Monday, August 27, 2012

Mark's Prime Steakhouse - Gainesville, FL

Dinner 8/27/12

Chop Salad - creamy and flavorful!

Delmonico Steak - USDA prime beef cooked perfectly. Melted in my mouth and full of flavor. One of the best steaks I’ve ever had.

Loaded Baked Potato - flavorful, crunchy bacon and cheddar cheese atop a large spud. Classic.

www.marksprimesteakhouse.com/

Mark's US Prime on Urbanspoon

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Vellos Historic Brickstreet Grill - Gainesville, FL

Dinner 8/26/12

Wasabi wedge salad - romaine hearts, bacon, tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles, and wasabi dressing. Every bite has the flavor of all the elements plus a kick of wasabi fire. Excellent.

Though known for their triggerfish with shrimp risotto cakes, they were out of the risotto cakes the night of my visit.
  
Mahi tacos - sweet and spicy. Tender mahi fish with a spicy rub, blackened, with a sweet sauce and Asian cabbage. Gives a Asian feel.

 Red fish and chips - corn meal battered red fish atop roasted Yukon gold potatoes with a watermelon salsa on top. Potatoes leave much to be desired, but the light fish and unique watermelon salsa make the dish.

Banana caramel Cheesecake Xangos - banana wrapped in a flour tortilla and then deep fried, cut sushi style, and then drizzled with caramel and chocolate.




http://www.vellosbrickstreetgrill.com/

Vellos Brickstreet Grill on Urbanspoon

Palm Valley Fish Camp - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Lunch 8/26/12

Fried gator tail bites with a mild ranch Remoulade aioli. Cornmeal batter and tender gator meat.

Raw oysters - very mild flavor.

Shrimp & grits - "Herby and garlicky" flavors with plump shrimp and creamy grits. The best shrimp and grits I’ve ever had.

Pan fried fish with bay fries and turnip slaw - turnip slaw has hints of horseradish and thin strands of turnips. Tangy and creamy. Fries are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Seasoned lightly with old bay seasoning before they were fried. The fish was a very flaky, panko coated cod on a Po-boy bun with a thin tartar sauce.

http://www.palmvalleyfishcamp.com/

Palm Valley Fish Camp on Urbanspoon

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Neighborhood Cafe - Historic Lee's Summit, MO

Breakfast 8/16

With breakfast served all day, you can get one of their 3-egg omelets whenever you want. They also serve complimentary cinnamon buns...ooey gooey!

Country Omelet - 3 egg omelet filled with bacon, sausage, cheese, onions, and hash browns and then topped with sausage gravy!  The epitome of Southern Home Cookin!



http://www.neighborhoodcafels.com/

Neighborhood Cafe on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Talk of the Town Grill and Bar - Leawood, KS

Lunch 8/15/12

Great selection of draft and bottle beer and specialty cocktails.

Patty melt with provolone cheese - bitter/tangy rye bread combined with smooth sauteed onion and provolone make for a balanced patty melt. The onion rings were not my favorite, but they weren't bad.
 
Medium Wings - I went basic and got the medium buffalo wings. They were very good.

http://www.talkofthetowngrill.com/

Talk of the Town Grill & Bar on Urbanspoon

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Lolita - Philadelphia, PA

Desert 8/9/12

CASH ONLY

Chocolate Tres Leches cake - Warm white upside-down cupcake, soaking in a milky broth, dusted with coconut shavings and topped with a dollop of chocolate gnache and fresh whipped cream. Lining the bowl are candied walnuts. Very delicious!


http://lolitabyob.com/lolita/

Lolita on Urbanspoon

Village Whiskey – Philadelphia, PA

Dinner 8/9/12

This place serves over 100 types of whiskey, along with it's superb burgers and fries.

Jolly Roger cocktail - since all the cocktails here are served with whiskey, I chose one that I knew I could handle. The J.R. is best described as a whiskey long island iced tea with chest hair. It's a smooth beast.

Village Burger - 8oz Angus burger with fresh-made Thousand Island dressing, avocado, caramelized onions, and Haystack Mountain Chevre cheese.  Melt in your mouth goodness!  Very pricey ($18)

Duck Fat Fries - Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, buttery flavor!





http://villagewhiskey.com/

Village Whiskey on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Fish - Philadelphia, PA

Dinner 8/8/12

This restaurant is nestled on the first-floor of boutique hotel.  Bring your wallet, but be prepared to have your pallet awakened!

