Tastes, Treats, and Travels

Mom ‘n ‘em Coffee & Wine

2020-10-27T04:56:00.001-07:00

On Sunday, the fam and I were hanging out at Washington Park and I was craving a treat. We decided to pick up curbside takeout from Mom ‘n ‘em Coffee & Wine. I went with a honey latte with oat milk. It tasted amazing, unique, and not too sweet, and the service was great. I’d definitely go back!

Boombox Buns

2020-09-28T05:03:00.002-07:00

Saturday afternoon, the family and I were leaving the zoo and we’re not feeling having to cook dinner. We decided to head down to OTR for a picnic and picked up carry out from Boombox Buns.

For our family of 2 adults and 2 kids, we ordered 3 beef and 3 pork buns. Two for myself was perfectly filling.

The pork tasted like peanut sauce, and it was topped with cilantro and peanuts. It was heavenly.

The beef was tender and seasoned with mayo shisho and crispy shallots. The flavor was incredible as well.

I would definitely check it out again for an affordable, quick meal.

Milya Cafe

2020-09-23T04:51:00.003-07:00

Last weekend, I was craving gyros so we decided to get carry out from Milya Cafe. I ordered a gyro with a Greek salad and rice. The salad had plentiful toppings but was not as fresh and crisp as I would have liked. The rice was seasoned with curry, which everyone else in the family enjoyed but was not my thing.

The hubby had the chicken shawarma wrap, which he enjoyed. Again, it was seasoned with curry, which is not my favorite.

I chose the gyro wrap, which was delicious. It had a ton of meat on it, and I had enough for leftovers the next day.

I would go back for the gyros, but if interested in sides, would personally go to a different place. But I do feel curry lovers would be huge fans!

Mazunte Taqueria

2020-08-10T07:29:00.002-07:00

This weekend, I was craving queso, and also wanted to try a new place, so we ordered carryout from Mazunte Taqueria.

We did order the queso, but this did not photograph well. It was an excellent, unique version, although was served with thick whole fried tortillas, while I usually prefer thinner chips.

I went with the chicken quesadilla, which was delicious. It was enough for 2 servings, including chicken, queso, avocado relish, and delicious black bean puree. It came with rice, which looked plain but had a lot of flavor.

The hubby ordered the chorizo tacos, which were flavorful and spicy. They included spicy red salsa, avocado salsa, and onions, and he inhaled them.

I will definitely be back to try more of their options!

13th Street Alley

2020-08-03T04:58:00.003-07:00

I’ve had 13th Street Alley on my list of restaurants to check out for over a year and had not gotten around to it until Saturday. We were in the neighborhood picking up baked goods from Brown Bear, and decided to balance out the sweet with some savory.

I ordered the OTR Philly for my husband, which, in our opinions, beat any cheesesteaks we have had in Philadelphia. It had tons of delicious cheese, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and mayonnaise over sirloin steak. It was filling, flavorful, and delicious.

I had a chicken teriyaki sandwich, and the second I hit into it, I was amazed. It had a ton of sauce and Swiss cheese, the bread was tender and fresh, and the chicken well made. The onions added just the right amount of flavor.

It didn’t take too long to get our food, and I would DEFINITELY return!

GROW Cafe + Bistro- Saugatuck

2020-07-30T09:38:00.003-07:00

While driving in to Grand Haven, we decided to stop for dinner. I ordered an order of pancakes and carrot cakes pancakes for the kiddos to share. These were delicious, and the carrot cake pancakes were unique and very yummy!

I had the Club, which I adored. The sandwich was filled with braised chicken, bacon, aged cheddar, pico, and house Ranch. This was a creative version, and I was able to split it into 2 meals as it was quite filling.

The hubby had the Pork Carnitas skillet, which was topped with egg, potatoes bravas, black bean ragout, feta, pickled onion, and salsa verde. While he liked it, the flavors didn't meld together as much as we would like.

I'd love to try out more of the brunch options! We ordered carryout and really enjoyed having a nice picnic by the lake.

The Toasted Pickle- Grand Haven

2020-07-30T09:33:00.003-07:00

While spending the morning at the lighthouse in Grand Haven, my son very strongly wanted mac and cheese. We had seen a line outside the Toasted Pickle when driving by, so I looked up the menu.

The mac and cheese was creamy and a great size for my kids.

My hubby and I each had half grilled cheese sandwiches and soup. I went with the Big Cheese, which involved bacon, carmelized onion, tomato, and cheddar. It was incredibly delicious. The hubby had a more classic grilled cheese, the Gooey Grilled, which he enjoyed as well.

I enjoyed the creamy tomato soup while the hubby was impressed with the French Onion.

Nothing beats a good soup and sandwich, and I would love to try out more of the menu!

