Green Eggs

Cookies & Kreme Doughnut Ecstasy

2011-05-31T20:57:00.002-04:00

There are 4 words that I love hearing my wife say:

It's not, "I Love You Danny"

It's not, "Please Kiss Me Danny"

It's not, "I Need You Danny"

It's........."Let's Get Krispy Kreme"

When she utters these 4 magical words, my heart sings, my mind explodes, my ears fly and I start stttuteerring..."Rrreaaaally?"

Do you know what Heaven tastes like? I do. It's this.

She always says, "Yes".

Then, I don't ask any more questions. I don't stop to think. I immediately stop what I'm doing and go to Krispy Kreme. This craving she gets for Krispy Kreme has been known to only last for a few minutes, once the moment passes, all hope is gone. I have only one mission: Get us to Krispy Kreme, and get us there, Now.

This usually only happens on Saturday or Sunday afternoons, while both of our kids are asleep (I have no shame, I don't want to share my doughnut with them).

The magical occasion of a Krispy Kreme craving happened this past Sunday. When we go, we usually both get the same thing - creme filled doughnuts. I used to be a traditional good old fashion Krispy Kreme doughnut guy, but she changed me for the good.

This is how our Krispy Kreme Doughnut extravaganza works: I go in, I order, and then I bring the doughnuts back in the car and we eat while both the kids are sound asleep. They never even know we were there. Evil? Maybe. Genius? Yes.

This time it was a little different because in the window of Krispy Kreme hung a picture of what is likely God's Gift to the Food World: The Cookies & Kreme Doughnut made with Oreos.

I don't usually go for the super sweet stuff (ok, maybe I'm lying). But Oreos and Doughnut Kreme together as one!?!?!? Perfection.

As I go rushing in to the store I ask the Krispy Kreme employee for a little reassurance, "The Oreo doughnut is good right?" She responds, "Yea, if you like Oreos." Silly me, I should have known that.

I have a weird infatuation with Oreos. As a young, plump child I used to stick the Double Stuff Oreo package in the freezer and eat them when they were ice cold - only Double Stuff though, get the amateur single stuff away from me. Why did I stick the Oreos in the freezer? Actually, I didn't, my Mom did. It all started because she would "hide" the Oreos from my brother and I (ok, mainly it was only me I was just trying to pass the blame). She thought the best hiding spot would be the freezer. At first, I would take them out behind her back and let them get to room temperature. But then, I didn't want to wait any longer so I just started pulling them out of the freezer and popping them right in my mouth......that was when the magic started and I fell in love.

Anyway, back to the doughnut.

Ah, the doughnut. The Krispy Kreme employee gently pulled the doughnut off the tray and put it in a little baggy for me. I paid and went back to the car where my wife was waiting. She said something, but I couldn't hear her, my mind was too focused on the urgent matters at hand: eating this doughnut.

I pulled the doughnut out of the baggy with grace and looked it over carefully. This was a work of art. Classic Krispy Kreme icing/kreme on top, then then topped off with chunks of broken Oreos and drizzled in kreme. My mouth watering, I took my first bite.......complete ecstasy.

The kreme filling inside is made with Oreos. So imagine the kreme of the Oreo cookie, mixed with the cookie crumbs, mixed with doughnut kreme - that's heaven people. It came gushing out both sides as I bit in. It was perfectly sweet and satisfying......I can honestly say that if I had one meal left on earth....this would be it.

The special Oreo kreme + the icing on top + the Oreo cookie chunks + the kreme drizzle took me into another world. This may be one of the best things I have ever tasted (if you like Oreos, of course).

Upon my final, luxurious bite, I finally came back up for air and was able to speak to my wife again. I don't know what happened during the 2 minutes it took me to kill that doughnut but I'm pretty sure it was magic.

I suggest you experience the magical, kreme, Oreo delight as soon as you possibly can. I guarantee it will leave you totally speechless.

On Friday, June 3 Krispy Kreme is giving out Free Doughnuts in honor of National Doughnut Day. So this way you get total satisfaction AND it's free. Doesn't get any better than that. Details here.

Have Lemons? Make Frozen Strawberry Lemonade

2011-05-24T20:57:00.003-04:00

I don't like lemonade.

We went through this weird faze with my kids where my daughter always wanted lemonade. Due to the intense demand of lemonade needed I decided not to buy a lemonade machine and fresh squeeze the lemons myself (I assume you understand).

So, we opted for the Crystal Light powder packs which we would stir up in a jug and give to her in her juice cup. She loved it. I hated it.

The weird powder would collect on the bottom of the jug and if I (being the lazy man that I am) didn't stir it up enough it would clump together too.

But the worst part of all was having to poor the old lemonade from her juice cup down the drain. By the end of the day it got fairly warm and the smell of powdery lemons was nicely baked in. Opening up the sealed, spill proof, indestructible cup resulted a rush of hot lemon steam hitting me right in the face {sick}. As quickly as I could, I would dump the hot powder lemonade down the sink and deep clean the juice cup as fast as my hands could move (I've found that hot apple juice in a sealed cup has a similar nausea creating effect).

After a few months of fighting with lemonade every day I made the decision (which my wife appreciated) to move away from powder lemonade and just stick with bottled juice from the store.

Unfortunately the powder lemonade made me a changed man and I haven't been able to look lemonade square in the eye since then.

When McDonald's came out with their new Frozen Strawberry Lemonade (for just $1.59) it was the first time I'd even given lemonade a second look in years.

It usually seemed that Frozen Strawberry Lemonade (or Frozen Lemonade in general) was reserved for special occasions....like the Fair, an Amusement Park, Concert, etc. In all of these environments you need Frozen Lemonade because you're sweating your butt off and the idea of a frozen beverage is like a fantasy come true (which is why they charge you like $9 for it).

So.....when I'm driving by McDonald's, I'm not sweating. I'm not hot. The air conditioning is on. Why do I need a Frozen Strawberry Lemonade? Um.....cause it looks good and it cost me less than 2 bucks?

My urges overwhelm me and I pull into the McDonald's drive thru, "1 Frozen Strawberry Lemonade please."

I go through, I pay, I drink, I smile.

Damn you McDonald's and your genius marketing product development people. Why are you always creating stuff that's so delicious and so affordable? Why do you keep giving me stuff I don't know I want when really I secretly want it?

WHY!?!?!?

Don't get me wrong. I still don't like lemonade. But the Frozen Strawberry Lemonade is really remarkable at a really good price. It's not too sweet and not too tart. It's a nice slushy consistency so it's not solid rock ice but also not too runny to be pure syrup. There is just enough strawberry flavoring to create the perfect harmony of strawberries and lemons (although I have to imagine that McDonald's isn't squeezing fresh lemons in the back of the restaurant).

For summer, it's a win, win, win. I just won't be sharing any with my daughter (who knows something might happen and I'll get grossed out and never want it again).

If you're still not convinced (how could you not be by now?) here's a $1 off coupon to try the Frozen Strawberry Lemonade at McDonald's - expires on 6/15/11.

Have you tried it? What did you think?

Mouth Orgasm

2011-04-02T14:27:00.001-04:00

In 1885 milkshakes we're first invented. That was a good year (I obviousily wasn't there for their invention, however I must assume that the world was filled with joy from the new creation)

In 2004, Shake Shack was invented. That was a better year. Why? Because it's not a shake unless it comes from Shake Shack.

This past Tuesday I had the great adventure of going to NYC for 15 hours - in those 15 hours I needed to cram in some serious eating, and fortunately with the help of a local hermit (my sister-in-law) I was successful in my mission.

The line outside Shake Shack. Yea, it's serious

It was her idea to take me to Shake Shack - a destination I had never heard of before. However the words "shake" and "shack" are very appealing to me so I wasn't too worried. We ended up at the location Times Square location and found a line spilling out the door. We were at least 30-40 people deep in line. Here's a simple hint about restaurants (if there's a line, it's good).

Speaking of the line, once are place in line moved up enough to be inside the restaurant one of the Shack employees told me that on some summer days the line can go the entire way around the block. (WHAT!)

