Brogan's Blog

Anthony Bourdain was a chef, a writer and a TV host that I was a big fan of thru the 2000’s. I started off by watching his show No Reservations (2005-2012) and then watched Parts Unknown (2013-2018) until his suicide during the filming of that show in June of 2018. During that time I also read several of his books as well. The coolest thing about Anthony Bourdain was he travelled and showed me what the world looked like in different areas and countries that I had no idea about. He would often times, not only eat at famous chef’s restaurants around the world, but would also get local grub in each area to see how they really ate there. The thing about his TV show was it was very calming. I could have it on in the background and I would learn something and just feel a calm feeling by watching. In my younger years it made me want to travel the world, write and eat food like him. It just seemed like a fun life. Here are 2 of my favorite Anthony Bourdain quotes thru the years: "Food i...

Hardee's California Raisins: Do You Remember?

Do you remember the California Raisin figurines from Hardee's in the 1980's? If you answered yes, you must be older like me. A 9 year old version of myself would beg my parents to take me to Hardee's just to get the cool figurines. For only $0.99, raisin figurines were offered with the purchase of either two of the sweet biscuits or another dessert. Looking back at it now I wonder what my kids would think of these figures. Probably they would think they are so dumb. But to me.... it was so cool. Let's take a look back at this little toy you could get at Hardee's. Hardee's released its California Raisins figurines in 1987, a year after the characters first appeared in commercials. These collectible toys were part of a promotion for Hardee's cinnamon 'n' raisin biscuits. The California Raisins were introduced by the California Raisin Advisory Board in 1986 with their famous "Late Show" commercial. Hardee's followed up a year later w...

Mount Everest: Could I?

Mount Everest has always been one of those dreams of mine. I grew up watching shows of people trying to climb Mount Everest with some succeeding and many others falling short. Everest: Beyond The Limit was the show that really got me interested in the adventure. The show followed teams of climbers and Sherpas (who are the real heroes of the expeditions) in their attempt to summit Mount Everest. Now if you have no idea what Mount Everest is or why someone would want to climb it, here is a little info. Mount Everest is Earth's highest mountain, situated on the border of Nepal and China, with an official height of 29,031.7 ft. It is still growing due to tectonic plate movement, while its summit is a harsh "death zone" with thin air and extreme cold. The mountain has local names like Sagarmatha (in Nepal) and Chomolungma (in Tibet) and was named after Sir George Everest. Interesting enough Sir George Everest never climbed the mountain. Nor did he ever even see it! Sir Geo...

Friends "The Quiz"

Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courteney Fox, Matt LeBlanc Friends, which ran for 10 years on NBC, was one of my favorite shows when I was younger. I remember every week waiting for it to be on TV and I would make the time to watch. The characters were all wonderful, it was funny, had great guest stars and was one of the most popular shows at the time. So, I'm sure you have seen it. So let's see if you can remember it? Take the quiz and let's find out! Loading…

Guinness Fun Facts: Did You Know?

As someone with Irish roots, I was always intrigued by Guinness when I hit the drinking age. It's one of those beers you just got to have. And yes, it tastes good. I have always said one day, I will get to Ireland, go to Brogan's Bars in Dublin and have myself a Guinness. But until then, I can learn more about the wonderful drink. Join in and learn these fun 10 facts about Guinness. 1. There really is a small ball in your Guinness can. It’s actually a Guinness widget that’s working hard to replicate the draught experience in a can. When a Guinness can is popped open, a small amount of beer and nitrogen, which is trapped in the widget, is forced out to create the famous creamy head that you’d expect if your Guinness was poured for you from a tap. 2. The water used for Dublin-brewed Guinness comes from the Wicklow Mountains, County Wicklow is known colloquially as the 'Garden of Ireland'. 3. More than 160,000 pints of Guinness are lost every year in facial hair. Guinnes...

Pickle Bacon Pizza - I tried Making and I Conquered

So here's a weird thing about me. I really love dill pickles. So when I heard about pickle pizza I was excited. Unfortunately, where I live there aren't any real close pizza places that serve pickle pizza. I did however find a frozen version at Target. I had to try it! Although it had chips on it. And the idea of a frozen pizza with chips on it didn't make sense to me. Wouldn't they not be crispy? Hmm. But it had pickles. So I baked it up and it was not good at all . Gross even. I didn't even eat more than one piece. Pickle Pie from Target - No Good! There had to be another option. I could drive far away and try one or I could just try and make my own. I went for option 2 and decided to make my own. I ran to my local grocery store and bought a 2 pack of pizza crusts, some roasted garlic parmesan sauce, some shredded mozzarella, some bacon bits and some dill pickles. Total cost was $19.30. So right around the cost of getting a prepaid pizza before tip or delivery ...

Sherlock: Except No Others

Except no others. Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) and Martin Freeman (Dr. Watson) is the best version of the Sherlock Holmes. By far, no contest! Yes, Robert Downey Jr. has a movie version that put out two films, but that one isn't on the same level. So the great thing about Sherlock is it's based in present time. Which to a modern watcher makes it so much better. So if you aren't familiar with Sherlock at all, what's it about? In this contemporary version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective stories, Dr. John Watson is a war vet just home from Afghanistan. He meets the brilliant but eccentric Sherlock Holmes when the latter, who serves as a consultant to Scotland Yard, advertises for a flatmate. Almost as soon as Watson moves into the Baker Street flat, they are embroiled in mysteries, and Sherlock's nemesis, Moriarty, appears to have a hand in the crimes. Now although there are many criminals through the seasons, Moriarty comes about mo...