Paisley Pig Gastropub- Grand Haven

2020-07-30T09:28:00.001-07:00

On our last night in Michigan, we ordered carryout from the Paisley Pig Gastropub in Grand Haven. I was craving fish, so I chose the Harietta Hills trout, which was served with grilled vegetables, baby potatoes, chimichurri, and cornbread. This was a hearty serving and a classic yet tasty option.

The hubby chose the Italian Stallion pizza, which was topped with mushrooms and sausage. While it wasn't the best pizza I ever had, we had enough for leftovers, and the flavors were good.

While the food was not terribly original, it was good, and I'd check it out again.

Titus Bakery

2020-07-30T09:24:00.001-07:00

On our way to our vacation in Michigan, we decided to stop at Titus Bakery in Westfield for lunch. I decided to get a Pershing Blend latte, which included maple and cinnamon. This was unique and tasty. I also ordered a turkey sandwich with honey mustard, gouda cheese, lettuce, tomato, banana peppers, and pickles on a homemade hoagie roll. Overall, this tasted much more fresh than Subway, and it was nicer to have a nicer meal on our way. My son had a strawberry donut, which he adored. While the sandwiches weren't terribly unique, sometimes classic works!

Douglas Root Beer Barrel

2020-07-27T04:57:00.001-07:00

On our way back from vacation, we quickly ran into the Root Beer Barrel in Douglas. We decided to stop and pick up root beer floats. These were perfectly refreshing, with the perfect balance of root beer to ice cream, and lots of fizz. I would encourage anyone in the area to stop by for a summer treat!

Village Baker- Spring Lake

2020-07-23T04:57:00.001-07:00

While on vacation to Grand Haven, we stayed in Spring Lake. I decided to get a lavender latte from the Village Baker, which was perfection. I have zero complaints. The drink had just the right of syrup and satisfied my craving! I’d definitely go back.

Jumpin’ Java- Grand Haven

2020-07-23T04:55:00.000-07:00

While leaving Grand Haven, I was craving a good coffee drink. I Yelped Jumpin’ Java and decided to order a Fire Belly, a white chocolate raspberry mocha. The curbside pick up was easy, and the drink was perfect: not too sweet and just the right amount of flavor. No complaints here!

Sweet Temptations- Grand Haven

2020-07-23T04:51:00.002-07:00

Our family decided to take a trip to Grand Haven, Michigan for a socially distant getaway. On our first full day there, we were craving ice cream so picked up takeout from Sweet Temptations. We ordered a pint of black cherry ice cream, which was creamy, flavorful, and not too rich.

I’m also a sucker for a good fudge while on vacation, so we also picked up a half of a pound of chocolate peanut butter fudge. Again, this was spot on with flavor and texture.

We were very impressed by how easy and safe it was to pick up an order in the time of COVID19 and would recommend it to anyone for a sweet treat!

Mesa Loca

2020-07-08T07:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we decided to redeem a CincySavers deal for Mesa Loca in Hyde Park. We made reservations outside at 5:30 as we were hoping to be very socially distant during our dining experience. This worked out well. We had plenty of space on the patio and the server didn’t linger too long at the table, although many staff were wearing their masks incorrectly.

I started out with the roasted pina mule, a version of a Moscow mule with toasted and pureed pineapple added to ginger beer with Casamigos tequila, and lime juice. It didn't have as much flavor as I would have preferred and was a bit watered down for my liking. I would order light ice next time.

My toddler had the chicken tenders and yucca fries. The chicken was crispy, and the yucca fries perfectly seasoned.

The hubby and I love elote, so we had to order this. It was spicy, flavorful, and well presented!

We also had the manchego rice, which I loved. The manchego was a nice unique flavor, the rice creamy, and my 1 year old inhaled it!

I was most excited about the crispy pollo frito. The fried chicken was topped with a delightful rocoto sauce, which was spicy and creamy, and cilantro.

Lastly, we had the spicy beef tacos. The beef brisket was prepared with Coca Cola and arbol chile and topped with a spicy mango habanero taco. The flavors were good, although the spiciness was definitely strong!

Overall, we were happy with our food. I would return!

Rhino’s Frozen Yogurt and Soft Serve

2020-07-08T07:39:00.002-07:00

Last weekend, after a hot trip to the zoo, we decided to stop briefly at Rhino's Frozen Yogurt and Soft Serve. I decided to try the Strawberry Shortcake twist, which was a mix of strawberry and birthday cake. This was reasonably priced, delicious, and well flavored. The hubby had the peanut butter cup twist, which included peanut butter and triple chocolate. Also a hit! I will definitely be back!