The menu at Shake Shack is simple: burgers, shakes, fries, shakes, and hot dogs. We both opted for the Shake Burger with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and "Shake Sauce" however, much more importantly we got the GREAT WHITE WAY Shake (I'll pause here for Hallelujah chorus).

After we finished ordering our food, they handed us a buzzer and we went and found a seat near a window overlooking the blistering cold and busy streets of NYC.

Our food was ready a few minutes later and I sprinted (ok, jogged lightly) to the front counter to pick it up. I almost tripped several times on the way back to our seats because I was too busy staring deeply into the beauty of the GREAT WHITE WAY shake.

Once back at our table the hermit (sister-in-law) and I both promptly ignored our Shake burgers and started digging in to the shake. It was thick like cement and so moments after attempting attack with an everyday straw I went back up front to get plastic shovels (spoons).

Here it is. Great White Way.

So - why is the GREAT WHITE WAY so amazing? Because it's made with: vanilla custard (score), crispy crunchies (like Rice Krispies) and most important, marshmallow sauce. All of those ingredients blended in to the thick, rich custard is what defines the shakes success. The marshmallow sauce, however was my favorite. It was like a smooth coating on top of the shake so it basically tastes like you're eating a really thick, marshamallow heavy Rice Krispies Treat shake.

As I indulged myself and took my taste buds into complete pleasure overload, one of my favorite songs came on (Bab O'Riley by the Who, here for your listening enjoyment). The magic of this song, combined with the taste sensation and awesomeness of the GREAT WHITE WAY took me into a mind warp of ecstasy that I never knew existed.

Once I came back down from planet pleasure we chowed down on our burgers and fries which we're also unbelievable (well the burger was fantastic, but the fries are better at Five Guys).

All in all it became clear to me why people wait in line for hours and hours at Shake Shack, its because they're craving a Mouth Orgasm.

It appears there is a Shack Shake in Miami. Road trip anyone?

Donuts for Lunch

2011-03-24T23:03:00.000-04:00

Most people go to Smokey Bones for the BBQ. I go for the donuts.

Why go to a casual dining restaurant just to get some donuts? Because they're flippin' amazing.

My last visit to Smokey Bones was about 5 years ago and all I remember from that visit was that the BBQ was mediocre and the donuts looked really really good.

What does heaven taste like? Smokey Bones Donuts

Because Smokey Bones is constantly shoving coupons down my throat (by email, Facebook and in the mail) I decided that since I could go and get $10 off that it was probably worth another try.

The best thing about Smokey Bones are the "Boneisms" that are all over the restaurant. They are catchy little sayings that are posted on signs, coasters, table tents all throughout the restaurant. Most of them are hilarious and true, such as Boneism No. 100: Hate to break it to you vegetarians, but plants are living things too or Boneism No. 800: When you're in the stall, hang up the call or Boneism No. 555: Money isn't everything. It does, however, pay for everything.

Aside from the entertaining Boneisms, Smokey Bones has improved significantly since my last visit. The service was great and while the BBQ isn't the most amazing thing I've ever had I was still impressed with the affordable prices and large menu variety.

So what's good at Smokey Bones aside from the Donuts?

The Sweet Potato Fries - they are like tiny strips of sweet potato candy. Deep fried, extra crispy and literally will make your mouth water.
Macaroni and Cheese - it's like thick cheese and noodle soup which basically makes it irresistable.
Pulled Pork - Smokey Bones gives you a great variety of BBQ sauces and the pork is nice and tender. (It's far superior to the Beef Brisket, which was chewy and tough).

Finally after I chowed down on all the food above I couldn't resist getting the donuts as dessert. I think the presentation of the donuts is part of the sex appeal of them:

The server comes over to the table shaking a steaming hot brown paper bag full of the freshly fried donuts. The shaking gets the piping hot donuts covered in cinnaamon and sugar.
Once satisfied with the cinnamon/sugar shaking experience, the server opens the bag and spills the donuts onto the plate on our table and then gives us our donut dipping sauces (why I need to dip a donut in chocolate sauce I don't know.)

You don't need any sauce because the dessert donuts are fantastic enough on their own. Light, sugary and freshly made they are simply the perfect way to end a lunch (or any meal for that matter). I would literally go to Smokey Bones just for the donuts.

So next time you need to have a good lunch, skip Panera Bread, and just go get some donuts at Smokey Bones.

Red Robin = Pure Burger Happiness

2011-01-31T22:40:00.000-05:00

For years people have been telling me how amazing Red Robin is. I never really knew anything about the place except two things:

1. They serve "gourmet" burgers

This is YUMMM. Observe the fried egg below the bacon.

2. Their advertising tagline is Red Robin...YUMMM -- which gets stuck in my head and I can't help saying it out loud at random times. In fact, I will right now: Red Robin.... YUMMM

Then I found out that they serve you bottomless fries with your entree. That's right people, BOTTOMLESS. Which basically means you can eat fries until you explode, cry or both.

With the advertising jingle in my brain, my wife and I headed over to Red Robin this past weekend. Much to my surprise, it's so much more than just a "gourmet burger joint". The atmosphere is fun, exciting and lively. There are TVs in the floor, good music, and passionate servers (who obviously love their jobs).

The moment we sat down our server greeted us immediately and explained how the bottomless fries work. Here's how: you ask for more and you get them, forever, and ever and ever. Then, he shared his favorite burger with us: The Royal Red Robin Burger: juicy burger, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo and most important of all.....FRIED EGG.

I have experienced fried egg on a cheeseburger once before and it changed my life completely. At first, the thought of an egg on top of a burger horrified and disgusted me. However, with some coaching and emotional support I tried my first burger with egg a little over a year ago at a magical restaurant called The White Spot in Charlottesville, Va.

Since this very first burger + egg experience I have been dreaming of having this again, but until now had been unsuccessful in my quest. Its very difficult to explain why it tastes so good, but there is something about the moist egg sitting proudly atop the burger that makes my heart sing. In the words of Red Robin, once you put the fried egg on top "the rest is history".

As you might imagined, I ordered The Royal Red Robin Burger and just as I had dreamed, it was absolutely perfect in every way. Enormous, full flavored, extra juicy and cooked to perfection...I literally went on a short trip to burger heaven on my first bite. I now must have a fried egg on every burger I eat - there is absolutely no other way to enjoy a burger.

The bottomless fries were just icing on the cake and tasted amazing (especially when topped with Red Robin's special seasoning).

At the end of the day, there's a reason that Red Robin's tagline is: YUMMM. Because it actually is, their food is so good it makes you think/say/scream YUM when you eat it. They have somehow combined revolutionary burgers, fantastic service and a fun atmosphere and rolled into a simple, enjoyable and satisfying dining experience.

After you eat at Red Robin (and if you haven't eat there, you probably should) you can say YUMMM with confidence. It's not just an advertising campaign, its the truth.

12 Reasons to Eat at Brio Tuscan Grille (Instead of Olive Garden)

2011-01-17T22:05:00.001-05:00

If you've never been to Brio Tuscan Grille, you've been seriously missing out. From an Italian restaurant perspective, it is by far the best option.

When people think Italian they always seem to think: "Olive Garden." Aside from pasta and free bread sticks, Olive Garden doesn't have much else to wow you with.

Brio is so much better and here's 12 reasons to prove it:

Looks nice outside. Tastes good inside.

Brio has the Chipotle Chicken & Bacon Panini. By far one of the tastiest sandwiches on earth. It falls apart in your hands because it's so juicy and fantastic.
Most meals are served with crispy homemade potato chips.
You get Free Bruschetta for signing up for the Brio email newsletter. Olive Garden just emails you a picture of some over priced pasta.
Olive Garden's "fake" Culinary Institute doesn't make their food good. Note: McDonald's has a Hamburger University.
Fancy outdoor patio with luxurious outdoor drapes and sweet tables and chairs.
Crayons to draw on the tables.
Sunday brunch with open faced omellettes and the best breakfast potatoes on earth.
It feels like a special occasion, but at "every day prices."
Lobster Bisque tastes like heaven + it's served in sophisticated goblet.
Free tasty bread (I know Olive Garden has bread sticks....ooh laa laaa. I'm over it.)
Last time I was at Olive Garden, they ran out of olives. I'm not joking. Here's the story. (Yes I'm still holding a grudge about it.
Brio atmosphere makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Olive Garden makes me feel like frozen soup.

