NFL Week 17: Cambodian Food

Hello from the Siem Reap airport in Northwest Cambodia! Got to spend 4 days here in Siem Reap for our Christmas-New Year vacation.

The main attraction is the Angkor Wat template, which is very impressive – an 11th century temple that is huge and vast. I’m sure a simple Wikipedia search will come up with better images that what I have on my phone.

I’ve been trying search for the right adjective to describe Cambodian food. The native food is very simplistic – no more than 5-6 ingredients; it’s not overdone with too many spices to overwhelm, but the food could be considered bland since it’s very…..simple. I guess minimalist is the best way to describe the food.

The appetizer seen here is pumpkin soup with green onions – and, well, that’s what it is! A pumpkin broth with a few green onions thrown in. It was very tasty and it goes well together, but it doesn’t “wow”. (And yes, that is a Tom Collins in front of the soup. I had to have it once I saw it on the menu!

The main courses were the same. The dish at the bottom was mine, which was a braised pork with palm sugar – was basic, although that sounds negative. It was good – but served simply. Janice’s dish was the lemongrass chicken, done very well but nothing special to overwhelm or excite. Cambodian food is basic, gets the job done, but in the end is nothing especially memorable.

(Except the spring rolls….wow…best fried spring rolls in Asia that I have had. Light, crispy, not greasy….now those were awesome).

I guess the Cambodian cuisine is a fitting end to another forgettable Browns season.

The spring rolls were the 3 game winning streak at the end of the season – but in general, it was a season that delivered its share of close losses, maddening coaching decisions, and a team playing just well enough to lose close games…..like many seasons since our last division title in 1989. The year was better than some other recent years – like 2009, or 2004, ….. – but it’s nothing spectacular in the end. And now Thad Lewis is our starting QB for the season ender? God help us.

On to the games:

Atl 23, TB 20. Not sure what anyone has to play for here - I do think the Bucs will stay in it and make it a game.

Buf 27, NYJ 24. It would be fitting for the Jets to have Sanchez play well in the last game vs. a horrid Buffalo defense....  

Cin 24, Bal 23. No idea. Home field advantage takes it for the Bengals?  

Det 23, Chi 16. I think the Lions will try to prove something - and the Bears are not that good.  

Hou 31, Ind 17. The Texans want to have a good showing before the playoffs. The Colts are ready for a let down after clinching last week.   

Jax 27, Ten 21. I'll go with the better offense here.   

Pit 24, Cle 6. Why will I be watching this game?  

NO 31, Car 27. Should be an entertaining game between two teams playing well - but out of the playoffs.   

NYG 23, Phi 20.  Vick's last stand?  

NE 31, Mia 17. Another team ready to have a good impression before the playoffs.   

GB 24, Min 20. I think the Pack are overrated, but the Vikes have no passing game.   

Sea 27, StL 13. The Hawks continue to roll...  

SF 23, Az 10. The Niners will get up big and then take the gas off the accelerator.  

SD 27, Oak 10. Terrelle Pryor?  

Den 23, KC 13. See the Niners game above.  

Dal 27, Was 24. Everyone is high on the Skins - and yes, this rivalry usually ends in a split every year.   

Best bets: 17 of them. Last week: 11-6-1; overall: 137-114-7.   

NYJ/Buf over 39
Bal/Cin over 41 1/2
Det +3
Chi/Det under 45
Hou -6 1/2
Jax +4
Jax/Ten over 41 1/2
Pit -10
Phi +7
NE -10
Sea -10 1/2
Az +16 1/2
Az/SF under 39
SD -10
KC +16
KC/Den under 42
Dal +3  

Supercontest: Last week: 4-1; overall: 42-36-2  
Jax +4
Hou -6 1/2
Pit -6
Phi +7
Dal +3