Collective Espresso

2020-06-24T04:42:00.001-07:00

A couple weekends ago, I met up with an old friend at Collective Espresso in Northside. I didn’t get a picture of my drink, but the experience was very positive! The little coffee shop was hidden down a small alley and had a cute little outdoor area, although seating was closed due to COVID. My friend got a honey iced latte while I chose a turmeric iced latte, and we sat at the nearby park. The drink was delicious and unique, and staff were friendly. They had an excellent sanitation system down for COVID19, which I appreciated. Overall, it was a nothing but positive experience!

Brooklyn Pizza and Pasta

2020-06-24T04:39:00.002-07:00

Last weekend, we were craving pizza, so checked out a new-to-us pizza place in Montgomery, Brooklyn Pizza and Pasta. We decided to get a Caesar salad and split a large pizza with half sun-dried tomato, meatball, and pepperoni and half ricotta, artichoke, and meatball.

The salad was nothing to write home about. The lettuce was fresh but I am not the biggest fan of grated Parmesan on salad.

Regarding the pizza, it was classic and tasty. The pizza was more than enough for 2 adults, a toddler, and a very hungry 1-year-old. The ricotta was particularly creamy, and the toppings covered the pizza well. My hubby couldn’t pick up on the sun-dried tomato on his half but liked the spiciness of the pepperoni.

Overall, it was good but not necessarily anything terribly unique. I would get it again, but it wouldn’t be my first go-to.

Mad Llama Coffee

2020-06-24T04:32:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we had a picnic with friends so my 3 year old and I picked up breakfast at Mad Llama Coffee in Madeira. Right now, they are only open for takeout, and we placed a carry out order by phone. Our order was ready right when we arrived.

I decided to get an iced latte with pistachio syrup. This was an interesting combination, and I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not. There was a tang to the pistachio although the earthiness mixed well with the coffee. The latte itself was well made, I just don’t know if I’m a fan of the combination.

I also had an order of the veggie quiche. This was very reasonably priced and delicious, with the sweet potatoes being the forward flavor. My son wanted a blueberry bagel (not pictured), which was delicious!

I would definitely be up for going again, and the service was exceptionally friendly!

Libby’s Southern Comfort

2020-06-15T04:24:00.001-07:00

This weekend, the hubby and I decided to take our boys on a picnic at Devou Park. We’ve been wanting to check out Libby’s Southern Comfort for some time, so we ordered carry out from them.

I had to try the chicken and biscuit BLT, which included fried chicken, pimento cheese, bacon, arugula, and tomato. This sandwich was perfection. The biscuit was flaky and was a bit hard to eat, but the combination of ingredients fit well together. It came with fries that were more like potato wedges, well seasoned and cooked just right.

The hubby split a half a chicken with the two boys, choosing macaroni and cheese and green beans as his sides. The macaroni and cheese was creamy and had an interesting tangy flavor.

The chicken and biscuit were well-cooked, as were mine.

The green beans were very warm despite being carry out, and had a delightful meatiness from the pork.

We definitely were impressed and would return!

Joella’s Hot Chicken

2020-06-12T08:21:00.002-07:00

Last weekend, we were craving fried chicken, so decided to check out Joella's Hot Chicken in Mason. The Big Sammies caught my eye, so I went for a fried chicken sandwich with pimento cheese and a side of parmesan garlic fries. The sandwich was tasty with lots of creaminess from the cheese. I loved the pickles, which were perfectly crisp. The fries were just how I like them and well seasoned.

The hubby ordered chicken tenders with a side of macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes and gravy, with jojo dipping sauce. The dipping sauce was delicious, a delightful combination of honey mustard and barbecue sauce. The chicken was tasty,and the macaroni and cheese creamy. I didn't try the mashed potatoes but my hubby described them as "ok."

Overall, the food was good, although maybe a little overpriced for what we got. Definitely satisfied my craving!

Condado Tacos

2020-05-28T05:08:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, we decided to get carry out from Condado Tacos in Oakley. Our order was ready right when we got there.The hubby and I each had a Bud Box with a half serving of quest. This was delicious and I inhaled it. No complaints about the creamy cheese with just the right amount of kick!

For my Bud Box, I had the High Rise and Dutch Dragon tacos. The High Rise was served on a flour tortilla with black beans, scrambled egg, rice, onion and cilantro, quest blanco, and dirty sauce. I was surprised by how spicy this was! Overall, it was probably my least favorite of what we chose.

The Dutch Dragon included guacamole, roasted portobello mushrooms, corn salsa, salsa verde, jicama and cabbage slaw, tomatoes, and pickled jalapeños on both hard corn and soft flour tortillas. Overall, I was a bit disappointed by how one dimensional this was.