Olive Garden interior. Puts me in the "Italian" mood.

Brio interior, yes please.

If you need more than 12 reasons to go to Brio, send me a tweet @DanHolm and I will give you some more.

Find your Brio here. Sign up for Free Bruschetta here.

Spicy Biscuit Didn't Light My Fire

2011-01-11T20:22:00.000-05:00

In case you missed it, Chick-Fil-A just gave away an enormous amount of their new Spicy Chicken Biscuits last week.

I made my reservation and got my coupon and because I didn't want to go eat a Chick-Fil-A Spicy Biscuit alone, I got a coupon for my wife as well. Little did I know at the time that she doesn't like chicken for breakfast (I must admit chicken for breakfast is a little odd).

Spicy Chicken Biscuit (it needs Chick-Fil-A sauce or cheese)

We arrived at Chick-Fil-A with coupons in hand to get our Spicy Chicken Biscuits and then my wife decides to drop the chicken bomb and informs me she doesn't even want the Spicy Chicken Biscuit.....she wants something else.

In an effort to keep my wife happy, I relutanctly had to purchase a Sesame Seed Bagel with Chicken, Egg and Cheese (with no Chicken) and then had to redeem the two Spicy Chicken Biscuit coupons for myself (I wasn't too upset that I had two meals).

I love Chick-Fil-A. But, as I chowed down on my two Spicy Chicken Biscuits, I couldn't help looking at my wife's chicken-less sandwich with just a little envy. It looked so good, so moist, so breakfast-like.

She didn't offer to share any with me and when I asked if I could have a bite, she promptly responded with "Eat your chicken, you dragged me here so you could have it."

Wallowing in my own chicken pity, I realized that while I love Chick-Fil-A, I don't love their breakfast. So, I wrote down these 5 things that I think would make Chick-Fil-A's Breakfast better.

5 Steps to Make Chick-Fil-A Breakfast Better:

1. Get better coffee: this is just a given. The coffee at Chick-Fil-A is horrible. Based on the fact that Burger King is now serving Seattle's Best I don't imagine it would be that difficult to get good coffee at Chick-Fil-A.

2. Make my coffee for me: After you finally get good coffee.....offer to put the cream and sugar in for me. If McDonald's can do it. You can do it.

3. More Cheese (on everything): the biscuits soaked in butter are good. But......they would be way better with some cheese thrown on top. It's still just too dry for me and my experience has taught me that if there's anything ever wrong with your food: add cheese.

4. Not just Chicken: I know you're Chick-Fil-A. I get it. I support it. I love it. But for breakfast...we need options. It can't just be chicken. You have that awesome sesame seed bagel thing and I know we can get it without Chicken....but just give me more options and variety.

5. Cheaper: Maybe I'm just cheap (it's actually highly possible that I'm cheap). However, I believe that Chick-Fil-A breakfast needs to be more affordable. I'm not demanding a dollar menu....that would just be off brand....but it wouldn't hurt to bring down the price 50 cents or $1.

Oh, and as far as the Spicy Biscuit goes....it' tastes just like a mini Spicy Chicken Sandwich (which is my favorite). But, I like my Spicy Sandwich with pepper jack cheese, a wheat bun and an unusual amount of Chick-Fil-A sauce to make it perfect. Adding these things to the Spicy Biscuit makes it feel like lunch....and who wants to eat lunch for breakfast?

Bottom line: the biscuit is an inferior 2nd best to the Spicy Sandwich and if I was going to Chick-Fil-A for breakfast it wouldn't be my 1st choice.....I would probably order the Sesame Seed Bagel with Chicken, Egg and Cheese (minus the chicken).

Coffee from Coffee Lovers for Coffee Lovers

2010-11-15T22:19:00.003-05:00

If you've every visited the Tampa Bay, FL area, you know one thing: we have no good coffee.

For years I have whined, cried and complained about how there isn't a single destination in this entire gigantic city where you can get a good, wholesome, amazing cup of coffee. Other major cities have a variety of local, good coffee shops. We have your choice of: Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks.

Coffee Beans from Brazil before Roasting

Ah, how hard it is to live in Tampa, FL.

Until now.

There is a little tiny coffee shop called Buddy Brew near downtown Tampa. Here's their story:

It starts with love. Deep, passionate, resounding love for....coffee. Creating it, roasting it, drinking it, enjoying it, smelling it, and sharing it with the world.

The owners of Buddy Brew started roasting coffee out of their house because.....well, because they're coffee freaks. What started as a simple hobby slowly turned in to a business. They started giving their roasted coffee out at office parties as Christmas gifts and pretty soon people wanted to buy it from them.

Fast forward several years later and now they have their own shop. In the front of the shop there is a giant coffee roaster where they roast fresh coffee beans by hand almost every single day. The roasted beans come right out of the roaster and right into a bag and sold to the customer. Can you say, Starbucks sucks?

I had the honor of watching Dave (owner and mastermind behind Buddy Brew) roast a batch of Brazilian coffee today and it was one of the most romantic and sensual experiences I've ever had (don't tell my wife).

He took us through the journey of the coffee bean, what it looks like once it comes into their shop and the process he conducts to bring the bean to life. Typically, Dave puts his beans through a "Full City Roast" which basically beans they're not burnt like Starbucks and taste better than the coffee you probably get at 711 (you can admit it, I know there are plenty of you out there that get coffee from 711).

The whole roasting process took around 16 minutes and it was simply amazing to witness. Not until this moment did I view coffee roasting as a true art form. Every single moment matters in the process to ensure the perfect coffee bean....which becomes the perfect cup of coffee.

Full City Roast Complete - look at those gorgeous beans

Dave cooled the beans down once they were done and then took the beans and put them right in a fresh sealed bag for me to take home. Can we talk about how sexy this is? Have you ever witnessed something like this?

It starts with roasting, but it doesn't end there. Buddy Brew takes the art of coffee to another level by employing a graduate from the Culinary Institute of America who makes all their drinks (ya, this chef is making coffee).

There isn't a generic "at home coffee pot" in the place. Everything is done via French Press, Aero Press or good old fashion steeping. The end result of all this roasting, grinding, steeping, and pressing is one of the most delightful and remarkable cups of coffee you will ever experience.

The coffee + the cool owners + the roasting + the chef, should make coffee lovers and coffee virgins alike rush immediately to Buddy Brew. I promise you won't regret it.

And as far as Starbucks goes...well, let me just put it this way: now that Buddy Brew exists I have no reason to ever step foot in another coffee shop again, even if they do have Frappuccinos.

Microwave Chicken Nightmare

2010-11-08T22:12:00.000-05:00

There we were in JFK airport...starving, famished, miserable.

As we wandered up and down the terminal in search for food we became more and more depressed as we walked by horrible options....KFC, McDonald's, and some off brand coffee place no one's ever heard of. I had just gotten off a 9 hour flight so I wanted something good, wholesome and completely satisfying.

Advertised photo of Chipotle Chicken Sandwich

After 20 solid minutes of searching we gave up an ended up at Au Bon Pain (keyword Pain).

I'd never been to Au Bon Pain before, but it looked like a wanna be Panera Bread with soups, salads and sandwiches. I had no idea what to order so I went with what was being featured on a big poster outside the restaurant: Chipotle Chicken Sandwich. I like Chipotle and I like Chicken so it seemed like a logical selection.

We stepped up to the counter and I ordered my Chipotle Chicken Sandwich. The way that Au Bon Pain is set up allows you to watch them make it so here's what happened next (I'm not exaggerating).