Beer- Furthermore Fatty Boomalatty Belgian Pale Ale.  Say what?  I had to try it because of the name, and was impressed with the taste

Alaskan Halibut – Sweet corn, bacon, Chanterelle, white beans, sea urchin vinaigrette.

Crab Cake – Tomatillo-corn relish, chipotle.  Full of crab meat, not of fillers.

Skate Wing – Truffled speatzle, melted leaks, parmesan broth, and summer truffle.  I was completely blown away by the flavor and richness of this dish.  Who would have thought a “sting ray” wing could taste this good?


 PHOTOS IN ORDER OF REVIEW ABOVE

http://www.fishphilly.com/

Fish on Urbanspoon

Sang Kee - Philadelphia, PA (Chinatown)

Lunch - 8/8/12

CASH ONLY!!!

Sang Kee - Philadelphia, PA (Chinatown)

Complimentary hot tea - pour early, because you will have to wait for it to cool. Good, basic tea.

House Fried Rice - top 3 fried rice of all time. Perfectly seasoned; no soy sauce or any other sauce necessary.

General Tso's Chicken - fresh, lean chicken breast battered in a light tempura batter and covered in a moderately hot sauce. General's perfection.



http://www.phillychinatown.com/sangkee.htm

Sang Kee Peking Duck House on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar - Marlton, NJ

Dinner - 8/7/12

Sailor Daiquiri - top 3 cocktails of all time! Smooth and refreshing.  A blend of Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, pineapple juice, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Complimentary Parmesan encrusted sourdough bread came with two spreads (tomato basil butter and chardonnay infused feta).

Lite filet and Fleming Potatoes

Potatoes - au gratin bake with bits of fresh jalapeno. Absolutely delicious!

Filet - small, but flavorful and.tender filet mignon. One of the better filets I've ever had.

Creme brulee - good, traditional creme brulee. Nothing special about this one, but yummy all the same.






http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar on Urbanspoon

Monday, August 6, 2012

Maurizios - Mays Landing, NJ

During one of my audits, the store personnel recommended a place a few doors down.  They said it was a unique, local pizza parlor.  I trusted their recommendation, and I'm glad I did!  The restaurant makes different pizzas everyday.  I counted at least 20 different types of pies in the window.

Chipotle Chicken Pizza
Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza

For those of you who know me well, you know that I'm not a big fan of chicken on my pizza.  I will eat chicken on every slice if it tasted like these two!

The Chipotle Chicken Pizza had a southwestern creamy sauce topped with cheese and chicken pieces.  It wasn't too spicy, just yummy.

The Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza was just that...a pizza crust with chicken and Caesar salad ingredients baked on top.  It tasted fresh and delicious!


http://www.mauriziospizzeria.com/

Maurizio's Pizzeria Incorporated on Urbanspoon

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Tony Lukes - Sicklerville, NJ

8/5/12 - Dinner

So travelling into the Philly/NJ area, I knew I had to get a Philly Cheesesteak.  On the way to the hotel I saw a highway sign for Tony Luke's cheesesteaks.  After hours of airplane delays, I was ready for some food.

Cheesesteak with onions and white american cheese
Pazzoti sampler (beef and cheese, pork and cheese, italian chicken and cheese)

The cheesesteak was delicious...gooey cheese, tender sliced beef, and tasty onions.

The most interesting part of the meal was the pazzoti sampler.  These were a hybrid between a cheesesteak and an eggroll.  I burned my mouth eating the first one because the filling was so hot.  My favorite was the traditional cheesesteak pazzoti.

Pazzoti sampler


Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Chick-fil-a - Nationally

Breakfast

Chicken, Egg, and Cheese biscuit with Chick-fil-a sauce
Sweet Tea and Lemonade Split (aka Arnold Palmer)

Biscuit - You may have seen the Chicken, Egg and Cheese Bagel on the menu, but most people don't know that they can add the egg and cheese to the biscuit.  Top this off with a packet of Chick-fil-a sauce and you will be in breakfast sandwich heaven.  Don't like mustard?  Don't worry, neither do I, but I love this sauce!

Arnold Palmer - Want one of the best Arnie Palmers around, have them make you one with their fresh squeezed lemonade.



http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Locations/Locator