The hubby’s tacos were my favorite out of the bunch. The Lucy’s Fire was my favorite. This has a ton of flavor and texture, with shredded ice berg lettuce, smoked cheddar cheese, shredded chicken, cilantro and onion, corn salsa, and an amazing cilantro lime aioli on a Firecracker shell.

Lastly, my husband had a Sweet Heat taco, which did not photograph well. This one had hard corn and soft tortilla shells with brisket, chipotle honey, pineapple salsa, habanero mango sauce, and smoked cheddar. This one had a strong sweet and smoky quality.

Overall, while I didn’t love my taco choices, I loved the other options. We did not order drinks as we made margaritas at home but I would love to try Condado’s as well!

Artemis Bistro

2020-05-20T04:50:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, we decided to get carry out at Artemis Mediterranean Bistro in Montgomery.

Since you clearly cannot get Mediterranean food without hummus or baba ghanoush, we went with the latter. It was a generous portion with tons of flavor.

Next, we had the tabbouleh. Artemis made a very parsley-forward version, and I would have preferred more grains, but it was fresh and tasty.

For our main course, we split the grilled mixed kebabs for two. This included a side salad, rice, shish kebab, adana kebab, chicken kebab, and chicken adana kebab. All of the meat was well seasoned, tender, and flavorful, while the rice was perfectly cooked and buttery.

The salad was simple but had a good amount of dressing and plentiful carrots.

Overall, we were pleased and had plenty of food for two adults, a toddler, and a nearly-one-year-old with a voracious appetite, as well as leftovers for later!

The Rhined

2020-05-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

This week, my friend Catherine brought our family a care package from The Rhined in OTR. She brought a baguette, prosciutto, goat cheese, Hook’s 7 year cheddar, Tallgrass Reserve, and Dodge City.

The baguette was perfectly cooked, and the assortment of meats and cheeses were perfect. The Dodge City was my favorite meat, filled with lots of peppery flavor. The cheddar and Tallgrass Reserve were both hearty and full of sharp flavor. My hubby adored the creamy goat cheese.

I was pleased with everything we received and would love to go ourselves!

Pepp and Dolores

2020-05-05T05:08:00.001-07:00

I have been wanting to go to Pepp and Dolores in OTR since they opened, but the wait hasn’t been too doable for our family. So, when they reopened with carry out during the COVID19 pandemic, I just had to check it out!

The hubby and I split a wedge salad, which was perfect. The iceberg lettuce was crisp and fresh, there was tons of savory bacon, and the sweet gorgonzola was perfect. The roasted heirloom tomatoes had a nice sweetness and the dressing was creamy without being too thick.

For our main course, we ordered the DIY pasta kit for 2, which actually served both of us, our toddler, baby, and had a serving of leftovers for the next day. We chose the Sunday sauce, which included mezze maniche pasta, a very fresh-tasting tomato sauce, braised pork shoulder, and veal and pork meatballs. This was perfect as well, with the meat being moist.

The meal also came with a few amaretto cookies for dessert, which tasted true to their description. I could not have been more pleased and would love to return!

Velvet Taco- Chicago

2020-03-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

The family and I went to Chicago this weekend for an event and to visit my good college friend, Jess. She had a basketball game she wanted to watch before our show so we decided to get delivery from Velvet Taco, a Mexican restaurant nearby her Gold Coast apartment.

We started out with the elote, which was served with blue corn tortilla chips. This was perfect, creamy and spicy, and had a ton of flavor.

I ordered 3 tacos, the first of which was a falafel taco served in lettuce. I was a bit disappointed with this option, as the falafel was a bit soggy and not crisp. I liked that it was a bit lighter than the others, though.

I also had the Annatto shredded pork and flank steak tacos. The shredded pork was tasty, served with avocado crema, napa slaw, grilled pineapple, queso fresco, cilantro, pickled onion, and in a hibiscus corn tortilla. It had just the right of sweetness to balance out the savory. The grilled flank steak did not have as rounded out of flavors as I would have preferred. It included a large amount of steak, and the meaty portobellos were a nice touch, but I wished there was more of the queso blanco. I could only finish half of each of my tacos, and 2 would have been plenty with the elote.

Jess had the buffalo chicken, Kobe bacon burger, and Cuban pig, while the hubby had two of the Cuban pig and two of the falafel tacos. I tried the Cuban pig, which included ham, pork, gruyere, peppered bacon, grain mustard, and house-brined pickles. The pickles were perfect, and the other flavors went together well (although this is not my favorite combination in general). I didn't try the other options, but Jess enjoyed them, describing the buffalo chicken taco as tasting like a buffalo chicken wrap.

Overall, it was good, but Jess and I overordered. My stomach also didn't feel great afterwards, but I think it may have been the spiciness of the elote. The hubby felt fine, so it could have also been just me. The food did arrive quite quickly and was very creative for Mexican food!