1. Employee takes sliced white "chicken" out of refigerator from under the counter.
2. Employee puts "chicken" in a coardboard bowl and puts in domestic microwave (like the kind you have in your kitchen at home - yes I'm serious.)
3. Employee takes bread and asks me "You want this toasted?" I respond "...uh doesn't it come toasted?" she says, "Yes". Ok...then I'll have it toasted.
4. Employee puts two pieces of bread in generic toaster (like the one you have in your kitchen, for real)
5. Employee asks me if I want the coleslaw on the sandwich. I ask, "why do I want coleslaw on my sandwich". She responds, "Well it's Chipotle coleslaw so that's what makes it a Chipotle sandwich." I respond, "Oh...so there's not any spicy Chipotle sauce on it....there's just coleslaw?" She answers, "Yes". Ok...then I guess I'll have the coleslaw
6. The "chicken" is still in the microwave. An airport employee walks up with a cup of coffee that apparently she had gotten early at Au Bon Pain. She hands the old Au Bon Pain cup to the employee over the counter. THE EMPLOYEE STOPS THE MICROWAVE AND PUTS THE COFFEE IN WITH MY "CHICKEN" to reheat it for the airport employee.
7. The "chicken" is finally done and so is the coffee. Now it's time for the bacon.
8. The Employee puts the chicken on my half toasted bread and drains the "chicken" juice in the trashcan and then puts the cold bacon IN THE SAME cardboard dish that the chicken was in and puts it back in the microwave. Have you barfed yet?

The real Chipotle Chicken Sandwich. Can you say "Yum"?

9. Employee takes out the bacon and flops it on top of the "chicken" and then puts the half toasted bread on top.
10. I ask, "is there cheese on this or is it just the bacon, chicken and coleslaw"? She tells me there is no cheese and then regrettfully offers to slap some provolone cheese on for me.
11. I pay and the cashier proceeds to tell me that she loves the Chipotle Chicken Sandwich and she's tried everything on the menu and it's the best thing. "Ok I believe you"

We fight through the crowd in the terminal and finally find a dirty table which we attempt to clean and then take a seat. I unwrap my overpriced Chipotle Chicken Sandwich. By now I strongly had considered throwing it right in the trash since all of the ingridents might as well have come from the trash.

But, since I paid $8 for it and I had eaten in hours, I felt obligated to eat it. What did it taste like? Like it came out of the freezer section of my grocery store and was served on limp barely toasted bread. Translation = crap.

How are restaurants like this even in business? Ok, I know it was in the "airport" but still bottom line was that this was an Au Bon Pain and they charged $8 for microwaved junk that probably cost them a nickle and it was advertised as a romantic experience.

It's disgusting to see restaurants that have so little care for what they do charging people when good, amazing restaurants that put passion, love and inspiration into their food and service can sometimes barely survive.

Shame on you Au Bon Pain. At least now we all know why PAIN is in your name.

Smokers' Tube

2010-10-31T22:36:00.001-04:00

Several years ago, legislation started banning smoking inside of restaurants.

There was a huge uproar from smokers everywhere..."Why can't we just keep our smoking section?! You're discriminating against smokers!" etc etc.

The Smoker Tube inside a restaurant in Austria

It looks like Austria has the perfect solution: the Smokers' Tube.

The Smokers' Tube (I made this name up) caught me off guard when I first saw it in a restaurant in Austria this past summer. Who in their right mind would be desperate enough to go inside of a clear tube in the middle of a restaurant to have a cigarette?

Much to my disbelief as I sat at my table and carefully examined the smoker tube, two guys went in together and had a cigarette at the small table inside the tube while the rest of the customers at the restaurant watched them like specimens.

So smoking people....what's worse? Having to go outside in the wide open air to have a cigarette OR stepping inside a clear plastic tube within a restaurant?

The Tube itself was also extremely distracting...I couldn't even focus on my food because I was too busy counting how many people went inside the tube.

I must say, watching the smoke cloud grow within the Tube as the customers stood inside was enough to make me never want to smoke in my entire life.

How about you: what do you prefer? No smoking or the Smoking Tube?

The Most Beautiful Cafe in the World (Literally)

2010-08-30T23:03:00.001-04:00

Finding the most beautiful cafe in the world is no easy task.

In fact, it's a miracle I found it at all.

Cafe Buza is buried deep in the heart of Old Town Dubrovnik, Croatia. Where is Dubrovnik, Croatia you might ask? Not anywhere close to America unfortunately....here is a map.

The only signage pointing the way to Cafe Buza

Dubrovnik itself is an amazing place built along the coast of the Adriatic Sea and every view from the city is breathtaking and stunning. The "Old Town" is a fortress like city center where you have to enter through a stone wall to get into downtown.

Before my recent journey to Dubrovnik, I did a little research to find the most amazing cafe in town. (Yes, when I travel...food is a primary focus of my visit). Every online article I read explained that Cafe Buza is the most beautiful cafe in the entire world. It's located on the outside of the stone walls like a cliff over the ocean.

However, the challenge is that it's extremely difficult to find. While Cafe Buza has become somewhat of a tourist attraction due to it's elegance and beauty, it's still almost impossible to get to.....which is all a part of the adventure.

The cafe itself has the nickname, "The Hole in The Wall" cafe because you literally have to walk around the interior stone wall of the city and then look for the "hole" in the wall that leads to a stair case that goes down to the cafe.


Cafe Buza are the umbrellas on the outside of the brick wall.

When I arrived in Dubrovnik, I was already committed to searching out and finding Cafe Buza. So I set out on my journey with no idea where I was going. The Cafe Buza website does give some hints, but when you're in a city a million miles away from your home any directions are confusing.

Finally, after a 30 minute run-around I came across the simple sign pictured above with the short message that a cafe with a beautiful view is just around the corner. Moments later I walked by a "hole in the wall". Probably about 5 1/2 feet high and 4 feet wide, the hole opens up directly to the stunning ocean and a staircase that goes down below to the famous Cafe Buza.

Captivated by the hole itself, I couldn't help but stop and take a bunch of pictures before completing my journey by walking down the steep and narrow stairs to the cafe.

At the bottom of the stairs a host is waiting to greet and seat you. The vibe of the cafe is extremely laid back and casual. Light music is playing in the background and the panoramic view of the entire Adriatic Sea is right before your eyes....in a word it's simply breathtaking. Soon after arriving I realized that I was standing in what might just be the most amazing cafe/restaurant location on earth.

The "Hole in the Wall" leading to Cafe Buza

Once my jaw finally closed after getting over the shock and awe of the view I glanced over the simple menu. Cafe Buza's offering comprised of: coffee, Coke products, beer and some pre-made deli sandwiches. I ordered a small iced coffee, sat back relaxed and tried to take it all in.

My $3 iced coffee arrived, and much to my surprise it was about 4 oz tall and tasted awful. For some reason, I just assumed that the most beautiful cafe in the world also likely had the most amazing coffee in the world.

Wow was I wrong, apparently Cafe Buza is banking on the fact that they have a perfect location and therefore there is very little attention put on the food/drinks.....not that it hardly mattered. No one seemed to care and the place was packed.

After an hour of lounging and taking in the view, I made my exit back up the stair case and through the hole in the wall back into the city.

Cafe Buza is a restaurant visit that I probably will never forget. The entire experience was so astonishing it didn't even seem real. So, you're probably wondering....is it worth hopping on a plane to fly to Dubrovnik, Croatia just to go to Cafe Buza? Yes, yes it is - you should probably book your flight now....there is no sense in waiting.

How far have you traveled just to go to an amazing restaurant?

No Butter, No Fryer, No Good?

2010-08-28T22:50:00.000-04:00

"We don't have a fryer in the restaurant."

The server said proudly as I sat down at our table at Seasons 52.

....you don't have a fryer......what am I doing here again?

As my short term memory came back to me I realized that I had come to Seasons 52 to "eat fresh healthy food" that's all under 475 calories.

