt and that we completely agree that, in fact, everything should taste like bacon. Still, not content to rest on their laurels, Justin and Dave (of J&D’s) have continued to capitalize on what seems to be a world-wide-web-wide craze for all things bacon. It’s in that…

If you or anyone you know enjoys a little kick with their food, these personalized, gallon jugs of Tabasco’s famous hot sauces should have you salivating (or sweating) already. Available in the classic original, as well as their four other popular flavors including chili pepper, chipotle, green pepper, and tongue-scorching habanero, buying one for the…

Win a Butterball Turkey Fryer! | Thanksgiving Day Gear Patrol’s got a shiny new Butterball Turkey Fryer to giveaway. One lucky winner will get a chance to win the fried goodness on Thanksgiving Day (Nov 26, 2009) in a special one-day giveaway as well as a special Black Friday gadget giveway the following day. ENTER…

I don’t have a sweet tooth, but Tate’s are enough to make even the greatest savory champions reconsider sugar. Born from Kathleen King’s farm stand at the age of 11, Tate’s (named after her father) is now a Southhampton institution, known for their delicious and highly addictive cookies. Defined by their crispy texture, and rich…

Somewhat obscured by the greater West Los Angeles area itself, the Apple Pan is a relic of mid-century Los Angeles. From its 25 seat diner motif right down to it’s metal Lily Cup drink holders, little has changed since it opened in 1947. For the record, that’s a good thing.

We’re guessing you probably didn’t know that 1, New Zealand water is renown as some of the purest water on Earth and 2, it’s also available for delivery, right to your front door. Before you gasp at the suggestion of importing water from New Zealand, know that Antipodes Water has already done the gasping (and…

When it comes to food preparation, cast iron skillets do wonders, but after spending my fair share of time with a cast iron skillet I’ve come to realize two probelms: one, they weigh a metric ton and require a measured degree of maintenance. The solution to my problem? A GSI Hard Anodized Aluminum Dutch Oven.

Guys love sunflower seeds. They smack of summer, baseball, and spitting – a manly lineup if ever there was one. Many of you probably have your own seed-smashing techniques, honed over years of sitting on a weathered pine bench in a shady dugout somewhere in your past. When it comes to a chaw of sunflowers…

By Gear Patrol Reader Martin Levine: Whether it’s the drag of a Monday morning or the need for a late weekend afternoon weekend pick-me-up, any man worth his salt caffeine should know how to prepare himself a good cup of coffee. This installment of the 30 Days To Be A Better Man Initiative won’t cover…

How one handles themselves, particularly while eating in the presence of others, can make an enormous impression. Though, genetically, we may not differ much from our chimpanzee brethren (yes, evolution), that doesn’t excuse us from eating like them. Today’s topic in our 30 Days of Upgrades Initiative focuses on proper table etiquette. Forget the sophomoric…

As a human, you are lucky. You are lucky to be comfortably situated in the food chain’s natural order. A place in which you are able (willing) to eat (enjoy) steak. Knowing that, you should adhere to the following paradigm: you are a man and therefore you must know how to properly order a steak….

Hey, Truth just called. Apparently, you aren’t the grill master you think you are. No worries though, it shouldn’t be held it against you. But before you, myself, and the 60% of Americans who will fire up the grill this Memorial Day do so, take a few minutes to join me as I interview someone…

You’ve got to love some of the things our Canadian brothers produce. After all, they gave us Rachel McAdams, Elisha Cuthbert, and Kristin Kreuk. However, this Gear Patrol entry is neither about the beautiful women of Canada nor the aforementioned women themselves, but rather about bread for which we should offer our thanks. Yes, this…

Since I was a kid, cereal has occupied its own place atop my food pyramid. I recall countless after-school cereal feeds with friends in front of the TV. We’d mix two or three different kinds in a heaping bowl with milk that would, if proportioned right, leave a syrupy-sweet draught of sugar-laced milk to drink…