Milli Vanilli: Why

Wednesday, July 4th, 1990 was the first concert I ever attended in Des Moines, Iowa. I was 12 years old, and at the time I was so excited. I mean the show was the one you had to see. Who was it? Seduction, Young MC and the headliner was Milli Vanilli! At the time Milli Vanilli was the group you had to see. With such great hits as Blame It On The Rain, All or Nothing, Girl You Know It's True and Baby Don't Forget My Number, Milli Vanilli was my favorite group at the time. And don't lie, most of you liked them too. As I was watching the concert, as a 12 year old, never did I think that they weren't really singing the songs. Fast forward to 4 months later to November of 1990 and the scandal hit the news. The Milli Vanilli scandal was the revelation that the duo's lead members, Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, did not sing on their own records; their vocals were performed by studio singers. This lead to their Grammy for Best New Artist being revoked and the duo becoming a...

Past Posts

2025 56

2024 6
2023 11
- November 1
- September 1
- August 1
- July 1
- April 3
- March 1
- February 2
- January 1
2022 1
- April 1
2021 4
- March 3
- February 1
2020 1
- November 1
2019 1
- October 1
2017 6
2016 6
2015 5
2014 3
2013 2
- April 2
2012 5
2011 65
- September 2
- July 4
- June 7
- May 5
- April 17
- March 26
- February 3
- January 1
2010 8
- September 1
- August 1
- July 1
- April 2
- January 3
2009 18
- November 2
- October 5
- September 4
- July 3
- April 1
- January 3
2008 36
- December 2
- November 3
- September 2
- August 1
- July 8
- June 3
- May 1
- April 4
- March 3
- February 4
- January 5
2007 51
- December 3
- November 10
- August 2
- June 1
- May 6
- April 13
- March 7
- February 9
2006 25
- December 2
- November 6
- October 3
- September 4
- August 2
- June 1
- March 3
- February 1
- January 3
2005 16
- December 1
- November 2
- October 1
- September 2
- June 1
- May 3
- April 1
- February 1
- January 4
2004 7
- December 7

Show more Show less

Key Words

Thoughts131
food30
Movies23
Parenting16
tv16
review15
recipes11
classic6
books5
Christmas4

archives4
bathroom4
Car3
Life Questions3
Marriage3
Sports3
brogan3
des moines3
products3
shopping3
wedding3
Christmas Movies2
Golf2
Irish2
Music2
Phone Messages2
Road Trips2
Starbucks2
cars2
casino2
chicken2
gambling2
medical guide2
office2
party2
pee2
police2
racing2
read2
save2
snow2
speeding2
st. patrick's day2
videos2
weather2
Abortion1
Adventureland1
Bear Grylls1
Bender Ball1
Better Business Bureau1
Black Friday1
Book Review1
Brad Thor1
CSI1
Christianity1
Chuck Norris1
Cleaners1
Cow Udder1
Cuil1
DIY1
Dan In Real Life1
Dancing1
Darth Vader1
Deals1
Dentist1
Des Moines Register1
Drinking fountain1
Ernest Hemingway1
Games1
Google1
Green Beer1
Green Solutions1
Halloween1
Iowa1
Jean-Claude Van Damme1
John McCain1
Justin Cronin1
Keychains1
Kohls1
Laundry1
Mount Everest1
New Shoes1
New Years1
Obama1
Obama National Anthem1
Obvio1
Oregon Trail1
Pepto1
Pictures1
Pierogi1
Poem1
Prairie Meadows1
Rick Warren1
Right Guard1
Rip-off1
Santa Claus1
Satellite Radio1
Scam1
Shoveling1
Sirius1
Souvenir1
Spinach Frittata1
Star Wars1
Steve Carell1
Steven Siegel1
Storm1
Strange Facts1
Superbowl1
Survivor1
The City of Mirrors1
The Office1
The Passage1
The Twelve1
Tiger Woods1
Vote1
Write1
Yearbook1
Youtube1
accident1
amusement park1
balance1
birth1
birthday1
blisters1
blizzard1
bomb pop1
bowling ball1
burger king1
burgers1
business cards1
cancel membership1
cars parking1
cell phones1
challenge1
closings1
clowns1
club1
common sense1
cookie1
cops1
declutter1
der flitzer1
diet coke1
drinking1
drivers1
driving1
duck hunt1
dystopian1
earn money1
easter1
embarrasment1
engagement1
eyes popping out1
facts1
football1
gas station1
geese1
generic1
gifts1
glass half empty1
glass half full1
glitter1
global warming1
green tea1
hair1
happiness1
happy1
health insurance1
heist1
horse1
ice cream1
karma1
kids1
kids activities1
latex1
limo1
mall parking1
marketing1
mattress1
mentos1
midlife1
mobile phone1
money1
musings1
myths1
nail1
nature1
nintendo1
office olympics1
open minded1
organic1
organize1
pants1
parking ramp1
payperpost1
peace1
pepper1
perspective1
perspiration1
phones1
pig's heart1
pizza1
pizza delivery1
political1
pregnant1
quiz1
race cars1
radar detector1
rain1
reality1
red hat ladies1
relationships1
resolutions1
rides1
right place1
road rage1
rocky mountain oysters1
rubber gloves1
sailor1
sales rep1
sandals1
sandwich1
savings1
search engine1
silly silo1
slots1
sneeze1
sneezing1
society1
st. brogan's day1
storms1
straw1
sweat1
sweaters1
symptoms1
talking on phone1
teacher1
teeth1
telephone1
television commercials1
three sheets to the wind1
tickets1
tipping1
tips1
travel1
tree1
turning 301
valentine1
valentines day1
video1
water bottle1
weight loss1
wet hands1
wine1
winter games1
work games1
wrapping paper1
wrong time1

Show more Show less

Total Pageviews

Powered by Blogger

2025 Brogan's Blog - Thomas Brogan