The atmosphere of Seasons is breathtaking and it smells magnificent when you walk in. Extremely sheek, tight and stylish. The message inside is: "we're classy, sophisticated and healthy...you should love us"

In fact the name "Seasons 52" comes from how they change their core menu "with the season" and change their specials menu every single week.

Somehow, they seem to make it work with elaborate food presentations and a wide food variety considering that everything is under 475 cals. They're famous for their flatbreads....for a very good reason. Imagine a long skinny pizzza with all kinds of awesome toppings. We had the Spicy Chipotle Shrimp Flatbread and yes it lived up to it's name.

Now, for a giant long skinny pizza with a bunch of cheese, shrimp, etc smothered on top I have a very hard time believing that all of their menu offerings are actually under 475 calories. It just doesn't seem possible, apparently however......it is. How? Two words: no butter. There is no butter in the restaurant at all (see video below).

Ok, so all things considered. Let's get real here people.

"We're all so impressed that you're 'seasonally inspired' and don't have a fryer in the restaurant or any butter" But now I can honestly tell you that while the flatbread was delicious......everything else was just "eh".

Once you get over the sex appeal of the design and the under 475 calorie menu, you're basically left with mediocre low calorie food in a gorgeous building.

Let's take the side dishes for example. For my main course I ordered the Blackened Fish Sandwich served on a whole wheat bun with chipotle lime remoulade sauce. It was served with a side salad. Now, I don't know how you like your salads, however I insist mine come with lots of cheese and lots of dressing....that's what makes the salad good. Seasons 52 salad was.....lettuce and a couple veggies on top. No cheese, and there was barely enough salad dressing to be noticiable.

Sure, it was under 475 calories....but it definitely wasn't as good as it could have been for just a bit more.

Frankly, I appreciate and value the fact that there is a restaurant that offers "healthy" menu options....I just wish that butter and fried foods were still an option...but I must admit, their mini desserts are killer good.

What do you think? Can I restaurant without a fryer or any butter be any good?

Fruit Has Never Tasted This Good

2010-08-15T14:50:00.001-04:00

When it comes to smoothies......I usually prefer chocolate, candy or some other dessert item blended into tiny bits to be sucked through a straw vs. fruit.

However, with all of the hype that McDonald's has been making about their new "real fruit smoothies" I decided I couldn't go on any longer without at least giving them a try.

"Real Fruit" Smoothies from McD

I was in line for breakfast getting ready to order my Bacon Egg & Cheese (the most satisfying breakfast sandwich in the world) and the advertisement for the real fruit smoothie was staring me down. It looks tasty, it sounds tasty and oh wait.....it's only $2.29......and only over 200 calories (that makes me feel nice) so yes, I'll have one.

A few moments later the blender in the background starts grinding (I never saw WHAT they put in the blender) and out comes my Strawberry & Banana Smoothie.

Slrrppppr Surupllggppp.

After my first initial sucks....it tastes good. The flavors of strawberry and banana are nice, thick and smooth. It didn't take long for my wife to get a hold of it and make her judgement as well. She probably took more sips than she needed which was an immediate hint that she thought it was good and then finally after about 15 solid seconds of sucking down the smoothie as fast as possible she handed the cup back to me and gently said, "ya, it's good."

Maybe my expectations were low or maybe I felt like I was sinning because I ordered a smoothie at McDonalds instead of Jamba Juice but whatever the case.....I really did not want to like this smoothie.

Unfortunately.....I did. It was delicious enough to order again and based on the fact that it's HALF the price of a smoothie at Jamba Juice or Planet Smoothie it was far better than expected.

Again, candy mixed in with ice cream (also known as a Blizzard) is better than fruit mixed with....fruit. BUT if I have to eat fruit, I guess I would prefer to suck it through a straw.

Have you tried the McD's Smoothie yet?

Bern's Steak House...So Amazing It Almost Killed Me

2010-08-11T23:46:00.001-04:00

"Oooooooh Bern's"

Is the reaction you'll get from someone in Tampa, FL if you tell them you're going to have dinner at Bern's Steak House. Luxurious, sophisticated, and memorable, Bern's is the definition of the ultimate fine dining restaurant experience.

Bern's is known for their comprehensive wine menu (with bottles up to $10,000) and "art in steaks". Their approach is to hand cut every single steak they serve and then cook them to perfection to ensure the complete meal satisfaction.

So....with expensive bottles of wine....and even more luxurious steaks I pondered how I even managed to get an invitation to eat a Bern's as I walked through the door on a recent visit.

Bern's Steakhouse - looks better on the inside...

I was running a bit late so appetizer's had already been ordered....one of which included a Lobster Corn Dog.

Yes, a Lobster Corn Dog. A normal corn dog would have been far to mediocre for Bern's.

I was freaked out at first, but after just one bite of the Lobster Dog...I was completely convinced. Never will I eat a normal corn dog again (ok, that's not true). The juicy and moist lobster mixed with the thick corn bread like shell was unexpectedly delicious.

Right after the appetizers came out we ordered our entrees. Steaks are not ordered as you would normally imagine at a regular steakhouse. It's an entire process due to the comprehensive menu and options for steak preparation. Take a look at just the number of choices of steaks and ounces here.

I opted for the 9oz Chateaubriand fillet with a baked potato, fresh salad and french onion soup. Moments later my french onion soup came out and simply said........I almost died. The cheese melted on top of the crouton was absolutely remarkable. It was thick like glue (in a good way) and the most satisfying cheese I've ever tasted.

When I was eating the salad for some reason the vegetables tasted extremely fresh. You may know that I'm not much of a vegetable guy....but yet these veggies were delicious. I was so dumbfounded as to why they were so good that I asked my server where they got them from..."Oh, from our farm about 8 miles away" Uuhhh.....this place is legit.

After I already had stuffed my face, the large and sensational looking fillet came out. As it was placed in front of me I pulled out my fork (yes my fork because I didn't need a knife) and cut through the tender steak to take my first bite......complete sensation. Every single bite was like a precious and rare gift.

Upon finishing our meals, our server asked us if we wanted to take a tour of the kitchen and view the "wine room". At first I thought he was joking......what kind of restaurant offers tours of their kitchens?

Eager to check the place out, we were led to the kitchen and met by another server who walked us through the enormous kitchen to explain the extreme level of detail that Bern's goes through to make their food complete perfection.

Image this - a flat top grill large enough to grill 200 steaks at the exact same time at the exact same temperature. There is a cutting station...as every steak order comes in, a chef literally cuts the meat right then and there and proceeds to give it to the chef on grill.

Bern Laxer, sampling the largesse of his 6,500-bottle wine cellar

The amazing cheese that I had in my French Onion soup? They're aging it in their refrigerator right in the kitchen.

At the end of the tour we went through two doors into the 50 degree wine room/cellar which had dim lighting and the most extensive wine collection I've ever laid eyes on. Thousands....upon thousands of bottles all stacked up probably 15-20 feet high....wall to wall.

In one section of the wine cellar with it's many rows and aisles there was a locked gated section that contains bottles of wine dating back to the 1800s. Their oldest bottle is from 1827 (yes, the year 1827) and they do sell it by the glass. For a half ounce it's $250.

Bern's meets up to their expectation. Impeccable service, unmatched food and a truly compelling atmosphere.

Just wait till I tell you about the dessert room...

How Air Canada Saved My Life

2010-06-22T00:35:00.001-04:00

I walked through the airport security at Tampa International Airport and immediately reached in my back pocket to grab my credit card so I could buy a bottle of water before boarding my international flight.

Upon opening my wallet my credit card was missing.

I searched frantically through my wallet, bag and pockets and still it was no where to be found. My international flight was taking off in an hour and 20 minutes and I was stranded with no credit card.

How can this be happening to me?

After my brief 2 minute search I went into panic mode and called my wife thinking that somehow I had left the credit card at home when I called the credit card company to let them know I'd be flying internationally.

My wife gave me a 3 minute session of verbal abuse and then agreed to speed home and look for the card and try to bring it back to the airport. With her agreement, I rushed to the gate agent at the Air Canada service desk to explain my unusual and irritating situation.

The Air Canada gate agent asked me some questions, wanted to know how far away I lived and then kindly explained that they would be happy to board me very last, however they couldn't hold the flight just for me. She ended the conversation by saying, "I'm sorry, but if you live 20 minutes away, I don't think your wife is going to make it in time."

As you might imagine I was on the verge of hysteria. Frantically, I called the credit card company to plead with them to ship me a new card to my final destination. I even called FedEx to understand how long it would take to ship the card to me if my wife found it. All of my efforts were unsuccessful.

In a true race against time, my wife updated me minute by minute. She ended up finding the card at home in another pair of my pants (women are really good at finding things dumb men leave behind).

With my wife still at home and the flight taking off in just 20 minutes I started to loose all hope.

But then, out of no where a thunderstorm rolled in.

The flight was completely boarded, I was the only passenger for the flight left standing in the terminal. Watching the thunder and lightening outside, the Air Canada gate agent came over to me and said, "How far away is your wife now? The flight has been delayed 10 minutes and I think she might make it."

With this glimmer of hope I called my wife and told her to drive even faster because now there was a real chance that she might get there in time.

Upon confirming that my wife was only about 10 minutes away, the Air Canada gate agent explained that even if she got there in 10 minutes I still wouldn't have time to go through security, get the card and make it back. She then told me they planned on sending one of the Air Canada employees out to my wife's car to pick up the card and bring it to me at the gate.

What?!? They were willing to send one of their own employees out to get the card for me?!

With my wife on my cell phone and the Air Canada gate agent on her walkie talkie we arranged the timing perfectly. As my wife was driving down the ramp to the airport passenger drop off, Air Canada contacted their employee (Jim was his name) and he went running out in the pouring rain to get the card. My wife told me later that she literally cracked her window, handed him the card and he took off running.

By this time it was just raining, not thundering so they were finally ready to take off. Then suddenly, Jim (Air Canada employee) came sprinting (I'm not kidding) down the terminal, soaking wet, carrying my credit card like the Olympic torch above his head.

He came running up to me, breathing heavily and put the card in my hand and simply said, "here you go".

People who were all standing around that new my dramatic story started clapping and the gate agent who helped me originally said, "OK - Get on the plane! We need to take off!"

I thanked them all a thousand times and then went running on to the plane and sat down in my seat. Moments later, the flight took off.

___________________________________________________________________________________

This story is completely 100% true and it's not about restaurants, food or the restaurant industry. So why does it matter on this blog?

Because if every brand, industry, company, or organization treated their customers like this the world would be a much better place.

Air Canada doesn't know me. I'm not one of their most loyal customers. I don't spend the most money with them.....in fact this is the first time I've ever flown on their airline.

However, no matter what my circumstance they treated me like I was their most valuable customer and they went to unusual extremes to make my experience perfect. Even though the mess-up had nothing to do with them in the first place.

Imagine if every restaurant, every airline or every hotel treated you with this level of service? How would you respond?

I can honestly tell you that this was the most remarkable service experience I've ever had. Every opportunity I have to fly Air Canada I will take advantage of, because on that one day they saved my life and I won't forget it.

Sometimes, Lettuce is Better than Steak

2010-06-17T22:20:00.000-04:00

I've never been a big lettuce fan.

It's ok in tacos, however from a general lettuce perspective (salads, etc). It doesn't really do anything for me.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse changed my view of lettuce forever.

On my last visit to Fleming's my server asked me if I would like to try their new lettuce wraps as an appetizer. From the look of disgust on my face it immediately became apparent to the server that I had zero interest in paying for anything wrapped up in a leaf of lettuce.

In an attempt to change my opinion, the server described the great level of detail Fleming's goes to in order to make the lettuce wraps. Jam packed with lump crab meat, avocado, bacon, egg, tomato and chives, he claimed they were irresistable.

Now realizing that he wasn't going to take no for an answer I gave in and ordered the lettuce wraps.

When they came out to the table I examined them with speculation before taking my first bite. They were beautiful on the plate, cold, crisp and fresh looking. Not knowing how exactly to eat a lettuce wrap I carefully rolled it up and stuffed as much in my mouth as I could without dropping any on the plate.

The lump crab meat complimented the crispy cool lettuce wonderfully and the dipping sauce on the side made the perfect taste sensation. Needless to say I ate every last bite of the lettuce wraps and after the whole experience was over I must admit they were the best part of the entire meal.

Yes, you heard me right. I went to Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and I'm writing about their lettuce wraps...bizarre. The bottom line is that sometime (only sometimes) lettuce is better than steak.

Don't worry though - I have no plans of every switching teams and become vegetarian.

Five Guys Defines the New "Fresh"

2010-05-24T23:36:00.002-04:00

When it comes to fast food and "fast casual" restaurants my standards aren't usually very high...probably because I've been let down so many times.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries has always been the exception. This isn't the first time I've chronicled my love and passion for Five Guys, however my visit to Five Guys today radically changed my entire view on their restaurant and what we should expect from every restaurant we visit.

Simply said, Five Guys is radically redefining what "fresh food" means.

When you really think about it, every restaurant claims to have something "fresh": Fresh burgers, fresh fish, fresh salad, fresh chicken....everything is "fresh". But what does it really mean? Frankly, I expect all of the food I eat to be fresh. I expect it not to be frozen and I expect that it's made using "fresh ingredients."

Here's what makes Five Guys so special:

Today as I finished ordering my delicious Five Guys double cheeseburger, the cashier turned around to the grill guy (the grill is visible from the front of the store) to call out our order and noticed that there were 3 hamburger patties sitting on the grill. It was obvious that these burger patties weren't too old, they just weren't grilled "fresh" for a customer. So, with these simple words: "get rid of those" the cashier directed the grill guy to throw the 3 patties away and put fresh ones on the grill for our order.

Slowly but surely, Five Guys is defining the new "fresh". What Five Guys does, that other fast casual restaurants don't is this: they make their food, right now, for you. Who else does this? What other fast casual restaurant would willingly, throw food away to make something completely and truly fresh for the customer?

Panera doesn't - their "fresh soup" is delivered in a bag. Even Chipotle, while their food is fresh, it isn't cooked just for you, right at the moment your ordering.

Five Guys is changing the game, and the results are simply remarkable. Better tasting food that's made just for "me". Juicy, delicious and the ultimate in satisfaction.

At Five Guys its more than just "burgers and fries" it's a whole new approach to food.

Local Coffee Inspiration

2010-05-09T23:37:00.001-04:00

Local Coffee Shops are hard to come by these days.

Especially if you live in the Tampa Bay, FL area. Unlike the metropolis New York, Seattle, Chicago, etc most of our local coffee shops (the decent ones at least) have been swallowed up by the "big evil corporate brands" of Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and McDonald's.

With the "there are no good coffee shops in Tampa Bay" mentality, you might understand why I was so shocked, excited and curious when we accidentally stumbled upon Indian Shores of Coffee Co.

About 10 min south of the infamous Clearwater Beach, Indian Shores Coffee Company is nothing more than a shack off the side of the road, directly across from buildings/condos that sit beach front on Indian Rocks beach.

In a humble red building with an make-shift patio attached, it appeared to be authentic enough for us to justify stopping. So one u-turn later I found myself in the casual, yet refined coffee shop complete with a hand written menu on a big black chalk board.

The first thing you notice when you walk in Indian Shores Coffee Co is the smell....ah yes the sweet and satisfying smell of freshly brewed coffee/espresso. Local Coffee Shop smell is not the same smell as Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts or Panera. In fact it's strikingly different. Corporate coffee shops smell like...well a corporation that happens to be brewing coffee. A local coffee shop smells like fresh brewed coffee in some one's home.

As a walk up to the counter, I'm greeted by an older gentlemen who appears to have come directly out of the 1970s with a long history of making coffee. We make small talk for a bit and he eventually persuaded me to upgrade from my traditional Cafe Au Late to a Latte. Here's how he convinced me: "I've worked here two years and seriously, I think this is the best coffee/espresso in the entire state of Florida. If you're not going to come here that often...go for the Latte". With those words....I was sold. It's rare to meet an employee at a restaurant that is oozing with passion about the products they're selling....whenever I run across someone like this, I truly treasure it.

Indian Shores Coffee Co has a very compelling personality about it. The front counter contains freshly baked goods along with homemade sandwiches....the sitting area is simple, yet comfortable with big chairs and small tables and chairs. However, the best part of all was the hand written advertisement to "join them on Facebook"

While this may appear to be cheap...it actually came across as genuine and authentic.

My latte was finally ready and just from the looks and smell of it, I could tell that it was going to be sensational. Full of thick foam on top and just the right temperature I was truly stunned when I took my first sips. The 1970s employee was right...this might be the best coffee served in FL. Here's their secret....they get all of their coffee beans shipped directly from Metropolis Coffee Company in Chicago.

As I walked out of Indian Shores Coffee Co slowing sipping my latte I couldn't help but be just a little frustrated that there aren't more shops like this around...I guess this just means I'll be taking the 25 min drive down to Indian Rocks beach more often...

So tell me....what's your favorite coffee shop?

Come But Please Don't Stay

2010-04-09T18:00:00.005-04:00

About 15 years ago we didn't have "third places".

There wasn't a place to visit where we could relax, surf the web, get some decent food and do a little work. Then Starbucks, Panera Bread and "wireless Internet" came along and changed everything.

With the addition of these new restaurant concepts and their services we suddenly had the world at our finger tips and a place where we could go to get away from it all...without really "getting away".

If you're like me you've gotten use to these "third places" and all they have to offer - especially the free wireless Internet.

Here's the bad news...it appears that several Panera Bread locations have run into operational problems because they offer free wifi to their customers.

Panera's biggest rush time period is obviously during lunch....in order to be profitable, they need to push as many people through the restaurant as possible.

So here's the problem - how can Panera get people through the restaurant quickly if everyone is sitting at all the tables browsing Facebook?!

It clearly didn't take Panera too long to figure it out so they came up with the worst solution possible: turn off the free wifi Internet service during rush hours. (see the sign above posted at my local Panera)

They don't want you to be offended and stop coming to eat, they just want you to take your food to go. But wait a minute....doesn't that defeat the entire purpose of Panera?

Call me selfish and ungrateful, however with this move it's clear Panera is slowing destroying the essence of who they are!

What's next - no more free bread?

Behold the Mashed Potato Dream

2010-02-28T19:59:00.003-05:00

Potatoes are an awesome vegetable.

No matter how you get them they are always delicious - mashed, baked, peeled, grilled, boiled, or fried. You can basically put potatoes on top of anything or mix it with any food and it's guaranteed to taste fantastic.

Crispers however has taken the use of potatoes to an entirely different level.

They took something that was already satisfying on its own: mashed potatoes and they placed it on top of something else that was equally as satisfying: flat bread.

This combination creates the "Loaded Potato Flat Bread" only available at Crispers. Here's what the flatbread is comprised of: garlic mashed potatoes, crispy bacon and mixed cheeses piled high on a wheat flatbread that’s baked, drizzled with sour cream and garnished with green onions. It comes with a side of sour cream and green onion dipping sauce.

Traditionally speaking I'm not a real big flatbread person, so I almost didn't try this bad boy. However, my wife put it into perspective for me that sounded something like this, "Danny, it's a mashed up baked potato stacked on bread...and you're fat, how is it possible that you won't like this?"

Guess what? She was right (as I've come to find most "wives" are).

The Loaded Potato Flatbread comes out on a big plate and is cut into triangles. On top of the flatbread there is about 1 inch of garlic mash potatoes and all of the fixings (bacon, cheese, etc) are mixed and melted in to the mash potatoes. The sour cream and green onion dipping sauce on the side completes this potato fantasy for the ultimate in taste satisfaction.

You know how good potato skins are because they have all the baked potato guts jammed inside? That's exactly how the flatbread is....only 16 times better.

Every single bite was like the "best part" of a baked potato perfectly spread out over a crispy flatbread. This potato treat is the ideal meal for a cold winter day or any day of the year when you're in the mood to eat the most amazing potato creation on earth.

Go get one.

Down by the River

2010-02-27T21:21:00.005-05:00

It’s hard not to judge things by their cover.

From books to magazines and even with restaurants we look at things on the outside with one glance and within seconds have made a decision about how the “experience” is going to be.

With this is mind, you can imagine how I felt when we drove up to a brown colored and run down local restaurant in St. Charles, Illinois by the name of Francesca’s by the River.

On our way to Francesca’s, the people we were worth raved about the “fresh ingredients” and “made from scratch” offerings, however I couldn’t help but forget everything they told me once we pulled up to the rather ugly building with 2 feet of brown snow around the perimeter.

Upon walking inside however, it was a completed different story. With clean brick walls, high ceilings, cool lighting and polished tables I couldn’t help but be immediately impressed with the atmosphere.

As we sat down at our table our server handed us each a two sided paper menu that was completely hand written. What kind of place is this? It’s near a river in an ugly brown building, with a really cool interior and a hand written photocopied menu.

Normally when you think of a hand written menu one word comes to mind: ghetto.

For some reason however this hand written menu felt completely different. Maybe it was the polished atmosphere or our enthusiastic server but for some unusual reason this menu felt authentic, real, captivating and exclusive.

With about 20 Italian menu choices, each item was carefully written out in a simple fashion. There was no need to use fancy words or “menu marketing jargon”. The concept was simple and to the point: we make authentic, good tasting Italian food, we change our menu out every 2 weeks, and trust us you’ll love it.

With such a simple menu it’s amazing it was so hard for me to decide, however I finally landed on the "Panino Con Polpelte" or better known as a meatball sub….and yes I did love it. Before I get into the meatball fantasy that occurred in my mouth let me first begin with the bruschette.

Generally speaking, bruschette is extremely overrated. I mean come on people it’s toast with cheese and tomatoes!

Francesca’s bruschette however is far more unique. The fresh cheese was piled high like a mountain on top of the lightly toasted bread and fresh cut tomatoes. The portion was so big I had to eat it with a fork and every bite was sensual and satisfying.

The homemade cheese chicken soup came out next. Unlike most chicken soups I’ve had previously with dry chewy chicken, Francesca’s chicken soup had chunks of chicken in it that were as smooth as butter. This moist chicken paired with a creamy cheese broth and soft veggies resulted in me basically drinking it directly from the bowl.

Finally the meatball sub, which had homemade meatballs the size of your head with grilled onions, homemade marinara and melted cheese….to die for. It’s hard to put into words how truly phenomenal this food was….which is probably why Francesca’s keeps their menu descriptions so simple. You almost have to taste it to believe it.

We finished all of this off with a café latte and homemade banana bread pudding that was topped with banana fudge gelato – this is any banana lover’s dream desert.

All of this…the amazing food, the authentic menu, the unpretentious service inside of an ugly brown building down by the river in a small town outside of Chicago…

Last time I checked we need more ugly restaurants like Francesca’s in Tampa….that’s the problem when you find diamonds in the rough like this. To duplicate them would be an injustice.

Slide into Lee Roy's

2010-01-31T19:13:00.004-05:00

Usually when restaurants introduce new menu items, its not really that exciting. (Think Kentucky Grilled Chicken at KFC).

They try to make it a big deal through advertising and promotions....but once you taste the new thing they're promoting...it's really not that good.

At Lee Roy Selmon's here in the Tampa Bay area it's a completely different story.

A few months ago, Lee Roy's rolled out 6 important new menu items that might be the 6 best restaurant foods you have ever tasted.

1. Jalapeno Rockets: I could eat these amazing spicy little things for every meal of the day. Unlike traditional Jalapeno poppers these bad boys are sliced down the middle and are more like a little mini spicy egg roll only split open. The dipping sauce is to die for and I've been tempted to ask for a tub of sauce to go so I can eat it with all of my food.

2. Hot Dog Sliders: That's right tiny little Nathan's hot dogs on a bun with all the fixings. I promise it will be the best little dog you ever ate.

3. Pork Sliders: Slow roasted and satisfying pulled pork piled up high on a bun with homemade BBQ sauce. I think because they are bite-sized it makes them taste even better. The homemade BBQ sauce is the perfect addition to the juicy and flavorful pulled pork.

4. Brisket Sliders: If you're not into Pork, I hope you like beef brisket because these mini brisket treats are unbelievable.

5. Burger Sliders: Who knew tiny cheeseburgers could be so good?

6. Sweet Potato Fries: In addition to the Jalapeno Rockets the Sweet Potato Fries (dusted with sugar) with sweet cane dipping sauce might be the most unbelievable thing you have ever tasted....the sweet cane sauce alone is worth a trip to Lee Roy's.

Lee Roy's is the perfect combination of a comfortable atmosphere and delicious crave-able food. It's a great place to grab lunch during work and it's even better if you want to chow down and watch a football game.

On Super Bowl Sunday....I'll be parked at Lee Roy's...enjoying some of the tastiest food on earth. If you don't live in the Tampa Bay area and can't get to Lee Roy's, I'm really sorry, however I still recommend you visit their Facebook Fan Page and drool.

I love you Lee Roy Selmon's Sweet Potato Fries....I love you.

Quizno's: "The Best Quality Meat"

2010-01-17T18:29:00.002-05:00

I think I can now say for sure that I will eat anything if it's free.

You might recall about a year ago I wrote a post about how I didn't believe that Quizno's should be in business....bad food, poor service, high prices and a generally unfriendly staff.

After my last visit I vowed never to return, no matter what.

Well today I broke that vow...because I can't turn down free food.

A friend of ours got a Quizno's gift card for Christmas. Bad news for her is that she doesn't like Quizno's. Good news for me is that she doesn't like Quizno's...so one re-gift later and I had myself a free $10 Quizno's gift card.

Its been burning a hole in my pocket for a couple weeks now so today felt like a good day to cross the line and give Quiznos another try.

My last experience wasn't very good so I had rather low expectations. I also decided to try something totally different so I opted for the new "pick 2 for $5" promotion and chose an
Italian Bullet and Alpine Chicken Sammie.

Wow Quizno's is stingy.....I wanted provolone cheese on my Italian...they don't have provolone cheese. After the "toasting" was complete I wanted Parmesan cheese sprinkled on the Italian....denied it costs extra. I also wanted some bacon put on my Alpine Chicken Sammie after it went through the toaster....it costs extra.

It was at this moment in time that I was wondering if I really wanted my free Quizno's after all. The employees were nice, but there are just too many rules for me. It became clear right before I paid that the employees helping me thought I was completely insane...probably due to the fact that I was asking 17 questions about everything. (If you've ever eaten with me you know how nosy I can be).

As I was paying the one employee asked, "Are you from out of town?"

What an odd question to ask someone in rural Clearwater, FL not during the holiday season. I don't think I look like I'm from out of town, but who knows.

I answered no and then she said, "Really? You're from around here then?"

"Yes" I responded...."I live like 3 minutes away" I continued by saying, "You probably just don't recognize me because I hardly ever eat Quizno's...I never come in here."

"Oh," she responded "you're missing out then."

"I am?"

"Ya" she said "it's the best quality meat."

Skeptical, I said..."oh really....even better than Publix?"

"Oh ya" she responded, "it's the best out there."

After this unusual verbal exchange she handed me a loyalty card: buy 6 subs and get 1 free (must be used by February 28, 2010). Only after validating that I lived nearby and that I had a remote interest in returning did she give me the card...which I might add has some pretty intense regulations: visit 6 times in a month and get 1 sub free....."yay what a sweet deal."

All things considered....Quizno's is not the best sub shop out there. However, I will say this: for $5, a Bullet sandwich and a Sammie is a seriously good deal. It's a really good portion and it's tastes decent too. The option to mix and match for $5 is a much more exciting than Subway's famous $5 foot long.

So if you want "the best quality" and you only want to spend $5, Quizno's isn't a horrible option.

Don't get me wrong though, once my gift card is gone...I probably won't be going back.

The Dish on Tea

2010-01-15T21:50:00.008-05:00

Generally speaking, tea is not an exciting drink alternative; in fact it’s a lot like drinking brown water.

A few years ago I never drank tea at all, my wife is the one who got me hooked on iced tea and from there I developed a beginner’s taste pallet for hot tea as well.

My interactions with tea over the course of my life have been far from exhilarating. Traditionally it involved putting a tea bag in a cup of boiling water…. (how exciting).

It wasn’t until this past week that my perspective on tea changed forever.

After finishing up lunch at Outback Steakhouse I was walking through the parking lot of the plaza off of Henderson Blvd in Tampa and my eye caught a sign that read: Dishtopia & the Anytime Tea Bar. First…what’s a Dishtopia? And second, what the heck is a tea bar?

My curiosity got the better of me and a few minutes later I found myself in deep conversation with Stephanie (owner of Dishtopia) about tea, tea leaves, steeping and the proper way to drink tea.

Wow have I been wrong about tea.

Here’s the thing I never knew: tea is a romantic, cultural and cultivating experience that shouldn’t be taken for granted.

Dishtopia is an amazing place that has an enormous amount of respect for tea. Not only do they offer 90+ types of raw tea leaves for brewing, but they also serve homemade scones, and pastries. The tea they serve ranges from bold to green and they also have a few "rare" teas that I doubt you would be able to find anywhere else.

Aside from the loose tea leaves the real magic happens when they make a drink for you. Maybe it's the fact that they are using real leaves that don't come from a bag or maybe it's because they have a certain special touch...whatever the case the tea they make taste like it came from the heavens. The lattes especially are revolutionary. Never before has tea tasted so good.

The only other time I've had a tea experience that came close to Dishtopia was when I was in London, and no offense to London....Dishtopia might be better.

We need a place like Dishtopia. A place to escape, hang out and relax. You do have the option to take your hot tea, latte or iced tea to go or you can just sit and enjoy the cool hip atmosphere of Dishtopia. I encourage you to stay instead of taking it to go because you get your own personal tea pot and tea cup….all for an extremely reasonable price. Two people could go and both enjoy rare hot tea for less than $5 total.

The “dishtopia” is the shelves upon shelves of fine china, tea pots, tea cups and dishes that are all for sale.

They also sell all of their loose leaf tea by the ounce so I went as far as buying my own personal tea pot with filter to brew Dishtopia's tea at home. The Masala Chai and Passion Fruit tea are absolutely superb.

Dishtopia is quite possibly one of the coolest places in Tampa Bay. If you go visit I guarantee that you will be impressed and you'll also never look at tea the same again.

Truck Food

2010-01-10T18:51:00.003-05:00

I’m so jealous of everyone in California.

Not because the Terminator is your Governor or because you’re the home of “The Hills” but because you have truck food on every corner.

Yes, truck food.

Many of you are probably familiar with the “taco truck” concept that became famous in California. Since that time…trucks of every kind have exploded all over the place. From Cupcake Trucks to Grilled Cheese Trucks, almost every type of good food on earth is served out of a truck in California.

My stomach is growling with envy.

I just don’t get it. Here in Clearwater, FL there is nothing unique, fun or cool. Sure we have our “local places” but there is nothing in particular that melts my mind and moves my soul. I want good food served from a truck on the street corner and more than that I want a restaurant in my city that people from all over crave.

Do you watch that show on Food Network, Diners Drive Ins & Dives? If you have than you understand what I mean when I say I want an amazing local restaurant. On the show, Guy Fieri goes all over the country in search for local restaurant icons.

Every single time I watch that show and every time I hear about “truck food” I just get irritated that there is nothing like that in Clearwater, FL.

Maybe I’m wrong and maybe there is some astonishing local jewel restaurant that I’m unaware of. If you know of one, please prove me wrong and tell me.

If you don’t know of one and you know how to cook, please for all things holy, go rent a truck and start cooking some food….if you do, I’ll be there.